Magical Girls Bloom In Misery [Baka & Blood Briar]

[Baka]

What makes one a magical girl?
Is it the courageous and just heart willing to go any lengths to save people from evil?
Is it the frilly dresses and magic-wand coupled with cute-sounding attacks?
Is it the attitude that keeps smile on their faces even when the odds are stacked against them?
Is it all of these qualities combined? Or none of the above?

Whatever it is I will never get to be one of them.​

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦​

In My Time Of Need - Opeth
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺​

Bell-chimed the end of the school-day for most of the students at the high-school on a hot June afternoon. Summer-vacation was nearly upon of the seniors of the high-school, though most of them wouldn't bother thinking bothersome stuff like entrance exams or future career surveys at least for a few months. This was their last summer as high-school students, and they intended to take full advantage of that fact, which meant beach-trips, sleepovers, festivals, some small trips to onsens or bigger cities, to some it just meant lazing around at home and leaving the summer homework to the final day and then despairing over it and pulling all-nighter to finish it all. Hype seemed to grew bigger and bigger each day as students sprung out of the classroom or stayed behind chatting and planning what they are going to do with their friends.

However furthest row of seats in the class, next to a window sat a raven-haired girl with bangs over her eyes calmly putting her books back into her backpack, seemingly not caring about all the excitement around her. She knew that all her summer would provide her were a long idle days spent reading manga or playing games with her little sister at home, maybe a visit to their grandparents place at the countryside... And forgetting her summer work till day before the school started back again and pulling an all-nighter to get it all done. It has been like this ever since elementary-school, and things would continue to be like this the last year of high-school and university if she decided to apply to one.

After packing her things up the young woman silently left the classroom, and started to walk towards the other one. Before she could start enjoying her listless vacation she needed to take remedial classes after flunking the math test. The subject she hated the most. If things went well she could start the vacation when the rest of the school started it, which would mean two week long study-halls and passing the retake test, but if not she'd spend first half of her vacation locked in the school for some more remedial classes. Despite not really doing anything noteworthy during her free time the prospect of being stuck at a classroom with poor air conditioning and some teacher droning on and on about things she couldn't get interested in made the woman sigh audibly, and the fact that she'd have to spend next two weeks at the schools library with other flunking students didn't exactly sound fun either, but at least she could find herself a secluded corner and read the latest volume of 'Magical Heartcatcher Kirara-chan' and pretend to work.

Though even that pretending wouldn't be necessary. Ever since she was a little she realized she was a 'plain girl', someone who'd melt into the background, who people didn't even realize was even present. Even at daycare the teachers sometimes forgot to give her tasty desserts, or elementary school teachers thought she was missing or absent unless she made herself known, and after that they would forget her anyways. No-one has ever approached her and talked to her unless made to do so, but this wasn't out of any malice. They just didn't realize she was around. It all sounds really comical when put into words, but to Shizue Matsumoto it was a curse she has been living with her whole life, and one that she has learned to live with reluctantly.

While walking towards the library she stopped at the vending machine to get herself a Pocari Sweat bottle to enjoy while reading her manga, and soon she arrived to her destination.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦​

Shizue slid the door open and walked in the library, few heads turned to her way to look who stepped in, but in an instant they returned back to their books and studying. In addition to few teachers there were some students helping the students out. The only one she recognized was the schools most popular student, complete opposite of her. Akeboshi Ayame. Her unusual and bright hair-color in addition to her seemingly being great at anything she did made her seem like she was the main character of this world, someone that timid, socially awkward plain-girl at the same time looked-up in admiration and awe, but somewhere deep inside held feelings of jealousy and unjust resentment. Ayame had just drawn a better lot in life since she was born in her eyes, and there's nothing she could do about it. In her eyes she was just the type who would get blessed with power, fame and anything she could hope for

In Shizues eyes Ayame was like an everyday magical girl.

After letting the eyes under her bangs look at her for a few moments, and knowing that no teacher or student would welcome her in or ask if she needed any assistance the young woman started heading at the back of the library, where a small old table with two as old chairs were put next to it. Small window over it made the setting afternoon sun through and made the place rather cozy and warm to be. She had even used the place as a secret place to take naps. Only downside was all the dust that seemed to gather there, but it was a small price to pay for her private oasis.

Freckled, raven-haired woman put her backpack decorated with magical-girl charms onto the back of the chair after digging out her tankobon volume of the manga and her math-book, setting the book in front of her on the table in-case someone would come to her, opened her Pocari Sweat bottle and started to enjoy her alone-time. She contemplated on putting headphones, but since the cicadas were not singing for a few weeks she could focus in her reading without music.

After reading a few pages of the manga and escaping into the own little world the slowly setting sun illuminated the lone girl sitting and reading, and if someone were to stumble on her even by accident they'd see a rare sight that even her parents or sister rarely saw, which was her gentle smile as she flipped through the pages.

 

[Blood Briar]

As her classmates vividly discussed summer plans, Ayame smiled, commented, and emoted excitement for them. Their joy was infectious enough that she was even able to pretend to be a part of it for a little while, imagining a summer of plans with friends, travel away from home, and enjoying the beach. Once she left, that all faded away to the only feeling she actualliy held toward the summer: loneliness. However popular she was seen and treated within school, once she left the gates, she was alone again. Another night of cooking and a dinner with little conversation awaited, her father watching the news while they ate. Then she would study and, finally, read.

Between the rigid demand in part of her schedule, her extra-extracurricular and the intimidating nature of her popularity, the only common interest in her time outside of school came from fellow students confessing crushes. She might have found them flattering if she felt like any of them actually knew her, instead of just 'Ayame the popular girl with striking hair and a charming smile.' As it was, those infatuations felt hollow, and had more to do with how she looked than what she did -- and what mattered more than her choices?

Whatever she did, though, it wasn't enough. However others smiled in the day, her phone was silent through the night. Only one thing frequently disrupted her weekly routine, and it held the exact same problems as her life in school: shining popularity, but zero friends to find in it.

Walking toward the library, she looked forward to holding conversation with others, even if it was focused mostly on tutoring. Having a little more time before she had to return to the quiet winter of her home was worth any effort it might require.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦​

Ayame's attention shifted just briefly to Shizue's, falling away again like the others. If put on the spot, she would be able to summon her name from memory, but she was no more immune to her classmate's 'curse' than others. Her blind spots were informed by the society she grew up in, after all. What made the invisible visible was the simple matter of a list. Having volunteered to check off which of the students attended their remedial studies, she found one name unaccounted for. Looking over the seated students and recounting, the name continued to stand out as not corresponding to a filled seat.

So it was that the periphery of Shizue's vision caught sight of long violet hair. Her voice rang out gently but with a reflexive confidence ingrained from years of performance. "Matsumoto? Are you here for remedial study?" She didn't want to assume - perhaps this girl just enjoyed this space in the library - but if she answered in the affirmative, Ayame continued. "I'd be happy to tutor you in whatever you'd like help with." While Ayame's smile typically appeared genuine, it certainly was this time; she was invested in these interactions and what they brought her. The who was admittedly (and unflatteringly) less important to her.

 

[Baka]

While being completely immersed by her manga the sudden flash of purple in the corner of her vision caught her attention briefly, but she just brushed it off as the light illuminating and reflecting weirdly from the window or something. Only when she heard a voice that the raven-haired young woman had heard from far away in the hall or during some morning assmebly way back when she lifted her head up, and saw the most popular girl of the school addressing her and looking at her way.

"A...A.... Akeboshi-san!?!" Shizues words came out with a weird pitch and a little crack when she opened her mouth. Small faint blush rose to her cheeks right after that. She rarely, if ever talked in school, and honestly some days could pass without her even opening her mouth at all to speak if her family was away somewhere. Akame speaking to her at all was something she never could've envision even in her wildest dreams, and she looked like a deer caught in a headlights. Shaking little as her eyes, still covered by her bangs glued to the seemibgly radiant girl illuminated by the tried to come up with an answer, but she found muttering anything out a difficult task.

Before she could say anything she realized there was a manga in her hands, and to try and cover-up her slacking she quickly turned towards her backpack and put it in there before trying to speak once again. "Y...y... Yes..." Shizue simply said finally replying to the purple-haired womans question while turning her head downwards. She found extremely hard to accept her help. In her eyes the two lived in completely different planets, if one saw them together they might start saying bad things about her, or she might become a target of bullying. Once inconspicuous wallflower would soon become a target of her fans, and her tranquil days would be over. She also knew that this, at best would be just one-time occurrence. She would forget her as soon as she would round the corner and disappear from her field of vision. Deep withing her heart with all the resentment and anger towards herself and people around her one small wish however was trying to escape, which was to beccome her friend, but that wish soon got buried underneath everything, and made her just let out a sigh as she prevented an upcoming disappointment happening, and putting herself down to her place, at least in her opinion.

Shizues surprise and blush had turned into a serious expression as she tried her best to choose the 'correct answer' for the situation. After being quiet a little while she lifted her gaze up, and unlike the gentle, genuine smile she had shown moments prior a forced one rose to her face, as she finally replied to her offer.

"I... I'm fine thank you..." to try and force her statement she finally took the math book and opened it at a random spot, though one that was filled wrong replies and random doodles, showing that the shy and awkward mess of a girl sitting was really in need of some help, and would most likely just end-up failing the retake when it happened, at least if she kept up with her manga-reading when she was supposed to be hammering formulas and equations into her head.

 

[Blood Briar]

Though Shizue's reaction was fairly rare -- at least when she was seen as Ayame -- she'd built up plenty of patience for it. Being seen for her reputation rather than as a person was an unintended side-effect of striving to be the best (and finally, hopefully earn the praise she craved), and she'd long had to adjust to how people responded to her. Not that one would ever hear her complaining about it, of course; how else could that be seen other than ungrateful?

Her smile didn't falter or fade away at Shizue's apparent embarrassment and hesitance. Truthfully, Ayame struggled to remember anything about the classmate, who seemed to do her best (willingly or not) to blend into the background. She had no extraordinary strength in seeing what lurked beneath the surface or hid in plain view. What Ayame did possess in excess, however, was determination and persistence.

Waiting for her to fully respond, she took in what was in front of her and what was being fiddled with. Math wasn't her favorite or easiest subject either, but she'd pushed hard to excel in it, and tutoring was always a good refresher of her knowledge and skill in it. That she might be struggling in it was no cause for hesitation in her. "It's easier when you have some help, though, ne?" The sundryness of the situation sifted back to the top of her smile; it was simpler to persuade some people when it seemed like you were invested primarily in their own benefit, but that did not seem to match the timid gal in front of her. "It's no trouble at all." She effected some self-conscious modesty, running fingers through her hair and behind her ear as she momentarily glanced aside. "Math was always my hardest subject, and it helped me to get tutoring in it."

Choosing to ignore what was in the book where she opened it to, Ayame shifted her bag to open it and withdraw her own math textbook. "Why don't you show me where you're having the most trouble and we can start from there?" As long as her resolve didn't stay firm, she took a chair and moved it to sit across from Shizue, beginning to pull out all the implements of study.

 

[Baka]

Ayame clearly wasn't going to back down, and the young timid woman was never really one to argue with people or debate her own cases, since she didn't really have any need to do so in the first place, which resulted her resigning and gave in pretty easily. To her this whole situation was something she never really anticipated happening, so she might as well take advantage of it now that it presented itself for her. She could always read manga at home or tomorrow at the same place, since most likely the star of the school had forgotten her by that point. She shifted her gaze to the side before mumbling out a reply. "I... I guess if... if you insist...", though if she found some situation to try and gently try to push her away she would take up on it. After all the worst thing she could do was to get a wrong idea and hurt herself even more than she was already hurting.

She takes out the pencil and calculator from her back and puts them neatly besides the opened book of hers. As the purple-haired girl is doing the same and asks the specific part(s) Shizue needs help with she takes the book and starts to go through it. Behind her long bangs her neutral and flustered expression starts to turn to a frown, only seen by her mouth turning into a frown slowly but surely. She is ashamed to admit that anything beyond basics is something she does not get, but that's the price she has to pay now after focusing on sleeping, doodling, reading and even gaming or being on her phone at times.

However knowing that they'd be stuck here for a long time if she didn't speak up she shows her the book from the page 21 "... From here..." and the flips it all the way to the page 88, basically covering the whole area that the test should cover. "... To here..." she then flips open her notebook, which is filled with assignments and calculations left unfinished.

"... E... Egawa-sensei goes through everything so fast, and never notices when I raise my hand so everything just tends to go by me... And at some point I just stopped trying..." she explains and as her voice gets quieter and quieter. She then finally looks up with another forced smile on her face as she attempts to push the one helping her away again.

"I... I'm such a lost-cause so you should probably focus on someone who does not end up wasting your time Akeboshi-san."

 

[Blood Briar]

Ayame watched her patiently as she shifted into more of a studying setup than a reading manga setup. She had been the one to interrupt Shizue, after all, and anything less would have been awfully rude. Watching her classmate was a curious thing. Her bangs covered up so much of her face, she almost seemed to vanish behind them, the face losing notability in the lack of full clarity. That frown indicated plenty, but she couldn't tell what until the scope of the problem was demonstrated for her. Eyebrows lifted at the thick span of pages standing between the student and success on the test.

Before she could pick a response, Shizue helpfully volunteered an explanation for her lack of success. While Ayame would have been determined to get attention and to seek help elsewhere or bash her head into the wall until she found success, she'd become aware that few were as dead set on success as she. When facing resistance, many faltered and gave up, which was perhaps why she was chosen for her calling in the first place.

Still, it was hard to look down on her for it. A sliver of guilt appeared at how readily her gaze had passed over Shizue without recognition, and if the teacher didn't so much as notice her, then this was probably something she'd come to expect. Her eyes narrowed slightly as this became fuel for a new objective: to make up for how ignored and unhelped she'd been, Ayame would singlehandedly tackle this problem and tutor her to success.

That would ease her guilt, at the very least, and Shizue had likely suffered a long time to be this shy and self-effacing. It seemed like the least she could do.

"No one is a waste of time if they're willing to learn." Ayame wore her most friendly smile, then, having already made up her mind. "I'm sorry you've gone without help for so long, and that you've gone ignored by Egawa-sensei. We can go through all of this together," she gestured toward the sixty-plus pages in her math book. "Let's begin at the start, shall we?"

Not one to easily be deterred, she turned her own book to page 21, found a starting point, considered for a moment how she'd approach it, then treated it like she was the teacher for today. Everyone deserves a real chance. She smiled at the thought.