Meguca 5: New Beginnings

01[18:20] <&GeMshuku> The year is 20XX and Raitaki is a loser.
03[18:20] * Raitaki ([email protected]) has joined #Meguca
[18:20] <Snowwork> he's not a loser. He's a looser.
03[18:20] * Raitaki is now known as Shinohara_Haru
[18:20] <Snowwork> There is a difference.
02[18:21] * Snowwork ([email protected]) Quit (Quit: http://www.kiwiirc.com/ - A hand crafted IRC client)
01[18:24] <&GeMshuku> ...In any case! While the group makes a truce with another group as their numbers deplete, their numbers...continue to do so. Kumiko, after all of this, just does not seem to be able to keep still any longer--and might be suffering from the emotional fallout of her friends dying...so when many parties gather once again in the town square at the appointed time, it might not even be surprising to see that she's no longer there.
01[18:25] <&GeMshuku> What IS surprising, of course, is looking outside to see dead bodies all over the place before actually getting that far. School's canceled. That's nice?
01[18:26] <&GeMshuku> Investigating them results in the same sights for everyone: Bodies mangled and destroyed by something that defies proper explanation. Killed by...nothing. Apparently! It's weird, but it doesn't stop a lot of girls heading towards the square anyway. ...And of course, that's the conversation topic. Why wouldn't it be?
03[18:28] * Hayasaka_Kumiko is now known as Rosette
[18:29] <Kasuga_Makoto> "...I don't understand..." Makoto heads into the square while obversing the area. Things don't quite add up, and, as usual, she wants to get to the bottom of things...
[18:30] <Shinohara_Haru> Haru arrived at the meeting place, looking positively relieved to see it being quiet full with people, most (all?) of them being girls around her age. There's something uplifting about knowing you are about to join a joint effort. Looked like everyone had their own groups, though...Finding one to join might be a little bit difficult. First thing first, though; she started scanning the crowds, looking for Renge.
[18:32] <Himukai_Renge> Renge was nowhere to be seen in the square.
02[18:32] * Genericfan ([email protected]) Quit (Ping timeout: 242 seconds)
03[18:32] * Rosette ([email protected]) has left #Meguca (Senpai stopped loving me)
01[18:33] <&GeMshuku> ...Despite the fact that lots of deaths would imply less people, the square is packed full of girls, both fancy outfits and otherwise...and in the center fountain, the whole set of tsukaima is there. The white rabbit with the gear, Fate! The white owl with black orbs for eyes, Galaxia! The one that only holders of seeds can even see, who anyone that has a seed must know already! Those are the ones already recognizable to the more experienced of this group.
[18:35] <Kasuga_Makoto> "It seems like everyone's here. Including a few new faces." Makoto mused to herself. She's hoping that Hotaru and the others would catch up, soon enough. "...Fate? I have quite a few questions..."
[18:35] <Shinohara_Haru> Haru checked, double-checked, and triple-checked, but she couldn't find Renge anywhere amongst the crowd! "Himukai-san doesn't seem to be present...Is she late..?" She started to regret forgeting to ask Renge for contact details!
[18:36] <Matsubara_Hotaru> "What is up with all of the dead bodies?" asked Hotaru as she enters the scene. "Did the youma really went this far?" As you can already tell, even she is bewildered by this.
01[18:36] <&GeMshuku> If anyone happens to be missing...maybe they're late? Maybe they're preoccupied with a death in the family? There's a lot of things responsible, and I'm pretty sure both of these things might have happened to someone that would have been in the crowd otherwise. ...However, they wouldn't be able to blame traffic if they're late. There's not much of that.
[18:37] <Himukai_Renge> Heavy footsteps echoed as Renge finally arrives at the square, keeled over with her hands on her knees breathing heavily. "I-I made it...why did they have to make the season finale a double episode?"
06[18:37] * Kasuga_Makoto keeps an eye on Hotaru, and then shifts her gaze to the new girl at the square...before turning back to Fate once more. The new tsukaima caught her eye, as well, but there wasn't much she could do about that...
[18:38] <Himukai_Renge> Renge slowly recovers from her much needed exercise and stands up to find the group of girls that had congregated in the square. She looks around for a few moments before spotting Haru in the crowd.
[18:39] <Shinohara_Haru> Haru spotted Renge as well, and hurried over. "Himukai-san! I was looking for you!"
01[18:40] <&GeMshuku> ...As for the ones that are entirely new, well...there's a metal doll, floating low, as if it doesn't need its stunningly white wings to fly at all. It seems to be...counting? Or studying? It's doing something that involves looking at all the girls. And on the fountain's edge, there's...a harmless looking ball of white fluff, that appears to be...wearing chains? It gives off an intimidating and harmless aura...which makes you wonder, since these two things literally cannot go together under normal circumstances.
[18:41] <Himukai_Renge> "Ah, sorry about that Haru. I was pre-occupied with some...important things." Renge replied as she looked to the side avoiding eye contact for a brief moment.
01[18:43] <&GeMshuku> In any case, Fate's...ready to answer questions to the Makoto that asked them! "We've gotten on top of recent events...and it looks like it's all as we feared. We've yet to explain what we know to the public, and...I'd rather not say what we're saying more than once, so be quick."
[18:44] <Shinohara_Haru> The blonde noticed the metal doll looking at them, and shrinked at its gaze. That was probably rude, but she couldn't really help it, considering she shrinks even if glared at by normal humans. "U-Um...May I help you..?"
[18:44] <Kasuga_Makoto> "...We met that multicoloured orb during the fire, and we...lost some of our group to it."
[18:45] <Kasuga_Makoto> "...But it told us something about you. About how tsukaima...do something to people's emotions." She speaks quietly and looks Fate right in the eyes. "Does that have any meaning or merit...?"
01[18:48] <&GeMshuku> Its expression turns grim. "...Yes. That thing is...of a scale that's uncommon, and it sports properties the like of which we've never seen. It is...unsurprising that some would be lost to it...or worse. ...That said, emotions play a role in magic--and that is NOT why we can't use it like you, that's more complicated--so I suppose the answer is a really technical yes. ...You might want to explain what you really mean, though?
01[18:48] <&GeMshuku> "
[18:51] <Kasuga_Makoto> "It told us something about...consuming emotions? It wasn't all that clear, and we didn't want to stick around. We think one of our friends might still be out there. As a youma."
01[18:55] <&GeMshuku> "...If this is about that...then, well, that might be it showing off one of the tricks that we've seen it to be capable of. Turning magical girls into youma. The process apparently involves emotions, but...it seems more to do with the massive magic power it has than anything else. It exploits that, as well as the emotion's role in regulating magic...and, well, it seems you know the results."
[19:02] <Himukai_Renge> "It's probably doing very important things Haru. We should go learn more about this youma that has appeared though. It sounds quite dangerous and we should be prepared." Renge grabs Haru's hand and leads her towards the conversation taking place.
[19:03] <Matsubara_Hotaru> "So erm... I'm sure you've noticed but do you have any idea what is going on? I've seen more than several dead bodies on my way here. Not even Detroit's crime rate would compare to what I've just seen!"
[19:04] <Shinohara_Haru> "Wha-" Haru cried out at the sudden grab-and-pull! This was better than standing there shrinking before the withering glare of the metal doll though, so she followed wordlessly!
01[19:11] <&GeMshuku> There's just something...weird about saying 'Detroit'. It's hard to pin down, but probably not important.
[19:11] <Himukai_Renge> Renge ducks and weaves through the crowd of girls until she finally finds Fate speaking with someone.
[19:13] <Himukai_Renge> "There you are, Fate. Look who I brought along!" Renge tugs her hand and brings Haru to the front.
01[19:14] <&GeMshuku> Either way, the tsukaima answers! "That will be fully covered in the group address." ...It turns directly at Renge (and the Haru dragged along)! "There's the duo I was expecting~! ...And to show up now, of all times, that's convienent~"
[19:15] <Shinohara_Haru> "...Umm." Haru wanted to look around to check if people were watching, but that would be silly. Of course they were! So she started shrinking behind Renge instead. Too bad blond hair did the opposite of helping with camouflage in Japan.
01[19:16] <&GeMshuku> ...After seeing all these bodies, even 'Japan' has a weird ring to it. ...Even in your head. Or maybe that's just the 'everything that seemed real now no longer isn't because look at all these magical girls' effect. It's hard to tell.
[19:17] <Himukai_Renge> Renge gently pats Haru's head with a smile before turning back to Fate. "So, is there a group we can join up with? Or do I get to be alone with Haru for this?"
01[19:20] <&GeMshuku> "Yes! ...The ones I'm talking with...seem like they'd be a good fit for you two, since you're both bursting with energy, and they're your seniors, so you'll feel more safe in these times! ...Better than being just a pair, for both parties!"
[19:22] <Himukai_Renge> "Wonderful!" Renge clasps her hands with delight as she looks towards the two girls that Fate mentioned.
01[19:24] <&GeMshuku> They can describe themselves to make it easier for the ones viewing their new partners! ...The new partners might wanna do that too, honestly.
[19:27] <Himukai_Renge> "My name is Himukai Renge, pleased to meet you!" Renge bows politely.
[19:29] <Shinohara_Haru> Haru unshrank a little, and turned her attention to her the other. She was wearing a light yellow long-sleeved shirt and a long blue dress; she looked slightly foreign, and wouldn't look too out of place in a girls' boarding school or something like that. Clearing her throat slightly, she introduced herself, "I'm Shinohara Haru, and I've just become a magical girl yesterday. Please take good care of me, senpai."
[19:30] <Himukai_Renge> Renge is a bit shorter than average for a 16 year old, has long, fiery red hair that's tied up in a pony tail with a cute pink ribbon. Her eyes match the colour of her hair and is currently wearing a red shirt and black pants, probably because she needed to run to the square to get here on time.
[19:31] <Matsubara_Hotaru> "...Well! It's nice to meet you too! My name is Hotaru... Matsubara Hotaru." she replied as she took off her hat revealing her wolf ears and... lots of ribbons. ...Yeah, due to two certain incidents, she mutated to... well something she didn't want to be.  "We'll show you the ropes and we'll make sure we will beat any youma that stands in our way!"
[19:32] <Himukai_Renge> Renge notices the ears and blurted out without thinking, "Oh, you're just like that catgirl I met yesterday!"
[19:33] <Matsubara_Hotaru> "Blegh! Well... I've changed appearences due to some unexplained reasons! Believe me, I want to be back to normal!"
01[19:33] <&GeMshuku> "...About her. She's...not the most stable person right now. If she were to show up, I'd recommend a break for her despite what she might wish fore...but she's not here, so, well, there's that."
[19:34] <Himukai_Renge> "Are you sure Hotaru-san? I think they suit you quite nicely." Renge replies with a smile.
[19:34] <Himukai_Renge> "I mean, I wouldn't mind if I had a pair of cute animal ears myself. What do you think would suit me? I was always a fan of cat ears but maybe something less pointy?"
[19:35] <Himukai_Renge> Renge puts her hand on her head and attempts to mimic some ears, "What do you think, Haru?"
01[19:36] <&GeMshuku> "Don't aim to twist yourself with magic! You might try aiming for cat ears, when suddenly, you reek of blood and vomit rainbows. Or you explode. Or try to kill everyone around you. It's really just a bad idea."
[19:37] <Shinohara_Haru> "D-Don't be rude!" Haru chided Renge while giving the senior magical girl an apologetic look. She was trying to think of a proper reply, when Fate suddenly spoke up. "...Wait, what?"
[19:38] <Himukai_Renge> "O-oh, I didn't know there were other side effects like that." Renge slowly puts her hands back down to her side with an apologetic look.
03[19:38] * Tactical is now known as Midorikawa_Misao
01[19:39] <&GeMshuku> "These things can happen, but...if you're not negligent, and you don't try too hard, and and you're in a group, they won't last. ...Hotaru is a strange exception to this rule, that I've yet to really figure out."
[19:40] <Matsubara_Hotaru> Flustered at that, she rudely replied, "They don't suit me nicely! I look like a freak! I look nothing how I used to look! I miss my family, I miss my normal life!" Immediately regret seeps in after blowing up over something that was meant as a compliment. "...Er. Sorry, just got a bit of an emotional outburst. I really do miss my old self though."
[19:44] <Himukai_Renge> "No no, it's my fault. Sometimes I can get carried away when it's to do with cute things." Renge replied, "I'm sure that you'll go back to your old self eventually."
[19:44] <Shinohara_Haru> "Ah...I'm sorry to hear that, Matsubara-senpai." Looked like the costs of being a magical girl wasn't the same for everyone, huh. It didn't seem very fair.
[19:45] <Matsubara_Hotaru> "...Fair enough! And thanks, I hope so too. ...With all that said, it isn't too bad. I rather really like the sword I have."
[19:46] <Himukai_Renge> "There you go, always look on the bright side of things!"
02[19:50] * Shinohara_Haru ([email protected]) Quit (Quit: Leaving)
[19:56] <Himukai_Renge> Renge attempts to inconspicuously look behind Hotaru to see if she has a tail as well.
[19:58] <Matsubara_Hotaru> And she definitely does, she's been hiding it in her Kimono outfit since she avoids wanting to be seen with a pair of animal tail and ears in public. She is stuck with those after all.
[19:59] <Himukai_Renge> Renge resists the urge to touch the fluffy tail and composes herself.
[20:02] <Himukai_Renge> "So Fate, I think I overhead something about people being converted into youma?" Renge asked.
01[20:03] <&GeMshuku> "That will also be addressed in the group hearing...though we're waiting to have that for a bit longer so everyone gets to hear, and less people come in late and then proceed to go directly to us to ask what happened." It nods!
03[20:05] * Yuna_Mizuno is now known as SleepingFairy
[20:05] <Himukai_Renge> "O-oh, of course. That would certainly get annoying if people did that." Renge replies as she steps to the side away from Fate slightly.