"Where is that fool girl?"
Alina tapped her foot. She watched costumed kids run past her brandishing swords, wands and guns alike. Any other day, it would be assumed that these were Magical Girls on the hunt for witches who wished to do harm to the citizens of Kamihama. But it wasn't any other day; It was Halloween.
Needless to say, Alina wasn't wearing a Halloween costume. Instead, she was wearing a green and black flannel with a light brown trench coat and blue jeans. And to top it off, a patterned scarf wrapped around her neck.
Another group of laughing kids passed by.
Alina inconspicuously scanned the crowd, looking for prying eyes. Ever since the Event, Alina has been finding it harder and harder to go outside without being accosted by former tools (AKA Magical Girls)Alina had used in her previous life. Not that it bothered her personally, though there was a little resentment toward how her two younger former colleagues seemed to have gotten off, more or less, scot-free. No. More it bothered her since this bad PR would eventually start affecting the people around her.
"Alina-senpai!"
Or more, the one person she had left.
Alina heard the familiar sound of an overenthusiastic girl calling her name. Looking toward the sound, she saw Karin Misono, her Jr., her clubmate… her only real friend, bounding like a puppy toward her.
"Took you long enough." Alina scoffed. "Just how long did you expect I, Alina, to wait? A few minutes longer and I would've bid arrivederci to this noisy place."
Still, Alina had a hard time expressing her emotions in a healthy way.
"Wa-ah, I'm sorry Alina." Karin clasped her hands together. "I ran into some trouble on the way here."
"What?" Karin had grasped Alina's full attention. "Who was it? What did they do to you?"
"Huh? Who? It was some kids that dropped their candy. I was helping them pick it up."
"Hm. Just candy?"
"Yeah." Karin nervously studied Alina. "Alina, is something wrong?"
Alina tried to relax her face. She needed to get a grip.
Karin was out of town when the Storm came. And so far, no one had told Karin her involvement in said destructive Event; So far. And Alina didn't know how long that would last. So, wanting to hold onto her relationship with Karin for as long as possible, Alina thought it was best to keep Karin ignorant.
"Yes, something is wrong." Alina motioned to Karin. "What is that you are wearing?"
"What do you mean? It's my Halloween costume, of course. Isn't it cool?"
"No, that is not a costume. Their costumes are costumes; yours is a genuine article. A fine piece at that." Alina muttered the last part.
"Huh?"
Alina knew Karin was going to dress up, so she didn't bother trying to convince her otherwise; However, if she knew Karin was going to dawn her Magical Girl outfit, Master Grave Robber-whatever, they would've had a very different conversation before attending this outing.
"What's wrong with using my Magical Girl outfit?" Karin looked down at her clothes. Her hands rubbed the frills of her skirt. "It's not like anybody can tell the difference."
Alina turned away to hide a grimace. That was where Karin was wrong. Other Magical Girls would notice. And if they saw Karin with her, who knows what shit they might pull; What might they tell Karin?
"Alina?" Karin touched Alina's arm.
"What?" Alina snapped out of her thoughts. She pulled away.
"Oh, sorry. Uh." Karin stumbled with her words for a second. "Wh-where's your costume?"
"I don't have one. Is that a problem?"
"Uh no. Well, it's just that you might look a little out of place."
As if on cue, a band of costumed grade-schoolers marched past them. They were chatting and laughing as they went to the next house and rang the doorbell.
"Are you saying you don't like what I'm wearing?"
"N-no," Karin lowered her eyes. She was blushing. "You actually look really pretty."
"Good."
Why did she say good?
"But it would've been fun to see you in something like a cute cat costume."
"Tch."
Without a word, Alina turned on her heel and started walking away.
"Wah, I was kidding! Alina, wait for me!"
A block party, or a similar equivalent, was happening this Kamihama night. Houses by houses were coated with sparkling, creative, and 'scary' designs as children dawned masks and scouted with decorated bags in search of treats.
Among these children were two high schoolers. Alina Gray, the artistic prodigy, was accompanied by her lower classmate Karin Misono, an aspiring manga artist. Why was an odd couple attending an event such as this?
"For inspiration, of course." Karin pouted. "You're the one who told me to go to places to get a better perspective of stuff and things."
"That is a bastardization of my words, girl. I told you to go to new places for inspiration." Alina begrudgingly remembered the plane ticket she had to hastily refund. "I am more than certain you have been going to places such as this since you were their age." Alina pointed to a pack of wild kids.
Karin had a guilty look on her face, indicating Alina's comment hit the nail on the head.
"But Alina," Karin said in a low voice. "I've been in a kind of slump recently. Halloween and places like this help give me energy every year. And… I've been wanting to share this with you because I like you."
"Tch." Alina turned away. "You should be more hesitant to expose these kinds of things about yourself."
"Oh," Karin sounded defeated. "Okay."
"But, since we're here, you might as well try to get something out of it." Alina fiddled with her scarf. "Did you bring your sketch pad? Any supplies?"
"Hm? Oh Yeah!" Karin, seemingly reinvigorated, reached into her Trick-or-Treating bag and pulled out a sketch pad and a plastic pouch filled with pencils. When she pulled out the supplies, a few pieces of candy fell out.
"Good, so try drawing a few backgrounds since you are sorely lacking in that dipartimento, per your last manuscript."
"Got it!" Karin cheered, seemingly ignoring Alina's passive-aggressive comment. "There's a house just up ahead that always looks so cool. Let's go."
Karin tried to take Alina's hand, but Alina was too fast. A brief look of disappointment washed over Karin's face, but it quickly dissipated.
"S-sorry, I got a little excited."
"It's fine."
Throughout most of the night, Karin had been making sly yet not sly enough attempts at getting some skinship with Alina. However, each time she would try, Alina would move away and give a glare.
As Karin was standing on the sidewalk, looking at a house that was modeled like a graveyard, complete with half-buried corpses and an eerie fog produced by a not-so-concealed fog machine, Alina sat on the curb, keeping watch. She kept watch discreetly using her soul gem. There was a weak presence that wasn't Karin's, but before Alina could investigate further, Karin had come back.
"Alina." Karin sat next to Alina, rubbing Alina's shoulder with hers; Alina, for some reason, didn't mind. "I finished. How does it look?" Karin held up her sketch of the house.
Alina wanted to look into the magical presence, but held back. She took the pad from Karin. The sketch was fine, for the most part, but it was hardly free of mistakes, and criticism was more than warranted.
"I can tell it's a house, which is good, but its edges could be more defined. Additionally, the chimney shouldn't stretch so high." Alina pointed to the top of the page. "Also, there was no need to put a ghoul flying over the house."
"Jeez, Alina." Karin stamped her shoes. "That's me, flying over the house."
"But I like your attention to detail with the little things." Alina continued, ignoring Karin's ridiculous comment, "It drags me in. You've been improving at shading lately."
"You mean it?"
"Yes. Like your previous-"
"Alina!"
Unconsciously, Alina's finger started hooking the previous page. Karin, without thinking, grabbed Alina's hand. Alina tensed.
"What are you doing, girl?"
Karin quickly released Alina's hand. "Well, I um. The one before isn't finished, and I didn't want… you," Karin's voice died down as she saw the expression on Alina's face. "Alina?"
"You."
But Alina wasn't talking to Karin anymore; Her eyes looked beyond. She dropped Karin's sketch as she broke into a full sprint. Her destination: The black-cloaked figure who was watching them across the street. In a matter of seconds, Alina had descended upon them.
"What is it that you think you are doing?" Alina snarled. But the figure didn't answer. Their cloak concealed their face. "What are you gawking at, you imbecile? Is this some type of joke? Be gone before Alina unmakes your spine and uses your grinded spleen as paint for my next portrait!"
"Alina!" Karin ran up next to Alina. "Why are you yelling at this little girl?"
Alina was snapped out of her rage. After taking a moment to catch her breath, she flipped the hood of the kid's robe to see a sniveling, teary-eyed child. She didn't look older than ten.
"M-m-miss, you c-can have my c-candy. And my bento." The girl shakenly held up her candy bag. "P-please don't hurt me."
Alina didn't recognize this girl at all; Though, considering her former hierarchical position, that's not actually saying much.
"No, it's okay." Karin cut in front of Alina. "Don't worry. Senpai was just trying to give you a scare. Bwa-ha." Karin gave a cheesy pose.
"R-really?"
"Yeah. And-wa, you were such a good sport that, ahem, The Magical Girl born of Halloween: Phantom Thief Karin," She struck another pose. "Will reward you with her finds."
"Wow! Thank you, big sister."
Karin took some of the candy out of her bag and gave it to the, now, star-struck little girl. The girl, now wearing a smile, bowed to Karin and Alina. She then started walking away, swinging her bag with each step.
Karin slowly turned toward Alina. Despite the events that just unfolded, it was Karin who looked nervous and Alina who looked annoyed.
"Alina, why did you yell at that little kid?"
"It doesn't concern you." Alina was curt.
"You got up so suddenly to run to her. Did you recognize her?"
"No, I have no idea who she is." That was technically true.
"Alina, you said she was watching us. Are you… embarrassed of being seen with me?" Karin furrowed her brows.
"Don't be ridicola."
It's not I who should be embarrassed, Alina thought
At that point, a small crowd had started forming around the two. Their murmurs projected in Alina's mind.
"What happened?"
"Did you hear? That green-haired girl was bullying that kid."
"I wonder why that nice girl is hanging out with her."
"Isn't she that troubled artist chick?"
"She's just going to be a bad influence on her."
Alina grabbed Karin's hand.
"Alina?"
"Let's get out of here. Scusi. Out of the way!"
Alina pushed past the crowd, taking Karin with her. After making it down the block, Alina finally let go of Karin's hand.
"Alina. You've been acting weird all night." Alina was facing away. "You can tell me if you're in trouble. I'm a Magical Girl too. I'm here for you."
The way Karin carried her voice was just like her. Instead of sounding mad or annoyed, she sounded concerned. Why did she have to be like this? The genuine look on her face made Alina clench her fists.
"You want to know if something is wrong, hmm? Try to think about it. We are out in the middle of some nowhere neighborhood in the middle of the night surrounded by snot-nosed brats. These stupid streets are crowded by nosy bystanders who can't mind their damn business!" Alina kicked a nearby mailbox.
"A-Alina."
Karin's voice cracked, but Alina didn't notice. In fact, Alina doubled downed and had moved inches from Karin's face.
"And you. You claimed you're here for your art, but that was a bold-faced lie. I had to drag myself out of the sanctuary of my home and took days to finally get these clothes just so you could tell me I was out of place. And at the end of the day, you dragged me here only for you to ogle at stupid lights and produce mediocre art!"
Alina's cheeks were red as her heavy breaths puffed white clouds into the cold air. Slowly, her heartbeat, which was blocking her hearing, calmed down. She didn't move from her current position as she continued staring down at Karin.
"Alina, you… do you really mean that?" Alina didn't respond. She just took a step back and crossed her arms. "A-Alina, you- you idiot! I hate you!" Karin cried. She threw her sketch pad at Alina's feet before she started running away.
Alina's eyes were locked. As she watched Karin leave her sight, the color at the corner of her eyes started to leave as well. Slowly overtaking her attention, a black-gray mist started forming. Without thinking, Alina's hand produced a small glowing green cube, and in an instant, she was sucked inside.
Here, in Alina's reward when she became a Magical Girl, her room of isolation, Alina sat in a white empty space. A room where she could be alone; A room where she was alone.
Alina shook her head.
"She didn't mean that." Alina said to herself. "Yes, she said that, but idiots say things all the time without thinking about it. Er-gah."
A throbbing pain started running over her right temple. She rubbed her head as she thought about the stupid things she had just said.
"Tch, so be it." She grumbled, "If anyone would ruin her image of me, it would be me. Though it's not like she really knew or even listened to me in the first place. I should be happy I am without another annoyance."
Alina continued to wallow in her delusional self-pity until she felt something beneath her. Reaching under her pants, she realized she was sitting on top of something. She pulled up a book; A sketch pad.
"Karin Phantom Theif's Magical Artbook: For Museum Use Only." Alina read the cover. "Tch, a little cocky, aren't we, fool girl? Who would want to see anything in this?"
Despite Alina's comment, curiosity seemed to be taking the better of her. After a brief, but futile resistance, she found herself taking the cover of the book and flipping to the first page.
It wasn't to anyone's surprise that the first drawing was complete trash. It was a crudely drawn picture of what appeared to be a human with a black mask and purple cape. Maybe the manga character Karin had been talking about so much? The date on the top left was dated eleven months ago.
Bad was all Alina could vocalize.
Turning the page, Alina found another not-so-good drawing, this time of a cat. A page after that, it was a bird with disjointed legs and a body too big for its head. Page after page, Alina kept flipping. Each worse and worse attempts at creating Karin's fantasy fanart.
Just when Alina was about to close the book in disgust, something caught her eye. The next drawing was of a familiar place; It was the club room, specifically, the Art/Manga Research club room. But it wasn't the room that caught her attention; it was the person sitting in the room.
It was her, Alina, lifting a paintbrush to a canvas on an easel.
"Che cosa?"
Alina looked at the date; It was a few days after she and Karin had first met. It wasn't much better than the previous sketches, but something looked different about this one. It felt more deliberate. Like a new, special kind of care was put into it.
The next page had another sketch. It was one Alina recognized as a page from Karin's manga, but this sketch had red note bubbles with arrows pointing at certain points.
"For now, focus on getting the foundation right." Alina read each bubble. "Unless jagged lines are intentional, use a straight edge. This looks like a cat spliced with a turkey." Alina agreed with each of these red comments because she was the one who had told Karin these things; Karin had been charting notes based on Alina's feedback.
The pages that followed looked very similar to the ones before—each one with its own criticisms and, occasionally, praises. Looking at the date, Alina's hands shook as she turned each page; Each day getting closer and closer.
Why was she getting nervous? Karin wasn't here. She didn't know anything. But… No.
The date of the Event appeared on the top left of the page. It was then that Alina saw it.
"No. Not possible. She wasn't here."
The picture was one of Alina. Though, unlike the first one, it was a lot less flattering. Surrounded by shattered crumbling buildings and a swirling vortex of clouds above, in the center of the drawing, splattered with an aberration of colors, was Holy Alina.
"She… She knew all this time." Alina's eyes widened.
When Alina gazed upon her ultimate form, she felt as if it was the first time, she saw herself like that in the mirror. Alina felt as though the Unholy-Holy drawing could start bleeding out of the paper any second.
She turned to the next page; It was dated a few months later. She didn't know what to expect, but it was completely normal, complete with her criticism bubbles.
She slowly started increasing the speed she turned each page. Her mind started racing.
"Why didn't she say anything? Is this her plan?" She was running back the conversations she had with Karin after they met in the hospital. "Did those assholes force her to stay with me just to make a fool of me? Why is she doing this?"
The page Alina turned to wasn't the last page in the book, but it might as well have been. The picture was drawn not too long ago; The lead was still fresh. The sketch was a portrait of Alina, but unlike the one before, it was of Alina in the clothes she was currently wearing. The date on the top left read 31/10/20XX; Halloween.
Alina moved closer. "It's…"
It was beautiful. A rough yet tasteful sketch of Alina holding her scarf with one hand while the other was pushing a tuft of hair behind her ear. Alina, in the sketch, was facing away, as if looking at something off in the distance. It was a blank background, but Alina could feel the wind and see the light of the moon from its shading.
For a second, Alina felt as though she could see through Karin's eyes.
"Even though you know. Even after all I've done. You still see me like this?" Alina's mouth slightly twitched as she unconsciously let out a small laugh. "You foolish girl."
My foolish girl.
Alina put her hand against her face; She was blushing. But just then, something started setting in. Alina's heart started beating faster. A sinking feeling was overcoming her. She clenched her stomach.
"Gah. Is this what guilt felt like? I don't like it." Alina spared no dramatics, "Well then, I, Alina, must get rid of this feeling ASAP."
Standing up, Alina let the white world around her fade. In a flash, she was back in the neighborhood. The color of the decorated houses entered her vision. It was still nighttime, and the trick-or-treaters were still roaming about. No one seemed to be in the immediate area, but as Alina looked to the side, she noticed a small kid wearing a cardboard robot costume looking straight at her.
"You didn't see nothing." Alina took out a 500 Yen coin and tossed it to the kid. "Capeesh?" The kid silently gave a robotic nod and turned. "Wait," Alina grabbed his shoulder, "give me your drink too."
Following Karin's magical presence, Alina started her search. It wasn't too hard to follow. Despite Karin having a weak essence, it was very distinct. It emanated a sweet, almost caramel-smelling trail.
She should be close.
Abruptly, a kid bumped into her.
"Hey! watch it, you little-" Then another kid bumped her side. Then another and another. A bunch of kids were walking in a pack. Some had their parents stumbling with them while the rest were alone.
"What is," Alina's gemstone started glowing.
Grabbing the nearest kid's pumpkin head, she craned his neck and saw it: A witch's kiss. Looking in the direction the mob was going, she saw the portal into the labyrinth. Coincidentally, that was where Karin's magical aura was coming from.
"Argh, Figlio di puttana." Alina rubbed her head. "Now isn't really the time for this."
Alina's outfit vanished in a flash, and she transformed into her Magical Girl form. Using the nearest kid's head for leverage, she stepped up, leaped ahead of the crowd, and straight into the Witch's labyrinth.
"Fool Girl!"
Walking along a dusty, dirty, decaying twisting hallway lined with locked doors, Alina searched for Karin. They didn't call it a labyrinth for no reason. As she walked, she would occasionally hear the sound of a crow cawing or someone moaning. It was all ambiance, typical sounds in old horror movies that Karin made Alina watch with her.
Alina tried opening the first two doors by hand, but got frustrated and just started kicking them off their hinges. But it was useless; each door just led to a dark room full of bewitched victims.
They should be fine there for now.
"Manga girl!" Alina called again as she kicked down another door. "Answer me!"
But there was nothing.
OOOOH.
A ghostly voice echoed across the hall.
Alina let out a sigh.
"Karin!" Alina shouted. "I, Alina, am sorry. I am sorry!" She repeated. "But if you don't reveal your location, you're the one that will be sorry as you will never see another strawberry milk carton for as long as I live!"
"Wa-ah." Alina heard a pouting cry in the distance.
"Gotcha."
Alina sprinted toward the source of the sound and came to a door. Reeling her leg back, she launched her foot against the base, and it shattered into a hundred little pieces. Through the doorway, it led to the exit of the labyrinth. Outside, Alina could see a big quarry. And at the center of this quarry was Karin.
"Girl!"
As Alina was sliding down the gravel hill, she saw Karin wasn't alone. Not too far away was another Magical Girl in a light blue dress wielding what appeared to be a large bento stick. She was fighting a towering 20-foot Witch that took the form of a dilapidated crumbling house with large tree trunks that it used as supporting arms. The way the lights in its windows shined made it look like it had eyes. Its front porch was comprised of splintered, jagged, up shooting wood that expanded and contracted as the Witch roared.
Alina, not wasting any time, jumped into action beside Karin. Taking out her phosphoresce cube, she struck a pose and blasted the Witch with a rain of green particle fire. The Witch stumbled back, tiles from the roof falling and crashing to the floor.
"You came." Karin had tears in her eyes. "Alina, I'm sorr-"
"Don't be sorry." Alina cut her off. "I'm the one who should be."
The Magical Girl that was battling the Witch turned to Karin, then Alina. Alina recognized the girl's face. It was the kid in the black robes from earlier; The one she had yelled at.
So, she was a Magical Girl!
Before either could react, the Witch recovered. With a wicked strike, the Witch brought its monstrous tree arm down on the young Magical Girl.
"No!" Karin made a dash toward her fallen comrade, but Alina put her arm out, blocking her way. "Alina, what are you doing?"
"Something I once promised many people I would do."
Save Magical Girls
"Stay here. Observe the details of the Witch." Alina wasn't facing Karin. "Find its weakness. I'll help the girl."
"Al- I… Got it" Karin gave a stern nod.
Without another word, Alina dashed ahead. The Witch, seeing Alina approaching, lifted its arm again. Alina could now see the fallen Magical Girl; her gem was still intact. The Witch brought down its arm that Alina nimbly dodged. Taking out another cube, Alina blasted the house again. The Witch let out a hideous screech. Alina kneeled above the fallen Magical Girl.
"Girl, Pigra. Wake up." Alina, at first, lightly and then roughly slapped the girl's face.
"Wh-Huh?" The girl's eyelids were fluttering.
Alina could hear the creaking of the Witch behind her. The deafening creak of the trunk was coming down.
"Alina!"
One second, Alina was on the rough, gravel ground; the next, she was in the air. Holding onto one hand was Karin riding her scythe like a flying broom, and holding onto Alina's other hand was the young Magical Girl.
"Karin, what did you find out?"
"The chimney." Karin pointed. "I think that's where its weak point is."
Alina saw a smokestack emerging from the house's chimney, which had a blood-red glow surrounding it.
It was strange. In her previous life, Alina would've wanted to preserve a Witch like this. Keep it safe and protect it, turning it into her beautiful art. But, as Alina looked up at Karin, she saw art, more beautiful, more deserving of being preserved.
Wordlessly both Alina and Karin nodded to each other. Reaching a good enough height, Karin pulled Alina and the other Magical Girl onto her scythe. The young girl wrapped her arms around Alina for support.
After taking a second to make sure they were on the same track, Alina tapped Karin on the shoulder, connecting, and Karin's scythe started descending in a nose dive toward the Witch. Taking out another green cube (which secretly contained sweets Alina was saving for later) Alina, with all her strength, chucked it toward the Witch's chimney.
"Candy!"
Karin dismounted from her scythe, and all three girls were in a free fall.
"Death!"
The witch raised one tree arm, ready to swat the three out of the air.
"Squall!"
With a decisive strike, Karin slashed the green cube, causing it to turn a sparkling black and orange hue, right before it shot into the Witch's chimney.
Alina, whose eyes were shining with the light emanating from Karin and her scythe, watched Karin's destructive power; She was enamored
After a second, there was a flash.
"Alina?"
"Yeah?"
"How are we going to explain this?"
Karin and Alina stood side by side as they watched parents and kids alike regain consciousness. That, of course, wasn't the problem. The problem was that it had inexplicably started raining candy. Some of the chocolate falling to the ground was wrapped, but most were bare. Each one had a weird spiral design, reminiscent of that of the Witch's grief seed, but for the most part, the chocolate didn't look harmful.
"I think we should lea-,"
"Big sisters made it rain candy!" A voice from the crowd called.
Both Alina and Karin's attention turned to a young girl in the crowd. They both immediately recognized the Magical Girl that had assisted them. She was back in her regular black cloak costume. The girl was pointing at Alina and Karin.
As the kids regained their senses, they started cheering. Some were jumping in excitement while others opened their bags, trying to catch the candy before it hit the ground. Many turned and started cheering for Alina and Karin, who might as well have been the saviors of Halloween. Off on the side, the young Magical Girl gave both Karin and Alina a smile and a wave.
Clever girl.
Alina was no stranger to praise; But Karin, her face was flushed red.
"Here, Girl. Have this. You look parched."
"Alina," Karin hesitated to take the strawberry milk from Alina's hand. "Are you sure?"
"Do you want it or not?"
"Y-yes. Yes, I do. Thank you."
As Karin drank her delicious reward, she noticed something.
"Alina, you haven't changed back to your regular clothes."
Karin was referring to the fact that Alina hadn't transformed out of her Magical Girl outfit.
"I don't mind if I'm seen like this." Alina adjusted her hat. "And… If you will, I want you to continue seeing me like this too." Alina lowered her hat, trying to hide her reddening cheeks.
"Alina, what are you saying?"
"Do I have to spell it out for you, idi-eh. Karin. Ahem." Alina took a moment. "What I am saying is, if you'll continue to be by my side, I would also like to be by yours."
"Wh-ah! Alina, is this a confession of love?"
"Where did you get that absurd idea?" Alina snapped. "And even if it was, don't call it such an embarrassing thing."
"Wa-ah, I'm sorry."
But before Karin could continue apologizing, Alina took Karin's hand and, in return, Karin wrapped her fingers around Alina's.
"Alina."
"Yeah?"
"Do you still have my sketchbook?"
"Yeah."
"Could I have it back? There are some embarrassing drawings in there that I'd prefer… some people not to see."
"Hmm. I think I'll hold onto it a bit longer. That is, if you don't mind."
Karin was confused at first, but then gave Alina a soft smile. "Sure."
Feeling each other's warmth, they both looked up at the full moon that was shining over Kamihama that chilly Halloween night.