Kamen Rider Zi-O, Dimensional Descent

But Sakura Kyoko simply shook her head.

"...If it were me, even if I had a hundred chances, I wouldn't choose like Asami."

"I understand what you mean."

"And it's not just that one. A lot of magical girls who suddenly appeared have been blinded by the current craze, you know? I've even seen people using this as a gimmick to sell products via live streaming on video platforms..."

As she continued talking, Sakura Kyoko herself became somewhat speechless.

At the same time, her expression turned urgent as she looked at Mami Tomoe.

"What do you think will happen to Mami after this?"

"do not know."

Faced with this situation, Homura Akemi could only offer this response.

"All I know is that the facts are just as you said."

"Getting the public to accept the existence of magical girls... that's not a problem that can be solved so easily."

Sakura Kyoko fell completely silent.

She seemed to be thinking about something, and then... slowly left the scene.

Homura Akemi glanced at Mami Tomoe below with an even more somber expression, then looked up at the distant sky.

"...Hopefully nothing worse will happen."

The world, which had finally been stabilized thanks to Yan Ming's power, is now heading towards extremes once again.

For Homura Akemi, it wouldn't matter if the existence of magical girls were made public, even if it exposed her.

…but in any case.

She absolutely could not allow any further danger to reach that girl.

However, now...

The future has become completely uncertain...

Volume 9, The Demon King Appears: Chapter 403 Will You Regret Your Choice...?

For Mami Tomoe, today is the most exciting and happiest day of her life.

Perhaps she never imagined that her life would reward her in this way.

Throughout the afternoon, the students in the classroom lost all interest in studying. Everyone was eagerly asking Mami Tomoe all sorts of questions about magical girls, both after class and even during class.

"Mami...Mami-san! Could you please tell us when exactly you became a magical girl?"

"Mami-san! If it's alright... could I... could I exchange phone numbers with you?"

"Mami-san! Could you please sign your name here for me? Please!"

"Asami-kun!..."

"Mami Tomoe! We don't know if you have time after school, but please, please come with us for afternoon tea!"

"Me too! I want to go with you!!"

Not only her classmates, but also younger students, older students, and teachers all came to find her.

Until now, Mami Tomoe has only seen such a scene in her imagination and dreams.

That's right... just like a scene from a fantasy.

Mami Tomoe has always fantasized about telling everyone at school that she is a magical girl, that everyone accepts her existence, and that she becomes very popular.

This is not a dream.

It's real, it's something I'm enjoying right now!

"Alright everyone, I'll take care of answering your questions, but please be careful not to cause a commotion."

"Yes!"

That's what they said, and everyone just went along with Mami Tomoe, but in reality, the entire school building had already become chaotic—after all, there was a living magical girl in their school.

Mami Tomoe tried her best to calm her excited heart.

"To be honest, I don't really know why I became a magical girl."

"Huh...?"

"It seems like it's been like this since I have memories, probably because of something that happened in the past... But that's not important. What's really important is what I should do as a magical girl."

Mami Tomoe said what she believed magical girls should do.

"To protect everyone's safety and the peace of the city, we secretly eliminate anything that threatens people's happiness... That's what we do."

"'We'... As expected, Mami-san has many fellow magical girls, right?"

"Of course! Just like in the movies, a magical girl can't fight alone; she always has a big team!"

The students around them naturally discussed the related issues.

However, no one noticed that Mami Tomoe's body trembled slightly when she heard such topics.

"...That's right, just like everyone thought, I also have companions as a magical girl."

"I knew it!"

Her classmates, who were surrounding her, laughed and said this. When Mami Tomoe noticed this, she felt a slight sense of relief.

Yes... that's right, just like I said, I have many companions as a magical girl.

That's absolutely right.

"If anyone is interested, I can introduce this group to you."

"Introduction... could it mean..."

"That's right... If everyone is willing, they all have the chance to become a magical girl like me."

"Really, really, really?!"

Then, what Mami Tomoe said completely shocked them all.

"Becoming a magical girl... Is this something that can be done so easily?!"

"Hmm... I'm not entirely sure either, but the person who told me this said they really want to see people actively wanting to become magical girls..."

"Huh...? Is that so?"

"It feels a bit suspicious."

After hearing Mami Tomoe's words, the people around her seemed rather confused. Is becoming a magical girl really that easy?

"If anyone is interested, you can come with me to take a look. After all, as far as I know, becoming a magical girl won't have any negative consequences!"

"Well, Mami, if it's alright, could you take us to see that corporation you mentioned tomorrow?"

"I want to go too! I'm not sure if I want to be a magical girl, but it sounds really interesting!"

"Okay! Then it's settled. I'll go back and talk to that person today, and anyone who's willing can come find me tomorrow!"

"It's a promise! I'm going to talk to Mom about this today, and I think she'll be looking forward to it too!"

"Hey? I think my mom would never approve of me doing something like this, ugh..."

And so, amidst the laughter and joy of her school days, Mami Tomoe experienced even more of the feeling of happiness.

'If only time could stand still at this moment.'

The gentle environment touched the girl, and at that moment, Mami Tomoe felt as if everything in the world was beautiful.

'If every day from now on could be like today, that would be true happiness…'

————————————————————

Even after school ended, Mami Tomoe's heart was still filled with joy and excitement.

She couldn't wait to jump to tomorrow.

After walking along a nearby path, I headed back towards my apartment.

"It's about time they came out."

until a certain moment.

Mami Tomoe stopped, exhaled, and looked behind her with a hint of wariness.

"After following me for so long, what exactly do you want me to do?"

Thud—and indeed, a person emerged from the depths of the path.

A girl with long red hair.

"Kyoko...?"

Mami Tomoe widened her eyes slightly, as if startled.

Why are you here...?

"Don't worry about my affairs."

As always, Kyoko Sakura was holding a cookie in her hand, eating it as she walked.

"You've become a celebrity instead of me! Even your phone is reporting what happened at your school today."

"Is there a problem with this?"

Mami Tomoe knew what Kyoko was referring to—that her identity as a magical girl had been exposed.

But she didn't see anything wrong with it at all.

"Hey, do you really think that exposing all the secrets of magical girls to the public is such a casual thing?"

On the other hand, Sakura Kyoko became even more displeased.

"Is there really no problem with this? It's already been reported on TV, hasn't it? So much about magical girls has already been exposed all over the world."

"Ah... So what? You haven't thought about it? How risky is it to expose your identity?"

"Not at all. I just feel that I did the right thing at the right time...that's all."

The two stood facing each other.

Mami Tomoe's expression also changed from indifferent.

"But Kyoko, why did you choose this time to come to Mitakihara?"

"...Would you believe him if he said he came because we were friends for a while back?"

Even Sakura Kyoko herself probably wouldn't believe such a thing.

But when she learned that even Mami Tomoe had so casually revealed her identity, she had a vague sense of foreboding.

"Mami, haven't you thought about this? So many magical girls suddenly appeared overnight, and they've spread all over the world! This can't possibly be that simple!"

"Don't dwell on it anymore, Kyoko. All I know is that I used my own strength to save my classmates at that time... and that's all that earned everyone's trust."

Mami Tomoe narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Or is it that you, Kyoko, are actually jealous of me after finding out about this... which is why you're saying these things?"

"you…?"

Even Sakura Kyoko was dumbfounded.

What's going on... Is Mami Tomoe really like this?

In my memory, Mami Tomoe, although she was a somewhat eccentric person, should have been a very understanding person... How could she say something like that?

"Do you even know what you're saying...? What reason do I have to be jealous of you?!"

"Who knows, but... I don't want you to say such disgusting things during the happiest time of my life."

As she spoke, Mami Tomoe shook her head.

"Hey...! Mami!"

"I think there's nothing more to say, Anzu... I'm glad to see you come to me again, but I have new friends now."

"partner?"

"Don't you know? The magical girl group is a group formed by that Ms. Yuzuki and the people around her."