True Review Event: Magical Girl Pururi Pupu Takes the Stage!
“Magical Girl Pururi Pupu! Appearing right here, right now!”
Ha.
Is this place actually heaven or something?
To think I'd get to see a magical girl I figured I'd never lay eyes on again.
“Everyone! Hello! I'm Magical Girl Pururi Pupu, and I'm the one handling your disaster class this time!”
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap.
I was the first to applaud with full enthusiasm, and the other kids quickly followed my lead.
She must've liked the sight, because she flashed a bright smile and handed me a snack.
“Thanks for the enthusiastic applause~ If the other students join in as actively as this one, I'll hand out snacks too, so participate hard, okay~?”
"""Yes~"""
Only after she dangled snacks as bait did the other kids finally chime in with energy.
“Huh? Does anyone know where the other student went?”
“Went to the health room for anemia.”
“Aha! Got it!”
With attendance checked for the rest, she dove straight into her lesson.
“Yes! As I mentioned, I'm in charge of disaster class! The disasters we're talking about include natural ones like earthquakes, fires, and typhoons, but of course, the main focus is how to deal with magic beasts and kaijin!”
Ah.
I'd gotten similar training at the Association, so I could already guess the content.
“It'll mostly be theory, but... I've put together some really fun practical sessions too, so no getting bored—listen up diligently!”
Hehe.
Even if it was a lesson I'd heard a few times before, hearing it from her would make it different, right?
Back when she retired three years ago, I'd thought that was it forever, but who knew I'd run into her here.
“That's the end of class! Any questions?”
Snap.
A few other kids raised their hands, but mine shot up first, naturally.
“Could you maybe give me an autograph?”
At my words, her eyes widened in slight surprise.
“Ah... Even a retired magical girl like me still has fans left...? I figured after three years, no one would be around anymore... It's a relief, though.... These days, post-retirement magical girls get their every move doxxed online with just one 'such-and-such magical girl update' post, and everyone piles on... So having fans still around is a happy thing....”
Hm.
The more she talked, the darker her mood grew, from that bright vibe just moments ago.
Thankfully, she snapped back to awareness that she was mid-class.
“Ah! S-Sorry! Anyway, no autograph paper right now, so later....”
Snap.
“I have paper.”
You never knew when you'd bump into a magical girl, so I always kept some in my bag.
“Uh... Could we do other students' questions first, then?”
“Sure.”
Hehe.
Truth be told, I'd already gotten her autograph once at a fan signing, but more was always better.
......
Scribble scribble.
“Here! For Sea student! Magical Girl Pururi Pupu's autograph! It's been three years since the last one, so it's a bit awkward....”
“Wow. Thank you.”
As she said, the lines were a little rough compared to the one I'd gotten before, but who cared.
If anything, a fresh autograph I'd never seen was even better.
“I've been a fan since your debut battle. That soap bubble containment tactic against the F-rank kaijin was solid.”
Mentioning her debut made her eyes shoot up in surprise.
“For real? You've been watching since my debut??”
“Yeah. Super disappointing you topped out at D-rank, but your unique magic was always a blast to watch. That fan meet where you bubbled everyone up and floated them around in the air? Loved it.”
“Ehehe... That was like five years ago, thanks for remembering, kiddo.”
She squirmed bashfully at the praise, twisting her body this way and that.
“Whew... Talking to a fan after so long was fun. But no extra credit for class, so study hard?”
“Yes.”
I'd planned to anyway, no need to say it.
“Thanks for sticking with me all this time.”
With that, she left my desk.
It was sad, really.
Once a magical girl retired, all their activities pretty much vanished, and most fans drifted away too.
So if at least one person like me kept the memory alive, maybe it'd be a small comfort if we ever crossed paths again.
Luckily, my efforts didn't seem wasted.
She stood at the podium quietly, approaching the other kids with an even more natural smile than before.
“Hey, kids!”
“Ah, hello, teacher.”
“Ah... I'm beat....”
Magical Girl White Lily had a recent dilemma.
“Why do those bastards keep popping up....”
Lately, kaijin were showing up way too often, wrecking any shot at a normal daily life.
Just moments ago, she'd barely taken down one F-rank kaijin and was heading back to school.
“Ah... Should I just ditch....”
On days this rough, she craved something sweet like strawberry cake—
“Strawberry cake here.”
“Ah, thanks.”
She dug into the fresh cream cake with the fork on the plate, savoring it.
Nom nom.
The sweet cream and tangy strawberries blended perfectly.
“Tasty. Which shop?”
“The one across the alley there.”
'Gotta memo that.'
She savored the cake for a bit.
Seeing the plate empty way too soon from the surprisingly small portion, her expression hardened as she spoke.
“What's your business?”
The girl before her was none other than Pronesis.
Her tomboy-princess looks aside, her blank expression made it hard to read her thoughts.
Because of that, White Lily eyed the girl warily.
The magical girl the Association was pulling out all stops to recruit right now.
That was Pronesis.
She'd gotten help from her last time, sure, but showing up like this meant she definitely had some agenda.
So White Lily eyed her with subtle caution—
“Need any help?”
“...Huh?”
“From trash cleanup to warping you somewhere, all possible.”
Her face was too serious for a joke.
“Then why not help earlier?”
“But you didn't seem to need it.”
'What the hell.'
She was starting to feel like her wariness had been pointless.
“Warp me to Yesol High School entrance then?”
“...One sec.”
She paused like she was thinking, then the scenery shifted smoothly several times.
'Warp for real, huh...'
No dizziness or anything despite the changes—she found that impressive.
After a few more shifts, they arrived at the school she knew.
“Here.”
“This actually works... You sure no Association? They'd hook you up good.”
“Did Magical Girl Pronesis's service please you? If it helped, please give five stars.”
With that, she vanished in a blink.
Scratch scratch.
Left behind, White Lily scratched her head for a moment, then eyed the empty cake plate.
'Got cake and a plate... Feels wrong not returning it.'
Ah, forgot the plate.
Had to rush back after lunch help, maybe too hasty.
'She won't guide again if I ask?'
“A couple more times wouldn't hurt, right?”
'You have a smartphone! Use that!'
What a grump.
Asked Sofia since I didn't know the way, and she got all pride-hurt.
'I'm not some big-corp high-spec AI, and definitely not a navigator! What do you take me for!'
“Mascots in anime are always helpful to their magical girls.”
'That's from anime 30+ years old!'
MZ mascot, no help then.
'Hey!'
Thanks for the warp to school.
-3 seconds ago.
I was just about to head back to school when the review alert pinged on my smartphone.
Ha.
Was worried no one was leaving reviews lately, but White Lily dropped a full five stars. Nice.
That plate didn't feel wasted anymore.
Maybe add thank-you gifts next time.
This might be the true meaning of a review event.
Hadn't it been unfair getting just autographs till now?
No one left reviews for plain help, so time to switch strategies.
Real review event time.
Gotta prep solid.
“Sofia.”
'...What now.'
“Can you research what kids from elementary to high school like these days?”
'For real.'