[center][img]https://i.ibb.co/21CNQJgP/Sayuri.png[/img]
[h3]& Bodacious Boleite[/h3][/center]

Among the forest afternoon light walked one lone young woman; a familiar sight to any nearby denizens of the woods for many months, now. The nearby mountain shrine had been maintained by the same family for what seemed like generations at this point. Yet, their only daughter had no interest in taking up the mantle until very recently when the mother of the family passed suddenly. Now, that very same daughter was walking along the forest path around the shrine, lost in thoughts, before the start of another day. 

Sayuri had walked up to a site where more traditional tombstones laid. As she dropped some cleaning tools on the floor and began plucking at the wild herbs around, she couldn't help but sigh. For some time now, she had abandoned her duties as a Magical Girl: Kaeru, protector of Hibusa Town. One of, at the very least. She still attended school, though remained more low-key than she used to and outings with friends were less frequent than before, since she had to be back early to attend shrine duties and what not. 

[color=fff79a]"Yeah, I know. I'm late. Sorry, Mom. I may not be chasing monsters and what not every night anymore, but I still got homework y'know."[/color]  She said as she began scrubbing the tomb, keeping on having conversation with the still rock. 

Nearby, a curious frog looked on. But the frog’s attention would only be held for a moment. The snap of a twig drew the frog’s eyes down a forest path. Then came the crunch of some leaves. Then another twig broke, but it was closer. Then there was a crack, like a static discharge. Just as the figure came into view, the frog dove off of its perch to find safety. The figure in question looked like they might have grabbed a hold of some power lines, because their blond hair was spiked and going off in all directions. It was also possible the giant tesla coil strapped to her back was causing her hair to stand up. If not those, then maybe the menacing “gun” that’s tip arced like a plasma globe was the culprit. Regardless, she was clearly a magical girl, even if her outfit wasn’t as flashy as others. It was some mix between a scientist's labcoat and what they would wear if they decided to become a lineman for a day. 

The girl had the massive gun shouldered as her curious eyes took in the beauty of the forest. While all the sparks and electricity should have been a fire hazard, they were apparently harmless. Glowing blue electricity danced off of leaves and bark alike, but never left a mark. Her body seemed to hum with energy, and as soon as she arrived near the priestess, a smile crossed her lips.

[color=87CEFA]”Sup?”[/color]

Sayuri heard the snap, turned to face it and saw that another girl had walked up from the forest’s confines. To say that she contrasted with her surroundings was like remarking that the sky was blue. Sayuri then turned back to the tomb, used her hand to dust it off one last time, and pick a few more herbs around it. 

[color=fff79a]"Temple’s down there, if that is what you’re looking for. Follow the path to get back to town."[/color] She then stood up, turning to face the spiked hairs girl and dusting her own hands off. [color=fff79a]“You won’t find much miseria around here, though.”[/color]

Even being out of the loop for this long, it would have been impossible to not recognize this individual as a fellow Magical Girl. Some of them found their way up in the mountains from time to time, chasing some lost miseria or what not. Even some of that Detention Club bunch, at times. Not that they’d recognize Sayuri for who they once knew her as. 

[color=87CEFA]”Is that how you answer sup?”[/color] She shrugged her shoulders. [color=87CEFA]”I saw the temple already. It’s in pretty good condition despite its age. You did a good job sweeping it up. Speaking of you,  you’ve got my interest.”[/color] She chuckled. [color=87CEFA]”You’re a magical girl. You can see and hear me.[/color] 

[color=fff79a]“Not for a long while.”[/color] the shrine maiden simply answered, eyes lost looking at nothing.

[color=87CEFA]”If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that frog could too.”[/color] 

Said frog climbed out from under a leaf and croaked.

It snapped Sayuri’s back, forcing a smile out which did not reach her eyes. [color=fff79a]Who’s to say.[/color] she said as her eyes glanced over to the tiny frog. She then picked up the cleaning items she had brought over, leisurely walking closer to the other girl. The fact this seemingly newcomer immediately could tell despite the others at school having been none the wiser was surprising, but Sayuri tried not to let it show. [color=fff79a]“You’ve caught me at a bad time is all. Usually, there’s no real reason to come around here except to visit.”[/color] Sayuri answered, honest as can be.  [color=fff79a]”I’m Sayuri.”[/color] 

[color=87CEFA]”Bodacious Boleite, but Boleite is fine.”[/color] She reached a hand out to shake, but it arced with electricity, and she pulled it back empty handed. [color=87CEFA]”I wouldn’t say there’s no reason to come up here, though.”[/color] She returned to Sayuri’s earlier point after they finished their greeting. [color=87CEFA]”It’s awfully peaceful up here. Which makes sense. I mean, it’s the resting place of spirits.”[/color] She took a step back and looked around. [color=87CEFA]”In the city of light you need to go to a park to see a tree half as big as the ones around here. It’s almost like a zoo exhibit for trees. You come out here and you can barely see the light through the canopy.”[/color] After taking in the sights, she inhaled. [color=87CEFA]”And talk about that air quality! We have clean air in the City of Light, but it’s unreal with all these trees here.”[/color] Boleite lowered her gaze to Sayuri. [color=87CEFA]”Let me put it this way, I’d be tempted to abandon my duties if I had a place like this I could retreat into.”[/color]

[color=fff79a]“You didn’t strike me as the spiritual type - no offense.”[/color] 

[color=87CEFA]”None taken.”[/color]

Sayuri walked up to another tombstone to begin dusting it, reflecting on the words of her unassuming wise counterpart. It was impossible to know whether or not ‘Boleite’ knew just how much her choice of words resonated within Sayuri’s heart, but the maiden has a creeping suspicion it was no coincidence. 

It was funny just how much this contrasting magical girl reminded Sayuri of herself just a few months back. It wasn’t so long ago that she, herself, was the spark of these somber and calm woods. Much to the detriment of her shrine duties and mother’s dismay. After a long silence, Sayuri turned to Boleite with a stare that meant to put an end to pretenses. 

[color=fff79a]These are my duties. Pretending otherwise was never meant to last.[/color] 

[color=87CEFA]”Hmmmm...”[/color] The electrified girl rubbed her chin. [color=87CEFA]”It would be pretentious to assume things about you, so I’d like to talk about my own experiences.”[/color] She leaned her hand into a tree. [color=87CEFA]”I was being polite earlier. Don’t get me wrong, I think nature is awesome, but I’d never stick around here. Magical girls are forced to live two lives. I’ve got my grades to keep up, but miseria need slaying and dark magical girls need beating. Two lives, two duties.”[/color] 

Sayuri turned back to her duties of cleaning the site, avoiding Boleite’s eyes. In truth, it was more so to hide. 

Boleite pushed herself off the tree and walked closer to the grave. [color=87CEFA]”If I pretend I only had one set of duties, one of those lives suffers. Kinda sucks, but it is what it is. I’d clear out a lot more of my video game backlog if I didn’t spend it beating up monsters. But I’ve got this power so I might as well use it. Same with my classes. I don’t think my parents would be too pleased with me if I only got passing grades. Even if I can’t tell them about my other responsibilities, I think they’d be proud of me to know I’m doing what I can for the world before even finishing school. But that’s no reason to slack off, I’m doing this for me too!”[/color] She stopped by the gravestone. [color=87CEFA]”And because I’m feeling a little pretentious now, I’ll say I think a [i]real[/i] shrine maiden would serve the living as well as the dead.”[/color] 

Sayuri had stopped pulling at the herbs of polishing the stone. Not a sound or reaction to be heard.

Boleite lowered herself to one knee and looked at the grave stone. [color=87CEFA]”Forgive my continued rudeness, but you wouldn’t have happened to know this person would you? Looks a lot newer than the other ones, and are those offerings you just placed here?”[/color]

Slowly rising up, the shrine maiden silently wiped away at her face. When her mother passed, she had never felt so helpless and lost. All that she felt at the time was guilt and feeling like she disappointed her parents. It had hit her father hard also, understandably, and so Sayuri decided to be there more and help him around the shrine, picking up the duties she was so eager to ignore before. It was these feelings that stuck with her since. This was the first time she was forced to face outward since her mother’s passing. 

[color=fff79a]I… have to go.[/color] she said, evading Boleite’s stare. If the Gem was so wise as all that, she knew that the words hit their mark. 

[color=87CEFA]”Hmmm?”[/color] Boleite stood up and looked over her shoulder. Her carefree smile turned a little bit when she noticed the shrine maiden depart from the mountain. [color=87CEFA]”Awww, damn. I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings. Six years of city living and I’m still just a country bumpkin.”[/color] She looked side to side. [color=87CEFA]”Oh, I don’t see the frog anymore. I was hoping he could relay a message for me.”[/color] But no amount of talking was going to summon another frog. She knelt down again, this time to say a quiet prayer. 

Sayuri fled the mountain cemetery down to the shrine and then to her family’s house. Boleite’s words had both angered and sadded her. That anger was not directed to the magical girl, though Sayuri might not have realized that just yet. As the door closed, she could hear the faint voice of her father call out her name, asking if she was back. Sayuri did not answer him, wanting nothing more than to go to her room and hide away the rest of the day. 

As she did so, something stopped her. In the entrance hallway, on a nearby piece of furniture sat a picture. Sayuri must have passed here a hundred times a week, but somehow must have did her utmost to ignore it; a picture of her mother, father and herself. Her mother looked exasperated while her father was laughing. Sayuri was smiling ear to ear. 

[b]“I remember that day.”[/b] the voice of her father said, just behind her. She must have not heard him stand up and walk to her. [b]“The day you came back with your hairs dyed for the first time.”[/b] He put a hand underneath Sayuri’s, holding the picture with her looking back. They put it back into place, beside the offering. He then lightly booped her on the nose, perfectly picking up on the fact his daughter was not feeling right. [b]“Even though we said no.”[/b] he added, playfully. 

Sayuri chuckled a bit, her smile showing up briefly but it faded soon giving way to more melancholy, and a few tears. [color=fff79a]“Mother was so disappointed in me that day.”[/color] 

[b]“Honey…”[/b] He looked down on his daughter for a second before raising her chin with a finger, looking her in the eyes even though she tried to avoid it. [b]“There was not a moment in your mother and mine’s whole life when she or I was not completely and absolutely proud of our beloved daughter. Neither the color of your hairs, clothes or choices in life would ever have changed this.”[/b]

This, mixed with Boleite’s earlier words, opened the flood gate. Against her father shoulder, she cried away every bit of emotions that had been held inside all this time. Then and there she decided; no more hiding.

Later that evening - after a good meal prepared by her father - for the first time in months Sayuri would be looking down at Hibusa City with a renewed sense of optimism. Up from atop the Temple’s ceiling she stood, along with about a good dozen frogs all around, looking just as ready as she was. She held her hat, blonde hairs blowing in the night air as one of the frog - the same from earlier - hoped onto her shoulder. 

[color=fff79a]“Get ready Hibusa; Miseria; AND the Loser’s Club! We are so back.”[/color] she said to her amphibian companion before she, and all her frogs, jumped into the moonlit night.

[center][img]https://i.ibb.co/6c7pbZZ7/Kaeru.jpg[/img][/center]