Magical Girl Pretty Advent

"My name is Fuyu, and I bid you welcome to the True World."

The words that came from the black haired woman confused Haruka as it made no sense to her. She wasn't sure what the woman wanted from her, the woman didn't look like she needed anything from Haruka and yet the woman seemed abnormally blissful seeing her.

"True World? What is that?" a sked Haruka directly.

Fuyu toned her grin down to a smirk at the question, however that sense of excitement still lingered on her face, clearly showing that she hadn't completely calmed herself down.

Haruka could sense it, and she was rather uncomfortable about it.

"This is the True World, the embodiment of all human feelings throughout the world." Fuyu began to explain, "In this place, the true nature of humanity is revealed and takes shape in the form of demons."

"Are you trying to make fun of me?" Haruka questioned in a slightly threatening tone.

Fuyu merely chuckled at the remark.

"If you decide to think so, go ahead." said Fuyu before she looked at her surroundings, "But perhaps you'd like to take a look around and think twice. After all, does your world even look like this?"

Haruka was initially a bit hesitant to do so, but she decided to turn her head and observe her surrounding regardless. Indeed, this place had a strange atmosphere about it. The air felt rather heavy, the grasses, trees and practically everything else that was not the two of them looked part of the backdrop of a theatrical show rather than something realistic.

The weirdest thing of all was perhaps the train which was still on a track.

The view was strangely familiar, and Haruka did not know why. Perhaps it was merely déjà vu.

"So? Still doubting that this is a different world from yours?" asked Fuyu, teasing Haruka's emotions.

Haruka did not immediately look back at Fuyu as the latter asked her question, but instead her face remained clouded with doubt that still wandered in her mind.

Fuyu realized this, and she enjoyed it.

"Of course, it is fine if you do not believe it. After all, it's not like this will be the last time we meet each other."

The last thing Haruka heard before she returned to the normal world was a chuckle from the black-haired woman. The eerie voice lasted in her head for quite a while before she returned to her senses.

The train, which was oddly still before suddenly moved again as if nothing had happened.

It was certainly a strange experience for Haruka.

For a moment, Haruka merely stayed still at her position as if she was trying to understand what had just happened. The world she saw earlier was definitely not the real world, and yet it didn't feel like an illusion either.

'Was I daydreaming?' Haruka briefly thought before noticing that the luxurious car by her side had already passed the railway.

Haruka sighed in defeat. She did not want to give it too much thought for now. Right now, she needed to attend her first day of school without being late.

Meanwhile, from within the luxurious car, a young girl of Haruka's age with long black hair observed the red-haired tomboy from afar. She wore the same uniform as Haruka.

Sitting by the girl was a black-haired maid that looked older than her. The maid resembled the young girl, except her hair was shorter and she wore a pair of glasses.

"You seemed perplexed, ojou-sama." asked the maid, slightly curious. She knew that it was rare for the young lady to be fixated on a certain someone. In fact, she knew how many guys tried to hit on her, all with disappointing results.

And yet the black-haired girl seemed interested in this tomboyish girl.

"Can't you tell, Ichika-neesan? Something about that girl is different." The black-haired young lady responded, "It's like she emitted a powerful, otherworldly aura."

Then, as if remembering something, the young lady quickly looked back at the maid.

"And what's with that 'ojou-sama'!? You're my older sister, didn't I tell you to call me by my name!?" the long black haired lady protested.

The maid followed with a sigh, "Whatever you want, Reika-ojousama." Ichika decided to tease her younger sister a little more.

"Come on, drop the honorific already! It sounds weird having you say that..." complained Reika in disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e before she looked back at Haruka, who had begun to ride her bicycle again.

"Aren't you a little too obsessed with that girl?" asked Ichika while glancing at her little sister. A teasing grin spread across her face, "Oh, don't tell me. Has her handsome, prince-like appearance charmed our little princess?"

Ichika didn't need any confirmation that her little sister was blushing. It was rather obvious given how Reika suddenly let out a quiet gasp from her mouth.

"I-it's not like that, I swear! I-I do not roll that way!" and true to Ichika's expectation, Reika was blushing while trying to respond to her elder sister.

Ichika merely chuckled at her sister's stuttered answer.

"It's not like that…" Reika still tried to convince her sister, but her voice was notably much quieter.

"Alright, alright. Whatever you say." Ichika finally stopped her teasing. And with that, Reika finally turned her eyes away from Haruka.

"Still, it would be interesting if she is also one of those girls." Reika remarked as she fixed her hair. That remark turned Ichika's gentle expression into a serious one.

"Then are we going to get closer to find our answer?" asked Ichika, trying her best to stay calm.

"Hopefully." Reika swiped her hair, revealing a hidden black earring attached to her left ear. "Nee-san, I hope that you will entrust this to me until the very end."

Ichika only nodded. Ichika knew nothing of what Reika meant, but being distrustful to her own sister was the last thing Ichika wanted to do. She knew full and well that Reika was anything but a liar. Ichika could see the determination seeping Reika's expression, something that the maid herself lacked.

"We will find her, and dad won't have to be sad anymore."

---

Several minutes later, Haruka finally reached the gate of her high school.

Contrary to what its name implied, Shintei High School didn't really show any sign of luxury or esotericism. At best, it was rather small compared to most high schools in larger cities.

It doesn't stop Haruka from feeling excited.

The tomboyish girl quickly parked her bike. It was still early in the morning, so Haruka didn't notice too many high schooler passing by.

As she thought of her situation, Haruka realized that she practically knew everyone who was going to attend the school. The town was small and anyone who socializes well could easily know everyone who lives in the town in just a few months.

The first student Haruka saw was a slender looking male student with a short violet hair. His name was Ikunosuke Kominato. She had known him since they were still in elementary school. His family sold the best sweets and candies in the town and would always sell out during the summer festival.

"Kominato-kun!" Haruka greeted the violet-haired boy.

"Ah, Haruka-san." Ikunosuke turned his head toward the tomboy and answered her greeting softly. "Didn't expect you to come this early. Then again, of course you'd come so early in the morning."

"Of course I did." called Haruka as she picked up her bag from her bicycle, "Life is tough for the lazy ones."

"I can't deny that." Ikunosuke chuckled at Haruka's statement.

"By the way, have you practiced karate?" asked Haruka.

The question turned Ikunosuke's chuckle into an awkward laughter.

"Oh, come on!" Haruka uttered in disappointment, "It's not like I can protect you all the time. Besides…"

With her left hand over her c.h.e.s.t and her right eye winked, Haruka made the best gal pose she could.

"Isn't it the prince's job to protect the princess?" said the tomboyish girl with a flirtatious tone that didn't suit her boy like features.

"The feminists would like to have a word about that." Ikunosuke replied in a joking tone.

They both laughed in unison for a short while.

Their laughter came to an abrupt stop at the sight of a luxurious car coming by. It was the same car Haruka saw earlier.

"That car…" Haruka muttered, but still loud enough for Ikunosuke to hear.

"You know it?" The violet-haired boy asked.

"No." Haruka, in turn, shook her head, "I just saw it this morning."

From the car, a long, black haired girl came out with the maid following behind her. They seemed to have been chatting for quite a while.

"A maid, with eyeglasses more so…" Ikunosuke blushed, obviously attracted to the black haired maid.

"Want to hit on her?" whispered Haruka, lightly teasing him, "Come on, girls may like artistic guys, but what they like even more is a brave guy!"

Seeing how Ikunosuke was still rather doubtful, Haruka decided to tap on his shoulder.

"Just think of it as a once-in-a-lifetime chance." said Haruka before she made a wide grin. "I'll accompany you if that'll make you feel safer. Might as well use this opportunity to introduce myself to them."

As Haruka expected, she was successful in giving the slender boy resolution in his heart.

"O-okay!" The violet-haired boy stuttered before he walked up to the black-haired pair. Haruka decided to follow him as well.

Soon, they were close enough that they could hear what the black-haired siblings were chatting about.

"Then take care of- oh." Ichika seemed like she was about to end the chit-chat before she noticed the violet-haired boy and the red-haired tomboyish girl she saw back then.

"Good morning." greeted Haruka and Ikunosuke at almost the same time. The two sisters quickly turned their head toward the duo.

"Ah, if it isn't the prince charming you stared at this morning, ojou-sama." Ichika remarked calmly, which caused her younger sister to blush a little.

"P-prince charming!?" Reika panicked as she turned toward her sister, "And didn't I tell you not use the honorific? It could cause a misunderstanding!"

Then, still in a panic, Reika turned her attention back toward the tomboyish girl and the slender boy.

"P-please forgive our rudeness. My name is Reika Tamauji." Reika introduced herself before pointing at her elder sister. "This is my sister, Ichika Tamauji."

"P.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you both." Ichika bowed.

"Nice to meet you too." Haruka began to introduce herself, "I'm Haruka Kudo."

"My name is Ikunosuke Kominato." The slender boy introduced himself, "P.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you all."

"P.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you too." Ichika replied before continuing, "Please take care of my younger sister. She is a bit clumsy at times, so I'm quite concerned when it comes to leaving her alone."

"Nee-san, I'll be fine." Said Reika trying to convince her sister. "Just put your trust in me."

"Alright." Ichika nodded before she bowed at Haruka and Ikunosuke, signaling that she'd be leaving the place soon.

Not wanting to miss his chance, Ikunosuke quickly looked at Ichika and asked with an almost shouting voice. "Actually, can we talk for a moment!?"

Ichika was surprised at the question, but she decided to listen anyway. Seeing this as her mark to leave, Haruka turned toward Reika.

"Tamauji, umm… Reika-san, want to have a chat together while heading for the class?" Haruka offered to the black haired girl.

"Sure!"