"Kaah!! I'm gonna be late! I'm gonna be late!!"

Her name's Kafuka Amari. She's an ordinary Japanese middle schooler with an appearance only unique to her and her name. When thinking of the name "Kafuka" one would likely think of a light appearance, perhaps whites contrasted by blues or reds and pinks. That wasn't too far off from what she looked like, but it was a disservice to the specifics that made her. To start, her hair was brunette and styled in lengthy twintails fit for an optimist, and like a glass half filled, the pep in her step mimicked buoyancy; although she was in a rush. No taller than 4 feet and almost reaching a new growth spurt at age 14, she was bound for a new beginning. A new new beginning as her new beginning started prior to becoming a magical girl. The title was pleasant, however too generic for a specific heroine fighting against darkness with love. 

Grumble and rumble. The ground beneath shook as if an earthquake was passing. Screams of men, women and children filled the air—running from what could be exaggerated as diabetes. Craters formed where the monster struck with boxing glove covered hands and its arms thin as a line. Cartoonish as it appeared, the threat was very real. Malnourished buildings created a playpen for the monster to toy with his playthings.

If stayed any longer, he would be next. The running crowd passed by the bench he stood by, and the monster mindlessly followed slowly. The street corner gave him sight of both avenues where Kafuka and the crowd would intersect then split opposite ways. Conveniently the crowd shielded him from Kafuka's sight when they passed. Helpfully as it was, the monster made up of a greasy burger had her fullest attention. Googly eyes, eyebrows made of bacon, and thinnest legs wearing clownish shoes.

Blinded by a silly rage, dot eyes were set on Kafuka and she returned the glare as best she could match. There was nothing to worry about. This wasn't her first fight nor the last. She could handle the rest from here.

"Get ready!" Sounded the device used to transform—a metallic deck holder with several slots for individual cards. She drew a card, the pink card, and her clothing brightened to a blinding white. With all civilians evacuated, she could safely transform and she would in a quick fashion before proclaiming, "Like a flower that administers justice. I, Pink Supervisor, will end your evil!"

Her entire presentation needed work as it lacked proper theming. The boy with glasses watching her couldn't help but smirk, beginning to walk away smoothly while the battle ensued at his back. And he thought to himself, "Personally, I like the name Sweet Taker." 

◆:*:◇:*:◆:*:◇:*:◆

The month of fall brought a warm chill and brown leaves to swivel around student's footsteps. Amongst the plethora of footsteps was one that stopped after crossing the school's metal gates to take it all in. The fresh air, beautiful skies, and murmuring between friends reunited for another school year. The school campus was nothing to scoff at either. Watching over all was a clocktower and hanging gold bell, two lush forests ran the perimeter leading to a cathedral behind the school.  The school itself had a hollow center filled by a garden courtyard. It's name "Torigoe Academy" was plagued in gold, a testament to its prestige. 

Today was the start of Dane Tsurugi's second year in high school. First year offered ups and downs, smiles and frowns. The ordinary everyday until a sudden shift changed his life drastically in a direction only otaku could imagine. A school bag in one hand and a shoujo manga in the other; the latter he never dreamed of carrying what was for girls. In reading it he found qualities akin to spices. Everyone made fun of him for it the day he came into class with the first volume, but little did they understand, spices make ingredients come together.

Let's talk about Dane himself, a boy who (on the outside) embodied every above average quality under the sun. A culinary adept, writing aficionado, scholar in the arts (in his mind). Unkempt dark hair but a sharp appearance that retained all his youth because although he was young, he was mature for his age. The sole average quality about him was his poor sight, forced to wear black frames that were–oh so cumbersome to carry the burden.

"Hey pal!" Wrapping an arm around his neck was his best friend and right man always surprising him from the left. "Still girling around? What chapter are you on now?"

Ironic given that he had his mother's genetics to the T. This was Jack Miyase, female look alike but not by choice. Black hair made the man and front bangs barely covering his left eye made the woman. If he grew his hair out long enough and snuck into the girl's restroom they'd look twice.

"Money is tight. I'm rereading the latest I bought." Dane exhaled. "The art is phenomenal. I wanna live in that kind of picture book. But our school here, all we have is a blue sky and white building."

"Don't you think you're asking for much? Your head's in the clouds." Jack swiveled behind and grasped Dane's temples to adjust his sights down on a crowd of students gathered by a huge white board set on display. And detailed on said board were student names and the classes they were according to. Jack finished, "You need to be focusing ahead. What we got, it's so good."

Dane brushed his hands aside. "I know what class I'm in. I read the email."

"You in 2-B?"

"That's right!"

Jack took a step past. "What are we waiting for? Let's go and meet some of the new first years while we still have time."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"You just want to be called senpai." Dane stuffed the manga into his bag and chased after his friend who was oblivious to the ingredients now making up Dane's life. Secretly he was excited as well but not for the same reasons. 

This was going to be the first time he would be formally introduced to her. Dane's heart beat with anticipation, his mind racing with what script he would open with. Before, he couldn't openly approach her since they lived in separate parts of town, and going out of his way to meet a middle schooler was a stretch. He was a fan, taking photos of her like he would of food.  Only after she became a Sweet Taker did she move closer to his neighborhood, and with it came monsters that went berserk. Her closer proximity to his living made it easier to collect photos from all precarious angles, and she was none the wiser, to both the growing compendium on his wall and his identity that would come and go like the wind.

After a collection of embarrassing interactions in which Jack would try to smoothly introduce himself and Dane, and was met by begrudging respect when he insinuated his position above lower classmen, they finally came face to face with Kafuka paired with another girl that Dane presumed was a friend of hers. Seeing her up close and without her Sweet Taker transformation felt so surreal..? The exact emotion was elating for sure, but Dane wasn't going to buckle over weak knees. However the smirk on his face was out of his control. 

She had matured with her aging into highschool. Gone were her small twintails now grown into a two side up hairstyle that emphasized her cuteness even more. It looked like she was using make up too. If Dane had no respect for the arts then he would've taken his phone out and snapped a photo with the flash on. There was a reason art museums sometimes prohibit photography.

As always Jack started the conversation. "You two look lost." Jack said with a grin.

Kafuka waved her hands in a defensive manner. "N-no, not at all! Yui here is already giving me a tour."

Her voice was so soft like cream and Dane just sunk in. Quickly readjusting by adjusting his glasses, he simply nodded in understanding, seeking to end this encounter soon.

"Are you two upperclassmen?" The average female student questioned with a suspicious brow raised.

"Thought you'd never ask." Jack accidentally spilled his inner thoughts. "Yep, we're some genius second years. Top of our class, so much so that teachers sometimes ask us to assist them with stuff."

Dane shrugged. Someone had to be the straight man and voice of reason. "It's not a big deal. Being called the teacher's pet isn't the greatest thing either. Some advice, enjoy your youth and don't spend it glued to studying."

"Is that right?" The average girl sneered. Kafuka giggled but Dane could tell it was out of obligation. 

"Did you just sneer at your senpai?" Jack acted surprised.

"Senpai? Come on, don't make me laugh..!" The average girl ended up giggling even more. What was supposed to be a new student's anxieties was flipped on them. 

"Hehe! Sorry, we don't mean to be rude to you." Kafuka quickly bowed. "I hope we can get along with our seniors. My name is Kafuka Amari."

Jack awkwardly scratched his head. "Likewise… I'm Jack Miyase, and for the record I do not look like a girl. My best friend here is Dane Tsurugi."

"Wow! I like your names. They sound so exotic and foreign." Kafuka smiled. Her assumption was close to home base. She then eyed Dane, particularly his face that seemed familiar to her in either a daydream or deja vu. Thankfully the bell from the clock tower chimed, interrupting the puzzle forming in her mind. The average girl dragged Kafuka to the window, pointing to the tall tower and its bell. Dane and Jack found it bothersome that the announcement of class to begin was so loud. Their ears were already adjusted to the grand sound. Its volume was no louder than a phone's ringtone.

"That's the first class bell. Better hurry, wouldn't want to be late on your first day." Jack said.

"Heh, I don't need to hear that from you." The average girl stuck her tongue out. 

"Why you..!"

"Bye-bye!" She took Kafuka and booked it out of the hall. She was already at the steps before Jack had a chance to out obscenities. The bell waited for no one and their high regards teachers had for them would be erased had they been late to class. 

One meticulous classroom session later, where they were given the usual tutorial spiel of school, and the bell tower sounded the end of Dane's first day. Being the first day, many didn't seek to stay behind, choosing to talk outside of class or campus itself. After collecting his bag, he and Jack stopped outside the classroom only for a slight time.

Jack leaned by the window in a smooth manner. "Which club are you planning to join this year?" Acting as if the question was a life or death matter.

"Probably food research."

Jack flipped his hand. "Pah! Do you have an eating disorder where you can't stop eating?"

"I like the way food is arranged. I hardly have an addiction to eating it." 

"But you have an addiction to drooling over a dish. I've seen the way you look at Cafe Pola's pancakes."

"When you say it like that, it makes me sound like a pervert." 

Jack snickered. "What can I say? Pola herself is quite the looker." He then patted Dane's back. "I'll accompany you on your culinary adventures. 

"You don't have to this time–"

"I want to this time." Jack insisted, patting Dane's back again. "I'm still undecided about which club to join, so I'll stick with you." He flashed a cheeky grin and a thumbs up before heading off. Dane lingered for a moment as the school emptied out. Once bustling halls now quiet, he took a moment to absorb the tranquility before setting off to find Kafuka.

Quietly opening a door to a stairwell, Dane kept his footsteps muttered by slow movements. Below, he heard a high-pitched voice lecturing Kafuka and peering over the railing, he saw Kafuka holding a cartoonish doll-like mouse with dot eyes and stubby hands, waving animatedly as she listened attentively.

"Listen Kafuka, our battles against Sous Beowulf and his army of calocreeps are going to be a lot harder from here on. The sublime general has been pulling his punches before, merely testing your strength and strategy." 

Kafuka flickered a look of surprise. "You mean he was holding back? I thought my skills were getting better…"

The mouse reassured, "You have been learning and adapting rapidly, but our enemies will do the same. Just like you graduated here into highschool, Sous Beowulf has grown. He will likely devise even more devious plans. That's why I'm suggesting…" With a flourish, the mouse raised his arm, conjuring a metallic card holder from a puff of cloud. As it opened, a rainbow of color-coded cards greeted their eyes, each representing a different transformation. However, two slots remained empty. "You recruit five pure hearted heroes to assist you in your quest. We can't rely on White Pepper to save us every time we're in a pinch."

Kafuka gasped then awkwardly chuckled. "I haven't considered that. But will people even join knowing they're putting their lives at risk? Everyone I've met so far is nice but…"

Little mousey snapped the box closed. "Not everyone is fit for this mission. Choosing won't be easy, but trust in the bonds you make and they will come to you."

Kafuka nodded firmly. "I'll do my best! All for the sake of good in the world."

Their debriefing inadvertently became Dane's through eavesdropping. Realizing that Kafuka was too naive to choose companions on her own, he silently resolved to find five other girls worthy of standing by her side. Nodding to himself, he already had a few ideas in mind about how to arrange encounters and friendships for Kafuka. Ever since he had picked up the white card a factor in this war, and he had been steadfastly by her side ever since.