Please Accept Me as Your Disciple!
Disciple? Phew, calm down. No matter how thrilling it is to meet a brand-new magical girl, I still have to get my job done.
"So, how did you end up becoming a magical girl? What's your unique magic? You said you were just walking down the street—does that mean this is literally your very first time transforming?"
This won't do.
I'm so excited I can barely control myself.
"What's your magical girl name, by any chance? Usually, when you become a magical girl, your name just pops into your head automatically, so did you get yours...?"
"U-ugh... ahh..."
Her red eyes started spinning in circles.
Oh.
Did I get too carried away?
"Sigh... haa..."
I took a moment to breathe deeply and asked about the original reason she'd summoned me.
"Um... for now, don't undo your transformation. Do it later, after I leave, when you're sure no one's around. Got it?"
After drilling in that precaution, I explained how to release the transformation.
"Since you were able to summon me, you must have instinctively grasped the basics of handling magic power. You should feel it gathering around your heart."
Magical girls instinctively understand everything related to magic the moment they transform.
"Try stopping it once, and the transformation will release."
Their own name, unique magic, and even how to wield magic power.
The problem is that the timing of the transformation itself is incredibly unpredictable.
As long as there are no people around, poof—they suddenly become a magical girl, with no prior symptoms whatsoever. We still don't even know what makes someone turn into one.
At least, since it tends to happen when people are alone, it occurs a bit more often among elementary and high school kids in areas like this.
She was probably the same type.
"Ah...! Y-Yes...! I'll try—"
"Hold on a second."
How did she even hear that last part?
"Like I said, undo it after I'm gone."
I really didn't want her shoving that magical girl red pill in my face.
"Yes...? But if not now, when else would I get a chance to practice?"
...Hmm.
"I just don't really want to see a magical girl's red pill up close."
"Ah, aha...?"
Anyway.
Once we'd wrapped up the conversation appropriately, I could finally satisfy my curiosity about her.
First things first.
"How did you know you could summon me?"
To put it bluntly, while I've built up a reputation among magical girls, I'm not famous among total newbies.
More precisely, not to the point where civilians would know about the summoning system.
And yet, she'd called me.
No matter how I thought about it, ordinary people shouldn't know about it.
The gallery already has my nickname locked in as Review Girl.
Civilians don't browse the gallery.
...
As those thoughts crossed my mind, her answer came.
"W-Well... my friend is a magical girl in the Association..."
Ah.
She'd just heard it from a friend.
Nothing worth digging into there, so I moved on to the next question.
"What's your magical girl name?"
As I mentioned earlier, a magical girl's name is instinctively revealed the moment they transform.
And once realized, they can't use a fake name. They can choose not to say it, but if they try to communicate it to someone—whether speaking, writing, or any other way—they absolutely can't lie.
It might sound a bit creepy, but it felt like a kind of identification code.
The Association uses it to prevent duplicate registrations, making it their first question. I'd heard stories once or twice a year about kids trying to double-dip for twice the salary.
"Um... I think it's Snow White..."
Pretty name.
And one I've never heard before.
"Congratulations."
"Huh...? Why all of a sudden...?"
"You're officially a rookie magical girl now."
"...?"
She tilted her head, clearly confused, but I ignored it and clapped enthusiastically.
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap.
The birth of a new magical girl is always a joyous occasion.
With that sentiment, I clapped hard, then dove into more questions.
"What about your unique magic or staff?"
This was crucial too.
Even without a mascot, a magical girl's identity is defined by her unique magic and staff.
"Ah! Yes, yes! One moment!"
Without any hesitation, she began gathering magic power in her hand.
Good thing. Some wild magical girls hide everything, including their magic, because they think it's cool.
It usually comes out in battle anyway, so they just end up looking like wannabe edgelords.
Which is cute, but still.
With those thoughts, I focused on the magic forming in her hand.
Fwoosh.
With a familiar sound, what appeared was...
"Flames... and a tree branch... for your staff?"
Haven't seen a branch staff in a while.
It's the first thing people think of for wizards, but it doesn't quite fit the magical girl aesthetic.
"Is that... good?"
"Who knows."
Not dodging the question—I genuinely didn't know.
Magical girls don't have multiple magics, and they grow stronger based on their ideals, but no one knows how that growth manifests without seeing the future.
"Ah..."
Maybe thinking my reaction meant it was bad, she looked disappointed, so I offered some comfort.
"It's fine. Even current A-rank magical girls started with vague stuff like that."
"...Really?"
"Take Electric Flower—she just spat out electricity at first."
Now she boasts speeds faster than lightning and devastating firepower.
"Ooh..."
"Flame magic branches in more ways than you'd think. For example, it could be just conjuring flames, or controlling them, or using them to teleport—lots of possibilities."
Thankfully, my words seemed to give her some hope, and she thanked me.
"Thank you...!"
I didn't stop there and asked the next question right away.
"Planning to join the Association?"
Personally, I'd recommend it.
As if she'd trust your opinion on that.
You'd freak out if I said I was joining.
Of course I would? Look at my Association record.
Oof.
Truth be told, aside from personal grudges like mine, joining the Association has tons of benefits for magical girls.
It handles pretty much everything outside of combat.
For minors, it even provides a salary and proper career guidance after retirement.
Of course, in exchange for various obligations.
"W-Well... I've heard online it's not all great..."
She seemed put off by that.
Can't be helped, then.
"In that case, why not live the wild life with me?"
Do whatever you want—pure, free, happy wild life.
Of course, skipping classes won't count as attendance, and you'll have to pay magic stone fees to the Association even for fighting magic beasts, with no salary to boot?
"Freedom's the best, right?"
Freedom rules, no matter what.
Hooray!
Whoosh.
"Waa...?"
I raised both hands high, and she mimicked me, letting out a little cheer.
We synced up perfectly. Great magical girl chemistry.
"Any more questions?"
Truthfully, even for a total newbie, there's not much I can do.
Using magic is instinctive once you're a magical girl, and releasing the transformation was probably just a momentary confusion.
I took a moment to take her in.
Snow-white hair and vibrant red eyes full of life.
Her outfit blended princess and magical girl styles, but unlike mine, no crown on her head.
Her height... taller than expected.
Maybe puberty, or just the magical girl form—who knows. Either way, she was pretty tall.
Still, as a proper magical girl, she had no rough edges.
Always perfect— that's what makes a magical girl.
As I observed her, she seemed to have one last question, clearing her throat before speaking.
"Um, by any chance... can I see you again sometime?"
...?
Odd question.
"If you want, anytime—as long as the summon button is active."
"O-Oh..."
"Then, if no more questions, I'll be off."
I gave her a farewell, gracefully lifting the hem of my skirt.
"Did you like Magical Girl Pronesis's service? If it was helpful, please give me 5 stars."
"Ah... nyet!"
Oops.
Seizing the moment while she blushed from biting her tongue, I warped home.
"Haa..."
The exhaustion hit me the second I got home. I flopped onto the bed and released my transformation.
"Sofia, set an alarm for 8 hours."
"You won't be able to sleep tonight if you do."
"Future me can deal with it..."
Overwhelmed by sleep, I drifted off without resistance.
And the next day.
I got summoned by Snow White again.
"What's the business today?"
Wondering if she had follow-up questions from yesterday, she clenched her fists like she'd made a big decision and made an absurd request.
"Pronesis...! Please take me as your disciple...!"
...?
"Pardon?"