New Friends

The Fool Arc

There was little room for more beyond rage in the creature's head. The thoughts it had dissolved into nothing beyond raw emotion. Rage. Hate. Anger. It was a slave to those emotions.

Somewhere, in the darkness that was impenetrable, the person known as XV felt a smile creep over her ruby-red lips.

♥ Magical Girl Rinrin ♥

“Magical Girl. Found you.” The voice whispers. I turn around and look. It comes from a girl. Probably about my age would be the first impression I get. So… Middle school. Maybe a year below, she’s a few inches shorter than me. She’s staring at me with a passive face that looks like it belongs on a fine china doll, and is about as expressive. Her eyes are big and red, her hair is messy and raven black, cut above the shoulders with two side-bangs that reach down to her chin. It takes a few moments before I realize that she’s dressed like me. Or like a red variant of me, like a palette swap in a video game. The pink in my outfit is switched with red in hers, the bows, ribbons. It’s all subtly different- but in complementary ways, like members of an idol group.

“...Hello.” She says, and… bows in greeting. Politely, formally, observing proper keigo courtesies. I awkwardly bow in return.
“Uh, yeah, hi.” I say. This seems to fit with her idea of what’s going on, because she nods her head politely, before walking past me to look out at the city. After the last couple of nights, I freeze up as she breezes past me to look out at the city.

“Were you… did you… save me?” I ask her as I turn to watch her. She nods, then sits down, legs curled up to her chin on the edge of the platform.
“Thanks…?” I say, getting another nod-response. Girl of few words. There’s a vague, slightly unnerving way to how she moves. Too much purpose, like she’s not considering anything other than her direct objective. She walks on her toes, too, like she’s creeping around.

“Think she’s a magical girl? She doesn’t look like a Maniacal.” I lean in to whisper to Nyamu.
“Her appearance does not match any magical girl operators known within the city, however she is definitely a center of magical energy right now, like you are, mu.”
“So is she the girl we were looking for? The new Magical Girl?” It feels like years since I went out searching for that falling light, but I realize that it’s barely been three days. Nyamu’s response to my question is another nod, more enthusiastic this time.
“Presenting, the Magical Girl of Diamonds… ” Nyamu pauses, and looks at the girl.
“The Magical Girl of Diamonds… uh.” He gestures for her to reply, and she tilts her head like a cat staring at an interesting bird. I wince, feeling sympathy for Nyamu as his shoulders roll downward in an exasperated sigh.

“He wants your name.” I whisper to her.
“Tamaki Anya.” She replies, no hesitation. I groan and wince.
“Um. Not that name, like, your… Magical Girl name. It’s like a nickname?” I suggest politely.
“Oh… …I do not have a nickname.” She replies with the same soft-voiced almost-monotone.

“...Um. Well.” Nyamu looks awkwardly between her and me.
“Magical girls can’t really use their real names, because of the risk of being found. So you need one.”
“Tama.” She says, again no hesitation.
“Uh, well, that’s kinda close to your actual name…?” I prompt. Nyamu flies up and whacks me on the head, causing me to rub it.
“Says ‘Magical Girl Rinrin’.”
“Alright, point taken.”

I stare at the girl longer, watching the way she stares out, then whisper.
“Do you think she’s kinda… slow?”
“Hmmm…” Nyamu shrugs.
“Possible, but it’s also possible that her body doesn’t match her mind. Magical Girls often look very different in form, it’s a disguise, after all.”
“...I look pretty much the same, ‘cept the pink hair.” I point out evenly.
“Your hair also looks more sleek.”
“Okay, and that.”
“And your lips are fuller.”
“Okay, maybe a couple of changes.”
“And your skin is clearer-” I shove a hand out and smoosh Nyamu’s face.
“Yes, I get it. Thank you.” I sigh, for now leaving the mystery of who Tama is out in the open.

“You’re the one who saved me, right?” I say, sitting next to her and dangling my legs over the edge. She gives a small nod, still staring out at the sky.
“Thanks. I thought I was a goner.” Another nod, this time accompanied with a thumbs up. The gesture is slow, like her body is underwater.
“...So. I guess we’re… teammates? Kinda? If you want to be.” I offer, suddenly the girl is right in my face, inches apart. Her previously lifeless features- okay, still lifeless, but her eyes are shining.

“Teammates?” She says the word like she’s savouring it. I lean out a little, but she just leans in, eyes bright and fixed.
“Ah-haa-ha… Um, yeah? I mean, Hearts and Diamonds, right?” I give an encouraging smile. She nods repeatedly, each with a small but emphatic puff of breath, like an ‘mph!’ of agreement. It’s a weird response, but I guess it’s a relief?
“You… don’t have to lean so close…” I mumble, she moves back to where she was sitting, but this time her knees are down and she’s facing me.

“What… do Magical girls do?” She asks. Oh, right, despite her quiet personality she’s my junior. That means… that means… a smirk grows larger on my face, and I puff up my chest proudly.
“Let Senpai tell you!” I get up to my feet and stand, hands on hips, posing.

“A Magical Girl’s duty is to protect their town, defend it from threats, and help the people with their daily lives!” I point one hand up at the stars.
“We are the magical line of defense against all that seeks to harm the dreams of the people of this city, and the world beyond it!” I grin, looking down at Tama. She’s staring up at me, deep red eyes shining, kneeling like a student at the feet of a master. It feels really good. I jump up and balance on the hand railing around the edge of the platform.
“No matter where danger comes from, no matter wh-wh-whoaaa!” I let out a yell as the old metal railing cracks under foot and I fall backwards, landing on the metal platform with a thud.

“Senpai… is funny.” Tama says, staring as I get back into a seated position, blushing awkwardly, air thoroughly let out.
“Uh, yeah, so that kinda stuff.” I give out a small laugh. Settling back down, I get down to the real questions, the more pressing details.
“So… why did you save me?” I ask.
“Not that I’m not grateful, but we’ve never met, and sticking your neck out, even from a distance is like…”
“We’ve met.”
“Huh?”
“...We’ve met.” She nods.

“Before. We met when I was in trouble. You helped me.” She says, earnestly. I smile at the girl.
“And… I wanted to thank you.”