As I stepped out of the portal, we were back at the back of the female bathroom.
The sky was already a soft and gentle purple—it was getting dark.
I looked at the black cat I was carrying, snuggling against my chest.
"IXX, you're coming with me to my boarding house."
The black cat looked at me, meowed, and purred.
『I don't have much of a choice, master~』
She cooed. My eyebrow twitched a bit. She's copying me! She's copying me!!
I sighed as I began walking out of the park and into the busy streets.
There were a lot of people walking home from work and school, and from my peripheral vision I couldn't help but notice certain men in uniforms.
They wore protective equipment that basic military men wore—vests, helmets, and of course, guns.
What were they called again?
Ah right—
Y.E.I.D.
It stands for Youma Eradication and Investigation Department.
If you're wondering why society stays safe even with magical girls no longer being active combatants, it's because of them—their guns aren't normal.
Their bullets are imbued with magical properties similar to what magical girls produce… though who supplies it? Nobody knows.
Of course, they weren't here for me nor for IXX. They're like the police—their presence is merely a deterrent for youmas.
Too bad for them the ex-leader and the new leader is walking right beneath their noses. And they don't know.
I couldn't help but smile as I walked through them and made my way to my dorm at Hanamizuki University.
Well, since it's gonna take some time, I'll let you in on a secret~ You must be wondering:
「Shizuka, what do you think about the Y.E.I.D?」
Well the answer is simple: they can go rot in hell for all I care!
Why? Well, because they're part of the damn problem, that's why.
Sure, I respected their bravado to fight youmas as mere mortals with guns, relying only on borrowed power.
But after the youmas dwindled, all they do is parade their badges and commit crimes themselves. They're like gangsters with nice suits.
Power-tripping bastards, basically.
I puffed my cheeks, venting my anger.
"Ah Shizuka, whose cat is that?"
My train of thought halted as I looked to my right. An old lady approached me—Yamako. I help her cross the road sometimes.
"Oh it's mine, granny. I picked it up close from here."
I smiled with a blush on my cheeks.
"You are a good girl, take care of that kitty."
My eyes widened as I felt her warm hand on my head. I couldn't help but lean into her touch.
"Mhm, I will."
My smile widened.
After sharing more pleasantries, I waved goodbye to Granny Yamada and continued my way.
『I didn't know you have this side of you』
IXX's voice softly rang in my ears.
"Well, you have to be kind when you need to."
I smiled and caressed IXX with soft, sad eyes as I finally reached my uni.
"Not everyone deserves a bad day—everyone's fighting battles themselves."
I muttered under my breath.
『What was that, master?』
IXX looked at me curiously.
"It's nothing."
I smiled at IXX as I passed by the guardhouse and headed to the dorm building.
"Konbanwaa~"
I uttered as I entered. The staff saw me and bowed, but upon seeing the black cat one of them widened her eyes.
"A-Ahh, Shizuka-sama, you can't bring pets—"
The staff insisted.
"It's fine, it's fine! I'll take responsibility, 'kay? I promise this cat is well-behaved and won't be a bother."
I raised IXX and let the reception area marvel at her beauty.
"O-Okay fine, Shizuka-sama… I'll take your word for it."
The staff crossed her arms and pouted.
"Thank you very much."
I gave the woman a genuine smile—and she jolted, almost falling.
"N-No problem…"
She managed to reply, her legs shaking as she fainted.
"Well, there goes another one," another staff muttered.
I nervously laughed. This is why I sometimes don't like genuinely smiling… people get overly dramatic and head over heels for me…
In any case, after helping the staff back on her feet, I went into the elevator and pressed the button.
After reaching my floor, I stepped out—only to—
"Ow!"
I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. I heard a thud and felt something bounce off me. Looking down, I saw a young woman sitting on the floor on her butt.
"Oops, sorry about that."
I extended a hand while still carrying IXX with my other.
But the young woman slapped my hand away.
"Tsk, watch where you're going, will ya?"
The young woman stood up. Her hair was in twintails—orange twintails.
She looked around eighteen, wearing a yellow cardigan over a white button-up long-sleeved shirt, paired with a blue skirt.
Cute. But her attitude is a total turn-off.
She didn't wait for my response. She just walked past me, pushing me aside as she entered the elevator.
How rude… she was the first to ever treat me like that. Sure, it was my fault, and I even apologized.
What a weird young woman.
『That young woman… something's up with her』
IXX yawned.
"I can tell."
I muttered, petting IXX as I walked.
Yeah, the young woman was weird—too hostile. That tells me she could also feel that something was off about me as well…
I smiled deeply.
Too bad. I figured out her identity first.
I couldn't help but laugh a little as I headed toward my room.
—---------
Meanwhile, back in the elevator, the young woman with the orange twintails couldn't help but frown.
"Something was really off with that senior… I know she's popular, but It feels like all the 'light' in the air just dies when she's near. It's disgusting."
The orange-haired young woman crossed her arms. As she muttered to herself alone at the elevator
"Moreover, her demeanor is weird as hell. She feels fake and genuine at the same time. It's like looking at an actress that's been living as a role her whole life, fucking creepy"
The orange haired young woman shivered, the more she thought of it, the more disgusting she felt
「Well, your worries aren't dumbfounded」
A pink rabbit popped out of nowhere.
"Ah, Lya, you're back!"
The orange-haired girl jumped with joy.
「Of course. I can't let the new Stella Commet be alone—you are quite popular after all.」
The pink rabbit hopped into the air and perched on the young woman's shoulder.
「You have an upcoming fan signing. You best get ready.」
The orange-haired woman nodded.
"Right! Whatever that senior was doing, or whatever that aura was, doesn't matter—I've got to take care of my fans!"
The young woman smiled on the outside—
But deep inside:
「FUCK! Another fan signing? What a bunch of low-lives. Don't they have jobs? All they do is fawn over me and the rest of my group… we aren't even the OGs.」
She thought to herself.
Of course, she couldn't let this part slip.
She kept her perfect smile beside the pink rabbit. A perfect image is needed for an idol, after all.
-----------------
(After the encounter in the hallway)
I smiled deeply as I walked to my room, petting IXX.
『Are you sure it's okay to leave that as is?』
IXX inquired.
"More than okay,"
I murmured.
"It was an invaluable information. I just confirmed the identity of one of Lya's new 'idols'."
『How?』
The black cat's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
『She was just a rude girl.』
"Let's walk through it, shall we?"
I said, unlocking my door and settling onto the couch.
IXX jumped up beside me.
"First, establish the baseline: My public persona. I am, by all measurable accounts, universally liked. I've cultivated this image for a decade.
The worst reaction I ever get is quiet jealousy or indifference. Overt, public hostility is a statistical anomaly. It simply doesn't happen."
I held up a finger.
"So, her behavior was an outlier. Now, why? Option one: She's just an inherently rude person.
But that doesn't fit.
She's dressed neatly, like a student.
She's staying in a VIP dorm, which implies a certain level of status or achievement.
Truly, randomly rude people don't usually maintain that."
A second finger.
"Option two: She has a personal grudge against me.
Impossible.
We've never met.
I'd remember someone with orange twintails and that much... attitude."
A third finger. "Which leads to Option three, the only one that fits all the facts: She wasn't reacting to 'Shizuka, the role-model student.' She was reacting to something else she perceived."
I leaned forward, my black eyes glinting.
"And what could that be?
The only thing different about me now is the youma energy I'm saturated with. Energy that a normal human shouldn't be able to detect.
But a magical girl, connected to Lya's power source?
She'd feel it.
She described it perfectly without saying a word—her disgust, her instinct to push me away.
It was a visceral reaction to my very presence, to the 'darkness' clinging to me."
I concluded, my smile turning sharp.
"So, to summarize: Anomalous hostility + No logical personal motive + A reaction that aligns perfectly with sensing evil energy = She's a magical girl.
And a new, poorly trained one at that.
A veteran like the original Stella, Himeno-nee would have been subtler.
This one... her emotions are right on the surface. She's an open book."
『So you knew she couldn't fight?』
IXX asked.
"Not for certain, but it's a high-probability inference,"
I said, leaning back.
"If she had real combat experience, her instinct wouldn't have been just petty rudeness.
It would have been caution, a defensive stance, an assessment of the threat.
She treated me like a bad smell, not a potential enemy.
That tells me Lya has taught them to be celebrities, not warriors."
The black cat looked at me with wide eyes.
『That... that makes total sense! You're amazing, Shizuka!』
I couldn't help but smile at the black cat, a slight blush creeping up my cheeks.
"That much is nothing, after all. I'm a top student, I have to use my intellect somehow."
I laughed.
"Ah right."
I picked up my phone from my skirt's pocket and unlocked it.
Though the LCD flickers and, well, it's noticeably cracked… it still works.
I went to my 「Contacts」 and searched for a name.
"Where is it… ah! There it is."
I clicked on Himeno-nee's name and began writing.
『Who is that?』
IXX tilted her head curiously, trying to peer into my phone.
"Himeno-nee, my idol."
I said as I typed on my phone.
『Your idol? That means…』
I nodded and looked at the black cat with a proud smile.
"Yup, the original Stella Commet herself."
The black cat's eyes widened at the revelation.
---
「Meanwhile at an apartment building」
It was now dark outside—just like inside the room where a lady slept underneath a blanket, wrapped like a cocoon.
〔BEEP BEEP〕
A phone notification shattered the silence.
cough cough
〔Beep beep〕
Another notification chimed.
"Ugggh—cough…"
The blanket rose and then fell, revealing disheveled, long pink hair. A hand reached toward the phone lighting up the dark room.
Unlocking it, she noticed three notifications from "MyCuteKouhai."
Though her body protested with every unbearable motion, she still urged herself to see what it was.
Going to her messages, she clicked on 〔MyCuteKouhai〕—
And the woman's eyes widened… then softened.
「Himeno-nee, I want to ask for your advice」
「Can you and I meet up?」
「We can have a little date!」
A smile formed on the woman's face.
"This girl, hehe—cough…"
The woman began typing in a very slow, shaky manner:
「Sorry, I might not be able to come, dear. Just come to my place, okay? Your older sister will talk to you about it」
She sent her location, then placed the phone aside. Her breathing grew hasty as she curled up into a small ball…
"Hopefully… that's enough, right? Mhm… let Himeno-nee be pampered for now… just this once, please… let me have someone to rely on…"
She whispered as she closed her eyes, her body temperature rising and rising, shivering from a cold that didn't exist.