Yachiyo's Story

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Part One: At Nanami Yachiyo's House
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Narrator: This is a story from long before Tamaki Iroha came to Kamihama City...

Momoko: Whoa--it's so spacious--!
Yachiyo: Oh, sit and wait for me, okay?
Kaede: Excuse us...
Rena: us...
Kaede: This is a really big house, isn't it~ Momoko-chan?
Momoko: After all, Yachiyo-san's house used to be a boarding house or something.
Rena: H--m.
Momoko: ...What's wrong? Are you nervous by any chance?
Rena: Haa? Rena's not nervous at all!
Kaede: I'm a bit nervous...
Rena: Kaede's a scaredy-cat so aren't you're always nervous--?
Kaede: But! She's an older onee-san and a huge senpai magical girl you know?
So of course I'd get nervous~ wait, you're not? Rena-chan?
Rena: Eh? Well--, maybe about 1 milli of Rena is...
Kaede: See--?
Rena: Only 'cause Rena doesn't go to other peoples' houses very often!
Momoko: Well, the two of you don't know her very well either.
Kaede: Yeah...this is only the second time, I think.
Rena: Well--...the first time we met was when we fought the witch at the ruined building in Shinnishi.
Momoko: This time I guess we just happened to run into her.
Kaede: But Momoko-chan, you've known her for a long time now, right?
Momoko: True, I guess it was 2 years ago. Right when I became a magical girl and even now, when you girls aren't around to help me, she lets me team up to hunt witches with her.
Kaede: A "magical girl veteran" sounds a bit strange...but, it's amazing that she's been doing this for 6 years~
Momoko: If you bring up that she's been doing this for a long time too much, then she'll get a bit mad. She'll say something like "that kind of makes me sound like an old woman...".
Rena: Are you saying it's great the longer you've been doing this?
Kaede: ...Geez-, there you go again, putting up your guard like that~
Momoko: Well, if she was honest, then she wouldn't be Rena.
Rena: What's with that! It's not like Rena's that...

Yachiyo: Here, thanks for waiting~ I brought out some snacks.
Momoko: Wah! Thanks!
Kaede: I, I'll help myself, thanks!
Rena: .......... (...It looks delicious) ...Thank you for the food.

Momoko: Today's what you'd call an informal gathering, right?
Yachiyo: Yes, since we ran into each other. We're all magical girls here, we need to get along!
Momoko: You heard her you two, ask her anything, as much as you want!
Kaede: A, Ask?
Rena: Mamuwha?!
Momoko: Huh? Wha?
Kaede: ...Rena-chan, you shouldn't talk until after you finish eating...
Rena: ...Gulp...Rena meant to say, what're we supposed to ask?
Momoko: What should you ask? Anything you want. Since Yachiyo-san knows everything about being a magical girl!
Yachiyo: No, I don't actually know everythi...
Momoko: C'mon, starting with you Kaede!
Kaede: You're kidding!? Eh? Eh? Um...What's your favorite food?
Rena: That has nothing to do with magical girls!
Yachiyo: Let's see...I guess I like soba? [1]
Rena: And she answered!?

Narrator: After that, the questions directed at Yachiyo were all a bunch of safe ones. Whether it was a conscious decision or an unconscious one, the informal gathering continued, avoiding any deep questions that had to do with being a magical girl. Regardless, as time went on, the gap separating Rena and Kaede from Yachiyo closed up more than before.

Yachiyo: There's no tea left...I'll go make some more.
Momoko: Please and thank you--!
...So, what do you think?
Rena: What do you mean, what do we think?
Momoko: Isn't Yachiyo-san a nice person?
Kaede: Yeah! I like her now!
Momoko: What about you, Rena?
Rena: Haa? ...Well, Rena thinks she's not a bad person.
Momoko: Haha! Tha--t's it, tha--t's it.
Rena: ............Rena's gonna have this donut!
Kaede: H, Hey! You can't! Yachiyo-san was saving that one!
Rena: It's fine! The two of you, don't say anything, okay?
Momoko: What's that supposed to mean--? Are you trying to hide your embarrassment?
Rena: You're wrong! Anyway...chomp!
Kaede: Ah---seriously!? She ate it...
Momoko: Nn? ...Sounds like she's back.
Rena: ...gulp...gulp...Alright, it's oka--y!
Yachiyo: Here, thanks for waiting. Anyway, who wants seconds... What's wrong, everyone?
Momoko: No! ...It's nothing.
Yachiyo: That's strange...Oh...........My...My donut's missing, isn't it...
Rena: ...Eh?
Momoko: ...This is kind of...
Kaede: ...feels...awkward...?

Yachiyo: ...I put that one aside earlier, but...am I just imagining things...? What do you think?
Momoko: Huh? Me? Ah--well that's uh...
Yachiyo: How about you?
Kaede: I,I,I,I...don't know...
Yachiyo: And you?
Rena: ...Rena will have some tea.
Yachiyo: H--m...
Momoko: ...........
Kaede: ............
Rena: .............
Yachiyo: .........You ate it, didn't you? Rena-chan.
Rena: Uehhh! W, W, Why!?
Yachiyo: Just as I thought!
Rena: ...Oh, shit...
Yachiyo: Geez, you're a mischievous one aren't you?
Momoko: Um--...Yachiyo-san, sorry!
Kaede: How do I say this, um, I just went with the flow...
Rena: .......
Momoko: RE--NA--!
Rena: ...Sorry, Rena ate it...
Yachiyo: It's okay. There's still some more, so should I bring those out?
Rena: ...No, more importantly! How did you know?
Momoko: Yeah, yeah!
Kaede: Could it be! ...You saw her eat it?
Yachiyo: Nn--, that's not quite right--
Rena: Then, how...?
Yachiyo: You see, I...

Yachiyo: If you're wondering how I knew that Rena-chan ate the donut...that's because I...
Rena: Because you...?
Yachiyo: ...saw the sugar from the donut still around your lips!
Rena: Heh? ...Oh, you're right...
Kaede: Wo--w!
Momoko: Yachiyo-san! Here, here, I've got a question!
Yachiyo: Go ahead, Momoko.
Momoko: Even though we had donuts too, how'd you know it was Rena?
Yachiyo: Everyone except me finished eating a little while ago, right? Furthermore, everyone wiped their mouths. And yet only Rena-chan has some fresh around her lips.
Rena: ...Rena lost!
Momoko: Ohhh--! That's Yachiyo for you, you have good eyes--!
Kaede: Yachiyo-san, you're like a detective!
Momoko: That's Detective Yachiyo!
Yachiyo: To call me a detective would be an insult to Holmes and Poirot.

Narrator: And so, the relaxing hours went by...

Momoko: Anyway...it's getting late, so we'll be heading home soon.
Thanks for everything today!
Kaede: Thanks for the food!
Rena: ...Thank you very much.
Yachiyo: No, thank you all for coming.
Momoko: ...Now you're being a little honest, aren't ya?
Rena: ...It's okay, isn't it...
Kaede: ...Oh! We forgot! Momoko-chan, the thing we talked about doing before we leave!
Momoko: Oops! That's right, that's right!
Yachiyo: ? What did you talk about?
Momoko: Do you know? About the "Dueling Girl"?
Yachiyo: Dueling Girl?
Momoko: This is something we just heard from another magical girl, but...right?
Kaede: Yeah...seems like she's out there...There's a magical girl that randomly challenges you to a duel...
Rena: ...It's not clear why she duels people, but they say she's pretty strong.
Momoko: So Yachiyo-san, you need to be careful too, okay? It kinda sounds like she's a troublesome one, so...
Yachiyo: ...Thank you for worrying about me. I'll be careful. But you girls need to be careful too, okay? I'll let my other friends know too.
Momoko: True...
Rena: ...Well, she'd be no match for Rena!
Yachiyo: No. If she comes out, then make sure to call me.
Rena: No, but...
Yachiyo: I insist.
Kaede: ...Yachiyo-san.
Momoko: ...Rena.
Rena: ...Then, sure...
Yachiyo: (It'd be bad if she's a dangerous one...I have to protect these kids. I have to...protect them...)

Yachiyo: A Dueling Girl? That sounds dangerous...I wonder what kind of girl she is?

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Part Two: Nanami Yachiyo and the Dueling Girl
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Narrator: Several days after the informal gathering...
The Dueling Girl that was causing trouble in Kamihama suddenly appeared in front of Yachiyo.

Yachiyo: Thanks for contacting me.
Momoko: Though Rena complained about it.
Rena: Well because! If Rena was her opponent...
Kaede: Rena-chan, let's leave this to Yachiyo-san! Because that girl is kind of...

???: Geez--! How long are you planning to keep me waiting--!

Kaede: Uhiiii!

Yachiyo: ...What's your name?
Tsuruno: So someone fi--nally asks, huh!? You sure did take your sweet time! Anyway...ahem...My name is Yui Tsuruno! I am a girl who wants to return honor to the Yui family name! I'll defeat you all for the sake of my grand ambition!
Momoko: Ambition?
Rena: What the hell is that? We don't get it so explain.
Tsuruno: Don't wanna!
Rena: What do you mean you don't wanna!?
Tsuruno: Don't make me waste my breath, got it!?
Yachiyo: ...I don't want to!
Tsuruno: He, Hey! Don't copy me--!
Yachiyo: I don't want to fight you if there's no reason for us to.
Tsuruno: That's why I told you, I don't want to waste my breath explaining!
Yachiyo: Then just make it short.
Tsuruno: Eh--...already...um! I want to become the strongest!
Kaede: T, The strongest?
Tsuruno: I'll become the strongest magical girl...that equals the highest honor! This is the path I believe in! And, I plan to go down that path!
Rena: ...Even after hearing it, Rena still doesn't understand at all!
Yachiyo: (Doesn't seem like she's as dangerous as I thought...) ...Okay. I'll be your opponent.
Tsuruno: O---kay! Then this time for sure, don't make me waste my breath~!

Tsuruno: Oryaoryaoryaorya~!
Yachiyo: HAAAAAA!

Momoko: Whoa, that Tsuruno girl's strong...
Kaede: My eyes can't keep up anymore...
Rena: ...But Yachiyo-san's also perfectly countering her moves.

Tsuruno: Hoo!
Yachiyo: ...Whew~ you're amazing, you know that?
Tsuruno: You're not too shabby either...but just defending isn't enough. YOU CAN'T WIN AGAINST ME LIKE THAT, GOT IT!?
Yachiyo: Kuu!
Kaede: Ah--, Yachiyo-san!
Rena: She's going to bite it!

Tsuruno: Haha--! How's that? How's that? Mhmhm! Now then--here I come--!
Yachiyo: ...Not yet!
Tsuruno: Fine by me! That gets me fired up too~!
Yachiyo: (This girl's stronger than I thought...! It doesn't seem like direct attacks will work...if that's the case...)
Tsuruno: Take this, take this, take this--!
Yachiyo: Uu!
Tsuruno: And this!
Yachiyo: ...Guu. ...O, Oh no!
Tsuruno: There's an opening! Yaaaa---!

Momoko: This is bad!
Rena: Yachiyo-san!

Tsuruno: That settles it! It's my win! ...Huh? ...She's not there?
Yachiyo: That's because that's just a dummy.
Tsuruno: Heh? W, Where did you...!? ...Wait, uwaaaah--!

Kaede: Th, That girl's body is being wrapped up in rope!
Momoko: Ye--s, she won--!

Yachiyo: Sorry for deceiving you.
Tsuruno: A, A trap like this...Ohh! ...You purposely let me attack you, didn't you--!
Yachiyo: You're strong, so unless I do this...you see?
Tsuruno: ...Uuu~! (...I, I can't get loose...) ...Since it's come down to this...finish me off!

Momoko: No, no, the winner's already been decided, hasn't it!?
Kaede: That's right, just let it end already!

Yachiyo: ...Oh, really?

Rena: ...You're kidding? ...Seriously...?

Yachiyo: Then, I'll take your word for it and...

Momoko: H, Hey wait! Yachiyo-san!!

Momoko: Yachiyo-san! You shouldn't go any further!
Tsuruno: ...If you're gonna do it, then do it--!
Yachiyo: ...Here I come.

Tsuruno: ...Guh... ..............Huh?
Kaede: ...The rope's loose...
Yachiyo: I won't hold back and I'll let you loose.
Momoko: ...Don't freak us out like that~!
Rena: ...Geez! What was that!?
Yachiyo: If you learned your lesson, then stop doing this. ...Or someday, you'll really find yourself in trouble.
Tsuruno: ...Wh, What was that--!?
Yachiyo: I'm going to ask once again. Why are you doing this?
Tsuruno: ...T, To become the strongest!
Yachiyo: Why do you want to become the strongest?
Tsuruno: ...In order to...obtain the highest honor!
Yachiyo: Is strength the only way you can obtain the highest honor?
Tsuruno: Duh, after all, in order to have the highest honor, it means you've got to be number one!
Yachiyo: ...Then let's say you become number one, obtain the highest honor...then what?
Tsuruno: Then what? Achieve something big, of course!
Yachiyo: Achieve? What's that? ...Does that mean you have to continue until you've hurt countless numbers of people?
Tsuruno: N, No!! Become the strongest magical girl who pierces evil!
Yachiyo: That being said, after you and your allies finish hurting each other, in the end, what is it that you want to do?
Tsuruno: ...Y, Y, Y, You're wrong! I... I...
I have to... I HAVE TO BECOME THE STRONGEST!

Momoko: Whoa, whoa! Are you still planning to fight!?
Kaede: Like I said, it's over--!

Tsuruno: Uryaaaa--!
Yachiyo: ...Fine. I'll keep you company...!

Momoko: ...Oh, it's decided.
Rena: This is the sixth victory, isn't it? ...Of Yachiyo-san's.
Kaede: Let's just call it quits already~!

Tsuruno: No, not yet not yet not yet--! Haaa--!
Yachiyo: ...This is all the same, isn't it? ...Alright, I got you.
Tsuruno: Uwaaaah! ...Ku, Kuuu--!

Rena: The seventh victory.
...Anyway, Yachiyo-san's... strong...
Momoko: I didn't know she had that kind of stuff in her arsenal...
Kaede: I'm telling you, just stop it already~!

Yachiyo: Like Kaede-chan said. We should end this soon.
Tsuruno: N, Not yet...Not yet!
Yachiyo: You barely have any strength left. Do you have any grief seeds?
Tsuruno: That's none of your business!
Yachiyo: ...Calm down. ...And then listen to me. Putting aside whatever reason or feelings you might have...I can't forgive...magical girls hurting each other.
Tsuruno: Uu...
Yachiyo: I can't understand the reason you want to be the strongest but at the very least, you don't know how to properly use your strength...Besides, to live as a magical girl is very difficult. That's something only magical girls understand...We're friends.
Tsuruno: .........
Yachiyo: So stop doing things like this...understood? Besides, you realized it already, didn't you? That you've been doing something wrong...
Tsuruno: ...Uu.
Yachiyo: Quit being so stubborn.
Tsuruno: ...Uuu...Uwaaaaaa-n!

Rena: Oh, she cried! She's crying!

Tsuruno: Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu--!

Momoko: ...She went off somewhere.
Kaede: Haa---...It's finally over...
Yachiyo: Oh no, I made her cry... (I wonder if she understood...)

Yachiyo: If I'd tried to face her head-on, it would've been dangerous...It felt like I was halfway near the end of my rope...

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Part Three: Nanami Yachiyo Won't Turn a Blind-Eye
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Narrator: One day, several days after Yachiyo and Tsuruno fought...

Yachiyo: Is this the place? Kaede-chan!
Kaede: T, T, That's right! ...Ah, no, it's a little further ahead of here!
Yachiyo: ...But, why would...Yui-san... (She didn't understand...?)
Kaede: Our soul gems detected a reaction over here...then she appeared!
Yachiyo: Why...
Kaede: Then, she said that was just a coincidence that we happened to run into each other...But then! She asked where Yachiyo-san was...then Momoko-chan and Rena-chan...!
Yachiyo: ...said that they would keep her busy so you could come find me...
Kaede: Yes...
Yachiyo: Anyway, let's hurry!
Kaede: Y, Yes!

Yachiyo: !
Kaede: Momoko-chan!
Rena: Ya, Yachiyo-san! ...Wait, wah! Momoko!
Tsuruno: Eh? What? ...What happened?
Yachiyo: Momoko...! ...Whew, that's a relief. It looks like she just lost consciousness...
Kaede: B, But why...
Yachiyo: ...Explain the situation.
Rena: ...Heh?
Kaede: Rena-chan!
Rena: ...Ah, yeah! Um, we were looking for the witch, then all of a sudden this girl showed up!
Tsuruno: You're wrong! I just...
Yachiyo: ...happened to run into them, right? Please explain what happened after that.
Rena: After? Uh, um, you see...

Yachiyo: So if we piece together what you girls said... Momoko's group of three talked with Yui-san here. Then after you sent Kaede-chan to where I was, you still talked.
Rena: Then this girl started mumbling something!
Tsuruno: Y, You're wrong--! I just said that I wanted to meet her!
Rena: After that! You started mumbling, didn't you!?
Tsuruno: No, that was! ...Um...
Yachiyo: Then right before I arrived, this place suddenly became pitch-black...
Rena: R, Right! Then, Momoko...
Kaede: ...What happened?
Tsuruno: ..........
Yachiyo: ...This isn't the kind of place that could suddenly go dark like that...
Kaede: ...After all, light can only come in from outside...
Rena: ! It was magic!
Tsuruno: ...Magic?
Rena: Her magic!
Tsuruno: ...M, Mine? T, That's a false accusation! Since I can't use magic like that!
Rena: Hah, really? You really used magic to make it dark in here and used the opportunity to attack Momoko!
Tsuruno: Ueeeeeh!? But I seriously can't--!
Kaede: Eh? Eh? U...Uu...I, I don't know what's true or not...
Yachiyo: ......
Tsuruno: I'm not the one that did it! You're the ones that had to have done it!
Rena: Why would Rena do it!? There's no way Rena would! It's you! Rena can't think of anyone else who would! Right!? Yachiyo-san!
Yachiyo: The one who did it was...not Yui-san.
Rena: Huh?
Tsuruno: That's right!
Yachiyo: The one who did it was...


Yachiyo: The one who hurt Momoko was...
Rena: ...Wai, Wait a second! It wasn't Rena! There's no way Rena would do something like that! Why would...hey, wait!
Kaede: No way...Yachiyo-san! You're wrong! Rena-chan wouldn't be the one!
Yachiyo: The one who hurt her was...Yui-san. It had to be you.
Rena: Eh?
Kaede: Eh?
Tsuruno: Eh?
Yachiyo: Haaa!
Tsuruno: Guaaah!
Rena: ...W, What do you mean?
Kaede: ...I, don't get it at all...
Tsuruno: W, Why...How did you figure it out?

Familiar: !@($)*@$*(!@$booohh--!!
Kaede: Kyaaaaah!
Rena: She was... a familiar...!
Yachiyo: ...A few more came out too.
Familiars: !*)(#$!*($(!@boooh--!!
Rena: ...Which means that this was...!
Yachiyo: The witch set a trap for us. It's got some nerve, trying to trick us into turning against each other like that...!
Kaede: Th, Then, it was trying to do this from the beginning...!?
Yachiyo: ...No, Yui-san is here. She should be captured by the witch...
Kaede: R, Really?
Rena: Yachiyo-san, how did you know??
Yachiyo: Concentrate on the enemy, both of you.
Rena: Oh, shi...!
Kaede: Y, Yes!
Yachiyo: Did you think you could incite inner turmoil and have us take each other out? I won't forgive... something like that!

Tsuruno: ...Nn. ...Nn? Uwaaaah!
Yachiyo: You're awake? That's a relief...
Tsuruno: W, What happened to me?
Rena: Haa...a lot.
Tsuruno: Huh? This girl and one another...Nn? Why did she collapse?
Yachiyo: Momoko will also wake up soon.
Rena: Kaede! Explain!
Kaede: Eh? Me? Ah, sure, u--m...

Tsuruno: Th, Then you defeated the witch...!
Kaede: Yes, that's right.
Tsuruno: No way...what a blunder...!
Rena: But you know, that was amazing! Yachiyo-san's! Amazing!
Kaede: (...Rena-chan's being this honest...She has a really rare expression on her face...)
Rena: How'd you know? You are a detective, after all!
Kaede: Yeah! Seriously!
Yachiyo: I'm telling you, I'm not. I said it before, didn't I? I'm not a detective.
Rena: Again with the modesty~!
Yachiyo: ...I could tell by the magic, you see.
Rena: ...Magic?
Yachiyo: If you concentrate and look at the enemy, you can sense it with your soul gem. Their psychological state, I mean. ...Well, it's a rough estimate but.
Rena: R, Really?
Yachiyo: It's against the rules of mysteries to solve a case using supernatural abilities, right? That's why I'm not a detective.
Kaede: Ohh--so that's what it was! But it's still amazing! I didn't think you could use magic that way!
Rena: ...That's...
Tsuruno: I did lose after all! That was my! Complete and utter defeat!
Yachiyo: W, What's this all of a sudden!?
Tsuruno: ...You see, the thing is I want to become your apprentice!
Yachiyo: Become my apprentice!?
Kaede: Don't tell me, that's why you were looking for...?
Tsuruno: That's right!
Yachiyo: Hold it, hold it! An apprentice? That's...
Tsuruno: Please! I want to see myself in a different light!

Momoko: ...Uu...it hurts...my head...

Kaede: Momoko-chan!
Rena: Momoko!
Tsuruno: Master Yachiyo~!
Momoko: Ah--it's her! ...Master Yachiyo? ...What's happening?
Rena: Well, you see, Yachiyo-san's magic... ...Oh! Could it be that's how she figured out the donut thing too..!?
Yachiyo: Fufu...I wonder?

Narrator: That's how Tsuruno's rampage came to an end.
Tsuruno did not become an apprentice but rather, a "friend" of Yachiyo and the others.
But, these bonds between these magical girls would be torn into a thousand pieces
due to a certain incident...
But back then, Yachiyo thought this from the bottom of her heart:

Yachiyo: No matter what happens, I'll protect everyone...

Yachiyo: A witch also has a lot of tricks up its sleeves. ...I need to be careful from now on as well...
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[1]= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soba