Face-to-Face with the Magical Girl
Creak—
Leaving the door's unpleasant screech behind me, I flip the light switch out of muscle memory.
Click!
The familiar shape of the shop I'd seen countless times came into view.
Cafe Eclipse.
Not the fancy new one at Jewelry Academia, but the dingy underground hole-in-the-wall I'd gotten from the Silver Unit a few months back as a congratulatory gift for Amber's promotion to executive.
"……."
It had only been a few days since I'd been away, but dust had already settled everywhere, giving the place a desolate vibe.
Does a shop get this filthy without someone tending it?
'This is…'
Glancing down at the floor, I spotted a few small footprints in the dust. Someone had been here recently, but who? Amber? Or someone from the Silver Unit? No way to tell from just footprints.
"Fuu."
I brush the dust off a nearby chair and slump into it.
I'm not here to do anything specific—just needed a spot where we could talk without prying ears.
With that maid Ruri who serves Diamond having broken into my place before, home was out. This was about the safest bet left.
After getting kidnapped by that girl, I'd barely clawed my way back to normal life with Amber's help.
But even that "normal" meant a future of serving endless customers—
'My arms still ache.'
How many coffees and teas had I brewed? My muscles were still screaming from it all.
In the end, to kill off this unprecedented coffee-tea-and-desserts boom, I'd hit on the idea of sparking another trend…
'About an hour left, huh.'
I checked the grandfather clock on the wall.
Appointment was at 2 p.m. It was around 1 now, so plenty of time.
She's diligent, so no way she'd be late—hell, she'd probably show up early.
"…Might as well clean first."
Can't greet a guest in this state. The stale air was already making me cough.
I wiped down the tables and chairs first, then swept and mopped the floor.
Textbook method. Room cleaning could wait—too much hassle.
'Heard people in this world can just magic it clean if they've got mana.'
But this way felt more natural to me. Twenty years of habit, after all.
Forty minutes later, the cafe looked like new again.
Looking around the spotless interior, it hit me fresh—like the day I'd first taken it over.
Was I nostalgic for life here? Those lazy days chatting nonstop with Amber?
If I had to answer… nah, no real longing.
At first, I'd been dumped in a world where I had no connections, discriminated against for being mana-less.
Then Lapis, the Silver Unit boss, took me in. Met Amber, and a year flew by to now.
'Looking back, it was a blink.'
Lately, though, things had been nonstop chaos.
Learning the identities of two world-saving magical girls, opening a shop at the prestigious Jewelry Academia, getting kidnapped by that famous Brilliant heiress…
All dangerous crap, every bit of it.
No time for more reminiscing anyway—the appointment was closing in.
Clunk—
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than a redheaded girl pushed open the rickety wooden door.
Ravi, the magical girl herself—no hiding it anymore.
"Hi, Jade!"
"…Hey."
I hand her a cappuccino and guide her to a seat.
No time for chit-chat. We had mountains to discuss.
"You know the gist, right? Got a favor to ask."
"Yep! The makeup ad thing?"
Since I'd laid out the basics over the phone, things moved surprisingly fast. Never dreamed she'd agree so readily.
"That about covers it. Rest is between you and their company."
"Speaking of, to think even Lady Diamond's taking an interest in you. What a sinful guy."
With the deal wrapped, she flashed a sultry smile and changed the subject.
"No clue what I did to deserve it."
"No need to be shy~ It's great that everyone sees your good points."
"…Dunno about that."
She acts like she's smitten, but I'd never felt any possessiveness from her.
Hell, I'd deliberately dodged contact for a while to keep distance.
'Image I had was her barging in daily to check if other girls were sniffing around. But even sticking with Amber got no reaction.'
That jealousy you feel for a loved one? Why's it nowhere in sight?
"Oh, Jade, do you believe in fate?"
"…Fate?"
Sudden and philosophical. Not your usual small talk.
But the vibe told me this tied straight into what we needed to hash out.
Fate, huh. Everything in this world flowing by predetermined cause and effect?
I'd read some quantum mechanics stuff once, but years ago—details fuzzy.
Guess I'd just give the honest answer.
"If fate exists, then even us meeting like this was all set in stone?"
"Pretty much."
Everything predetermined—
The words sparked a memory of a chat with Lapis.
'Not that… You were fated to die way back. Like, months ago.'
'Fated to die?'
I'd already been hit by a massive truck once. Should've died right there.
But I hadn't. Woke up in a world with magic instead.
Maybe surviving here was some glitch, defying fate.
After that, I'd faced danger after danger—like something was actively trying to weed out a suspicious outsider like me.
'If Ravi hadn't forced her mana into me…'
Per Lapis, more near-death BS awaited.
"Believe in fate? Nah, not one bit."
I state it flat-out, and Ravi's eyes flicker.
She knows my fate. Giving me her mana just delayed my death.
Doesn't know how, but probably peeped it with unique magic like Lapis.
Otherwise, no reason to dump that much mana on me.
Only one response for her here.
"Don't believe in fate. Way more fun if there isn't any."
"…Knew you'd say that, Jade."
She smiles wistfully, nodding like she'd called it.
A few days later.
I was brewing coffee while an ad for that makeup played on the TV.
"Whoa~ Just like you said, senpai, everyone's bailing."
"Didn't expect it to blow up this bad myself."
Only regulars like Amber or Sophia, or a few bored female students killing time.
Everyone else hooked by Brilliant Corp's hype—cafe not even on their radar.
You can manufacture trends. Calculated ones, not luck-based.
Linking Brilliant and Magical Girl Ruby had successfully tanked interest in Cafe Eclipse. Win-win?
"…Feels like we did something shady. Handing an ad to that Magical Girl Ruby."
The mastermind behind it all muttered timidly.
"She accepted, so no issue."
"You think…? Ah, one more chiffon cake!"
Still a bottomless pit. Thought she'd finally leave me in peace, but nope—planted here chowing down.
Diamond polished off her plates, dabbed her mouth with a wet wipe, and suddenly addressed me.
"Um, Amber's boyfriend?"
"Call me Jade. Easier."
"Jade it is! Sorry about last time. For… acting on my own."
Her blushing apology got a casual wave from me—it's fine.
More than the kidnapping, those pants soaked with her tears embarrassed me. No sorry for that?
"Now you can grab desserts anytime you want. Good deal, right?"
"Jade, you're really without greed. Money doesn't faze you either."
"……."
Can't argue. I'd quietly snapped up some Brilliant stock—regretted it a tad.
"…Still, I want you. Amber's got dibs now, but someday, if the chance…"
Those blue eyes lock on, and I flinch, averting my gaze.
No thirds kidnapping. Maybe forgive her with a cup of tea?