Magical Girl AU: Pearl Shooter's Plight

Magical Girl AU: Pearl Shooter's Plight

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Commissioned by Althero

Wordcount: 2000

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“Uhhh, so what’re we supposed to do?”

There was a simple reason for that question. That simple reason was the fact the monster we were supposed to destroy, for the safety of the city, was scattered in large chunks over the city. Chunks the size of a fist, which were dissipating quite quickly beneath direct sunlight, that all miraculously didn’t land anywhere difficult to reach or hurt anyone.

“Stand around and look pretty, I suppose.”

Yes. Indeed. That was all we were currently doing. After weeks of continuously fighting against monsters, training, and dealing with the fact the media were taking pictures of us in ridiculous costumes, that was how our final battle against the Chimera ended. All we were to do was stand around and look pretty, making it so the city doesn’t devolve into chaos, as useless paragons of justice to look over and fawn after.

“Damn, I wanted to fight that thing. It looked cool.”

That would have been quite cathartic. Yes. Fighting against one of the chief monsters, the strongest of them, instead of the tide of weaklings we were using our powers against? That would have been relaxing. It would have justified all the time spent in frilly costumes, working very hard “just in case,” and withstanding the mental damage from having the internet do more than fawn over you. Battling against a horrific monster from beyond the stars would have been a grand release from the horrors of being fetishized and merchandized by the WHOLE world. SOMEHOW.

“A fight would have been appreciated. However, it’s undoubtable that this was the best course of action.”

And, that was the worst of it. That was the real damned joke of the entire affair. Even though I had a mountain of complaints, they were all wholly baseless. Having a giant monster several kilometers tall dispatched instantly, moments after we defeated its rampaging mooks, was the perfect result. There was nothing for me to be angry about. And, I hated that. To be more specific, I hated myself for the fact that I hated this current situation.

“Uhhh, guys, does Shizi look like she’s about to… I dunno… blow up?”

No matter how everyone looked at me, and how they floated away, such a thing wasn’t going to happen. No matter how much Akeno giggled behind her hand, how Quarta raised her sword invitingly, how Shirone sighed, or how Hyoudou fretted, I wasn’t going to “blow up.” That was simply not things how were going to go. I was in control. I wasn’t going to get angry. I was going to be proper, capable, and skilled. Even… even if I didn’t need to be.

“I. Am. Fine.” I am totally fine. Yes. There is no part of me that is not fine. I am completely, utterly okay. I am Shizi. There is nothing to be angry about. The city is safe. The monsters are dead. Everything is perfect. Perfect. Completely, utterly, and damningly PERFECT. “There’s nothing wrong with me.”

“O-okay?”

I was sure that Hyoudou, in all her upbeat and casual glory, did not mean “okay.” That was an “okay” that did subscribe to the typical definition of “okay.” That was not a statement of affirmation, but rather a statement of doubt. Why my words would be doubted, I didn’t know, but such was the case. So, I turned towards Hyoudou with a smile, a very nice and friendly smile, to explain further. 

However, even as there was no trouble to be had, Li Song had to appear.

The Aspect of Conflict, the wielder of the Blades, one of the strongest beings in Reality, and the one who gave us all our powers, but dealt with anything that we weren’t ready for, had arrived. There ought to have been a choir resounding hymns upon his descent, as he came from the sky with wings of light upon his back, even as he wore clothes of an ancient, Chinese tribe that the common individual didn’t know exist. 

It was the Tuzi. 

I knew because I studied history.

That’s the only reason I knew, yes.

“Ah, I’m glad to see everyone is okay!” Li Song smiled. It was a smile I definitely didn’t dislike because it was always perfect, disarming, and charming. I most assuredly wasn’t the sort to look away from him, while the rest of my companions all gawked and blushed, from the meathead Quarta to the always-composed Akeno. Shirone managed to keep her composure, as always, but Hyoudou was the exact opposite. No matter how much stronger she got, in Li Song’s presence she was just a drooling, blushing mess. I was the only sane woman in the retinue who decidedly did NOT care for him. “I’m glad that no one got hurt. I came as soon as Shizi’s defenses dropped by half!”

H-huh!?

“Oh-hoh?” Shut up, Akeno.

“Shizi, you got hit, but didn’t tell us!?” Stow it, Issei!

“So, you’re the reason why we’re not fighting right now. You owe me!” Take your muscle of a brain somewhere else, Xenovia!

“Hmph, as I thought, you’re just irritated that Li had to come to your rescue, instead of praising you after doing your best.” N-no! Be silent, Shirone!

“Shizi… you needn’t worry about such things. I will never think less of you for needing my help. I never wish to see you hurt.” Idiot! Why do you believe them right away, huh!? Bastard, you should at least listen to what I have to say first! Li Song, you need to be more considerate and listen to both sides of the story, instead of being hopelessly biased! W-what are you smiling for, huh!? “I’m sorry, Shizi, but if it comes to your safety, I’ll always be hopelessly biased. That’s never going to change.”

Wha-

Hu-

But-

Ah—

No. No! NO!

Stop it! This is how he always gets away with things I don’t want him to do! He gets close, smiles, and says sweet nothings. Well, I’m not falling for it this time. Not like all those other times. I learn from my mistakes! 

Hand! I need to get that hand away from me before.

Hbwuah.

Ah, his eyes are so clear… and though he has so much power and strength… his touch is so gentle…

“Please, Shizi, forgive me.”

Huh?

What was there to forgive?

But, if Li asked…

“O-okay…”

…

Stupid, moron, idiot… Shizi! 

“Huh, so she’s snapped out of it? How long did it take this time?”

“Xenovia, don’t be mean!”

What’s the easiest, swiftest way to end my misbegotten existence? No. That’s too extreme. No amount of shame should result in that. There’s still plenty of things that are worth living for. The correct question is thus: what can I do to remove myself from my current life? How do I go about running away forever, starting a life as a hermit, and maturing holistically? Can I become a monk? Or, do I have to become a hermit that spends her whole life in a cave?

“It seems she’s having fantasies about living spiritually. Perhaps, I should beat those notions out of her?”

“My, my, why resort to ridding yourself of worldly desires? With all the attention we receive from Li, wouldn’t that be a terrible waste?”

Maybe, I’ll make some friends that’ll support me and try to help me, after I tell them about my problems! Damn these gathered group of girls in front of me, eating cake while I withstood shame, and acted like nothing was wrong! The least they could do is simply stay silent, stand by, and let me hold onto something warm, instead of patronizing me while munching away!

“H-hey, we’re hungry after everything! Y-you should be eating too, you know?” Issei scratched her cheek. She was a good person, a great leader, and probably the only reason our group can function without us killing one another. However, she was also a traitor. If Li Song is involved, her mind turns off and she only thinks with her crotch! “N-no! T-that’s not true!” I’ve seen her computer files. The amount of pornography on there suggested otherwise! “That’s not fair, you’re blackmailing me, you blackmailer!” 

“Yo, Shizi, just because you’re a loser doesn’t mean you should pick fights.” Then, there’s Xenovia. The muscle of the group. The muscle for five human beings melted down and cast in the shape of a human being. I ignored her. Talking to her was the same as talking to a wall composed of muscle. It was a miracle she was eating cake instead of chugging protein powder. “Hmph, say whatever you want, I’m strong and I don’t bend over backwards for Li with him just touching my cheek. He’ll need to pin me down first.”

“Now, that’s an idea. Why don’t we all bond by overcoming Li’s propriety by entreating him altogether? We can start right now. Simply provide me all your sizes and I’ll have the clothes ready for all of us in a day.” Perverse. Akeno was perverse. More perverse than Issei. I didn’t want to acknowledge her existence, but the fact that she existed and was Shirone’s peer in unarmed combat made me regret existing. How a person can eat a strawberry in an arousing manner, I did not know, but she was capable of such things. “Don’t you think so many problems our group has will be solved, if we just take Li for ourselves?”

“I will take advantage of opportunities granted to me, but I will forge my own path regardless.” Shirone spoke nobly, decisively, and with confidence, yet she was obviously agreeing with Akeno Himejima. Though she didn’t say the words outright, she was giving her go-ahead and was texting her sizes to her partner-in-crime without hesitation! “Progression and change require one to act with confidence.”

My whole group is utterly compromised by the entity known as Li Song. Though he was handsome, powerful, kind, and considerate, they had no excuse for their behavior. Just because he’d go out of his way to solve our problems, make sure that we’re happy, and ensure that we could save the world from the Chimera safely, didn’t mean that we should tumble head-over-heels for him! We needed to make a stand, to make a line that didn’t get crossed, so that we didn’t simply get placed by the wayside.

Earth was our home. This café we sit in, where we eat cake after our victories, is a part of that home. And, of course, we had our families to think about. We couldn’t just stand by and let Li Song do all of the fighting, especially when things get dangerous, let alone if there’s just the possibility that we’re going to get hurt. We’re strong, capable, and powerful individuals! We can do more than simply deal with mooks, buy time for Li, and watch idly while he destroys enemies perfectly!

Akeno, Shirone, and Quarta looked at me with surprise etched on their faces, as my words reached them, despite the fact they were a group composed of a meathead, tribal fetishist, and just a flat-out nymphomaniac with only a single “on” button.

For a second, I thought that we would make some headway, and the next time I would meet Li I would have support from my fellows.

Instead, Issei decided to speak up and crush my hopes.

“Ah, Shizi, is this because you’re worried the Concepts are doing really well?” Dammit. Dammit! DAMMIT! No, that wasn’t the case! Those were the words I wanted to say aloud, yet before Issei’s gaze I could not say them. They clung to the insides of my throat, unwilling to be let loose, despite the fact they were undeniably, irrevocably true! “They’re strong, yeah, but that doesn’t mean Li likes them more than us! He won’t leave us for them! He’ll never do something like that!”

Those words were incorrect.

“Huh, you’re right. Didn’t she start getting antsy about Li after she heard about those girls?”

I didn’t care that Li was also looking over another group of Mahou Shoujo that were stronger, more coordinated, and capable.

“Ahn, so the anger is merely a guise for sweet, magnificent jealousy! Ooh, how exciting!”

No… No, I definitely didn’t care about that at all!

“Hmph, those girls are a challenge, but not a problem. We will face them head on. There’s no need for us to debase ourselves in order to remain firmly in Li’s gaze.”

These… these idiots!

They’re misunderstanding everything!