*
It's been a day since the raid on the underground labyrinth, the enemy had placed her palm on where my previous wound had been and activated her skill. As if growing out of nowhere, a large pillar of unknown material expanded and grew out of her palm to hit me with absurd amounts of force. It drew back my recovery date by a month or two, the damage was distributed all over my body so the hospital staff couldn't estimate a precise date for my health.
Plopping down into my seat, I place down my sling bag and bring out the relevant materials for the lesson. The incessant chatter occupied the atmosphere to the brim, making it seem like an actual school environment. What didn't fit in this setting was the source of the low growling at the corner of the classroom. Naturally I got curious and went investigate it at the start of the day before returning to my seat.
It was bound by 3 layers of chains with minimal magic inscriptions over their metallic surface, the magical glyphs and unknown language glowed with a mystical gleam. Dark crimson fur like blood poured over some parts of the chains as a tightly bound snout stood pointed at a student with the occasional dripping of drool onto the floor made extremely audible. Occasionally, it would attempt to pounce at a target only to be stopped by the restrictive magic chains.
It was good to use magic chains and 3 layers of it too for better measure as the inscriptions were something already taught to the students. This particular type of glyph shaped like a triangle poking through a square was the common starting point of a series of magical inscriptions, the particular effect it held was to suppress the target's magic or prevent it from using magic at its usual level.
Usually for a weak monster species like this, known as a Bloodtrope that even C grade magical girls can take down, the magical inscriptions would completely nullify their use of any magic and they would pretty much become punching bags. As a weak and common monster, we learned of its existence in the first week along with a bit of history of magic, and practicing a bit of magic. We didn't learn about any new monsters in the second week but had a test about the contents of the first week and a bit of practical magic theory.
In terms of its relative strength to other monsters and magical girls, it's pretty much a rat. It may dodge your fist with its speed but area of effect magic would easily defeat it. If I remember correctly, its first skill was [Agile], followed by [Hard claws] and [Sonic Jaw]. 2 of its skills were dealt with by the chains bounding the bloodtrope up and [Hard claws] was suppressed by the magic inscriptions.
Honestly, [Hard claws] was quite a scary skill that usually wouldn't show up in a magical girl show. Sometimes the skill's name won't accurately portray its effects, at first glance it may look like an enhancement skill, but it was not. What it did was that it made the material that the monster's claw come in contact with become soft. As long as it kept pouring magic into its claws, it will turn anything it touches soft like pudding to allow its normal strength claws to tear into it easier than it can tear paper.
Even then, there were some abilities that aren't necessary skills but actually part of its biology even if fueled by magic. The general consensus was that a skill was a super complex combination of magical glyphs and languages intricately connected in your body to manifest a magical phenomena. So if there were no such magical inscriptions, then they simply weren't skills.
They were just basic biological advantage from evolution boosted by and taking advantage of magical particles present in the air. Like how organisms evolved to take in oxygen efficiently, monsters evolved to take in magical particles and enhance their physical capabilities naturally, forming metal-like appendages or special abilities. That was why the bloodtrope actually had the strength of a bear. It wasn't impossible for a man to defeat it unarmed, but it was still too dangerous for the modern man.
Firm footsteps echoed louder and louder down the hallways from the direction of the stairs, most students rush back to their seats with bated breath as the normal oppressive atmosphere returned. An atmosphere of silence. As Jein sensei stepped through the classroom doors, she had a grave expression as if biting into something bitter. Nevertheless, only her expression gave away her thoughts as her body kept complete stillness with its composure. Usually an incident on such a scale would send one flying into rage, but right now she was a teacher and she needed to teach.
"Ahem! As you all know, there was a large fire yesterday near the South Western part of our labyrinth. A total of 7 casualties have shown up with the last body appearing this morning. Unfortunately, we lost one of our own in this classroom, my condolences to her close friends. We will now... begin the lesson... "(Jein sensei)
Usually one or two classmates would be chattering in the background as the teacher went about the lesson, though that didn't seem to apply at this moment. Awakening as a magical girl didn't have an age limit or an age requirement, magical girls themselves span across a range of ages, whereby some of us were simply not mature enough to sit still in the classroom. It was a common experience that everyone goes through, giving in to the urge to talk to your friend during lesson about what you found interesting last night or other trivial topics, annoying the teacher in the process.
In fact, such a cute and youthful vigour helped some people to cope in this otherwise exceedingly serious environment. The teacher may admonish them and all, they may not even be purposefully disrupting the lesson. They may not even know some people are overhearing their conversations and secretly thanking them for the breath of normalcy in what was definitely an abnormal environment.
As yesterday had shown, not even a student could escape cruel fate. With death lurking in random alleyways, even the comforts of the modern labyrinth cannot cleanse away our anxiety. Everyone usually kept to themselves, have their own complicated situations to deal with. So I could at least speak for myself, I try not to think too much about it,and I barely keep myself sane. Kids like us aren't meant to fear death at any moment, but it is an integral component of our current reality. That death is looming and looking for heads.
Focusing on the lesson, my stray thoughts vanished like the flames of yesterday's raid. Before my awareness got hold of it, break time had already arrived to rest our weary minds.
".... Nee~ Myuu."
"?.... What is it? "(Myuu)
Her brown twintails bobbed in confusion as large eyes and a cute nose faced my direction. Her facial feature fit together intimately to present a puzzled expression that could cause one's heart to flutter from the cuteness. Unfortunately, if the mind was not in the mood, so was the heart.
"Do you mind sharing... Your goal? I feel out of it and have no motivation anymore."
For a few awkward seconds, the silence was palpable, as if something has seized my heart and froze it in a chunk of ice. It felt heavy and oppressive. Then she spoke.
"... The recovery situation isn't as optimistic as it seems. Nearly 10% of the survivors have contracted PTSD from the great disaster, and without professional help, countless went on to take their lives. My dad was lost to the great disaster, he was far away and not under the jurisdiction of the magical girl who saved me.
Receiving the bad news, my mother was traumatised and became a social vegetable. She already had underlying anxiety about her health before that. Simply put, her illnesses amplified each other into a state of utter despair for herself. I awaken not long after and attended to gain a secure position as a magical girl to support her. Magical warfare is on the rise, no common man knows how it would be like but they still need soldiers no? I'm willing to fight, though it isn't like I have a choice... "(Myuu)
.... Who knew under that upbeat exterior and funny magical girl title of "Playful Myuu" was... This much conviction and belief. I thought she had been a happy-go-lucky one, guess I judged the book by its cover too much.
"Huh. Even you huh..." Even you have such a goal. I could not utter out such a blasphemous statement. Of course she would that much resolve, they were her parents after all. I was but one of many, nothing special. I don't have enough attachment to pursue the same things that she is currently going for. Though not grand or impressive, it was at the least magnitudes more meaningful than my own objective.
Once again, I was forced to face the difference between one who was normal and one who was not. In this case I would be special, I would be odd, I would be defective. Back in Middle School, just announcing one's hobby would grant bullying treatment. What was wrong about loving magical girls? Why do you look at me as I was trash? Such thoughts plague almost the whole of my Middle School life. That was High School was a breath of respite more than anything, a place to run away from all that screwed up stuff. Was liking something different really that bad?
"Wait... You-..." (Myuu) Lost for words as well in this pin-drop silent atmosphere, she shifted her back quite a bit before regaining her composure. ".... Well, yeah. These things just happen, it's absolutely no good to dwell on them at all! Remembering what is important and keeping it close to you is fine, but I believe what's in front of you is more important. Wouldn't you say so?" (Myuu)
Looking at it now, it was a mistake. If anyone was actually living a peaceful and satisfying life on the surface, who the hell would want to risk their lives and become soldiers down here. There would obviously be something abnormal in their background story, at least abnormal relative to life lived before the great disaster. Even now, my throat is utterly repulsed by my thoughts, vibrating and shivering in protest of its unthoughtful owner. Under all that exhaustive movement, my back muscles feel sore from all the prolonged sitting during school lessons and my digestive fluids slam against my gastric walls.
" Mhmm~ Sorry for asking such a dull question... Mine were both dead, to run from the pain I've just been shutting out bad thoughts and distracting myself with other things. I was... So content with my new life. Yesterday was a shocker, it reminded me of my mortality. It reminded me how easy it was to die, and how prone to attack magical girls themselves were. I've always admired them, magical girls. Invincible heroines that come to save the day and humbly keep their identity under wraps.
I was enjoying life. The sheer impact of that attack... The glowing cinders in the background with the distinct crackling of flames. I couldn't forget it and I was using you to distract myself... I'm sorry! "
Breaktime lasts a mere 40 minutes, we still have quite a bit of lessons after this. Why was I making the atmosphere heavier?!
Heaving a deep sigh with here eyes closed, Myuu stood up from her seat... And walked towards me. Her eyelids were relaxed, little nose kept in place and lips parting at a neutral position. She gave completely no signs of emotion as her approach steadily closed the distance. Was it a punch? Or a slap? Did I disappoint her that much? I could only anticipate about her next actions while bathed in anxiousness. So I closed my eyes tightly and braced for impact. The impact came. It was soft. It wrapped around my body gently like warmth.
It was a hug.
"... Were you thinking something rude?" (Myuu)
"Nope." Cold sweat poured down my back. Am I sick? Sweat isn't suppose to be cold!
"Hmpf... I was narrow-minded. To think I was the only one that suffered... Was extremely arrogant of me. You miss your parents too don't you. Even if you pretend it's all okay, surely there were some happy memories that you cannot ever let go off." (Myuu).
Her pitiful chest pressed against the back of my head. Weird, bigger ones were suppose to be warmer since they have so much more fats and blood vessels, aren't they? So why is this... More warmer than yesterday's fiery hell? Why is it so... Calming. I want to treasure this moment. It's weird to say since a highschoolers chest is pressed against the back of my head and I'm resisting from sniffing her arms wrapped around my face, but every once in a while, this is nice too.
My tears were already dry because of those flames yesterday. Both directly and indirectly. But I can at least do this. Behold, my new and improved, never seen before, communication skills!
"... Thank you very much Myuu. I'm glad to have made friends with you." I flash a big smile at Myuu, the chiming of the bell blocking out all noise and signalling the end of break.