*
Kaede was the first to reach the end of the queue.
"Ah! Uh... So what would you like?" (Young man)
He didn't seem that jittery before they changed to their casual outfits, it seemed that Kaede's fashion choice hit the right buttons that it stunned this seasoned veteran of a cashier... Nevertheless, he recovered quick and the words embedded into his soul leaked out like an automatic response.
Behind Kaede, Barius's cardigan could be seen trembling as she held her hands above her stomach to control her laughter. Neli swiftly nudged her in response.
"Ah... Uhhh..." (Kaede)
Unfortunately this was her first time speaking to a guy. She had untransformed once and knew she was a guy too, but she had simply gotten used to staying transformed since she gained awareness of her foreign ego when she was a magical girl. She assumed that she would easily be able to converse with anyone considering that she had both experiences as a guy and a girl, though it was an unexpected shame for her that it didn't go how she envisioned it to.
Sheepishly, she gazed at his face to feign confidence and then at the menu, then back his face. This goes on for a couple times before she settled on the basic option near the top of the menu. Thanks to his experience and facade of composure, the ordering went by smoothly for Kaede as she waited for her drink to get served up.
'Not so confident anymore, huh?' (Grail)
'Shut up... Maybe my ego was previously from a female...? I mean, they were likely a magical girl, so...' (Kaede)
The success warmed his cold anxiety riddled heart a little, the cashier cheered in his heart that didn't make himself a fool. But that was only the start of the obstacles that were to come... After all, next was Barius. She was a formidable foe no matter how anyone looked at her, even if her face or build wasn't to one's liking, her chic fashion and expensive looking wardrobe would rattle the hearts of most. Only someone married like his father could maintain complete composure in front of her without breaking a sweat.
Well, he wasn't exactly a kid anymore. Plus there isn't advanced education after The Great Disaster, he was completely free to do what he wanted career wise. Qualifications were more of a boon than a requirement. Nothing was holding him back from a relationship, add to it his marriageable age... Yes, he was using his single status and openness to starting a relationship to quell his anxiousness.
'It's fine if I'm shy. She's so beautiful who wouldn't be in awe? Not saying I have a chance with her, but I should make the most of it and enjoy my time!' (Young man)
Steeling his resolve, he parroted the same words that has saved all of his social interactions!
"What would you like to order?" (Young man)
These were the fruits of his resolve, the culmination of the cold sweat that dripped down his temples, his creaky spine that feel like they could give out at any moment, and all his life's worth of socialising experience. He felt proud, he felt accomplished. He felt security in his heart... It wouldn't last for long.
"... What do you recommend?" (Barius)
After staring at the menu on the counter while his thoughts shuffled around and cycled like cards, she shifted her gaze back up at his to ask for a suggestion. His stare lingered onto hers for an extra 2 seconds before blurting out another memorised line.
She was far from the first who asked for a recommendation, his body's instincts have saved him once more from getting lost in how cute her gesture was. He had almost become mesmerised by her movements when she had turned up from the menu to face him.
Barius... Had little experience in this regard as well. Both before and after becoming a magical girl, she didn't interact with guys much unless Kaori was counted. But even then, there was a psychological layer to it when Kaori was a magical girl and therefore treated like a girl in her mind, like a protective mental barrier that kept her in her comfort zone. She didn't have to tread the unknown and Kaori didn't have to be so awkward around her, with that convenience in mind, everyone ignored the questions brought forth by Kaori's gender, even herself.
If she hadn't been a magical girl, she wouldn't have noticed the awkwardness. Becoming such a super being, she could accurately estimate the duration of 2 seconds, as such the 2 straight seconds when the cashier was staring right into her eyes had become more obvious. She didn't know how to react or to make things worse, or else she would have lost the right to laugh at Kaori. So she dismissed it and picked out the order that he recommended. She smoothly made her way to he side like Kaede did and waited for her order to be done while Kaede picks hers up.
The last one in line was Neli. She had a relaxed air to her that coincidentally spread to him. He found himself being his usual self, he thought it rude to attribute that to Neli looking like a normal girl, but perhaps it was just her gentle disposition showing through her body language. Or perhaps having gone through the other 2, he was too exhausted to be shy and had left his bodily functions on auto pilot to work out the job for him. Telling his dad the final order, he was on standby at the counter.
Now comes an additional hurdle, he was really tempted to stare at their beauty to appreciate it, but he didn't want to come off as a creep. Having inherited some of Kaori's memories, Kaede had an inkling to the raging storm of indecision brewing in the deeper recesses of his mind. Feeling an ounce of pity, she thought it better to distract him with conversation instead.
On the other side of the counter... He was recounting all of his life's experiences. Quickly and skillfully, he regained the aura of a professional cashier, his smiling business face was on and his psyche was now flooding with composure... Then he saw Kaede walking closer... His sweat crept down his back once more, but he maintained his pro face.
There weren't anymore customers, so he was actually quite free at the moment. His dad was the one concocting the drinks and receiving the orders while he managed the cash register and the customers.
"Hey, I was wondering how long you've been a cashier for? Was this shop around before the disaster?" (Kaede)
Her heart skipped a beat and her calmness almost descended into chaos. She maintained eye contact, noticing that his gaze swept past her from down to up before maintaining that level of eyesight... What she's actually worried about... Was that she mentioned about the disaster.
It was one of the subjects that she was less sensitive to. Considering she didn't have any memories of what happened before... She is only aware of the world that exists after The Great Disaster. It wouldn't be wrong to say she was akin to the next generation, born after The Great Disaster.
Her mood nearly dropped due to her mistake, but before that occurred he spoke up.
"... Hmm... I would say that I've waited at cafes before, but it's a lil different from being a cashier I guess. This shop... Was a suggestion from my mum, she wanted to spread joy with sweet drinks. After all, anyone would get cheered up by some sugar." (Young man)
" Oh, I'm sorry about your mum... " (Kaede)
"...?! Wait, no! She's still alive! She's just sleeping in the back right now, she's enjoying life so you don't have to worry about it. " (Young man)
" Ah... I'm sorry... Anyway, I'll let you get back to your business. " (Kaede)
Her cheeks blushed red, ashamed at what she had said. At the same time, Neli's drink was finally done. She walked away with a wry smile, the moment she turned away from him, she heaved a sigh of exhaustion and her smile fell off. Her expression darkened as she strode away...
Giving her drink to her, the cashier gave his business smile once more, determined not to mess up anymore. He was rather grateful that they were understanding... At least that's what he thinks.
"Thanks for coming by!" (Young man)
"Ah, yes! You too!" (Neli)
Neli grabs her drink before turning around to walk towards the rest. Her heart shakes violently while she tries her best to stay calm. Her shoulders tingle and her body is resisting the urge to convulsed from the embarrassment, but she manages to reach the other 2. Together, they walked off to find a suitable place to enjoy their drinks.
Still fresh on her mind, Neli cries on the inside. 'You too? You too?! Ahhhh!!! Was captain Barius the only one who spoke normally then? Kaori is a little funny, so I assumed she would mess up too... But I think I had the worse one...' (Neli) Lucky for her, the other 2 were busy being distracted by their thirst over. They wouldn't see her face contort as she wallowed in her regret.
"Mhmmm!! It's so sweet, almost as if it's melting my tongue!" (Kaede)
"Mhm!" (Barius)
Despite being magical girls that no longer need water to live, they still retained their taste buds and ended up indulging in them to enjoy life. It also helps to remind them of their human roots and keep them sane. After all... People would still want to view themselves as human.
"Anyway, what was that about...?" (Barius)
"Hnn? I was just bored. " (Kaede)
"Heh~? So you started a conversation to cure your boredom? Do you throw away your toys right after you're done? I feel so bad for that poor guy... " (Neli)
She decided to distance herself from her own paranoia by teasing Kaede instead. She was also a little cute when she's teased.
" I-It's not like that! "(Kaede)
Completely taken by Neli's attempt to hide her own embarrassment, Kaede put her drink down to grab her with both hands. She was going to shake her until she conceded, but Neli reacted in time and grabbed Kaede's hands with hers. Palm to palm their fingers crossed over one another's, pushing like fighting bulls. Neli being more assertive than usual was cause for more alarm to Kaede, and so her plan was a success.
Barius simply laughed at their antics, completely aware of what the 2 went through. So she was dragged in. Simultaneously, Neli and Kaede released a hand and grabbed Barius to pull her in. She wasn't so lucky to react in time, her laughter had caused her eyes to close with tears.
If someone were to look at them now, they 3 could only look like normal girls playing around...? Maybe normal isn't the word, but peaceful. It was only through enjoying peace could such a thing happen. An elderly couple on their way to go jogging observed with lukewarm eyes as they passed by. Perhaps humanity could still hold onto hope... Even if over 80% of it is gone. The impact of the disaster was like a phantom that always loomed behind the back of people's heads.
Collecting her thoughts, Kaede recalled what happened at the store and after. Strangely enough, these memories felt really pleasant for her, like a blanket with the perfect temperature had wrapped itself around her. She smiled at her nearly empty cup, enjoying the flavours and then the activities they did.
... It was her first time feeling like this. Memories are kept in the soul, as a foreign ego she had none of her own memories transferred over. She was practically a newborn...
That was why... 'Should I stop? Should I just stay like this? I... What should I do?' (Kaede)
'...' (Grail)
"..." (Barius)
Eventually, they finished their drinks and noon hit. The sun was at its brightest, swallowing their world whole with its light. Speaking of the sun, ever since the bout with the progenitor, Frey, zenith commander of the Rising Knight order had returned. She had most probably gone to the front to help out. They moved to a more open location near the ruins, so they don't accidentally destroy the city. It was time for their own duel.
Their footsteps brushed against the sandy ground, alerting any creatures nearby, and their spirits were firing up. On the outside they might seem calm, but on the inside they were like bombs waiting to explode. Standing at their desired locations, a faint light brighter than the afternoon sun wrapped around their casual clothes. Then the light shatters, revealing their combat dresses. Since the dresses had more volume than their casual clothes, it seemed like they were packed tightly under the casual clothes and spilled out in a flood of cloth when they transformed.
Kaori's combat dress was as the name suggested... A vibrant dress shaped for combat. Barius had something akin to a school nurse outfit but with a frilly mini skirt under the lab coat and double layered vest.
The moment they finished transforming, they let out their auras. As if stretching a stiffen limb with maximum force, their mana signature poured forth like an unstoppable deluge that ran everything down. Some of the weaker wild live animals that settled in the ruins received a cardiac arrest. Their auras clashed for a moment before silence returned to the battle field.