After a couple of classes, the school bell rang. It signaled the start of recess. Students began to flood out of their classrooms, eager for a break and a chance to eat their lunch.
Outside, on the school's rooftop, Nozomi and Yoshino sat side by side, enjoying the tranquility only found in a place where no one would bother them. They each opened their bento boxes, the smell of home-cooked meals filling the air.
Yoshino finished her lunch first and took the last sip from her thermos. "Phew, I needed that. Now that I don't have to rush to avoid being late to class, I can actually enjoy my food instead of just gulping it down." Her voice was relaxed as she exhaled a satisfied breath.
Nozomi nodded in agreement. Her mouth was full of food as she mumbled a 'Yes'. Between bites, she occasionally offered a morsel to Seiza, who was still inside her school bag. After reassuring him that it was no trouble, she stroked his back gently as he ate, creating a quiet bond of tenderness.
Once her bento was empty, Nozomi turned to face Yoshino. Her worried eyes searched her friend's face. "I know it may sound annoying to ask this again, but... are you really okay? Like, truly okay?" Her voice wavered with genuine concern.
Caught off guard, Yoshino's eyes widened before her gaze softened, drifting down to her thermos. The silence stretched awkwardly, filled with unspoken thoughts. Finally, she sighed and spoke. Her voice was tinged with vulnerability. "Honestly, if the lack of sleep I got is any indication… probably not. So much happened in less than a day that I... think I need some time to process it all."
Nozomi nodded, trying to convey her empathy through a reassuring smile. "I see. Well, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," she offered, her eyes filled with earnest support.
Yoshino's lips curled into a faint smile as she nodded slowly. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind..."
The rooftop grew silent. Each girl was lost in her own thoughts. After a moment, Yoshino's mind snapped back to a lingering question. "Nozomi... where's Seiza? Did you... leave him at home?" Her voice wavered with lingering disbelief about the talking dog's capacity for speech.
"Oh, I'm here. Just wait a second..." Both girls turned to Nozomi's partially open school bag as it widened further, allowing a small puppy to leap out.
"Phew, that was way more cramped than I thought. I can barely feel my legs," Seiza grumbled, wobbling slightly as he found his footing. "But don't mind me. You already have too much to worry about."
"Um, yes, sure..." Yoshino replied awkwardly. Her eyes darted away from Seiza.
After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, Nozomi spoke up. "So... about our conversation yesterday..."
"Oh, yes. Did you want to know anything else from me? I... can't guarantee that I'll know the answer to every question, but I'll do my best," Seiza responded. His earnest expression eased some of Yoshino's apprehension.
Yoshino pondered his offer before turning to Nozomi with a lingering question. "Well... now that it's brought up... I do have some questions... but there's something I would like to ask Nozomi first..."
Nozomi tilted her head, curiosity lighting her eyes. "Hmm, me?" She pointed at herself, wondering what could be more pressing.
Yoshino nodded. Her voice was hesitant. "Yes, I... don't know exactly how to ask, but... Nozomi, are you going to keep doing this?" Her eyes revealed the depths of her worry.
"Hmm? Doing what exactly?" Nozomi asked, needing clarification.
Yoshino sighed and clarified her question. "This... whole magical warrior thing."
"Oh..." Nozomi's expression clouded as she grasped the pendant with the bull mark emblazoned on it. "That." She stared pensively at the pendant before shrugging. "Probably, yeah."
Yoshino's disbelief was evident, her expression one of bafflement. "B-but why? You heard Seiza, right? Those things... darkspawns... plural, it means there are more of them. Why would you want to go out there and... fight more of those things?"
Nozomi thought for a moment before responding. "Back then... when I met Seiza in my room... I thought I was dreaming. I mean, can you blame me? A talking dog, magical clothes, powers, fighting against monsters that shouldn't exist. Even when I saw you bleeding on the floor, I wanted to believe it was a dream just to deny the horror I was witnessing," she confessed, avoiding eye contact as she relived the painful memory.
"But... the moment that monster struck me, I realized that it wasn't a dream, but something worse," Nozomi recounted. Her voice was tinged with a quiver of lingering fear. The memory was vivid, as if it had just happened. Slowly, she reached up and touched her left shoulder, as if feeling the ghostly echoes of the pain she had endured. Her fingertips brushed against the fabric of her shirt, but in her mind, she was reliving the moment when sharp claws had raked through her flesh.
A shiver coursed through her body, uncontrollable and involuntary. She closed her eyes for a brief moment. The scene played out in her mind: the shock of impact, the searing agony that had exploded through her shoulder, and the sight of her own blood pouring out. It was far too real and visceral to be part of any dream or nightmare.
"It was reality," she continued, voice barely a whisper, laden with the weight of that terrifying revelation. The physical pain had been unlike anything she had ever experienced—intense, excruciating, and nerve-wracking. Yet, it was more than just the pain. It was the abrupt, jarring awakening to the fact that her world had forever changed.
Taking a deep breath and returning to reality, she went on. "When I saw the blood pouring out of my shoulder, I felt... terrified. I cried from the pain and shock, feeling utterly pathetic. The monster even offered me a deal." Her expression hardened. "I told them they can shove it."
Yoshino could easily infer the nature of the deal. She grew a small smile formed at Nozomi's defiance.
Nozomi turned her gaze towards Yoshino, her scowl softened by the fiery determination within her eyes. "Those darkspawns, monsters—whatever they are—I don't care. If they ever threaten you or anyone I care about... they will have to answer to me first. So yeah... I won't stop until I'm sure no one I care about is in danger."
Yoshino's eyes widened in surprise at Nozomi's unwavering conviction before she sighed and looked up at the sky. "Seriously…" She looked back down at Seiza. "Hey... Seiza... can I ask something from you?"
Seiza raised a curious brow. "Sure... what do you want to ask?"
Yoshino hesitated before steeling herself. "Would you... be able to give me powers just like Nozomi's?" Her voice was firm with resolve.
Both Nozomi and Seiza recoiled in surprise. "Ehhh?!" they exclaimed simultaneously, bewildered by Yoshino's request.
"A-are you sure you want to do this, Yoshino? D-didn't you just question me about it?!" Nozomi asked. A bead of nervous sweat trickled down her face.
"Yes, but…" Yoshino trailed off before continuing. "I... can't just do nothing while you risk your life for me. I can't accept that."
Nozomi nodded slowly, torn between understanding and worry. On one hand, Yoshino having powers could make things smoother. On the other, it would place her in more danger.
Seiza's fake cough broke the tension, drawing their attention. "Er, sorry, but I'm afraid that's impossible, Yoshino."
Both girls turned to him, puzzled. "What do you mean by impossible?" Yoshino asked.
Seiza sighed, searching for the right words. "You're not compatible. The power Nozomi uses comes from the pendant I gave her," he pointed at the pendant, "but to use its power, you need to embody the sign you were born with. Nozomi's a Taurus; she embodies qualities like loyalty and bravery. Without the right sign and traits, the pendant won't work."
Yoshino thought for a moment. "So, because of these... specific requirements... I can't use the pendant's power, right?"
Seiza nodded. "Exactly."
"But how do you know which sign I am? I don't remember telling you," Yoshino asked, raising an eyebrow.
Nozomi chimed in. "Oh yeah, I didn't even remember I was a Taurus at first. How did you know?"
Seiza shrugged. "I can see it. It's like a symbol floating slightly above your head."
Both girls blinked in surprise. "W-wait, so you can... see our signs?" Yoshino asked incredulously.
The puppy nodded. "Well, everyone with a sign. Yours is Capricorn. If you had the potential to use this power the symbol above you would be glowing like Nozomi's."
Yoshino absorbed this information with a simple "Oh" but remained resolute. "Even if I can't help with magic, I can help in other ways. I just need to find them first."
Nozomi nodded, albeit hesitantly. "I guess…?" she murmured, unsure of how Yoshino could help safely.
The sound of the school bell signaling the end of recess snapped Nozomi out of her thoughts.
"Already? Urgh, and next is math!" Nozomi groaned, gathering her belongings and allowing Seiza back into her school bag, which fit him thanks to his magic.
Yoshino smiled and rolled her eyes. "Come on, if you're late again, the teacher will give you your second earful of the week!" she teased, waiting by the rooftop door.
Nozomi sighed but followed her, resigned to the inevitable.
As they walked back inside, Seiza thought about Yoshino's wish to become a magical girl. There is another way, but…
He shook his head. No, that should truly be a last resort.
With that, they returned to their routine, each carrying their own hopes, fears, and unspoken thoughts.