So dawn came, warm sunlight spilling in.
My eyes gently opened as I yawned, basking in the afterglow of my well-deserved sleep.
The first thing I see is..
White hair,
Skin as white as snow,
And cat ears so fluffy—
And a beautiful woman, sleeping beside me.
My eyes opened wide, then I remembered...
This is IXX.
Why I got into this situation, you wonder?
Well...
Yesterday, IXX was very clingy for some reason. She asked if she could sleep with me, and I saw no need to refuse.
Though it did make me wonder—why does she even need sleep exactly?
I know so little about these creatures, but even so, I would assume they don't need sleep.
But looking at this beautiful woman beside me, my initial thoughts disappeared.
"You look so cute."
I murmured as I poked IXX's cheek. Her eyebrows contorted and her nose scrunched up as if she was being disturbed.
"Pfft."
A small giggle slipped from my mouth.
That tiny noise made IXX rub her eyes.
"Master~?"
IXX opened her eyes groggily, her cat ears fluttering.
"Did you sleep well?"
A small smile tugged on my lips as I gently rubbed IXX's fluffy ears.
A soft purr escaped her lips.
"Mhm.. I did, master."
"So why did you even need to sleep?"
"Funya!"
At my words, IXX's ears and tail perked up, her pupils narrowing into thin slits.
"A-ah... masterr, can't I be so clingyy?"
My eyebrow raised, but I couldn't help but laugh.
"Fine, let's just say you're a clingy cat that wants cuddles then."
I smiled as I looked at IXX. Somehow, my shirt fit her figure well. Oh right—I forgot. I lent IXX a shirt I didn't use..
Might've been a bad idea, 'cuz it looks like we're in a relationship..
But then again, it's not so bad on her.
"Anyways, IXX."
My voice softened, sweeter than before, as I stared at IXX while she sat up, stretching her back.
"Yes, master?"
IXX tilted her head, her yellow eyes reflecting my face.
"As I've said, I'll meet up with Himeno and learn under Nova Eclipse."
A smile etched onto my lips as I gently caressed her face. I thought she would refute it, but though her eyes held sorrow, she could only smile.
"I understand, master. I won't trouble you anymore. Please do stay safe, okay?"
A small laugh escaped my lips.
"Oh you. I won't get into any trouble at all. I'm your queen, your Goddess."
I puffed out my chest, confidence welling up.
"Fufu, that brings me great confidence, master."
My eyes went wide when I felt something wet on my cheek.
I immediately turned and saw IXX blushing.
Did she just lick me?!
"You're a really bold cat."
I gently squeezed her soft cheeks, making IXX squeal.
"Eeek— I'm sorryyy, sorryyy! I didn't mean to lick! I just felt like you needed it!"
"Why you little! Why would I want to get licked?—I mean, it's not bad, but that's not the point!"
The day continued just like that.
I bonded with IXX. Cooked her food, ate together, and watched some shows on TV.
After which, IXX had to leave—she needed to oversee my kingdom for me.
Of course, she didn't leave just like that.
Yup.
She gave me another "kiss"...
Before I knew it, time passed so quickly. It was already afternoon.
I found myself in front of Himeno-nee's apartment. Today, I wore a simple pink sundress.
The reasoning was simple, really.
I can change into my magical girl form, which also acts as a quick wardrobe change.
So I planned to wear something simple and rely on my magical girl form when needed.
I pulled out my phone and checked the time.
3:45 PM.
"Himeno-nee sure is taking quite some time."
My cheeks puffed as I scanned the area, watching people come and go.
Honestly, I could never understand how they could change so easily.
Even now—like the occasional kid who looks up, points at a billboard of the new magical girls, and smiles, saying,
"They saved the world."
When it wasn't even them who saved it.
That way of thinking annoys me.
It makes me want to wish them dead.
"Sorry, did you wait long?"
My thoughts vanished as I heard the familiar cheery tone, my head immediately turned towards the voice and my eyes widened as my black eyes reflected the pink haired beauty running towards me.
"O-oh not at all"
I stammered as I watched Himeno-nee finally standing infront of me
"Thats great then! Shall we go?"
I did a simple nod as I watched Himeno-nee take the lead.
Today she's wearing this off shoulder blouse and a long pink skirt.
Her long pink hair fluttered with the wind, from the back, I really couldnt help but admire Himeno-nee.
Naturally, as I looked around, people were looking at us. That was normal though, two beauties walking is a rare occurance.
In any case, I followed Himeno-nee and took note of where we were going, from Shingetsu Heights we walked to Miname Yume District which was a few streets away from Shingetsu.
You'd know if you got into this district if the usual ramen shops turned into Movie theaters, arcades, karaoke bars.
For short it was starkly different to the aesthetic of the streets I showed you so far!
My eyes wandered from each store to the next, taking in the different products they had to offer!
From very niche movies to the most bizarre anime finds, it was truly a fascinating experience.
But my excitement diminished when we came to the part of the district where not a lot of people come and go.
At first I was hesitant or worried that Himeno-nee got the wrong place, but seeing how himeno-nee never wavered..
My worries were replaced by a sense of anti-climax as we stood infront of an almost rundown building..
Even though I practiced my smile a hundred times..no amount of preparation can prepare me for such a reality.
"Is this it?"
I asked, an eyebrow twitching as I force a smile
"Yup"
Himeno-nee's voice sounded so cheerful, as if the world was sunshine and butterfly
Is this really the place?
I couldnt help but look around to double, triple, quadruple check!
Surely the great Nova Eclipse could afford a better building-I mean look at Himeno-nee!
"Let's head inside"
Himeno-nee tilted her head and smiled at me, while I jolted and looked at her with reluctance
"Fine, let's get this over with"
I muttered under my own breath, as I followed Himeno-nee.
She knocked on the door and it opened, my eyes widened as I saw what was over it.
A girl probably looking like she's 17, she looks so young! Wearing a jirai kei attire, she looked nothing scary. In fact, she looks quite cute
"Oh, Himeno. Long time no see"
The girl smiled and hugged himeno-nee and himeno-nee hugged back, I couldn't help but jolt and feel a slight pang of jealousy.
"Long time no see Rio!"
Himeno-nee smiled happily
"Ah right, about the promise. This is my number 1 fan and also my sweet babygirl Shizuka"
Himeno-nee extended her hands towards me as if she's presenting a good prize, I couldn't help but force a smile
"Good afternoon, Rio-san"
I still manage to awkwardly say as I bowed at her.
Rio smiled and looked at me from head to toe, walking around me as if inspecting every nook and cranny
"Alright, I'll take her"
Rio put both her arms on her hips and smiled confidently, this made Himeno-nee very happy
"Really?! Thank you!"
Himeno-nee hugged Rio
"It's nothing, just doing you a favor"
Rio patted Himeno-nee's back, pulling from the hug Himeno-nee looked at both of us
"Well, since you both have met, and shizuka knows where your dojo is at. I'll have to go, still need to buy something"
I nodded and waved as Himeno-nee left.
Now leaving both me and Rio alone
I looked beside me and noticed that Rio is shorter than me, chest height if at most.
She then looks at me and smiled
"Something wrong?"
She asked, crossing her arms
"Ah no, I didnt mean to be rude. Just wondering how you look so young"
I laughed awkwardly, curiousity got the better of me.
Meanwhile Rio looked at me blankly, did I say something wrong? I must've!
"Pfft.. Bwahahah! Of course I look young! I don't age!"
My eyes widened, she doesnt age?!,
"Wait really?"
I asked, my black eyes sparkled with this new information, I couldnt help but lean forward
"Yup! Its because of my power"
Rio couldn't help but laugh again, honestly she tries to laugh like the typical old man-mentor but her laughs instead become cute..
Like imagine a cute anime girl doing a wa-hah-hah-hah!
It wasnt terrifying, wasn't manly, just...cute.
"I-I see…"
I forced a smile, caressing my arm nervously. I still didn't know how to act around Rio-san.
I remembered the old TV reports—the brute she was—but the contrast between that image and… this magical girl persona?
It was wild.
"May I ask why your dojo is rundown?"
I asked, my smile awkward as I looked again at the peeling sign:
『Nova Eclipse's Dojo』,
practically falling apart.
"Oh, that? Yeah… lots of people tried to train here… but they quit. Guess they can't handle a beatin'."
The awkward smile lingered.
Wait… is she beating up her own fans?
Random people under the guise of training?!
"Well, why don't we head on in?"
Rio opened the dojo doors. My eyes widened—not in awe, but in anticlimactic disappointment.
Of course, the interior matched the outside: shabby, dull, completely unremarkable.
"So… you're Shizuka, huh? Sorry I didn't say this earlier…"
She walked past me and glanced back.
"Uhm… yes. Do you know me?"
I asked, curiosity pushing my hands behind my back.
"Of course. Himeno's always talking about you. 'Shizuka this, Shizuka that.' To the point I know as much about you as Himeno does."
Rio sighed and stomped her foot.
"Anyway, enough chit-chat. Show me what you've got."
She punched her palm with a grin, eyes locked on mine.
"All I've got? What do you got?"
Rio's grin widened.
"Don't take me for some dumbass fcker. I can sense that youma energy since Himeno brought you here. Stop acting dumb, b*tch."
My face twisted in a frown. I knew she had a potty mouth—but this? It stung, like a personal jab. Part of me wanted to smash her head against the wall.
A smile crept back onto my face as I regained composure.
『Fine. I'll show you what true darkness looks like.』
My voice rippled through the dojo, melodic yet cold. Light flickered until darkness consumed the room.
When Rio's eyes adjusted, two glowing, white diamond-shaped pupils pierced the black. Then—snap—the blinding light returned.
Her eyes widened at my transformation.
Long black hair streaked with white. Irises dark as the void. A black gothic lolita outfit radiating elegance and regality.
A black umbrella materialized in my hand. I gripped the handle, feeling every intricate golden design.
"Holy sht. You've got a whole cutscene. What a waste of everyone's fcking time."
Rio scuffed, crossing her arms.
"And b*tch, have you forgotten? I'm Nova Eclipse. Eclipse ain't for show—I am darkness."
She clapped her hands. Darkness filled the room, then vanished as quickly as it came.
I watched with pure boredom as she transformed.
Red hair, fiery eyes, and her magical girl attire—a typical yellow dress.
『Foolish. An eclipse merely borrows darkness. I am the one true darkness.』
I rested my umbrella on my shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah. You talk too much. Let's f*cking fight!"
In a blink, Rio vanished from sight. A sudden force slammed into my side, bending my body unnaturally.
I flew across the dojo, rolling at the entrance to recover.
Rio stood on one leg, the other still extended from a kick.
"Damn, you're sturdy,"
she smirked.
『Naturally. Unlike the youmas you hunt, I'm greater. Your attack didn't even scratch me.』
I snapped my fingers. My shadow split into jagged spikes, shooting toward her like black lightning.
Experience was her weapon. She tilted her body, effortlessly evading the spikes.
"Is that all?!"
Rio shrugged. I grinned, taking a step—and disappeared.
She scanned the room, trying to locate me.
"Where the f*ck are you?!"
Her frustration peaked.
The moment she faltered, I reappeared behind her shadow.
I closed my umbrella, ready to strike
—but then—
A fist slammed into my stomach.
Blood spurted from my mouth as I was hurled backward, colliding with the wall.
『…』
Clutching my stomach, a strange sensation ran through me. My body should be durable. The youmas never hurt this much when they scratched me… why did she?
"Hurts, doesn't it? That's 'cause you got youma powers, dipsh*t. Doesn't matter how strong you are—it still hurts. You're lucky I didn't punch a hole through you."
Rio laughed, mocking me mercilessly. Before disappearing and appearing infront of me as she kicked my chest.
It hurts! I have died before, from beams from youmas. But this pain is different, the need to gasp for air, it made me wheeze in agony
"C'mon, you gotta fight! What's what all the talk earlier?"
I gripped the tatami mats as I gritted my teeth, trying to gasp for air
『It's still not over』
I managed to squeeze out
"Oh really?"
I nodded at Rio's provocation as I snapped my fingers once more, I emerged from her shadows, dodging the moment I saw her hand and attempted to leg sweep
But my eyes widened when I saw Rio do a handstand and feel her heels strike my skull like an asteroid, the impact caused me to immediately slam into the tatami mat
"Damn, you really lack battle experience, huh? Never done sports?"
I gritted my teeth as I looked up at her
『I have, but not martial arts』
I sighed.
"Oh? What did you play?"
『Mostly badminton』
"Lame."
『Tell me about it』
I stood up once more, facing Rio. Her eyes continued to scan me over.
Then she raised her hand—I flinched—only to receive a pat on the shoulder.
"That's what I like. A girl who knows pain and fear, whimpering like a cute dog."
Rio smiled at me.
"Have you been at death's door?"
I tilted my head sideways.
『I have, in fact, died to get this power… and have met God himself』
Rio stared at me, searching for lies within my words.
"Fair enough. I'm no stranger to death either."
She smiled.
"Fine, I'll take you in as a desciple. Someone as utterly helpless and pathetic as you should be taught by the best."
She laughed, clearly satisfied after turning my elegant dress into something resembling a doormat.
I couldn't help but sigh. I'm sorry, IXX… your queen and goddess is utterly terrified of her as well…