Magical Girl Pretty Advent

Still within the True World, a figure in a black cloak walked on a road leading to what seemed like an alternate version of the Kokkuri town's shopping district. From her point of view, the lake on the southmost part of the town could be seen reflecting the radiance of ominous sun.

The figure was obviously female as the cloak failed to hide her body shape. A pair of horns stretched out from her head, indicating that she was not a human, her right hand seemed to be missing, with only her left hand being completely visible.

The female figure strode through, not paying any attention towards her surroundings, however, she stopped abruptly before a large shrine entrance leading to the lake. Her eyes were set on several empty bottles which still smelled rather strong. She picked one up and sniffed the tip of the bottle.

"Yes, it's definitely him, alright." She uttered to nobody as she put the bottle in one of the pockets on hidden within her cloak. The female with a horn continued her journey, seemingly in a rush.

Several meters behind her was another female, a girl in her teens. She has short, green hair and interestingly enough, she wore the female uniform of Shintei High School. The only notable difference from the normal schoolwear was that she wore a pink choker on her neck.

"Um, where are we heading again?" asked the green-haired girl.

The cloaked female sighed in defeat.

"Are you kidding me…" The cloaked figure muttered to herself before she turned back, "I thought I told you to not follow me! What's wrong with you!?"

"Well, I'm sorry for not having anyone else to follow!" responded the green-haired girl rudely at the cloaked figure, "Do you think I'm stupid enough to just be with myself in some unknown place?"

"Well, you're an idiot for following a stranger!" rebutted the cloaked figure back."If I were someone else, who knows what would I do to you."

"So does that mean you won't do anything bad to me?"

The cloaked figure facepalmed.

"What did I just- you know what, never mind." said the female in cloak, "Just follow me. The last thing I can afford is having you wandering around someplace where I can't reach you."

"I won't!" The green haired girl pouted.

Before the green-haired girl could say anything else, the cloaked figure moved again. The green-haired girl decided to follow.

"By the way, what is this place? It seemed like Kokkuri, yet it isn't at the same time." the girl asked.

"I'm surprised you don't know about True World, Jo'on Minazuki." replied the cloaked female, "Given how you had once visited this place when you were younger."

"What- how did you even know my name?" Jo'on asked again in more confusion.

"That is because we have met before." the cloaked figure decided to reveal her face. She had the exact same facial and hair features as the green haired girl before her with the only exception being a pair of horns on her head.

"Tell me, does the name 'Fuyu' sound familiar?"

---

"Haruka-san!?" asked Reika as she got up from the floor before noticing another girl similar to Haruka, "And you are…"

Inari bowed before introducing herself.

"Nice to meet you in person, Reika-san. I'm Haruka Kudo's Demon, Inari Okami."

"Haruka-san's Demon? Does that mean…" Reika asked in surprise before looking at Haruka, "Don't tell me, you haven't…"

Haruka, who was completely confused with the situation, merely tilted her head. Reika, for all the clumsiness she had shown this morning, seemed like she had a lot of experience about this world and didn't seem to be frightened of her surroundings.

"I'm afraid that Haruka hasn't done it yet." replied the fox lady calmly. The reply was so sudden that it snapped Haruka out of her silence.

"Huh? I haven't what?" asked Haruka, completely losing it.

"Forming the contract." Inari quickly explained, "You see, Pretty Advents are-"

However, before Inari managed to shed some light on Haruka's question, the roof near them collapsed to reveal a half-n.a.k.e.d muscular man with spiky blonde hair and a pair of red horn wearing red, traditional japanese trousers to cover the lower half of his body. On his back was a large sake gourd with the kanji 'Ooe' written on it. Reika immediately stepped back at the sight of the newcomer.

Haruka recognized that face, but she was surprised regardless.

"Togakushi-san?" Haruka uttered.

"Actually, he would be his Demon." Inari corrected.

"Is that all you got, girly!?" The blonde Demon shouted in arrogance toward Reika. "I thought you were quite a challenge, but it turns out that you're just another newbie who don't even understand her true power."

Then, without any care for the world, the blonde Demon approached the group before stopping near them and crossed his arms.

"Inari, huh? Been a while since I last saw you wandering around. What, the rooftop isn't so entertaining anymore?" The blonde Demon asked before laughing boisterously toward Inari.

"It would have been so,Shu-kun." Responded Inari as she turned her face toward Haruka. "But then she got pulled into this world."

"Huh. So I assume you're another girl who felt like becoming a Magical Girl." Said Shu as he also looked toward Haruka, much to the latter's discomfort. "Name's Shuten-Doji, the big bad from Mount Ooe. This girl Inari here calls me Shu at all time, so feel free to address me as such."

"Nice to meet you too, Shu-san. I am Haruka Kudo." responded Haruka, her body was rigid as if not even Shuten's intimidating posture and wild personality frightened her.

Shuten noticed this, and burst back into laughter of satisfaction.

"Quite a response there, young girl!" said Shuten as he gradually stopped laughing, "You got gut for someone without any power. You'll definitely make a great Magical Girl."

"Not interested."

The simple yet straightforward answer from Haruka successfully took Shu aback. By Haruka's side, Inari only shrugged at the answer.

"As expected." said Inari.

"What!? That's a waste of great potential!" Shu shouted at Haruka, yet she only seemed a little bit annoyed.

"I'm not planning on involving myself into something that I have no understanding about." responded Haruka, "Besides, all I'm here for is to find Reika-san."

The aforementioned person turned toward the tomboy.

"But Haruka-san, it's dangerous for you to stay here for too long, especially since you don't have the power of Pretty Advent!" Reika warned. "Beside, how did you even entered this world without using Pretty Advent at all!?"

Haruka noticed that Reika's face was stern and serious, unlike the shy and clumsy side she showed back in the morning.

"I… don't know." Haruka tried to answer Reika's question. "I was just walking out of the gymnasium when suddenly, here I am."

"That's-"

"Possible, actually." Inari interjected Reika's word before the latter finished what she wanted to say, "Some people are born with higher perception of the supernatural. I'm sure you have heard of the psychic power, Reika-san."

"But that's preposterous! I thought only people with Pretty Advent can access this world!" Replied Reika, which only makes Inari and Shuten shook their head.

"Huh? What makes you think that, girly?" Shuten asked with a slightly insulting tone, "Practically, everyone can enter this world if they have the ability to see and perceive the supernatural."

"Pretty Advent is only one of so many powers in this universe, Tamauji-san." Inari added to the explanation as she closed her eyes and crossed her arms as well. "A power beyond human comprehension indeed, but in the end, it's only a drop of water in the endless sea. Furthermore, it's just a power you borrow anyway."

Reika lowered her head as if she was surprised at the revelation.

"I see…" The black-haired girl muttered.

Inari sighed. She felt that this would be more tiresome than expected.

"In any case, Tamauji-san was right that this world is too dangerous for you." Inari turned toward Haruka. Inari herself didn't want to involve Haruka any further, so her best bet was to send the tomboy back to her world.

Unfortunately, and as much as she hated it, Inari knew what Haruka would say next.

"I'm not leaving without Reika-san!" Haruka insisted.

"Oh. Does that mean you'll also become my drinking company forever?" Shuten grinned in great joy at the prospect of having more friend to get drunk with. Both Haruka and Inari turned toward Shuten in surprise.

"Drinking company?" Asked Haruka with a tense face. "Wait, don't tell me…"

"Yes, she is." Shuten shrugged like it was nothing to be concerned about. "We made a wage, she lost, and I am merely claiming my prize."

Haruka was angered by the statement for some reason.

"A human's life is not something to be wagered of!"

"Tell that to the raven girly by your side." Shuten responded calmly. The shock was clear on Haruka's face as she turned toward Reika.

"Reika-san…" Haruka muttered, not believing what she had just heard. Reika only turned her face away while showing a bitter expression.

Haruka wasn't sure how to feel about this. Part of her wanted to scold Reika for her recklessness, but the other part of her felt like she had just understood something about the black-haired girl.

And of course, as part of Haruka's true self, Inari also quickly understood.

"I don't want to jump to any conclusion yet, but if Tamauji-san is willing to put her own freedom at stake, then I believe what she d.e.s.i.r.ed is something of great value to her." said the fox girl, practically voicing what Haruka had in her mind. "Don't you agree, Haruka?"

"Hm." Haruka nodded, "I don't want to judge her yet. I might even do the same if I were in her position."

Those words caused Reika to turn her face back to Haruka. The raven-haired girl's eyes were teary, like she was about to burst to cry.

"So, Want to be part of my crook?" Shuten interrupted without any care, "I mean, having one or two more friends to drink with doesn't sound bad. The more, the merrier."

"I'm sorry, but I have to refuse." Haruka answered. "As much as it sounds like fun, I don't feel like being part of an drunkard crowd. Beside, I'm still a minor."

"Oh, so you're leaving?" Shuten teased, "I thought you're a loyal person."

"Who said I'm leaving?"

The response from Haruka managed to surprise everyone else in that small gathering. Reika was notably confused, but both Inari and Shuten managed to quickly get the meaning behind her words. It was only few seconds later that Reika finally understood.

"Haruka-san, wait a second! I can't let you do this!" Reika warned in panic. However, Haruka merely smiled at her, assuring the raven-haired girl that she would be alright.

"In the end, you intended to become a Magical Girl…" Inari uttered in her smile, "as expected of myself."

Haruka smiled in gratitude toward Inari. The tomboy felt that at this point, she might not even need to express her intention toward the fox girl.

"Foolish girl. The old you would not even care about what happened to her." Inari muttered, yet she smiled gently. Like a mother who watched her daughter growing up, there was a warmth in Inari's heart and it brought her a great joy.

"Maybe I'm slightly more foolish now." Said Haruka as she remembered her past, "but it is certainly better than being a pessimistic loner."

"Then I ask you. Would you sacrifice your normal life to become a Magical Girl?" asked Inari while offering her hand toward Haruka. A concerned expression could be seen on the fox girl's face, however she still believed that Haruka would make the best choice for herself regardless.

After all, Haruka's decision was practically her decision.

"Yes." Haruka answered firmly as she accepted Inari's extended hand.

Shuten, who merely watched from the sidelines, grinned at the unfolding event while Reika showed a rather uncomfortable face.

"Then repeat after me." said Inari as she grabbed Haruka's hand.

Haruka nodded. She knew she was about to cross the point of no return.

"Therefore I promise with my life…" Inari started.

"Therefore I promise with my life…" Haruka copied the fox girl's words.

"That I shall commit good deeds with this power…"

"That I shall commit good deeds with this power…"

"And return all evil to the righteous path…"

"And return all evil to the righteous path…"

"And now, a pure soul shall be reborn as a Magical Girl!"

A luminous red light radiated between Haruka and Inari's hand, blinded anyone in their surrounding. Reika immediately covered her eyes, but Shuten seemed like he enjoyed the view.

---

Meanwhile from the top of a building, Fuyu smirked as she saw the red light.

"I won, Natsuko."