White Sundress, Black Panties

While I hadn't expected much from the girl who accidentally sent me an almost-nude photo, I definitely didn't expect to be waiting at a local café by myself for four hours past our scheduled meeting time. Though, I suppose I can thank her in some ways; after all, it gave me time to read up about how everyone on my forum thinks I've lost my mind. To absolutely no one's surprise, I was mocked cruelly by my peers and labeled an internet nuisance on my Discord server for my incoherent babbling last night. They had every right to think such things, as I was quite crazy-sounding, talking about a mysterious palm tattoo and feeling as if the world had been changed.

I decided to order one final cappuccino before my departure, on the off-chance that this MaiMai32 girl wasn't some kind of catfish or lonely person with too much free time on her hands. To make matters worse, even if she does show up I'm going to have to act like I know her. I wish I hadn't lied about remembering all that magical girl nonsense she brought up.

Just as I had given up hope, and with superb comedic timing, the girl from last night's photo appeared at the doorway of the café, clad in a thin, white sundress. She was absolutely breathtaking, the picture definition of cute. Her long, brown hair cascaded with every step she took, and the skirt of her dress fluttered despite there being no wind. To add to her charms, her glasses seemed to be a size too big for her petite head, creating an innocent aesthetic to her unblemished face. Downright beautiful.

Being the awkward man that I am, I naturally avoided eye contact with such a cutie, pretending like I definitely didn't see her make a grand entrance in the quiet restaurant.

"Kazuo! I can't believe you remembered!"
She exclaimed loud enough for the other customers to turn their heads.
"No one has ever remembered a time warp before! How did you do it?!"

She sat directly in front of me. There was no more pretending; this was happening. I took a long, drawn-out sip of my cappuccino while studying her dress.
Just how clumsy can you be?! You're not supposed to wear black underwear with a white dress!
Despite my initial shock, I managed to meet her gaze.
"MaiMai32, right? Y-yeah... time warp."
My voice shook with nerves.

"Yeah, MaiMai32! It's okay, you can still call me by my magical girl name! I know I look a little different when I'm not transformed."
MaiMai32 gave me a smile that could light up an entire forest at night.

"R-right! Just, um... making sure."
She's insane! This woman sitting across from me is actually delusional! Does she think she's Takanashi Rikka?!

"Well, go on and say my name."
MaiMai32 batted her eyelashes in anticipation, almost as if she were testing me.

"Y-your name?!"
I almost choked on my cappuccino.
"Right. Your magical girl name... Um, what was it again? Tyrant's Eye?"

MaiMai32 burst into a fit of laughter.
"Oh my gosh, nice reference! But for reals, just keep calling me Magical Mai; I want to keep my identity secret."
She wiped a tear of laughter from her eyelid.

"Haha... Yeah, I was just joking. Of course I remember you, Magical Mai... and the time warp!"
I let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing my neck with a sheepish grin plastered on my face.

"Still, this is a rare case. You have to make sure you keep the Mërks and my identity a secret, even if you're planning to make me famous."
Magical Mai held her pinky out for a promise.

It was then and there that I realized I couldn't keep up this facade any longer. She was speaking words that I didn't have the slightest clue about. Mërk?

I finally spilled the beans.
"Magical Mai... I don't remember you at all. I don't understand what a time warp is or what the word Mërk means... Sorry, I just got excited when someone with the same palm tattoo as me decided to send a message."

The exact reaction I was expecting soon became a reality. Her face turned bright red, her hands began to shake, and, worst of all, she began to stutter. Frozen in place.

I waved my hand in front of her unmoving eyes.
"Hello? Magical Mai?"
I received nothing but silence.

With a low sigh, I held my right palm to her face.
"This star-shaped mark... do you know anything about it?"

Magical Mai opened her previously extended hand, presenting the star-shaped mark on her right palm without so much as saying a word. At the very least, it seemed her trembling had ceased for now.

I took a moment to examine her palm, my eyes flickering between hers and my own.
"I see. So, the mark can vary depending on each person. Mine has an eye in the center, while yours has more of a clock design. I didn't quite see that in the picture last night."
My finger gently traced the outline of what appeared to be a clock in the center of the star mark on her palm.

"Y-you don't remember... anything?"
Magical Mai's eyes glanced nervously at my gentle caress.

"I'm afraid I don't. I'm sorry if I deceived you, but I really need to get to the bottom of this whole situation."
I released her hand from my grasp, feeling equally flustered by my own actions.

"I can tell you what the mark signifies, but if you don't remember the battle with the Mërk, then it won't make too much sense."
Magical Mai spoke in a sorrowful tone as she drooped her head.

It seemed as if I might have forgotten something pretty important, judging by her reactions to my admission of guilt. What exactly was a "Mërk?" and why would there be a battle? What significance did the mark on my palm hold, and where do we even take the conversation from here? I had too many questions for Magical Mai, yet I couldn't bring myself to ask them after the turmoil I had just put her through. Instead, I opted for a more logical question.
"Magical Mai. Why were you talking about magical girls? I know I don't remember any of it, but please explain from start to finish."

She lifted her head.
"Because I'm a magical girl. You witnessed my battle with a Mërk yesterday at around noon. The existence of magical girls is hidden from the general public due to the time-warping powers of the Novas. Oh, Novas are the little orbs that appear when we defeat a Mërk."
She picked up a menu, carefully browsing over the selection of cakes.
"Yesterday, you touched the Nova when I was in the middle of reversing time. In fact, the same hand you touched it with is now the hand that bears the Mark of the Phantom. Basically, all magical girls have the Mark of the Phantom on one of their palms. I've never seen it appear on a male before."

I brought my fingers to my chin, trying to wrap my head around this video game-sounding knowledge she was dropping on me.
If what she's saying is true, then magical girls actually exist, and she, as well as others, have been fighting an evil force known as the Mërks. All magical girls use the Mërk's cores to reverse time, which would explain why I felt as if there was something wrong with the world yesterday. Furthermore, this Mark of the Phantom is something all magical girls possess, yet she doesn't seem to understand the reason why.

"I'll take four triple chocolate mousse cakes, sixteen macaroons, two strawberry parfaits and one jumbo pudding, please."
Magical Mai spoke to the waitress. Her smile seemed to be genuine, meaning that she really had planned to eat the abundance of sweets she had just ordered. Her youthful smile was blinding... poor waitress.

"That's a lot of calories..."
I didn't want to sound judgmental, but it slipped out sounding completely overcritical.

"Ah, you don't remember... so this probably looks weird. My magic is fueled by calories, so I need to stay stuffed to the brim at all times. Plus, I don't gain a thing! It's like all of the junk that I eat turns into magic instead. Pretty sweet, huh?"
Magical Mai gave me a double peace sign, as if the information she had provided moments ago was normal.

"True... you're pretty petite and slender for your age..."
Now that I thought about it, Magical Mai was a high schooler, correct? What on earth was she doing out of school in the middle of the day?
"Wait, aren't you supposed to be in school?! It's Tuesday!"

Magical Mai gave me a pouty stare, puffing her cheeks slightly from annoyance.
"Dude, I'm nineteen. I go to college."

"Nineteen?! So, you're just a year younger than me?! Praise Japanese genetics!"
I clasped my hands together in a prayer, thankful that Japanese girls had a tendency to look youthful all the way until they were old and gray. There was no denying Magical Mai's overwhelming attractiveness, and the fact that she was just a year younger than me meant that I could eventually consider her as a romance option in this game called life.
What was it again? Hang out with a girl nine times and you can unlock her romance social link? No, this isn't 'Persona'

"Oh, my sweets have arrived!"
Magical Mai seemed to forget the serious situation for just a moment.

In record time, I watched as this nineteen-year-old goddess devoured spoonfuls of cake and cookies without so much as chewing.
Maybe... I don't want to unlock her romance social link.