V2: Chapter 8: School Life Is Important Too, Right?

Volume 2: "The World's Complaints and the Girl Who Won't Grow Up"

Chapter 8: School Life Is Important Too, Right?

"Shizuku, have a good day!"

"Okay, I'm off!"

Bag, check!

Toast, check!

The cute me,... check!

"Oh no, I'm going to be late!"

I'm Hoshino Shizuku! A vibrant 15-year-old so cute even flowers would be jealous!

"Wait, weren't we supposed to meet in front of your house? Where are you going?"

Actually, I have a hidden side, and my true identity is... a Magical Girl who fights evil!?

"You're saying it all out loud...!"

"Oh, it's Chloe. Sorry to keep you waiting, have you been waiting long?"

"It's obvious! I've been waiting! You idiot!"

It seemed impossible to continue like this, so I readjusted the toast I was holding and said hello.

I heard that the latest trend is to run off like this and bump into your soulmate at a crossroads...

As you all know, the girl waiting in front of my house was Tachibana Chloe. Ever since that incident, she's been coming to pick me up in front of my house... and we go to school together every day.

The scary thing is... my house isn't even close to hers.

Isn't this something you'd normally do with a neighbor or someone you meet at a nearby station?

"Your tie... there's no way yours could be crooked, is there?"

"Of course not! I always want the world to enjoy my perfectly cute self..."

Seigahara Junior High School has a really cute uniform, and it's excellent. Honestly, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I chose this school solely because of the uniform's cuteness.

Well, actually, that's not entirely true.

To be a reasonably good student, I needed a school with both academic prestige and a distinguished history. And it's not far from home either.

"Come on, we'll be late if we don't hurry!"

"Okay, let's go then."

This place is only a few tens of minutes' walk from home. Beyond the brick school gate, which exudes a sense of history, lies Seigahara Junior High School, the school we attend. It has a very good reputation among the surrounding schools, and it puts a lot of effort into both academics and extracurricular activities.

★

"H-Hoshino-san...! Good morning!"

"Yes, good morning. It's a beautiful day again today."

"Th-That choker... it's really cute and suits you!"

"I'm so happy to hear you say that. Hanada-san's ribbon is also very lovely."

"Ah, y-yes!"

"I-I was so nervous..." she said, as she returned to her seat.

I watched her go and headed to my own. I'm glad that so many people are falling for my charm again today.

So, um, today's classes are English, math, and...

"Shizuku?"

"Is something wrong, Tachibana-san?"

"No, actually, now that I think about it, you have quite the thick skin..."

Of course, it's because I play the role of a perfect, flawless beauty... so that the contrast when I fall is so exciting.

What if they saw me, the class's top student with such a composed face, strolling around with my Master after school? The shock would be immeasurable.

"So, about after school today..."

"Yes, yes."

I'm like a dignified flower. When they see me completely naked, and the expression of desire I never normally show them, what kind of emotion will their admiration transform into?

Just imagining that...

"Ouch!?"

"You weren't listening, were you? I'm gradually figuring out how to handle you..."

Chloe pull my cheek, bringing me back to reality. I can't believe she saw through my goddess-like smile... It's embarrassing, like she's seeing the real me.

"We got a summons from the association today. Shall we go together after school?"

"Oh, right... now that you mention it, that's true."

Now that I think about it, I vaguely remember receiving a message like that. It's not that I'd forgotten, but it wasn't something I'd particularly bring up in conversation. A summons from the association president isn't exactly an unusual event.

★

After morning classes ended, in the early afternoon, I was fiddling with my smartphone with a cool expression. People around me rumored I was reading some highbrow literary work, but in reality, it was social media and online news.

I basically never miss checking my mentions online. That includes things like what kind of fan service people liked, and what they disliked.

The former makes me feel good, and the latter helps me improve in the future.

Of course, there are many people who are just jealous and make me their enemy, but that's just the price of popularity, so there's nothing I can do about it.

So, after lunch, I often do this: self-searching. This includes various social media and online articles. And... places like this too.

[A thread discussing the charms of Magical Girl Satellite. Part 17]

This place, with that title, is what you'd call a bulletin board. To create a thread at this hour just to talk about my charms, how much do they like me? Well, I feel like the "liking" of the people here is more murky and sticky... but there was one post that caught my eye.

667: Anonymous Magical Girl

Actually, girls like this have a hidden side, you know.

Look, her butt looks weak (lol)

Even in a place like this, there are still haters. I wanted to see them unleash their more base desires towards me... but I guess this has its own charm. Also, I haven't tried my butt yet.

668: Anonymous Magical Girl

Gentlemen, I have an idea.

669: Anonymous Magical Girl

Horny dog, sit down!

670: Anonymous Magical Girl

Huh???

Satellite-sama is the perfect, flawless, strongest magical girl, you know???

You're going too far in making fun of her, baldy.

671: Anonymous Magical Girl

Huh? I'm not bald?

672: Anonymous Magical Girl

Baldy's getting all worked up, lol.

That's bad for your hair follicles, haha. Oh, I guess it's too late, lol.

673: Anonymous Magical Girl

You!

I'll kill you!

This happening after noon... Yep, it's definitely over. Even so, the fact that I have fans even in a place like this... it must mean that my efforts to gain popularity are paying off.

Well, I do have a pretty face, after all...

Thinking such thoughts, the day passed... I think things were going smoothly.

★

After school, Chloe took me to the large building of the Magical Girl Association... commonly known as the Magic Association. The fact that they could build such a large building in the city center really made me feel the power of the Magic Association.

In reality, it serves as a shelter and fortress in times of emergency, so the design is quite efficient... but for everyday use, it's a bit too spacious.

After walking down that long corridor, I knocked on a heavy-looking door and opened it.

"...Ah."

"Long time no see, Squire."

"It's been a long time, President Squire."

"...Thank you both for responding to the summons."

A room devoid of signs of life, and a table piled high with documents.  Sitting in a chair in that room was a girl with pale gray hair and eyes that didn't reflect light. It had been a while since I'd seen her, and she was still the same doll-like girl.

"You're back, Satellite."

"Yes, thanks to you."

"I see."

As always, her face was almost expressionless. I thought she might offer a touching greeting... but it seemed she was in a hurry. This matter was apparently much more urgent than we'd realized.

"Let's get straight to the point. The reason I called you here today is this."

She handed me a document containing images of several girls and... a group of intriguing words.

"What is this [Stray Magical Girl Alliance]...?"

"Literally, it's the name of an organization comprised of stray Magical Girls."

Although most magical girls belong to this association, I was aware that there were magical girls who didn't belong to the association... those classified as strays. It's been covered in the news several times as a social issue.

I mean, It's only natural that some 15-year-old girls, suddenly possessing power and authority, would become intoxicated by it.

"Stray Magical Girls have always been a problem, haven't they? Why are you trying to deal with them now...?"

"Recently, the number of magical girls leaving the association and joining this alliance has been gradually increasing."

"W-what...?!"

This is a serious situation.

While we called them 'stray,' in reality, many are involved in shady activities such as illegal black market dealings and acts of violence. I've wanted to help them, but their 'roots' are far 'deeper' than I imagined.

"I understand. This time, it's about raising awareness and sharing information."

"So you've grasped something...?"

"Yes, it'll probably be broadcast to the public soon.... They claimed that they were the legitimate Magical Girl Association."

★★★

Gathered in the dim, gray underground were girls with various hair colors. Among them, there were a few famous Magical Girls that one might have seen on television.

"Poor Onee-san who have been oppressed, you all did nothing wrong, how pitiful~♡"

In the midst of all this, the girl, with her alluring, luscious lips curled up, declared.

No one complained about the fact that this small child was making such cheeky remarks...

Was it because of her claims... or because of her power? It was unclear. 

Nevertheless, it was a fact that she was in charge of this situation.

"It's unfair that you're treated like that when society is to blame, right?"

"Of course. I absolutely cannot tolerate the idea of ​​powerful beings being treated like disposable tools."

Many people agreed with that sentiment, and some even clenched their fists as if remembering something.

"Even though the environment is bad, you don't want to accept being treated like a criminal, right?"

"My mother called me a monster...! It was only natural that a woman like me would end up like that!"　

Many sympathized with their voices, but there were certainly those who didn't think highly of them for suddenly gaining power.　

"So... shall we rebel?"

"That's right, that's exactly right...!"　

Her voice was like a trigger. She had merely voiced the pent-up frustration with the world. Yet, that was enough to move these women who had likely been oppressed.　

"To this damn world, and this---"　

She took a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds. After crushing something in her palm, the girl continued. Her eyes were clearly filled with intense hatred.　

"--- rotten Magical Girl Association ♡"

"Ooooooooooooooooo!!!"　

The girl who led the scene, which was enveloped in a frenzy that was almost like a roaring roar, undoubtedly possessed it. The qualities of a leader. And... the qualities of an instigator. In her jade-like eyes... there was a firm conviction.

"So, everyone from the 'New Star Magical Girl Association'?"

In the dimly lit underground of the city...

"Let's go and show the world what a new king looks like ♡"　

Now, the revolution begin to unfold.