August 2024

  ***

  Seika was working in the office today. Ebiko sent her the revised manuscript for Volume 2 of ‘The Starfaring Maiden’ mere moments ago and she went over it for review.

  The explicit sex scene between Felicia and Tiana got turned into a more hinted affair. After the kiss and the description of the lifted top Ebiko steered the descriptions into the emotional – focusing on the bond the two shared and how it grew even stronger, despite their imminent separation.

  Furthermore, Ebiko added some notes on how she planned on bringing Tiana back in future volumes. A girl who fell in love like that and was separated from her beloved wouldn’t just stay put – she’d continue her own journey and try to reconnect with Felicia, no matter what. Hence, future volumes will sometimes shift to her point of view or have the two briefly meet and consummate their relationship once again.

  Lovers who couldn’t stay together and were destined to stray from each other to briefly meet and love each other with all they had. It was a bittersweet concept and Seika liked it – but for some reason she couldn’t discern it created a pit in her stomach.

  She looked at the clock. It was five in the afternoon, so it was about time for her to clock out. Earlier than people might have been used from her, but if she delayed any longer, she would have her Magical Girl identity exposed on the internet, or so the ultra-rich gyaru proclaimed.

  “I’m off!”

  “Have a good evening!” Watanabe responded to her. He looked a little surprised that she was actually clocking out on time – she had a terrible habit of staying long despite never being pressured into it - but didn’t question that unusual behavior from her. Ever since he saw her ruined knuckles he gave her some breathing room.

  ***

  On the way to the station Seika checked her phone. There was a message from Miori, so she opened LINE and looked at it. Her message was a reply to one Seika sent before.

  ‘Hello, Miori

  I’m sorry but something happened, and I won’t be able to go out with you this weekend. If you’re still willing, we can definitely go the weekend after.’

  ‘Of course, Senpai. I’m already happy enough to spend time like this with you at all.’

  Since they exchanged contact information after their first date in Shibuya, the two met up every other weekend. The second date still took three weeks before they met again – surprisingly it was Miori who insisted on putting it on hold. This was a lucky break for Seika, who was still recovering from having half her body bruised by her confrontation with the blue armored Magical Girl called Bellona.

  Though ever since they resumed their weekend dates, they acted like the main characters of a high school romcom, who were locked in an eternal state of ‘will they or won’t they’, while every onlooker described them as ‘already a couple but without the kisses’. Just that in this case both of them were painfully or maybe even blissfully aware of the fact that they looked and acted like a couple minus an actual love confession.

  Seika was on edge at first – feeling happy like that would surely attract Lethe, the demonic entity that stole her best friend’s memories of her – but Lethe never came. Was she toying with her through the painful anticipation? Or would it not count until Seika finally got her act together and confessed her love to Miori?

  ***

  Her thoughts got interrupted by her train arriving in Harajuku.

  As she got off, she already saw the two gals waiting for her.

  “Yahoo, Paisen!” Miyu exclaimed excitedly, raising a hand to wave at her.

  “Are you ready to, like, become an entirely new person?” Momo asked while hopping over to her position, stepping behind Seika and pushing her forwards.

  “You don’t have to- come on, stop it, I’m coming willingly!”

  Miyu walked alongside the two, looking Seika over from top to bottom.

  “Right, Paisen, we’re going to dress you up so you don’t stand out too much in the world where you’re going. If the people of that world find out you’re a Magical Girl, you might be in for a bad time.”

  Seika turned her head towards Takeshita Street as they walked away from it.

  “Shouldn’t we go through there?”

  “Oh no, Paisen, most of the niche boutiques closed down over the last three years.” Miyu explained.

  “This place got, like, hit the hardest from people’s paranoia about mannequins.” Momo finished.

  “Makes sense… though Madame Bille is the one threat who hasn’t managed to kill any civilians yet. Sure, there were injuries, but usually…”

  “Paisen, people just don’t want to get cut up by razor blades while going shopping for new clothes.”

  “Fair enough.”

  The department store they ended up in was a multi-level exhibit of trendy and exotic brands, with all of them being given their own space. Trendy summer outfits stood next to the fall collection that would be necessary in a few months’ time while signs pointed to the more exotic collections further downstairs.

  “Where you’re going is kind of… European, Paisen. Medieval, even. So…”

  Miyu pondered the options laid out on the floor plan.

  “We’re going to get you some dresses that make you look like a noble. Or at least a wealthy traveler.”

  “What, with modern lolita brands?” Seika raised a brow with some skepticism.

  “They like, blend in surprisingly well, Paisen.”

  “We did it before. So, you can trust us.”

  Seika looked from one gal to the other. “So, you were already doing shady deals with otherworldly traders before you lost your powers?”

  She thought she saw a twitch in the corner of Momo’s eye before the gyaru simply grinned and put her arm around Seika’s shoulder.

  “Exactlyyyy! They have, like, some great shinies over there.”

  After they arrived on the correct floor it was a short walk to one of the first stores.

  Miyu and Momo were all over the frilly clothes in the store. They grabbed outfits and dashed towards Seika, holding them in front of her while pondering what she would look like wearing them.

  “Maybe more of a red? Ah, but her hair is red when transformed. Oh wait, she’s going to dye it, isn’t she?”

  Am I going to dye it?

  “Don’t ask me. I like my hair the way it is.”

  “Why would I dye it?”

  The gyaru exchanged a look before Momo spoke.

  “Well, like, you’ll have to walk through the door transformed. And your hair would, like… give you away immediately.”

  “Really? I’m the only Magical Girl whose hair glows like that.”

  “Ah… no. You’re not really.” Miyu interjected.

  “For example, there’s that mysterious blue one. And also… there’s people with glowing hair like that out there, right?”

  Seika’s eyes went wide at that mention.

  “You know about them?!”

  “Only what I heard on the other side. They call them Deogemma. Apparently, the lady of the town is not very fond of them and has them arrested on sight.”

  “…so why send me of all people? I look like them.”

  “Oh, Paisen, did you really think we have another choice? Or would you prefer we send a child?”

  Seika shut up for now and let the two of them hold more and more dresses to her chest.

  They weren’t satisfied with the selection at the first store, so the two of them dragged Seika into the next one. This one seemed to add a bit of a steampunk flair to its clothing of choice.

  “You know, Paisen… playing dress-up with you is like a dream come true.” Miyu admitted with a grin as she turned her way and held yet another dress in front of the tired office worker, pondering if it fit her face and the place she needed to visit.

  “We have admired you for a long time.”

  Seika looked away to the side, her face clouded over after that confession.

  Great. Now I feel terrible about calling them sellouts.

  “Really? How so? Your predecessors didn’t like me all that much.”

  Momo stifled a laugh at their mention

  “Ah, the first generation. They were, like, full of themselves. Chosen by the wise enchantress to, like, save the world. Hahaha, remember how they cried when they were asked to hand over their earrings, Miyu-pyon?”

  Miyu dismissed Momo’s words with a hand gesture.

  “They were kids and completely unprepared for their role. Thank you for always cleaning up their mess, Paisen.”

  Miyu held another dress to Seika’s chest, visibly considering her next words before she spoke again, quieter this time.

  “Not like we were any better at the start. And then people hated us, too, for accepting that idol contract when we were sixteen.”

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  “Well, screw what they think. You made a good deal for yourselves. Made something out of all the responsibility people thrust on you.” Seika beamed Miyu a smile.

  “Hypocrite.”

  Shut it. They need to hear some nice words right now.

  “Hmm… thanks, Paisen.” Miyu smiled and got a bit closer – Seika was almost certain that the girl was going to give her a kiss on the cheek, but then she tilted her head to the side and stared right past her ‘Paisen’.

  “Uh-oh, Momo-pi.”

  “What is it, Miyu-pyon?”

  “Code Girlfriend.”

  “What?! Oh, crap!”

  “Code what now?” Seika blinked and turned around.

  There was Miori, in the flesh – one boutique over and browsing the lolita dresses. No doubt if she saw two gyaru fawning over her beloved senpai, she would get the wrong idea.

  “She’s not my- “

  “Yes, she is. Momo-pi, go and execute protocol ‘girlfriend distraction’.”

  “Okey-doke, aye-aye, yes ma’am!” Momo enthusiastically chained all the words of affirmation she could think of as she walked confidently over to the boutique and struck up a conversation with the gothic lolita.

  “And the two of us will sneak away while she’s distracted. Come along now, Paisen.”

  Miyu grabbed Seika’s arm with both of hers and the two of them snuck out the other side to ascend to another floor, away from the shopping Miori and the distracting Momo.

  ***

  “You two are saying some strange things sometimes. Miori and I aren’t girlfriends.” Seika gently pushed Miyu off herself as they arrived in yet another alternative fashion boutique.

  “Really, now? Have you even seen yourselves, Paisen?” the gyaru replied with a wide grin.

  “Just how much did you two stalk me?” Seika asked in a rather annoyed tone. “Those dates are platonic, nothing else. They’re good to relieve the stress from work and all the other stuff that you’re doubtlessly aware of.”

  “Oh I’m sure you’re pining for other kinds of stress relief with Miori.”

  “Shut up.”

  They went through the rows of dresses, with Miyu examining them one by one. She didn’t need to hold them in front of Seika anymore to imagine what they’d look like if worn by her, it seemed.

  After a few more items she stopped, and a wide grin appeared on her face. She pulled out a green dress – not as frilly as the rest of the things they looked at before – in fact it looked relatively normal.

  It was a white long blouse with a flared green lace-up skirt worn on suspenders, with a green tie – additionally there was a green shoulder cape with white lace fringes worn over the blouse.

  “Looks more like a cosplay outfit, but I think this one will do the trick, Paisen!” Miyu proclaimed proudly.

  “You can look like a merchant from another town… or something.”

  Seika raised an eyebrow and inspected the fabric, running her fingers across it. She had no idea what the other world looked like, so she took Miyu’s word for it.

  “Off to the changing room you go, Paisen!” She felt the gyaru’s hands on her back, pushing her into one of the cabins.

  “Why did you come in, too?”

  “Because I need to see something. Transform for me, will you?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I told you to transform. You will be in your magical form this entire trip, so I want to see what it looks like.”

  “Ugh, fine.” Seika closed her eyes and transformed – hoping that the flash of light didn’t attract any unwanted attention.

  “Hm, hm, as splendid as I remember!” Miyu said, starting to touch various areas of Minerva’s outfit and giving special attention to her coat that served as a cape.

  “You’re giving the impression that I am the celebrity here.” Minerva said with a slightly nervous tone before she simply put a hand on Miyu’s forehead and pushed her away.

  “But you are! The oldest Magical Girl!”

  “Please don’t use that o-word in my presence, thank you very much.”

  “Pfft!” Miyu let out a stifled laugh. Then she gestured for the dress she laid out and left the changing room. “Call me in when you’re done!”

  ***

  Minerva looked at the pile of clothes and then at her own. Was she even able to take any of this off? It’s not like Magical Girl outfits need to be able to be put on or taken off in the first place, given the way they appear out of thin air.

  There were laces on her corset, so she gave it a try.

  It came off surprisingly easy, given how it was able to take violent hits and shrug them off with only a miniscule amount of fabric damage. The same went for her gloves. The brooch holding her coat was fastened with four cufflink-like buttons that she undid one by one until the coat fell to the ground. She held her crystal brooch in her hand for a while and stared at it.

  Wait. Isn’t this… you?

  “Yes.”

  How far away from my body can you be?

  “I don’t know.”

  Minerva put the brooch down on the chair that held the rest of her clothing and took a few steps back from it. Nothing changed, so it appeared like it was still effective at one meter of distance, at least.

  She looked at the green dress and slowly put it on, sliding into the white blouse and lacing up the skirt before putting the suspenders over her shoulders. She finished the set by putting on the shoulder cape.

  “You can come in, now.”

  Miyu entered and whistled as she saw Minerva dressed in something other than her Magical Girl outfit.

  “Oh, wonderful, Paisen! We’ll buy this one. You can turn back now.”

  ***

  After they paid for the new dress Seika got to carry it in a bag.

  “That’s it, then? Where’s Momo, anyway? She’s been distracting Miori for quite some time.”

  Just as she said that Momo approached Seika from behind and hugged her from the side.

  “Hehe, I’m here! But, like, Paisen….” She looked at Seika with big eyes.

  “I, like, kinda messed up. We gotta buy you some lingerie to make it up to your girlfriend, and also, she says to check your LINE.”

  “Huh?!” Seika did as she was told, fishing her phone out of her pocket to check a new LINE message she got from Miori.

  “Are you kidding me…?” she let out a groan as she faced a photo of her approaching the large store with both the gyaru flanking her.

  ‘After you’re done shopping, let’s meet up in Yoyogi Park, Senpai ? ’

  Seika looked to the two gyaru who shrugged at her predicament.

  “You heard her, Paisen. Let’s buy you some lingerie and send you off to get chewed out by your girlfriend for two-timing!” Miyu said with a wide grin as she put an arm around Seika’s shoulder.

  “I told you, she’s not my- “

  “You’re not even convincing yourself with that.”

  A few minutes earlier…

  ***

  “Yahoo, Miorin!” Momo approached Miori with a little grin and placed herself in front of her in a way that was supposed to hide Hitoishi and Miyu from Miori’s view. She wasn’t very good at it.

  Miori turned towards her and gave her a fake smile – the old one that she used in high school before she found her passion – without any hint of emotion or life behind it.

  “Oh, Momo. Or should I say Luna? I assume it’s because of you that Senpai cancelled our date this weekend…”

  “Ugh…” the gyaru was immediately taken aback, and a bead of sweat formed on her forehead in an instant. Miori could be scary when she’s furious and she knew it – so she decided to use it to her advantage.

  “So… don’t beat around the bush. What are you doing here today? Shopping for lolita fashion doesn’t appear to be something Senpai would be doing for herself. And I doubt you’re collaborating to make her buy a gift for me”

  She kept smiling her unsettling smile at Momo, who turned her head to the side.

  “You were always, like, my least favorite of your duo for that reason, Miorin. You’re scary.” Momo still didn’t hold eye contact.

  “Don’t change the topic now, Momo dear.” Miori replied, unimpressed.

  “Ugh, fine! We’re getting her dressed up for an errand!”

  “What kind of errand?” Miori stepped closer.

  “Can’t say! Please, Miorin, she’s going to be alright, but the fewer know the details, the better!”

  “Hmph...” Miori let up, taking a step back.

  “You two were always meddlesome. Just so you know, if your errand puts Senpai in any danger, you’ll have to answer to me. Understood?”

  Momo nodded while Miori let an annoyed huff out of her nose. She closed her eyes and calmed herself down before she looked at the ground.

  “Sorry. My time with her is very precious, as you know…”

  An awkward silence hung in the air between both of them, ending only as Miori grabbed her phone and navigated to the photo she took as she saw Hitoishi with the two gals. Despite her tendencies, it had been a complete coincidence. After receiving Hitoishi’s message about cancelling their date this weekend Miori simply decided to go to her usual place and buy some more items that she could put to good use on the make-up date. It wasn’t like she was stalking her senpai. Intentionally.

  “You’re not letting her know?” She suddenly asked Momo.

  “No. We’re not talking about anything from before a year ago.”

  “Good. I’ll play the part of the jealous girlfriend who misunderstood. Make her buy something as a make-up gift, maybe. I won’t interfere further.”

  “U-understood…” mumbled Momo before she hurried along after Hitoishi and Miyu.

  What are they up to? It’s not like I can ask Senpai myself. Not without giving up our secret.

  Seika went to Yoyogi park with a pit in her stomach. She was carrying three bags now, two for her travel outfit, and another that held multiple bottles of black hair dye as well as a set of lingerie that was way too racy for her to wear usually.

  She saw Miori waiting on a bench and approached her slowly. The woman noticed her and made eye contact – her smile was as pure and gentle as usual, flustering Seika as she sat down next to her.

  “….”

  “….”

  The awkward silence between the two was thick enough that it could be cut with a knife. Seika took a deep breath, preparing to explain the situation to Miori.

  “I know that you aren’t ‘cheating’, Senpai. Relax.”

  The gothic lolita next to her took the wind right out of Seika’s sails, making her noisily exhale the air she sucked in a moment ago.

  “Really?”

  “Really.” Miori shifted a bit towards Seika on the bench, looking directly at her with a mischievous expression on her face.

  “But it was fun to make you squirm a little. The fact that you feel guilty about going on a shopping date with someone other than me makes me a little happy.”

  Seika needed to turn her face away to hide a furious blush this time.

  “You have the worst poker face I’ve ever seen, Senpai. How much longer are you going to pretend that you don’t feel anything for me?”

  “You’re merciless sometimes, Miori.” Seika replied with a dry tone.

  “Give me time to sort myself out, okay? One of these days you’ll get a definite answer.”

  Miori giggled in response, tilting her head.

  “Oh? And how long is that going to be?”

  Seika closed her eyes and sighed.

  There will never be a relationship between the two of us while Lethe is still around.

  “I don’t know. I’m sorry, Miori.”

  Miori didn’t complain, she just kept up her usual smile – it was genuine, Seika could feel it. Seika then looked into her shopping bags.

  “What’s up with the lingerie I was supposed to buy?”

  Seika saw some hesitation in Miori’s eyes before her expression turned mischievous.

  Wait, was that entirely Momo’s idea?

  “I want you to wear it during our next date.”

  “You won’t get to see it…”

  “It’s enough for me to know that you’ll be wearing it underneath.”

  Seika choked on her own spit in response to Miori’s bold declaration, coughing violently.

  “You’re way too forward sometimes, you know that?” Seika managed to say breathlessly.

  I do love that about you.

  “So… next weekend, Senpai?”

  Miori stood up from the bench, facing Seika.

  “Next weekend. And I guess I’ll be wearing… that.”

  Seika got up and scratched the back of her head, nervously avoiding direct eye contact.

  “I’m looking forward to it.” Miori smiled again and bowed her head a tiny bit before she walked off, leaving Seika behind to get her haul of new clothing home.

  I say that it’s not a problem, but…

  Miori was torn. She was happy that Hitoishi agreed to meet her on another weekend, but she also lived in uncertainty.

  Every weekend could be their last date, before Lethe came and erased Hitoishi’s memories, forcing Miori to start all over again. So even just having to wait another week put her on edge. She clung to every one of these dates with the knowledge that they were precious and fleeting.

  “Uhm, Miori?”

  She blinked – she thought she heard Hitoishi in this moment but wasn’t she going home?

  “Hey… Miori.” She felt a warm sensation around her left hand. As she turned around, she saw Hitoishi, her right hand closed around Miori’s left.

  “My plans changed really abruptly, and I feel bad about it…” she fidgeted, looking from side to side.

  “…want to go on a small date today?”

  ***

  The two of them went to a store that came with photo booths. Hitoishi looked a little apprehensive about using them.

  “I would just drag down every photo you’re on, Miori.” She tried to talk her way out of it, but Miori wouldn’t have it. Cheek against cheek, hugged sideways, hugged from behind, doing a double peace next to each other – Miori directed their every pose and while not entirely enthusiastic about it, Hitoishi followed her lead obediently, even managing a genuine smile here and there despite her obvious nervosity.

  Miori hummed happily as she added little effects to the photos and examined them with bliss.

  “Thank you, Senpai! I will treasure them!”

  Hitoishi looked a little embarrassed. Miori liked that expression on her.

  Maybe I’m a little bit of a sadist? Would I take the lead in a relationship?

  Miori considered that option as she kept looking at her beloved senpai, pocketing half of the pictures while handing her the copies.

  “Come, let’s go somewhere else.”

  ***

  A few moments later the two of them enjoyed candied strawberries on a stick, walking side by side. Hitoishi looked a little bit more relaxed now, even as Miori hooked herself into the arm that held her bought outfits.

  “You seem… happy.”

  Because I am.

  “Are you not afraid that if you get too close it will attract her?”

  I am. I live in fear of that every single day. That’s why I’m enjoying these moments like they could be the last.

  There was no further argument from Bellona as the two of them continued their date.

  ***

  After a visit to the local dog café (Hitoishi freaked out again and became a completely different person in the presence of all that cuteness) and some more shopping in sweets shops the two said their goodbyes at the station.

  Miori didn’t want to leave it with a simple verbal goodbye though.

  With a determined look she leaned in quickly and pressed a kiss on Hitoishi’s cheek this time. She could hear Hitoishi gasp and grabbed her arms so she couldn’t push her off.

  She remained like that for a while, leaving her senpai frozen in place.

  “That’s against the rules, Miori!” Hitoishi complained – their dates were supposed to be entirely platonic until her senpai figured her own feelings out.

  “Then punish me next time.” She said with a grin as she pulled off Hitoishi.

  “Make me feed the hedgehogs with mealworms, maybe.” Her own suggestion made her insides churn with disgust. Worth it, though.

  Hitoishi turned her head to the side to hide that her face was turning red entirely.

  “I’ll think of something that’ll make you squirm, mark my words!”