V6: Chapter 64: The Boundary of Everyday Life... What is It?

Chapter 64: The Boundary of Everyday Life... What is It?

A few days after that meeting, the Magical Girl Association began seeing many unfamiliar Magical Girls.

Apparently, there were joint exercises to coordinate with Magical Girls from other regions, such as Kyoto and Osaka in the Kansai area, where their usual areas of activity don't overlap.

["Magical Girl Flamma has just entered the Magical Girl Association Headquarters! Rumor has it that..."]

On the television screen, a reporter from a TV station was showing a familiar building.

No official statement had been made, but the media seemed to have a keen nose for information.

Of course, not all Magical Girls would be invading, but it was assumed that the enemy's invasion would intensify during that time.

Certainly, thinking calmly, we couldn't abandon their defenses while attacking.

In fact, it would be meaningless if the place we were supposed to protect was destroyed when we returned; it's only natural to focus resources on personnel for defense.

["Next up is the number one Magical Girl from the Kyoto branch—!"]

I can feel the preparations for the decisive battle steadily progressing. Meanwhile, as for me...

"The remote, the remote..."

I flipped the TV channel, and a New Year's special edition of music programs and comedy shows were on.

With the New Year upon us, the TV had been upgraded to its New Year's theme, so there was no shortage of programs to watch.

"A lazy New Year's... I've been running, though..." (Shizuku)

"You've been busy lately, so this is good, isn't it?" (Lux)

"Actually, I think it's amazing that you're still diligently running even during the New Year." (Yuu)

Yes, nothing had really changed in my daily life.

Even if I wanted to train, there aren't many Magical Girls who can keep up with me.

I've already established coordination with the handful who can keep up with me.

After all, I don't have that much room for improvement myself.

Besides, what's the point of improving any further anyway...?

"Mom, I think I'd like some zenzai."

"Sure, how many mochi would you like?"

"Two, then."

I enjoyed watching New Year's specials while sitting under the kotatsu.

It's nice to spend time leisurely like this once in a while; I think that especially now after everything that's happened recently.

As I relaxed under the kotatsu, I felt the sensation of knee-high socks against my toes, and at the same time, they quickly retracted, causing the kotatsu to shake.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" (Yuu)

"No, it's nothing to worry about, it was just a little bump... In fact, you can even bump into me if you want?"

"Huh? You're being kind of creepy again."

It seems she still hasn't gotten over being a house guest; she seems to be somewhat considerate of us.

"Okay, Onee-chan and Mother, we will join you in the kotatsu too."

"The zenzai is ready, but don't eat it while you're lying down, okay?"

Lux has been there from the start, acting like she's always been the eldest daughter.

Or maybe that's just too bold?

"Seriously! Are there really people who press their legs against you?!"

"Oh, it's more fun when you're not holding back like that... huh?"

I was feeling a warm, fuzzy feeling seeing my little sister grow up, kicking me playfully as we were going about our game, when she suddenly grabbed my toes and I was startled. Judging by the size of her hand, it couldn't be Yuu-chan...

"Shall I give your naughty legs a foot reflexology massage?" (Lux)

"Eh, sure, but... can you do that?"

"I studied a lot about the human body a long time ago, you know?"

I wondered just how long ago that "long time ago" was, but I hesitated to ask, fearing I'd stir up trouble. Even so, the way she touched me felt somewhat suggestive; perhaps that's a characteristic of succubi.

"Mmm, ahh..."

As I was thinking these things, she pressed firmly against the arch of my foot, and I involuntarily let out an erotic sound.

She kneaded the soles of my toes with her fingertips, pressing into the inside of my soles... it was far from the touch of an amateur.

"Ah, mmm... it hurts, but it feels good..."

"You're not very tense, are you? It's good that you're healthy, but it doesn't make for a very satisfying massage."

I felt the blood circulation improving from my toes, and a warm, tingling sensation spreading through my feet.

She's really good, good enough to charge money for... but her technique is a little suggestive.

"Ahhh, a little harder there... mmm, that feels good..." (Shizukuk

"If it were something inappropriate, do it in your room..." (Yuu)

"I wouldn't!?"

"Shizuku, don't make such bad noises, it's bad for Yuu-chan's education..." (Mother)

"Awful much?"

Whose voice is bad for education, whose?!

Despite having such a cute and adorable voice...

"Eh, we aren't you going to do it?" (Lux)

"I guess so... no, we won't!" (

"Oh, that's surprising?"

Please stop treating me like a rabbit in heat everywhere.

Surely I have enough self-control to prioritize spending time with my family... or so I should.

"If it feels that good, then... I'd like you to try it on me too." (Yuu)

"Oh, really? Then, leave it to me!" 

Lux, moving her hands excitedly, approached, looking like a complete oddball. 

She then reached her hand under the kotatsu.

"Ah, it certainly feels good... Ow!? It hurts!? Hey, wait a minute! Something's not right!"

"Oh dear, Yuu-chan, you're very tense, aren't you? You really need to take better care of your health."

"I understand, just stop for a moment—Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!?"

Come to think of it, foot reflexology massages are more effective for people with poor physical health... and I've heard they hurt.

Yuu-chan, who didn't seem to be able to live a very careful life due to her family circumstances, probably had a lot of tension in her body...

"Help! I'm going to die...! Don't just watch, help me, ahhhhh!?"

"Oh my, this part is very tense, isn't it?"

Yuu-chan is still screaming and writhing, the shaking nearly causing a bowl to fall from the table, so I pick it up.

"Haha, it should be good for your health, so... hang in there?" (Shizuku)

"You two are so energetic, even on New Year's Day..." (Mother)

Ignoring the screaming Yuu-chan, I put a soft mochi in my mouth and sipped the sweet red bean soup, the perfect sweetness spreading through me.

Thinking about it, all the New Year's celebrations up until now had just been me and my mother, and while that was certainly fun... this might be the first time I've had such a lively New Year's.

"It really is lively..."

My mother is a little exasperated, but she seems to be enjoying the scene.

I still remember how happy I was about it.

★

It was early one morning, a few days after New Year's Day.

The air was unusually clear that day...

Otherwise, nothing particularly different, just a normal day like any other during the New Year's holiday.

No, it was a normal day.

Just as I was about to go outside and start my daily run, a deafening disaster alert rang out on my smartphone. Such alarm sounds were echoing throughout the town.

I hastily glanced at the screen and saw a missed call from Squire.

The fact that it wasn't an email or message meant it must be something very urgent... though I could tell that without being told, just by looking at the state of the town.

["Hello, I think you've noticed, but I'll just get straight to the point..."]

"...Okay."

Somewhere in my mind, I think I understood without being told.

I somehow knew that the time had come.

["Signs of a large-scale gate outbreak have been detected. In Japan, observation points are around densely populated cities such as Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. And the estimated time of occurrence is────"]

That was a surprisingly late discovery for something of this scale; the enemy must be quite clever.

And the gates are appearing in locations as far north as Hokkaido... and as far south as Kyushu.

["────Three hours from now, at 9 AM, this country will be hit by a large-scale invasion. The scale of each invasion is smaller than the one in Okutama, but..."]

"They've clearly tried to scatter the attacks..."

That hit a sore spot.

Magical Girls, especially high-ranking Magical Girls like us, are precious.

We are truly a force of one hundred men, Magical Girls with undeniable power that this country relies on.

However, our numbers are not large, and with us scattered like this, reinforcements from other prefectures are unlikely.

Since I am also alone, I cannot protect anyone other than those in front of me.

["If things continue like this, many regions will become battlefields..."]

"This is preparation to prevent that...right?"

That's why we must strike the enemy's main camp first, and then eliminate the enemy leader who is likely beyond that.

The preparations for that, the personnel for that purpose, are already complete.

["That's right. We need to seize control of the area inside the gate before it fully appears and prevent it from opening."]

"We have a huge responsibility, don't we?"

["...Yes. The plan is as discussed in the meeting; the Tokyo operations team will assemble at the Magic Association... We'll be waiting."]

The call ends. She must be busy contacting others and preparing for what's to come.

I look up, and the city is enveloped in a noise that's unbelievable for early morning... I can see glimpses of people beginning to evacuate.

The alerts that continue to blare signal the end of everyday life, stretching as far as the eye can see.