The existence of more Different Worlds was bad news.
Natsuyu's heart sank. He looked at the lost, dazed girl before him—the one with tears in her eyes, looking so delicate and pitiable—and her name surfaced in his mind.
Sakuraba Ema.
The First Playthrough Heroine of Magical Girl's Witch Trial.
A top-tier "uke-bait" type, pure-hearted, calculating, and good girl.
Natsuyu took a deep breath.
Setting aside the fact that he was the only male mixed into an all-female lineup—which, for Natsuyu, was arguably a good thing—just seeing this group of girls, each of whom was problematic to some degree, gave him a bit of a headache.
But at the very least, he had to be thankful. They were all good people and possessed certain abilities. There were no idiots who refused to follow orders like Yamauchi Haruki, nor were there pure-blooded villains like Freya.
Being teammates with good people—especially beautiful girls—was a treat. At least they weren't filthy thugs or bratty children.
"She looks like she just died recently."
Kiana stood up calmly, simply patting the dirt off her clothes. She boldly walked up to the corpse and placed her hand beneath its face to check for breath.
"No breathing, she's definitely dead. But the body is perfectly preserved with no changes, indicating the time of death is very close to the present."
Natsuyu was surprised.
As expected of a heroine living in an apocalyptic world; her courage was a step above his own.
But the problem was, wasn't Kiana supposed to have a "screaming idiot" character trope?
Which period of Kiana was this exactly?
She looked like she was in her initial skin, but she had shed her innocence—similar to how she would after her teacher died, after she beat up her friends, and after she shouldered her responsibilities. Yet, she didn't have that heavy, melancholic, "strong widow who lost her wife and mother" vibe.
"S-so amazing."
Sakuraba Ema murmured as she watched Kiana. She tried to stand up, but her legs seemed weak from the fright. With a short gasp, she started to fall again.
Natsuyu quickly steadied Ema by her shoulders, preventing her from hitting the ground. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, sorry... thank you. My name is Sakuraba Ema."
With tears hanging at the corners of her eyes, Sakuraba Ema shyly lowered her slightly pale face, evoking a protective instinct in those around her. Noticing the warmth from the palms gripping her shoulders, her face flushed a faint red.
Seeing that Ema was shy, Natsuyu waited until her slender, straight legs were steady before withdrawing his hands.
Kushida Kikyo stared at Sakuraba Ema.
Do people really just fall down on their own after standing up?
Could she be doing it on purpose?
But it didn't look like it; it was too natural.
Kushida deliberately avoided looking at the corpse. She let go of Natsuyu's arm and quickly adjusted her mindset, raising her hand high:
"Um, everyone was brought here by accident, so let's introduce ourselves! If we know each other's names and hobbies, it'll be easier for us to become friends."
Natsuyu glanced at her sideways.
She still wants to make friends even while looking at a corpse?
Haji-Kikyo, I really don't know if I should say there's something wrong with your head or if you just have a big heart.
Well, she certainly has "big" parts.
Just not the heart.
Kushida pressed her hands together, accentuating the abundance of "human hearts" beneath her shirt. She curled her lips into a slight smile and asked, "Also, I seem to have obtained a special ability. Do you guys have one too?"
Yukinoshita Yukino raised her head. "Hmm?"
Sakuraba Ema gasped, covering her mouth. "A S-Superpower!"
Kiana flexed her arm, showing off the beautifully lined biceps beneath her sleeve. She explained to the several ordinary people, "What you're talking about is Honkai Energy. I'm not entirely sure about the details, but basically, if you have Honkai Energy, you can fight Honkai Beasts."
Kushida blinked. "But my ability isn't called Honkai Energy."
Kiana immediately lost her cool, looking extremely surprised. "What? There's actually a power in the world other than Honkai Energy!"
In your world, there isn't.
But this is no longer your world.
I didn't expect that I wouldn't be the only one with a System Panel; they aren't simple either, having gained transcendent powers.
Natsuyu shook his head slightly and clapped his hands loudly to get everyone's attention:
"Everyone!"
"Kushida-san is right. It seems that because we entered this place, we have awakened Special Abilities."
"By the looks of it, we need to team up for Man vs. Wild here in the wilderness until we find a way home."
"Before that, we should understand the information of our teammates."
Sakuraba Ema showed a look of interest and nodded, whispering in agreement, "I agree."
Could she actually make friends here?
Great, I finally won't be alone...
Kushida Kikyo was delighted and echoed Natsuyu, "Exactly."
"Let's start with you."
Kushida looked toward Yukinoshita Yukino first.
Yukino had spoken the least and had been silently observing them, so Kushida hoped to help her integrate into the group first.
However, a problematic girl would not let her have her way.
"Yukinoshita Yukino. From Chiba, first year at Sobu High."
Yukino stated her name coldly. She crossed her arms in front of her "Kanto Plain," slightly tilting her snow-white neck as she spoke:
"As for making friends, there is no need. I am not interested in hypocritical relationships formed out of necessity and atmosphere—ones that crumble the moment you leave the environment."
"If we cannot return for a short while, I will fulfill my share of the duties here. I will not trouble you for help, so please do not worry about that."
Kushida's expression almost broke.
What is this "fake-cold" stinky bitch saying?
I really want to hit someone; the atmosphere I worked so hard to build was just ruined!
"H-hypocritical relationships..."
Sakuraba Ema shrank her neck, a visible look of wavering appearing on her face, but she soon showed a determined gaze:
"It's not hypocritical!"
Yukinoshita Yukino looked over.
Sakuraba Ema was intimidated by the cold-faced Yukino, but she still said firmly, "If I become friends with Yukinoshita-san, it definitely won't be a fake friendship. I believe everyone else also..."
She closed her mouth, lacking confidence.
Kiana watched from the side, feeling that the team was about to fall apart. She hesitated.
Should she do something?
Years of traveling through various countries alone to find her "stinky old man" made Kiana, who wasn't very willing to interact with strangers, feel hesitant.
Natsuyu asked, "So, Yukinoshita, what about your ability?"
Yukinoshita Yukino and the others looked over, somewhat surprised.
Natsuyu accepted their gaze calmly, showing no abnormality despite the previous argument.
Yukinoshita and Kushida having a disagreement?
That was nothing.
The fact that Yukinoshita Yukino cooperated with the self-introduction showed she wouldn't drag them down; she was already a very qualified, perfect teammate.
Willing to work, low maintenance, independent, no need to worry about her, and a cute face that was easy on the eyes just by standing there.
Was there a more perfect teammate in the world?
If it were Horikita Suzune—that same type of "Stand User"—she probably would have been uncooperative and acted aloof by now.
Between the two "cool-type" beauties, the difference was clear.
Hearing this, Yukinoshita Yukino hesitated briefly before speaking. "My ability is... turning into a cat."
"A cat?" Natsuyu was surprised.