Ayari Sayaka, twenty seven years old, single, currently employed at a nearly unknown tech startup as part of the sales team. Today, again, she was buying a lunch from the local Dawson convenience store. She had been doing a similar routine for close to six years now, so she had seen a lot of different people staffing the convenience store, but the three working there now were perhaps the oddest batch. In a good way, as far as she was concerned. They seemed to have a good balance; Akiho the one who seemed like she wanted to slack off, but in the end worked her share. Riho the hard worker, who despite being the newest seemed to be pulling the other two along. She hadn't actually seen Ikue Airu all that often, but she got the impression that she was a little flighty or nervous, or maybe just extremely stressed. Despite being the manager, she almost seemed to be on the bottom of the food-chain. But in some ways, that made her fit in with the other two. They listened to her properly for work related tasks, but didn't let her odd comments or behavior go unnoticed, which kept the wheels of their conversations greased and interesting. Sayaka found herself staying longer just to eavesdrop sometimes. When she caught herself doing this it mystified her, after all eavesdropping was usually an impolite thing to do! But she couldn't help it, their conversations were on a different level than the ones she was used to hearing at work. But in the end, she only had an hour for her lunch break, so she would choose a prepared lunch and be on her way.
Eventually Riho noticed a particular salary woman seemed to take an awfully long time choosing her meal, and rather often at that. But to her it didn't matter all that much, so long as she was a paying customer who didn't do any harm she was free to do as she liked.
It would be a little longer before the two met outside of these circumstances.
When she wasn't at work, Sayaka was still quite busy. She had a group of friends she hung out with frequently, doing things like karaoke or visiting local restaurants. But there was one thing she enjoyed even more than that, something that ended up taking the largest toll on her wallet: Lolita fashion. She never wore it outside, which she sometimes felt sorry for, but at the same time the thought of being spotted by someone she knew was too frightening.
Recently though she had spotted someone in the same shopping district as the Dawson she frequented in Lolita. She desperately wanted to talk to her, but finding a good time was difficult. That person was typically accompanied by a girl with a side ponytail, or a tall lanky man.
But today, fortune finally turned her way! As she exited the Dawson, she caught sight of the girl in Lolita, alone!
“Now's my chance!” she made her way briskly over to her.
“Um, excuse me!” she tried.
Nagi looked over her shoulder, a business-like woman close to the same age as her had called out to her.
“Yes? What can I do for you?” she didn't know the woman, but she didn't seem to be a bad sort so Nagi though she would humor her.
“I just wanted to say I love your clothes!” the words spilled out before Sayaka could properly organize her thoughts.
Nagi's eyes widened gleefully, “Hoh! You have a good eye!”
Sayaka was relieved, it would seem this person was good at taking compliments.
“Where do you usually shop for things like that?” she asked, hoping to expand the topic.
Nagi held up a finger, “Just a moment,” she pulled out a cellphone, it was in a case that matched her outfit to a tee.
“O-oh of course!” Sayaka replied curiously.
“Maji, apologies but we're going to have move that appointment,” she shot Sayaka a smile, “I've made a friend on the town so I'm going to be with them for a while.”
Sayaka heard a muffled voice reply.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” Nagi said as she put away her phone, “To answer your question, this particular outfit is not something I bought but made!” she said smugly.
Sayaka's eyes lit up, “You can make clothes?! I'm so jealous! I never have time to practice so I never got good at sewing, even with a machine...”
“Is that so? Then would you like to come by my place, I could show you a thing or two,” Nagi said. Sayaka had no way of knowing yet, but this was a rare invitation, Nagi had really taken a shine to her.
“If it's really not a problem than I'd love to!”
Nagi turned on her heels and began walking, “Then follow me!”
It wasn't too long before they stood before a large modern looking house. As it turned out, Nagi didn't live on any of the properties she rented out, but had a house of her own. On the way they'd chatted, exchanging greetings and phone numbers. In short they got along like two peas in a pod.
Nagi turned the key in the door, and opened it. Beyond the threshold was a dimly lit space decorated similarly to the way it's mistress dressed. Sayaka was blown away, it was like a waking dream.
“It took quite a while to collect all of this,” Nagi said, showing Sayaka in, and getting out a tea set.
“I can imagine! Wow... I wonder if I'll be able to do decorate my room like this someday...”
Nagi handed her a cup of tea with a warm smile, “Why settle for just a room?”
Sayaka sipped at the tea while explaining, “I guess I don't have a good sense for finance. That and I'm not sure what my friends would think...”
“You've got one right here who would be more than willing to even help decorate it, if you so wished,” Nagi said in a matter of fact manner.
“Really? That makes me want to do it seriously...”
“Well, putting big plans and choices aside, how about I show you my closet?”
Sayaka's eyes lit up.
Nagi led her upstairs to her room. Nagi's room was decorated with large plush animals, though they were all in dark colors like the rest of her house, as expected from her usual goth lolita attire. There was lace and frills on practically everything, with the dominant color being black with accents of white, purple, and blue here and there.
“And here's my wardrobe!” Nagi said, throwing open a large closet door with flair.
Inside both walls of the long closet were lined with Lolita dresses and outfits, hats and shoes, and other accessories. Sayaka's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
“Nagi-san, make me your disciple...”
Nagi laughed, “Very well! I shall teach you what I know!”
They both giggled, and then spent the rest of the day thoroughly investigating Nagi's closet and sewing workspace.
From then on, the two would meet and hang out from time to time, Sayaka bringing her own Lolita outfits, and having Nagi show her how to personalize them.
Riho met Ikue Airu and Akiho at the park for their promised exercise routine. Just as she was getting ready to instruct them, she noticed a familiar face approaching from behind the other two, seemingly staring off into space on a leisurely stroll.
“Kikyo?” Riho called.
The Mazoku girl flinched, then looked her way and jogged over.
“Eh, Riho? And the other girls from the Dawson...”
“Good day～!”
“H-hello there...” Akiho and Airu greeted her.
“Onee-chan, wait up!” from behind Kikyo came another much smaller form, that of Komomo.
“Oh Komomo-chan, you were here too!” Kikyo said crouching to meet her.
“I was!” Komomo looked around at all the others, “Is now not a good time?” she asked innocently.
“No, you two can join in too if you want,” Riho declared, “The more the merrier for rigorous training!”
“I-I don't think rigorous training is good for small children...” Airu offered.
“Naturally, which is why Kikyo will be carrying her.”
“EH?! I'll be doing what?!?”
From behind Riho a voice called, “Ooh! Does that mean Riho-nee will do her training while carrying me?” Wakamatsu Genta!
Riho froze, then cleared her throat and turned around, “If that's what you want, but I think-” before she could finish, or even begin to try to convince him otherwise, the young boy jumped excitedly.
“Yeah! Riho-nee's gonna carry me while doing her training!”
Riho couldn't object to that, even though her face paled.
“R-right...Let's begin then!”
The first thing on their training menu was jogging, Riho and Kikyo quickly fell behind, both thanks to their bulk and additional passengers.
Riho had confidence that were she not carrying Genta-kun she could outpace Akiho, but Ikue Airu was surprisingly agile. Perhaps she should've expected such from a former Magical Girl. Kikyo despite being bulkier and carrying Komomo was managing to keep pace with her. That frustrated her a little bit, but also vindicated her feelings of rivalry with her enemy.
“You can do it Onee-chan!” Komomo encouraged.
“Riho-nee you're falling behind!” Genta taunted.
“It's not a race, yet,” Riho countered.
“Oh, so you will do a race then?”
“Once we've warmed up,” she replied.
“Eeehhh?! This is a warm up?!” Kikyo cried, despite her grumbling she had barely broken a sweat.
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Akiho on the other hand, had now started to slow down, her breathing a little labored, “How, huff, do you two have so much energy?”
Riho shifted Genta higher on her shoulders, “Years of training?”
Kikyo, nodded in agreement.
“Even though you look so out of shape...”
“What did you say!?” Riho said indignantly, recalling words quite to the contrary only days earlier.
Akiho squealed and accelerated her pace, Riho mumbled darkly, “Oh, just you wait til the next course!”
Genta laughed uproariously.
Komomo looked stern, “That's not something you should ever say to a lady! Even if you're also a lady!” clearly disapproving of Akiho's comment and Genta's reaction.
Kikyo kept her mouth shut, in fear of Riho's higher level options for training. She knew Riho couldn't go too crazy, since Akiho was a human, but she would push her to her limits no doubt.
When they had reached the place they had agreed to end their jog, Riho and Kikyo put Genta and Komomo down. Riho turned to Akiho with a murderous glare.
“Next some stretches, then we'll start work on the core!”
Akiho withered under her gaze, “Please forgive me, you're beautiful!”
Riho smiled, but there wasn't a trace of mirth in it, “Nope, we're doing it together.”
Akiho, who knew nothing of the stamina of Magical Girls and Mazoku looked relieved while Kikyo and Airu looked horrified.
Once they had finished their warm up stretches, Riho instructed Akiho to lay on her stomach, and did the same herself.
“Genta, Komomo come over here,” she called to the children.
“Yes?”
“What do you need, Riho-nee?”
“Genta-kun, you sit on my back, Komomo-chan on Akiho please.”
Komomo and Akiho's faces paled, Genta-kun excitedly took up his position.
“Now we're going to do 1000 push ups,” Akiho looked terrified, “but I'm not a monster, so you only need to do 100 Akiho-san,” the polite way of addressing a person had never sounded so sinister.
Riho moved fluidly, passing one hundred before Akiho had even gotten to forty.
By sixty, Akiho's arms were shaking, and Komomo wanted more than anything to lighten her load, but Riho shot her a glance and shook her head. She was stuck.
“D-do you're best, Akiho-san-onee-chan...”
“Riho, you're an ogre...”
Meanwhile, Ikue Airu and Kikyo had long since finished their 1000 each and were watching the spectacle with a mixture of amusement and concern.
Finally Akiho finished her hundred, dropping to the ground panting while Komomo ran to Kikyo for comfort. Riho skillfully launched and caught Genta as she stood up, with a satisfied expression.
“Riho-nee you're so cool!” Genta said, blinded by his boyish admiration of her brute strength.
Ikue Airu offered Akiho some water.
“Fantastic, on to the next then!” Riho declared, “Akiho you can sit this one out and look after the kids.”
Genta looked like he wanted to participate, but Komomo looked relieved.
“What are we doing next?” Airu asked.
“A race,” Riho replied, taking a runner's stance.
A small smile appeared on Airu's lips, “I see. Since it's the three of us, we can go all out, right?”
“That's the plan,” Riho said with a wicked grin.
Kikyo shuddered, she could barely outmaneuver Riho when she was using her wings, she didn't think she stood a chance of winning a footrace. Her stamina was high, but her overall speed not so much.
Genta had gotten over feeling left out when Riho mentioned it was time for the race. After seeing what Riho had done with the soccerball when they first met, his expectations were pretty high.
They took their marks, when Riho and Kikyo heard a voice.
“Good luck,” Riho recognized the voice as Airu's pact spirit, Monmoku.
“Hoh? I guess I'd better not slack off then,” replied Lasrefel.
Kikyo was answered by silence, Mao was busy.
“This better not turn out like the tortoise and the hare, if I win you both have to treat me to ice cream!” Kikyo said jokingly.
Akiho had been told to start the race, “Threee, twoo, onne! Go～!”
The three took off at inhuman speed, but Kikyo was still dead last.
“I knew it would be like this, but come on at least pretend to give me a chance!” she cried.
Airu was out front, but Riho was gaining on her. Riho chanced a glance back at Kikyo, despite her complaining she was only about ten meters behind them. Confirming this, she spurred herself on further, pushing just ahead of Airu!
Sparks of magical force jumped between them, and Airu smiled at her, “It's been a while since I've had a chance to go all out...I forgot how good it feels to go fast!” and she shot forward, her movements still elegant, unlike Riho's desperate push for speed. Riho slowed in her thoughs, and Kikyo passed her.
“I'm looking forward to that ice-cream!” Kikyo taunted as she passed.
Riho shook her head, “I'm not losing to you!”
Airu slowed down as well, keeping them both in hearing range, the privilege of the strong.
Riho and Kikyo were matched at pace.
“How are you suddenly so fast?!” Riho asked.
“I'm not, you just slowed down, did you forget who you're trying to beat?” Kikyo countered.
Airu looked back with a smile, “C-catch me if you can!”
She was right, for a moment she had judged it to be impossible to beat Ikue Airu. Somewhere in her heart she had given up. Riho shook her head, “You're on!!” she spurt forward keeping pace with Airu.
Kikyo sighed, “Here I thought I might actually have a chance at that ice-cream...”
Riho smiled and called out without looking behind her, “Who are you trying to beat?”
Kikyo chuckled and gave it her all, but in the end she barely managed to tie with Riho.
Akiho looked incredulous, “H-how do you all move so fast?!”
Komomo and Genta looked at the trio with stars in their eyes. Komomo'd had her doubts about this training after the fiasco with Akiho, but after such a spectacle she could only be impressed.
Airu gave her a peace sign, “I-I was on the track team in highschool.”
Riho didn't doubt it, even for a Magical Girl Airu was fast, and Priripon academies did have track teams.
“What about you Riho-chan?”
“Ah...I did sojutsu...”
Kikyo stood up, “That explains SO MUCH.”
“What's sojutsu?” Komomo asked.
“It's like fencing, but with spears,” Riho explained.
Genta asked Kikyo, “Did you do anything in school?”
Kikyo thought about it, she had been trained in all kinds of weapons and magic schools but if she had to pick something she was good at and could tell a child from Earth, “Ah, I did chemistry.”
Airu and Riho stared at her, neither had a particularly brainy impression of Kikyo, though Airu began to have one now having the shorter period of acquaintance.
“Chemistry?” Riho pressed.
“Understanding the elements and make-up of the world is important!” 'for magic,' she added on in her head.
Thinking about it, Riho realized she might be severely underestimating Kikyo's abilities because of her easygoing personality. She had constructed that magic circle that helped her meet Lasrefel after all, it shouldn't be such a surprise that while she was a little weaker on the physical spectrum that she would instead be a monster on the magical one.
That made her realize their predicament of being on earth might be more tragic for Kikyo than herself, being unable to show off her specialty and be forced into the life of an ordinary human.
Kikyo had never once considered that, she was too distracted by all of the new things around her, and cooking was a form of chemistry she had not mastered in Makai, so she was having plenty of fun. Emotionally, Riho was definitely worse off, at this juncture. Perhaps eventually Kikyo would feel such sadness at being unable to practice magic, but the summoning project had been intensive and fairly recent. She had not yet had time to miss such projects.
“You tied with me, so I'll be getting you that ice-cream after all,” Riho said.
“Eh? Really?!” Kikyo chirped, more excited than Genta or Komomo might've been.
Akiho raised a hand, “Let's all go! We deserve it after all that!”
Genta and Komomo looked excited, but then conflicted.
“Let's go ask your parents,” Kikyo offered. That settled their expressions.
Kikyo went with the children to get permission, while the other three went to find the ice-cream shop.
Shortly they met again, Kikyo leading the children and parents to their group. Riho had gotten some for the parents as well, thanks to some texts from Kikyo. They ate together, Genta's father found Kikyo hilarious. Komomo's mother thanked her for always taking care of Komomo while she was at work, and even today when she wasn't.
“Oh she's such a good girl, I really don't mind!” was her response.
Genta had apparently told his father all about Riho, they talked for a bit, and Riho found she could speak somewhat normally to him. Maybe because he was a married man and Genta's father, but she was able to converse with only a few stutters and without meeting his eyes.
Akiho and Airu found her nervousness adorable and amusing, as she usually had such a perfect service smile and attitude.