(2025 Edit) Technomancer: A Magical Girl's Sidekick [Post-Apocalyptic][Mecha][Magical Girls]

Ikki

I stepped out onto the open platform of the station, the autumn wind brushing against my skin and sending shivers through me.

The air smelled crisp, with just a hint of moisture and exhaust in the air. The sun shone brightly overhead, but there was a chill to the breeze. It wasn't quite cold enough for me to be wearing my jacket yet - although I had one with me in my backpack. My jeans weren't quite warm enough to protect me from the cool air.

"Downtown Shoreline City. 12 minutes early..." I muttered.

"I've got to admit, the trains here are pretty efficient, huh?" Rai-chan chimed in my head.

It was my third time coming down here in the last month and a half or so.

The first time... well, I'd been kidnapped by a crew of bank robbers only for Midori to save my life.

The second...

I stared down at the Terra Nova banking application on my phone. I had a balance of just over a million credits from selling off some of the goods 'gifted' to me by William Darpel.

Strings attached or not, it'd help with my living situation until I could find something stable, at least. It was still weird to me that he'd made that offer after I'd virtually punted his head off.

The last thing I needed was to be a pawn in a noble's game. He was a backstabbing snake, but he was transparent about being a backstabbing snake.

"Ikki? Your heartrate's picking up. Are you okay?" Rai-chan asked.

"Yeah... yeah, it's fine," I muttered under my breath, and looked around to make sure no one had seen me.

"Okay. Let me know if you need me, then."

I walked down to street level. My destination was just around the block. Midori wanted to show me around today and show me some more points of interest. The older girl had taken a shine to me, and it seemed like she'd adopted me into her circle of friends, treating me almost like a kid brother. It was kind of nice to have someone like her looking after me. Even if we'd only met a month or so ago, it already felt like I'd known her for a lot longer.

She was the sort of girl that I could look up to and respect.

Downtown Shoreline had a very different vibe during the day compared to when I was here the night before.

It was the first time I'd seen it in daylight, and it was almost like stepping into a different world. Literally. It was busy, bustling, and filled with people of all ages. There was an energy to it that I couldn't quite describe. The architecture style was... somehow distinctly similar to American cities, but still reminded me of pictures of both Earth's London and Shanghai before the cities were burned to the ground in the Fourth Chaos War. There were tall buildings, wide streets, and busy intersections, all bathed in sunlight from above.

Even the style of dress was similar to American cities. Businessmen in their suits, young women in short, form-fitting dresses, and even a few older ladies in traditional Native American or Asian wear. There was a lot of variety, but it still felt like an urban metropolis from back home.

And then there were the magical girls perched on the balconies above, dressed in their magical outfits of choice.

I did wonder how our two worlds converged so closely together, despite being so radically different. Maybe it had something to do with how the two worlds were linked. Or maybe there was some truth to the theory of parallel worlds converging in certain ways. Most accents I'd heard here were similar to midwestern American accents, but with a slight, barely noticeable 'tinge' that was distinct. I'd come to the conclusion that the people who'd gone through international programs like the elite kids at St. Antonia's somehow formed accents resembling American English.

"You know I wonder... Malina and Mina had very different accents..." I muttered out loud.

"Yeah?" Rai-chan asked.

I'd left my dad and my sister after Malina, Mina, and Sochi had come into our lives a month ago. Malina - the oldest of the three who'd started working with my dad at the auto shop, spoke English with a distinct Asian accent touched with a Native American cadence. Sochi and Mina on the other hand, had that slight posh accent I associated with the kids at St. Antonia's who were part of international programs.

Malina had said their economic conditions improved drastically after their deceased older sibling married into a good family. I could only imagine what made them come out to someplace like a recently reclaimed New York City of all places.

There were some other things I had to check on too.

I took my phone out, checking the news app. The headline was a breaking report that caught my attention.

"Magical Girl Little Red Riding Hood Wounded in Action, Injuries Life Threatening!"

That caught my attention.

She'd saved my life just over a week ago, and the sight of her was seared into my mind. The crimson motorcycle and confident aura of strength. She was so much like a hero I would read about in comic books.

Fourteen Magical Girls and a fleet of aircraft had made an attempt at clearing out a Nightmare Zone west of the city. Apparently the entire operation had gone awry, and Little Red was injured in the battle, sustaining grievous injuries.

I frowned, walking up to the building Midori had asked to meet in front of. One line from news report on my phone jumped out to me:

"A major keystone negentropy capacitor located beyond Fort Hiawatha was taken offline during the recent Chaos Event, disrupting a chain of generators along the eastern seaboard. While the city is safe behind the negentropy array, the generators will be vulnerable for at least a few weeks as they await a replacement. The region will remain on high alert for any potential incursions during this period, and we ask for the community's patience and cooperation as we continue our efforts to restore these crucial defenses."

"Rai-chan, you mentioned the generators were like an anchor for reality, right?"

"Yes. It seems that's what they're talking about," Rai-chan replied. "If they're down, that means the barrier between realities is weakened. So there's an increased risk for an outbreak of chaos beasts and other threats. It makes sense to me why the Magical Girls and the military would want to fix that as soon as possible."

My gaze fell back to the news app on my phone. There was a picture of the injured heroine. She was in a hospital gown, lying on a stretcher, looking pale.

She'd saved my life such a short time ago.

And now, it seemed that she might lose her own. It was... disconcerting.

"Hey! Ikki! Over here!" Midori's voice snapped me out of my reverie and I turned around to see the tall, dark-haired girl walking up to me. She wore a white t-shirt with a picture of a black cat and a cardigan sweater on top, along with tight fitting jeans and sneakers.

Her black hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and a small purse dangled from one shoulder. A pair of sunglasses was propped on her head.

I gave the girl a wave as I slipped the phone back into my pocket. "Hey Midori! How are you doing?"

The girl smiled, flashing her teeth at me, and gave a small shrug. "Not too bad, all things considered."

The two of us walked down the street together, chatting as we made our way through the crowds of people.

It was hard not to stare at the architecture, and the strange mixture of modern conveniences, like the traffic lights and crosswalk signs that hung from the street lamps, and the more arcane elements. There were several shops that sold various magical trinkets or even magical girl outfit design services. The city had an atmosphere that was distinctly different from Philadelphia, but still familiar.

"Where to now?" I asked, and Midori pointed to the intersection we were approaching. It was a large shopping complex that sat right on top of the intersection, with a large outdoor area and a few stores inside.

"We can start here, and then we can work our way down the block. It'll take a bit of time, but we can get most of the major sights done."

I nodded, and followed along after Midori.

The shopping complex had a number of stores, but what caught my eye was the large statue that stood in the middle of the open space. It a young girl in a white dress with hair sculpted out of pure silver and a pair of white feathered wings. The girl looked to be in her mid-teens, and she had a gentle smile on her face. She wore a crown of white feathers, and a sword rested at her side. A pair of white wings protruded from her back.

The plaque at the base of the statue read: "In loving memory: Colette Cordonnier, the Shoemaker's Daughter."

Midori noticed my staring and nudged me, pointing up at the statue. "She was one of the most powerful magical girls in history. Back in the early 20th century, people thought the Imperatore that ravaged the world in the 19th century was a one-and-done type of deal. They didn't anticipate another of that scale to show up just decades later."

I furrowed my brow and glanced up at Midori. She was taller than I was by a few inches, and her dark hair framed her face in soft waves.

"She died in a battle against the Imperatore of Severance. The second of the Imperatori with the ability to sever concepts like causality, physical objects, or emotional connections. It took the lives of over a hundred first-rate magical girls to kill the Imperatore of Desolation. But Silver Angel and her closest friends were able to do it. Though it cost her her own life in the end. She died young."

I felt a shiver run up my spine as Midori spoke.

"There's a good chance another one might appear within our lifetimes, huh?" I murmured, and Midori shook her head in response.

"The last one was fourteen years ago. I think we're safe for a while longer. Maybe your grandchildren's generation will be the one to see it. But I don't think we will."

She shrugged, and her smile faded. "Still... I hope we don't."

I looked at her and smiled back.

"Yeah. I hope we don't either. I'd rather not go through that again."

She blinked and stared at me in surprise for a moment, then she pat my head.

"Oh, Ikki! You poor little thing. I'll protect you if anything like that happens."

I rolled my eyes and pushed her hand away, laughing. "Yeah, I'm sure you will. Come on. Let's go."

The two of us turned away from the statue, and walked away.

The outdoor marketplace was crowded with shoppers, and there was a lot of foot traffic on the street. The air was filled with a mix of scents, from the smell of freshly baked bread to the sweet aroma of flowers.

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There were food stalls everywhere, selling everything from crepes to ramen to ice cream. There were also a lot of magical girls running around, either on patrol or simply shopping. Their outfits varied wildly in colors, styles, and themes. One of them wore a full suit of armor and had a massive axe on her back.

"You and Talia weren't kidding that time, huh? This place is really crawling with Magical Girls," I mused out loud.

"Of course it is!" Midori laughed. "This is the largest Magical Girl hub in North America, after all. Multiple prestigious secondary education and post-secondary academies and guilds are located here. This place is a hot spot for the community."

"Really?" I asked, surprised.

Midori nodded, and pointed at a few girls that were passing by before lowering her voice.

"You know about my friends. St. Antonia's actually collects some of the most promising prospects in the generation on scholarship. There are also typically a few that are there incognito paying full price."

I raised an eyebrow at her, and she gave me a knowing look.

"Let's just say, there are plenty of reasons that the next generation of Magical Girls would be drawn to a place like this. Even outside of school, there are multiple staging areas for missions that pay well. Especially for young Magical Girls looking to grow stronger or provide for their families while their powers are at their peak. They also gather in a few secret locations for training and sparring, and to swap tips and stories. I'm sure you can piece it together, right?" Midori explained.

"Hmm," I hummed thoughtfully.

It was easy to understand why this was a hub for them, I guess. With all the resources and opportunities that this place offered, it made sense that they would be attracted to it.

"Oi! Is that young Ikazuchi I see!?" came a deep, gruff voice from the side.

I turned, surprised, and saw a burly, middle-aged bald man in gray sweats and a black t-shirt with a young, blonde girl sitting on his shoulders. She waved at me when she caught sight of me, waving sweetly. Midori raised an eyebrow, looking at me, and then at Bishop. He gave a small wave back, his expression stern as usual, and the little girl waved even more enthusiastically in return.

"Hi, Mr. Bishop! Hi, Emily!" I called, waving back. The man gave a grunt, and then he smiled. It was a toothy smile that was oddly reassuring to me, and made the stern man seem a little softer.

He gave the girl on his shoulders a quick tickle on her knees, and the little blonde girl squealed with glee, giggling happily. Her father chuckled and then looked at Midori, his gaze curious.

"So... you're one of the young'uns he goes to school with I take it?"

"Ah, yes sir. Midori Tanaka," She extended her hand politely.

"Ah. And are you two on a sweet little date, or just here as friends?"

I blinked, my face turning red. Midori's eyes went wide, her mouth gaping like a fish out of water, and I was sure my cheeks were burning.

"N-No!" I stuttered, shaking my head vigorously.

Midori bellowed with laughter. "No, not a date. I'm already spoken for."

I looked down at my shoes, feeling incredibly embarrassed.

Bishop grinned and nodded, patting Emily's back affectionately. "I see, I see. Well, that's too bad then. I wish I'd been so popular at your age, you lucky little sod."

I furrowed my brow, looking at the shopping bags Bishop held in one hand. His finances seemed pretty healthy.

"So spoken for, huh? What about you, kid?" Bishop asked me.

My mouth went dry.

"U-uh, well, I, um..."

Bishop raised an eyebrow at my hesitation, then shrugged. He turned to Midori.

"I see you've got your hands full with this one."

"Oh, I'm sure. I'll try to keep him in line," she said, patting me on the head again.

"Hey!"

I was beginning to understand how Izumi felt whenever I teased her. I puffed out my cheeks and scowled at Midori, who laughed at me. I rolled my eyes, looking at Emily.

"Are you doing okay, Emi?"

She nodded and beamed at me. "Yes, thank you for always being there Ikki!"

"That's good to hear. Do you guys need help with anything?" I asked.

Bishop shook his head and smiled. "Nah. I was just taking Emi for a little stroll and picking up some groceries."

"Ah, alright," I nodded, and then turned to Midori. She had a thoughtful expression on her face, her hand on her chin.

"Something wrong, Midori?" I asked.

The older girl shook her head, and her eyes narrowed as she stared at me. I tilted my head, confused, and Midori just chuckled to herself. She shook her head again and looked away.

"I'm just thinking. You're quite the charmer, aren't you?"

"Huh?" I blinked, confused. "Uh, I don't know if that's the right way to put it..." I said, trailing off.

I scratched my head and looked at Bishop. The man was looking at me, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh? Is there a story here lass?"

Midori smiled and shrugged. "Not really, I was just teasing."

Bishop laughed, his belly shaking, and Emily laughed with him.

"But he is one, isn't he?" he said, looking at me with a knowing smile. "Well. Emily and I will be off. We don't want to intrude on you kids too long."

"Ah, you're not intruding. Have a great day you two!" I waved, and the father-daughter pair walked off. We watched as they made their way down the street, the little girl waving back at us.

Midori sighed as she watched them leave. "Friends of yours, Ikki?"

I shrugged. "Kinda. I ran into Bishop there at a local eatery and started playing chess with him to pass time from time to time. They're good people."

The older girl stared at me, her brow furrowing.

"That man was in the military, right? I can smell it. I'd recognize that stance and those muscles anywhere."

I blinked. "Aren't you like, seventeen or eighteen?"

"Eighteen," she replied. "But I was raised around samurai and warriors. The aura carried by military men is unmistakable. I've been told I'm quite adept at recognizing these kinds of things. That man was a veteran."

"Well... Bishop said he served," I admitted, nodding. "He was Special Forces. Shared a bunch of war stories but never got too deep into it. Said he was tasked with dealing with apocalyptic cults and a bunch of crazy terrorists while everything was going on in the backdrop during the Fourth Chaos War."

Midori blinked, looking back at the man as he left the market.

"Earth Special Forces? Apocalyptic cults? Rings a bell..." she shrugged. "Little Emily is adorable, though."

I laughed and nodded in agreement.

"She really is."

We continued on our tour, stopping by a few different stores, Midori explaining what they were, who they catered to, and why. It was nice being shown around by someone who knew what they were doing, especially someone as friendly and approachable as Midori.

I hadn't come down to this area all that much because it was frankly... a bit intimidating.

And it didn't help that my definitive experience here had involved getting kidnapped and shot at by bank robbers, either.

I gawked at the prices on some of the street vendors - 999 credits for a crepe?! I shook my head in disbelief, and Midori giggled.

"It's a bit of an upscale area, yeah."

I looked at the sign for the crepe stand again, and then at Midori, who just smirked.

"I'll pay if you're feeling adventurous," she offered, and I blushed, looking down.

"No... it's okay. Thanks for the offer though," I muttered, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly.

The older girl rolled her eyes and pushed me gently towards the stall. "Come on. I'll get one for each of us. They aren't going to spoil our appetites anyway, so it's fine. My treat."

"O-okay..." I relented. "If you insist, Midori."

"I insist," she replied. "They aren't all that big anyway."

We ordered light two crepes with chocolate sauce and fresh berries. Midori scanned her phone to pay, and we waited as the vendor made them. It didn't take long, and soon we had two crepes in hand.

"Thanks," I said, and Midori nodded.

"Don't mention it. It's my treat," she replied. She took a bite of her crepe and let out a pleased sigh.

"Mm. This is pretty good."

The two of us ate our food and kept walking. I stared up in wonder as we approached the massive skyscraper where our final destination was located. I was no stranger to skyscrapers - but I'd grown up staring at a skyline dotted with burned and collapsed buildings. The sight of one intact, even one like this with sleek, futuristic architecture, was a little intimidating.

It made me feel tiny, like an ant in comparison to a giant.

"This place is beautiful," I said.

"Yeah... I imagine the cities around you were like this before the Fourth Chaos War. We do import a lot of classic movies from Earth, you know."

"Really?"

Midori nodded, pointing to a billboard advertising an action flick that was clearly made with CGI and green screens. The main actor was wearing what looked like a suit of power armor and carrying a giant sword. The tagline read: 'The Last Mage of the Apocalypse: A Cyberpunk Epic!'

"Yeah, they're really popular here," she said, chuckling. "A lot of talent wound up directly in Aztlant after Los Angeles burned. And they took a lot of their tech with them too. So now, all of the big blockbusters get filmed on this side of the portal. The special effects are really impressive."

"Huh..." I mused, looking at the billboard.

The movie looked like a mashup of the kind of action flicks and sci-fi that I grew up watching as a kid, and something a bit more... anime. It looked like something my little sister would be into.

The two of us walked on, passing a variety of shops. I noticed a store that sold swords and other weapons, another that sold laptops and gadgets from Earth, and a few more that were just general goods. Private firearms were illegal to carry in major cities, but an entire industry founded by Earthborn engineers had sprung up around swords forged with modern metallurgical techniques. In just a short time, American arms manufacturers had formed partnerships with Terran smithies to make the next generation of traditional weapons that were lighter and stronger than ever before.

It was weird to me that they were so paranoid about guns in a world where every 50th citizen seemed to have the ability to enhance themselves to superhuman levels, shoot fireballs from their fingertips, and hex people from across the street.

But then again, I guess the government probably had their reasons for wanting to limit access to certain kinds of weapons. My more intrusive thoughts couldn't help but notice the double standard. Especially when the ones who'd been trained with guns were a small percentage of people. People like me from across the portal that'd formed an underclass.

"Is that a magical girl in a maid uniform?" I stopped, looking at the entrance to a maid cafe.

Midori laughed and nodded.

"She's probably a young Magical Girl looking for work. She's in her costume because that's what people want to see."

The girl had bright green hair, and wore a frilly maid-like costume with a white and emerald color scheme. She would've looked like any other cosplayer if she weren't surrounded by a glowing green aura. And she was also floating in the air. Literally. She looked like she was right around my age.

There was a soft breeze that emanated from beneath her that ruffled her skirts, and she seemed to be hovering in the air without any visible means of support. She looked around, and then spotted Midori and I staring at her. She gave us a big, toothy grin and floated over.

"Hi!" she greeted cheerfully. Her voice sounded like it was filled with energy, and she looked like she was having the time of her life.

I raised an eyebrow and glanced at Midori, who shrugged. "Hi," I said.

"You two are a cute pair!" she exclaimed before looking down at me. "Is she your sister? Are you wearing contacts?"

I laughed and shook my head, scratching my head in embarrassment.

"No, but I might as well be," Midori said. She reached down to ruffle my hair and I let out an annoyed sigh. I glared at Midori and swatted her hand away again, which made her giggle.

The girl giggled and nodded, and Midori smiled back at her.

"Nice costume! I love your color palette. You've really come a long way with creating your regalia," she commented.

The Magical Girl's eyes narrowed, her expression thoughtful, but Midori was already walking past the shop, waving me along. "We gotta get moving! Have fun with the cafe!" She called back.

"Have a nice day, you two! Bye! And do come back!" The Magical Girl waved, and then she floated off, back into the crowd.

I stared up at her as she smiled, snickering to herself.

"What's so funny?"

Midori shrugged and grinned mischievously at me. "Nothing, nothing."

I frowned. I didn't like it when she got cryptic like that, but Midori really was a walking mystery sometimes.

"You know that Magical Girl, don't you?" I accused.

Midori laughed and shook her head.

"I have a good guess, but nothing for sure."

"What's your guess?" I asked.

The older girl shook her head and smiled again.

"Not important. But she's a good person. She used to have an inferiority complex. She was always worried she'd never measure up. She didn't have a unique regalia. Her mana capacity and regeneration rate were low, so her potential growth was low."

"You guessed her secret identity?"

"I'm a girl that pays attention to the details," she said, smirking. "But no. That was the exact design a peer of mine drew on her notebook a few years ago."

"Is it wrong to know a Magical Girl's identity? That's like, a big thing in the media," I said, scratching my head. Midori's smile grew, and she giggled, nodding.

"Yes, it's both taboo and illegal to talk about who a Magical Girl really is outside their regalia unless they are already public about it or you've gotten express consent. There are ways to trace a person who leaks a Magical Girl's identity, and it is up to them to press charges or not."

"Huh," I said. I wasn't really surprised.

"It's not enforced perfectly, but it is a rule."

I sighed. This world had more laws than Earth, it felt like. "I'll take your word for it. It must be a pretty serious crime then. I imagine you could blackmail someone into doing whatever you wanted if they had a powerful regalia or a public image."

"Yeah. The laws are pretty well thought-through when it comes to that sort of thing, at least," she said, shrugging. "It's not really an issue for most people."

I scratched my cheek and followed along. "Well, I guess not. I'll keep that in mind," I muttered.

Soon enough, we arrived at the front door of a hotel. It wasn't just any hotel. It was a large sleek-looking tower that stood at the edge of a large park. It was made of dark gray concrete and steel, with sleek, modern curves.

The interior of the hotel lobby was as luxurious and elegant as I expected it to be. Marble floors, high ceilings, and expensive-looking furnishings were everywhere. A chandelier hung overhead, casting a warm glow on the space.

I gawked at it, and Midori chuckled.

"You look like a kid at the circus for the first time."

I laughed and shook my head.

"Sorry. This is... fancy. Like, really, really, really fancy. My family didn't come from much."

Midori chuckled.

"Hotel businesses are like that. It does cost a bit to stay here but not as much as you'd think. But the real draw here is the underground shopping mall and the world-class restaurants. The Aztlant restaurant they have up there is one of the best in the world," Midori explained.

I swallowed hard.

"C'mon, it's on me. We'll go to a restaurant with an outdoor area with a nice view," she said, and then grabbed my arm and dragged me along. The girl's strength was impressive, and I had to force myself not to stumble.

"Erm. I don't want to be a bother..."

"Nonsense. I'm trying to show my cute little junior around town. It'd be rude to ask you to pay for something."

"I-I have a few credits," I argued, but Midori just scoffed and rolled her eyes. "You don't have to!"

"Yeah. And you're a growing boy. Your savings won't last that long splurging on places like this. Now come on, let's get something to eat," she ordered, and pulled me through the hotel lobby.

I didn't know if it was just the atmosphere, or maybe just Midori herself, but it was like I couldn't say no. She was a very forceful girl, I had to admit. And maybe it wasn't a bad thing, but it did make me feel like I was a child again.

"W-Wait, I..." I began, but I was quickly silenced as Midori's grip on my wrist tightened, and she tugged me along by my heels.