Arakawa Ward.
Inside an apartment.
Tōka Takanashi stood expressionlessly by the kitchen stove, wearing an apron and holding a spatula as she prepared dinner.
Because of her 8 p.m. convenience store shift, tonight's meal at the Takanashi household was pork cutlet rice.
The cutlets were pre-marinated purchases from a nearby speciality shop—just needed frying, then served with rice and store-bought sauce for an easy dinner.
Although Tōka personally felt it was somewhat unfair to serve pork cutlet rice to Serafall, who had recently spent generously to improve their household meals, she had no choice but to comply since it was Serafall's request.
"Damnable Ice Witch! How dare you steal my Disaster Control Core yet again...!"
"I'll never forgive you!"
"Never!!"
"Take this! A forbidden technique I've honed for a thousand years specifically to execute you, the vile Ice Witch~!"
"Weep, scream, and then perish magnificently—!!"
Tōka Takanashi turned her head towards the living room. After glancing at the pork cutlet to confirm it wouldn't cause any issues for a while, she wiped her hands and stepped out of the kitchen.
Then she saw a girl in the living room spraying water from a water gun at Serafall, who was lounging on the sofa. Her entire head seemed to fill with question marks.
'So... your forbidden technique is just spraying people with a water gun?'
'And you're standing so far away that most of it's hitting the floor.'
'Also, water on tatami mats takes ages to dry... and they get mouldy easily.'
Lost in these thoughts, Tōka seemed to zone out momentarily.
Just then, a petite girl in a black gothic lolita dress with an eyepatch over her right eye - her fair-skinned face bearing a seventy per cent resemblance to Tōka's - glared indignantly at the drowsy Satan on the sofa.
Her eyes practically spat flames when she saw the remote control in the evil Satan's hand:
"How dare you!!"
"Not only have you stolen my Disaster Control Core, but you're ignoring my forbidden technique too!"
"It seems I can't hold back any longer."
"Take this!!"
Rikka Takanashi huffily reached under her skirt and charged at the buxom Satan on the sofa. She swiftly pulled out six or seven ice cubes from her waistband, yanked open Serafall's collar without hesitation, and dumped them inside!
"Eat this, Sixfold Freeze Ray!"
"Hmm?" The previously drowsy Serafall seemed to perk up slightly, then snuggled into the sofa lazily. "Ah... suddenly feels really nice... so cool and refreshing... mmm... getting sleepy..."
"What?"
Rikka stared at Serafall in shock, her entire face a picture of astonishment:
"N-no effect at all?"
"Even this forbidden technique failed... are all of Saint Regulator's minions monsters?"
Watching Rikka slump forward in despair onto the tatami mats, Tōka very calmly picked up a sofa cushion and gently bonked Rikka on the head.
"Ow!!"
Ignoring her sister's pained reaction, Tōka said calmly:
"Don't be rude to our guest!"
"But..." Rikka rubbed her head, eyes brimming with tears. "She took my Magic Mirror! And she's been hogging it since school ended!"
"It's just a TV - speak properly!" Tōka sighed, then turned to Serafall. "Serafall, have you finished watching what you wanted?"
Serafall asked drowsily:
"Seems not today... Magical Girl's performance..."
Rikka, still clutching her head, looked over in surprise:
"Eh? Are you talking about Magical Girl Ruru? That doesn't air until midnight!"
"Midnight?" Serafall blinked, then looked crestfallen. "No way... that clashes with my work schedule..."
"You work at midnight?"
Rikka stared at Serafall in awe, completely shocked:
"S-scary... working later than even Saint Regulator, the Demon of Labour... are you Satan or something?"
Hearing the voice, Serafall seemed to notice Rikka Takanashi's presence finally and couldn't help but wave as she greeted:
"Eh? Isn't that Rikka-chan~"
"How about becoming a Magical Girl with big sister?"
Upon hearing this, Rikka Takanashi immediately hid behind Tōka and peeked out, glaring at Serafall indignantly:
"Big liar!!"
"I won't fall for it again!!"
"The day before yesterday, you said you'd give me a super interesting ice magic book, but it was full of incomprehensible text and math problems, so I absolutely won't believe you ever again!!"
"Eh?"
Serafall blinked in surprise, then pressed her index finger against her chin with a slightly troubled expression:
"But what I gave you was clearly an easy-to-understand ice magic textbook..."
"How strange, shouldn't that stuff be obvious at a glance?"
"Not at all, it was completely incomprehensible," Rikka continued grumbling angrily.
Serafall looked genuinely perplexed: "Is it a comprehension issue then?"
"In that case, I should find some simpler techniques... Though I didn't bring any of those basic things this time... Maybe I should ask Mr Luo Shu for some beginner-friendly teaching materials?"
"Liar! Big fat liar!!"
Rikka kept protesting until she received another cushion whack from Tōka.
"Oww...."
Watching Rikka crouch defensively while clutching her head, Tōka nodded in satisfaction before turning away:
"Dinner will be ready soon; you two should get ready."
With that, Tōka Takanashi hurried towards the kitchen.
Just then, the doorbell chimed.
"Rikka, go answer the door for me!!"
"Awaken the Slumbering Digital Gate? Understood! Leave it to this chosen child!!"
Rikka immediately forgot about her headache - disobeying her sister now would mean punishment with cold rice for dinner.
Rubbing her head ruefully, she headed to the entryway.
To avoid putting on shoes properly, she balanced on one slipper like a gymnast, stretching precariously to reach the door while standing on one leg.
With a creak, the door opened, revealing the figure outside to Rikka's view.
"Ara?"
As the door opened, Rikka froze upon seeing the petite, beret-wearing girl who stood at about her height.
"My, I didn't expect such a lovely young lady to answer the door~"
Kotoko Iwanaga smiled as she raised a hand to adjust her beret, then continued:
"Though this may be somewhat forward, could you kindly undo the security chain and let me in~"
"I represent the Hidden Management Department and have some small matters I'd like to discuss with Her Majesty Leviathan~"
After this declaration, Rikka paused momentarily before slamming the door shut with a bang.
A second later.
Muffled shouting could be heard from inside:
"Saint Regulator!! There's a super cute girl here collecting debts!!"
"Collecting debts?"
Kotoko's mouth puckered into a cat-like pout as she tapped her cheek in confusion.
Had she actually said anything about money just now?
Kotoko was thoroughly bewildered...