Meanwhile, at the Cinema

Nozomi and Yoshino sat quietly in their seats, eyes glued to the giant projection screen displaying a riveting showdown. On-screen, a cowboy faced off against two alien adversaries, set within a backdrop that resembled a rustic old-west saloon.

The first alien, bathed in a radiant brilliance akin to the brightest star, had a humanoid form but was far from human. Its body, composed entirely of light, moved erratically around the saloon. It emitted searing beams from its hands. The cowboy scrambled for cover, narrowly avoiding the lethal rays that pierced the air around him.

The second extraterrestrial adversary took on the form of a monstrous canine. Its charcoal-black skin and razor-sharp teeth and claws made it a fearsome sight. Its three glowing green eyes—two where they should be and a third on its forehead—burned with an insatiable hunger. A second mouth below the first added to its horrific visage. Unlike its beam-shooting ally, this creature sought to close in and eviscerate the cowboy with its savage strength.

The tense chase dragged on, punctuated by the cowboy's frantic shots from his revolver. Eventually, one of the light beams struck his leg, forcing him to fall just outside the saloon. He tried to stand, but the fiery pain in his leg made it impossible. "Shit!" he muttered in frustration.

Just as the radiant alien prepared to deal the finishing blow, the screen abruptly turned black, and the credits began to roll.

Disappointed murmurs rippled through the audience as the auditorium lights illuminated the room. The crowd began to disperse. Yoshino, visibly upset, crumpled the wrapper of her chocolate bar before tossing it into a nearby trash can. "Hmm, what's wrong, Yoshino? You didn't enjoy the movie?" Seiza, who was still nestled inside her backpack, asked with curiosity.

Nozomi turned to check on her friend, also noting the look of disappointment on Yoshino's face.

Yoshino inhaled deeply before answering. "I liked the movie, but that cliffhanger..." She let out a long sigh. "They could have at least mentioned on the poster that this was only part one. The lack of that little detail really got to me." She clenched her teeth in frustration.

Nozomi patted Yoshino on the back reassuringly. "Now, now, I completely understand. They definitely should have made it clear that this wasn’t a standalone movie. But, hey, we had a good time, right?"

Nozomi offered a comforting smile, hoping to lift Yoshino's spirits. Given the rough week they’d had, she wanted their distraction to be a success.

Despite the disappointment, any thought—good or bad—was better than the gnawing guilt Nozomi was still wrestling with. The physical pain she felt from her shoulder being carved out during Judai's fight was nothing compared to the emotional agony she would have endured had she accidentally harmed Yoshino.

Snapping back to the present, Yoshino slowly nodded. "Yeah, I guess the action was pretty good." Her tone softened, the frustration ebbing just slightly.

Seeing her friend's mood lift a bit, Nozomi seized the moment. "Right? That shootout at the town’s bank was AMAZING. The way Alex single-handedly took down those bandits? Incredible!" She mimed shooting with her fingers, punctuating each "PEW, PEW" with a grin.

Yoshino snorted before breaking into a smile. "Okay, okay, when you put it like that... it was pretty good. But before we head home, I need to wash the chocolate off my hands."

"Yeah, me too," Nozomi agreed upon glancing at her own hands.

After a quick visit to the bathroom, the girls began to make their way out.

As Yoshino opened the door, with Nozomi close behind, a sudden flash of bright light blinded them momentarily. "What the-!" Yoshino exclaimed, struggling to adjust to the sudden brightness.

When her eyes finally adjusted, Nozomi saw an old-western train before her. It looked like a scene straight out of the movie they had just watched. People dressed in vintage attire, practically identical to the characters in the film, boarded the train one by one. Stunned, Nozomi could only think, "What?"

Yoshino's grip on her arm pulled Nozomi away from her thoughts. "Y-Yoshino..." she stammered as they were dragged into what seemed like an office.

Inside, Yoshino slammed the door shut and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. "Again..." she muttered, staring at the ceiling in frustration.

Seeing the exhaustion return to her friend's eyes, Nozomi felt her heart sink. All her efforts at providing a distraction seemed wasted.

Before Nozomi could ask if everything was okay, Yoshino's expression hardened with resolve. "Seiza, mask."

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Seiza snapped to attention. "O-oh, sorry, here!" The puppy closed his eyes and summoned the animal masks, handing them to Yoshino and Nozomi.

With her mask in hand, Nozomi donned the white bull mask. She decided to table her questions for later. Their immediate safety was more urgent. Raising her hand, she invoked the transformation phrase, "By the power of the constellations, transform!"

Once transformed, Nozomi examined her hands, feeling a mix of nervousness and determination. This would be her first battle since the fateful fight with Judai. Despite Seiza's efforts to mitigate the slowdown effect, Nozomi had gained better control over her powers. But that wouldn't mean anything if she couldn't perform when it mattered most.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Seiza's distressed muttering. "We are inside a barrier..."

"Seiza, what's wrong?" Nozomi asked, worried by the puppy’s tense expression.

"N-normally, I would sense a dark barrier or a darkspawn from afar," Seiza explained, stepping away from Nozomi's schoolbag. "The fact that I sensed neither, even when I was less than a meter away..." He shivered, exchanging troubled glances with the girls. "I can't help but have a bad feeling about this."

A heavy silence fell as the implications sank in. Nozomi's body tensed. She took a deep breath behind her mask, understanding that their next opponent would be far more formidable.

Yoshino seemed to reach the same conclusion. "I see. In that case, we’ll need to be ready for anything." Her voice remained calm, though Nozomi couldn’t miss the undercurrent of exhaustion. "Nozomi, the school bag," she said, pointing to her own.

Startled, Nozomi handed the bag to Seiza. "So... does anyone have any ideas on what to do next?"

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Yoshino rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, I think..." She opened the door slightly, peeking out at the train and the passengers boarding it. "I might have an idea."

Despite the potential danger, waiting in ignorance seemed worse than uncovering their enemy’s plans. At least on the train, we’d be moving targets, and with the daylight, Nozomi would have a constant light source! She reasoned.

Seiza nodded in agreement. "We better be extra cautious since we can be ambushed at any moment."

With a nod, Yoshino gestured for Nozomi to follow her. They slipped into the crowd at the train station, blending in seamlessly due to the overwhelmed staff managing the crowd.

Upon boarding, the interior of the train left Yoshino in awe. Even more detailed and authentic than the exterior, the train's interior felt like stepping back in time. Mom would have had a field day geeking out over this.

Meanwhile, Seiza couldn't shake his growing sense of dread. The impeccable replication made him deeply uneasy. How did they create something so convincing? Was a place like this always possible? I don't see any dark void or empty space filled with black magic... what kind of darkspawn could do this? He wondered, beads of nervous sweat forming.

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As Nozomi proceeded through the wagons searching for a seat, she felt the eyes of many cautious passengers upon her. Some tried to be discreet, while others openly stared. Why are they looking at me like that? Is it the mask? Nozomi shook her head, trying to dismiss her worries.

After walking through a few more wagons, they found a pair of empty seats. "Hey, how about here?" Nozomi pointed and sat near the window. Seiza immediately jumped onto her lap, welcoming her with a warm smile and a gentle rub.

"Yeah, here is fine," Yoshino agreed, casting a quick glance around as she took her seat beside Nozomi.

As Nozomi settled into her seat, she was taken aback by its unexpected comfort. She shifted slightly, allowing the plush cushioning to envelop her in a tender embrace. "Wow, this seat is way better than it looks! Don’t you think, Yoshino?" Her voice trailed off and her initial excitement dimmed when she noticed Yoshino’s distant expression.

"Yoshino?"

Yoshino’s vacant eyes snapped back to reality as if reluctantly returning from a faraway place. "Sorry, what did you say, Nozomi?" she mumbled, her voice tinged with a sad fog.

Moved by an instinct she couldn’t fully explain, Nozomi reached out and gently cupped Yoshino’s head, drawing it closer. Their faces were now mere inches apart. Nozomi peered into Yoshino's emerald eyes through the mask's eyeholes, which were wide with surprise and a hint of vulnerability. In a tender, unwavering voice, she assured, "It's gonna be okay. I'm...here."

For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Yoshino’s tense shoulders began to relax, her breathing stabilized, and her eyes softened. She gave a slow, deliberate nod, a silent acknowledgment of the comfort she found in Nozomi’s presence. Satisfied, Nozomi released her friend and retreated, her face glowing with a blush hidden beneath her mask. Uwaaahh! Idiot, idiot, idiot! Why did I do that?! 'I'm here' my ass! Like Yoshino would in her right mind think that's a good thing after I've almost killed her! Nozomi screamed internally, her heart racing and her palms sweating.

"Thank you," Yoshino whispered, her gaze fixed on her lap. The words were spoken so softly they barely reached Nozomi’s ears but carried the weight of genuine gratitude and relief.

Relieved to hear Yoshino’s thanks, Nozomi snapped out of it and offered a small, reassuring smile. "Heh, no problem!~" she said cheerfully, though internally she cringed at her awkward attempt to downplay the moment. Her heart still pounded, but she was glad that her impulsive act had brought some calm to her friend.

The train began to move, the initial jolt signaling the start of their journey. Nozomi turned to gaze out the window, watching as the station gradually faded away, replaced by endless stretches of parched earth and towering cacti. Despite the barren landscape, the sheer novelty of her first ride on a period-authentic train filled her with a sense of wonder. Each rock, and each shrub passed by in a blur, yet she couldn’t help but feel like she was part of an old-west adventure. Wow, so this is what it’s like... She marveled at the unfolding scenery with wide-eyed excitement.

As the rhythmic clatter of the train tracks filled the air, Nozomi felt a gentle warmth permeate her chest. She looked over at Yoshino, who seemed a bit more at ease. Nozomi knew the journey ahead would be fraught with challenges, but for now, a simple train ride offered a brief, precious respite. They were together, and that made all the difference.

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Far away from the train, atop a hill, Henry and four others watched its approach. Henry took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. Alright, she's on the train... He exhaled. I can do this. I must do this.

With that, he urged his horse forward, the others following suit. Let's see what you're made of this time, magical girl!