queenfiona

Before we begin, thanks to QFalconix and Stelaria for their contributions! This could never have happened without them. 🖤

My town…

is home to magical girls.

Here in Kagoshima City, we’re beset by attacks by space monsters, by kaiju! Giant monsters emerge from the depths of outer space, from the deepest ocean, even from the caldera of Sakurajima. Even when they’re defeated, their bodies birth forth countless smaller monsters, kaijin who threaten humanity!

Um, it’s less dangerous than it sounds, honest. But it’s still not great! No one’s ever died from a monster attack, but there’s tons of injuries, property damage, lost work hours, transit interruptions…it’s awful!

It’s thanks to the magical girls that fight so tirelessly to protect our everyday happiness that we can continue living comfortable lives here in Kagoshima Prefecture! They’re powerful! They’re beautiful! They can sing! They can dance! Magical girls!

They’re all goddesses when they transform! Absolute queens! Yes, demigods all!

The Swords of Moonlight, the warriors of the gods! The Sante Quintetto, heirs to the ancient magic! The Darkmoon Blades, hunters of monsters! The Deck Masters, keepers of the mystical arts! Rock Lobster, a melody to save the world! The Princess Pure, guardians of the world of miracles! And the Warriors of Love –

Oh! I’m sorry! I didn’t see you there! I was so rude…

My name is Nabeshima Shiori! I’m from the island of Yakushima, and I take a fast ferry every day to attend Fujisaki Junior and Senior High School, where our story begins, right now! Present day, present time!

Er. Sorry, I’ve been doing reports for my ludonarrative and media studies blocks…all this stuff gets a bit jumbled up sometimes!

Oh, I know I was told I should be studying more closely, listening properly in class, but I can’t concentrate on that right now! I’m drawing the Phantom Renegade, the phantom thief of the Swords of Moonlight! With her beautiful tuxedo and cape, her mysterious domino mask, her short dark blue locks…

Ah, I always get so excited about the magical girls. They’re so pretty and lovely, and so strong, and they work so hard. Even right now, as we speak, far in the distance, I can see them battling against the kaiju! I think it might be the Sante Quintetto, the Saints…

They’re such brilliant stars, shining lights. Beacons of hope for the turbulent Reiwa era, rising from the ashes of the East Sea War! And I admire them so deeply…

they’re like idols, celebrities, and public servants all at once. I have all the magical girl CDs and merchandise I could get my hands on! E-except the costumes, I’m not pretty enough for that! I think about them all the time! I wish I could get close to them, even if it’s selfish of me…

It’s hard to believe I’m the only one watching them, but I guess even this kind of thing can become routine for people, huh? Admittedly, it’s very hard to see at this distance, but –

“Shiori!”

“A-ah! Karasawa-sensei!” I yell, quickly slamming my notebook shut! Oh dear, oh dear, I hope no one caught me staring…

“Shiori,” Karasawa-sensei says, brushing some of her short dark blue locks back as she flutters her eyes at me. Oh gosh, she’s making me blush! “Could you read the next passage for us?”

“Um, of course!” I quickly put on my glasses, flip my textbook open, and miraculously land on the right page! “‘In the aftermath of the demise of the American state in the 2020s, the once-powerful nation splintered into dozens of small successor states who claimed legitimacy over small parts of its territory…’”

Well, never mind the history class, we’ll just skip over that part. It’s not important, I’m sure you’ve all heard far too much about the Collapse! Sure, I’d love to talk about history with you sometime, but history isn’t as important as the magical girls – or as Karasawa-sensei!

Karasawa-sensei, or rather Karasawa Haruna, has been my homeroom teacher ever since I started attending Fujisaki. I’m in my third year now, but my feelings for her have only grown stronger…

First off, she’s absolutely beautiful, of course. I could almost imagine her turning into a fox in the night, then coming to seduce me in the day…even if she turned into a fox, I would still love her, honest! She’s got a kind of handsome appeal, you could say. She rides a classic Kawasaki Ninja EV to work, she wears a leather jacket and these low-cut shirts, and I hear she’s a fencing instructor in her spare time. How she’s single, I’ll never know…

But she’s still a traditional lady, too! She’s a history teacher with a strong passion for the subject, and I’ve learned so much about Japanese history from talking to her after classes! And I remember, last year, on our school trip to Ibusuki, Karasawa-sensei wore this absolutely gorgeous yukata, and when she tied my obi I could barely sleep all week, thinking of her slim fingers and how easily she could’ve pulled me in, touched my breasts, had her way with me…aah, it’s no good, but I can’t help it…

Yes, I have a completely incorrigible crush on her. She’s so beautiful, she could easily be one of the magical girls! Er, not that I’d know even if she was, because of their anti-recognition magic and all –

“Sorry I’m late.”

Ah. I was wondering when Asuka would get back!

“Are you feeling any better, Horii-san?” says Karasawa-sensei. Asuka needed to head to the nurse’s office for a bit earlier; I guess it’s understandable, she has a weak constitution like I do.

“Yes, much better, thank you,” says Asuka, walking back to her seat as she brushes back her long black hair in a flourish. Aah, it’s almost sparkling! Like a raven’s feathers…how did she get it looking so great? Especially in such little time –

Oh, right! Um, that pale, intimidating long-haired beauty is Horii Asuka. She’s one of the few friends I have here at Fujisaki, though there’s still more distance than I would like. It’s awkward, trying to make friends, you know? But I really was getting along with her! Thing is, though, she’s had a bit of an image change lately…

She used to wear glasses, and she wore her hair in a braid like mine. She also fumbled a lot in gym, which is part of why we got along – we both have trouble with the whole ‘physical education’ thing. But I hadn’t seen her over spring break at all, and since school started a few weeks ago, it was like she’d transformed!

(I want to transform, too. Like the magical girls…a girl can transform! But I’m so weak…)

She’d no longer had any trouble with gym class, and her grades had gone up too. She’s even stopped wearing glasses! And, worst of all, she’s been pretty distant from me.

Sometimes, and I know I’m not very good at understanding people (no matter how much my parents and doctors and Karasawa-sensei try to help), but I think she looks kind of sad? Sometimes I even think I catch her looking at me, but I’m probably just being paranoid.

Well, it’s not anything to worry about. This is our last year of middle school; it’s not that strange for someone to change their image a little. Sometimes I think she’s been avoiding me, but I’ve been told by my doctor that I should trust people’s intentions! So I’m going to hope that whatever’s troubling her passes quickly!

Anyway, to make a long story short, Karasawa-sensei continued to have us read out of our textbook for a while, until…

“So it might be tempting to think of all this as ‘before your time’, but even here in 2043, those who cannot remember the past are condemned to fulfill it. You kids are the future, after all…” Karasawa-sensei laughs. “It’s up to you to make the future a brighter place –” As often happens when she gets passionate, the bell so rudely interrupts Karasawa-sensei! “Ahah, it seems like we’re out of time again. Remember, whatever you did today, it is now a part of history. Have a safe trip home!”

The other students quickly start packing up and talking among themselves, vacating as fast as humanly possible. I’m going to have to go too, I want to catch the first ferry home –

“Shiori. Could we talk for a moment?”

O-oh. Oh dear, I’m in trouble with Karasawa-sensei again! Oh, this happens too often this year. I need to work harder to make her proud of me!

As much as I want to run away, I nervously walk up to my beloved teacher, tugging my braided hair a little. Aah, it’s still too messy and tangled, but if I comb it too much it goes all frizzy…

“I-I’m sorry, Karasawa-sensei,” I say, bowing to my teacher. It’s still so hard to look her in the eye, no matter how often I’m told…“I was just, distracted by the magical girls and their battle outside by the window.”

“I understand your fascination with the magical girls,” Karasawa-sensei says, her face going all stern, hands folded in front of her. (S-she’s hot when she does that. Well, she’s always hot. But.) “With how hard they work to protect people, it’s not strange to admire them the way you do. But your own future is important too, you know? You need to work hard like they do on your own battles, in this case your classes. Especially after your troubles last year.”

“It’s okay. I’ve been working hard, honest!” I bow again as I ask forgiveness. I-I would even dogeza for Karasawa-sensei if I needed to! I’d kiss her feet, if she asked! “I’ll do my best! I’ve even got my presentation and book report ready for literature class tomorrow!”

“Really? I’m happy to hear it. I look forward to seeing it!” Karasawa-sensei laughs, and oh, she’s so cute when she laughs, too…“I thought you might be late again, but I’m glad to hear you’re taking this seriously.”

“Oh, of course, sensei!” I bow yet again! “I’ve been studying the Taisho era novelist, Yoshiya Nobuko! I’m sure I’ll get a good grade this time!” And maybe, maybe I can communicate my feelings to my beloved Karasawa-sensei, too!

“I’m happy for your enthusiasm, Shiori!” Karasawa-sensei has such a gentle smile, it makes me feel happy. “It’s important for you to fight for yourself. Do you have a dream for the future, Shiori?”

“…I do.” The last time Karasawa-sensei asked, I was too nervous to say it, but I’ve known ever since I was a child. “I want to see outer space with my own eyes, Karasawa-sensei.”

Yes, it’s been my dream for all my life. On the island of Yakushima, on a clear day, you can see all the way out to the Tanegashima Space Centre. My earliest memory is of watching one of the JAXA’s H4 rockets launching from there, and from that moment on, I wanted to reach the stars.

The magical girls are beautiful and amazing, but I’m still so fascinated by space! Every day, I read about the latest space news out of cities like Southern Sun and all around the world! Ever since I saw the final International Space Station missions in the 2030s, with EVAs performed in Alphonse Industrial’s new shiny, rubbery black space activity suits, I’ve –

wait, no, it’s embarrassing! I shouldn’t talk about that! I’m definitely not a bad girl, honest! I wouldn’t look at anything bad online! D-don’t tell anyone!

“It’s a good dream, Shiori,” says Karasawa-sensei, after a moment. “But it takes lots of hard work to become an astronaut, you know? That’s your own personal battle. Just like the magical girls, you need to fight for your dream.”

“Ah, of course!” I bow yet again! “I’ll fight as hard as I can, you’ll see! But um, I need to go, I’m worried about missing the ferry home…”

“Right. Don’t let me keep you any longer, Shiori.” Aah, Karasawa-sensei waved at me with her little fingers…she shows me so much more attention than the other students! She must really like me! I’m glad I have a friend like her…

Waving back, I quickly pack everything back into my bags and hop out of the classroom (not literally, that sounds like a bad way to leave a room), and start to walk away. Yes, I’ll be home quickly, and then I can gush over the magical girls even more –

“Nabeshima Shiori.”

and then a voice calls out to me from behind. As if waiting to pounce. Waiting to attack me. And it’s a voice I know all too well, and I’d hoped wouldn’t be used in anger.

“…Asuka?”

queenfiona

Hello! This story is an archive of an interactive “quest” from a site called Fiction.live. That version can be found here, currently running twice a week, where you will also find additional supplemental material. Glossary items will be added here on Scribble Hub soon!

For now, I hope you enjoy. 🖤