***(Ledia)
Her thoughts reorganised, she carefully examined her room. Under Central was a labyrinth of its own, she was to live here from now on.
She couldn't quite relax, getting used to a new home in a day was impossible... And it was also a reminder of why she lost her old home. Earlier that day, she had visited her dad in the hospital. He was awake and well, said that he would discharge in less than half a week.
But she couldn't be any elated at that. Just because her father was doing fine? Just because she's about to live a new and stable life? What good is any of that... If her mother wasn't there to enjoy it with her. They had planned to enjoy the Life Festival together, the one that takes place tomorrow...
It felt like there was a gaping maw in her heart, one that would never fill no matter what, and the more she dwelled on it... The more her tears would flow out.
"Ughh... Uuuuh..." (Ledia)
Her wails of despair leaked feebly from her throat as she envisioned a Life Festival without her mother. She looked back at her bedroom door. She has done this for a few times now, gazing at the door inbetween sobs... Half expecting her mother to open the door, half knowing she would never see her again. She knows what she's doing is irrational, but it was an inexplicable compulsive urge. She can't help but hope, hope that in this nightmare that people call The Great Disaster had never happened.
She lost her friends during the disaster, everyone was displaced and would never see each other ever again. She can't help but be frustrated that her life was uprooted in an instant, and for what? 'We don't know'. The adults who were supposed to know everything and watch over everyone... Simply rolled over and couldn't give her a satisfactory answer. No one could. It was a Disaster, and it happened.
She was just supposed to accept that fact. She was supposed to continue living as if nothing had happened. Her favourite restaurants would never open again, her favourite meals, the attractions and malls she wanted to visit, her friends that she would like to play with... All of these things would never come back. But for a moment, just for a tiny moment... She was happy... Because her family was there... Because she was loved and adored as she wanted by her parents. In this ridiculous disaster that all of humanity could not help but bend over and accept, her beloved parents stayed with her and took care of her until she finally got used to life like this.
Then what about now? What is she supposed to feel now...? She held herself together for the past few days... Because she couldn't help but ask, 'what am I supposed to feel?', after all this happenstance. After all these life changing chaos... Irreversible and unrelentless... Not enough space to breath, but just enough to groan in pain...
Or that she simply knew. If she were to stop and think... If she were to reminisce about what she had in the past and ponder what she had lost...
"UUUUAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" (Ledia)
It would result in a violent torrent of emotions that would erode at reason. It would dig her deeper into the pits of despair and make it impossible to climb out of. It would bring her so much grief that she wouldn't know what to do other than to wallow in it until she died of starvation. The worst part was that... She couldn't starve herself even if she wanted to, magical girls wouldn't suffer from hunger... The pain would drive her crazy and she would transform into a magical girl out of fear... It would all be for naught...
It was like a storm she could not escape, a typhoon that has her fully encapsulated. She slams her fists into the ground in an attempt to quell the rage in her heart, her tears trace a clear line down her cheek and neck.
*Tap tap* *tap tap*
She hears soft steps gradually getting closer from outside the room, gentle, firm yet reassuring footsteps. She opens her winced eyes, desperately wiping her tears away so she could see clearly. Her nose was stuffed with fluid, she wipes it off in a hurry, leaving her hands and shirt sticky. Then she looks towards the door once more. With a swift click and a prolonged creak, the door opens.
There were a few girls there, slightly older than her. She looks at them in utter confusion, examining them from face to face, as if to look for her mother among them. They wore casual clothes that one would wear at home. They remind her of the time she would go shopping with her mother, and when she could just tell that Ledia wanted a certain apparel even without any words... Where is she? I want to see her! Where is she?!
Her thoughts screamed so as her head vigorously switches from face to face. They must be the nearby neighbours, did they get mad that she was crying too loudly? Their faces are serious, devoid of smiles and warmth. The one in the centre, a slightly older girl with straight black hair and a beidge knit sweater and greyish blue skirt stepped forward. Without giving time for her to react, the girl in the centre wrapped her arms around her head.
"...?!!!?" (Ledia)
Her heart rate rose for a moment then it fell. Because... It was warm. The sweater was woven with thick yarn, her accumulated body heat covered her face and dried her tears. In response... Her arms wrapped weakly over the woman's back. Her thoughts were no longer rushing through her mind, her throat caught hiccups as her sobs have finally stopped. The woman gently pat the back of her head.
The other 2 girls... Turned on the lights of her home and closed the entrance door behind them as they left. They seemed to be in a rush, but she didn't know any better having her vision blocked by the girl's chest. Her shoulders have stopped convulsing from her deluge of tears and her breathing was recovering. She had screamed so much earlier that she ran out of breath as well. As she recovered her strength, she only held on the girl tighter.
"Have you calmed down?" (?)
Once again... She was reminded that this individual was not her mother... That she was imposing on a concerned stranger... Everyone in this labyrinth was a magical girl or their relative, it was hard not to hear the wailing of a lone girl. At first, they decided to leave her alone. As long as someone else was there with the new girl who just moved in, it should be fine...
But she was alone. When they had stepped into the apartment, it was completely dark. In the labyrinth, there is no sunlight. Inside one's home, it would be completely dark unless one were to turn on the lights. The lighting from outside the window wasn't that sufficient, because it was all low energy mild light lamps, giving the labyrinth a dim somber air. With complete darkness surrounding this girl's home, there was no longer any need to hesitate. Just in case she needed help, they reached out to her bedroom door...
Was she lonely? Or was it something else that bothered her? At this age... It couldn't be anything trivial... And for the residents of the labyrinth, magical girls... It was unfortunately not an uncommon story. To lose one's loved ones, and to transform into a magical girl from that stress and grief... No one should have to experience such a thing. They would start thinking along the lines of 'why hadn't I awaken earlier? Why couldn't I save them when it was during an important moment? Why did the world transform me only after it mattered...?'
Ledia visited her father early in the morning and reached home before noon. It was only 10 am. With no Internet, most people recovered their typical circadian rhythm. A lot of people were awake at this time. To investigate the source of the noise, to uncover the reason why a lone girl was crying profusely, to help someone in need... A duty that many in this labyrinth would earnestly take up.
Outside the apartment, there were a few more magical girls observing the situation. With the snappy words of one, they began to disperse, not wanting to bring anymore discomfort to Ledia if they were to be found out. This was a job for her neighbours.
She had finally recovered fully, she lifted herself from the stranger's chest. A gentle but awkward smile adorns her face, she was beautiful and comforting at the same time.
"Wait a bit, the other 2 are bringing some food. You should have something warm before we talk. Don't worry, only the 3 of us know about this, we'll keep it under wraps. Okay?" (?)
"... Un." (Ledia)
When she finally settled into her new home... She let herself loose, and was driven by the chaos of her own emotions. It was reassuring that there were some kind neighbours willing to stay with her until she was okay. She looks at the girl's sweater, making an uneasy and apologetic expression. For some reason, now of all times... The simple words of apology would not come out. She lowers her Jaws and lifts open her lips, but her throat wouldn't open and let her voice through. The girl following her gaze, let's out a sheepish chuckle before reassuring her.
"... It's okay! It's okay! I can just wash this some other time. You don't have to talk now, your throat hurts and your face feels dry right? We can chat all you want later, so you can rest here. I'll be here with you." (?)
Her heart fills with an inexplicable warmth. A mere stranger... Was able to spark such an immense amount of passion in her chest... Someone who helped while expecting nothing in return... On one hand she was moved, on the other, she was concerned... She was still 13 when The Great Disaster struck... She was definitely a person who had lived in the modern age. So her modern civility was uncomfortable accepting unconditional charity from a stranger...
*Ton! *
The entrance to her apartment opened with a viscous smack as the 2 reentered her living space.
"Yo! Marie! We're back!" (?)
"Jeez! Why'd you kick the door open?! You're just going to scare her with that energy!" (?)
"A-ah...! I-I'm sorry..." (?)
Ledia looks towards them from her bedroom. She was sat in front of her bed's side which faced her bedroom's entrance, and the apartment's entrance was slightly away from it at a diagonal. Marie was sat next to her, she was the girl in the knit sweater who comforted her until she calmed down.
"Oh right, name's Marie. The brunette who kicked the door is Asha and the girl who chided her is Temue. Let's have a meal! Have you eaten yet? Well, a little extra wouldn't hurt!" (Marie)
Unexpectedly, Marie was the easy going type. Though she only knew for a short time, Asha seemed to be the energetic but also unexpectedly serious type. While Temue who looked a cheerful with her curls was the docile but balanced type that reigned in Asha. They all seemed so colourful, the brilliance of the apartment lights began to pale in comparison.
After eating the hot porridge that Ledia learned was made by Asha, she regained enough of her voice to speak softly.
"... My name... Is... Ledia..." (Ledia)
She began with an introduction, she reminded herself that she was imposing on total strangers. Shrunk back in fear, it was difficult for her to turn her head up and meet their gaze. But when she did... She was only met with smiles.
"... Glad to meet you, Ledia. I'm Marie. I live in the apartment to your right. " (Marie)
"... I'm Asha... I live in the apartment to your left. If you have any problems, don't hesitate to ask for my help, I'll come rushing!" (Asha)
No, please don't come rushing... That's scary.
" And I'm Temue. If you can't handle these 2, you can request help from me as well. I'll do my best. " (Temue)
They each offer extended hands... But she was afraid... Vamaly naturally kept her at a distance away, so she was fine.. But she was afraid of replacing her mother with any of the 3 here... She didn't ever want to forget about her mother... She didn't want her precious memories of her to disappear.
"Speaking fo which... If you're comfortable, would you confide in us?" (Marie)
They switch to serious expressions. Ah... So that's the face they were making earlier, when they first opened her bedroom door. It was completely different from the serious expression they have now. What they felt before meeting her... Was pity. Then it stands that they likely already have some idea.
"... My mother... She's dead." (Ledia)
Thankfully her tears had dried up. Her eyes were a little uncomfortable, but she prevented herself from crying in front of them this time.