When Shizuka left the classroom and hurried down the hallway, she caught glimpses of the setting sun through the windows to her left. The day had passed in a blur, her thoughts so preoccupied that time seemed to slip through her fingers.One moment, she was walking to school and sitting in class, and the next—boom! Darkness had fallen, and here she was, making her way through the academy halls. As Shizuka stepped out of the academy, she headed toward the pedestrian crossing, her pace slowing as she reached the other side of the street. Then it hit her again—that strange, crawling sensation along her spine. She'd been feeling it ever since she sat by the classroom window earlier in the day. "Jesus... what is this feeling? So weird!" Shizuka muttered, rubbing her arms to chase away the discomfort. It was unlike anything she could put into words.It felt as though something cold was seeping into her bones, as if she'd been slapped awake at 5 a.m. on a winter morning. But there was more to it. She couldn't shake the eerie sense of being watched, followed.She'd tried to brush it off earlier, back at the academy, but it was still there, gnawing at her nerves. Looking around to ease her mind, Shizuka saw nothing out of the ordinary. A few passersby dotted the sidewalk—a tired office worker heading home, a father walking with his daughter further down the street. They seemed harmless enough. The father even smiled and waved when their eyes met, a gesture Shizuka returned out of habit. Such warmth and politeness were normal in her city, a reflection of the values inspired by the magical girls who protected it. The magical girls were idolized by nearly everyone, and their influence had encouraged citizens to embody those same virtues. Shizuka, however, wasn't in the mood to admire anyone right now.Still uneasy, she glanced to her left, toward the opposite sidewalk. A group of strangers stood there, and for a moment, she thought they might be staring at her. But even then, it didn't feel like them. She'd grown used to lingering gazes—from her academy to her neighborhood, it was practically an everyday occurrence. Her black hair had always been a standout feature, making her instantly recognizable. But she knew it wasn't just that. Shizuka had heard enough passing compliments from strangers and murmured remarks from classmates to understand that people found her striking.Not that she cared much—such things didn't matter to her.To her, it was simply a fact, as unremarkable as the color of her hair or the shape of her hands. Maybe she was overreacting? But with youmas lurking in this world, she couldn't afford to take any chances. Deciding to stay somewhere bustling, Shizuka made her way to Anne Marionette Street—the busiest place in town. This vibrant street was a hub for locals and tourists alike, famous for its countless food stalls and restaurants. Normally, Shizuka enjoyed visiting this area, sometimes picking up snacks or small trinkets. But tonight was different. Her mood was already soured. Just thinking about the new magical girls was enough to piss her off all over again. As she continued down the lively street, her eyes wandered from one storefront to the next, her thoughts a mix of irritation and unease. She looked at every passerby she comes across, and it irritated shizuka further looking at their smiles. Why are they so happy? Why are they so complacent? Shizuka just doesn't get it!She couldn't fathom how the people she walked alongside, or against, could idolize magical girls so fervently without a hint of the frustration or anger she herself felt.Shizuka knew she shouldn't be this petty, but holy shit.The world had grown far too complacent.This wasn't how things should go!Her fingers itched to scratch her head in irritation, but she stopped midway, reminded of the bustling street she was navigating.She could only sigh.As Shizuka looked ahead, she spotted a massive influx of people clogging the street further down.Squeezing through such a crowd was out of the question.Whether or not someone was following her, dealing with that throng would be a colossal pain.Instead, she scanned her surroundings for a detour.A shortcut that could get her home safely while avoiding the worst of the foot traffic.To her left,she noticed a narrow alleyway.It wasn't far, but it was dark—the kind of dark that gave pause.Shizuka hesitated, weighing the risks.On one hand, slipping into the alleyway seemed sketchy, but it meant fewer people to worry about.If someone was indeed stalking her, it would be easier to handle things in an isolated space than in a crowd where the culprit could blend in.On the other hand,there was the very real possibility of something far worse happening in such a secluded place.Still, it was the lesser of two evils. Right?After a moment of deliberation, Shizuka resolved to take the alleyway.At first,it felt unremarkable.Just another dark, slightly grimy shortcut.She pulled out her phone looked at the time, it was 5:40pm and turned on the flashlight, not because she was scared, of course, but to avoid stepping on needles or other unsavory debris.The further she walked, though, the stranger everything became.A creeping unease crawled up her spine.It was subtle at first, an intangible wrongness she couldn't quite put her finger on.Then she started noticing shadows at the edges of her vision, fleeting and insubstantial.Her steps quickened instinctively, but no matter how fast she moved, the alley seemed to stretch on endlessly, as if mocking her urgency.She should have reached the other end by now...But she was still in the middle, surrounded by walls that felt closer than before.Shizuka's breath hitched.There was no mistaking it anymore.Something was at play here—something unnatural."W-Who's there?"she demanded,Her voice trembling as she gripped her phone tighter.The light from her flashlight danced erratically as she swung it across the alley, illuminating trash bins, upper-floor windows, and rusty air conditioning units.Nothing.No one on the ground.No one above.The silence was deafening.But Shizuka knew better.She wasn't alone.Shizuka steeled herself, though her hands trembled and her eyes darted anxiously in every direction as she walked forward.Each step was deliberate, measured, yet with every movement, the air grew colder, seeping into her bones.She glanced at her phone. 5:40 PM. Still. It had been 5:40 PM for what felt like an eternity.What the hell is going on?She felt like she was stuck in some bizarre time loop, and it was starting to get to her.As if her day wasn't already ruined by those new magical girls, now she had to deal with... whatever this was.The chill grew sharper as she continued down the alley, her body shivering uncontrollably now."The world has gone complacent, hasn't it?"Shizuka froze mid-step."???"Her breath hitched. That wasn't her voice. Her head whipped around, scanning her surroundings, but there was no one there.That voice—it was deep, resonant, otherworldly.Could this be the thing that's been following me?"Show yourself! Are you the one who's been following me?"she demanded, glaring into the shadows."So what if I am?"The voice answered, calm and mocking.Shizuka froze again, her heart pounding in her chest.But she forced herself to stay calm.She clenched her fists."Then have the decency to show yourself!"she snapped, irritation rising. She was done playing whatever game this was."Very well."Shizuka faltered.She hadn't expected the entity to comply so easily.And then it hit her.The biting cold that had been gnawing at her was replaced by something much worse.An emptiness.It wasn't just physical; it was like every ounce of warmth, joy, and hope in her had been ripped away.She felt hollow, as though every good thing in her life had been an illusion.Before her, the darkness in the alley began to shift, condensing into a single point. The shadows seemed to flow like liquid, sucked into a ball of pure, impenetrable blackness.She could only stand there, paralyzed, as it formed—a void so profound that it seemed to devour light itself.And then the black ball unraveled.What emerged was a rabbit.Or at least,it looked like one.Its fur drank in the light, a void so deep it was like staring into a tear in reality itself. Smoky tendrils of darkness drifted from its body, curling and fading as it moved.Its red eyes glowed faintly, piercing through the darkness as they fixed on Shizuka."A... black bunny?"Shizuka tilted her head slightly, curiosity mingled with unease as she took in the creature.The bunny's crimson eyes gleamed brighter, almost mocking her confusion."I have heard your thoughts,"it said, its voice smooth yet laced with menace."Your turmoil, your dissatisfaction with this world... I've been watching you for quite some time."The bunny floated upward, circling Shizuka slowly, its smoky tendrils brushing the air as it moved."So you're really the one following me..that feeling of being watched, it came from you?"Shizuka murmured before she continued,"So...what are you? and what do you want?"Shizuka asked hesitantly, taking a step backward as the bunny kept circling her, now that her stalker has shown itself she don't know what to do, especially since it's some unknown entity that resembles a mascotThe black bunny stopped circling around her and floated right in front of her"I'm IXX, a nemesis mascot"A nemesis mascot? Even as a magical girl stan, Shizuka has never heard of such a faction. She only knew two factions, the magical girls and the youmas. Whether there was someone pulling the strings behind the youmas she didn't care, at least when she was admiring magical girls."A nemesis mascot? what's that?""Nemesis mascots are the ones who oppose the Astra, or simply what you humans call magical girl mascots"Shizuka stood there, processing the new information. So the nemesis mascots were the ones pulling the strings behind the youmas? That was a lot to take in.She pinched her chin, casting her gaze downward as her mind raced, piecing together the fragments of the world she thought she understood."Why me?" she demanded, narrowing her eyes at IXX, whose unsettling smile seemed to grow wider with every word."To recruit you. To our faction."Shizuka blinked, taken aback. She had expected anything but that. She had always assumed her life would follow the same boring path—another office worker, stuck in a dead-end job, grinding away at some pointless 9-5. But this... This was something else.The idea of being part of an "evil" organization didn't bother her as much as it should. In fact, it was almost exhilarating. Shizuka had always dreamed of being more than what society expected her to be—more than just another face in the crowd. And besides, she hated the new magical girls.Becoming a magical girl herself—one who could actually fight against them? That sounded like the kind of life she could get behind. This could finally be her chance to make her life interesting, to break free from the tedium that had always held her back.Her eyes darted around the alley, her mind still in overdrive, then snapped back to IXX."Fine. I'll join. What's the catch?"Her words were decisive, not a moment's hesitation. She had made her choice.IXX twitched, its dark form shifting slightly. "You'll join? Hmm... that's unexpected... There's no catch."Shizuka's eyebrow raised, skeptical. "What? No catch? Isn't there a price to pay to join the forces of evil?"IXX's smoky tendrils trembled, its voice losing a little of its usual confidence. "Well, you're the first one to join the Nemesis faction... So, things are a little unorthodox. No traditional 'price.' Just... let's say, this is an unexpected turn of events."The black bunny floated closer to Shizuka, its shadowy form moving effortlessly through the air, as if weightless."Since you have no objections to becoming a part of the Nemesis, our pact is now sealed," IXX spoke, the words dripping with an eerie finality.A twisted grin spread across IXX's face, a grin so wide and unnatural it seemed impossible for a creature of its kind to make. It was then that Shizuka felt a chilling sensation wrap around her ankle, and before she could react, she looked down to see shadowy hands emerging from the ground, grasping at her legs with an unyielding, bone-crushing grip."W-What?!" she gasped in panic, her heart racing as she tried to pull away, but the hands held firm."Don't worry too much, we're just going for a little ride," IXX's voice was almost teasing, its tone dripping with something sinister and unknowable."EEEK!" Shizuka screamed as the hands yanked her downward, dragging her through the earth itself. Her belongings—her phone and bag—were left behind, abandoned on the cold, unforgiving ground.The alleyway fell silent, the sound of Shizuka's panicked cries slowly fading as she was consumed by the shadows. Once she was gone, IXX's eyes scanned the alley, its gaze flicking to every corner to ensure that no one had witnessed their dark exchange.When IXX was sure the coast was clear, it lifted its head slightly, sending a telepathic signal. Shizuka's phone and bag levitated off the ground, floating through the air to follow its owner's descent. The bunny's body phased through the ground, disappearing into the shadows as if it had never been there at all."It seems they've made their move," a distant voice murmured, the words echoing in the silent alley.Above, high on the roof of one of the alleyway's buildings, a figure emerged from the shadows. She stepped forward, gazing down at the spot where both IXX and Shizuka had vanished. Her golden curls fluttered in the wind, catching the light as she smirked, a mocking laugh escaping her lips."The Nemesis is finally making their pathetic move again," she sneered, her voice thick with disdain as she turned away. Her hair shimmered in the breeze, the laughter still lingering in the air like a ghostly whisper.