[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/LF8JAVp.png[/img]
[color=c6984d][h3][b]~~Nico~~[/b][/h3][/color][/center][hr]

Nico really shouldn't have been hanging around town like she was.

Her parents most likely expected her to come home straight away after school had ended, just like how she usually did, but the habit had been broken more and more often ever since she'd become a magical girl. This time was no different as Nico aimlessly wandered into town. Something was weighing on her mind, something that made her uneasy. The Hex Night had begun in earnest just the day prior, and she'd already met two of her 'competitors.' It still didn't feel right to fight each-other like that. Thoughts like those made her feel inferior and weak. It was reassuring that Nari was on her side, but... if Nico didn't get over these feelings, surely she'd be one of the first to go.

She couldn't let that happen. She [i]wouldn't[/i] let that happen.

"Merw."

A sudden meow coming from beneath her snapped Nico out of those thoughts, having her glance down at the origin. It was her little friend again. She was showing up a lot more than Nico remembered her to. Still, she happily crouched down and picked up the cat, who didn't offer any resistance as it gleefully hung from Nico's arms.

"Little troublemaker..." she whispered to her with a giggle. She bent one of her hands back a little so her fingers could scratch behind the burmilla's ears. The cat let out another delighted meow. The two of them walked a bit further into town like this. Then, suddenly, it climbed out from between Nico's arms. She didn't get the impression it was bored of her, so she asked "Hey, what's wrong?" to the little creature. Its tail was stiff and straight as the cat paused for a moment, just long enough for Nico to be caught off-guard when it suddenly ran across the corner. She chased after it, worried about whatever happened, only to find it hissing at another girl she'd never met. The girl was only a few meters away from the cat.

"A-ah, excuse me..." Nico apologetically told the stranger, crouching down next to the cat. "It's okay... you don't have to worry," she reassured it. The cat looked back at Nico, perked up a little, and jumped right into her arms again, snuggling itself into her chest this time. Nico sighed and stood upright again, giving the stranger the least awkward smile she could muster. Looking at her better, it didn't seem like this girl was any older than Nico herself. Blonde, too... what a strange hair colour. Was it dyed?

"I'm sorry if she bothered you... I usually don't have to keep her in check like this," Nico told the girl as she looked back down at the kitty, still rubbing its head against her uniform.