A Magical Girl Always Presses On with a Steadfast Heart
A magical girl always presses on with a steadfast heart.
Outing training had begun. Since I'd already bought clothes, I might as well at least play the game! Everything comes down to practice and repetition until it sticks, right? Maybe it was thanks to this superior TS body, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. Today marked a full three days of outing training. Day one had been the monumental convenience store visit. I'd even bought shoes to walk properly. Good job! A voice from my memories—E○a?—laughed in approval. No, wait, was it Grand Orca? Yeah, things were getting better, just like this. Magic on point, pretty face, killer figure—what was there to fear? Back off, old man!
Yesterday, I'd wandered aimlessly, just letting my feet carry me in circles. No major issues. That creepy gay Gold Sun type who hunts women regardless of age only exists in fiction. In reality? Gym bros took his place. Those steroid-soaked losers had pathetic little dicks compared to the fictional version—tragic creatures. Baby girl, oh baby girl. Thankfully, no one approached me. This wasn't a bustling district anyway. There was a certain appeal to strolling the streets, taking in humanity's colors. Not all people are filthy. That was just the old man's lame prejudice. The dullness, the haze—it's all part of humanity's natural tarnish. Everything picks up grime over time, doesn't it? Not for a magical girl? Maybe not. No matter how dingy, the people walking these streets weren't black. Not black. Like coffee. No need to transform. The Awakened with their weird vibes were rarer than expected—one in ten? Online, everyone claimed to be 0th Grade, but in reality? Maybe three in Korea. Sure, some stay hidden. Communities are full of liars, as expected.
Anyway, outing training again today. It was snowing. I pulled up the hoods of both my hoodie and coat. No umbrella needed like this. Today's walk had a destination: a place called Art Village. This world had something like it too. Or close enough. About forty minutes on foot. I'd pinned it last night in magical girl mode, so no getting lost. The overcast sky scattered white clumps everywhere, like stepping into a new world. That actually put my mind at ease. The old man used to love breathing in that damp air too. I crunched along the white path. With hardly anyone out thanks to the weather, the solitary road felt beautiful. A magical girl could've crossed this distance in seconds, but I walked it step by step. The lonely silence was oddly enjoyable. Through the double hoods, I could almost hear the snowflakes falling— that's how quiet it was. Only my footprints trailing behind proved I existed. I walked for what felt like ages... or just a moment. As the day faded and the air grew heavy. Beneath the blurring gray-blue sky. A crimson star made by human hands rose. Its light bled into the hazy white air, warming my heart too. Beautiful.
The wide open space was filled with pure white. Crimson from the streetlamps leaked out, staining the snowy ground. I stood alone in the untouched snowfield for a while, exhaling my impressions.
Outing training, day four. Let's walk again today. I could feel myself getting healthier by the day. So that's why doctors recommend walks? I was so lost in the afterglow yesterday that I even skipped the deep-sea massacre. Impressive! An ugly deep-sea monster holding a picket sign reading 'Peace for Monsters Too!' started a demo in my head. But hey, monster champ. Getting turned into mincemeat is cuter, right? I crushed the imaginary monster. With a cute pop, it became bloody pulp. Even the ones quietly living in the middle of the Pacific deep sea turned to pulp. The snow had stopped; today was clear. I wished yesterday's quiet vibe had lingered a bit longer. A touch of regret in the weather. Still, with all that snow piled up, I was satisfied enough.
Today was the weekend. Saturday! Every day felt the same to a hikikomori NEET, but people rested on weekends here just like in the old world. And weekends brought crowds to this neighborhood. The old man would've never gone out, but I was fine. Magical girl, remember? Crowds make walking a real challenge. What if some Gold Sun type popped up? No? Anyway, this was hundreds of times harder than that lame Armored Coffin boredom! Not that a single drop of sweat would dare touch this invincible TS body. Ah. The snow-covered ground exceeded my expectations. Yeah, the frail imagination of a shut-in who just breathed stale air couldn't compete. The white flakes piled on the path had been trampled into mud, ruining yesterday's pristine feel. Leaving only my footprints on the white canvas had been poetic. Now it was a sticky, filthy mess like mud. I walked that half-melted, dirt-brown path in my new sneakers. Fine. Gotta expect this much. In contrast, the swarming crowds' colors dazzled chaotically before my eyes. Like a fake Monet painting with light scattered disgustingly. Density? Saturation? That's the issue. It had a pressure worlds apart from weekday bleakness. Whatever. It's fine. Higher difficulty. Nah, more people means less individual attention. Look—families everywhere. Family units. No way anyone's hunting in this vibe. I adjusted my double hood and mask again. Heading to the same spot on foot. Earlier than yesterday, though.
Art Village, Art Village. Why call it that? No idea. Didn't matter anymore. I walked, hoping to recapture yesterday's scene. "Ah." Not good. I'd arrived at that spot. It was packed with cars. Old man. Sorry. A magical girl always presses on with a steadfast heart. Who said that? The old man, from some manga. Yeah, lines like that are manga fodder. The white canvas was mangled—smeared with mud and footprints. Tire tracks everywhere too. A parking lot, huh? The snow hid it yesterday. I turned away in disappointment, ignoring the crowds.
Outing training, day five! Yesterday was a success. A whole weekend! As a hikikomori, I went out on a packed weekend! No shortness of breath, no pounding heart, no panic—outing achieved. The old man was shedding tears of emotion from some deep corner of my heart. Where are you? Anyway! All thanks to being a magical girl! Right? La la la~ A tune burst out on its own. Another weekend today! Sunday! Having slain the Saturday mid-boss, I feared nothing! Yesterday's mission was perfect, yeah? Cool, right? Sure, Sunday's difficulty was set to double Saturday's, but no problem for an invincible magical girl!
Cars and people crammed everywhere. Gotta stare hard to get used to it. Swarms and cars, swarms and cars. Awesome! See? Totally unfazed. Old man, push through—leap over those mental scars! Just 'cause your family's gone? Where'd they go? Betrayed by people? They're all dead? Old man, old man! I don't have family either? Betrayed too? A magical girl just needs a steadfast heart—no fears! Right? Remember? So hurry up and transform already, kill that thing. "…Sis?" A tiny girl approached me as I spaced out on the bench. Around six years old? Chubby hands, distinct features—future star material, super cute. "Whoa! Sis got a boyfriend? Awakened? Whatcha doing here? OPing?" Our eyes met, and her face bloomed like a flower, spilling words in a lispy rush. Her missing tooth only amped the cuteness. Dazed by that uniquely beautiful child-color, I stared for a while before replying. "…Yeah, just resting." Lively kid—her cuteness came with a salty tang. It warmed my chest like childhood essence. Fragments of shattered memories pieced together in nostalgia. When did the mask come off? No clue. "Heehee, gotcha! Here, a gift! The sis over there gave me extras, so one for you! Gotta power through rest time!" "Uh… thanks." The kid beamed nonstop, handing over a white flower. Behind that radiant glow, a veiled nun in habit was distributing flowers far off. Charity event? "Daddy says pretty girls get flowers! But he only gives to Mommy! Not me! Mommy's like an orc! Heehee. You're pretty, so here!" "Ha, haha." Her bright, rambling voice tickled my ears. A faint memory glitched. Mommy-orc? Couldn't respond. I forced a dry but fond smile. "Eun-seo, time to go now." Her mom-looking woman smiled and bowed. I nodded back lightly. Orc, though? Pity the kid's budding aesthetics. Rare for adults—beautiful color, pretty face too. "Eee! Wanna play more! Bye-bye, pretty sis!" "Bye-bye." No idea how my mouth moved, but I waved happily. She giggled, ran to mom, grabbed her hand. "Mommy, Mommy! That sis is suuuper pretty, right?" "She is. You're pretty too, Eun-seo." "Heehee, 'cause I'm a princess!" Swinging mom's hand, clutching the white flower, scampering off—adorable.
I examined the flower she'd given me. A white lily, meticulously folded from familiar paper. Weird feeling. Mourning tribute? Didn't know flowers well—probably not the old world's stuck-up symbolism. Cultural difference? I looked up at the nun. Far away, she knelt, hands clasped in prayer. "Ah, God. I offer these pitiful fallen souls." Distant, but her voice rang clear in my ears. Her dingy color turned black in an instant. See? Too late. The lily in my hand exploded. Blast and pressure engulfed my vision. My coat shredded from the wrists, exposing pale skin. Scorching blast reduced clothes to rags. Dozens of death cries rang in my ears. Hundreds of pained screams echoed through winter air. Muddy slush turned red. The world's colors drained in a flash. Still, I wasn't hurt. From the direction Eun-seo fled, some small chunk—whose?—sailed over and smacked my face. Lukewarm from winter wind, salty and fishy, trailing red. It stung stickily. "Ah…."
………·Transform.