"Shizuka!"
A voice, soft and melodic, cut through the strange static still clinging to my senses from the alley. I remembered it faintly, a relic from a life I had closed the book on.
I turned to see a woman hurrying across the street. Her face was familiar, yet the context was all wrong.
Pink hair, but worn down, not in those iconic twintails.
She was dressed in the uniform of the world I despised: a white button-up shirt and a constricting black pencil skirt. An office lady.
My heart, which should have been soaring, instead sank with a profound sense of anticlimax.
I offered my most practiced, neutral smile.
"Uhm... Hello! Do I know you?"
The woman—Stella—finally reached me, slightly out of breath from her sprint. She straightened her skirt, a gesture that felt so ordinary, so human.
"I think you knew me quite well,"
she said, her voice earnest.
"And I know a lot about you!"
「Knew me quite well.」 Past tense. How fitting. The hero I'd built shrines to in my heart had been reduced to a vague memory.
My gut had been right, but the confirmation brought no joy, only a dull throb of disappointment.
I decided to feign ignorance, to keep this interaction on the safe, shallow level it deserved.
"Uhm... are you my mom's friend?"
I asked, tilting my head with false innocence.
Stella's face fell, just for a second, before determination reset her features. "Well... yes, but I thought you'd instantly know who I am."
A sigh escaped me.
This was becoming a hassle.
"That you're Stella? If I shouted that here, people would flock to you. That'd be a pain."
I saw the flash of hurt in her eyes before she could hide it. Good. Let her feel a fraction of the irrelevance I felt.
Seeing my idol now, a mere office worker, didn't fill me with joy.
It was like running into an old celebrity you used to admire—you respected what they were, but the magic was long gone, replaced by the bland reality of what they had become.
"Shizuka... we need to talk."
I looked at Stella. Her eyes were trembling—this wasn't the magical girl I knew.
In some way, I felt the need to accept…
That was the least I could do.
I slowly nodded my head up and down, and I could see a shimmer in the lady's yellow eyes.
Was she really that happy? Just because of that?
What a strange woman. And surprisingly… I don't think it's that bad.
"Where do we g—"
Before I could finish my words, my eyes widened as I got dragged into another alleyway. Why?
What's with alleyways today?!
After she dragged me into one with barely any foot traffic, she pinned me against the wall, causing me to gulp. Nevertheless, I tried to keep a neutral face…
Which failed pathetically as I turned as red as a tomato.
"How did you get out of that alleyway unscathed?"
My delusions stopped, and I got a hold of myself.
"Excuse me?"
I tilted my head, feigning ignorance.
"Don't fool me. You reek of youma energy."
The f*ck?
Are you a dog?!
I looked at Stella, then immediately looked away.
I think she knew what I was thinking.
"I don't know what you mean," I smiled awkwardly.
"Young lady, don't lie to me."
Grr… what's with her? Just 'cause she's my idol!
"You're not my mom, you know!" I barked.
"Well… yeah, but I saved you and your mother, and I kept in touch. I'm also your sponsor for your scholarship, so I'm your mommy as well."
…Mommy? She's a sugarmomma then?!
Wtf?!
What is this lore bomb?!
She kept in touch?!
THE STELLA COMMET?!
My mind was in shambles. I could easily drop everything today—but I've steeled myself. I will cleanse this world.
I am not afraid of my own actions.
"I… had an encounter with a mascot that claimed to be affiliated with the youmas."
I looked directly into Stella's yellow eyes, and I could see that this wasn't good news. Well—it never was.
"You… what?!"
Stella looked at me, confusion and anger swirling together.
"Shizuka, you could've gotten hurt!"
Stella sighed.
"No problem. I choked it."
Stella's eyes widened.
"W-wha…?"
I nodded, as if that was completely natural.
"I wanted power. Power to destroy the current magical girls—to cleanse and remind the stagnant world what magical girls truly mean."
Stella looked at me, scanning my face to see if I was joking. Then she sighed.
"This is gonna be a long story, isn't it?"
I nodded at her inquiry.
"Yes."
I said simply, watching as Stella removed her hands from pinning me against the wall.
"Fine. What time does your class start?"
"Uhm…" I checked my phone. Currently 10 a.m.
"At 1:30 p.m."
Stella nodded.
"Good. Come with me to a café."
A café?
I had no right to refuse. Free food is good food.
I followed Stella as we walked to another street. Eventually, we reached a café named 'Blue Butterflies.'
And well—yeah, it was butterfly-themed, to say the least.
As I entered, Stella went straight to line up.
"What do you like?"
I looked at the menu and browsed through the drinks. They served frappes, shakes, milk teas… cakes… uh, so sweet…
"Uhm, I'll have a strawberry cake and cookies-and-cream shake, please."
"How girly," Stella teased.
I turned pink.
"S-shut up!"
I crossed my arms, looking away as the cashier laughed and people glanced my way.
Having enough of her teasing, I searched for an empty seat. I spotted some stairs.
"Second floor would be nice," I murmured as I went up. I was correct, as expected of me! The top floor was mostly vacant. Lots of tables and chairs—but I chose one near the window.
That way, I could enjoy the view of people walking below.
A few minutes later, Stella came upstairs and sat in front of me.
"So, going back—you said you want to 'cleanse the world.' I get that. But destroy the magical girls? Shizuka, where did you get that from?"
Stella looked genuinely concerned. She didn't seem like she'd turn me down; she was willing to listen.
"I hate them. No— I hate Lya. She undermined what you and the other magical girls stood for. It made me furious when she turned magical girls into… idols."
I confessed. I don't even know why I confessed. This could sabotage my only chance of being a magical girl.
Stella could apprehend me right here. Yet… why do I trust her?
I thought I'd steeled my heart, but it seems I'm still too weak.
But when I looked at her face—she didn't look at me sternly. She smiled.
"So you still are my fan! I'm glad."
Stella smiled warmly.
"I always was… it's just that I hated the fact you had to retire."
I caressed my arm.
"You know I had to retire one way or another, right? I mean, idols retire at a certain age too."
I nodded.
"I know… but aren't you like… mad? That the ones who took over your mantle are… idols?"
Stella looked out the window, watching the people below.
"No, not really… Lya has always been unpredictable."
She sighed.
"As for your view—I appreciate it, Shizuka. You're right. The new magical girls are… different. But Shizuka, is violence really the answer to all this?"
I looked at Stella, eyes wide. My mouth opened and closed, hesitant. But words finally formed.
"Yes. If it means the world has to fear… cry… then I'll gladly be the villain—so they may remember what you and your fellow magical girls stood for."
I looked at her with determination, and she couldn't help but look at me with longing.
"Shizuka, I'll tell you this."
Stella reached out for my hand and held it in hers.
"If this is the path you choose, I won't fight you. But please, promise me one thing—and one thing only."
I looked into Stella's eyes, filled with nothing but love.
"Never get yourself hurt, okay? Physically, emotionally, spiritually. Promise me you won't falter, no matter what life throws at you."
Feeling the warmth of her hands, I couldn't help but smile.
"But of course—that's only natural. I learned from the best. My mom… and you, after all."
I smiled.
"Uhm, excuse me…"
Both of us turned to see a waitress with tears forming in her eyes.
We looked down and saw the poor waitress' hands trembling as she held the tray with our order.
"Sorry!"
We both stood up and grabbed our plates, faces bright red.
Mine was strawberry cake and cookies-and-cream shake. Stella—predictably—got chocolate cake and a strawberry shake.
As I took a bite of my strawberry cake, my black eyes—once devoid of life—shimmered for a second.
"Mhm! This is delish!" I squealed.
"Right? I always order that."
I looked at Stella and nodded in agreement.
"Uhm, why did you accept me so easily?" I asked.
She smiled softly.
"Because I understand where you're coming from. I agree with your points—though not so much with how you're gonna deal with the world."
Stella sighed and sliced a piece of her cake.
"But even so, I appreciate that you're doing it for my sake…"
She smiled gently.
"But I also have to apologize—for not approaching you sooner. When I was forced to retire, I just didn't have the guts to face you or your mother."
My eyes widened. My black eyes darkened upon hearing those words.
"What?"
Stella blinked.
"Hm?"
"You got forced to retire? But didn't you announce it was voluntary?"
I glared at her, and she avoided my gaze.
"What happened?"
My hands clenched into fists.
"Lya didn't need us anymore. That was the only reason."
Stella confessed.
The anger in my chest welled up.
"I knew it! There was something wrong with that retirement! I knew it!"
I slammed my fist on the table. I wasn't delusional after all.
I took another bite of cake—and every time I did, my fury melted away. Cuz it's too damn good.
"In any case, I accept your apology, Stella."
I pouted, looking at the woman in front of me.
"Just call me Himeno."
"Fine, Himeno-nee."
"How cute, calling me that~"
"Oh, shut upp!"
My face turned bright red.
"Just make sure to come visit me… as punishment for retiring!"
"W-what? Why is that my fault?!"
Himeno looked at me with teary eyes—this woman is just as good at acting as I am!
"Because I said so! Anyway, give me your number!"
I huffed.
"You're getting too full of yourself."
Himeno teased.
"Aaah, just gimme your number! It's not fair Mom gets yours!"
"I'm your mother too~"
"Don't make it weirddd!"
After conversing with Himeno-nee… I finally got her number.
And I couldn't help but feel genuinely happy.
Even if it's just for today.