What went wrong? What did she do wrong? Is this what the world has come to?A storm of thoughts swirled through Shizuka's mind as she stared at the magical girls on the TV screen, smiling and waving to their adoring audience.It was sickening. The magical girls she had once admired had become nothing more than ceremonial figures-a hollow husk of a symbol for peace, stripped of its true meaning.It took Shizuka a long time to recover from the realization. Deep down, she knew the truth: maybe she was too proud, maybe the mascots hadn't chosen her because of her personality. Maybe she was too full of herself, too convinced that she could do better as a magical girl.But was that so wrong?She had worked tirelessly since she was a child, striving to embody the values that magical girls represented. She didn't believe she harbored malice in her heart. And yet-why? Why wasn't she chosen?
The more she searched for answers, the more her head throbbed with frustration. With a heavy sigh, she sank deeper into the couch, her disappointment weighing her down like a stone.
The world... it was becoming complacent, wasn't it? Had people forgotten what it truly meant to be a magical girl?Her gaze drifted to the ceiling. It wasn't that she wasn't grateful for the magical girls who came before. She was. But it was unfair-unjust-that these new magical girls hadn't suffered, hadn't toiled for their titles. They hadn't earned the reverence they so easily received.
Shizuka had seen it firsthand-the sacrifices of the old magical girls, the battles that left them scarred, their near brushes with death. She had witnessed their pain, their perseverance, their triumphs hard-won through blood and tears.And yet, this new generation stood so high on their pedestals, embraced unconditionally by the world.How could that be fair?Had everyone forgotten the legacy of those who came before?Was the title of magical girl now nothing more than a fleeting symbol, sullied by fame and hollow adoration?Shizuka's thoughts churned endlessly, a storm of resentment and disbelief.But deep down, she knew complaining wouldn't change anything.She was just a fan-a mere human, after all.Glancing at the clock, she saw it was 8 a.m. Her first class started at 9, and there was no time to waste. Letting out a sigh, she set her feelings aside and prepared for the day.She showered quickly, pulled on her school attire-a plain black long-sleeved turtleneck, denim pants, and her ID-and stood before the mirror.She practiced her smile, trying to bury the lingering thoughts of the new magical girls.After taking a deep breath, she left her room, kissed her mother goodbye, and headed to the academy.At school, Shizuka moved through the crowded hallways, greeting her classmates with warm smiles.She wasn't the popular girl or anything, but she had earned her place among her peers.Friends came easily to her, many grateful for her small acts of kindness: explaining lessons, helping clean the classroom, or lending a hand whenever it was needed.Yet as she settled into her seat and the lessons began, her thoughts returned to the magical girls.No matter how hard she tried to focus, the image of their cheerful, idol-like personas clung stubbornly to her mind.It annoyed her to no end.The shock of what magical girls had become-and what they now represented-gnawed at her, refusing to let go.By the end of classes, her frustration had only grown. The day had passed, but her mind remained shackled to the idea of those magical girls and the changed state of the world they symbolized.---
While Shizuka was lost in thought,
somewhere far away, a black bunny floated mid-air, its tiny body shrouded in a quiet frustration of its own. IXX-the creature's name-replayed the scathing words of its superiors over and over.Its body was that of a black bunny, but not quite. The fur drank in light, a darkness so deep it felt like staring into a tear in the world. Smoky tendrils wavered at its edges, curling and dissolving into the air with every slight motion. Its red eyes gleamed faintly, glowing with an ancient, alien light that stripped away pretense and stared directly into the soul."IXX, your failures have been catastrophic. The magical girls thwarted your plans, and you've brought disgrace upon Nemesis. We've enslaved countless planets and universes, yet you failed to dominate this insignificant world at the brink of success."IXX let out a heavy sigh, aimlessly drifting from place to place.Everywhere it went, the same adoration for magical girls filled the air. It was suffocating.No dissent,no negativity,no resentment.It was maddening."Isn't there anyone? Anyone at all who's dissatisfied with this sickening idolization?"IXX muttered, scratching its head with a paw."There has to be someone out there."It was almost ready to give up when its ears perked at a faint whisper-not from the air, but from someone's heart."Are magical girls nothing more than a ceremonial title now?""How could anyone dishonor the legacy of those who bled and fought to protect the world?""What are those mascots thinking, turning magical girls into idols?""Has the world grown complacent? Have they forgotten the sacrifices we made?""Why wasn't I chosen to be a magical girl, when those incompetent ones were?"IXX froze, its ears twitching with excitement.Those thoughts-they were steeped in bitterness, confusion, and resentment. Exactly what it needed.A smile crept across its small, furry face.IXX zoomed towards the origin of the doubts and came across an academy.The bunny floated just above the academy grounds, its beady eyes scanning the sprawling campus. The place reeked of mediocrity.Tall, concrete buildings loomed over a sea of unremarkable students. The academy wasn't a center of excellence; it was a cage, filled with humans milling about like ants-busy, aimless, insignificant.A bronze plaque near the main entrance caught IXX's eye: "For Knowledge and Honor." It snorted. How hollow.The grounds were no better. Cracked tiles lined the pathways, and weeds pushed stubbornly through the gaps. Students lounged on faded benches, some laughing, others absorbed in their tiny screens.A group of girls posed for selfies near a fountainIs this what humans call progress?IXX thought, shaking its head.Its gaze settled on one particular window on the third floor. Behind the glass sat the girl who had captured its interest.The young woman was undoubtedly beautiful, but what intrigued IXX more was the simmering doubts and malicious intent radiating from her. It was subtle-perhaps even unknown to the woman herself-but to a nemesis like IXX, the rabbit could easily sniff out the resemblance between this human and its own kind.Still, IXX needed to be certain. Focusing intently, the rabbit honed in on her thoughts, and sure enough, the dark origins of her inner turmoil confirmed its suspicions.Fortunately, as a nemesis mascot, IXX was invisible. If it weren't, who could say what might happen? The woman might panic, react unpredictably, or worse-ruin the only opportunity IXX had for world domination.A sinister grin crept across the bunny's face. Yes, this woman might be exactly what it needed for its triumphant return.---Since the classes are finished, Shizuka stopped looking outside the classroom and decided to leave. After all, she didn't want to be the only student left in the classroom.
And she also doesn't want to go home late, and for some reason Shizuka felt a chill on her spine but she paid it no heed, she simply shook her head, sighed and left the classroom in a quick pace.Unaware of the darkness that had taken notice of her, Shizuka stepped out of the classroom-her life on the precipice of a change she could never imagine