I'M JUST TRYING MY BEST TO BE MORE THAN NOTHING (2)

You know, if I'd known I would be spending the rest of my dream floating in a black, featureless void, then maybe I w-would've reconsidered clocking Sonora in the face.

I guess it gives me time to reflect, for all that it's worth.

Honestly... I do wonder if that actually was Sonora. She calls the others by their family name, yet why would she know mine? We've never met before last week. I wouldn't be surprised if she had some sort of psychic link with the other Anxi, but how much mileage is she going to get out of that if they're all mindless zombies?

...

......I'm getting tired of thinking about her though.

I hope I can finish the kigu in time for Mizu-chan. She's been through so much with losing her job and dealing with her parents, this is the least I can do for her. Same with my gifts for Asa-chan and Fue-chan. They've all been through a lot... so I want to do something nice for them.

God, i-it's getting down to the wire, isn't it? Christmas is... how many days away? F-fuck. I'm sure none of them will mind if it's late, but like... it's Christmas, you know? Gifts are meant to be given on the day of. I'd probably understand, but I'd still be disappointed if my present was late.

I mean, I realize that I may be the only one actually trying to get presents ready given the pressing situation of Sonora's ultimatum, but like I said-- I want to brighten up everyone's days.

That's why I became a magical girl, right? To brighten everyone's days. To make everyone's lives better. I've been through so much in these 20 years of my life, and I just want to make sure those around me have it just a little bit better. If the world thinks of me as a demon for something like that, then so fucking be it. I'm a demon. Nah, even better; I'm the fucking Demon Lord. Come get me, generic isekai protagonists.

??

I gasp, hearing a crackling sound interrupt the silence surrounding me.

I look down to the source-- my hands. Obsidian chains that had not been there before crack, splintering into further and further cracks that glow brighter and brighter before they shatter into nothingness. The same happens to the chains around my feet. Then, the chains around my neck.

I feel a tightness in my clothing, as something else in my body stirs. The tightness grows, getting bigger and bigger before my shirt rips apart from the force of my newfound majestic black wings emerging from my back. They beat the air rhythmically, keeping me hovering in the void.

Instinctively, I hold my hands out in front of me, calling forth a mirror to gaze upon my changing form.

My skin is reddening-- like the kind of bright red you'd expect from a typical demon. Alongside that, long horns are growing from the top of my head, curving around my sides like a ram's. I chuckle, imagining how much of a pain this will make changing my clothes at any given moment.

Afterwards, I lift up my bangs, looking into my own eyes to sate one final curiosity. My nervous gaze looks more fired up, my hazel-brown eyes now a bright yellow, with black sclera.

Hmm.

Is this what happened to Sonora?

Strange.

What's stranger, to me, is the fact I'm not scared by this development.

In fact...

I feel free.

I jolt awake, sitting up at my chair in startlement. What... a s-strange dream.

!!

F-fuck. I was drooling all over Mizu-chan's kigu. Shit!

...She won't mind, r-right? She already sweats so much, it'll probably blend in, eventually. Yeah. That makes sense to me, at least.

I move to brush the slobber off of my mouth with my sleeve-

...locking up as I realize my hand had to move further than I expected to reach my mouth.

I look at my hand.

"W-what the...?"

I pull myself from my seat, rushing for the bathroom mirror.

"A-aaaaahhhh!!!!"

knock knock knock knock

"Chisa-tan? What's wrong?"

S-shit, not Mizu-chan...!! "D-d-don't come in!! D-don't...!"

"Is everything alright, Chisaki?"

I stammer, not knowing what to say.

"I'm... I, uh... I-I-I'm..."

No... this is good, actually. You'd think I'd be worried, but after having a bit more time to wake up, I realize I have nothing to worry about.

A-aside from Mizu-chan seeing her gift early, I mean.

"I'm coming out. D-don't be scared of what you see, okay?"

The group stays silent, not probably unsure of what I mean. It's okay, they'll see in just a moment...

I walk over to the bedroom door, turning the knob slowly...

Before stepping out, revealing my newfound demonic form to the others.

"C-Chisaki...! You're- you're not an Anxi anymore!!" Fue-chan rushes over to hug me tightly, crying with joy.

"Yer'... also not human anymore." Mizu-chan's the first to react with apprehension. "What... happened?"

I catch the three up to speed.

"S-so... Sonora must've come to a similar epiphany, then." Asahi muses, concerned.

"I think so, yeah."

Her expression seems off, though. As though there's more on her mind. But, before I can think on that any more, Mizu-chan steps up, patting me on the back-- h-hey, be careful to not hit my wings!!

"Well, we've evened the playing field a bit, I'd say! Good on ya, Chisa-tan." Mizu-chan chuckles to herself. Then, she whispers over to Fue-chan. "D-does this mean we can ease up on tha' trainin' sessions a bit...?"

Fue-chan ignores her, instead opting to continue holding me close. "I'm... I'm so happy for you..." I hug her back, smiling warmly.

...

Another thought pops into my head. One far more pressing than anything up to this point.

"I... I just realized something, guys."

"Huh?" "Yeah?" "What is it?"

I chuckle, sighing.

"I... I need a shower."