I waved goodbye to the girls as we got off the train and went our separate ways. The day had been a success, but I was already thinking about what came next.
"So what's next, Gemgem?" I asked, poking at the weight on my chest. "Got a master plan or are we just winging it?"
"Your team-bonding exercise, as cringey as it was, worked." Gemgem's voice stated, back to its usual cold, efficient tone. "We can begin the next phase. So far, we've only targeted individuals: a vain rookie, a jealous sister, a codependent twin, a lonely powerhouse."
"They were loners. Easy to pick off. But not all of them are that stupid. Some of them have organized."
A new stream of information flowed into my head.
"There's a group calling itself the Aegis of Light. A pretentious name for five magical girls playing hero squad. They've got it all figured out: a leader for morale, a strategist for planning, a heavy-hitter for raw damage, an assassin for precision strikes, and a healer to keep them all standing."
"They train together, coordinate their patrols, and share intelligence. And right now? They're investigating the recent disappearances and corruptions."
The Gem's voice grew colder. "They're hunting us."
I kept walking, hands in my pockets. "And your endgame?"
The Gem went quiet. Not angry-quiet, but... thoughtful. When it spoke again, its voice carried weight.
"My goal isn't conquest in your simple human terms. It's a correction. Picture a world where every magical girl embraces her true nature instead of choking on selfless lies. Where power serves ambition, not some suicidal, selfless lie called goodness."
"I seek to cure this world of its most virulent disease: the sickening light that gave those magical girls their power."
"And our next move? We dismantle the Aegis, the light's strongest weapon, before they find us." Gemgem's voice sounds eager than usual, its voice wavering.
"Another fight, huh?" I stretched lazily. "Fine, but let's take it slow. The girls need training first. Maybe find some villains or rogue monsters for them to fight?" I paused.
"Also, random question. Do you ever have a body? Like, were you a guy, a girl, or what?"
More silence. Longer this time.
"Gender. Form. These are meat-suit concepts, tied to your biological limitations. I am a consciousness."
"But yes, before this artifact form, I was different. Ages ago, when your kind still feared fire, I was more scattered. Less refined."
"I've worn thousands of forms over the millennia. Male, female, neither, both. They were tools, nothing more. Just as you are now. The form never mattered, only the purpose."
"Huh." That was more information than I expected. "You're chatty today, partner."
"Data disclosure is not chatting." Gemgem snapped. "We're not partners, we're symbiotic. We should start targeting villains instead of magical girls, as you suggest. Corrupting another girl now would be like shooting a flare into the sky. The Aegis would find us immediately."
"Villains, however... they're chaotic variables. Pests. No one asks questions when they disappear, and your team gets live combat experience."
"Right, right?" I grinned. "Though we're still missing a healer compared to them. Would be nice if some hot, big-breasted onee-san type just showed up, ready for corruption."
"Your preference for a 'big-breasted onee-san healer' is noted. While your reasons are primitive, the strategic logic behind them is… sound. A dedicated healer, not your crude healing earlier, would increase the team's ability to operate."
The Gem went silent for a long moment, as if it were processing my crude comment or query from a big database.
"Interesting. Your crude desire aligns with a high-value target. There is one person who fits your description: Magical Maiden Cherish."
Information flowed into my mind.
Real Name: Chiyoko Satori.
Age: 28.
Job: Teacher at St. Mary's Academy, a fancy all-girls school.
Abilities: Famous for her crazy healing powers. She can supposedly mend broken bones, cure diseases, and even purify corrupted energy. The public loves her, sees her as a symbol of pure compassion.
"And yes, visual records confirm she fits your… specifications."
"She operates alone." Gemgem continued, a cold, predatory excitement in its voice. "She believes her power is a sacred gift that shouldn't be tainted by teamwork or violence. She only shows up after a battle to tend to the wounded, friend and foe alike."
"This makes her extremely vulnerable. A perfect future asset. But she is not our priority right now! Getting her would alert the Aegis. Training first!"
"Fine, I'll try to approach her later," I said, "just to… check out her assets."
I suddenly remembered something and pulled out my phone. I then made a group chat and added all the girls.
"Hey," I typed. "We'll use this to chat and plan stuff. Just realized our team doesn't have a name yet. Any ideas?"
My phone immediately blew up with notifications.
Dark Ruby 💥: A TEAM NAME! HELL YEAH! How about "The Annihilators"?! Or "Team Doomslayer"?!
Dark Heart Princess 🖤: Akane-chan, no! That's so tacky! 😳 It should be something cute and cool! Like "Starlight Seraphim" or "Obsidian Angels"! Something that would look good on merch! ✨
Aoi Tanaka: A team name should reflect our purpose. Something elegant, powerful, and a little mysterious. "Nocturne" or "Umbra" has a certain class.
Dark Ruby 💥: HEY! "Nocturne" is boring! It sounds like a library!
There was a pause. Then, a single, quiet message appeared from our newest member.
Homura: What about... "The Fallen Stars"? Because... we have all fallen. And we serve our Master, who is like a new star for us to follow.
A stunned silence hit the group chat. Homura's suggestion, born from her own cosmic theme and new devotion. It was simple, poetic, and fit them perfectly.
Dark Heart Princess 🖤: ...Wow, Homura-chan... that's... actually perfect. 🥺
Aoi Tanaka: ...I agree. "The Fallen Stars" is an excellent name. It's both poetic and accurate.
Dark Ruby 💥: ...Okay fine. Fallen Stars is pretty badass. I'm cool with it. 👍
They had a name now. They were no longer just a random collection of magical girls. They were The Fallen Stars.
"An appropriate name," Gemgem noted, with a rare hint of approval. "It has a tragic quality that the public will eat up. A useful narrative. Your team has found its identity."
"Okay, Fallen Stars it is." I typed. "Nice job, Homu-chan. I'm saving the chat name as Hakuto's Harem though. 😘"
The chat blew up again.
Dark Heart Princess 🖤: "Master's Harem"?! KYAAA! Master, you're such a tease! (>///<) 💕
Dark Ruby 💥: HAREM?! Does that mean we have to fight to see who's the main wife?! I CALL DIBS!
Aoi Tanaka: Akane, that is not what a harem is. And Master, your choice of name is… direct. I don't object.
Homura: Harem...? I... I will do my best to fulfill my role in the... harem, Master.
I turned my thoughts to the Gem. "Hey, can you join the chat as an advisor? Would save me some typing."
Before I could react, Gemgem's voice cut into my mind, sharp with indignation.
"Absolutely. Not. I am NOT your secretary. My communications are for you alone. Do not ask again. Now, stop this nonsense and focus. I found us a target."
Villain Profile
Name: Doctor Overdrive
Identity: Dr. Kenji, a disgraced engineer fired from a major tech corp for shady experiments.
Abilities: No powers of his own. He pilots a big, armed mech suit he designed. It's tough, with machine guns, micro-missiles, and an electric field.
Motivation: Revenge on the company that fired him. He plans to hit their main data center tonight to steal research and wipe their servers.
Threat Level: Medium. A real problem for the cops, but manageable for a magical girl team. He's arrogant, overconfident, and likes to hear himself talk.
"The perfect training exercise," Gemgem concluded. "A predictable villain, non-magical, technological foe. It will let The Fallen Stars practice teamwork without much risk. The attack is at midnight."
I relayed the info to the group chat. "Aoi, Homura, you two are up tonight. Meet at my place before we head out."
My phone buzzed almost instantly.
Aoi Tanaka: Understood, Master. A tech-based opponent will be an interesting challenge. Homura and I will handle it.
Homura: Yes, Master. I will support Aoi. We will not fail you.
But two other voices immediately jumped in.
Dark Ruby 💥: HEY! What about us?! Why do they get all the fun?! I wanna punch a robot too! 😠
Dark Heart Princess 🖤: Master? Aoi-chan and Homura-chan are amazing, but shouldn't the whole team go on our first mission together? 🥺
Aoi quickly replied.
Aoi Tanaka: Master's orders are absolute. His decision is tactical. My ability to drain energy should work against a powered suit, and Homura's gravity fields can hold it in place.
Aoi Tanaka: Your chaotic energy and Miki's powers would be less effective against a machine. It's a logical pairing.
Despite Aoi's perfect logic, a tense silence hung in the chat.
I'd given an order, but I'd also accidentally started the team's first fight.