"Wheee!"

Morada cheered as she came out from the room next door.

"We did it!" She exclaimed, wrapping an arm around Dior's shoulder. "That was the last one! Now we can finally enjoy our week off!"

Dior beamed in return. "Thank goodness. Dior is ready for lunch," she said.

"Oh you're always such a glutton," Morada teased, sticking her tongue out playfully. "But I'm feeling pretty hungry too. How about we get some food?"

"How's an outing downtown?" I suggested, chiming in on the conversation.

Morada's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Yes, that sounds great! Let's do it! Anyone know where Natasha is, though? She said she'd get out a little before us."

"I'm not sure," I said, frowning in thought. "I can call her and find out where she is."

I pulled out my phone and dialed Natasha's number, holding it to my ear as I waited for her to pick it up.

After a few rings, Natasha finally answered on the other end. "Hey Ikki, what's up?" she asked.

"Hey Nat, I'm just wondering where you are," I said. "I'm going to grab some lunch downtown with Morada and Dior, wanna join us?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I could hear Natasha's breathing. It wasn't unusual for her to take a moment before answering, but something about the silence felt heavier than usual.

"Nat?" I prompted.

"I'm... not feeling great," she said finally. "I think I might just head home and rest for a bit."

"Oh, okay," I said, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice. "Take care of yourself, alright? Would it be okay if we brought you something then?"

Natasha hesitated for a moment before answering. "That's really sweet of you, Ikki. Thank you," she said. "I think something light would be nice. I'll shoot over my address to you guys.

"Alright then," I said. "Rest up, okay? We'll see you soon."

I hung up the phone and turned to Morada and Dior. "Looks like it's just the three of us," I said.

"Is everything okay?" Morada asked, looking up at me with concern.

"I don't know," I said, tucking my phone back into my pocket. "She said she wasn't feeling well, but something about her tone seemed off. I hope she's okay."

Morada put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Ikki," she said. "I'm sure Natasha will be fine. Let's just focus on having a good time for now. Kayy?"

I nodded, trying to push my worries about Natasha to the back of my mind. We headed out of the building and went down into the subway station.

It had been over a month since the sudden Chaos Event seriously damaged downtown infrastructure. The city was still recovering from the event's aftermath, but it was slowly getting back to its feet. Buildings were being rebuilt, and people were returning to their everyday routines. However, there was still an air of unease that lingered in the city.

Exiting the subway station, we were greeted by a bustling scene. People filled the streets, their voices blending in a cacophony of sound. The smell of street food wafted through the air, making my stomach grumble in anticipation.

I couldn't help but notice the increased number of magical girls patrolling the area.

Two were perched on top of a building across the street, keeping watch over the area. Another one was walking down the sidewalk, her eyes scanning the surroundings for signs of danger.

Despite the increased presence of magical girls, there was also a palpable tension in the air. People hurried past us, their eyes avoiding contact as they went about their business. It was as if the city was trying to forget the death and destruction that had suddenly erupted a month ago. However, the memory of it was still fresh in everyone's mind.

Morada led the way, walking confidently through the crowds with Dior by her side. I followed behind them, taking in the sights and sounds of the city.

I frowned for a second, eyeing the remains of a large, fancy hotel destroyed in the Chaos Event. The once grand building now lay in ruins, symbolizing the destruction that had befallen the city.

It was where everything had changed. An innocent dinner with Midori had turned into a nightmare. I still remembered the fear and confusion that gripped us as we escaped to the roof and tried to flee the chaos. And yet, somehow, we had made it out alive.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Dwelling on the past wouldn't do any good. Right now, I needed to focus on celebrating the end of my midterms with some friends.

"Ooh, that smells delicious!" Morada exclaimed, pointing towards a large food stand selling grilled meat skewers. "Let's get some of those!"

Dior nodded in agreement, a pleased smile on her face. "Yes, Dior likes kebabs," she said. "Dior likes them indeed."

We made our way to the stand, joining the line of people waiting for their food. As we waited, I couldn't help but notice a group of three magical girls standing a few feet away from us, seated around a park table. All three of them had European features and an air of confidence and power around them that commanded respect.

One of them had long, blonde hair and red eyes and wore... an outfit that left little to the imagination. The girl had a happy look on her face, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a playful glint. She looked like she was enjoying the attention she was getting.

Another was a short and petite girl with long violet hair, purple eyes, pale skin, and a black headscarf over her head. She wore a perpetual scowl on her face, her eyes sharp and observant. She seemed to be carefully watching the area, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. The girl was about Dior's height and wore an oversized suit of gothic armor on her face, looking like she could take on the world with her bare hands. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she kept glancing at the blonde girl with an annoyed expression.

The last girl was tall with short black hair, green eyes, and a confident smirk on her face. She had an outfit that reminded me of a karate uniform with a black belt around her waist. She laughed at something the blonde girl had said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

I tried to focus on my business, but my eyes kept drifting back to the trio of magical girls. They were a mismatched group, each with a unique style and personality. I wondered if they were working together or if they were just passing through the area. My thoughts strayed to Natasha — I wondered if she was doing okay.

"Hey, Ikki," Morada said, nudging me with her elbow. "You okay? You're staring pretty hard."

I flushed red, feeling embarrassed. "Sorry, I was just… thinking," I said.

Morada raised an eyebrow, a teasing grin on her face. "About those magical girls, huh?" she said. "Thinking is one way to put it when it comes to Magical Girl Love Love Ingenue."

I rolled my eyes, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "Shut up, Morada," I muttered, but I couldn't help but smile.

As we reached the front of the line, I ordered a few skewers for each of us. The smell of the grilled meat made my mouth water, and I snickered when I saw a massive glob of drool drip out of Dior's mouth.

We found a nearby bench to sit on and eat our food. The meat was juicy and tender, and the seasoning was perfect. We chatted and laughed, enjoying each other's company and the beautiful day. Dior, like usual, held seven skewers in her hand, munching on them one after the other with gusto.

Suddenly, something caught my attention.

The blonde girl I'd been glancing at started to walk towards us, her hips swaying seductively with each step. As she got closer, I could see her eyes focused solely on me.

"Hey there, cutie," she said, her voice sultry. "What's a handsome boy like you doing out here? Did little old me catch your eye?"

I felt my face flush with embarrassment and started to stammer out a response, but the girl cut me off.

"Don't be shy," she said, leaning in closer. "I do like shy boys. It makes it more fun when they finally open up."

"I, I, I, umn," I stuttered, trying to find the right words. "I'm just hanging out with my friends. We're celebrating the end of midterms here! Enjoying our skewers! Yes! Skewers!"

The blonde girl chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Sounds like fun," she said. "Mind if I join you for some?"

Before I could say anything, the girl had already plopped down next to me, her body pressed up against mine. I could feel the heat radiating off her skin, and the scent of her perfume filled my nostrils. My slacks suddenly felt all that much tighter.

Morada and Dior exchanged a look, their eyes widening in surprise. The blonde girl seemed entirely at ease as if she was used to invading people's personal space like this.

"I'm Ingenue, but you can call me Yuna," she said, flashing me a smile. "And you are?"

"I-ikazuchi," I said, trying to sound confident despite the butterflies in my stomach.

Ingenue leaned in closer, her lips coming close to my ear. "Ikazuchi," she repeated, her voice low and husky. "I like that name. It's nice and strong. Just like you."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I gulped, feeling my face heat up even more.

"So, Ikazuchi," Ingenue said, running a finger along my jawline. "What do you say we have a little fun?"

Before I could respond, the gothic-armored girl appeared beside us, her scowl deepening even further.

"Ingenue," she spat, her voice sharp and cold. "What are you doing?"

Ingenue rolled her eyes but didn't move away from me. "Just having a little fun, Missssss Illuminated Darkness Guardian Selene," she said, her voice light and playful.

She fluttered her eyes at Selene, clearly enjoying getting under her skin.

Selene bristled, her grip on her sword tightening. "This is not the time or the place for games, Ingenue," she growled. "We have to finish shopping for supplies! "

Ingenue pouted and finally stood up from the bench. "Fine, fine," she said with a whine. "No need to get so worked up, Selene. I was just trying to have a little fun."

Selene's scowl deepened, and she turned to me with a glare. "You should stay away from her," she said, her voice cold and threatening. "She's trouble."

Ingenue just grinned, waving a hand at Selene dismissively. "Oh, lighten up, Selene," she said. "It's not like I'm going to eat him alive or anything."

Selene's scowl grew even more intense, and I could tell that screwing with her was a terrible idea. I tried to diffuse the tension, standing up from the bench and offering a small smile.

"It's okay," I said. "I can make my own decisions."

Ingenue's eyes lit up, and she grinned wickedly. "I like this one," she said, winking at me. "He's got spunk."

"I er, like your sword! And your hair!" Morada exclaimed suddenly at Selene, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. "It's very cool! Always loved your flair, Miss Darkness Guardian."

Selene's eyes flicked over to Morada, the scowl on her face softening slightly. "Thank you," she said with a chuckle, her voice less sharp than before.

Her eyes suddenly widened in recognition, looking between Dior and Morada before landing on Dior. "Wait, aren't you — er, St. Antonia students? What are you doing here?"

Dior and Morada exchanged a quick glance before Morada spoke up. "We're just here to celebrate the end of midterms," she said with a smile. "Nothing too exciting."

The girl with the gi nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "Well, be careful," she stated plainly. "There have been reports of terrorist activity going on the other side of the portal in this district. It isn't safe for... civilians."

With that, she turned and stalked away, her armor clanking with each step. Ingenue lingered for a moment longer, giving me a sly wink.

Ingenue lingered for a moment longer, her eyes lingering on me. The air glowed as she conjured a piece of paper out of thin air, pressing it into my hand with a smirk before disappearing into the crowd.

I looked down at the paper and saw it was a slip of paper with a number scrawled on it, along with the words "Call me ;)"

"We'll see each other soon, Ikazuchi," she said with a wink before sauntering off to catch up with Selene and the karate girl.

My heart was racing as I watched the trio of magical girls disappear into the distance. I couldn't believe what had just happened. One minute, I was just enjoying a skewer, and the next, I was being hit on by a magical girl.

Morada and Dior were giggling beside me, clearly amused by the whole situation. "Looks like you've got a magical girl crush, Ikki," Morada teased, elbowing me in the ribs.

I scowled at her, feeling embarrassed. "Shut up. Morada," I muttered, but I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips.

"Come on, let's get some food for Natasha," Morada said, her voice light and cheerful. "She wanted something light, yeah?"

I nodded absentmindedly, my mind still reeling from my encounter with Ingenue. As we walked past some more food stalls, I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder.

But she was nowhere to be seen.

"Ikki," Dior said, waving a hand in front of my face. "Okay there?"

I shook my head, trying to shake off my thoughts. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Let's just get the food and go, okay?"

Morada and Dior exchanged a look but didn't say anything more. We browsed for something light and healthy, eventually settling on a fresh fruit bowl and lightly grilled chicken and vegetable skewers. Then, we checked Natasha's address and found that she lived pretty close, on a different subway line.

We rode the subway for a few stops, eventually disembarking and emerging onto a street in what looked like a residential area.

To my surprise, Natasha's house turned out to be shockingly humble. It was a modest, three-story building with a backyard garden in the back and a simple brown door at the entrance.

We approached the door, and Morada rang the doorbell. After a few moments, a woman in her late thirties wearing a French maid uniform answered the door, and Morada introduced us as Natasha's friends.

"Thank you for coming," the woman said, her voice soft and kind. "Mistress Natasha is resting upstairs. Please follow me."

The maid led us up the stairs and down a hallway lined with framed pictures until we reached a door at the end.

The picture of a young woman with blue eyes and snow-white hair with a younger Natasha caught my attention. I couldn't help but wonder who she was.

"This was taken when Mistress Natasha was just a little girl," the maid said softly. "Miss Elaine, her legal guardian, used to love taking pictures of her."

I smiled back at her, feeling a pang of sadness in my chest. It must have been hard for Natasha to lose her family at such a young age.

There were other pictures — most prominently a photo portrait of a younger Carrie with Natasha in matching elementary school uniforms. The younger Carrie looked completely different — her trademark sneer was nowhere in sight. Instead, she was smiling at the camera, holding Natasha in a tight embrace. It was a touching moment frozen in time.

The maid opened the door, revealing a spacious bedroom with a large bed in the center. Natasha stood by the window, looking out at the city skyline with a far-off gaze. She wore a pink silk robe that flowed prettily around her ankles, her curly dark hair with the lopsided haircut framing the side of her face.

She turned when we entered, her face lighting up at the sight of us. I frowned — it looked like she'd been crying and quickly washed her face and covered it up with makeup.

"Hey, Natasha," Morada greeted her, walking over to her side. "We brought you some food."

Natasha turned to us, her expression softening into a smile. "Thank you so much for coming," she said, her voice quiet. "I really appreciate it."

I walked up to her, holding out the fruit bowl and skewers. "We got you some grilled chicken and veggies, and some fruit for dessert. It's nothing too fancy, but we hope you like it."

Natasha took the food gratefully, her eyes brightening as she smiled at me. "This looks amazing," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "Thank you so much."

I watched as Natasha took a bite of the grilled chicken, her eyes closing in pleasure as she savored the flavors. It was heartwarming to see her enjoying the food we had brought her.

"So, how are you feeling?" Morada asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

Natasha shrugged, playing with the food on her paper plate. "I'm okay, I guess," she said, her voice hesitant. "Something at my internship just, well, reminded me of the incident where Carrie's mom and cousin died."

I felt a pang of sympathy for her. Losing loved ones was never easy to deal with, and it must have been tough for her to lose them in such a tragic way.

"I'm sorry, Natasha," I said softly, stepping closer to her. "Is there anything we can do to help you feel better?"

Natasha shook her head, her eyes downcast. "I don't know," she said, her voice small. "I just wish I could have done something to prevent it. To save them. I'd never felt so useless before."

Morada looked between the two of us, "Huh. I should've known there was some complicated history between Natasha and Carrie," she said, her voice thoughtful. "Hey Natasha, if you ever need someone to talk to, we're here for you. Don't feel pressured, though."

Natasha nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I really appreciate it."

Natasha sighed heavily, putting her plate on the nightstand. "It was a couple of years back," she began. "I was studying abroad with Carrie at Jo Loon City's International Early Middle School for the Arts when it happened. It was a normal day, but then suddenly an explosion rocked the city. At first I thought it was just fireworks, until I heard screams and sirens. It was a terrorist attack."

"You... you were there?" Dior suddenly interjected, her eyes wide with shock.

Natasha nodded, her eyes turning glassy. "A squad of rogue magical girls led the attack. They were victims, really. Hana of the Dawn, Tala of the Evening, and Mayari of the Moon. As the public came to understand it, they were a staunchly anti-trafficking paramilitary organization manipulated into attacking key research facilities in the city."

I glanced at Dior silently. Also known as Hana of the Dawn, Dior had always been tight-lipped about her past, but I wondered if this story brought up any painful memories for her.

"They weren't responsible for the death of Carrie's mom or her cousin, however. They were sacrificial lambs to keep the local magical girls distracted. Even Bathala was a pawn in a bigger scheme to attack and steal from Sisyphus's headquarters."

Natasha's voice wavered as she spoke, and I could see tears glistening in her eyes. I wanted to reach out and comfort her, but I wasn't sure if she would appreciate the gesture.

"You see... both of Carrie's cousins were magical girls," Natasha continued her voice barely above a whisper. "They were there when the attack happened and confronted the terrorists. A group of magical girls realized it was a distraction and rushed back to Sisyphus's HQ to prevent the real attack. Carrie's cousins joined the battle of Sisyphus, and the one Carrie was closest to — The Aurum Flame lost her life doing so."

I could feel the story's weight in the silence that followed. Natasha wiped her tears and took a deep breath as if she was trying to hold herself together.

"I was supposed to watch over Carrie's younger cousin. Make sure she didn't run off and get herself hurt," Natasha continued, her eyes downcast. "But I was neglectful. She respected me, you see, and would listen to me. She was a completely freshly awakened magical girl who had mistaken ideals of heroism and overconfidence."

Natasha paused for a second to wipe away her tears. "She was ultimately killed in the attack at Sisyphus Headquarters, along with Carrie's mother. I still remember the way Carrie looked when she found out they were gone. She was destroyed. I've never seen her like that before. It was like a part of her died that day too. Carrie's older cousin went rogue after the incident, consumed by anger and grief. She became a vigilante and took justice into her own hands. I haven't seen her since."

I could feel my heart breaking for Natasha. She must have felt so guilty for not being able to do anything protect Carrie's family.

"I can't even imagine what Carrie went through," Morada said softly. "To lose her family like that."

Natasha nodded, her eyes distant. "Carrie... she's always been so strong. But I know she's hurting. She blamed herself for not being able to protect them. She blamed me for letting her cousin run away. And I blamed myself too, for not being able to save them."

"I'm so sorry, Natasha," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "That must have been so hard for you."

Natasha looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears. "It was," she said, her voice trembling. "But what's even worse is that I feel like I'm always stuck in that moment. I can't move on. I can't forget."

Dior approached her slowly, a mournful expression on her face.

"Dior understands," Dior started, her voice quiet. "Losing loved ones is never easy. Dior... Dior lost her family too that day. In the Jo Loon incident. Dior is sorry. More sorry than she could ever express. Dior knows what it's like to feel stuck in that moment."

Natasha looked up at Dior, a startled expression on her face. "You... you lost your family too?"

Dior nodded, her eyes filled with sadness. "Yes. Dior's family were also victims of the Jo Loon incident. Dior was the only one who survived."

Natasha looked at Dior in wonder as if seeing her for the first time. "I had no idea," she said softly. "I'm so sorry, Dior."

Dior shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "It's okay," she said with a whisper. "Dior learned to live with it. But it's always there, the pain, seeping into every aspect of Dior's life. Dior knows what it's like to feel lost and alone. That's why we're here for you. Whatever you need, we'll be here for you."

I felt a lump form in my throat as Dior broke down in front of us. It was clear that the memories were still very raw for her, even after all these years.

Natasha reached out and wrapped her arms around Dior, holding her tightly as they both cried. Morada and I stood there, unsure of what to do or say. It was a difficult moment, but it also felt like a moment of catharsis for both girls.

As they clung to each other, I couldn't help but feel a sudden surge of protectiveness toward them. They had both been through so much.

Natasha nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "Thank you, Dior. Thank you all for being here for me. I don't know what I would do without you guys."

Morada grinned, clapping her hands together. "Well, we're not going anywhere, so don't worry about that. "Hey, why don't we all take a breather for a bit?" Morada suggested, breaking the silence. "We could watch a movie or something. Just to take our minds off things for a while."

Natasha and Dior both nodded, wiping away their tears. "That sounds good," Natasha said softly.

We all headed downstairs and cuddled up on the couch. Morada put in a lighthearted comedy, and soon enough, we were all laughing and joking around. The mood was lightened considerably, and for a moment, I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from our shoulders.

For that brief moment, it felt like everything was alright. Like we were still kids again, just hanging out and having fun. I wanted to cling to that feeling forever, but I knew it wouldn't last forever. Eventually, reality would catch up with us once more.

But for now, we were content. We had each other, and that was enough.