"So, tell me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill all of you."
Inside a room within the bunker, Chinatsu sat with her hands planted on the desk, her eyes scanning me, IXX, Rio, and Miu.
"You of all people, Rio. I thought you were the one who understood me the most… no, understood the people. Why are you siding with them now?"
Chinatsu slammed her palms against the table, her crimson eyes blazing with fury.
I glanced at Rio, and she didn't seem the least bit bothered by Chinatsu's rage.
"You do know it was transactional—me being a magical girl."
"So you mean you'd gladly side with the enemy if the price is right?!"
"No. I just meant I already had my revenge."
Miu and I couldn't butt in. We could only stare as the two former magical girls locked eyes with pure killing intent.
Meanwhile, I glanced down and saw IXX just yawning, resting on my lap.
Then—
"And you. Who are you?"
Chinatsu swiveled her head toward me, and I jolted as she stalked closer.
"You reek of youma energy. You're corrupted. If it weren't for Rio, I would've told my men to put holes through you."
She continued.
"And those pupils… are you sure you're still human?"
At her words, my mouth couldn't help but open and close—like a dead fish out of water. Before a smile crept onto my face.
"I can assure you, I am very much human."
I said it calmly, softly. My voice flowed like honey.
"I'm not buying it."
My eyes widened.
"E-Excuse me?"
"You're disgusting, honestly. Acting like you're human."
My pupils shook.
Yet they calmly stabilized as I remained smiling—softly.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Then my mouth opened in surprise as Chinatsu grabbed me by the collar, yanking me close to her face.
"Shizuka!"
"Chinatsu, put her down."
『Master!』
My eyes flicked toward Rio and Miu—both tense, unable to stand. IXX had her fur bristling.
"You're arrogant, aren't you? Just because you were saved by Himeno. Though it makes sense—you're quite famous for your intellect. Saw you in the news when you competed for your academy."
Chinatsu scoffed, then threw me. My back hit the chair, forcing my spine to arch as the air was violently expelled from my lungs.
"Kack!"
"You're truly disgusting. You were helped by a magical girl, and what? You repay her by becoming something so evil? So putrid? You're crazy, honestly."
Chinatsu's hands curled into fists.
"Shizuka!"
Miu rushed to my side, her hands trembling as she pressed them against my back.
"If you think I'm evil… then you haven't seen who Lya truly was."
"What?"
Chinatsu's eyes narrowed. She gritted her teeth.
"I ought to teach you a lesson."
She pulled her fist back, about to drive it into me—when Rio caught her punch. The shockwave slapped against my face.
"Violence isn't the answer here."
"Bold words, coming from you."
"Are you implying I don't like peace?"
"Yeah."
I watched in shock as Rio and Chinatsu pressed their foreheads together.
But Rio soon pulled hers away.
"Anyway… Shizuka is right."
"You've lost your mind, Rio."
Chinatsu exhaled sharply as she sank back into her chair behind the desk.
"Fine. Explain. How the hell is some kid radiating youma energy innocent—and right?"
Seeing Chinatsu's gaze fixed on us with such murderous intent sent shivers racing down my spine. Being thrown so easily, being yanked by the collar—it wasn't what I expected at all.
Slowly, I rose. My black irises reflected Chinatsu's furious, disappointed face.
I took a deep breath. I glanced behind me: Miu, scared and concerned. Rio, arms crossed, silent. IXX, still on high alert.
It's time to spill the tea.
My mouth opened—slowly.
"So this is what happened…"
---
[Chinatsu POV]
I couldn't believe it when I was fired by Lya. I was utterly disappointed. I treasure the values and philosophies of what it means to be a magical girl.
So much so that my mind and heart could recite them by instinct:
Integrity. Kindness. Passion. Determination. Honesty.
Yet somehow, somewhere… me and my girls got fired. For doing what we knew best.
Simply discarded.
Rio became a dojo instructor. Aurora Sparkle became a vet. And Himeno… she ended up in human resources.
Meanwhile, I had nothing.
Being a magical girl was who I was. What I had. All I had.
Being thrown away felt like my existence didn't matter at all.
Yet I kept looking forward. Don't know why. Don't know how.
Maybe it's because the sun continues to burn—continues to rise and set, even when people look away.
When a magical girl retires, one might think her powers are revoked.
But that isn't the case.
With my power, I decided to give everyone a fighting chance—in case the youma ever returned.
So I built a military division. Y.E.I.D: the Youma Eradication and Investigation Department.
I hired board members. Made someone the CEO and founder, while I simply remained a board director.
Even so, I held all the power.
It's through magical girl abilities that the energy is extracted, then—paired with the great minds of Shin-Tokyo—forged into bullets or plasma beams.
Even in an era of peace, deterrents are still needed to maintain order. Much like how a military is still necessary, even when there's no war.
That's why Y.E.I.D still exists.
We act as the walls before the magical girls are ever put into action.
No—
More like, so they never have to be put into action at all.
So when I saw that beam of black light…
I was certain it was the end of the world.
After all, I had been a magical girl. I know what 『The Most High』 is like.
She is flashy—but not that flashy.
Immediately, I ordered my best men to retrieve as many people as they could.
And at last—Rio was the final one I brought in.
But with her was a young woman: long black hair that cascaded down her back, black eyes… and most importantly—white, diamond-shaped pupils?
From the moment I met Rio's disciple, all I had were questions upon questions.
Who was she?
Was she the one Himeno kept talking about?
Was she the one Himeno saved?
If so… why does she hold that bastard as if it's a pet?
I was certain: this girl before me is no longer human.
Because who would dare to hold 『The Most High』 in such a way?
It's akin to seeing a God treated as a pet by an abominable being.
That is how it felt.
And now, after threatening her—demanding she spill what she knows before I signal my men to barge in—
She asked me to hear her out.
I let her.
What does she know that I don't?
Then…
「What if I tell you… everything you worked for has been a lie?」
What am I hearing?