I was lying in a bed in a small, dimly lit room when I woke up.

I sat up slowly, my body feeling heavy and sluggish. I noticed I was wearing different clothes - a simple cotton shirt and pants - and my helmet was gone. An IV was hooked up to me, and I felt my body aching.

I shivered and put a hand on my forehead before I yanked out the IVs. Then, I dropped back into the bed as pain seized my ribs.

What had happened to me?

I remembered the battle.

I remembered going after my sister and crashing.

I remembered.

"Oh god," I whispered to myself, covering my face with my hands.

I couldn't do anything to help her.

I couldn't save her.

I couldn't even protect her.

I sobbed into my hands, feeling the weight of my failure.

I heard a soft groan from the corner of the room. I wiped my eyes and saw my father passed out, slumped in a chair with a bottle of whiskey beside him. The bottle was on its side, with the shattered and empty contents scattered across the floor.

I drew a breath and sat up, wincing as I felt a sharp pain in my side. I patted my side and felt something wrapped around my torso.

A bandage.

I looked at my chest - my skin was now covered by a bandage stained with blood, and I felt a brace around my neck. I guess I'd gotten injured during the crash.

I looked around the room, taking note of a gaping hole in the wall plaster like someone had kicked it out of anger.

So I didn't die.

That was actually a little relieving.

I felt lightheaded.

I should get up.

I should take a look around.

I stood up with a grunt and looked outside the window. We were somewhere in midtown, in a building that had seen better days.

It was just past dawn, with the sun beginning to rise and the sky turning a golden pink and orange.

I felt my eyesight blur as I stared out of the window.

I looked back over to my father, who was still snoring loudly. He probably didn't notice me waking up.

"How long was I out?" I mumbled to myself, absentmindedly fingering my bandage.

The door clicked, and someone walked in.

"Oh hey! You're awake. Thank goodness," an unfamiliar voice spoke.

I was still in a daze as I looked at her. It was a short, athletic girl with neck-length black hair and purple eyes. She looked around my age, and she was of mixed Eurasian descent. She wore a white shirt, a yellow scarf, and a black skirt.

The girl looked average and could have blended in with a crowd. Yet, she had a cheery and eye-catching smile and struck me as an upbeat and magnetic person.

I managed a weak smile in return.

"How are you feeling?" she asked me as she placed a hand on my forehead.

"I'm still a little dizzy," I replied, rubbing my temples. My vision was still blurry.

"Oh, don't worry. Please take it easy!" she said worriedly as she slumped on my bed. "You got yourself some nasty whiplash back on that bridge."

I looked at her, surprised to see such kindness.

"Who are you?" I asked her, tilting my head in confusion.

She giggled and put a finger on her lips with a wink. "That's a secret. Anyway, umn. Don't freak out, but I just want to let you know you've been out cold for three days."

Three...

"What?!" I winced, alarmed.

"Yeah, you got yourself hurt pretty badly," she said slowly, tilting her head. Her eyes were filled with worry. "Not to worry though, you're going to be just fine."

"M-my sister. Did anyone find her? She and another magical girl fell off the bridge into the water," I said quietly, trying to control my breathing.

The girl paused for a moment.

"They've been searching nonstop," she replied slowly. "We fished Magical Girl Beryl Sky out of the water, but your sister... we haven't found her yet. I'm so sorry."

My heart sank at her words. My worst fears had come true - my sister was missing and presumed dead. I tried to hold back my tears, but they flowed freely down my cheeks.

The girl reached out to me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I know how hard this must be for you," she said softly. "But we're not giving up on finding her. We're going to keep searching until we bring her back to you. Celestial Sonata hasn't slept at all since the night on the bridge, and she's been leading the search effort. She's rallied all the magical girls in the city to help with search and rescue."

I felt a glimmer of hope at her words. Maybe my sister was still alive.

"Thank you," I whispered, wiping my tears away. "I just want her back."

"I know," the girl said kindly. "I'll stay with you for a while, if that's okay? You shouldn't be alone right now."

I nodded, grateful for the company, and dropped back on the bed. I didn't know who this girl was, but her presence was comforting. "Thank you. It means a lot."

We sat in silence for a moment before she spoke up again. "You know, I saw you and your sister fighting on the bridge. It was awe-inspiring. Both of you fought with such passion and determination."

I looked at her, surprised. "You were there?"

She nodded. "Let's just say I was one of the girls holding the line. And I mean it. You were really brave doing that as someone without any powers, you know?"

I smiled weakly at her. "Thanks, but I wasn't brave. I was just getting that thing away from the city."

"That's brave enough for me," she replied warmly.

I couldn't help but feel a little intrigued by this girl. She seemed genuine and caring, but there was something mysterious about her. She had mentioned being one of the girls holding the line, which probably meant she was also a magical girl.

"Can I ask you something?" I said, looking at her.

"Sure, anything," she replied, tilting her head.

"What's your name?" I asked her. I had a sneaking suspicion already, but...

She giggled, "Are you sure you want to know? That'll break the mystery, you know, and I won't be as intriguing anymore."

I chuckled, "Yeah, but I'm curious."

She grinned at me, "It's Yuna. My name is Yuna."

Yuna? Where did I... Oh.

Yuna snickered at me, "You know, when I first went up to you before we crossed over here, I was just randomly messing around. It's part of my branding, you know? The bombshell flirt who may or may not have ulterior motives. But honestly, I didn't think I'd end up seeing or talking to you again. I was just screwing with Selene. Funny how that works."

I raised an eyebrow at her, intrigued by her response. Yuna was definitely an interesting character, and I couldn't help but find her charming.

"What do you mean by branding?" I asked her, trying to suppress my curiosity.

She nodded, "Yeah, so, I'm a bit of an influencer in the magical girl community, as much as I hate that word. My online persona is kind of my thing. But don't worry, I won't make a big deal about being here helping with the efforts on Earth. You're safe with me."

I nodded, now understanding why she seemed so confident and charismatic. Yuna definitely had a way with words, and I could imagine she knew how to work social media.

We sat silently for a few more moments, watching the sun rise over the city. It was a beautiful sight, but I couldn't shake the dread gnawing at my insides.

"What's going to happen now?" I asked Yuna, breaking the silence.

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She looked at me, her purple eyes filled with concern. "What do you mean?"

"I mean...what do we do now? I grew up on Earth, and that was the worst Chaos Event I'd ever seen. God knows how many people died and my sister is missing. She could even be dead."

Yuna placed a hand on my hand, looking me straight in the eye.

"We'll rebuild. Together. That's what we do after every Chaos Event. We'll mourn the losses and keep searching for your sister, but we won't give up hope. And as for the world, we'll fight to protect it from the monsters. That's what magical girls do."

I stared at her, feeling a sense of gratitude and admiration for people like her. "You're really something, Yuna."

She grinned at me. "Yeah, I know. But don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold, you know?"

"Still though," I looked down, thinking about my younger sister. "It's not fair that you girls have to put your lives on the line like this."

Yuna sighed and patted my hand. "It's not about fairness, it's about doing what's right. We have the power to protect and save lives, so we do it. It's as simple as that."

My dad made a snorting noise from the corner, followed by a long, drawn-out snore.

Yuna raised an eyebrow at my dad, glancing over at him. "Is he okay?" she asked quietly.

I stared at the bottle of whiskey on its side next to him and shook my head. "Knowing him, seeing me injured like this and my sister missing will hit him like a truck. He's probably trying to cope in his own way."

Yuna nodded, understanding written on her face. "Poor guy. I know very well how hard it can be to deal with loss."

I looked up at her, surprised. "Have you lost someone too?"

She smiled softly, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, I have. It's part of why I accepted the call and became a magical girl. I wanted to protect others from feeling the same pain I did."

"I'm sorry for your loss," I said gently.

"Thanks," Yuna replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's been a while, but...you never really forget, you know?"

My thoughts wandered to my mother, who had perished in this city eleven years ago. I could feel the pain in her words, and my heart went out to her. Yuna seemed so strong and confident, but underneath it all, she was just like me - someone who had suffered loss and wanted to make a difference.

As we sat there, the reality of the situation began to sink in. My sister was still missing, and the city was in shambles. It was hard to imagine how we would move on from this, but Yuna's words gave me hope.

"Thank you for staying with me," I told Yuna, breaking the silence.

"Of course," she replied. "Like I said, you shouldn't have to go through this alone. Your friends are all out there searching for your sister relentlessly, so I thought I'd check up on you while making the rounds here."

I smiled at her, grateful for the company. Yuna was a stranger to me, but she had shown me much-needed empathy and compassion. It was strange, but I felt like I could trust her.

Yuna stood up from the bed and extended a hand out to me. "Now come on, let's go get some breakfast. You look like you could use a hot meal."

I hesitated momentarily, still feeling the weight of the events from the night before. But Yuna's kindness was infectious, and I found myself taking her hand and standing up.

"Lead the way," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

"There isn't much down in the community kitchen here, but we'll make do with what we have," Yuna said, leading me out of the room.

We walked through the dimly lit hallways of the makeshift shelter, passing by other survivors who looked just as weary and defeated as we did. It was a sobering reminder of the devastation that had occurred.

After descending the stairs, we finally reached the community kitchen. It was a small room with tables and chairs, a cooking area, and a fridge. A few people were scattered around, sitting at the tables and eating. Volunteers were busy cooking meals and handing them out to those who needed them.

Yuna walked over to a table in the corner and gestured for me to sit down. "I'll go see if I can find us something to eat," she said, already making her way over to the volunteers.

While she walked away, I took a moment to look around the room. The atmosphere was heavy, and everyone here had gone through the same trauma.

I perked up as I spotted Talia sitting at a nearby table and made my way over to her. She didn't notice my approach, and I paused briefly as I realized her hair was wild and untamed, and her eyes were swollen from crying.

"Talia?" I called out softly, not wanting to startle her.

She looked up at me, her eyes widening in surprise before quickly turning into relief. "Thank god you're okay, Ikki," she said as she stood up and hugged me tightly.

"Ow!" I yelped, "Watch the ribs!"

Talia quickly let go, blushing apologetically. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just so glad to see you're alright."

"Where's Midori?" I asked, looking around the room.

Talia's expression darkened, and she looked away from me. "She... she hasn't woken up since the night of the attack either. I was worried sick for both of you."

My heart sank at her words, and I felt a pang of guilt. "I'm so sorry, Talia. That's terrible."

She nodded, and I could see the tears welling up in her eyes again. "I just hate seeing both of you like that. It's not fair. Midori's been through so much already and now she's stuck in a bed. Spencer is also in intensive care, and the hospitals are overflowing."

Talia broke down, sobbing into her hands. I hesitated for a moment before pulling her into a tight hug. She cried into my shoulder, and I tried to comfort her as best as I could.

"I know," I said, giving her an affectionate hug. "But hey, I'm here now, aren't I? Maybe Midori will wake up too, and the girls out there will find Izumi. We have to keep hope alive."

Talia nodded, wiping away her tears. "Yeah, you're right. We can't give up now."

Just then, Yuna returned with three plates of scrambled eggs, toast, and a cup of hot coffee each. She skillfully separated them, placed them down in front of us, and sat down.

"Hope you guys like your eggs scrambled," she said with a grin.

I couldn't help but smile at her infectious energy. "Thanks, Yuna. This is great."

Talia looked up quizzically at Yuna. "Hey, I don't think we've been properly introduced yet. I'm Talia."

Yuna extended her hand out to Talia. "I'm Yuna. Nice to meet you."

They shook hands, and Talia's expression immediately softened. "Thank you for being here for Ikki. We're all grateful for the help."

Yuna nodded. "It's the least I can do. We're all in this together, right?"

We spent the rest of the meal in relative silence, the only sounds being the clinking of silverware against plates and the occasional shuffle of feet as people walked in and out of the kitchen. Despite the somber atmosphere, I felt a sense of comfort knowing that I wasn't alone in this. Everyone here had lost something and was trying to pick up the pieces to move forward.

I found myself getting lost in my thoughts. How had everything gone so wrong so quickly? Just a week ago, my biggest worry was finishing my term paper on time. Now, my sister was missing, my best friends were gravely wounded or in a coma, and the city was in ruins.

I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts from my mind. Dwelling on the past wouldn't help anyone. Instead, I needed to focus on the present.

Yuna suddenly stood up. "I have to head out now. There's still a lot of work to be done, and I'm sure you two have a lot on your plate as well. But if you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out and ask."

She slid a piece of paper over to me. "This is my number on this side of the portal. You two can call me anytime. I'm serious - even if it's just to talk or vent."

I took the paper and smiled at her. "Thank you, Yuna. I really appreciate it."

Yuna waved goodbye and left the kitchen, leaving Talia and me alone once again.

"That was really kind of her," Talia said, finishing her eggs.

"Yeah, it was," I replied, taking a sip of my coffee. "She really came off as excessive the first time I'd met her, but she's actually pretty cool."

Talia chuckled. "Yeah, she certainly has a unique energy about her."

We finished the rest of our breakfast in silence, lost in our thoughts. I couldn't help but think of my sister, wondering where she could be and if she was safe. The weight of the unknown hung heavy over me, but I was determined to stay strong for her.

After we finished eating, Talia stood up from the table. "I'm going to go check on Midori again. Do you want to come with me?"

I stretched, standing up as well. "Yeah, let's go see how she's doing."

We made our way back up the stairs and through the hallways, heading toward the makeshift hospital ward I'd woken up in. We both carried a plate of food, and I briefly stopped by my room to check on my dad. He was still passed out, reeking of liquor, and I sighed, knowing there was nothing else I could do for him now. I left the food and coffee on a folding table, and Talia and I closed the door gently behind us.

We finally reached Midori's room, and I pushed the door open gently. She was lying still in the hospital bed, her face pale and peaceful. Talia walked over and sat down beside her, holding her hand.

"Hey Midori, it's me Talia. Ikki's here too. We brought you some breakfast," she whispered before tenderly brushing a strand of hair away from Midori's face.

There was no response from her, and I felt a lump form in my throat.

I walked over to the other side of the bed and reached out to touch Midori's forehead. Her skin was cold, but her breathing was steady. She looked so fragile, so helpless, and it hurt to see her like this.

"Talia, do you think she'll wake up soon?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly.

Talia squeezed Midori's hand before turning to me. "I don't know, Ikki. This isn't the first time, but it's gotten worse every time she's transformed into a Magical Girl. Since we left Asia, I mean."

I frowned. "What do you mean? What's been happening to her?"

Talia bit her lip, looking down at Midori. "Every time she transforms, it's like a piece of her gets left behind. She hasn't transformed for over a year now, but even then, she was struggling with it. It's been taking a toll on her, both physically and mentally."

"Do you know if there's anything we can do to help her?" I asked, looking at Talia.

Talia shook her head. "All we can do is wait for her body to shake things out on its own. It's a waiting game, unfortunately."

I sighed, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over me. "I just wish there was something we could do, you know? Sitting here and waiting feels so... useless."

I felt a surge of guilt wash over me. Midori had transformed into a Magical Girl to protect me, Spencer, and Talia. Now she was paying the price for it. I wished I could do something to help her.

Talia leaned over and rested her head on Midori's bed, sighing heavily. We sat by Midori's side for what felt like an eternity. The only sounds were the occasional sniffle or sigh from Talia and me. It was a strange feeling, being in a room with someone who was comatose but still breathing. It felt like we were in limbo, waiting for something to happen.

I watched as Talia gently stroked Midori's hair as she held her hand, a look of tenderness on her face. It was clear that she cared deeply for her, which brought a small smile to my face.

Suddenly, Midori's hand twitched, and Talia's grip tightened around it.

"Did you see that?" Talia asked, turning to me.

I nodded, and we both leaned in closer, watching for any more movement.

Another twitch, and then Midori's eyelids fluttered.

"Midori?" Talia whispered.

Midori's eyes slowly opened, revealing a pair of vibrant blue irises. She looked up at Talia and then at me, confusion etched all over her face.

Talia's eyes filled with tears as she leaned forward, pulling Midori into a tight hug. "You're awake! Thank god, we were so worried about you."

Midori winced, cringing at the pain that flared up in her body. "What happened to me?"

"You...transformed," I said, hesitating slightly. "You saved us at the shelter, remember?"

Talia pulled away, cupping Midori's face in her hands. "You've been out for a few days now. We've been taking care of you."

I recoiled in shock as Midori slapped Talia's hands away, seemingly out of reflex.

Talia looked hurt, but before she could say anything Midori's eyes widened as she looked around the room in a panic.

Midori shook her head, looking from Talia to me and back again. "I don't understand... Why am I here? What's happening?"

A chill ran down my spine as I watched the fear and confusion in Midori's eyes. Clearly, something was seriously wrong, and I didn't know how to help her or what to do.

Midori froze in a panic as her eyes landed on me, and she gasped.

"Momotarou... is that you?"

Momotarou.

Her dead brother, Momotarou?

I felt my heart skip a beat as I stared at her, speechless.

Suddenly, Talia stepped in and took Midori's hand in hers. "No, sweetheart," she said softly as she looked into Midori's eyes with a sad expression. "Momotarou is... isn't here. You're with us now. This is Ikazuchi."

"I don't know you!" Midori said, shuffling away from Talia in a panic. I was about to intervene, but Talia wrapped her arms around Midori and held her close before I could. "It's okay, Mimi," she said soothingly. "We're here to help you."

Midori trembled in Talia's embrace as tears streamed down her face. She looked so small, so fragile, and it broke my heart to see her like this. I wanted to do something — anything — to help make things better for her, but I didn't know how.

Then, she screamed. The room began to shake violently, and I stumbled back in shock. Midori's body convulsed, her eyes rolling back into her head as she uttered an ear-splitting shriek. Talia held on tight, trying to calm her down, but it was useless. The air around us crackled with energy, and I could see sparks dancing in the air.

Then, in a flash of purple energy, Midori vanished.

Talia and I were left in the room, staring at the empty bed in shock.

Midori had just teleported away, and we had absolutely zero idea where she had just gone.