Chapter 6

Kaori rushed to my side to support me with her hands. I tried to stand, but my body refused to obey. Fergus lectured me harshly, telling me I should’ve stayed out of this. That angered Kaori. She called him a bastard for using dirty tricks. The Clockster approached us, and Kaori — furious — spread her arms wide, placing herself between me and the creature.

“Don’t hurt Reina! I won’t let you! You want me anyway!”

I tried to talk her down, begged her to run, but she wouldn’t listen. Fergus seemed almost impressed.

“It appears you understand things better than your friend does.”

That was when I snapped. I shouted at Kaori with every bit of pain weighing on me. I wanted her to understand that if she died, then all my efforts would mean nothing. Without her, my days wouldn’t be the same. She brought so much joy into my once-gray school life, and because of that, I felt like I finally had something — someone — worth fighting for. That’s why I begged her not to throw her life away. Especially not because of some myth this lunatic kept repeating. Even if any of it were true, we could find another solution.

Kaori stared at me, shocked and moved. She knelt beside me, listening quietly. I begged her again to save herself while I tried to get back on my feet to buy her time. But she shook her head firmly.

“No! I don’t want to throw my life away anymore, because I want to keep living those fun school days with you. But I’m not leaving you behind either. I already told you — don’t carry every burden alone. No matter what happens, we’re in this together.”

“Kaori…”

Fear and pride clashed inside me. Part of me admired how serious she could be… and the other part was terrified that the Clockster could kill her any second. Kaori admitted she was scared too — but she still wanted to protect me, just as I had protected her. The creature raised its whip for the killing blow—

And then something completely unexpected happened.

Kaori’s heart lit up in bright pink.

Fergus recoiled in panic. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Words slipped from my mouth.

“No way…”

Kaori began chanting, her voice filled with a strange, serene focus.

“Creation of Time Link! Transfiguration!”

Her entire body shone with pink radiance. Countless tiny pink bubbles formed around her, bursting into sparkling flashes that splashed an adorable seraph uniform onto her. Stylish boots formed on her legs, her hair shifted into a vivid pink, and her eyes turned emerald green. A bright green hairband adorned her head.

Once the glow faded, she struck a playful, cheerful pose.

“I am the energetic bubble that chases away all sorrows! The Seraph of Lively Joy — Bubblegirl!”

She looked down at herself, bewildered, asking what had happened. But very quickly, realization struck.

“What the—?? I… I became a Seraph! Yay!!”

She practically squealed with delight — until Fergus cut her celebration short. He commanded his creation to attack. The creature cracked its whip, but Bubblegirl leapt into the air. A bouncy pink bubble materialized beneath her just in time. She landed on it, wobbling as she tried to balance.

The whip struck again. She sprang onto another bubble just before the previous one burst. This happened two, three more times — until she somersaulted gracefully and landed on the ground. Before the creature could react, Bubblegirl extended her arms, firing a storm of tiny bubbles from her palms like machine-gun fire. The Clockster staggered as the mini explosions rippled across its body.

“Now or never!”

Seeing her chance, Bubblegirl lifted her hands above her head to unleash her finishing move.

“Manifestation of cheerful spirits, seal away all evil! Go — Bubble Strike!”

A massive pink sphere formed above her — the largest yet — and she spiked it forward like a beach ball. It reached the Clockster, burst with a pop, and released a sparkling ribbon bow. The bow wrapped around the creature, binding it tightly before consuming it entirely.

The Clockster was gone — but Fergus refused to retreat.

“We’re running out of time! I can’t return empty-handed!”

Bubblegirl was exhausted and barely catching her breath when he launched a purple energy orb at her. She was hit and thrown to the ground. He prepared a second orb — but two dark-blue crescent boomerangs spun toward him. He quickly conjured a clock-shaped purple barrier to block them. The weapons flew back into my hands, forming blade-like shapes. I had managed to stand. I was ready to protect Kaori again.

Fergus glared in frustration and charged at me — but Bubblegirl intercepted him. She slammed her heel into his jaw with a tornado kick. He crashed into a streetlamp, knocking it over.

“You’ve made a huge mistake…!”

Fergus was more tense than ever before. Even so, he finally chose to retreat. The chaotic street returned to normal, the frozen pedestrians resumed moving, carrying on with their day as if nothing had happened.

“You did amazing, Kaori… I’m so proud of you.”

She giggled nervously, flustered by my praise.

“Oh come on! You’re gonna make me blush…”

From that day onward, Kaori wasn’t just my friend — she became my trusted partner in battle. After visiting the café we had planned to go to, we waved goodbye at dusk and went our separate ways.

That night, I drifted into sleep peacefully. I felt lighter knowing I didn’t have to fear for Kaori’s safety as much anymore. But when I laid my head on my pillow, I dreamed of that same girl again — the one from before my very first transformation.

It began as a happy dream. But then, the smiling girl stood up and walked away. I tried to run after her, begging her to stay, but she grew farther and farther until she vanished. Storm clouds swallowed the sun in the sky, and the flowers around me withered one by one.

I jolted awake, drenched in sweat, gasping for air.