Pink Star's Desperate Plea

The rising tone of the mascot alert—awooooong—along with the piercing siren snapped me back to reality. I looked around. Before I knew it, a massive three-headed dog had burst out from inside the rift.

The pre-recorded message blared from all directions. People on the street and those rushing out of buildings scattered in every direction.

...This isn't the time.

I immediately checked the Status Window right in front of me. I had no idea why it was here, but it wasn't a bad thing. Quite the opposite—it was a good situation.

The true value of the Status Window system lay in confirming information, and more importantly, figuring out how to take down targets. Names, grades, weaknesses, true nature, and so on. In a scenario where such details were normally impossible to access, this would undoubtedly be a huge help for supporting magical girls.

That's when it happened.

Bzzz—!!!

My smartphone suddenly vibrated at my waist. I checked the screen right away, and there was a notification.

A map appeared on my phone. In the center was a blue dot that seemed to represent me.

That red dot here... is that the monster?

I glanced at the monster smashing through buildings. The red dot moved at the exact same sluggish pace as the beast.

...Then this must be the magical girl?

A pink dot popped up on the map. And it was steadily approaching.

Rumble rumble rumble—

A massive roar of something approaching echoed. When I looked up from the screen, I saw someone coming from far away.

...Ah.

A woman was charging toward me, kicking up clouds of dust. She came right up to my face and asked curtly,

"Hey, you're a mascot, right?"

"...Yes. That's correct."

My face twisted slightly. Starting off with casual speech and treating me so roughly wasn't exactly welcoming. It was clear from the get-go that this wouldn't be smooth sailing.

"Good. I'm gonna transform, so support me quick."

The woman pulled something out from her bosom. It was a small toy wand topped with a star.

"Transform."

As she spoke, a message appeared on my phone.

I pressed the button firmly. In that instant, a flash exploded outward.

Light burst from the phone and enveloped her entire body. The light took on a definite shape, color filled it in, and frills and a dress draped over her form. The moment her closed eyes opened...

Her whole body had transformed into a magical girl straight out of a TV anime.

"...You."

Her gaze, now much softer, turned to me.

"Haven't been a mascot long, have you?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Figures. You reek of a total newbie."

Her words were still rough, but her voice had softened considerably.

"Next time, don't use the emergency summons. Just find any magical girl nearby and call her—that's faster."

"Ah, yes."

She casually extended her hand.

"I'm Pink Star. You?"

"...Uh, Mascot."

"No real name?"

Pink Star twitched her eyebrow.

"Whatever, what am I expecting from a newbie. Anyway, I'm warning you ahead of time—don't get in the way. Just give me exactly what I ask for, on the dot."

Pink Star muttered while eyeing the Cerberus.

"If it were a phenomenon or location type, I'd be stressing over what to do, but this is biological, so no worries there."

I asked cautiously,

"...Is there nothing I can help with?"

"Huh?"

"As a mascot, it's my duty to provide maximum support to you, a magical girl."

Pink Star blinked at me like I was some weird specimen.

"...You've got spirit, I'll give you that. But what did I just say? Don't get in the way."

Her face scrunched up a bit.

"I'd love to teach a newbie like you everything step by step before heading out. But this is a real situation. And..."

Thud.

Pink Star kicked off the ground. Floating in the air, she glanced back at me.

"I appreciate the sentiment, but if I follow one bad instruction from you and lose my life or people die, it's not your company taking responsibility. So just sit tight and watch for now."

"...Understood."

I nodded in agreement for the time being.

"Good, you catch on quick. Nice."

"Please go ahead. I'll provide support."

"Yeah, keep up."

Pink Star leaped through the air and shouted,

"If we don't hurry, it'll get dangerous!!!"

She rocketed forward in an instant, slamming into Cerberus's side. I followed at a leisurely pace, checking my phone.

Notifications kept pinging nonstop.

I kept tapping approve as I followed. The alerts didn't stop.

****

"...Wow."

The sight before me drew out an involuntary exclamation.

Pink Star. She fought terribly.

How the hell does she fight like that?

The scene from moments ago replayed vividly in my mind. The instant she clashed with Cerberus, she went straight into trading blows. At a glance, it looked overwhelming. Her kicks and punches were so fast they generated gusts of wind, pushing the beast back without a single scratch on her.

But to my eyes, honed from years as a hunter, it was utterly inefficient.

If she had the leeway to defend against every attack, she should've pressed the assault so hard it couldn't even defend.

The best defense is a good offense, as they say. Alternating attack and defense like that might work against someone your size, but in a fight like this, it was a waste. The battle would drag on, stamina would drain—and given ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their physiologies, she'd tire first, not the monster. The advantageous situation would flip.

"Hey!!! Can't give more power!?"

Whoosh.

Pink Star flew right in front of me. No visible wounds, but she was breathing heavily.

"At this rate, we're losing ground!!! Hurry up!!!"

"...Power transmission takes time. And this is the fastest I can send it."

"Argh!!! Why do all you mascots, newbie or not, say the exact same crap!!!"

Pink Star snapped irritably and flew back. She kicked Cerberus as it tried to chomp a building. Watching her, something clicked.

...She's not used to combat.

She didn't target vitals or weak points. Just pounding whatever was in sight. Like a raw recruit who'd just gained power.

And she's scared.

The moment Cerberus attacked, her eyes flinched subtly before she moved. She seemed afraid of getting hurt. Just like my little sister in her first real scrap.

...

My pursed lips parted.

"Why aren't you targeting weak points?"

"What?"

Whoosh.

Pink ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Star's face whipped toward me from afar.

"Since it's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mimicking a biological form and retains some of the original traits, this dog-like beast relies heavily on sight and smell. Instinctively, it'll guard those areas."

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scanned the text floating in the Status Window.

"It doesn't scheme or act intelligently. Lure it a bit, give it an opening, and it'll fall right in."

I kept it short and concise. No time for long explanations in a life-or-death fight.

"What the hell are you even saying?"

Pink Star's face showed shock. Her voice trembled with confusion.

"...Of course, this is just advice."

I added quickly,

"Whether you follow it or not is up to you, Pink Star. It's just my opinion. But I really want you to survive."

Because you remind me of my sister.

I swallowed those last words.

"..."

Pink Star looked away. Her face scrunched like she wasn't thrilled.

"Ugh, screw it...!!!"

Boom!

Pink Star swung her fist. She kept a certain distance, as always.

"You need to get in close. That'll make it hard for it to attack recklessly."

"Ugh, seriously...!!"

Pink Star grumbled but closed in near its nose. Cerberus's reaction changed.

Baring its teeth, it let out a low growl. Pink Star froze for a split second.

"Get closer."

"What?"

"If it's wary, that means it knows you're a threat. This is your chance."

Pink Star immediately smashed her fist into its snout.

"Huh?"

A different sound from before. Pink Star let out a dumb noise.

"Don't stop—keep it up!!! If you lose momentum now, you're done!!"

"Wh-what!? Uh!!!"

Pink Star unleashed a flurry. Her previously even exchanges completely crumbled the beast's offense.

Cerberus was steadily pushed back, letting out pitiful whines as wounds accumulated.

"Eyes! Attack the eyes!!"

"R-right!!"

Pink Star's fist slammed into its eye. Cerberus, which had barely coped before, panicked and failed to defend.

Cerberus wailed mournfully. Its claws flailed wildly, gouging nearby buildings.

"You're good now. Just wail on it wildly—you'll win."

"..."

Pink Star landed a few more punches. Cerberus, wailing pitifully, soon stopped breathing and collapsed.

"Good work."

At my words, Pink Star turned to me.

"You... no, you... what are you?"

Pink Star walked slowly toward me.

Step, step.

"You're a mascot... right? Same as those... those plush idiots... right?"

She alternated glances between me and the fallen Cerberus several times.

"Why are you so... competent?"

"...Who knows."

Could be the Status Window. Or maybe my hunter memories. But I didn't say that.

I smiled as best I could and replied,

"I'm... a mascot for magical girls, after all."

"..."

"This much is only natural."

Pink Star's mouth dropped open.

"...No way."

She stared blankly at me, then shook her head.

"They're always spouting obvious crap like 'advice' that anyone could give, or 'power of friendship,' 'power of love,' that nonsense—not this?"

"...Pardon?"

"During fights, they're just tapping away at their phones playing games, or chatting with other mascots, completely ignoring me—but this is supposed to be normal?"

Pink Star looked at me. Her eyes were intense, almost scary.

"You... no, you. No exclusive magical girl yet, right?"

Grip.

Pink Star grabbed my body and locked eyes with me. Her gaze was off—unhinged, even.

"You're a newbie, so... make me your exclusive. No, please make me your exclusive, Mascot. Please. Pretty please."

"Yes?"

Thud.

She dropped to her knees on the ground.

"You will, right? Right? Please...! I'll even give you the core...!"

"Wait, hold on. What the—"

I tried to pry her hands off me. But she clung desperately, on the verge of tears.

...What the hell is going on?