On Becoming a Magical Girl

But...

This hairpin gave her a very strange feeling... The moment she held it in her hand, her heart stirred restlessly, and her blood seemed to boil.

It was as if something were about to burst out of her body.

She turned the hairpin over. On the inner side of its back was a line of inconspicuous lettering.

"Agent-Fifina."

An Unexpected Person

The morning performance came to an end, and the afternoon was reserved for promotional events.

Efnir would attend the event as a representative of the Orderkeepers Organization. This had originally been Qinglan's job, but now it had fallen to Efnir, the only senior member with the longest tenure.

Of course, it was only temporary.

Even Efnir could not take on that much work all at once.

Efnir was the spokesperson for the Orderkeepers Organization, and her appearances naturally carried a certain official significance. Several people holding important positions would be attending this time, attracting a large number of media outlets. It felt a little reckless, but just as with the emergence of Agent idols, even those stubborn old men in this shattered world had begun trying to find ways to change.

Back then, Agents had not been such widely known figures.

A secret special operations force would have been a more fitting description.

Later, even after the existence of Agents had been made public, the public's opinion of them had been frighteningly one-sided and disparaging. Yanase Naoto had not yet become Efnir at the time. Something had happened then, something deliberately buried as time passed and long since completely erased from the internet.

Yet Efnir still vaguely knew that an Agent had been involved in that incident, and that the action this Agent might have chosen had provoked public condemnation. The details had never been fully revealed online. It had merely fermented across the internet like celebrity scandals, with countless conflicting claims. Though there was no solid proof, neither had there ever been any direct response saying, "Nothing like that happened."

In short, it had become something of an internet gray area. Because of that incident, once the existence of Agents was announced, people's opinions of them were largely inseparable from mockery such as "irresponsible lackeys of the privileged class." Perhaps the organization's sudden decision to make Efnir an idol had also been intended to erase that stereotypical malicious image. Judging by the results, Efnir had become a hero in the eyes of the citizens. The project had clearly succeeded.

Still, after so many things had happened and so much effort had been made, the public had only truly accepted the existence of Agents in the last two years.

Efnir arrived at the preparation room and changed out of her performance outfit.

The gift bag Saori had brought was still on the coffee table, though it had somehow been knocked over.

After thinking for a moment, Efnir set the gift bag upright.

"Huh?"

A strange feeling welled up inside her, and she picked up the bag suspiciously.

It was very light.

Efnir had not paid deliberate attention to it before, but when Saori had handed her the gift bag, it had not felt so empty.

Efnir opened the bag and looked inside.

There was an exquisite faux-wooden box.

The seal seemed to have been made with some sort of sealing wax. It had Rin's distinctive style, neatly sealed and showing no sign that anyone had opened it.

Was it just her imagination?

The look in Saori's eyes when she left had been so resolute that it felt unfamiliar.

She must have been... disappointed. The senior she had admired all along was actually someone who hesitated and held back.

But no matter what, Efnir could not agree to Saori's request. Overriding the person's wishes and stripping her of her status as an Agent—this was no longer a matter concerning just one person.

Many things could not be done simply because someone wanted to do them and had the determination to follow through.

But saying that to Saori now would not change her mind at all. Efnir could only hope that time would give Saori an opportunity to calm down and think things through.

Efnir sighed.

"So this is where you were!"

At that moment, Shinomiyami Nami's complaining voice came from behind her.

"I've been looking everywhere for you... You disappeared without saying a word right after the performance. I thought you'd gone off somewhere again. What's wrong? Something on your mind?"

Efnir set down the gift bag.

She turned around to see Shinomiyami Nami standing in the doorway, somehow already changed into her work uniform.

Black stockings, a fitted pencil skirt, and a tailored women's blazer. Her hair was slicked neatly back, and her makeup had been touched up to be slightly heavier. She looked completely different from before. This was what Shinomiyami Nami looked like as a manager.

Shinomiyami Nami looked Efnir up and down as well, tilting her head in surprise.

"Huh? You changed?"

"That outfit wasn't convenient to move in."

"True enough."

Shinomiyami Nami nodded in rare agreement.

Even so, Efnir was currently only maintaining the most basic level of Resonance. It consumed very little physical and mental energy, so her combat suit had not manifested. If she needed to enter a combat state, she only had to resonate again.

Since Efnir could receive a deployment order at any time, conserving her stamina was something she had to keep in mind. While performing, there was no way she could expend too much energy maintaining her full Exile Form.

"By the way, Efnir, want to have lunch together?"

"Lunch... I don't mind."

Efnir hesitated briefly, then nodded.

It was rare for Shinomiyami Nami to make an invitation that was not completely out of left field. Besides, she had probably noticed Efnir was in a low mood and invited her out because she was concerned.

Rejecting her even then would have been far too cold.

Shinomiyami Nami smiled faintly.

"Mm, how straightforward. Then I booked a nice dessert parlor. Let's head over now."

"Mm... huh? Hey, wait! Didn't you say lunch?"

"Huh? Don't you like desserts?"

"But! Even if I like them, nobody eats dessert as a main meal, right!? And we're working!"

"Oh, right! Work!"

Shinomiyami Nami suddenly clapped her hands.

"That's right, I almost forgot. I also arranged for the new head of the fan club to come over."

"Wasn't that supposed to be this afternoon...?"

"The afternoon needs to be left for the meeting, right? There's no time. If you think briefly catching a glimpse of her from afar before the meeting, without even speaking face-to-face, counts as meeting her, isn't that far too perfunctory? Your fans would cry. Since she's the current head and someone you'll often run into in the future, it'd be better to get acquainted. That's advice from your manager. Besides..."

Shinomiyami Nami gave a sly smile.

"That girl is absolutely adorable. I think you really should meet her."

"What does being cute have to do with me...?"

Efnir raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

It might have been shameless to say so herself, but Efnir could confidently say this: aside from her little sister, no one else could ever make her heart waver.

Fifteen minutes later.

The dessert shop Shinomiyami Nami had booked was outside the venue. It was luxurious and stylish, belonging to a brand that had recently become extremely popular.

Efnir stepped out of the car and headed into the shop with Shinomiyami Nami.

The shop was already packed.

Despite the scorching weather, the interior was especially cool. From inside, they could see the dessert stand outside selling cones and ice cream.

A long line had formed outside the dessert stand, but the shop itself was very quiet.

"If you don't have a reservation, you can't get a seat just by taking a number on the spot. You can only settle for buying some cooling ice cream and cones at the dessert stand."

Shinomiyami Nami seemed to have been here many times. She led the way with ease as she explained.

Although Efnir had never quite gotten used to Shinomiyami Nami's erratic way of doing things, there was no doubt that she had always been highly capable when it came to handling work.

The atmosphere inside was comfortable. For a meal or a relaxing lunch break, this really was a good choice.

The music had a soothing, relaxing style, while the lighting was a lazy warm hue. The customers seemed to have all switched into a leisurely mood.

But the moment Efnir arrived, that tranquility was immediately shattered.

"Hey... look outside... could that be..."

Though she had changed into clothes that were not particularly eye-catching, people immediately began looking at Efnir.

"Is that... Efnir?"

"The real one? Seriously???"

It was only natural that Efnir would be noticed. Like oil poured onto blazing flames, the customers' cheers ignited in an instant.

"Efnir-chan!!!"

Cheers rose one after another, and the once-quiet shop suddenly became a mess.

Since occasional public outings were a regular part of her work, Efnir was well practiced in responding to her fans' enthusiasm.

After considerable effort, they finally reached the top floor.

Shinomiyami Nami had reserved this entire floor well in advance. From here, they could see West Capital Tower in the distance, nearly half the city, and the venue below. Most importantly, the area was filled with countless pastries and fruits of every kind.

It was practically dessert heaven.

Efnir really did love sweets.

Before she became Efnir, she had not particularly liked them.

But after becoming a girl, it was as if she had been possessed. Her hobbies had all at once been dragged from games, novels, and manga into the abyss of snacks and pastries. In any case, though Efnir would never say it aloud, she really liked Shinomiyami Nami's arrangement.

"Hey, don't just stare at the food."

Shinomiyami Nami smiled strangely and nudged Efnir with her elbow.

"Tch... Who's staring?"

"You're practically about to stick your face into that cream, and you still won't admit it?"

Efnir pulled her gaze away from the enormous egg tart and shot Shinomiyami Nami a glare.

"Whatever. Aren't we here to meet the new head? Where is she?"

"There, look."

Efnir looked in the direction Shinomiyami Nami pointed.

Before the wide floor-to-ceiling window stood a girl in an aqua-blue dress, quiet and elegant. Holding a small slice of cherry cake, she leaned forward slightly against the window and nervously looked down at something.

Noticing Efnir and Shinomiyami Nami's footsteps, she turned around. Her clear eyes met Efnir's gaze.

"Yu... Yukina???"

Efnir froze in place, her sister's name nearly slipping out.

"I told you before, you'd definitely like her."

Shinomiyami Nami's voice drifted over.

Efnir remained frozen, her expression growing increasingly strange—Yukina held no low position in the fan club, but Efnir had never imagined that this temporary new Agent would be Yukina.

At that moment, Efnir suddenly understood everything. From the very beginning, Shinomiyami Nami's meaningful smile had made it obvious that she had known about this all along.

Efnir and Yukina

"Aren't you going over to say hello?"

Shinomiyami Nami urged her on with sparkling eyes, as though she had won the lottery jackpot.

Efnir silently looked at the flattered Yukina.