“Phew… My heart is still racing…”
Yuki, back home, sighed in the bathtub after dinner.
Thump thump
The praise she received earlier swirled around her ears and mind, making a mess.
Even after defeating each of the formidable monsters called ‘Trials’, all she got in return were despairing sighs and fewer comrades…
[Flame]!
[Flame]!
[Flame]!
Despite trying to gather her thoughts with closed eyes, the sweet reality contrasting with her sorrowful future was too intoxicating; she felt like she might lose her way. It was as if she was about to revert from a magical girl battling trials to a small, unremarkable girl entranced by sweet whispers.
“Gasp!”
Bubble bubble
“Puhah!”
To regain her composure, Yuki submerged her head in the warm water of the bathtub.
But all she tasted was the bitterness of bath salts in her mouth.
Ptooey
“Ugh… I’m feeling dizzy.”
As a magical girl of [Flame], it was impossible for Yuki to feel dizzy from the bathtub’s warmth. She was simply overwhelmed by the attention and cheers she had received for the first time in her life.
Holding her dizzy head, Yuki shook off the water with her flame-based magic and changed into the rabbit pajamas she had always missed from her future, collapsing onto her bed.
Thud
Then she took out her smartphone and replayed the broadcasts and sayings she had watched since her return.
It had become a habit for Yuki to rewind and review the words she had spoken just before her self.
A precious dream.
[…They too are just ordinary girls who can shine on their own…]
[b][What is your dream? What does true happiness mean?]
[I will awaken the stars hidden in the darkness as a dream.]
A shining hope.
[Girls born under the stars leading others in dreams, be protected and respected under eternal dreams and destinies.]
[Hope that leads others will become the virtue of this land!]
Sniff
Holding onto her smartphone with pity, Yuki shed tears.
Though she had always been emotional, she was painfully realizing that warmth made people cry easily.
“Yes… I wanted to hear this from someone…”
When she heard the declaration of [War] at the relief center in Shinjuku.
When she headed north to the [Death] domain, hoping to find some glimmer of hope after confirming her father’s death.
When she fought fiercely against the scavenger bombardment that struck ordinary people and magical girls in Russia.
When she teamed up with surviving magical girls among the monsters.
Even when she was too timid to fight, she longed for hope.
That one day, we would all be okay.
But no one believed it.
Even with the power of [Resurrection], transcending death, no one listened.
And she failed.
But only the girl from the unfamiliar past affirmed her words.
“I want to meet you, I want to fight together…”
I want to say it.
[Start]
Although she had failed once, fighting alongside someone as radiant as her felt like the despair-filled future wouldn’t frighten her.
This time, she felt that she could protect everyone and head towards a hopeful future.
“I want to meet you.”
I want to meet you.
Find me.
＊
“Whoaahhh!!”
The finals had finally arrived, and the arena was filled with cheers.
“[Flame]!! Instantly evaded [Pierce]’s attack!!”
“Just like a flame, [Flame] overwhelms her opponent in an instant!!”
“The arena is now filled with flames!!”
Tap!
Tap!
Tap!
“Cough?! My vision?!”
Chloe, the 2-Star magical girl from France, who had grown confident training with her friends, was in panic.
‘Wasn’t it supposed to be solved by quickly approaching the projectile before it’s fired?!’
Little sparks scattered in the air responded to her movements and exploded, creating a weak draft that dried her eyes.
“W-what?! I can’t see…?!”
Even her precise and rapid attacks were praised, but the little sparks exploding right in front of her blurred her vision, rendering her useless.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
With her eyes half-closed, she was barely defending against the endlessly charging flame sword by just feeling the pressure.
Whoosh!
“Where is she?!”
Suddenly, the [Flame] magic girl disappeared from sight.
Turning her head, she saw an opponent way off in the distance, crafting a bow made of flame with the hem of her white dress fluttering…
Whoosh!
A fiery arrow pierced Chloe’s forehead.
“The match!! Is over!! A brilliant strategy of creating various weapons from elemental magic!!”
“[Flame]’s strategy was merely firing energy, yet it has brought great sensation to magical girls considered weak!”
“[Flame]’s magical girl!! Surpassed the favorites [Memorize] and [Shooting] to finally win against [Pierce] in the finals!!”
“The winner of the 1st Magical Girl Friendship Exhibition’s Born 1-Star category is [Flame]!! The Magical Girl of [Flame]!!”
Waaahhhh!!!
[Flame]!!
[Flame]!!
[Flame]!!
The magical girl of [Coverage], who had raised the tension to new heights, nodded to the magical girl of [Oration] sitting next to her before entering the arena to hear the winner’s interview.
With a box full of prizes and a microphone in hand, the magical girl of [Coverage] hesitated, surprised by the heat felt on her face in the arena.
Whoa
“W-wow… It’s hot, they fought like this here?”
This was the first time the magical girl of [Coverage], who had only watched from the commentary seat until now, had stepped into the arena.
In the middle of the arena, shimmering with the traces of fierce battles and warmth, stood the magical girl of [Flame] with determination.
Gulp
[Coverage] cautiously lifted the microphone to her.
“Um, is it alright if I ask for your thoughts on winning, [Flame]?”
Nod
Yuki couldn’t even answer, too nervous about what she had to say next, yet to [Coverage] and the watching audience, she exuded the dignity of a skilled performer.
“So cute… but so cool.”
“[Flame]… you’re now my favorite magical girl!”
“[Flame]’s magical girl!”
The crowd was captivated by the strange girl who embodied both cuteness and grandeur, like a red hamster that had trained for a hundred years.
The magical girl of [Flame] opened her mouth to share her feelings.
“E-every born 1-Star magical girl practiced seriously and prepared by understanding their characteristics well. That is truly… truly meaningful.”
“Really? And…”
Swipe
Yuki suddenly raised her right hand skyward.
The unexpected gesture made both [Coverage] and the audience hold their breath.
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I will take the remaining spot in the 2-Star magical girl tournament.”
“…….”
“…….”
A brief moment of silence.
And then, a burst of excitement.
Waaahhhh!!!
Countless Born 1-Star girls cheered.
A girl challenging the overwhelming difference in power, transcending even the light regarded as absolute.
With the pride of challenging the stronger magical girls as a single weak beam of light, the crowd trembled with the birth of a new legend.
Waaahhhh!!!
[Flame]!!
[Flame]!!
[Flame]!!
“Wow, you have guts! I like it!”
Ichika, the magical girl of [Freedom], chuckled and clapped her hands.
“Hmm…”
Himari, the magical girl of [Nursing], watched with golden eyes, intrigued.
“Ooh! Passion! It’s pure passion!”
The magical girl of [Martial Arts] active in Hokkaido sparkled with her eyes.
“Hahaha!! Awesome!! This tournament is really the best!!”
The magical girl of [Beast] from Kyushu roared.
“……”
Kaede, the magical girl of Uncultivated, showed no particular interest in Yuki.
“You have fire. To beat Chloe, it’s only fair.”
Ella, the magical girl of [Heavy Armor] from Germany, smiled, acknowledging the spirit emanating from the one who had defeated her friend.
“Eh?! That’s… that was a default win!! Yamashita-sensei!! What should we do?!”
Tsugumi, the magical girl of [Order], who was luckily chosen by lottery for the default win, looked distressed.
With the agreement of all the 2-Star magical girls, the remaining spot was claimed by the Born 1-Star magical girl of [Flame].
And everywhere within the domain, the magical girls wondered just how far this 1-Star girl could rise against the strong ones.
The ordinary people felt nothing more than the sight of beautiful girls fighting was hinting at the birth of a legend and erupted in cheers.
In the battles of beautiful girls, a beautiful drama was unfolding.
Excitement filled the air as those interested in magical girl society watched the magical girl friendship exhibition.
Clang!
And somewhere in the European domain, while helping with the warp gate construction, Hikari of [Deception] dropped the cup she was drinking from.
“Y-Yuki?! Why already?!”
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