"Hey!" Ume said, running up to her.
Himari tilted her head, curious why the elder magical girl was speaking to her. Their interactions, so far, hadn't been that friendly. Himari would almost characterize them as borderline hostile.
"Hey," Himari said, deciding to be nice anyway. She disliked being mean to people, even jerks.
"We haven't really spoken," Ume said, somewhat awkwardly. "Want to go out for lunch?"
"I'd love to! Aiko told me about this super stylish shop nearby." Seina's friend seemed to have an eye for fashion. Impressive, considering she'd lived in slavery most of her life.
"I suppose," Ume said, crossing her arms. "I've had little need for fashion."
"Really?" Himari said, blinking in surprise.
"I rarely use my civilian form. It leaves me too vulnerable to a magical girl attack."
"No." Ume's partner, Hope, said. "It's because you have a terrible fashion sense."
"Hope!" Ume said in protest.
Himari fought the urge to laugh. "It's fine. I'm sure we can find you something nice! Besides, I'll keep an eye out for any trouble."
"It's still too much of a risk," Ume said, frowning. But the girl relented, untransforming after Himari's insistent badgering. Her civilian form wore a shabby gray and black school uniform, with only a bright red box around her neck for decoration.
A reluctant Ume followed Himari into the market area. Sellers peddled their various goods from stalls, buyers ruthlessly haggling for better prices. They sold products ranging from jewelry to actual farm animals. It was like a marketplace from a historical movie!
Some buildings housed indoor shops, but they were rarer, selling more specialized goods. It was a fun experience, nothing like she'd experienced back home.
"Would you like this shell necklace, dear? I can promise a good price." An older woman said. Much to Himari's sadness, the granny was missing a leg. She wasn't the only one who'd suffered such dismemberment, either. The vampire's reign of terror had left terrible physical and mental scars that persisted in their victims. However, Himari saw most stayed positive despite their adversity.
Himari gave a polite refusal, guiding Ume along further. The older magical girl wasn't as impressed by the market, instead keeping a watchful eye for trouble. Some wonderful scent caught Himari's attention, giving Ume a slight nudge.
"How about soba for lunch?" Himari asked, guiding them towards an old fashion soba stall.
"Sure," Ume said, still distracted.
Old habits die hard, I suppose. Still, Himari promised to give the girl a fun time.
"What will you have?" The stall's owner asked.
"Pork, please!" Himari said.
"Same," Ume said, nodding.
They shared their bowl with their fairy partners, Himari's eyes widening as she slurped up her first noddle. It was fantastic, the best she'd ever had. From Ume's wide-eyed expression, she thought the same.
"Grandpa, your soba is the best!" Himari said.
"Thank you, young lady." The stall owner replied, giving a grateful bow. "I inherited this stall from my father. Been a family business for generations! Though the vampires forced me to close it for several years." Grandpa's mode darkened before brightening. "Still, old bones haven't lost their touch, eh?"
"Indeed, you are a true master," Ume said, giving a rare smile. Himari supposed her past gave her a few reasons, too.
As they ate, Himari's companion suddenly asked a random question. "How old are you?"
"Eh?" Himari almost choked on her noodles.
"I've just learned Seina's pretty young. I'm just wondering if you're similar."
"Oh, I see. You're shocked to learn Seina's only ten!"
"You already knew about that?" Ume asked, surprised.
"Sure. Seina told me herself." The poor girl. Seina sure had plenty of responsibilities for someone her age.
"Figures." Ume sighed, entering a gloomy silence.
"Eh, a couple of eons."
It was Ume's turn to almost choking on her food. "What?"
"It's complicated. I entered the outer dimensions recently. It complicates matters. Time and space mean little there. So, my exact age is indeterminable. Before my trip? About two hundred."
"Huh," Ume said, somewhat lost for words. "May I ask another question? Why did you betray Starlight Dream? You served them for centuries."
"Not out of choice! Do what they ordered or die." But Himari sighed, staring into her soba. "But I suppose that doesn't excuse the terrible things I did. That is the reason I joined Seina, though, to make amends. Someone needs to stop the suffering."
"Hmm." Ume didn't sound totally convinced.
"I'm not alone, you know!" Himari said defensively. "We're all terrified to oppose the Devil Princesses!"
"Yes. But can you be forgiven for such terrible crimes, forced or not?"
"I know." Himari sighed. "But being human is about learning from our past mistakes and growing from them. Trying is better than quitting, right?"
"Though I'm hardly one to judge." Ume gave a self-deprecating smile. "My sins are numerous."
"I understand your doubt, but give me a chance to prove myself," Himari said, with feeling. "I promise you, I want to make my past right."
"You seem like a good girl. I'll keep an open mind."
"Great!" Himari said, Ume gasping in surprise as she seized the other girl's hand. "Friends!"
After recovering from her shock at Himari's sudden forwardness, Ume nodded. "Friends."
"Good! Let's eat up and do some shopping!" Himari scrunched up her face. "Something other than a drab school uniform."
"Okay, okay," Ume said, but she smiled.
Ume's just lonely. Has she ever experienced a normal life? No wonder she was so prickly. They ran hand in hand as they darted through stalls, trying on everything they could. While reluctant at first, Ume started having fun at the third clothing stall.
"How does this look?" Ume positioned a sundress before a mirror, seeing how it would look on her. While cute, the color wasn't flattering. The girl was terrible at picking out colors. Himari wondered if her new friend was color-blind.
"Get this one." Himari pulled out a similar dress from a rack. "Blue matches your eyes."
"That looks great on you, Ume!" Hope said, beaming.
"Thanks." Ume's said, hiding her reddening face as she pushed her purchase toward the woman at the cash register. "This one, please."
"Sure thing, dear." The woman replied.
"Where to next?" Himari said as they entered a park, leaving the stalls they'd been exploring. Ume wore her new outfit, looking absolutely adorable. As usual, Himari's taste was impeccable.
"Some ice cream sounds good." Ume pointed towards a stall near the beach.
"Sounds good," Himari replied, watching in amazement as her friend took four scoops over her single one. She hoped the girl would be careful and not ruin her new dress with them.
"You sure like sweets," Himari often spotted Ume eating Pokey sticks. She must have gone through four packs during the other day's meeting.
In response, Ume gave a noncommittal grunt. She jabbed at her bowl of ice cream with a spoon, a monstrosity where each scoop was a different flavor. They ate in silence as Ume decided to not respond any further.
"Thanks for this," Ume said, breaking the silence. "I needed this more than I thought."
"You're welcome," Himari said. "I was eager to learn more about my new teammate. When I was on Starlight Dream, I'd always heard rumors about you. Turns out you're just as cool in person!"
"Is that right? You aren't what I expected, though."
"Really?"
"You're so normal. It's a miracle you didn't get purged!"
"Not for a lack of trying." Himari forced those terrible first years from her mind. She'd seen so many nice girls dead for the slightest slip-up or careless word. The training had been cruel, meant to harden their hearts and terrify them.
"But it's better after you survive general training." Himari gave a slight snort. "The entire system is unwieldy, actually. They recruit so many magical girls that the higher-ups can't keep track of everyone. So some are more productive than others."
"Hence why girls like Takako are in it," Ume said, her tone thoughtful. "I've never seen a girl so lazy."
This earned a laugh from Himari. "If you keep your head down, it isn't the worst." Though, some magic girls were quite enthusiastic about spreading suffering. Himari often wondered if they were ever human.
"The real villains are the Devil Princesses!" Himari said with feeling. "If we beat them, maybe we can restore Starlight Dreamto a force for good! It just needs some reformation!"
"Is something the matter?" Himari said, catching Ume's odd expression.
"Oh, nothing," Ume said. "I'm just wondering what I was even fighting for?"
"Huh?"
"I thought I needed to kill every magical girl to stop Starlight Dream." Ume looked away. "I never imagined good people might be stuck within it. From the beginning, I should have aimed for the leadership instead. Stupid."
Himari grabbed Ume's hand, giving it a tight squeeze. "And I'll be here to help you. Together, we can make amends for our past mistakes and make a better future."
"… Thanks."
"Ume, are you crying?" Hope said, her voice teasing.
"No." Though, Himari noticed Ume avoiding her gaze. "Hey, look! They have an old fashioned Japanese artist over there!"
"Okay, okay!" Himari laughed as Ume pulled her in that direction to avoid their current conversation.
---
"So, this is the place?" Miko asked.
"Oh yes!" Nyx said, beaming. "This ugly rock is Seina's home!"
"Yuck, you aren't kidding about this being a junk pile." Miko studied the squallier these plebs called home. From their clothes alone, it was apparent these people had almost nothing. Despite being on the verge of being condemned, residents packed them. Some lived in actual shacks near the beach.
Miko turned toward their accomplice for her insight. "What do you think, Chō?"
"…" A pause as the girl observed two small children laughing as they pushed a shopping cart across the street filled with a random assortment of junk. "…"
"You're not wrong," Miko said, shaking her head. "It's too hopeful around here."
"…"
"My partner has a good point!" Kelv said. "Considering the planet isn't a wasteland, we've somehow beat the Devil Princess to the punch!"
"Miracle that." They'd known the universe's location, but the Devil Princesses could cover a considerable amount of ground with their godlike abilities.
"..."
"I know," Miko said, scowling. "If we fight Seina and her flunkies, it'd only attract the Devil Princess's attention." Then they'd be in real trouble. Their leaders wouldn't appreciate someone getting in their way and stealing their prey. "We'll just need to be quick."
"..."
"Yes, I'm positive Seina lives in Osaka! Her accent gave it away." Nyx said defensively. "She lives in the Prime Minister's residence. I bet she's still there."
"If Emiyo is anywhere, it'd be there," Miko said, nodding. "But that raises other issues. Seina and her flunked wouldn't be easy foes."
"..."
"That's a bold plan, Chō." Miko considered the possibilities and risks before nodding in agreement. "But necessary if we're to find Emiyo." She shuddered, considering the dank torture dungeon Seina probably had her kept.
"..."
"Okay," Miko said, nodding in agreement. "We'll wait till dark to enact our plan! We can't afford to get caught" While she didn't fear Takako, the girl had a habit of being unpredictable.
"Sure, let's find someplace comfortable," Kelv said, stretching. "I'm starving. We can snack while we talk. Hey, they have rice cakes!"
"..."
"We'll get some sushi too." The fairy replied. "I see a cart over there."
Miko beamed. It wouldn't be long until they rescued Emiyo, and this miserable planet was a smoking crater. And then, promotion for dealing with an infamous enemy of Starlight Dream! Her rise to lieutenant was long overdue! It'd take some convincing, but the Devil Princesses would appreciate Seina and her cohorts being captured alive. Miko giggled, already imagining her new office once they concluded this mission.
---
"Good work," Ume said. "That should be enough for today."
"Thank goodness!" Seina's arms were sore after defending hundreds of attacks, each striking harder than the last. Defending against her new teacher hadn't been easy, Ume always attacking where Seina would least expect. Her bodyguard nodded when she mentioned this.
"Yes, she seems to have considerable fighting skill." Mr. Kiyojiro said. "Are you self-taught, Ume? I don't recognize your fighting style."
"More or less," Ume said, shrugging her shoulders. "I've always had a talent for combat."
"We should get you a proper teacher." Mr. Kiyojiro said, considering. "You still have much room for improvement."
Seina paused, a sudden thought occurring to her. "These last centuries of endless fighting and you never got a proper teacher, Ume?"
"No, I didn't think of it," Ume said, flushing.
"That's Ume for you. So obsessed with revenge, she forgets everything else!" Hope said, laughing.
"Shut up, you!" Ume snapped back.
"You're not teaching her karate, Mr. Kiyojiro?" Seina asked when she brought up the point.
"No, it doesn't suit her." Her bodyguard said. "How about boxing? A gym opened a couple of days ago. The coach will be happy to teach you. He's an old friend."
"Boxing?" Seina said, confused. "But that's not a martial art."
"It is, but fancy martial arts aren't everything." Mr. Kiyojiro said. "A nasty right hook is just as viable as a palm strike. Besides, its uncomplicated nature suits Ume."
"Really? Why didn't you suggest boxing to me, though?" Seina asked.
"Because you need to learn discipline, and karate seemed the best suited to provide it." Her bodyguard said, making Seina flinch. He always seemed to draw attention to how easily distracted she could be. It wasn't her fault she considered training boring. Seina pointedly didn't make a comment on her bodyguard's unflattering observation.
"I'll consider it," Ume said, considering the idea.
"What about me then?" Himari said. "I've never trained in fighting whatsoever."
"You can join us in our karate lessons." Her bodyguard said. "See if you like it."
"I will!" Himari said, beaming with enthusiasm. "It sounds fun!"
Am I the only one who finds training stupid? Still, she supposed it'd be fun sparing with Himari. A sudden wave of loneliness struck her, reminding her of when she'd been training partners with the disguised Takako. They'd been fun days, even if it'd been a deception.
If she pestered Takako enough, would her friend join them for sessions? While a long shot, it seemed worth a try. Otherwise, her friend would just lounge around all day, reading manga. But would training even help her friend in the long run? Takako seemed better suited to magic than martial arts.
A yawn overtook her, the day's exertions finally gaining their hold. Seina allowed her bodyguard to guide her toward her room. Colten rested on her head, Seina smiling when she heard his quiet snoring. With another yawn, she slipped into her pajamas and brushed her teeth at Mr. Kiyojiro's insistence.
"Goodnight, Seina." Her bodyguard said, pulling the covering over his dozing ward. He gave her a gentle smile. While odd on his rough, gruff face, it was full of affection and love.
She snuggled close to Colten, enjoying his tiny body's warmth. "Night. Mr. Kiyojiro." Seina barely finished those words, falling into an exhausted, dreamless sleep.
---
Seina jerked in surprise as a hand clasped around her mouth, startling her awake. An unknown girl with brown hair glared down at her, venom in her eyes. Seina's heart almost beat out of her chest, recognizing the girl's elaborate costume. She was a magical girl.
"Where is Emiyo?" The girl asked.
Eh? Seina shook her head, not understanding the question. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. Behind the mysterious magical girl was a giant robot, its appearance something out of an anime. Its chaise was white, shaped like an egg with arms and legs. It filled the room, its domed head almost hitting the ceiling. Behind the cockpit's glass window was a green-haired girl with thick glasses who watched the scene impassively.
Seina shook her head, difficult with the brown-hair magical girl's vice-like grip. She flinched as the girl tightened her hold.
"I repeat, where is Emiyo?" The girl growled. "My power should allow me to find her anywhere, but it isn't working. I'd find her even if she was dead! Where have you hidden her?"
Emiyo? Seina's mind raced, wondering why a magical girl would rush to another's aid? Didn't the magical girls of Starlight Dream all hate each other? In desperation, Seina gave a slight shake of her head.
"You don't know, or you don't wish to tell me?" The brown-haired girl asked. Seina hissed in pain as the other girl's grip threatened to tear her poor head off. "You can say a few words. I'll snap your neck if you even attempt to summon your powers or cry for help."
Seina nodded in understanding, tears stinging her eyes. She'd never been this scared before, completely at the other magical girl's mercy. Her knees buckled, praying for someone to save her.
"She escaped! No clue where she went!" Seina said, trying to be as accurate as possible with so few words.
"What?" The brown-haired girl frowned. "A lie, surely!"
"No, Miko. It makes sense!" Said a familiar voice. It was Emiyo's partner, Nyx. "She's using her time powers to become out of sync with the universe! An easy trick to avoid detection magic. My partner is clever. Otherwise, Takako could find her easily."
"So we broke into here for nothing?" Miko said, sighing. "Oh, well. If we kill Seina, it'd all be worth it!"
No! Tears slipped along her face to plop onto Seina's sheets.
"Later!" Miko said, her tone all false cheerfulness.
Everyone in the room blinked in surprise as the arm holding Seina dropped away, blood splattering over her nice sheets. Seina screamed, scurrying away from her captor's arm as it landed on her knees.
"What?" Miko screamed even louder, grabbing at her stump in terrified confusion.
"I can't allow that." The newcomer held his sword in a protective stance, huddling over her.
"Are you okay, Seina?" Paliah said, his tone gentle and kind. It contained none of the nervousness he'd displayed before.
"Y-yeah," Seina said, her words coming out in a jumble. "Thank you."
"You the hell are you?" Miko said, staring at Seina's rescuer in both outrage and apprehension.
"Call me, Paliah." The knight said. "I'm Seina's protector. Touch a hair on her head again, and I'll sever yours from your neck!"