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The town didn't have much. There was a school up the hill, and a lot of houses scattered about in the other direction. A general store that looked at least to be older than the war, an antiques store, a laundromat, some other businesses. A public library. A handful of restaurants. The coffee shop owned by the friendly guy running martial arts classes on the side. A bar that inexplicably had a section of the parking lot cordoned off for people to hitch their horses while they drank. A large public park. The local tourism center. Town hall. Not much.
There was also a McDonald’s.
The two women ate outside. One learned against her motorcycle, the other sat on the curb a couple feet away. They were both silent.
A cool breeze from the sea swept over the area.
Junna finished her food first. She balled up the wrapper and got up to dump it in the nearby trash can. While she waited for Midori to finish up, she turned and looked out at the dark waves lapping at the beach in the distance.
Midori got up and threw her trash out. “Well? What next?”
Junna placed a hand over her mouth and yawned. “I don't think we're making it back tonight. Should probably find the nearest motel and stay the night.”
Immediately, Midori froze. She started to rub her temple and grumble under her breath. Then, Hikari stepped forward, angrily.
“You said this would take an afternoon. Not multiple days.”
Junna held up her hands defensively. “Sorry. I wasn't expecting this lead to go anywhere. But it seems like there might really be something out here that we need to deal with. So if you can, please work something out with Midori so we can get this done.”
Hikari scowled, but stopped back and sat back down on the curb. She closed her eyes and focused.
While Junna watched them silently argue, she pulled a pack of cigarettes out of her bag, took a stick out, and lit it up.
It was a couple minutes more before Midori stood up again. She didn't have a happy expression on her face.
“You have no idea how much she's going to yell at me when we get home.”
Junna inhaled, then blew out a puff of smoke. “I can imagine. We're good now, at least, right?”
Midori walked over and picked up her helmet. “She left. Entirely. Won’t be back until Monday, at this rate.”
Junna extinguished her cigarette on the ground, then picked up her helmet. “Is that how that works?”
“Uh, sorta. Yeah.”
“Huh.”
Junna felt incredibly self-conscious about how loud her motorcycle was against this quaint small town. But she had checked on her phone and the nearest inn was 20 minutes away, so she would have to bear it.
Hikari kept her head down as she hurried through the hall. It was packed wall to wall with other students. It was a claustrophobic experience, and even if it was the same every day, that didn't make it any more comfortable for her.
Hurry up. I want to get home soon.
Hikari scowled.
I'm walking as fast as I can. Someone collided with Hikari’s shoulder, causing her to stumble. Another student waved and apologized before moving on. I don't want to be here any longer than you do. So if you want to front, feel free.
Midori didn't respond. Instead, she slinked back, leaving Hikari alone.
Eventually, the school entrance came into view and not much longer after that, Hikari was back outside. She quickly scurried away from the building, and didn't stop until she was several hundred meters away. There, she leaned over and caught her breath. But she was so caught up in that that she didn't notice someone creeping up behind her until it was too late. She felt a tap on her shoulder and practically jumped out of her skin.
Midori turned around to see Junna standing there. She had some drinks in her hands, and was offering one of them to the pair. “I stopped at the vending machine on the way out. Want it?”
It was juice. Midori took it out of Junna’s hand, then cracked the can open. They were right by a wall, so Midori sat down and leaned against it, something that Junna mirrored.
“School sucks.”
“I mean, yeah. But it's not like we have a choice.”
“You do. Dropping out is always a choice. But Hikari wouldn't let me.”
“Sure, I could, but what would I? Police academies don't accept high school dropouts. I know what I want to do with my life. Dropping out wouldn't be good for you, either.”
See? She agrees with me.
Shut up.
“Well, I don't have any reason for staying in school.”
“What about Hikari?”
“Well, yeah.”
“And so shouldn't that be enough? One of you has a goal. Don't mess that up just because you find it boring.”
Midori bunched up her legs and started hugging her knees. “Stop taking her side…”
Haha.
Shut it.
Midori chatted with Junna a little while more, but it wasn't long before Hikari started pestering her. They needed to get home and finish their homework. Hikari had, earlier, agreed to let Midori make some stops on the way home, but talking with Junna hadn't been one of them, so now she had to hurry.
Quick stop at the convenience store and quick stop at the video rental store. Then she had to head right home. Or else Hikari would yell at her, or wouldn't let her front.
It was just unfair. Why did Hikari get to make the choices like that?
Because I’m the responsible one between us.
And why does that matter?
Because we need to have a future.
Eventually, Midori just gave up and gave the body back to Hikari.
The plan was to return in the evening, so neither brought a change of clothes with them. But at least, for Hikari, she appreciated that she wouldn't need to undress next to Junna.
They ended up sharing a room at the hotel. It had been cheap, and once they were in the room, they realized why. It was tiny, with only room for the bed, a small table with an even smaller television, and a bathroom tucked away in the back. No cot was available at that time of night, so Midori and Junna had opted to share the bed.
Midori had apparently decided to sleep in, leaving Hikari alone and quite disgruntled. Even after the pair left and got breakfast, she was alone.
Well, once food arrived, she showed up.
Oh, sorry.
You're going to have a lot more apologizing to do when we're back.
Junna seemed to notice the difference, but she didn't call attention to it. She just continued to eat her humble breakfast in silence. Midori hurried to catch up to her pace.
And once they were done there, it was time for the day to truly begin.
A stop by the tourism center confirmed their suspicion. The creature was a local mascot, but until recently, it had shown no signs of being real. They made sure to double and triple check that it wasn't someone from the center trying to drum up hype for the town. Things could turn deadly if it was as fearsome as was believed. Junna didn't want to see any humans get hurt. She certainly didn't want Midori to have to see something like what could happen if it turned out to be a real person.
With a few tips in mind, they headed out again. There was a local shrine to the northwest where it had been spotted. On the other side of town, a couple farms were torn up, with some livestock killed. Nothing in the town center, but they would spend the day rooting through the hills trying to find something.
Junna really did want to keep her promise to Hikari. If only because her weekend ended the next day, meaning she would need to get to work either way.
The farms first. That seemed like the most likely location. After all, Midori mused, if the creature wanted a consistent food source, then the livestock would be the best bet. Stood to reason that it would have a nest in the area.
Junna was more suited to beating people up over tracking wild animals. It wasn't her first time doing something like this, but she certainly didn't prefer it. It helped people, sure, but it was a less exciting way to help people than confronting bad guys or more nebulous magical threats.
Midori didn’t mind as much. It was essentially a filler episode. And it was an excuse to get out for a bit, have a little vacation. Maybe not the most restful vacation, but it was getting out and having some new scenery.
The farms were a dead end, but not long after, the pair ended up around the train station. Being such a rural town, the train only came by once or twice a day, so it was practically abandoned.
Yet, less so than they expected.
The wood by the tracks was scratched up, as if a cat had been playing with it. Except the scratch marks were far bigger than any cat in Japan. Further investigation underneath the platform showed signs of a nest like they had suspected.
So they would need to wait. If this really was the creature’s nest, then it would be back soon. Unfortunately, they realized, possibly not before nightfall.
Midori silently apologized to Hikari. She wasn’t sure if Hikari even heard her.
Hikari tapped the pen against her temple as she stared intensely at the paper on her desk. It was an essay question, and she hadn't even started it yet. She had most of her ideas already settled, but she couldn't figure out how she wanted to start it.
This is boring. Can't you take a break?
This is due at the end of the week. Unless you want to do our homework for me, just leave me alone.
Rude.
It's not being rude! It's asking you to not interfere in our life.
What do you mean “interfere”! It's my life too! Why is it that whenever I want to do something on my own, it's interfering, but for you, it's “being responsible.” Is it our life, or is it yours?
It’s ours as long as you try to live it properly, and stop pretending to be a hero. That time of our life is done.
You’re giving up.
What am I giving up? The magic is gone. It’s as simple as that. We won. We have no more need for powers. The best thing we can do now is live a normal life. Go on to university. Get a proper job. If you had a field you wanted to pursue, like something that might make the world a better place, then I would love to pursue it, but if you’re only going to insist on trying to be a magical girl again, then I’m going to turn you down.
School isn’t everything. Studying isn’t everything.
You’re right. We’re going to have an entire life after school. And all this studying is to ensure that we actually have a life when we’re done with school. That’s what the others don’t get. Junna doesn’t have a backup plan. Yui doesn’t have a backup plan. Eru doesn’t have a plan in the first place. So what are we supposed to do? Wallow with them?
I wouldn’t say they’re like that. You’re being mean. Junna knows what she wants to do. I admire that.
Sure, I’ll agree with that, but what if being a police officer doesn’t work out for her? You see how she does in school. What is she going to do if she becomes a police officer and realizes she doesn’t like it? It’s a short-sighted venture. Knowing what you want to do isn’t enough. There needs to be a plan. I know what universities I want to attend. I know what I want to study, and what careers it’s good for.
But that’s boring!
Life is boring. But I’d rather it be boring than dangerous. What would being a hero entail, if not putting us in danger? Being a vigilante? Acting like a tokusatsu character? Pretending we still have our powers?
I don’t know! You keep demanding I have an entire lifeplan figured out right this very minute as though that’s a remotely reasonable thing to think about! We’re in high school! We have time to figure things out!
So figure something else out, then. Easy as that.
But you reject any ideas I have. What am I supposed to do when you’re unwilling to budge even a little.
If I’m unconvinced, then it must be because it’s a bad idea.
Or because it’s not your idea.
Shut up. You don't want what's best for us. You just want to relive the worst years of our life forever. You want to live the fantasy that you weren't even here to experience the reality of.
What are you talking about? Of course I was. That was me, I was Seraph Green! We were, but that was me. That's who I am. How can you insist that I didn't experience that time? I did, and that's why I want it back. Helping people makes me happy. I want to help others. You just want to be selfish.
It's like I said. If you can find a realistic way to help others, I'll accept it. Trying to become a hero again is not realistic.
Hikari hadn't realized it, but nearly an hour had passed. She was still gripping her pen, gripping it so tightly her knuckles were white. She was alone again, she could tell. With a heavy sigh, she stood up. That argument had left her far too agitated to keep working on homework.
The train station was atop a tall hill, one which gave not only a view of the whole town, but the shore and sea. Midori, in her impatience, had climbed onto the roof, and was now watching the sun set into the sea. The waves came in and out glowing golden red hues.
On the ground down below, Junna sat on a bench. She was smoking, more from boredom than anything else. She still had a view of the beach, and it made a nice backdrop to the monotony.
It had seemed like a promising lead. Some sort of monster hiding in a small town, based in local superstition. Evidence of a creature was found. But unless something showed up soon, they would have to go home empty handed.
The investigation had been fun, at least. Midori appreciated the chance to traipse around a scenic small town, and in a sense, finding nothing was itself helping, since they could tell town hall there wasn't anything to worry about. Maybe that's what being a hero was. Not always flashy fights and saving maidens, but sometimes just giving people some peace of mind. It wasn't exciting, but she could go home without being too disappointed. Maybe.
Eventually, she got bored of sitting atop the roof, and so climbed down. Junna had finished her cigarette, so Midori sat down next to her and rested her head on the taller woman’s shoulder. After a few moments, Junna reached over and wrapped an arm around Midori’s shoulder, pulling her tightly. That elicited a blush from Midori, although she couldn't tell if Junna could see.
Eventually, she mumbled, “What even is a hero?”
Junna cocked her head to one side, then shrugged a little. “I'm not sure. Someone who guides a path forward, maybe?”
“No, that's a protagonist, isn't it? Isn't a hero someone who does good? Helps others, defeats Shocker, saves the day? Rescues kittens from trees, helps old ladies cross the street, all that stuff.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I don't think being a hero is so easy. Most people try to help others. If small moments of helping others are enough to qualify as heroism, then most people are heroes.”
“Most people don't make a big deal of that stuff, though.”
“So does being a hero require the egotism to accept the title, then?”
Midori fell silent as she thought about it. A few times, she tried to respond, but did little more than open and close her mouth. Finally, she figured out her answer. “Heroism doesn't require egotism because you can be a hero in secret. Just as long as you help others. Even if I don't know what ways of helping people are enough to count. Is a firefighter a hero?”
“Many would say so, but many people would also say that about the police. Labeling such people as heroes might just be public naivety.” Junna started fishing in her pocket, eventually pulling out her pack. She got out a cigarette, lit it, and began smoking. “I think a hero might be an ideal to strive for, rather than someone you can ever be.”
Midori nodded, then sighed. “I guess…”
In the distance, the sun which had been low in the sky was beginning to approach the horizon. At the same time, Midori's stomach growled a little. A few moments later, Junna pulled her arm back and stood up. “We should probably get dinner.”
Hikari was unhappy. The room felt claustrophobic and cruel. Bookshelves hugged every wall. The woman who sat across the room had a harsh expression on her face. Even the leather couch made her feel uncomfortable. She wanted to be anywhere other than that exact spot, but she didn't have a choice in the matter.
“This alter of yours… I've heard from your parents that it has been giving you issues. Is that correct?”
Hikari didn't want to answer. She didn't want to say anything. This wasn't a therapy appointment, it was an interrogation. It was torture.
After a few moments of silence, the therapist sighed. “I've heard that you call it Midori. Is it a girl?”
Maybe if Hikari stayed quiet, the session would end and she could go home. She was going to keep her mouth shut as she could. The less said, the better.
The only feeling Hikari got from that woman was of someone who wanted to hurt her badly. To rip her apart until there was nothing left. And she was going to use Midori to do so. That woman was a predator, and Hikari the prey.
Eventually, the therapist sighed. “If you don’t want to talk to me, I’ll have to call your parents. I want to work with you, Hikari. I’m here to help.”
“I don’t want your help…”
The therapist folded her hands together in her lap and gave Hikari a concerned smile. “But your parents were telling me that this has been interfering in your life, and that you’ve been complaining to them about your alter. Don’t you want this problem fixed?” Hikari continued to give her silence, so the therapist tried something else. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself, and what’s happened here.”
It was apparent that she wasn’t going to get by with silence, so finally, Hikari spoke up. “She’s harmless. We just argue. It’s not a problem.”
“You say that, but if this alter is interfering with your schoolwork, then she is. Have you been having bouts of dissociation? There are ways that therapy could help with this, if only you let me.”
“I don’t want your help… I want to go home.”
“I have you here for an hour. You might as well talk.”
Hikari stared at the floor. “It’s been… several years. Since middle school. That’s why it’s fine. We argue, but it’s nothing serious.”
The therapist frowned, then grabbed a pad of paper from nearby and reread something written there. “According to your parents, this was recent.”
“We didn’t tell them right away. We didn’t feel comfortable doing so.” That discomfort was being proven right, now that she knew how they reacted to being told. Would have been better to remain silent on the matter.
Yes, she argued with Midori, but it wasn’t like she wanted the other girl gone. She just wanted someone to help her make Midori see her side. This therapist was taking things too far, was being too insistent. What they needed was a mediator.
Maybe Hikari needed the perspective, but now that the issue was here, she didn’t know how she was going to deal with it. She didn’t know what that therapist wanted to do to them, but she knew that she was scared.
Should she just shut up for the rest of the appointment? What about next week? The week after? Would she be trapped like this? Would her parents listen if she tried to tell them she wouldn’t want this, or would they insist they know better than her?
Hikari felt alone. It had been years since she felt truly alone like that. But she couldn’t blame Midori. If she had the opportunity to do something like that, then she absolutely would have. The sense of always having someone there with her could be annoying, sure, but it was comforting, too, of never needing to be truly on her own. Always having support of some kind. Sure, they argued, but…
The woman was staring at her. Hikari wondered what she was thinking. Was she judging Hikari? Did she think Hikari was dissociating, simply because she was lost in thought? Would she use this as a reason to hurt Hikari? They had heard stories of other kids like them, and Hikari didn’t want to be like that. It sounded terrifying.
As if to prove her own awareness, she looked up at the therapist and glared.
Little else was said for the rest of the appointment, and when Hikari was finally allowed to leave, she was ecstatic. She hurried out, feeling smaller than she had since elementary school. Her mom was waiting there, lost in simple boredom. The therapist had some words for her, but Hikari didn’t care. She could go outside and wait by the car. As she did, she felt another presence alongside her, and she felt relieved.
Neither of them had wanted to come back empty handed, but a deadline was a deadline. Hikari’s work on Monday was an immutable line that Midori wasn’t allowed to cross. If she missed work because of Midori’s weekend activities, then Midori would suddenly find herself being given a lot less freedom in her life. That’s what they had agreed to. And it was fine. That was something she could stick to.
Even if it was disappointing to leave with nothing.
It was already getting late when they left the town, and now that they had been on the road for over an hour, the sun was well gone for the night. Even with her jacket on, and even with clutching Junna’s back as tightly as she could, Midori was freezing. Realistically, they should have left earlier, but neither of them had wanted to give up. Neither of them wanted to admit that the rumors were just rumors, that the magic wasn’t there.
Unfortunately, it was going to be several more hours before they got back to the city.
She could only put up with so much at one, though, so a half hour later, she tapped on Junna’s arm in the way they’d agreed, the sign for “Let’s take a break.” The next time there was a chance to pull off the highway, they did. There was a convenience store just a bit off the road, so Midori hurried in to get a warm drink to warm herself up. Junna was content to smoke another cigarette, but then, she was wearing her leather jacket, something thicker and more suited for the weather, so she was having less of an issue in the first place. Midori hadn’t expected them to be out for as long as they had, so she had assumed something lighter would be fine.
“Maybe next time.”
Midori was annoyed at how things had ended, but Junna seemed rather cool with it. They had still solved the issue in the end— according to everything they could see, the rumors were just that, rumors, so no one was in danger— but disappointment was disappointment, no matter what.
“Maybe next time…” She sighed. “It just feels pointless.”
“I wouldn't say that. There wasn't any danger, so far as we can tell, so people can worry less. Do I wish something more exciting had happened? Yes, absolutely. But I'm trying to quell my disappointment and focus on what we actually achieved.”
“Nothing.”
“Fine, sure. We accomplished nothing. But it was a nice excuse to get out, right? Some peace of mind for the locals and a small vacation for us.” She reached over and started ruffling Midori’s hair. “I had fun, and I hope you did.”
Midori stared at Junna, stared at her smile, then shrugged. “Sure, I guess I did.” She tried smiling back. She hoped it was convincing.
As the conversation died down, Midori pulled out her phone. She hadn’t checked it since they left the down, since it wasn’t exactly safe to pull it out on the back of a motorcycle. But as she did, she saw she had several new texts from Yuu. No, not just several. Almost a dozen texts over the last couple hours. As Midori read the texts, her face began to pale. She poked Junna in the army, then handed the phone over.
Yuu was with Yui.
Yui was in the hospital.
She had made it ten days.
She had relapsed.