I wasn't meant to be left on a shelf (1)

"Yo, Asahin."

...

"Asahin? Anything in there?"

Lightly, yet forcefully, I parry Mizuki's attempts to knock on my head to get my attention.

"C'mon, Micchan. ...I'm trying to focus."

She sticks out her tongue. ...She's a good friend, but god she can be impatient sometimes.

It's the day of our shoot, and-- despite what my outward demeanor may suggest --I'm not exactly the most calm about it right now. We've made plans to film a music video at an abandoned hotel, and, thanks to all the time spent dealing with Anxi, ...I've not had much time to figure out what we're even going to wear. So, we're at a thrift store, trying to see what we can do with our limited time and budget.

Picking out clothes for the two of us can be, speaking bluntly, a bit of a pain in the ass. Being a water witch, Mizuki ends up sweating more often, meaning she usually needs darker clothes that hide staining. On top of that, I get overheated more easily-- being a witch of fire --meaning I tend to wear less clothes to keep cool. Annoying, that, given it tends to severely limit my options-- since I have to balance looking pretty and not overheating. At least Winter's coming up, I guess. With the drop in temperature, I've been able to start wearing a hoodie again without feeling like I'll pass out after too long.

...I say that, but as much as I love this place, the stuffy atmosphere is making me feel a bit winded. Sighing, I take off my hoodie, draping it around my waist for the time being.

Hmm.....

Nope.

Nuh-uh.

Boooooooring.

There's a brief part of me that wonders if we could get away with filming it in our magical girl outfits-- before remembering that we're having someone else film for us. That, and, y'know, we'd be publicly outing ourselves as Witches. As much as I'd prefer to not have to keep it to myself, I'm dreadfully aware that doing so isn't in my best interest at present time.

...

"Oh, shit." Sifting through the T-shirts, I find a few that catch my eye.

"Whadd'ya find?"

"See for yourself." I slide them along the rack to show her. Nestled between the generic bland shit you have to wade through in any thrift store is, surprisingly enough, some shirts for one of my favorite visual novels.

"Holy fuck."

"I know, right?" ...It's a bit big for me, but I can manage. Maybe I'll tuck it in, or something. Doesn't matter. I'd never expected to see one of these in a store like this, to be honest.

"There's this, too." I slide some other shirts into view; mainly, some cool looking manga T-shirts that I think Mizuki might have an interest in. "I can cut some of these up for you, if you'd like."

"Ah, hell yeah! I'm game." She grins ear to ear.

We-- well, more accurately, I-- take the shirts off the rack, stopping myself as I remember something.

"Oh, right... What did you want my attention for, Micchan?"

"Nah, it's nothin'. Just wanted to make some small talk as you looked for clothes."

"Well..." I check my phone. Barely noon. "We've still got time. Wanna look at the CDs?"

"Sure!"

...

"Ah, yeah. I wanted ta ask you somethin'." She chuckles as she remembers what she was going to pester me about earlier. "Whaddya think about Chisa-tan?"

"Hmm?" Chisaki? I pause, biting my lip to mull it over. I mean, we've been working together for a couple of weeks now. It's not like we know each other super well. "She... seems nice. Still green, still very nervous, but I think she'll come into her own with time." Another pause, though this time it's more because I'm not sure if I should say what did come to mind. "I... think Fue-chan might be worrying about her too much. She's the youngest of all of us, sure, but she's still 20. Still an adult."

"Yea, but..." Mizuki shuffles uncomfortably, looking at me. "Chisa-tan lost her mother pretty recently, didn't she? I don't blame Fuetchi for trying to make up for that."

"No, I mean, I know. I'm not trying to fault her for that; I just don't get why Fue-chan's lying to cover for her, is my problem."

"Ah, yea I don't get that either." She shrugs her shoulders, dryly chuckling a bit. "Maybe she just wants ta make sure we all get along-- as if we wouldn't be understandin' why Chisa-tan wouldn't always be emotionally up to helping out, or something. ...If ya ask me, I think Fuetchi's on edge because she holds herself responsible fer' Sono-"

...My hands tightly clench, burning red hot as I snap the jewel case I'm holding in half.

Mizuki jolts, startled by my outburst before realizing what she'd just said. "Fuck, I'm sorry. I'm... I'm sorry." She notices I'm shaking. "Let's drop the subject for now, yea? Just... deep breaths, Asahi. Deep breaths..."

...

...

...

"...Sorry." I sigh, glancing at my now-bleeding hands.

"Don't be." Mizuki moves in close, casting a healing spell to patch up my cuts as she tries to calm herself down. "I wasn't thinking-- that's on me. You've got no damn reason ta' be sorry, Asahin." Her voice is more hushed, wavering slightly as she tries to maintain composure for my sake, instead of cussing herself out for her mistake.

I weakly chuckle, a smile creeping on my lips. "Shouldn't you be the one taking deep breaths, now?" I push my glasses back into their proper position. "Thanks, though."

She rubs the back of her neck, embarrassed. "Well, no problem. Now c'mon, let's go get a soda or something. If anyone asks, I'll cover the cost of that uh..." She squints her eyes, trying to decipher what remains of the case. "Encyclopedia software... that you shattered into a million pieces."

We both laugh it off, before paying for our clothes and heading out to get ready for our big day ahead of us.

...

...Once we arrive at the hotel, however, something seems off.

"Hold up." Mizuki stops me from approaching further. "I think I smell somethin'."

"Don't tell me... " I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Rot and sweat?"

She doesn't respond. Yet, the look on her face tells me all I need to know. Restraining myself from screaming, I take a deep breath, setting my instrument aside and snapping my fingers to summon my mascot.

Emerging from a spiral of fire... is my chicken companion, Tori.

"Is something the matter, Asahi-sama? She asks, looking up to me. After noticing my grim expression, she lowers her head. "...I take it my day off is being called off, then."

"I'm just as disappointed as you." I sigh, pressing my hand to my chest. Sigils form, and through ribbons of fire I'm reborn into my magical girl form. I turn to Mizuki, only to realize she's crouched beside Wani, her alligator mascot. ...She's poking at the docile beast annoyedly.

"C'mon, ya damn lazybones. Get some blood pumping. ...We're in crunch time here."

Though I wouldn't know for certain, judging by her frustrated expression, Wani isn't responding.

"I'll... go on ahead, see what we're dealing with." I say, smirking knowing she can't see my expression anymore.

Quietly sneaking towards the entrance of the hotel, it takes me little time to catch a glimpse of what we're up against. One... two... at least three Anxi. No monster Anxi in sight, though there's no guarantee there isn't one further in. ...I imagine this would smell absolutely horrific, were it not for my mask's blend of cinnamon, apple and cedarwood blocking it out. We'll have time figuring out how to deal with the smell for the shoot after we dispose of the Anxi.

I take out my phone, pausing in contemplation before ultimately sighing and opening our group DM.

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Alright

So, music video might be fucked

Fue-chan: ?

Fue-chan: What happened...?

Micchan: anxi, lol

Micchan: how bad is it, btw

Three of them, so far

No monsters (So far?)

Don't know if there's any more, though

Fue-chan: Do you need me and Chisaki to come and help?

Fue-chan: We can be right over.

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I stop myself as I'm typing a response, unsure of what my answer should actually be. Some help would be invaluable, of course... Yet, it'll take time for the two to arrive. That'll get the shoot cancelled, for sure-- if our friend sees the Anxi, I mean. If it's just some mindless beasts, then, maybe...

------------

We've got this, it's just some beasts anyway lol

Fue-chan: Are you sure?

We'll pull out if things go wrong

It shouldn't be too bad

Micchan: hell yeah

Micchan: just like the good old days amirite

Micchan: 😈

Fue-chan: If you're sure, then...

Fue-chan: Good luck.

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...This is going to be a mistake, I can feel it.