The sky was aflame with streaks of violet and red as something small and fragile streaked through the endless void. A round, fluffy creature, no bigger than a soccer ball, flapped weakly through the emptiness. Her feathers shimmered faint pink under the fading light, though dirt and blood marred her downy coat, turning its softness ragged. Every beat of her wings came with effort, trembling with strain, as though her body might simply give out at any second.
Her name was Chiri. A celestial familiar, born from a fragment of starlight, was once a creature of pure brilliance. And right now, she was running for her life.
Behind her, the void tore itself open with angry cries. "Don't let it escape! After her! Don't you dare lose that chick!"
The voices reverberated like thunder, too many and too loud, as if the darkness itself were speaking. Shapes followed—shifting shadows, outlines of claws and wings, and teeth. They were formless yet suffocating, nightmare figures that grew sharper the longer one looked.
Chiri's tiny body burned with exhaustion. The cuts along her side stung, her wings felt like lead, but her eyes blazed with resolve. She whispered between ragged breaths, fragile yet unwavering: "I have to… find someone. Someone who can save us…"
Every flap of her wings scattered sparks of pale light like falling stars. The glow trailed behind her, glittering in the vast black, a thin beacon in the suffocating dark. Her mind held one image: a blue planet, fragile yet stubborn, a place where magical warriors had always risen in times of need.
"…Earth."
Her voice cracked on the word. She coughed, blood and starlight mixing on her beak. Her breaths grew shallower, but her gaze did not falter.
In the distance, that familiar sphere glowed like a jewel—oceans and clouds swirling, continents outlined in soft sunlight. A place brimming with potential. A place where, maybe, just maybe, the impossible could be resisted.
"Forgive me," she murmured, guilt heavy in her tone. "I have no choice. If anyone can stop [REDACTED]… it will be magical girls."
Behind her, the shadows screamed again, furious that their prey had chosen her path. The void itself seemed to stretch and bend, trying to swallow her before she could reach safety.
But Chiri forced one last burst from her trembling wings. She angled her body, every feather aflame with light, and shot forward like a comet. Stars blurred around her, the void howled in protest, but the little chick poured all of her fading strength into one desperate plea.
"Please… let me find them…"
And then, with a final cry, she vanished into the atmosphere of Earth.
Morning sunlight streamed gently through the curtains of a modest two-story house in Kagarui City. The rays cut soft golden lines across a bedroom cluttered with everyday chaos—posters of idol groups plastered across one wall, a row of manga stacked unevenly on a low shelf, a pair of socks abandoned on the floor, and a bright pink beanbag chair sagging in the corner.
In the bed, a lump stirred under the covers.
"Mmm…" A groggy groan slipped out as Mizuki Akari shifted, his rose-pink eyes blinking open against the light. His bubblegum-pink hair, tied messily into a side ponytail even as he slept, spilled across his pillow in a tangle of stubborn strands. His small lips smacked sleepily as he yawned wide, stretching his slim frame like a cat, back arching as he inhaled the morning air.
From downstairs, a cheerful voice rang up: "Akari! Wake up, dear! Breakfast will be ready soon!"
"Mmhh… okay, Mom…" His reply was muffled, still heavy with sleep, but it carried that cheeky undertone he always had. He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes, pajamas sliding off one shoulder. The early sun painted his room gold, catching in the strands of his hair and making his lashes glimmer. "I'm awake… probably…"
He stumbled out of bed, yawning again, and padded barefoot across the wooden floor. One hand absentmindedly tugged down his pajama shorts while the other scratched lazily at the back of his neck.
At his window, the curtains shifted with a breeze. Kagarui City stretched below: neat rows of houses, clusters of high-rise apartments further out, streets already bustling with commuters. A bus rumbled by, and in the distance, the faint chime of a school bell drifted on the wind.
"Another boring day…" Akari muttered, smirking faintly at his reflection in the glass before heading out of his room.
Downstairs, the warm aroma of grilled fish and miso soup enveloped him immediately. His stomach grumbled as he followed the sound of the television into the living room.
"…Mornin', Dad," he muttered, rubbing his eyes again.
His father sat cross-legged on the couch, the remote in one hand and his other scratching idly at his chin. The man turned with a grin, eyes crinkling warmly. "Morning, Akari. You're up earlier than I thought."
"Mom called me," Akari replied with a smirk. He flopped onto the couch, tucking his legs up and resting his chin on his knees. The TV flickered with the morning news: roadwork delays, a minor scandal at city hall, a local bakery winning an award, and mention of the upcoming summer festival.
Akari tilted his head, unimpressed. "Nothing interesting again?"
His father chuckled heartily. "Unfortunately not. Unless you're really into pothole reports."
"Tch." Akari clicked his tongue dramatically, frowning in mock irritation. "And my favorite anime isn't even on at this hour. What a rip-off."
That earned a booming laugh. His father reached over and ruffled his son's hair. "You've got too much attitude for this early in the morning."
Akari swatted his hand away with a pout, though his lips twitched with amusement.
From the kitchen, his mother's voice rang out, bright and melodic: "Breakfast is ready!"
The two Mizuki men rose almost together. The younger stretched his arms above his head, slim body arching, while the older cracked his back with a satisfied groan. They entered the kitchen, where the table was already neatly set: steaming bowls of rice, fragrant miso soup, grilled salmon perfectly browned, and small dishes of colorful pickled vegetables.
Akari's eyes lit up instantly. "Looks amazing, Mom," he said, sliding into his seat with a grin.
"Of course it does," she replied with playful pride, setting down the last dish. Her eyes softened as she looked at him. "Eat up, Akari. You'll need your strength today."
He smirked, mischief dancing in his rose-pink eyes. "For what? Surviving school, or surviving your cooking?"
His mother gasped, hand flying to her hip, though her lips threatened to curve into a smile. "You cheeky devil! Don't make me withhold dessert!"
Akari stuck out his tongue with a grin, and his father chuckled, clapping his hands together. "Alright, alright. Let's eat."
The three of them bowed their heads briefly. The sound of chopsticks against bowls soon filled the kitchen, mingling with small laughter and casual conversation. Akari devoured his rice, lips quirking as his mother scolded him lightly for eating too fast, while his father hummed in satisfaction over the salmon.
When the meal ended, Akari pushed back his chair, stretching with a groan. "Thanks for the food, Mom."
"Of course," she said warmly, stacking dishes. "Now go get ready before you're late."
Akari grinned, giving a lazy salute before heading back upstairs. A few minutes later, he came down again, dressed neatly in his school's female uniform. The outfit was crisp and fitted: a navy blazer snug over a white blouse, a pleated skirt swishing against his thighs, knee-high socks hugging his slim legs, and loafers tapping softly on the floor. His ribbon tie was loosened just enough to add a cheeky, bratty flair, and his side ponytail bounced with each step as if completing the disguise.
At the doorway, he slipped on his shoes, pausing to call back into the house: "I'm heading out!"
His father waved from the living room. "Study hard, Akari!"
And his mother stepped forward, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek. "Be safe, dear."
Akari smirked, cheeks faintly pink, and mumbled, "Yeah, yeah…" before stepping outside.
The morning air was crisp, the sun climbing higher, the sounds of the city alive all around him. Akari shoved his hands into his pockets and started down the street toward school, side ponytail swaying with each bratty step.
A perfectly ordinary morning. A perfectly ordinary boy.
And yet, high above, a pink light streaked across the sky like a falling star, growing closer with every second.