Riho opened her eyes slowly, the blinding light now gone. However, she was no longer in the dark gray Makai, but a bustling modern city with skyscrapers and tall buildings all around. She herself was in an alleyway just off of a busy street. Cautiously she exited the alley, immediately she was aware of countless stares, but no one called out to her, they simply looked, and then moved on. She put away her staff, having some idea of common decency on a crowded street. She was confused, but still calm enough to reason out that she should look for a place where she could think things through better.
A great plan in theory, but having never been there before she didn't know how to get around the city.
She followed the flow of people, making her way to the edge of the crowd closest to the buildings. As she walked she took in the sights and smells around her, a far cry from Priripon and Makai, the two places she was most familiar with. Aside from the perfumes and colognes from the people in the crowd, she smelled fried foods and engine oil, likely from the heavy traffic nearby.
As she was taking in the sights a voice called out, “Hey you!”
She looked around for the source, and found a man in a blue uniform leaning out the window of a box-like building on the corner of the street. Riho pointed to herself, tilting her head.
“Yeah you. You all right?” the man asked in a concerned tone. Riho moved towards the building, breaking from the crowd.
“We don't get that many cosplayers around here, you're probably trying to get to Kiaba, right?”
Riho's mind raced putting together as much as she could from the sparse information. People who stood out with clothes like her own were called 'cosplayers,' these 'cosplayers' tended to gather in a place called 'Kiaba,' which is why this uniformed man, perhaps some kind of military officer? Was reaching out to her out of concern, meaning they were likely in charge of the civil affairs of this place. She resolutely replied to him.
“Yes. I'm afraid it is my first time here and I don't know where to go. I also lack a place to stay...”
“Hmm...Right. Wait just a moment,” he replied, and retreated further into the building. He returned with another tired looking man in similar uniform and a clipboard upon which were several papers.
“If you wouldn't mind, fill out this paperwork while we look into something.”
“Ah, right...” Riho replied, taking the clipboard.
The man indicated a set of uncomfortable looking chairs and followed the tired looking man back to the counter where they held a hushed conversation in front of a computer screen.
Riho examined the paperwork, and began filling it out.
Her name, simple enough, Funano Riho, last name first. Her age posed a bit of an issue. She would certainly be a minor in this place, she was still in fact in the middle of a coming of age ceremony from her home of Priripon. She looked at her reflection in the metal clip of the clipboard, she could pass for 19, even if she were a bit younger, probably.
She hesitantly wrote 19 before looking at the next, and likely fatal, blank: place of address. She considered writing her Pririponian address, but if that Mazoku had any tricks left up her sleeve and kept out running her, it would be annoying to have to fix later. She decided if she were already imposing on this civic military officer, she might as well go the whole nine yards.
“Excuse me...There's um, a little problem.”
“Huh? Oh yes, what is it?”
“I don't have a place to go back to, or any address I could put here...”
The officer looked baffled, and looked to the other man, who waved his hand lazily.
“Riiight...Well, we'll just use this Police Station's address then. When you find a place to stay, let us know and we'll update it then.”
“Thank you very much,” Riho replied, so this was called a police station then. She walked back to the entrance and examined the numbers outside to fill in the according blanks. The crowds had thinned slightly from before, allowing her to take in the full scale of the streets. They were wide and painted with stripes of various colors. Strange cords connected to boxes which emitted light filled the air and attached to tall posts of metal.
Riho returned indoors, and looked at the sheets she had been given. There was little else she could add to them, she conveyed this to the officer who gave her an odd look, but didn't press the issue. Perhaps he could tell she wasn't lying, or perhaps the tired fellow had rubbed off on him. Either way worked in her favor.
“Well, now that that's been taken care of, follow me Funano-san.”
It took nearly half an hour, but the officer led her to a small building with many rooms.
“You can rent a room here without too much of a problem, so long as you have money. You do have money, right?” he didn't seem as convinced as his words implied.
Riho examined her purse, and found that the currency within was not the familiar coinage of her home but many unfamiliar bills. She showed them to the officer, who looked relieved.
“Well, that should take care of your deposit and first month,” he pulled out a map, and continued, “Anywhere else you need me to take you?”
Riho examined the map, taking mental notes of important looking names. A month should be plenty to hunt down that Mazoku, or so she thought. Assuming they had been transported into the same world by the same phenomenon, she was likely close by. Her fist clenched naturally and a smile crawled across her lips.
“No, but I would appreciate a map myself...” she said, the latter half more to herself.
“Ah, take mine, we have plenty at the station.”
Riho was genuinely caught off guard, “O-oh, thank you.”
The officer tipped his hat, “Just doing my duty. Well, if you need anything else you know where we are. Have a good day Funano-san!”
“O-oh, you too officer...”
The officer walked off, heading towards the station.
“I didn't get his name...” Riho said, not realizing she had said it aloud.
“There's always next time,” a soft voice from behind her replied.
Riho jumped, not sensing another presence so close. The person behind her was dressed in goth lolita, standing out almost as much as her Magical Girl garb.
“Don't just stand there, follow me,” the girl said.
“Who are you?” replied Riho, following her in spite of her words.
“Me? I'm a landlord. I own several plots around Kiaba. This is just one of them. Still, what a day. Strange people keep turning up.”
Riho narrowed her eyes, “Did they happen to have aqua hair in a side ponytail?”
The girl in goth lolita narrowed her eyes back, “I don't know. It's not in my business to give out my client's personal information. Are you here for a room or not?”
Riho bit her lip, and gave up, she could look on her own. It wouldn't be fair to get unrelated people involved in her trial.
“I'd like a room, please.”
“Oh, so you do have manners. Very well then, I'm Kumi Nagi, you may call me Nagi or Nagi-san. Or even Landlord-san if you're one for it. Pleasure doing business with you.”
“Um, yes, right. I'm Funano Riho. Call me whatever is easiest for you.”
“Riho-chan, then. Well, come along I'll show you to your room.”
Nagi extended a parasol and made her way up a small flight of stairs, down the railed walkway to the very last room on the second floor. The door was dirty and one of room numbers looked like it was about to fall off. Riho's eye twitched.
“Complain when you have money for something nicer,” Nagi said curtly, as if reading Riho's thoughts.
Riho realigned her thoughts, she would probably only be there for a short time, no reason to desire anything nicer, instead she should be happy she'd been introduced to an apartment rather than a hotel.
“You have a point,” she said with a smile.
Nagi raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. She then extended a hand towards Riho. Riho tilted her head, but then realized she hadn't payed yet, only to then realize no paperwork had been done either.
“Um, shouldn't I sign something...?”
“Hoh? You have a little more common sense than I thought you did,” Nagi pulled forth a single slip of paper, honestly Riho thought it looked more like a contract with a devil than a landlord, but she didn't have a reason to refuse. She signed her name and gave Nagi the deposit and first month of rent in cash.
“Thanks for your business. Here's your key.”
“Thank you,” Riho accepted the key and bowed to Nagi. Nagi bowed back, a mysterious smile on her face.
Riho then unlocked the door and entered the room, and fell to her knees. It was completely unfurnished. Even if it was going to be for a short time, she would still need a bed!
Earlier that day...
Kikyo blinked her eyes clear and found herself crouching before a small woman in goth lolita. She was in her transformed state, meaning she wasn't going to get out of this with a simple conversation. Or so she had thought. The woman leaned forward, and touched the star emblem in her hair. She reverted to her pre-transformed state. Kikyo blinked.
“Well, what happened?” the woman asked.
“Eh?” was all Kikyo could say.
“I'm asking how you ended up on Earth, you thick headed excuse for a Mazoku.”
“Ehh!?”
The woman in goth lolita sighed, “You were lucky to survive whatever encounter got you here if your adaptation is this slow.”
“Ehhhhhhhh....” came the hurt reply.
“Is 'eh' all you can say?”
“Eh? Um? I mean! No! I'm Sorane Kikyo! Overlord's Army 107th Battalion!”
“Very good. Now show me your pocketbook.”
“Eh?”
The woman glared at her.
Kikyo flinched and showed her the pocketbook.
“Mm. Just enough to get by I suppose. Well, I'll set you up with a room here, you should probably try and find some work somewhere, otherwise you'll be barely scrapping by. I'm Nagi. Kumi Nagi, as for who or what I am, that's a secret for now. All you need to know is that I'm your landlord now.”
“Y-yes ma'am!” Kikyo replied smartly.
“Oh, now you're getting into it. Well, here's your key. You'll need to go out and get some furniture for your room. That's how I keep the rent down.”
“O-okay. Hmm I guess I'll just get a bed for now...Th-thank you very much! Nagi-chan!”
Nagi gave her a light chop on the head, “Don't use 'chan' for your landlord.”
“Y-yes ma'am...” Then Kikyo headed out to buy a bed.
“Wait don't you need a...map...Is she really going to be alright?” Nagi asked the empty air as Kikyo left.
Surprisingly, Kikyo had little trouble navigating the city streets, though she felt she stood out a bit. Even if she was in her normal form, her clothes were those of a Makaijin rather than an Earthling. She wasn't getting long stares like a certain Magical Girl, but eyes tended to drift her way when lines of sight were relatively clear.
She mostly followed her nose, leading to her carrying several small paper bags on one arm filled with various treats she found herself unable to resist.
She had stumbled upon a pedestrian street lined with tightly packed together shops that sold all kinds of things, from electronics to raw fish. By talking to the shopkeep who sold her a pastry, she was able to locate a place which sold sleep related wares.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
As she made her way towards the shop, her emblem vibrated violently.
“Waah!? That startled me!” Kikyo said, and ducked into small space between two of the shop buildings.
A voice emanated from the emblem.
“Major Sorane, where are you now?”
Kikyo recognized the voice instantly; none other than the Overlord of Makai himself, Otomi Mao.
She swallowed hard, then replied, “I-it seems like I've ended up on Earth, Maou-sama.”
There was a long silence. Kikyo was about to speak up when the reply came, in a softer tone than she had ever heard the Overlord use.
“I see. Do not worry about coming back just yet. For now focus on your daily necessities, you'll likely be there for quite some time.”
“Yes sir, Maou-sama sir!”
Another pregnant pause, then the Overlord spoke again, “You'll be compensated for this away mission properly, in the meantime you can do as you see fit.”
“Thank you sir!”
The Overlord grunted in acknowledgment, then the spell faded.
Kikyo felt a warmth in her pocket, and pulled out her pocketbook. The numbers on the pages glowed, and nearly tripled, Kikyo's eyes widened to nearly the size of dinner plates.
“Guess who's getting a luxury bed!” she said excitedly, not realizing someone had stopped just outside the alley, and had begun pulling out their cell phone to make a call. For a moment their eyes met, and for an excruciatingly long time neither said or did anything.
The man, tall and lanky in a plain black business suit finally cleared his throat, “S-sorry.”
“No no no! You don't have to apologize, I'm sorry, I just got excited and um, that is...I'm gonna go, really, I'm so sorry!” Kikyo said, bowing frantically as she backed out of the alley, switching places with the man before eventually dashing away in the direction of the sleep-wares store.
“Is she going to be all right...?” the man thought in spite of himself. He decided to make his call and then check the direction she had run just to make sure.
Kikyo found and entered the sleep-wares shop, only to behold a sight that sent shivers down her spine.
Before her, laying on one of the display beds was a familiar girl with an animal-shaped emblem clip in her hair. Immediately, Kikyo made a break for cover behind some of the other wares on display, hoping to put as many objects between herself and the Magical Girl as possible. For the moment, the Magical Girl hadn't seemed to notice her.
In truth Riho was in fact entirely absorbed in trying to judge the quality of the bed. It was soft, probably among the best she had laid in. The problem then was price. She expected it to be high, but as she dismounted and looked to the signage, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
“T-t-ten figures?!” even though this country's currency used whole number values, that was still outrageous by any standard.
“I think I'll just get a futon...” she said in defeat.
Kikyo flinched, and began to move, as she had found herself in the part of the store where futons were sold, however as she did one of the salespeople called out to her.
“Can we help you find anything?”
“Eh?! Ah, no thank you, I'm still looking!” Kikyo said, louder than she had intended.
Riho stiffened, recognizing a raised voice in the direction she was headed. She quickened her steps, and encountered a wilted looking Kikyo trying, and failing, to shake off the persistent saleswoman.
Kikyo noticed Riho and all color drained from her face. Discarding any remaining semblance of dignity, she scuttled away on all fours towards the shop's exit.
“Ah! Customer!” called the saleswoman, before rounding on Riho.
“How can I help you?” she asked. From Riho's perspective this action was almost robotic, but the saleswoman had been trained for these kinds of situations. If a customer seemed to be afraid of or avoiding another customer it was likely there were some darker circumstances at play, therefore store policy dictated aggressive service.
Riho tried to push past the saleswoman, but she moved back into her way.
“You seem to be in a hurry, so why don't you let me help you find an affordable product that meets your needs.”
“Move, I need to deal with that thing.”
The saleswoman's eyes narrowed, “Is there something inside the store that doesn't sit well with you?”
Riho didn't understand the meaning of the question, and was getting frustrated. However, another part of her calmly reminded her she was in a public building and that her attitude now could affect her stay in the future. Even if she caught up to that Mazoku now, they couldn't exactly do battle in the streets.
She sighed, “No it's fine. Show me something cheap but reliable.”
The saleswoman smiled broadly, “Right away.”
Kikyo reached the entrance and was about to leave, when the man she had met in the alley passed by just outside, looking around with a vague expression of concern on his face. Kikyo had an idea!
“Um, excuse me, sorry for before, again...” she called to him.
Looking a bit relieved, the man in the suit came over to her, “Is everything all right?”
“Th-things could be better...I need some bedding but someone I'm not good at dealing with is in there right now...”
“Is that right?” he gave it some thought, “I could go in with you if it makes you feel better.”
Kikyo was a little surprised, she had meant to be the one to ask him, his kindness exceeded her expectations.
“If you really don't mind!”
“Um, sure. Ah, my name's Kanaki Maji, you can just call me Maji.”
“Kikyo, Sorane Kikyo! W-whichever you feel like using...”
“Sorane-chan then,” he looked to the building, and began walking towards it, looking back over his shoulder at her, “coming?”
“Eh?! Ah! Yes!” Kikyo cried nearly tripping over herself in the process of catching up to Maji.
Together they entered the store, Kikyo looking around suspiciously. Maji cocked an eyebrow at her skittishness but followed behind, as she cautiously made her way towards a section of raised beds. She heard the saleswoman from before talking about the deals they offered, and then the disinterested reply of the Magical Girl in a lower tone. By the sounds of it, they were on the other side of the shop. Breathing a sigh of relief, Kikyo began walking normally again, every now and again making sure the voices were still far, and Maji was still close-by. Eventually she found a quality bed to her liking, and made her way to the sales counter.
The hair on the back of her neck began to stand as she realized she was heading in the same direction as the voices, until she and Maji broke cover from the aisles and display beds and were greeted with the sight of the Magical Girl and the saleswoman approaching the counter at the same time and pace as they were.
Maji leaned in and whispered to Kikyo, “Is that who you're so afraid of?”
Kikyo nodded fervently, “The moment she gets a chance she's gonna kill me.”
Maji wanted to believe that was an exaggeration, but look of desperation and terror in Kikyo's eyes made him question his own common sense. That and on closer inspection, both girls were wearing strange outfits. The one with one of the salespeople from the store seemed to be in some kind of magical girl cosplay, while Kikyo appeared to be wearing traditional clothing of some kind, more likely cosplay based off of traditional style if the two were acquaintances.
The girl in the magical girl outfit was glaring daggers at Kikyo so it wasn't hard to imagine they'd had a fight of some kind. He decided for his own sake to believe they were arguing over their character settings or something, and were so into it that it wasn't something they could get over themselves.
Kikyo meanwhile felt the full force bloodlust of the Magical Girl in faint magical waves. With Maji behind her and a store full of goods around her she felt somewhat safer, but it was hard for her to get a read on the Magical Girl's true personality, given that every time they had seen each other Kikyo could only feel disdain and hatred from her.
She moved slightly behind Maji, “L-let's let them go first...”
“Right,” he replied, and then called out, “Please, go on ahead.”
The saleswoman nodded at him and practically pushed Riho up to the counter, where Riho begrudgingly emptied the contents of her wallet.
She was quickly given her change, and handed the box containing the futon she had purchased, which she carried with unnatural ease. She sighed when seeing the few spare coins she had been returned. She glared at Kikyo, feeling the anxious eyes on her, expecting to see a face of mockery at having put herself in such a position. However, the face she was greeted with was torn between fear and concern. As she passed the Mazoku girl she turned up her nose and whispered, “Coward.”
Then exited the store without any further hustle. As soon as she had left the premises both Kikyo and the saleswoman dropped to their knees and sighed.
“I never want to do this again...” they both said in unison.
Outside the shop, Kiyko smiled down at her receipt, the bed she had chosen was perfect and gave her plenty of spending room. It was set to be delivered to her room in the building she had been teleported to later that day.
“Thank you, Maji-san! I couldn't have done it without you.”
“Aw, you don't need to thank me. I'm glad it turned out all right.”
He looked around, noticing the small mountain of bags Kikyo had dropped practically in the street, “Seeing as I've come this far, I'll walk you home. Do you know the way, Sorane-chan?”
“I...” she looked around, as Maji gathered her bags, “Don't. Uh oh...I forgot to look at a map! Oh no, I'm so sorry you've already helped me so much!”
“It's alright, what kind of place is it?”
“Hmm I just moved there so all I really know is the landlady's name.”
“Oh, okay. What is her name?”
“Kumi Nagi.”
Maji's eyes widened, “Nagi-chan, huh! She owns several of the apartment complexes around here, including mine.”
Maji suddenly cried out, feeling a hard poke from behind.
“Don't add 'chan' to your landlord's name!”
The pair turned and found a short woman in goth lolita with an impatient expression on her face behind them. She had jabbed Maji with her parasol.
“Tch, I came here because I thought you'd gotten lost and sure enough,” her expression softened a little, “Well at least you've met one of your neighbors now. He's a bit cheeky, but a nice fellow.”
“Neighbor...Oh! So we do live at the same complex!” Kikyo looked excited.
“It's not all good news. It's not the same one, but a certain Funano Riho has taken up residence in another complex I own,” Nagi heaved an exaggerated sigh, “so much trouble in one day!”
Maji asked, “Funano Riho? Who's that?”
“A cosplayer with some dark tendencies, is all you need to know about her.”
“We just saw ran into her in the shop...Her name's Riho, huh. It doesn't fit her at all,” mumbled Kikyo.
Nagi's eyes widened a hair, then she looked to Maji, “Well, I guess you aren't just some half-baked waste of space after all.”
“I-is that a compliment or an insult?”
“High praise!” Nagi said with a nasty smile.
Maji looked uncomfortable but not put off.
Nagi then noticed the assortment of bags, “What's all this?”
“Sorane-chan dropped them when she fled the store before running into me...” he started, as Nagi began to open one.
Kikyo looked flustered, “Wait don't! Er...”
Nagi pulled out a pair of tarts, and cocked an eyebrow at Kikyo, “Are these ALL deserts?”
“N-no, there's some meat pies in there too...”
“They're all food?” asked Maji.
Kikyo's face went pink to the ears, “M-mm. Yes...they are...I couldn't help it! It all smelled so good! And so much stuff I've never seen before!”
“Eh? Never seen before?” started Maji, but Nagi cut him off.
“She's a foreigner. She just moved here, today.” She glared at Kikyo.
Kikyo swallowed hard, picking up Nagi's intentions, “Th-that's right!”
“Well, that's enough chit-chat in the middle of the street. Let's return to the apartments. Unless there's anything else you need, Kikyo?” Nagi said, not hiding the intimidation factor her voice seemed to naturally carry.
“I-I should be alright for now...”
Nagi sighed, “I'll make a list for you tomorrow. For today let's just make sure you have a place to sleep...And plenty of snacks to eat, apparently.”
Sensing the tension Maji interjected, “Once I'm home from work I can go with Sorane-chan to make sure she doesn't get too off task, or in any trouble...”
“Do that. And while you're at it, teach her how to read a map.”
“Got it!” Maji said without thinking, “wait...”
“You're going to say, 'you're not my boss, or my mother!'”
“You're not my boss or my- eh?!”
“Too easy,” said Nagi, taking the lead of their party, which now stood out quite a bit with the short woman in goth lolita, girl in traditional-esque clothing and tall lanky man in a business suit.
Riho arrived at her apartment, and spread out the futon. The room still looked abysmally empty, but it would have to do. She pulled out the meager coins in her wallet, as her belly grumbled its complaints. She sighed and exited the room once again. She'd have to be careful or she wouldn't have enough money to eat tomorrow while she looked for work.
As she made her way down a narrow street she saw a cart with a fabric curtain. On it was written 'Ramen.' She continued walking, but the smell was potent. Her belly's complaining grew louder.
She closed her eyes, and sighed, “Just tonight. My wallet won't last if this becomes a habit!”
She was so stuffed she could hardly move. But the ramen was heavenly, so Riho felt satisfied. But after noticing the stares of the other customers, she was finally convinced she would need new clothes. Especially if she were to look for a job to replenish her funds. Stirring herself from a near food-coma she stood unsteadily, and made her way back to the shopping district.
She entered the first clothing shop she found and was immediately confronted with a staggering variety of outfits she had never seen in Priripon. At first she just looked for something plain and serviceable, but somewhere along the way she became entranced by the possibilities and cuteness of the clothes offered and ended up with an arm full as she stood in front of the changing rooms.
She had made one slight miscalculation in her choices however. Not much time had passed since she had left the ramen cart. Though she was confident over the coming days it would return to normal, her usual pants size didn't quite want to button. She had made an attempt to force it once, but the pressure made her nauseous.
“I knew I shouldn't have given in...but it was so good...” Riho muttered rebelliously.
She opted to go a size up and buy a belt for when things settled again for her street clothes and formal wear, thinking ahead for a job interview, and some loose pajamas to wear on the way home and at home. She shook her head, no that place wasn't home. What was she thinking. She had barely been there a day. In fact, she had spent most of the day outside!
She narrowed her eyes. That's right, instead of getting distracted by silly things like ramen and clothes she should be focusing on that Mazoku! The faster she took care of her, the faster she could return to Priripon.
A tiny voice asked her if that's what she really wanted. She didn't respond.
Kikyo's bed arrived without issue, and with Maji's help she had it set up neatly in her room.
“Thank you so much!”
“No problem, I'm glad I could lend a hand!”
Nagi approached from behind, “I wrote up a list for you. For now get some rest. You too, Mr. Break-of-day-shift.”
“Yes ma'am!”
“G-got it.”
“Good response.”