Tokyo: Magical Girl Shatters My Dream of Going Public

"Sizzle... Over the past 20 years, society has fully adapted to the existence of magic. People have learned to coexist with [magical spirits], and they have also learned to place their hopes on dazzling magical girls!"

Click—

"—Breaking news from this station: A Class C vengeful spirit appeared again in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo yesterday. The exorcism has been completed by the magical girl [Hakuhana]. There were no injuries, and traffic in the surrounding area is gradually returning to normal..."

Click—

The background music of a light and cheerful variety show suddenly cuts in.

"Well then—! The results of this week's 'Which magical girl's partner do you most want to be?' are in first place, as expected, our Miss [Hakuhana]! This marks her seventeenth consecutive week at the top! Her support rate is a whopping 43.2%! Ah~ it's no surprise at all~ Second place goes to [Suisei], who excels at area purification..."

Click—

Click-clack—

The program quickly switches channels.

It was a rather serious interview program.

"...So, Professor Sato, as an advisor to Yagi Heavy Industries, what is your opinion on the 'containment rather than extermination' technical approach adopted by some private [Special Phenomenon Management Companies]? Does this violate the 'complete purification' principle advocated by the Magical Girl Association?"

"I believe the key lies in 'controllability.' Research into using vengeful spirits as an energy source is certainly appealing, but the lessons of fifteen years ago tell us that once magical energy gets out of control... *sizzle sizzle sizzle*..."

The TV signal was suddenly interfered with, and the noise increased...

"So ultimately, if there are enough magical girls, there's no need for a [Special Phenomenon Management Company], right?.....zzzzzz...."

Click, click—

"...So, kids, remember this: if you encounter a magical vengeful spirit, the first thing to do is stay away and call the helpline! Wear your protective badge and wait for the uniformed uncles and aunts or the dazzling magical girl to come and solve the problem! Don't be curious and go near it~"

The electrical interference suddenly intensified, and all the images distorted into a mass of color.

Sizzle——————————

The background noise drowned out all the program audio.

Kurokawa Yoru's consciousness struggled to emerge from the hazy fragments of hearing.

The heavy rain kept falling, and visibility was already blurred.

Am I going to die?

Kurokawa leaned against the stone wall in front of the company gate. Behind him, on the stainless steel sign on the wall, the four large characters "Kurokawa Group" could be faintly seen.

Beneath the black one-piece combat suit, the chest area was almost sunken in.

The combat suit had been ripped open at the abdomen.

Rainwater poured in, only to be squeezed out again by the gushing blood.

Kurokawa struggled to focus his vision.

In front.

On the shattered screen, the last remaining image of the channel being captured was flashing wildly.

The child presenter's bright smile was stretched and torn, blending into the scrolling text of the evening news.

Then, the image froze.

No.

It was this that made everything "freeze".

Kurokawa's gaze climbed upwards along the snow-covered screen.

Spreading cracks, tangled red and blue cables, swollen and deformed plastic casing...

Keep going upwards.

Until it locked onto the enormous humanoid silhouette formed by countless old television sets piled up and merged together.

It stands a full 30 feet tall, with its 5-meter-long arms of television components and wiring supporting the stone wall outside the company.

It looked down at itself, as quiet as a fallen telephone pole.

Kurokawa's mind flashed through the company's containment files.

File number D-12, Spirit System.

The D-class magical vengeful spirit, named [Channel Devourer], was contained three years ago.

I never imagined that after the company was destroyed, even such a dangerous vengeful spirit could break through containment...

Whoosh~ Hiss~

With each breath, Kurokawa felt as if his body was being torn apart.

His body temperature was dropping rapidly, but he dared not look away for even a moment.

Before my eyes, there was the head of a vengeful spirit, pieced together from individual television screens.

Those television screens are currently playing the exact same "program" in sync.

In that scene.

He leaned against the wall, his blood-stained face playing on a loop from countless angles on every screen.

D-18, Rule Characteristic: Visual Contamination.

Once the observer looks away, it will launch a deadly attack based on its resentment at being ignored.

Fresh blood flowed into his eyes.

Kurokawa only dared to blink away the blood seeping into the corner of his eye, forcing his eyeballs to maintain a fixed focus.

He cannot move.

They didn't dare to move.

His combat suit was damaged, rendering him completely incapable of continuing the fight.

Death is closer than ever.

However, in the sky, a pure white streak of light instantly overwhelmed all other light.

The world seemed to fall silent instantly.

The sounds of rain falling and the hissing of the snow screen disappeared.

The light grew larger and larger in Kurokawa's eyes.

call out--!

That arrow pierced through the vengeful spirit's body.

The arrow, still powerful enough to pierce the television screen, struck the stone wall beside Kurokawa.

He wanted to dodge, but he had no strength left.

boom--!

The explosion tore through the rain, and the shockwave, carrying debris, sent him flying.

He rolled over, crashing into the scorched earth, and when he came to a stop, the excruciating pain in his ribs almost made him lose consciousness.

Not far away, the vengeful spirit's mangled body writhed, still trying to struggle.

In the sky, the pure white longbow was once again fully drawn.

Another arrow pierced the air, pinning it firmly to the ruins.

Kurokawa lay on his back, raindrops hitting his eyes.

In the sky, her figure was as white as snow, and starlight and dust fell with her white dress.

Magical Girl [Hakuhana].

The strongest magical girl in history.

The starlight that should have symbolized hope had now become his omen of death.

Because the company was destroyed and the vengeful spirits broke free of containment—it was all her doing!

Through the blurred vision, more faint figures appeared in the air.

Twelve magical girls hovered above the company, Bai Hua being just one of them...

Or rather, these magical girls all came with her.

The goal is to destroy the company and purify the vengeful spirits it harbors.

As if sensing that there were still survivors, Bai Hua slowly descended from the sky.

Her figure became even more distinct in the firelight, her pure white dress fluttering, starlight and dust scattering like fine snowflakes.

His silver hair cascaded down his shoulders, his face was cold and stern, and his eyes were like ice, devoid of any warmth.

As Kurokawa's gaze swept across the area, he noticed a cross-shaped magic pattern appearing on the other person's abdomen, embedded in the skirt, shimmering with a faint light, like a solidified star.

Cross.

Every magical girl, even after her transformation ends, retains those distinctive magical markings on her body...

The cross is the symbol of the magical girl [Hakuhana].

Facing his enemy, Kurokawa opened his mouth, but he didn't even have the strength to speak.

She landed a few meters in front of Kurokawa, her icy eyes beneath her silver hair sweeping over his dying body.

There was no questioning, no trial.

She simply raised her hand calmly, and pure white starlight began to gather in her palm.

It was clearly intended to finish off Kurokawa completely.

Kurokawa didn't even have the strength to sneer; his vision began to be eroded by blood and darkness.

Just as the starlight was about to burst forth—

"Oh dear~?"

A light, lively, even slightly sweet voice suddenly came from the other side of the sky.

"Isn't this my dearest President Kurokawa? Why is he lying here looking at the stars?"

A pink streak of light descended gracefully, landing precisely between Bai Hua and Hei Chuan.

The newcomer was a magical girl dressed in a cherry blossom-colored puffy short skirt, the hem of which was adorned with delicate lace and bows. Her long, cherry-pink hair was tied into twin ponytails, which swayed playfully with her movements.

She wore a bright, almost innocent smile, her peach blossom eyes curved into crescent moons, and a small star-shaped sequin adorned the area below her right eye.

What's most eye-catching is a cherry blossom petal-shaped magic mark between her collarbones, which glows slightly with her breath.

"【Scarlet Cherry】, do you know him?" Bai Hua's starlight hadn't dissipated, and her voice was devoid of emotion.

"Know each other? Of course we know each other!"

The magical girl known as Hizakura turned around, put her hands behind her back, and hopped closer to Kurokawa, as if examining an interesting toy.

"I used to be a 'special advisor' at this company, and I received a lot of 'favors' from President Kurokawa~"

She emphasized the word "take care of" and spoke in a gentle tone.

Bai Hua stared at her silently for two seconds, the starlight in his hand slowly dissipating: "As soon as possible."

"Yes, yes, yes~ Lord Baihua is so strict." Fei Ying dragged out her words and playfully gave a non-standard bow.

Only after Bai Hua's pure white figure rose into the air and rejoined the formation did Fei Ying turn around, her radiant smile unchanged.

She crouched down, cupped her face in her hands, rested her elbows on her knees, tilted her head, and looked at Kurokawa up close.

The rain washed away the bloodstains on Kurokawa's face, revealing his eyes, which were glazed over from blood loss, yet stared intently at her.

"Does it hurt a lot?" Sakura asked with a smile, her tone as gentle as if she were concerned for a close friend. "Your stomach has such a big hole in it, it looks like your intestines are spilling out, huh? Ah, but don't worry, it won't hurt for long."

Kurokawa's lips moved, and a broken, breathy sound came from his throat.

"Huh? What did you say?" Hizakura leaned closer curiously, almost touching his ear to his mouth. "I can't hear you, President~ Speak louder."

"Why...why...betrayed us..." Kurokawa used the last of his lungs to squeeze out these words.

"Why?" Hiyori heard her clearly. She blinked, then burst out laughing, her shoulders trembling slightly. "Don't put it so harshly, President. I didn't 'betray' you~"

She held up a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, but her eyes were full of mockery.

"I just... accidentally told everyone in the association the locations of your few 'secret' containment bases. As for whether they want to come and 'purify' them..."

She shrugged, looking completely innocent.

"That was a unanimous decision by the entire association. Who told you to keep ignoring our advice and insist on researching those dangerous 'containment technologies'? Everyone's terrified!"

"So, they just made up some excuse, saying that your company's contained objects have 'large-scale breached containment' and pose a 'great threat' to citizens... and then, they openly and legitimately came to 'purify' them. See how convenient that is?"

Kurokawa's pupils contracted.

Just... for that reason?

Just because his research direction is blocking other people's way and threatening the absolute authority of the Magical Girl Association?

Before he could process this cold reality, a deafening explosion suddenly came from afar, accompanied by the roar of some inhuman monster.

The flames of battle illuminated half the sky.

"Oh dear, it looks like there's quite a fight going on over there." Fei Ying stood up, patting non-existent dust off her skirt. "I need to go and 'perform' properly too, otherwise Lord Bai Hua will accuse me of just taking the money without doing any work~"

As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed Kurokawa by the back of his neck, pulling him up effortlessly.

"Ugh...!"

The friction between his body and the rough ground brought another round of excruciating pain. Kurokawa groaned, but he couldn't even muster the strength to struggle.

Fei Ying dragged him along like a bag of garbage, heading towards a huge crater created by an explosion not far away.

Deep within the pit, countless twisted cables could be vaguely seen writhing like living things, accompanied by a series of eerie hisses.

That was after the company's core containment area was completely destroyed, and the truly dangerous vengeful spirits were swarming out.

"By the way, President," Hiyori said casually as she dragged him along, "do you remember your childhood friend named 'Kondo Sakurako'?"

Kurokawa's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

"You've been investigating her death... for fifteen years, haven't you?" Hiyori's voice laced with laughter. "The official conclusion seems to be... that she died from a 'natural disaster'?"

An ominous premonition instantly welled up in Kurokawa's mind.

"Actually—" Hiyori drawled, feeling the sudden tension in her hand with satisfaction, "I killed her."

boom--!

My mind went completely blank.

Kurokawa suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the pink figure.

"Surprised, aren't you?" Hiyori said without turning her head, her voice light and cheerful. "I only found out about your relationship with her after I joined the company and saw her picture in your office. It really shocked me! What a small world, isn't it?"

"Why...why...!!!" This time, the three words were roared out from between his teeth, mixed with blood and foam.

An emotion a hundred times more intense than before surged through his dying body.

"Why?" Fei Ying stopped and finally turned around, looking down at the overwhelming hatred in his eyes.

Her smile remained sweet, but her eyes showed no sign of remorse.

"It's not really a special reason." She tilted her head, as if recalling a trivial matter. "I just...really hate that woman. She's always smiling so sweetly, like the whole world should revolve around her. It's just annoying."

"So, I just casually 'got rid of' her," she said nonchalantly. "Oh, I remember I did it in front of a few 'police officers.' But..."

She laughed, a laugh tinged with mockery of power.

"They covered for me. It was then that I truly understood that once you become a 'magical girl,' you really can...do whatever you want. What laws, what evidence, are all just pieces of paper in the face of magic, President."

Finally, she dragged Kurokawa to the edge of the pit.

Below, thick darkness churned, and countless cables and twisted metal parts climbed upwards like tentacles, exuding a nauseating magical aura.

Hiyori loosened her grip.

Kurokawa collapsed at the edge of the pit, half of his body already dangling in the air.

She crouched down and looked closely into Kurokawa's eyes one last time. The churning anger, resentment, and regret within them made her squint with pleasure.

"However," she said softly, as if a lover were whispering, "I am still very 'thank' you. It was really interesting to see you not knowing that I was your enemy and still obediently paying me ten million yen a month in 'consulting fees'...

"So, out of consideration for this 'friendship,' I'll take pity on you—"

She reached out and gave it a gentle push.

"Let you be devoured by your most prized 'containment objects.' Isn't that a dramatic ending?"

The feeling of weightlessness came instantly.

Kurokawa's body fell downwards.

In the final glimpse, there was Hizakura's sweetly smiling face by the pit, twelve figures hovering in the sky, coldly looking down, and the shattered [Kurokawa Group] sign twisting and burning in the flames...

Cold, vengeful tentacles wrapped around his limbs and pierced his wounds.

But even colder than that is the darkness and hatred in one's heart that completely devours everything.

If I can survive...

I want you to pay for your crimes in blood!

The boundless darkness completely swallowed his body and soul.

[Thump—!]

The voice resounded like thunder in my mind...

In an instant, time reversed, the flames went out, and the rain rose upwards, merging into the night sky.

The rubble rose and reformed into a complete wall.

The company sign is now shining brightly again with the four large characters "Kurokawa Group".

The vengeful spirit vanished, and the cable retracted underground.

Employees appeared and disappeared through the main gate.

The rain stopped, the dark clouds dispersed, and moonlight shone down.

The surrounding light was stretched to the edge of the universe...