Interlude 1: Magical Osbeckia’s awakening.
Kisaragi Moeka's graduation from her middle school—to herself—felt like a long-lost dream.
In her hazy memories of that day, only the sky's gloomy sheen, padded with dark, thick clouds, remained vivid. Moeka remembered standing inside the school building, blankly peeking out the window as droplets smeared the transparent surface.
Beside Moeka were Fumiko, whose anxious eyes never ceased to follow her, and her mother, who must have been grieving just as intensely as she was. Every time Moeka glanced at her mother's expression, her heart ached uncontrollably.
Mere days before her graduation, Moeka's father passed away in an incident. He was caught in a rogue criminal's attack, perishing among others in an instant. Afterward, news segments aired footage of the incident. Even knowing what she was getting into, Moeka could not breathe properly when she inevitably witnessed them.
Since then, Moeka spent her days in a daze. At the ceremony, she watched as other children cried joyous tears, shedding heartfelt emotions as they bid farewell to their classes, friends, and their teachers. Moeka felt like she did not belong there.
The nagging sadness of losing a loved one constantly gnawed at her. Even fond memories made with them became daggers plunging at her heart. Somewhere deep inside, the young Moeka knew this wound would heal with time, though it did not mean she could overcome grief so easily.
Days and weeks passed; Moeka was still searching for a way to come to terms with her feelings. Soon, she would be attending high school. The practical-minded Moeka knew—no matter how much a tiny human grieved, life continued. If she remained buried in this sadness, ever gloomy, then she would be throwing away her own future. A little, just a little, the girl was beginning to move on.
Until... she confronted the horrors of those days herself.
It was but an ordinary day outside when a deafening noise plunged the whole block into chaos. A group of criminals, half-mutated, half-crazed, began indiscriminately attacking buildings and pedestrians. Those whose minds were blinded by whatever they took rampaged, while the others who could still reason took hostages.
Moeka... was lucky enough to escape their gazes.
''Hah... hah...''
Pressing herself flat against the backside of a building, the young girl desperately sought an escape. She could see it—running further into the alley, turning left, then exiting to a nearby street.
She could leave this scene unscathed.
''...''
Peeking out, Moeka spotted people—young, old, men, women, even animals—those who were still calling out for help, trapped in carnage and ruins. Those who were held at gunpoint, shedding tears incessantly.
Moeka spotted a pair of dark-haired twins hugging one another among the fire, trembling, their faces entranced with utter fear. They looked as young as Moeka herself, if not younger.
'...I should leave.'
As a powerless teenager, evacuating was the only correct path. Escape this place, and a magical girl would come to rescue those people outside. But... how many people would have to die before they arrived?
Moeka thought back to when she received the news of her father's passing. Even now, somebody's loved ones were suffering the same fate, still calling out for help. The heart-piercing grief Moeka had experienced and wrestled with—she did not want another person to go through it.
However, Moeka was powerless. Too powerless to save anyone.
She desired power. Magic. The rays of hope given to humanity from the depths of the outer cosmos.
And, heeding those purest and righteous desires that could change the world, a figure appeared before Moeka's eyes, like a fairy in old tales. It reached out to her, smiling, ''Young girl, do you want to save those people?''
Stunned yet entranced by the creature's magic, the girl unknowingly replied, ''...Yes!''
The mascot's magical power shone even more dazzlingly as it resonated with Moeka's unwavering heart. Lifting its paw, it uttered, ''Then, take my hand, magical girl!''
Before she knew it, Moeka had placed her hand on Cherry's paw. It was the birth of Magical Osbeckia.