V4: Chapter 37: The Black Stone Monument and the Fate of Memories?

TL Note: In raw this should be in-between or interlude volume between volume 4 and volume 5, but since chronologically the setting is still in summer, I'll just consider it as volume 4.

Volume 3.5: "Vanished Memories and Remnants of the Burnt Trees"

Chapter 37: The Black Stone Monument and the Fate of Memories?

It was a day when I was enjoying my summer vacation after my trip. This season, known as Obon, is a time when many people, even working adults, have time off. So, I finished getting dressed and went down to the living room to go out... and made eye contact with two people who were watching TV together, looking quite friendly.

"Well, I'm off now..." (Shizuku)

"I can't really go with you today, can I? I'll wait at home. Is it okay, Mother-in-law?" (Lux)

"Lux-chan is really so obedient and cute... I wish some other girl would learn from her."

"Suddenly I'm being dissed at by my own mother?"

It's reassuring as a daughter to know that Lux keeps my mother company while I'm at school.

But because of that, Lux and my mother are so close that I almost think Lux is now considered my mother real daughter. I definitely felt like my territory were being breached.

"Just kidding, Mom and Dad will be watching on TV... Take care."

"Mother... Okay, I'm off!"

Although it's summer vacation, I have an unavoidable appointment today and I'm going to the association.

Once a year, at this time, the association president and I always meet. It's not an interesting appointment, but it's a necessary one.

★

After a short ride in the car waiting for me, I arrived at the Magical Girl Association headquarters in the city center. When I went to pick up Squire from her private room, she was already dressed in her Magical Girl costume, seemingly ready.

She has so many more personal belongings than last time, and I felt like the previously all-white room had suddenly gained color. On the shelf we bought recently, my merchandise and photo albums are already lined up.

"Thanks for answering the summon, Satellite."

"Yes, soooo... why aren't we on-site... there must be a reason, right?"

Squire put a bookmark in the book she was reading and looked at me. Unusually for her, she seemed hesitant. I waited patiently for her next words, and she finally spoke, as if she had made up her mind.

"First, there's something I have to tell you. If you hook up with any more girls... you'll die."

"D-die?"

"Yes, you'll die. More precisely, your life as both Satellite and Hoshino Shizuku will end."

I couldn't hide my surprise at this sudden death sentence, but I finally began to understand.

"Maybe I'm like that too, however... Gracia. She's especially possessive. If you keep adding more girls and switching them out... you'll never get to bask in the sunlight again, you know?"

"Ah, yeah..."

"Of course I get jealous too. I warned you..."

Squire gripped my hand tightly.

While I can't help but anticipate the outcome, it would be somewhat better to beg them to keep me than to hurt them in the process of achieving that future.

But they don't want to keep me; they want to walk beside me...

No, no matter how much I think about this, I can't come to a conclusion.

"Yeah. Slowly, you're changing. There's no need to rush."

"I don't really understand it myself... but if Squire says so, then I guess it's true."

Even so, I can't help but feel like things are heading in the wrong direction...

Oh well, at least she didn't call me to the association just to talk about this.

"Yes, keeping what we just discussed in mind. I have a request. It concerns a certain girl."

"Yes? What girl?"

"I'll explain the details in the car, but..."

She slowly stood up, looked me straight in the eyes, and then whispered slowly.

"I want you to talk to her."

I never imagined at the time that a major problem surrounding this country lay hidden behind that meaningful whisper.

★

The sweltering summer heat enveloped the area, and the sunlight shining in the sky was dazzling. While many people were dressed in black, we stood in line, out of place as Magical Girls, holding bouquets of flowers. Among them were celebrities whose faces I'd seen on television, and important government officials.

In the middle of the newly built park stood a large... a huge black stone monument. Countless characters were carved into it.

 "...A moment of silence."

The assembled group offered a silent prayer for those who are no longer with us.

Everything written on this monument is a name.

And these are the names of those who are no longer alive... the deceased.

The names of those killed or abducted by External Enemies, and who have been gone for a month, are inscribed here. Of course, this includes not only Magical Girls, but also the names of military personnel and civilians.

The lack of blank spaces on the monument are because the number continues to grow. Even today, names are being added to this monument little by little. The names of those who would surely still be alive today if it weren't for the External Enemies.

I'm not very comfortable in these kinds of situations. Nevertheless, as the pinnacle of Magical Girls fighting in this country... no, as Magical Girl Satellite, and as an individual, I feel I must come.

After laying flowers, I returned from the stage with Squire, who had finished her speech flawlessly. I am attending this ceremony as a representative of the Magical Girls and as her bodyguard. After the ceremony ended, Squire walked towards a girl dressed in an orange-based Magical Girl outfit.

Inevitably, amongst the many people wearing black... someone who isn't will stand out.

She stands out, but unless you pay attention, it's hard to notice the girl's presence.

I see, that's how it is.

"Do you need something from me... wait, isn't that Squire-chan! Then, is that the person next to you...?"

"Yes, she is Satellite."

"That explains why you didn't seem to have forgotten about me."

A surprisingly bright, tomboyish girl appeared... she was so different from the image I had in mind that I was momentarily slow to react. I thought she'd be more of a dark, brooding type... based on our conversation in the car.

"I'm Satellite☆ What should I call you?"

"You can just call me Jane, everyone... or rather, Squire-chan, that's what she calls me."

Then I remembered what Squire had told me in the car.

★

In the car on the way to the park, Squire seemed a little unwell, but began to speak haltingly.

"The one coming to the ceremony today is... the unsung hero who has saved so many magical girls. The Magical Girl of Memories."

"Hmm, the one you mentioned briefly in the matter about Kaminagi Sou-something, right? She's coming too?"

"She comes every year to see the names of the Magical Girls she couldn't save. She's a homebody, but she always does."

She's a girl with a very strong sense of justice, or rather, responsibility. Because of that, I worry whether she'll break down, but with Squire there to help with her mental control, it should be fine.

Except for her own mental state, of course.

"Forget about that. You're here now. So, um..."

"Oh, no tail today. I brought a doll instead."

"Hmm?"

Of course, she couldn't show a dazed face, given the errands she was about to run. Squire hugged the stuffed animal, looking somewhat disappointed, to try and soothe her motion sickness.

Clearing her throat, she returned to the topic of the Magical Girl from earlier.

"Hmm, back to the topic. Magical Girls' magic reflects their individual experiences and memories."

"There are all kinds of girls, but there are also many medical-type Magical Girls."

"Yeah. And Bradia's obsession... with fire, Gracia with the Ice Mirror she saw on Mount Fuji. Tinkerbell wanted to stop time. That's also unusual, but..."

The origins of their magic are mostly due to something being wonderful, scary, fun, or something they wanted to become.

There aren't many girls who strongly desire to change the rules around them or the laws of the world. 

"You... are an exception. To think you're always right and the rules around you are wrong... Normally, you can't truly believe that."

"That makes me blush..."

"...That's not a compliment."

With a sullen look, she posed another question to me.　

"Then, she must have strongly wished to erase her memories... what kind of wish do you think she harbored?" (Squire)

Indeed, at the age when magic manifests... how could magic manifest based on such feelings? That's exactly the kind of question Squire would ask... or rather, is that it?

"She'll be at the ceremony too. I'd like you to meet her."

"Okay, but what's her... name?"

"Her name is... Magical Girl Jane Doe."

A name that's clearly a pseudonym, which means...

"She's erased her name and even her traces... she doesn't have a real name."

★

That's precisely why the gap between what Squire said back then and the girl I actually saw was so huge.

"What's wrong? Are you thinking about something?"

"Well, I was just thinking that a much cuter girl than I'd heard is in front of me ☆"

"Huh? That's awful... what kind of story were you hearing about me?"

She got angry, as if to say she was offended, and immediately burst out laughing.

But after hearing what she'd said earlier... there was something hidden behind her laughing face, and I couldn't help but feel that way.