Chapter 55 : The Flame Reignites

“Phew… my heart is still pounding…”

Yuki, who had returned home, sighed in the bathtub after eating dinner and entering the bath.

Thump thump

The shower of praise she had received earlier was still jumbling her ears and mind.

Even when she defeated major demon-class beings called ‘Trials’ one by one, all that came back was despair-filled sighs and dwindling numbers of people…

[Flame]!

[Flame]!

[Flame]!

Even when she tried to close her eyes and gather her thoughts, the happy reality contrasting with the sad future was so sweet that she felt like she would lose her way. She felt like she was returning from a magical girl who fought against trials to a small, shabby girl enchanted by sweet whispers.

“Hup!”

Bubble bubble

“Pwah!”

To gather her thoughts, she put her head underwater in the warm bathtub.

But it only made her mouth bitter as bath salts entered it.

Ptoo ptoo

“Ugh… I’m dizzy.”

There was no way Yuki, the magical girl of [Flame], would feel dizzy from the warmth of a bathtub. She was just at a loss, unable to adapt to the attention and cheers she was receiving for the first time in her life.

Holding her dizzy head and completely shaking off the moisture through flame magic, Yuki changed into the rabbit pajamas she had always longed for in the future and flopped down on her bed.

Click

Then she took out her smartphone and played the broadcasts and quotes of [Beginning] that she had been watching continuously since her regression.

It had become Yuki’s habit to replay what she had said just before going to sleep every time.

Precious dream.

[…They too are just ordinary girls who can shine on their own…]

[What is your dream, your true happiness?]

[I will awaken the stars hidden in darkness with dreams.]

Shining hope.

[Girls born under the star that guides others with dreams, be protected and respected under eternal dreams and fate.]

[Hope that leads others will become the virtue of this land!]

Sniff

Yuki clutched her smartphone pitifully and cried.

She was originally prone to tears, but she was acutely realizing that warmth makes people cry easily.

“Yes… I wanted to hear these words from someone…”

Even when she heard [War]’s declaration at the Alliance shelter in Shinjuku intersection.

Even when she headed to [Death]’s domain in the north seeking a glimmer of hope after confirming her father’s death.

Even when she had a close fight with the Scavenger [Bombing] who attacked ordinary people and magical girls in Russia.

Even when she fought together with magical girls who survived among demons.

Even when she was timid and only avoided fights, she wanted hope.

That someday we would all be okay.

But no one believed.

Even though she fought transcending even death with the power of [Resurrection], no one listened.

And she failed.

But only the girl who came from an unfamiliar past affirmed her words.

“I want to meet you, to meet you and… say I want to fight together.”

I want to tell you.

[Beginning]

Even though she had failed once, if she could fight together with her who shines as brilliantly as her alias, she felt she wouldn’t be afraid of the future full of despair.

This time, she felt like she could protect everyone and move towards a hopeful future.

“I want to meet you.”

I want to meet you.

Please find me.

* * *

Wooooaaahhhh!!

The final match has finally arrived, and the arena was filled with cheers.

“[Flame]!! She avoided [Penetration]’s attack in one breath!!”

“[Flame] literally rushes in like a flame and subdues her opponent in one go!!”

“The arena is now filled with flames!!”

Tok!

Tok!

Tok!

“Ugh?! My vision?!”

Chloé, the magical girl of [Penetration] from France, who had gained confidence in her skills through intense training with her friend, was flustered.

‘Wasn’t it supposed to be solved by approaching instantly before emission-types shoot projectiles?!’

Small flames scattered here and there in the air reacted to her movements and exploded, and the slight heat wave carried by those explosions gradually accumulated, drying her eyes.

“My, my eyes… I can’t see…?!”

Her accurate and fast attacks were praised even by the 2-star [Heavy Armor], but they became useless as her vision blurred due to the small flames exploding in front of her eyes.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

With her eyes half-closed, she was barely defending against the endlessly rushing flame swords, feeling only the air pressure.

Whoosh!

“Where is she?!”

Suddenly, [Flame] who had distanced herself completely disappeared from view.

When [Penetration] turned her head, she saw her opponent creating a bow of flames far away, her white dress fluttering…

Stab!

An arrow made of a stream of flames pierced Chloé’s brow.

“The match!! It’s over!! An ingenious strategy of creating various weapons from elements!!”

“The strategy used by [Flame] is causing a great sensation among emission-type magical girls who were considered the weakest for only being able to fire energy!!”

“The magical girl of [Flame]!! She has beaten strong contenders for the championship like [Dagger] and [Shooting], and finally defeated [Penetration] in the finals to win!!”

“The winner of the born 1-star division in the 1st Magical Girl Friendly Mock Battle is [Flame]!! The magical girl of [Flame]!!”

Wooooaaahhhh!!!

[Flame]!!

[Flame]!!

[Flame]!!

The magical girl of [Reporting], who had appropriately heated up the audience with endlessly rising tension, nodded to the magical girl of [Eloquence] sitting next to her, then entered the arena to hear the winner’s interview.

The magical girl of [Reporting], who was entering with small steps holding a box containing the prize and a microphone, hesitated in surprise at the heat of the arena felt on her face.

Hot.

‘Wow… it’s so hot, they fought like this in a place like this?’

It was the first time the magical girl of [Reporting], who had only watched from the commentary seat until now, had actually entered the arena.

In the middle of the arena, shimmering with traces of fierce battle and heat, stood the magical girl of [Flame] resolutely.

Gulp

[Reporting] carefully raised the microphone to her and said:

“Um, would it be okay to ask the winner, the magical girl of [Flame], for a few words?”

Nod

Yuki was just nervous about what she was going to say and couldn’t answer because she was swallowing, but in the eyes of [Reporting] and the watching audience, it looked like the dignity of a skilled person.

“She’s cute… but cool.”

“[Flame]… you’re my favorite magical girl from now on!”

“The magical girl of [Flame]!”

The audience was charmed by this strange girl who had a curious coexistence of cuteness and dignity, like a red hamster that had trained martial arts for 100 years.

The magical girl of [Flame] opened her mouth and began to speak her thoughts.

“A-all the born 1-star magical girls practiced seriously and prepared well by understanding their own characteristics. I think that is… very… very meaningful.”

“I see! And…”

Swish

Suddenly, Yuki raised her right hand to the sky.

At this unexpected gesture, the magical girl of [Reporting] and all the spectators held their breath.

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“I will take the remaining spot in the 2-star magical girls’ tournament.”

“…”

“…”

A moment of silence.

And then euphoria.

Wooooaaahhhh!!!

Countless born 1-star girls cheered.

A girl challenging with skill alone, transcending even the light considered an absolute difference in power.

The boldness to challenge the strongest magical girls with just one feeble light like us.

That day, all spectators and born 1-star magical girls simply went wild, thrilled at the birth of a new legend.

Wooooaaahhhh!!!

[Flame]!!

[Flame]!!

[Flame]!!

“Hnng, she’s got guts! I like it!”

Ichika, the magical girl of [Freedom], grinned and clapped her hands.

“Hmm…”

Himari, the magical girl of [Nursing], watched with interest through her golden eyes.

“Ooh! Passion! It’s passion!”

[Martial Arts], active in Hokkaido, had eyes sparkling brightly.

“Hahaha!! The best!! This tournament is really the best!!”

[Beast], active in Kyushu, literally roared.

“…”

Kaede, an unbloomed magical girl, didn’t show particular interest in Yuki.

“She’s overflowing with spirit. That’s what it takes to beat Chloé.”

Ella, the magical girl of [Heavy Armor] from Germany, smiled in acknowledgment of the spirit emanating from the one who beat her friend.

“Eeh?! But!! I had a bye!! Inspector Yamashita!! What should we do?!”

[It’s difficult for me to answer that.]

Tsugumi, the magical girl of [Order] who luckily got a bye through the lottery, made a tearful face.

With the agreement of all 2-star magical girls, the remaining spot was taken by the born 1-star magical girl of [Flame].

And magical girls everywhere in the domain talked about how far this 1-star girl could go against the strong ones.

Ordinary people felt the signs of a legend being born beyond just watching beautiful girls fight, and burst into cheers.

A beautiful drama was being born in the midst of beautiful girls fighting.

They were excited that this tournament, which felt like a realistic simulation game, was the ‘real story’ of living, breathing beautiful girls.

Everyone interested in magical girl society was watching this Magical Girl Friendly Mock Battle.

Crash

And somewhere in the European domain, Hikari, the magical girl of [Deception] who was helping with the warp gate construction, dropped the water glass she was drinking from.

“Yu-Yuki?! Why?! Already??”