Magic is Real?

“I'm still alive…” His lungs pumped like it could burst at any moment, and his feet were sore. He plopped his back against the grainy concrete wall, keeping out of whatever that was.

I think I saw an octopus just then too… And whatever that girl did, it’d saved his ass–gotta thank her, that's for sure.

But what's with her even? Shotguns and everything?

In any case, he's safe now. “Whew…”

……

……

…But man, am I curious.

Maybe a little peek wouldn't hurt.

Wouldn't it? It wouldn't, right?

His body moved on its own(it's not), and took a tiny little small peek over the toilet’s entrance.

In the park's center; Dust clouds. Pink sparks. Loud booms.

Yep. The two were still going at it.

But again, a girl with shotguns? Fighting monsters?

Never heard of it before.

But wasn't it kind of similar? Those ribbon-frilled clothing of hers–also, weapon spewing pinks? It almost sounded like,

Magical girl…

Because think about it; What's the possibilities of a girl in dress holding a weapon?–Even two at that. And not to mention fighting whatever that thing was.

It's one thing if Toshiya accidentally crashed himself into a shooting set. But those blood on her face? And the thing crushing that bench? Tough transparent barrier?

If it's really a film shoot, then that's one hell of a visual effect.

But everything here's real. No director in sight. No actor. And Toshiya's definitely not getting paid as an extra.

Then that could only mean one thing. And that, magical girls are damn real!

…Well,

–Putting aside the use of firearms–instead of a cute wand; And bleeding–instead of light bruises; And not having enough frills–unlike Nami; And not even publicly known…

The only thing to note here was: Girl v.s Monster.

Period.

If that's the case, wasn't he lucky?

…Or perhaps not.

Fighting monsters from time to time sounded brutal. And not to mention getting roped into this situation. What a jinx…

The girl then glowed in red, and jumped.

Teleport? Dashed?

In any case, it's fast. Like she got an upgrade all of a sudden.

But,

It wasn't enough.

A tentacle–one was able to keep up with her and gave a whip. Something was flung from her hand.

The object blurred into a disc-shape at high speed, and chuck! when it planted itself into a children tunnel slider–now looking like an erected flag.

What was it though? It's hard to see.

He grabbed his phone–Camera app. And zoom…

Zoom…

Zoom…

Focus…

A stick? White rod? No, a bit pinky? Metallic?

…Wait a minute.

Isn't that her shotgun?!

The barrel pierced through the slider. Half inside, half outside–definitely stuck.

Wasn't that bad? He recalled she was holding two just now. And even then she looked like she was struggling dealing damage on that thing.

Is she okay? Toshiya turned the camera to where she was hit just then.

Zoom—Bushes.

Zoom—Bushes.

Zoom—Trash bin.

Zoom…

….

It was bad. Real bad. Not even a sight of her head. And the clapping and booming had pretty much stopped altogether. D-Don't tell me…

Toshiya really, really, hoped that wasn't the case. He hadn't yet completed the last True Route for Nami. And he was about to tonight, but this damn encounter just messed it all up.

I’m sorry, Nami~

The barrier was still there up in the sky too. Was it because of that damn thing? The kind of boss that needs to be defeated to break the barrier?

If she really went MIA, then he should hurry up and grab that shotgun.

But would it be fine?

If magical girls really do exist, then doesn't that mean the #-chan rumors about those Cursed Ones might also be true?

What if he grabbed that shotgun and accidentally invited a Kotoribako-alike?

In the first place, even if he did have a weapon, weren't those tentacles–like–Eld#n R#ng bosses level of difficulty?

Then should he…?

Or maybe…?

Wait, but then…

“UGH!!!” Just thinking about it itches his hair.

…zoom… A yellow square popped on the screen. The blurs focused towards a spot.

Huh?

A figure was there, a reddish glow.

It was her.

MY HOPE!!! With this, he could just leave the beating for her to handle.

Go! Go! Magical girl!

The girl popped her head over the bushes. Checking left, checking right. She pushed herself up…

–And tripped.

Again, she raised…

–and tripped.

She doesn’t seem fine though…

hm? Another figure entered the frame.

Black. Long. Wiggling.

HMM?!

A tentacle. Lurking.

Only a feeble bush stood between the two. The girl hadn't noticed the tentacles' approach.

“Shit!” Toshiya stepped over the wall.

And ran.

Stupid. It was a stupid decision; Damn that tentacle. Damn that barrier. Damn #-chan. Damned his night with Nami!

Sneakers pounded the ground. Eyes locked onto one thing.

The shotgun.

“Damn it all!” He held a tear.

He braked. Stop. Grabbed the handle.

“Come! On!” One foot pushed away the slider–and kept slipping off. Shoulders as tense as it could be. Burns seeped into both palms.

“Stupiddd! Shotgunnn!!” Breath scraping the throat.

It doesn’t budge.

Shit! He changed his grip.

And pulled–

BANG!!!

….

…Eh?

A pink flashed.

= = = = =

What was that?

…WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?

A loud boom? The park center? Sounds familiar.

Should I check it?

shuffle, shuffle–a shadow passed by.

Black. Long.

Shit! Sanami shoved her head back–bushes pricked her face. It hurt.

shuffle, shuffle–it went away.

“...That’s really close." She whispered into both hands.

Thankfully the tentacles didn’t have eyes–although, can its core be considered eyes, she wondered?

Ouch! Her elbow burned–a scrape.

Damn those tentacles. She couldn’t even lift herself up now. Her knees stings, and who knows where her other shotgun went.

Enough with that though; where’s the tentacle heading? Did they hear the bang too?–even with no ears? In any case, she needed to know.

She peeked over the bushes. Left. Right.

No tentacle in sight. Great.

She focused on the park’s center. The meshed of tentacles wiggled towards the playground castle–a figure was near the slider. Light blue hair–hoodie.

Huh?!

Wasn’t it that bystander?

“What the hell are you doing there?! I told you to leave, and you go to the toilet!! And now you’re just exposing yourself?!?!" She felt like crunching into metal now.

Annoying. Just thinking about that guy's stupidity irritates her already grimy hair.

Then her eyes caught it–metallic barrel, white rod with pink adornments.

W-Wait!! Is that my shotgun?!! Did it get chucked into the slider?

Was that guy trying to pull it out?

She looked back at the tentacles. They wriggled–slowly. Seemingly gazing at the guy.

They shrunk.

Tensioning.

Tightened.

Swift! They pushed the air.

Each tentacle’s a homing missile.

Their target: that stupid guy.

Shit! Sanami yanked her lever. Aim. And–

BANG!! One tip popped–disintegrate.

They paused.

She yanked the lever–again. Aim.

UGH!!! Seemed like she couldn’t take any break anytime soon. She was planning on hiding until she recovered. And that guy just greatly ruined it all.

A minute left. She still got her red coating. A minute or something was all she had left.

Sorry, Yuyu… It seemed she had to skip the promised curry. And maybe even the sleepover.

BANG!!