Chapter 17
The auditorium was filled with a solemn atmosphere.
There, girls clad in white dresses and aprons inspired by nursing outfits, adorned with a red-cross armband, were passionately reciting their oath.
[…And thus, I pledge my honor as a Magical Girl!]
[I pledge.]
[I pledge.]
[I pledge.]
Clap clap clap clap!
A vow to heal the people and continue honorable activities as a Magical Girl.
The adults gathered in the auditorium wholeheartedly celebrated their noble pledge.
Among the Magical Girls present, Himari, the only Bloomed Born 2-Star Magical Girl, followed the guidance of the Red Cross staff as a representative.
She began discussing the upcoming schedule with the doctors invited as temporary advisors.
[And with this, the Magic Nursing Girl Himari and 14 other Magical Girls have declared to become the Magical Girls Cheerleading Team, continuing their medical volunteer activities with conscience and dignity.]
[However, concerns have been raised about the healing of congenital disabilities and amputated bodies, which would rely on an impossible healing ability, suggesting that if the medical system collapses, many victims could arise.]
[The Japan Medical Association has announced that while they are withholding an official response, they are searching for ways to coexist with the Magical Girls’ supernatural healing abilities.]
[Opinions have emerged that humanity has finally overcome diseases perfectly, but most believe it is still premature…]
– Thread 27: Discussing Favorite Magical Girls –
-67: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Himari-chan is totally an angel… I want to receive her nursing… sigh
-68: Anonymous 2011/07/18
The number of pretty girls has increased drastically, I’m so happy…
-69: Anonymous 2011/07/18
(Photo of bread bought from Shizuku’s bakery) I waited 7 hours to buy this. Questions?
-70: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Are you a NEET with too much time on your hands? lol
-71: Anonymous 2011/07/18
What’s wrong with that? Spending that kind of time on a cute bakery girl is ‘common sense’!
-72: Anonymous 2011/07/18
This bread made with the Magical Girl’s precious ‘thing’ is the best! My lifespan increases by 7 years!
-73: Anonymous 2011/07/18
That’s magic! lol Don’t call it weird hahaha!
-74: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Alright! Himari squad, break a leg and gather in front of the Cheerleading Team headquarters!!
-75: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Received.
-76: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Received. And [Reader]’s glasses are invincible.
-77: Anonymous 2011/07/18
But isn’t there anyone that likes [Start]?
-78: Anonymous 2011/07/18
?????
-79: Anonymous 2011/07/18
(Ah, it’s that guy again. Kon)
-80: Anonymous 2011/07/18
(The leather club is two blocks down, friend Kon)
-81: Anonymous 2011/07/18
The guru has a dedicated thread, go there lol
-82: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Guru???
-83: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Thanks to [Start], the era of Magical Girls has begun, it’s overwhelming! lol
-84: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Silver-haired, big-breasted magician… sigh I can have up to four bowls of rice…
-85: Anonymous 2011/07/18
She speaks Japanese well, but she’s a different ethnicity lol
-86: Anonymous 2011/07/18
[Live Broadcast Recorded Video URL] Amen
-87: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Amen
-88: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Amen
-89: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Oh really lol If [Start] spills beans, this thread’s topic will be contaminated lol
-90: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Guru hasn’t been seen since then, I wonder if she’ll show up…
-91: Anonymous 2011/07/18
I heard rumors that the guru is forming a Magical Girls group.
-92: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Give me the name of that Magical Girls group or link to the witch talk.
-93: Anonymous 2011/07/18
[Link to SNS with ‘Salon’ written on it]
-94: Anonymous 2011/07/18
Salon?
Kabukicho’s night was not dark.
The bright lights emanating from flashy neon signs and advertisements.
In this street filled with the smell of alcohol and perfume, entertainment establishments lured passersby with their dazzling lights.
Men and women swaying under the influence of alcohol.
Sticky gazes.
Blatant desires.
Like the fluttering of a butterfly’s wings, fragile and ephemeral.
A place where those who live for the day and revel in fleeting pleasures dance and sing.
There, a motorcycle was racing through the air.
Vroom!!
“Yahh?! What is that?!”
“That, that crazy girl is at it again!”
“Hey! It’s too loud!”
A motorcycle dashed through the night streets.
Though it sounded like something from an urban legend, the eyes of the onlookers were filled more with exasperation than fear or curiosity.
“Whoaa! Today’s rush feels so refreshing!!”
The girl in a fluorescent orange helmet shaped like cat ears twisted the throttle and raced at full speed.
“If I accelerate just a bit more! I might reach light speed!!”
“You crazy girl!! Stop it!!”
“Why do we only go in front of our store?!”
“Please just stop!!”
Despite the protests of the madams and managers from various entertainment venues yelling at her, the girl’s rush showed no signs of stopping.
The motorcycle was far too fast for the sticklers of worldly desire to catch.
Her rush continued.
Leaving an endless trail of fluorescent orange starlight behind her as she went.
Vroom!!
“Uwaaaa!! Someone stop that crazy girl!!”
“We’ll all be ruined at this rate!!”
Vroom!!
The people’s cries were drowned out by the roar of the motorcycle, no longer audible.
Born Blooming 2-Star [Rush] Magical Girl.
A report came in about a giant monster walking near the cinema in Kabukicho.
At first, they thought it was a prank call, but after multiple reports, the middle-aged policeman who finally dispatched was stunned.
Boom!
Boom!
Pushiiiii!!—
Whoooosh—clang!
A robot.
An ivory, sharply angular body.
The joints connecting the robot’s limbs were exposed and visible with various pipes and wires, and in its hands were gigantic, futuristic rifles as if pulled from a sci-fi movie.
On its back was a cannon reminiscent of a huge self-propelled gun.
It rose like a chimney, swaying ominously with the robot’s movements, and a massive vibration reverberated every time its reverse-jointed joints moved.
Thud—
Thud—
Pushii—
With the heat of its engine radiating, the gigantic armor was boldly striding in the plaza beside the cinema.
It was the size of a three-story building alongside the cinema.
With its overwhelming size, it shattered sidewalks and streetlamps with each step.
The path where the armor passed felt like surveying a place that had experienced an earthquake.
Watching this in stupor, the police urgently picked up the loudspeaker.
“St-Stop!! This is the police!! Robot!! Come out from there immediately!”
Wooooosh—
A red flash flickered from the head of the armor.
“Wha?!”
The moment the robot’s red mono-eye looked at the officer, the immense sense of oppression startled the policeman, dropping the loudspeaker.
[Nyuhuhu, do you think you can hand over my super cool armor No. 1?]
The delicate voice of a girl spread through the microphone embedded within the armor.
[Nyuhihihi, with the power granted by our true leader…]
The armor aimed its rifles, showcasing its intimidation.
It took a stance reminiscent of a roaring warrior.
Whoooosh—
[I’ve gained the freedom to flaunt my super cool armor No. 1!]
Even while everyone trembled in fear, the girl appeared unworried, as if she were playing.
Born Blooming 2-Star [Armor] Magical Girl.
On the rooftop of a department store in Kabukicho.
A curly-haired girl in an olive green air force jumper laughed heartily while watching the entire situation.
She laughed with all her might as if shaking off the frustrations that had tormented her for years.
“Hahaha!! This is it!! This is freedom!!!”
“Thank you!!! Leader!!!”
“Please accept our humble fireworks from ‘Salon’ dedicated to you!!”
Tat tat tat tat
As she skillfully summoned a massive amount of blank bullets, a tremendous noise erupted.
Behind the girl were two gigantic machine guns hovering.
She began playing a fiery hymn dedicated to the Magical Girl of [Start] who had given them the power to conquer this suffocating reality.
A hymn to the most noble girl.
A poem of respect sent to her.
The joyous song of the liberated girls.
The girl felt gratitude overflowing towards that noble [Start] Magical Girl as she enjoyed the moment.
Tat tat tat tat
With the sound of the machine guns firing blank rounds, fear bloomed on the hateful street.
No longer could this world treat them as nonexistent.
As they emerged from being invisible to human, the moment they appeared in this world,
the girl who summoned the machine guns raised her hands high towards the sky.
Tat tat tat tat
“Machine guns are… love!!!”
Born Blooming 2-Star [Machine Gun] Magical Girl.
“Salon?”
“Uh, isn’t that what the Leader made?”
Ichika’s phone screen displayed the chaotic madness of Kabukicho.
Why were there motorcycles racing through the air in the streets,
a 10-meter giant robot smashing through the roads,
and a barrage of bullets being fired?
And those kids claimed to belong to ‘my’ organization?
Hearing the news, I felt my mind go blank.
“Me?”
“Yep.”
“When?”