Several days had passed in relative quiet. Or, what passed for relative quiet in Mitakihara’s new normal. 3:26 AM, right outside of the only checkpoint remaining for supplies in and out of the city. A large, unmarked, plain white truck approached the station where the lone pair of JSDF guards kept watch. Neither looked too concerned. The driver stopped at the gate, and one guard got out of the booth to inspect the vehicle. Recognizing the driver from a long time of delivering goods to and from the city, the guard was lax in the inspection. Half-joking questions about smuggling or explosives, met with equally sarcastic replies. Some banter followed, before the guard’s tone turned serious. It was dangerous inside the city, and the JSDF soldiers could not follow due to the chaos and instability inside. The driver understood; that damned video was everywhere, after all. The gate was opened, and the truck cleared to enter. Not a moment before the last set of tires crossed the threshold, the gate slammed shut, locks put back into place. It was quiet, uneventful even. The city looked peaceful, but not as if it were asleep. To this driver, Mitakihara looked as good as dead. As soon as the thought came and went, the truck came to a screeching halt, avoiding collision with a pedestrian who jumped out at the last moment. The driver had no words. Reaching down for a pistol, but not quickly enough. The bang echoed through the silence before a hand even made it to the weapon, and the driver collapsed in a heap on the other seat. The assailant, a slender figure in a dark grey hoodie.

Looter: Too easy. You tried though, old timer, I’ll give you that. (a young man’s voice. He waved his hand, motioning for others to surround the truck.) Make it fast. We don’t want to chance any “good samaritans” like what happened to those poor fucks in the park last week.

Five hooded figures in total, all seemingly teenagers or young adults. The person who stopped the truck stood guard in front of it, keeping a watch for other vehicles. Another circled to the passenger side door. The other two circled around to the back to inspect the supplies, and the gunman pulled open the driver’s seat to check and confirm the driver’s death. Before reaching the driver, however, a loud grunt and a pained groan came from the back, followed by what sounded like rock hitting the asphalt.

Looter: What the fuck…?

Stepping out of the truck, the ringleader motioned for the person at the passenger side to circle around back at the same time. The two saw the collapsed, unconscious forms of their partners, and an open cargo bed filled with boxes of various foodstuffs and medical supplies. 

Looter: The fuck happened to you two? Hit your heads on the doors again? C’mon, let’s just unload this shit and get out of here. Already made too much noise.

???: (a cute, childlike voice called out from the roof of the truck.) Maaaaybe you shoulda used a quieter weapon! Something a little more subtle. Like… (jumping down from the truck, a young girl, dressed in a red, hooded cloak and a grey dress that stopped at her knees, and long, brown leather boots that closed the gap. She brought down the dull side of what looked like a crystalline battleaxe against the leader’s partner, who crumpled in a heap beside the other two.) …something you can swing, that doesn’t go “bang bang bang~”

Looter: (the gang’s leader quickly pulled and pointed the same gun used to attack the driver between the girl’s eyes.) Who the fuck are you, kid?! Isn’t it past your bedtime?!

Kiwako: Kiwa-chan. (she sighed, raising her weapon.) Don’t call me “kid” or anything else like that.  

No words in reply. Another bang. The gun had shifted to aim at the girl’s shoulder, though she didn’t flinch. Another sigh, and she swung her axe with far more strength than a girl her age or size reasonably should have. The attacker jumped back, though the tip of the axe grazed the assailant’s stomach. Gripping the torn fabric, a frustrated groan escaped, and more shots rang out through the night. The girl, however, showed no reaction. None, until a bullet grazed the small gem ornament resting on her chest. Her eyes went wide, almost manic, swirling with a gleaming, iridescent darkness and this time, she swung with intent. The blade sunk into the robber’s chest, and the girl pushed her would-be assassin to the ground. The noise caused the last member of the heist to come running, to inspect the noise from what should have been a routine job. Instead, what the lookout saw were three unconscious bodies, and one dead, a bright blue axe buried in the leader’s chest. A serious, grim expression darkened the girl’s face, and she didn’t bother waiting to give an explanation, nor for the last member of this crew to draw a weapon. Two small hand axes appeared out of seemingly nothing, and both were tossed with blinding speed. One hit the scout in the chest, the other buried right between the eyes.

Kiwako: …

This time, the girl conjured another large battleaxe. One by one, she went to each downed robber, swinging her weapon down at their necks. Three swift, precise swings, and the entire gang was gone. Kiwako took a moment to catch her breath, eyes loosely closed and eyelids fluttering. She slowly counted to ten out loud, at a whisper, then let her weapons dissipate into the night air. Walking calmly around to the driver’s side door, she peered inside, spying shallow breathing and weak movements. A slow nod, and she returned to the cargo. Pulling out one of the medical kits, she would make her way back around. The driver couldn’t see her from this position, so she dressed the wound in silence. It was deep, but not fatal. Emergency crews would find him by sunrise, if the border guards didn’t already call in for backup from the noise. Leaving her work finished after a few minutes, she took one more deep breath, counting eleven before her typical, cheery smile returned to her face. Reaching into her skirt pocket, she pulled out a smartphone, tapping at the screen before holding it to her ear.

Kiwako: …Come ooooon, partner, pick up already…

It was quite unheard of to find any land within striking distance of Tokyo that was not developed, let alone one that could even remotely be called “rural” in any capacity. Yet, in one such locale, a field, reality had warped and bent. A hellscape of endless wheat stalks, taller than most office buildings and as dense as the Amazon Rainforest, sky auburn and clear, and the lamenting sobs of the ruler of such a domain. It sat in the center of the field, a small, pressed circular pattern at its feet. The creature had the head of a cow, contorted from twisted memory of a life that no longer belonged to it, and stitches up and down in chaotic, meaningless fashion along what one could argue was a humanoid body, if the word “human” were more loosely defined. Limbs displaced and attached haphazardly, unable to even orient itself into a properly standing position. Several minutes of frustration followed before another harsh, agonized shriek filled the space. At this point, the Queen’s lone visitor had heard enough. A column of wind spiraling upward lifted the Witch high into the crimson sky, and a stream of ivory rapiers followed. The attacks were not seen, but the silence of the newborn Witch told the Magical Girl who entered this barrier all she needed to know. Before long, the space was gone, completely. Once it was, a quiet, cheery tone would play, and the girl would answer her phone.

Hanako: …Yes?

Kiwako: (an extremely saccharine voice squeaks through on the other end of the line) Lily-chan! Did you make it, did you make it?!

Hanako: Mm. I’m here, just down the road from my target. I was accosted by a Witch, but she was a newborn. Didn’t even put up a fight…

Kiwako: Lily-chaaaaan, there’s that sad tone again. Are you telling me you feel sorry for a Witch? Whose side are you ooon anyway~?

Hanako: It’s hard not to, Kiwa-chan. When they’re new like this, they still seem to remember the trauma that pushed them over the edge. …It’s why I gave her a swift end.

Kiwako: Ehe~ Well, that’s good, then. You’re making peace with that side of us far quicker than most of my friends did! Except Masako-chan, she—

Hanako: Focus, Kiwa-chan. What about you? Are you in position?

Kiwako: Ye~p! Ran into a little trouble, but I took care of it. Just like she said, huh? Tooold ya my source was reliable!

Hanako: …Please tell me you didn’t actually kill them. (Silence, and roughly one minute passes.) …Kiwa-chan!

Kiwako: You said not to tell you, Lily-chan!

Hanako: (Hanako sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose.) Okay, okay. Self-defense necessitates such action sometimes. I’m better off not knowing if that is the truth of it or not. I’m headed towards my destination now. …Be safe, will you? And try not to end any more fights like that…

Kiwako: Okaaaay~ Jeeeeez~ Super Secret Spy Mission Start! I’ll contact you when I get to Paradise, Secret Agent Lily-Chan!

Hanako: Spy…? I thought this was routine, as in, seeking out our friends to impart the knowledge—

Kiwako: Lily-chaaan!!! I can play Spy if I want to! Okaygoodlucksayhitoeveryoneformeokayseeyabyebye!!! 

Hanako: (the call abruptly ends, and Hanako pockets her phone) …How cruel of your source, to not let me arrive but a minute faster. But, I suppose some things will never change, will they?

Hanako found herself standing alongside an abandoned, half-destroyed farm. Down the road in one direction saw the highway that brought Hanako here. Turning to face the other direction, Hanako saw her destination. A small roadside inn on the horizon, and Hanako began to walk slowly towards it. Hanako dismissed her Puella form when she was confident no cars were in sight in either direction. She wore a simple white blouse, neat pearl-colored buttons resting perfectly in a vertical line, an emerald-green vest over it, and a matching long skirt that stopped at her ankles, black dress shoes visible underneath. It took her a little while to reach the inn, but once she did, she made a beeline for the front desk, gently placing a small photograph she pulled from within her vest on top.

Hanako: Excuse me, ma’am. I was wondering if you have seen the girls in this photograph? They are my friends, and we were separated a short while ago.

Innkeeper: (adjusting the thick rimmed glasses on her face, the older, heavier-set woman takes a careful look at the photo, then nods slowly.) Well, you’re in luck, miss! They just checked in a few minutes ago! Top of the stairs, straight down the hall.

Hanako: (a warm smile lights her face.) Thank you, that is most helpful. I’ll go see them right away. (she starts to walk away as the innkeeper waves behind her.) …It’s been far too long.