Six months ago…
The same television showed a morning news channel reporting the recent attack at Eunapolis.
"Our reports recently confirmed two civilians were currently missing from the Void Order's attack last Sunday, one is a student in his second-year high school, while the other is a mother of one. Our local authorities are already searching for their bodies in the destroyed place."
An old man was interviewed, clasping his hands. "That was a very terrible time to attack civilians. Luckily, most of us were saved! The magic girls came before the attack and warned us! If not for them being there on time, we might have been abducted too. I don't know what's going to happen to us if we're caught."
The reporter continued, "For a long time, the weakness of the Void Order's goons were still unidentified. For now, only the magic girls could repel them. But it would be a huge breakthrough if a whole army would fight the currently two heroes. Most people would wish that the magic girls team will be added by a new roster…"
"Where did he go?" Kei bit her bread while sitting on a dining chair, her other hand holding its tap to pause a Social Story of her classmate, her eyes narrowing. "This coffee shop is so familiar. Was this yesterday when I was asleep?"
She locked her phone, put it on the table, and leaned back, sighing. Staring up the ceiling, she uttered, "Today, we'll meet again." She stood up smiling, hummed, and bounced from foot to foot towards the bathroom.
As the bathroom door closed, she squealed out of excitement.
***
Standing on the sidewalk, an elementary student played a game called Tama-chan on her phone. As she was walking towards the pedestrian lane, the traffic lights suddenly turned green.
Her gaze darted at her game, unfazed… until a large horn caught her attention. Gasping, her dazed look turned to a rampaging van that was going to hit her. Her face turned ashen, her lips and chin trembling. She subconsciously shut her eyes, squealing.
"Watch out!" The young girl felt she was dragged by another person to safety. Opening her eyes, she witnessed Kei's pinkish hair weaving down. The girl felt nervous as if death were only a second away.
"Are you alright?" Kei asked, her brows wrinkling.
The young girl only nodded, her shaky hand going towards her forehead, her eyes bulging while witnessing the public attention they gathered. Soon, she let out the sob she was holding.
Kei embraced the girl and let the girl's head rest on Kei's stomach. "You're safe now, dear. Where are your parents?"
Sniffing, she responded with a cracked voice. "I—I'm only walking home from my f—friend's house."
Kei gently pushed the girl's shoulder forward, sat at the same eye level as her, and said with a comforting voice, "Next time, pay attention to what's around you, alright? The town's never been safe. You should always bring a guardian with you."
"Mm," the girl nodded, sniffing and wiping her tears.
Kei looked at her phone and chuckled, "If I'm the same age as you, I might play Tama-chan as well without a care in the world."
Sniffing, the girl mentioned with a lightened voice, like nothing happened, "Do you have a Tama-chan pet too, Onee-san?"
Cocking her head, she smirked. "I'm level 85, you know. I can give you tips."
The girl's mouth slackened as she became stiff. Slowly shaking her head, she said, "I don't know you're such a gamer! You don't look like you play games."
Kei rolled her eyes and smiled at nothing. "Well… Someone I know liked this game so much. When I tried it as well, I became hooked, like magnetized."
With an upturned face, the girl asked with a bubbly voice, "Do you enjoy playing it?"
Kei's eye contact became steady while leaving the blank answer. When she averted her gaze towards the traffic light, she held the girl's hand. "The lights are green. Let's go."
After successfully crossing, the girl faced her and clasped her hand on her chest. "Onee-san… Thank you for saving me. May I ask your name?"
"I'm Kei."
The girl widely grinned, her eyes closed. With enthusiasm, she exclaimed, "I'm Tsubasa! Can you play with me sometimes?"
Kei let out a satisfied sigh and smiled softly. "Sure!"
***
"A new year of studying, a new year of seeing him!" Kei stepped through the gates of Hasegawa High School with a bright smile.
Along her way, she met countless of her friends from the past year… Countless. In her first day, she became the queen bee that attracted the worker bees.
"Furukawa-chan! Happy new school year! Are you going to join the volleyball club this year?" A senior student approached, her eyes glimmering, yet her palms seemed to be sweaty.
Chuckling, Kei raised her palm and responded, "Let me think it through, Ayase-san. Thanks for the offer."
After two steps, a group of gals approached Kei. The leading woman with blonde hair and full of accessories held her hand and asked, "Kei-chan! It's our first day, wanna hang out at karaoke later?"
"If I have time, I will." The grip lost its strength as Kei's relaxed arms swung back beside her waist.
After walking forward, the gal shouted, "We'll check on you later!"
Another one of Kei's friends walked beside her and asked, "How's your summer break, Kei? Did you pick any boys?"
Kei replied with sarcasm, "How extroverted you think I am, Touri?"
Touri walked with her side by side, only an inch away from each other. "Do you still can't move on from Akira Nakagawa? The polarity is wrong! He should be the one begging for your beauty and madness."
Kei tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean by madness?"
The two halted their steps when a tall senior blocked their way. He held a flower behind him, which was obviously visible to them. His lips shaking, he stuttered, "K—Kei Furukawa… W—Will you go out with me?"
The loud bell rang, catching everyone's attention. Kei shifted at Touri and said, "The school is starting. Let's check our classes. I hope we're still classmates."
"Yes, we will. I've never been removed from class B in my life. How about you?"
As they passed the man, he kneeled on the floor, his arms resting on the ground. Soon, he screamed a weird "Ugh!"
***
Kei raised her calves with her toes and pulled up her chin just to see through the announcement board flooded with people. Her hand fidgeting, the two waited until most of the students left after knowing their sections.
When the small text of the printed papers hanging on the wall became clear, Kei grinned in high color and jumped up and down. She clasped Touri's hands and laughed with a tone of a jolly kid turning devilish.
Touri grimaced and asked with an uncertain tone, "Are you happy because we're in the same class?"
"Let's hurry!" Kei dragged Touri into the school building. She still met her friends at the hallway. Yet, she actively rushed towards her assigned classroom without care.
Kei peeked at the classroom, and after a second of wandering her eyes, she drummed her feet against the floor. She led Touri to the seat she wanted to sit. Touri whispered, "I understand now."
On Kei's left, a man with fringe hair peacefully read a book with a trident on its cover. The man didn't seem to notice her, completely immersing in his own world. Kei curled and uncurled her fingers, gazing at the book with focus. She uttered,
"N—Non-fiction?"
The man turned at her in a pause, his peace breaking. Soon, his half-closed eyes widened towards the book. "Oh… This?"
A slow smile was built on Kei's face. "Do you like reading books, Akira?"
Akira slouched in his chair and continued reading the book. "I'm just bored."
Slightly shaking, Kei took a deep breath to calm herself. She soon leaned towards Akira and asked, "What books do you like?"
"I just read what's available."
"So you're in the library often?"
"I play Tama-chan sometimes."
Kei shook her head in disbelief, though she already knew about that to him. She asked in high spirits, "Really? What level are you?"
"Just enough."
"Ehh? I'm already level 85. Wanna be friends with me?"
"You don't need friends in this game."
"W—What a bummer." Kei's head lowered, her shoulders slumping. However, underneath that bow was a slack expression on her blushing face.
***
A happy reunion in every section of the room caused chaos in the vision of the incoming teacher. She had a tall slender figure and wore glasses. Everyone noticed her entrance, but no one cared. She only stood there still, her lips flattening, chest out, chin up. Noise gradually decreased, and the students slowly returned back to their seats.
She smiled and let out a lady-like enchanting voice. "Good morning, class! I hope you're able to enjoy your summer break. From what I can see, you really missed each other's company. I might have not encountered some of you in your previous classes, and I know someone already encountered me as their literature teacher," the teacher said while looking at Touri.
She continued, "First thing's first. I would like to introduce myself to you all. My name is Shizuku Hasemoto, and I will be your assigned homeroom teacher. I'm pleased to meet all of you."
""Good morning, Miss Hasemoto."" The whole class replied.
Kei leaned towards Touri, covered her mouth to the side, and whispered, "You seem to know each other. How's she as a teacher?"
Touri replied, "She seemed strict, but actually no. In fact, just like before, there's something in her aura that can silence the whole class. Her hot figure attracts most boys in the class, but what you can expect from her is that she's like an overprotective mom. I always turn to her when I have some issues with class."
"I didn't know you're bullied."
"I'm not, just a subject of quarrels. I'm the person who stitches holes before it gets bigger."
Miss Hasemoto announced, "Most of you came from classes A, B, C, D, and some were already friends. We can introduce ourselves in front for everyone to become familiar with each other. Can we start with someone who knew almost everyone here. Miss Furukawa?"
"M—Me?" Kei asked and looked away from her teacher's eye contact. Her face became blanched, yet when she noticed Akira staring at her, a gleam appeared in her eye. She stood up and walked widely towards the front facing the class.
Putting her hand on her chest, she said, "Hello! Most of you may have already known. I'm Kei Furukawa, a simple student. It's a pleasure to meet you all—"
That 'most of the class' uttered their opinions, and some even joked, "Some? Our volleyball club is scouting you."
"Weren't you a member of the gymnastics club? I sometimes saw you there."
"No! I think she's the assigned librarian. She let me borrow some books at the library."
"Hey, hey, she's from the sewing club… Wait, wasn't she a member of the school committee?"
Miss Takemoto also inserted, "I thought you're the ghost member of the literature club, the one that my club president, Sekine, brought in."
Kei scratched her head and chuckled, "I only asked Sekine for some story advise. She was the best at explaining and summarizing stories. No wonder she became the president of the club."
"I see. Thank you for introducing yourself."
Kei went back to her seat, and the introduction continued for thirty-five students. Other than Akira and Touri, the last student caught her attention. Her dark brown hair carried bangs above her glasses. She stood with a stooped posture, making things awkward in the class. She bowed and said with a shaky voice,
"H—Hello. I'm Shino Takemoto, and I… I like foods. It's a p—pleasure to meet you all."
"Thank you, Takemoto," Miss Hasemoto said. Shino walked back to her seat, hiding her face from everyone.
Touri asked me, "Do you know her, Miss Popular?"
"Everyone might know me, but that doesn't mean I know everyone," Kei said with a pinched expression. She soon stared at Shino, keeping still while encountering dizziness from an unknown cause.
"Okay, class! We'll be arranging your assigned seat. You may all please stand on the back first?"
As instructed, everyone stood up. Kei instantly dragged Touri while quietly being close to Akira. She clasped her trembling hands while smiling to nothing.
Touri sighed and pinched her forehead. "Let's hope things became in your favor."
Seats were assigned. Kei was placed on the back row beside the window, and her only neighbor was Shino. Her shoulders dropping, she smiled bitterly knowing that Touri's seat was beside Akira's. Touri gave a peace sign and laughed silently.
Soon, Kei greeted Shino with an upturned face, "Hi Takemoto-san, in which class you came from?"
Stuttering while still bowing, Shino crossed her arms replied, "C—Class D."
"Wait… Are you the rumored… Oh, nevermind. Anyways, welcome to Class B! Unlike the other classes, you can always make yourself at home here."
"Home…"
"Don't you have a home?"
Flustered, Shino's head flinched back, and it's the first time she made eye contact with Kei. "N—No, it's not that!"
Kei laughed. "Just kidding. I'm just that type of person."
Shino pursed her lips, which soon built a slow smile. "N—No worries… Furukawa-san." She came back in her own world, clasping her hands underneath the table she was staring at.
On the other hand, Kei made a new friend, but the heaviness in her body didn't leave. In fact, it only amplified when they made eye contact. She held her scalp, her elbows resting on her desk. Trying to regain composure by remaining silent, she whispered in herself,
"There's something wrong about her."