"Shit…" Kari woke up clutching her head, not in physical pain but in mental anguish over what she had done last night.

Rocky delivered a cup of water for her to drink. She welcomed the room temperature liquid sliding down her parched throat. It rejuvenated her, but no amount of water would wash away the events set in motion.

Yesterday was almost like a dream. Daisuke's leg snapping under the weight of her foot, randomly meeting up with Shuu, the bodies that lie dead on the street from letting the head hound run free, and the declaration to hundreds of people who she was… everything happened.

Was it hubris?

No, that couldn't be it.

This was done for Makina's sake.

Just like when she had found the courage to face the monsters, her hands stopped trembling and a renewed sense of purpose replaced her anxiousness with calm.

There was no turning back now. She had to face the music of what awaited her downstairs and at school. Of what would be her life as Magical Girl Kari from now on.

Downstairs, her parents would be glued to the television around this time.

Kari crept down and was weirded out by the silence in the living room. No wrinkling of newspaper or running water from the kitchen faucet, just the sound of static and inaudible speaking from the television.

When she entered, her parents were standing in front of the television, staring at it like mannequins. Dad didn't even have the morning paper in his hands. His arms were folded across his chest, and Mom was by his side with a hand over her mouth. Kari came close enough to see what it was they were watching.

"No, I'm not Flare. I'm magical girl Kari." The news segment replayed the moment a young woman took her mask off, freezing the frame on her face. She was so full of energy and spirit that Kari couldn't believe it was herself.

Did I always have a smile like that? she wondered to herself.

Mom turned around and gasped, alerting Dad as well.

"Kari, what's the meaning of this?" Mom asked with a blank expression.

"You can't possibly— No, that's not our little girl. There are probably hundreds of girls named Kari in Tokyo alone," her dad said, picking up the rolled up newspaper and wrinkling it in his fist.

Kari's eyes began to sting. Even now they didn't believe her. It had always been hopeless with—

"I know it's her. There is no way I wouldn't recognize my daughter." Her mom's arms fell to her side, but a warm and knowing smile met Kari's gaze. "You've been out there saving people all this time."

"I… have," Kari replied, eyes now stinging for another reason. The acknowledgement was finally there. She pulled the ribbon out from her pocket and tied her hair up into a ponytail, then called Rocky to reveal himself.

"Hiya! I'm Kari's anthem, Rocky. Hope you guys don't mind, I've been sneaking food from the kitchen here and there. Mom's cooking is really good!" he exclaimed.

Her parents gasped a second time.

"Oh, you're just the sweetest thing! Thank you for always taking care of Kari. That explains some of dad's missing edamame, right?" She nudged Dad in the arm, but he was in no gleeful mood.

His expression clouded over. He began to pace around the room, clutching the newspaper until his knuckles turned white, and occasionally throwing glances between the television and Kari. Glaring eyes became fixed on the tube, where it transitioned to the familiar scene of their front house. He walked to the curtains and threw it open, revealing a number of news vans parked in the streets.

"Just go to school," he said at last exhaustedly, back still turned to them and facing the crowds of people outside.

Kari balled her hands into fists. It was never enough. She loosened up to the touch of her mom's hand on her arm.

"He just wants better for you than a life of fighting monsters," she whispered.

"Mom, Dad. I'm done being ashamed of not meeting your expectations, and I won't apologize for it. This is what I want to do! Can't you be happy for me?" Kari asked, full of hurt.

"Who do you think raised you?" he asked in return, raising his voice and at last turning around to face her. "Who provided a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, and a bath to soak in? Just because you're a magical girl now, doesn't make you any more independent than yesterday!"

"Keiichi, that's enough!" Mom shouted.

"I'll show you…" Kari grabbed her bag and bolted out of the living room.

"Kari—!"

Right out the door, countless microphones were being shoved between the gaps of the iron gate. A dozen strangers shouted over each other, barraging her with questions and comments.

"It's her, the fourth magical girl! Kari, could you give us a moment of your time?"

"Just a few questions!"

"I'm late for school. Sorry!" She vaulted over the stone fence and raced down the street without looking back. They tried to give chase, but she was much too fast for them. After all, haste was her highest stat, higher than even strength, allowing her to leave them in the dust.

With every passing day it seemed she was becoming more accustomed to her power. Although her strength, speed, and resilience was significantly diminished when not transformed, she remained much stronger than the average human. Possibly stronger than professional weightlifters, faster than olympic sprinters, and more durable than sumo wrestlers. It must be the Apocalypse System's passive effect on magical girls to keep them moderately protected.

Right now, her legs carried her so quickly the world was a blur.

"Kari, watch out ahead!" Rocky screamed.

She saw a mother pushing the baby stroller too late. Digging her feet into the ground would just cause her to skid into them, and at this speed they might be seriously injured. Kari chose instead to leap into the air and came crashing down on a pile of boxes unloaded off a truck in front of someone's house.

"Ow, my head…" Kari groaned.

A pair of movers peeked out the back of their truck and frowned at the mess. She took off running at a normal speed from here on out. Although there was little reason for a magical girl to go to school now, Kari was merely going through the motions. Most of all, she wanted to see her friends.

School wasn't any less safe from the mob of journalists and news crews. They amassed at the gates, unable to walk any further for fear of trespassing, but forcing students to walk around or squeeze through them. A thin line of faculty behind the gate kept them at bay. As soon as they saw Kari coming, the stampede began.

"Excuse me!"

"Kari Tachibana!"

"A moment of your time, please!"

"For the love of…" She looked for a way out before she would be surrounded. A bad idea came to her. She sprinted forward and leapt over them, this time landing on her feet on the other side of the gate. It wouldn't have earned her 10s across the board, but at least she got out.

However…

"Kari?" Minato and Makina were standing side by side and uttered her name at once. No other word needed to be exchanged for Kari to know what they were thinking.

"I can't believe you did that last night! Do you have any idea how crazy it's been on the internet and TV? I tried calling and texting you all morning!" Makina exclaimed, rushing over to her.

Minato followed up with his eyes wide in disbelief. "If it wasn't for that anthem, I might not have believed it… Sounds like Makina already knew. I honestly feel kind of hurt that you kept me out of the loop."

She and Makina glanced at their feet in shame.

"It's not that I didn't want to tell you. I just wasn't sure if I wanted to be a magical girl to begin with," Kari confessed.

Minato's frown flipped into a big grin. "Dude, I can't believe you're a freaking magical girl! Like really? I'm personally friends with one. This is so damn cool!"

The three of them burst into laughter.

"You're still wearing your hair in a ponytail. Guess you really liked the style I gave you, huh?" Makina said, fidgeting with excitement.

Kari hadn't noticed. She forgot to take it off after showing her parents.

"Now I don't have to be invisible anymore since it's not a secret, right?" Rocky asked.

In a matter of seconds, they were swarmed by students flooding out of the school building.

"Is it really true? You're a magical girl, Kari?" one girl asked.

Another pushed his way to the front. "Does that mean you're friends with the other magical girls?"

They might as well have been the news journalists. First, second, and third years alike wanted to ask their question or get a picture of the new magical girl. The faculty helplessly tried to corral students back into the building and into classes, but even they couldn't hide their interest.

"Can you transform for us!" someone shouted. That was the domino that sparked a chain reaction of students asking for Kari to transform. Even the reporters outside the gate, with their cameras poised, began chanting for her to transform.

"Transform! Transform! Transform!" they repeated like a mantra.

Kari and Rocky traded glances, then nodded.

Her uniform glowed a blinding light, but what came after was anything but bright. The colors darkened. Her black and red magical girl outfit replaced the short-sleeved school uniform and skirt.

Students pulled out their phones to snap pictures. They erupted into gasps of glee. Their eyes were filled with adoration and amazement. Even on the second and third floor of the school building had students pressing their faces to the window to see her.

For once, Kari felt important. Like she was someone.

And more importantly…

In a significantly smaller group than the one around Kari, was Ena Mizushima and her groupies who were staring from afar. If Ena's resting bitch face wasn't bad enough, the glowering was going to leave some wrinkles on that make-up caked face of hers.

Ena scoffed, brushed her hair, and entered the school building. Sachi lagged behind to take another look over her shoulder. She smiled at Kari, then followed them inside.

Further in, leaning against the shoe lockers was Tetsuo. His usual smug grin was replaced by a blank expression, one tinged with fear. Like a prey stunned with fear upon meeting the eyes of their predator.

That's right, Kari thought, making it obvious to him who she was glaring at. Now you know who you're really messing with.

"Alright, students. Please, get to class! This doesn't change that school is in session!" Principal Nishida shouted over the squeals. He and the faculty pushed their way through in an attempt to disperse the crowd of students until he reached Kari. They locked eyes. Her gaze was full of malice.

Principal Nishida knew. Wiping the sweat from his fat neck and brow, he knew what he did wrong.

"Ms. Tachibana… I-I would appreciate it if you returned to class as well. You… You may be a magical girl, but you're still a student at Suginuma High," he said, stuttering over himself.

Makina hid behind Kari's back and cast her gaze to the ground.

"Kari," Ms. Wakana emerged from the dwindling crowds. Her eyes were not full of disbelief as the other adults. The nurse appeared ashamed of herself, but Kari couldn't figure out why. "You really are…"

"Quite the gathering you have here!" a stoic voice said from above.

All at once the students came running back.

"Flare! It's Flare!"

"Jade, too! It's them!"

Kari whipped around in time to see Flare and Jade descending to the courtyard. Their anthems, a fiery falcon and panda in armor, were alongside them. The army of journalists, unable to control themselves any longer, rushed past the gate to meet them.

"Iron Fortress!"

A wall of armored knights materialized, stopping the journalists in their tracks and preventing them from coming any closer. Jade leaned her back against one of her knights and waited at a distance.

This should have been cause for celebration. Kari should have been thrilled to meet them.

So why did she feel so afraid and small at this moment?

"Looks like we won't need introductions, huh, Jade?" Flare asked her companion.

Jade, who looked like she would rather be anywhere but here, folded her arms and groaned. "Get on with it already."

"Sheesh. What bit your ass this morning?" the fiery magical girl retorted. She turned to Kari and smiled. "Yo, rookie! Let's ditch school and have a chat, yeah?"