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“Hey, wouldn’t this flower look good on you?”
“Oh, will it?”
“Sure! Here, let me put it on. Looks good, doesn’t it?”
“I see…”
…
“Hey, what’s that on your head, Ren?”
“A flower…”
“That’s against school policy, take it off.”
“!?”
“Besides, it’s a fake.”
…
In the present day, Ren stares at the flower-adorned hairpin that was given to her earlier in the afternoon. A gift from a precious friend. Flipping it back and forth, she remembers what Rika told her about it.
“I noticed you keep flowers in your hair a lot, so I decided to get you this hairpin! It’s a pretty pearl white color, isn’t it?”
In spite of this kindness, memories of the past bite at Ren, of how a fake flower was pointed out.
“Hey Ren, is that you? Let’s go meet up with Emiri at the Consultation Office.”
“…” Ren turns to the girl talking and pauses before responding, “I’ll… meet up later… I have something to do…”
She quickly pockets the hairpin before running off. Just as quickly as she leaves her friend, however, she bumps into another familiar face.
“Hey, watch it. Oh? It’s you, Ren.”
…
“So you won’t believe this, Emiri,” Konomi sighs as she enters the Consultation Office. A small office in the shopping district set up for magical girls to seek help for their troubles, many girls such as Konomi would come to visit often.
“Tell me!” Emiri cheerfully responds as she pulls up a chair for the flower girl, beckoning her assistant Akira to come over as well.
“You see, I usually wear these sleeves with this pattern on them to school, right? I like it because it reminds me of flowers,” Konomi explains, indicating the scalloped sleeves of her school uniform, to which Emiri and Akira nod, “anyways, it’s not really a problem because it looks close to what the standard uniform is at our school, Emiri. However, today one of the teachers told me that it was too flashy and I had to change it out.”
“Really? That sort of thing?” Akira questions. “That’s such a small detail to bother with…”
“I know, right?” Konomi complains, “although I think Rena had a similar experience. I heard her talking about how a teacher told her to change the blue bow she wears back to the standard tie we use.”
“Could be the same one,” Akira notes. “But it does sound pretty strict.”
“Is the uniform policy supposed to be strict?” Emiri questions.
“Says the one wearing these!” Konomi exclaims, lifting up and pulling at the pink sleeves that Emiri wore, which were clearly off from the school uniform’s original design.
“You wear those, too,” Akira adds, pointing at the ladybug pin and the metal bracelets that Emiri wore on her uniform and wrists. “Have you really never been scolded by a teacher for those?”
“Nope!”
“Seriously?”
“So what’s going on?” a new voice calls out. “Looks like everyone’s crowding around Emiri as usual.”
Konomi and Akira turn to see Rika at the entrance of the Consultation Office.
“Hey Rikappe!” Emiri calls out, trying to wave with her hands restricted by Konomi grabbing her pink sleeves. “What’s up?”
“Hm, not much,” Rika answers, tugging at her sleeve.
“It has been a pretty slow day, hasn’t it?” Akira chimes in.
“Yeah, it didn’t seem like much was happening until I came in,” Konomi declares.
“Hey…”
“Ah,” Emiri notes, “something’s bothering Rikappe.”
“You noticed?”
“It’s the Rikappe Mood Detector!” Emiri exclaimed, “which lets me tell the mood of a nearby Rikappe. Let’s see here. Bzzt, bzzt, bzzt. Rikappe’s mood is down. Recommended: some time at the Emiri Consultation Center. And a cold drink.”
“Haha. Thanks, Emiri,” Rika answers with a smile, although her general tone did not seem to brighten up as much, “Anyways, let me have a seat. I can tell you today’s problem.”
“Go ahead,” Akira brings up a seat for Rika as Emiri hands today’s client a bottle of chilled water.
…
“So Ren hasn’t been wearing the hairpin you gave her?” Emiri asks.
“Yeah, and I’m worried she doesn’t like it,” Rika answers.
“Oh, oh, was it the one you looked at while we went shopping together last week?”
“Yep.”
“Hm…” Emiri sat down in her seat, deep in thought.
“Maybe she’s just saving it for special occasions?” Akira suggests.
“Maybe…”
“What kind of flower is it?” Konomi asks.
“Oh, a lily. Emiri and I were looking at a whole lot of them,” Rika explains, “the shop had, hm, roses, lilies, carnations, something called dahlias…”
“Wait, that’s a wide selection. I need to head there myself.”
“I picked out a lily because it seemed like it’d be suitable,” Rika continues, “but maybe Ren already has one? I can’t really tell apart the flowers at a glance myself.”
“Oh, I really want to see it now!” Konomi exclaims with sparkling eyes. “Ah, but if she doesn’t wear it, then I can’t see it, can I?”
“You can always ask to see it, I guess,” Akira comments, to which Rika suddenly lights up.
“I could just ask her,” Rika states bluntly.
“Ah, I mean, I guess?” Akira answers, “Would it actually work out?”
“Well, I don’t think we’ll be able to figure it out just sitting here.”
“I suppose so…” the gray-haired girl shrugs, recalling the timid nature of Ren and wondering if a direct approach would work.
“Alright, I’ll head out to ask her, then.” Rika gets up, determined, heading to the door. “Oh hey, Hinano, and…uh…”
Hinano waves at Rika, but Rika is too stunned by the person next to her smaller senpai to respond.
It was Ren.
It seems that Ren was stunned too, as the two of them spend a moment staring blankly at each other as Hinano glances between the both of them.
Ren then turns and runs for it.
“Hey, Ren!” Rika calls out for Ren to stop, but Ren shockingly runs too far for Rika to get her attention. Before Rika can chase after her, however, Hinano calls out to her.
“Wait a bit, Rika! Do you know the whole story behind this?”
“Story? You know more about why Ren’s acting all strange?” Rika asks.
“Not exactly, but it has something to do with the present you and Emiri picked out for her, right?” Hinano answers. “I remember Emiri picking one out for herself, but I’m guessing you bought a hairpin for Ren?”
“Oh, you know the story too?” Emiri pipes in as she joins Hinano and Rika at the entrance of the office. The green-haired girl in the lab coat and school uniform nods.
“As far as I’m aware, Ren got something from Rika that she doesn’t quite like, but I wasn’t able to get her to say why.” Hinano explains. “I suggested going to your place for more advice, Emiri, but I guess she doesn’t want to confront Rika directly about it, which is why she bolted.”
“Ren…doesn’t like it?” Rika echoes in an empty manner.
“Hm…how are we going to find out now?” Emiri asks.
“It’s not much to go on, but I guess you can ask around at the places she frequents?” Hinano suggests, “like school?”
…
<Kamihama City University Affiliated School>
“Ren Isuzu? I’m in a different class, so I don’t really know. Maybe ask someone her age?”
“Sorry, I don’t know about her.”
“It’s alright. Thanks for answering.”
…
“Does Ren wear a hairpin? I don’t know, but if you do that, there’s a particularly annoying teacher that, hey, how are you getting away with wearing all that, Emiri?!”
“Is there seriously a teacher that strict about uniform code?”
“Yeah, Momoko! They’re a real pain!”
“I’ve never seen it. Maybe they teach middle school?”
“We’re both in middle school!”
“Calm down, Rena…”
“How can you not be mad, Kaede! They said your hairpins were too much as well!”
“Oi, seriously…”
…
“So no good information on why Ren doesn’t like your hairpin?” Konomi asks, pouring Rika some tea in the Consultation Office.
“Emiri and I asked a bunch of people at school, but no luck,” Rika notes. “Although Rena blew up over a teacher being strict about accessories.”
“Yeah… I get it…”
“Come to think of it, do you know where Ren gets her flowers from, Konomi?”
“Oh, you noticed that she uses real flowers?”
“Yeah. Took a while since I can’t really tell the flowers apart, but they seemed real to me. Are they from the flower shop you work at?”
“Yep, she gets them from Blossom, of course,” Konomi proudly exclaims, then sheepishly also admits, “as well as a couple of other flower shops, I’m pretty sure. I don’t see her wearing the flowers at school, though.”
“Wait, really?”
“I don’t see her often since we’re in different grades,” Konomi explains, “but if she did wear them, I would’ve been sure to notice her wearing a flower from our shop.”
“Ren does wear a lot of flower designs in her clothing,” Rika comments. “I always assumed she liked them, but come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen her wear anything like that when she’s in uniform.”
“Well, you know how there’s a teacher that’s harsh on uniform accessories, right?” Konomi suggests, to which Rika nods.
Konomi nods in return as Rika returns to being lost in thought, when suddenly they hear a knock on the door.
“Rika, we found where Ren is!” Akira shouts as she enters the office.
“Really?” Rika almost jumps out of her chair, knocking it over.
“Quick, she’s at the bridge near the end of the shopping district.” Akira grabs Rika by the arm. “Emiri is stalling her, so it’s your best shot at getting to her.”
“There’s no time to lose, then. Show me the way,” Rika answers as Akira leads her out of the consultation office, thinking about what she spoke about with Konomi.
…
Ren stands at a bridge, sighing as she stares out into the sunset, taking a rest from running away from the others. Her hand holds the hairpin Rika gave her, having shown it to Emiri after she had pressed her to see it before suddenly running off.
“I’ve been looking for you all day, Ren!”
”!!”
“Don’t run just yet, Ren,” Rika requests, noticing Emiri leaving via the other side of the bridge, “just listen to me.”
Ren pauses, still holding up the hairpin with the white lily.
“You don’t like it because it’s not a real flower, right?” Rika asks, glancing at the hairpin.
Ren’s eyes widen.
“I’ve noticed that you usually wear real flowers whenever you’re outside, but I didn’t know why at the time,” Rika explains, “but when I asked around at school, I learned that a lot of people got in trouble for wearing accessories with their uniform. That happened to you, didn’t it?”
Gripping the hairpin in her fist, Ren stays quiet, but her heart beats quickly while Rika continues.
“I want to tell her…”
“Honestly, I get why you wouldn’t want to wear it at school, since I understand that being flashy can sometimes draw bad attention,” Rika continues, “but I didn’t expect it to really hurt you that way.”
“She knows why I don’t like them, but…”
“Anyways, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I can take it back if y-watch out!”
A shadowy being lunges towards Ren. Ren dodges thanks to Rika’s warning, but something smacks her hand. Flinching, Ren looks at her assailant: an unknown Familiar, one of many minions of the Witches that magical girls hunt.
“A Witch’s familiar? Come on, now’s not the time…” Rika says before pausing, noticing Ren staring at the Familiar. Taking a closer look at it, she realizes that in its grip is the hairpin that she gave Ren. “Oh…”
Ren rushes off after it as the thieving Familiar flees the scene. Shouting after her, Rika also gives chase.
“Ren, stop! You don’t need to chase after it!” Rika yells out, “I can get you something else. Something you like more!”
The footsteps of the two girls are second to the silence of Ren ignoring Rika’s shouts. The alley feels endless as the duo chase down the familiar. Eventually, Rika stops at the entrance to the labyrinth, watching Ren dive into a Witch’s territory without a second thought, intent on pursuing the Familiar.
“Seriously?”
…
“Even though it’s a fake…
I can’t just let it disappear…
It’s a precious gift from her…”
Ren continues to run after the Familiar, unaware of her surroundings. As the distance grows wider, Ren’s footsteps begin to echo through the labyrinth while Rika’s protests fade from the background.
As her mind wanders, Ren fails to notice herself slowly but swiftly being surrounded by Familiars. Before she notices it, both the Witch of the labyrinth and the Familiars are staring her down. Ren slowly shifts her gaze between each Familiar, trying to spot the one that stole the hairpin.
“Not here…or there…not this one…”
One of the familiars launches itself at her. Ren dodges out of the way, but is then forced to scramble out of the way as others begin launching magic attacks at her. In the midst of the assault, Ren transforms, donning her white and blue kimono-like magical girl outfit and wielding a staff with a spiral-like tip and wing at the end. Parrying the Familiars diving at her, Ren battles the wave of enemies in a smooth manner. Or perhaps, she’s frantic.
“I would normally freeze up, being put in a sudden situation like this,” Ren would later think to herself, “but in that moment, all I could think of was the gift she gave to me.”
Her eyes dart from one familiar to another, all the time avoiding dangerous beam attacks fired off by one Familiar, while batting away others with her staff. Eventually, Ren’s eyes spot a glint, and her gaze falls upon one familiar in the far back, scurrying to its Witch. She pauses to focus on it, recognizing that Familiar type matching the one that stole the hairpin, and soon she notices it holding the white lily hairpin.
In an instant, Ren spins her staff in her palm, manifesting a scythe blade that she uses to cut up the Familiars that continue to charge at her. Locking onto the Familiar gifting the hairpin to its Witch, Ren runs across the room of the labyrinth. Either miraculously or through Ren’s own skills, none of the defending servants of the Witch are capable of landing a hit on Ren.
“GIVE IT BACK!!”
Ren jumps forth and viciously swings her scythe at the Familiar that handed over the hairpin to its Witch, cleaving it in two and causing it to fade into black mist. However, the Witch itself was a completely different foe. As Ren moves to strike at the Witch, the Witch retaliates in its own style, swiftly hitting back with greater force. The two of them clash, with Ren quickly being forced back as the eldritch Witch’s larger stature allows it to muscle through the more diminutive Ren. Refusing to back down, Ren lands on the ground and morphs her scythe back into its staff form, firing blue fireballs of spiritual power at the Witch. To fight back, the Witch extends several tendrils from itself, smacking away the fireballs like a whip. As the battle continues, Ren notices the Witch holding the hairpin with one of its tendrils. Sending out another flurry of fireballs at the Witch, she slowly plots her move to dash in and cut the tendril with her scythe in order to steal it back…
At that moment, a Familiar shoots Ren in the back with a beam.
Losing her focus, Ren falls to her knees, one arm breaking her fall just in time to notice the Witch bearing down on her with a giant tendril. Ren rolls out of the way, but is bombarded by more magical beams from the Familiars, who have opted to stay at a safe distance and overwhelm her with numbers. Scrambling to protect herself from the debris kicked up by the attacks, Ren tries to spot the hairpin, but her vision blurs as her body reels in pain through the constant pressure.
“Even if it’s just a fake flower…”
Suddenly, a brilliant red light flies overhead and strikes the Witch. Reeling back in pain, the Witch lets out a loud, shrill cry, alerting the Familiars. Stopping their assault on Ren, the enemies dart back and forth trying to find the new attacker, which provides Ren with time to shakily stand up and look around as well.
It is Rika.
With heavy breaths, she marches towards Ren, her path cleared by the light from the mirror she uses as a magical girl. In response, Ren musters up all her energy to shout out to her.
“I want it!”
Rika blinks, surprised.
“I don’t care that it’s a fake!
It’s a precious gift from you!
So even if it’s a fake, I still want to keep it!”
Gasping for breath, Ren gazes at Rika with tears in her eyes. Rika pauses, then nods at Ren, holding out her hand.
“No problem, Ren. I’ll support you all the way. Now, let’s go get that hairpin back!”
Ren nods back, and grabs hold of Rika’s hand. The two then turn their attention to the Witch with the hairpin and its many Familiars.
…
“Bzzt! Bzzt! Emiri’s Witch Detector stopped detecting the Witch,” Emiri flatly states.
“Yeah, the Witch’s signal suddenly disappeared,” Akira muses.
“Hey, look over there!” Konomi points.
The trio find Rika and Ren walking towards them. Rika smiles at them, holding up a Grief Seed.
Ren also smiles at them, her hair adorned with a shining flower hairpin.