Origin: How I Became A Magical Girl’s Hapless Sidekick In A Craptastic World

It has been said that there are decades where nothing happens and weeks where decades happen. It's been feeling more and more like the latter for me these days.

So, of course, something else happened while I was on the way to lunch. I passed through the school's entrance and walked down a hall full of lockers when suddenly, I heard the familiar sound of kids laughing around the corner. Then, I heard the sound of something falling on the ground. There was a hard thud followed by silence.

"Nobody likes you! Nobody wants you here," a girl said, her words dripping with disdain.

"Oh, what the hell now...?" I muttered to myself, my stomach sinking as I wondered what was happening.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I cautiously approached the corner and peeked around it. My heart skipped a beat as I saw a group of girls standing over a girl sprawled on the ground, her books scattered around her.

"She never even tries to put up a fight. How pathetic can you get?" another girl sneered, kicking the scattered books away.

I would recognize the dark curly hair and bright green eyes anywhere. It was Natasha.

"Ugliest girl in our grade," another one giggled.

The sight made me feel sick to my stomach.

"Hey, leave her alone!" I shouted, stepping forward and startling the group of girls.

The girls turned to me, their expressions hardening as they realized they had an audience. A plain-looking brunette stepped forward. "Ikazuchi? Mind your own business, freak," she spat, pushing me roughly aside.

"Now, now, Madison. Let's not be rude to our classmate," a smooth, honeyed voice interjected, and I turned to see a pair of girls standing off to the side.

I recognized two girls there as the girls who were with Carrie the first time I'd run into her.

One of them was a tall and athletic white girl with auburn hair and golden eyes with a look that reminded me of a mischievous fox. She was dressed in a tight-fitting navy blazer and skirt that hugged her curves, and she had a sly smirk on her face.

The other was a petite girl with olive skin, neat dark blue bangs, and deep brown eyes. She had a Mediterranean look and was wearing a blouse and skirt that were too elegant for high school. Her lips were curled in a cold smile, and I could tell she was in charge of this obnoxious little 'session' I'd stumbled on. She looked like a little doll, but there was a sharpness in her eyes that made me wary.

The two of them were watching the scene with amused expressions. I snarled at them, remembering the first time I'd run into them at the girls' restroom nearly a month ago.

"I-Ikki! Don't worry about me," Natasha stammered, trying to pick up her scattered books.

But I couldn't just leave her there. "Natasha, are you okay?" I asked, crouching down next to her.

She looked up at me with sad ...and worried eyes? "I'm fine. I just... I can handle this."

As she spoke, her voice was shaking, and I could see the hurt and fear in her eyes. No one deserved to be treated like this.

I helped Natasha gather her books and stood up, staring down at the group of girls with disgust. "You should be ashamed of yourselves," I spat, my voice dripping angrily.

Madison giggled at me. "Don't get so worked up. She just tripped and fell, that's it. It's not our fault she's so clumsy."

"Tripped? You were kicking her books away!" I retorted, my fists clenched at my sides.

The girls looked taken aback by my sudden bite, but the tall and athletic auburn-haired girl spoke up.

"Well, well, it looks like we have a hero on our hands," she said," she said, her mouth twisted into a sly smile.

"What do you want, Ikazuchi? A medal for your bravery?" the petite girl with the dark blue bangs added, her voice smooth and alluring.

I felt a strange chill run down my spine as they giggled in tandem, and I suddenly felt wary around these two. They had an air of danger around them that had my hair standing on end.

"I... I just want you to leave Natasha alone," trying to keep my voice steady.

The petite girl with the dark blue bangs snickered. "Was that a stammer? How cute..." she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "You're such a sweet little thing, aren't you?"

She giggled, and the two girls exchanged a look that made it seem like they were communicating without words. I stared at them, trying to figure out what was happening. There was something off about these two, something that made me feel uneasy.

Natasha looked at me. "Ikki... don't get involved in this," she whispered, grasping my arm.

The auburn-haired girl glared at Natasha. "You know the girl here is a real piece of work, right? She's a lowlife and she owes Carrie for shit that's so wrong it's difficult to put into words."

I stiffened at that comment.

"Look, I don't care what she's done," I said firmly, stepping in front of Natasha. "But we're in high school, for fucks' sake. No one deserves to be treated like this."

The petite girl with the dark blue bangs laughed. "Oh, sweetie, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into," she said, her eyes glinting dangerously. "But, we expected you today and we'll continue humor you."

Before I could react, the auburn-haired girl grabbed my arm, pulling me closer and slamming me against a locker. I fought against the athletic girl's grip, but she was ridiculously strong and held me in place.

"C-Chelsea!" Natasha shouted toward the athletic girl before turning to the girl with blue hair. "Eleni! Please don't hurt him!" Natasha pleaded, her voice strained with fear.

"Oh, we won't hurt him - not yet, anyway," Chelsea said, her voice smooth as silk. "But we will make him pay for being so uppity."

Eleni whispered in my ear, "Listen carefully, Ikazuchi. You may think you're some kind of hero, but you're not. You're just a small fish in a pond that's bigger than you can comprehend. And if you keep meddling in things that don't concern you, well, let's just say you won't be swimming for very long."

Her words were like icy daggers, piercing through my skin and settling in my bones. I shuddered, feeling a chill that had nothing to do with the cold air.

I gritted my teeth, trying to escape the athletic girl's hold. She was significantly stronger than she looked, and she looked pretty Amazonian in the first place. "Let me fucking go. I refuse to be intimidated by the likes of you two."

The petite girl with the dark blue bangs rolled her eyes and leaned in close to meet me eye to eye. "Oh, we're not here to intimidate you, sweetheart," she said, her voice thick with false honey as she whispered in my ear. "You have all played your parts perfectly today."

Eleni sighed dramatically in my face as if bored with the whole situation. "Chelsea, let him go. Our job here is finished," she said with a yawn. "I think he'll learn his lesson after all."

Her eyes briefly flashed white, and the next thing I knew, the athletic girl released me with a rush shove to the ground.

The two of them quickly began to walk away, and suddenly, I was under attack.

"Drifter trash!"

I felt a sharp pain in my stomach as a girl delivered a powerful kick from my side. Her eyes were glowing white, and I could feel a weird aura emanating from her as she attacked me.

I quickly recovered and rolled to the side, avoiding her next attack. My mind was racing as I tried to figure out what was happening. The girls surrounding me were not normal; that much was clear. Their eyes were empty and glazed now, except for Natasha, and they seemed to possess some kind of supernatural strength. It wasn't Magical Girl strength by any stretch, but they felt like they were on some hardcore stimulants.

My heart raced as I scrambled upright, thinking of something to do. A crowd began to form around us, drawn to the commotion.

Then suddenly, Natasha jumped into action, shielding me from a lunging haymaker from the girl in front of me. She stepped between us and caught the girl's forearm. Then, she turned it into a hip toss, gracefully tipping the girl off balance and flipping her onto the ground.

Wait.

What?

"Go back to Earth, filthy gutter rat!"

Another girl jumped forward to attack me, and I quickly moved my head to the side and covered my head. She landed a glancing hit, and I rolled with it and gained my footing into a boxing stance. I bobbed and weaved as she threw a flurry of punches, trying to find an opening.

Her movements were violent yet unskilled and uncoordinated. It was as if she was in a trance. Natasha stepped in between and reaped the girl's leg in a motion that was so smooth I nearly missed it.

Natasha and I quickly stepped back from the crowd, grasping my hand. I blushed as she stood protectively in front of me this time, and we started backing up as the girls approached us, snarling like zombies.

She stopped and stared at the girls, her eyes flashing with determination.

Then, she reached up to her neck and grasped her locket with her free hand. I could feel a strange energy radiating from her neck, almost like a pressure wave that briefly echoed around us.

The glow in the girls' eyes began to dim as they stumbled back, looking confused and disoriented. Then, I noticed a faint glint in the corner of my eye.

A student stood off the side, filming us with a video camera. As soon as I turned to look in their direction, they took off running, disappearing into the crowd.

I felt a sense of dread wash over me. Who was that person? And why were they filming us?

But Natasha was already on the move, tugging me along as we ran in the opposite direction. We sprinted away from the girls and the curious crowd that had gathered. The two of us dodged through the throngs of students, making our way to the far end of the hallway, where it was less crowded. We didn't stop there — we ran straight through a stairwell and upstairs through the building.

Finally, we stopped to catch our breath, hidden behind a row of lockers. Natasha turned to me, her expression serious. Then, she looked down at her hand and flushed red before quickly pulling it away from me. I blushed sheepishly, realizing I had been holding onto her hand tightly during our escape.

"Ikki... I'm sorry you got involved in that. Carrie's crew... they're not all normal girls," she said, her voice shaking slightly.

I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. "Yeah, I could tell. But what was that thing you did with your hand? That thing with the locket or whatever?"

Natasha hesitated for a moment before answering. "I... I know a thing or two about Eleni's magic. It's the same trick I did to cancel Willis's ritual field when he trapped you in it."

Oh. Well, that was good enough for me.

I stared at Natasha in disbelief. "You know magic?" I repeated, trying to reconcile the meek and anxious girl beside me around the idea.

Natasha nodded. "Just a few... tricks. It's not something I like to advertise, but it comes in handy sometimes. Like today, for instance."

I looked up at Natasha, feeling a newfound respect for her. "That's... that's really cool! So, er, what now?" I asked, still shaken from the encounter.

She sighed. "I'd hate to say it given that the period is almost over, but how about the cafeteria?" she said with a tired smile. "Maybe they're done with me for today."

I was about to respond, but my stomach growled loudly, interrupting me. I blushed, feeling embarrassed.

Natasha giggled. "Sounds like someone's hungry. Come on, Ikki. Let's go get some food."

We stood up, dusted ourselves off, and headed to the cafeteria. The noise level rose to a dull roar as we entered the cafeteria. Students were chatting, most eating and others were on their phones. I scanned the room for any sign of trouble, but everything seemed normal.

Morada, Spencer, and Zuri were there, and Morada waved us over to their table. I looked at Natasha, who stared back at me curiously.

I beckoned at her, leading her to the table, and I could feel other students' eyes following us as we walked. I felt self-conscious but pushed the feeling aside and focused on my friends.

"Hey guys, this is Natasha," I said, gesturing toward her.

Natasha smiled shyly at the group. "Hi, it's nice to meet you all."

"Natasha, this is Morada, Spencer, and Zuri," I continued, trying to make introductions as natural as possible. "They're my friends."

Everyone smiled and waved, welcoming Natasha to the table.

"Nice to meet you," Natasha said, her voice shaky.

Morada leaned forward with a brilliant smile. "The pleasure is mine! I didn't think I'd get to meet you until later today. So, Ikki, what adventures did you two get into today?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I hesitated, unsure if I could share the bizarre encounter with Carrie's crew.

"Well, we ran into some trouble with Carrie and her girls," I finally said, trying to play it off as a minor incident. "Well, Carrie wasn't there, but there was some fuckery."

Morada's face darkened. "What did they do to you guys?" she asked, concern etched in her voice.

I shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. "Nothing major. They just erm, jumped me. Thankfully they didn't hit that hard, but Natasha here saved my butt this time around," I said, giving her a grateful smile. "Funny how that works?"

Natasha looked at me in a panic, "I er... I appreciate the support, but I don't want anyone else to get involved with my problems. It's my own mess to deal with and I don't want anyone else to get hurt."

Morada's forehead creased. "What do you mean, Natasha? What kind of problems?"

Natasha hesitated, her eyes darting around the table. "I... I can't really say. It's complicated."

Zuri smiled reassuringly. "It's alright, girl. You don't have to tell us anything you're not comfortable with it. We're just glad to meet you, and to know that you're okay. A lot of us really aren't okay with how you've been treated since school started, you know? It's been really visible."

I could feel the tension in the air as everyone stared at Natasha silently. She clearly didn't want to talk about it, and I wasn't about to push her.

Instead, I changed the subject to something more lighthearted. "Hey, has anyone tried the new Ramen spot that's on Lafayette street?" I asked, hoping to distract everyone from the awkwardness. "I got lunch there with Natasha a couple of days ago and the owner's a bit of a character."

Everyone chuckled, relieved at the shift in conversation. Morada shook her head. "I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard it's really good. Maybe we can all go check it out sometime?"

Zuri nodded eagerly. "Yes! How about next week? I'm dying for some good ramen."

We all laughed, our earlier tension dissipating as we chatted about our favorite foods and restaurants. Natasha smiled, happy to be included in the conversation. She seemed to forget about her troubles for a moment and just enjoyed being in the group's presence.

While we ate, I couldn't help but notice how different Natasha was with us than she was when the two of us had first met. She seemed more relaxed, laughing at jokes and participating in the conversation. It starkly contrasted how she was in our one shared class — Biology, where she was always quiet and reserved.

I wondered if it was because of the tension surrounding her since the start of school, or maybe it was something else. Either way, seeing her smiling and laughing with us was pleasant.

When the lunch period ended, we all got up to leave. Morada turned to Natasha, a determined look in her eyes. "Hey, if you ever need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to reach out to us, okay?" she said, her voice firm but kind.

Natasha nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Thank you. I really appreciate it," she said, her voice cracking.

"I'll see you later tonight at my apartment, right?" Morada said, placing a reassuring hand on Natasha's shoulder.

Natasha smiled weakly. "Yeah, I'll be there."

Everyone exchanged contacts with Natasha, and we split off in different directions for our following classes.

As we walked out of the cafeteria, I couldn't help but feel grateful for my friends' support for Natasha. They barely knew her, yet they were willing to offer her a listening ear and a safe space to talk about whatever was bothering her.

I also couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something more to her than met the eye. It was as if she was hiding something that she was afraid to let others know. It seemed clear to me now that the Kongs were involved with the magical side of Terra's society, and I wondered where Natasha landed in that treacherous world. It probably wasn't my business, but I was her friend, and I couldn't help but worry about her.

Walking down the hall, I felt Natasha's hand gently tap and land on my shoulder. I looked down at her, surprised but not unwelcome. She smiled timidly at me.

"Thanks for reaching out last month, and thanks for introducing me to your group," she said, barely above a whisper. "It's been a while since I've had any, well, consistent friends off the internet."

I smiled back at her, feeling a sense of camaraderie. "Of course, and don't sweat it," I said, patting her hand. "Anytime you need someone to talk to, I'm here for you."

Natasha blushed, looking away from me. "Thank you, Ikki. That means a lot to me."

"Look I'm glad we're friends, Natasha. I think you deserve to have people in your life who care about you."

Her cheeks flushed again, but this time, there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "It's easy for me to forget that sometimes," she said, her voice soft but sincere.

I grinned, feeling a sense of satisfaction that I was able to make a positive difference in someone else's life. "I've got your back, Natasha," I said, squeezing her hand playfully. "Promise."

Natasha nodded, her eyes shining with gratitude. "I'll see you after school," she said.

"See you then," I replied, watching as she walked away in the opposite direction.

We laughed momentarily and then parted ways as we headed to our respective classes. As I walked down the hallway, my mind couldn't help but wander back to the encounter with Carrie and her crew. For some reason, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about the whole situation with Natasha.

And then there was the recurring feeling of being watched.

I shook my head, trying to dispel the paranoia that had crept up on me. It was probably just my imagination playing tricks on me and linking unrelated events.

I walked into my next class, and my eyes scanned the room for what good it would do me. I was looking for any sign of the presence I had felt creeping on me. But there was nothing suspicious at all. The feeling had been gone since I returned from my walk with Ms. Roth.

The rest of the day was uneventful, and I was glad to finally be able to head out. Morada, Zuri, and Natasha were waiting for me outside on the bridge that led out of the school. I overheard them talking and laughing about their favorite magical girl idols, and I grinned as I approached them.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked, joining the group. "Looks like you guys are hitting it off."

"We were just talking about Moonbeam Serenade and how much we love her theme song," Morada said, grinning.

Zuri rolled her eyes. "Ugh, not this again, M."

Morada laughed. "I can't help it. It's just so catchy."

"Morada's got a point," Natasha added, her face lighting up enthusiastically. "I love Moonbeam Serenade too. Have you seen her Augmented Reality performance at the Mahou last year? It was amazing and inspirational stuff!"

I chuckled along with them. "I still can't believe you guys are this into the idol stuff," I said teasingly.

Zuri shrugged. "Hey, don't knock it till you try it," she replied with a grin before turning to Natasha. "I think Celestial Sonata might make you a fan yet, Natasha."

Natasha rolled her eyes at Zuri playfully. "I don't think that's going to happen," she said.

"Ready to head to my apartment?" Morada said, turning to me with a smile on her face.

I nodded, "Yeah, let's go!"

As we made our way to the subway station, I couldn't help but notice that Natasha kept glancing over her shoulder.

Soon, we arrived at the station and headed down the stairs. We sat together in a train car that was mostly empty, apart from the students getting on board. Natasha had grown quiet, lost in her thoughts, and I could tell that something was weighing heavily on her mind.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked her softly while giving her a gentle nudge.

She jumped at my touch, her eyes wide with surprise like I'd just snapped her out of a reverie. "Oh! Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," she said.

I raised an eyebrow skeptically, not quite believing her. "Are you sure? You seem pretty distracted all of a sudden."

Natasha fidgeted with her hands, looking down at her lap. "It's nothing really," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just a lot on my mind, you know?"

I nodded understandingly. "I totally get that."

Soon, we pulled up to Morada's stop, and we all got off the train, making our way to her apartment.

As we walked to Morada's apartment building, I couldn't help but notice that Natasha's gaze kept darting around.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay?" I asked her again, my concern growing. "For real."

"Yeah, it's nothing. I'm just a bit jumpy after Chelsea and Eleni's nonsense earlier," she replied, sounding more adamant this time.

As we walked through the streets, the sun began to set, casting a warm orange hue over everything. It was a beautiful sight, and I forgot about all my worries for a moment.

Morada's apartment was a few blocks from the outer districts' subway station. She led us to her apartment building, a tall, modern structure made of glass and steel. We took the elevator to the top floor, and Morada led us to her apartment.

When we arrived at Morada's apartment, we were greeted by the warm and inviting smell of tomato sauce and lasagna, as well as the sound of humming. A lovely, middle-aged woman beamed at us as we stepped inside, strutting over to greet us.

"Welcome, welcome! I am Morada's mother Bianca. You must be her friends," she said, her voice thick and warm. She had a tinge of a Southern European accent. "Whether you want to call me Bianca or Mrs. Morales, that is up to you. Please, make yourselves comfortable."

"Yes, we are. Thank you for having us," I replied, smiling at her.

The apartment was spacious but cozy, with comfortable furniture and colorful decorations that gave off a cheerful vibe. We settled in the living room, admiring the artwork that decorated the walls. Morada had a distinct art style that was both whimsical and vibrant, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at how skillful she was. Her pieces were a mix of traditional and modern styles blended beautifully.

"Is there anything I can get you all? Some water, perhaps?" Morada's mother asked, looking around the room as we settled into the living room.

"Yes, please. That would be great," Zuri said gratefully.

Morada's mother nodded, smiling, before disappearing into the kitchen. It looked like a three-bedroom, modern apartment with sleek, minimalist furniture and large windows that offered a stunning view of the city. The apartment had an open-concept kitchen that flowed seamlessly into the living room. The space was decorated with colorful accents, and even the frames of Morada's portraits blended in with the wall patterns.

"Umn. Excuse me. I'm going to wash up really quick," Natasha said abruptly, standing up from the couch.

"Sure, go ahead," Morada replied, gesturing towards the bathroom.

As Natasha made her way to the bathroom, I couldn't help but notice that her eyes kept darting around the apartment, almost like she was looking for something.

"Is Natasha okay?" Morada asked me, her eyes filled with concern.

"I don't know. She's been acting weird since we left school," I replied, my voice low.

As we chatted and caught up, Morada's mother reappeared with a tray of glasses and a pitcher of water. She beamed at us, filling each glass with water and handing them out.

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Morales," I said, taking a sip of the water. It was refreshing and cool, just what I needed after a commute like that.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Morada's mother smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Ah! That must be the others!"

We heard a series of voices as the door opened, and we could see Ranjika, Midori, Talia, Dior, and Spencer with trays of food in their hands. Their faces lit up when they saw us and greeted us warmly.

"Hey everyone, sorry we're a bit late," Ranjika said, grinning. "We brought so much food, you won't know what hit you."

They set out various dishes for us using fresh ingredients from local markets. There were roasted chickens with lemon-garlic marinade, grilled salmon in citrus sauce, a medley of roasted vegetables, some curry, and fragrant rice pilaf with raisins. The group settled in, chatting and laughing as they set out the trays and silverware.

"...Midori?"

Midori turned towards Natasha as she re-entered the living room, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Hey, 'Tasha, What's up?" she replied, setting down a tray of grilled salmon.

"I didn't know you would be here," Natasha said as she returned to the living room. She had a clear look of surprise, and the two made eye contact and said nothing for a few seconds, blinking at each other. Midori tilted her head with a curious look.

I looked between the two of them, confused. What was going on? It wasn't a bad vibe, but there was clearly a tiny bit of tension here.

Midori cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Yeah, Erm! I didn't think I would be able to make it either, but I finished up some errands I had to do so I decided to swing by," she said, giving Natasha a small smile.

Natasha nodded, seeming to relax a bit. "Oh, that's good. It's great to see you again, Midori," she said, smiling back.

I let out a sigh of relief, glad the tension had dissipated. I felt there was more to their connection than what met the eye, but I didn't want to pry. I wondered if it was related to what was going on with Carrie and her crew.

As we all settled into the living room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. It was nice to spend time with my friends, forget my worries and enjoy the moment. The food was delicious, the company was great, and the atmosphere was warm and cozy.

Spencer yawned, leaning back on the couch as he flicked the TV on with a plate of food. "Alright, let's see what's on before this concert starts," he said, clicking a button on a remote.

He immediately froze, staring wide-eyed at the TV screen.

"Yo... Fellas?"

The others turned to look at the TV, their eyes widening.

"A harrowing attack on a student from Earth allegedly occurred earlier today at St. Antonia's Academy," the news anchor reported. "Witnesses claim that a group of girls attacked the prestigious academy's sole scholarship student from Earth today while hurling slurs and cries to go back to Earth. This attack has occurred in the wake of widespread public outcry surrounding the case of Captain Ezekiel Novac, a transplant from Earth now charged with terrorism and treason against the Bilateral Federation of States."

A video began to play on the screen with the faces blurred out, but Natasha and I were defending ourselves as the girls attacked us. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as the day's events came rushing back.

"Go back to Earth, filthy gutter rat!" a familiar voice cried out before assaulting me.

The room fell silent as we all stared in shock at the TV screen, then all eyes fell on me.

"Ikki?" Dior started.

I shrugged and sighed, "I don't know what to say, guys. It's been a crazy day."

Little did I know back then, that this was only the beginning of an even crazier journey.