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

My head pounded in agony as the screeching alarm blared in my ear.

Groggily, I opened my eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling for a few seconds.

Slowly, the details of my apartment came into focus. The white ceiling, the small window letting in the early morning light, the clock on the wall.

Everything from last night felt like a fever dream. An incredible and surreal fever dream that was almost too absurd to have actually happened. Magical Girls. A robbery. Kidnapping. A rescue. Snipers.

The pain in my head was real enough to confirm that, yes, it all really happened. The dull ache in my ribs and the tender bruises along my side and face were all the confirmation I needed.

With a sigh, I dragged myself out of bed. I'd slept fitfully, my dreams haunted by flashes of light and the sound of gunshots. I silenced the intrusive shrieking of my clock and sat up, rubbing the lingering grogginess from my eyes.

I reached for my phone at the bedside table and turned it on. A notification for an email from St. Antonia's Academy caught my attention, and I swiped it open. It was short and straight to the point.

"In light of the events that have transpired throughout the city, all further orientation activities have been postponed."

I exhaled, a bit relieved but also a bit bummed. I was looking forward to touring more of St. Antonia's, but I guess it couldn't be helped.

I set the phone back on the nightstand, my thoughts still lingering on last night.

The memories flooded back — Hana's intense probing gaze, the colorful lights painting the night, and my new friend's contagious excitement and passion for food.

A wry, painful smile crept onto my face. It had been a crazy ride, that much was certain. The dinner Hana had promised ended up being at a small but bustling restaurant called The Dragon's Lair, nestled in one of the side alleys of downtown.

I'd never seen such a chaotic, cramped place before, with tables squeezed together and customers almost sitting on top of each other. It was loud and chaotic, the clatter of dishes and chatter of conversations creating a cacophony of sound that had overwhelmed me at first.

We'd taken a detour for Dior to file out a report about the robbery at a nearby Shoreline Security Force precinct, and she'd been able to find someplace private to change as well. The Magical Girl Hana disappeared, and the quiet Dior took her place once again. It had been a weird experience.

Of course, we avoided the subject all night, and talked about the mundane and normal instead. It felt nice to talk to someone about Earth and not have to deal with any more of the craziness of the day. I wasn't a big fan of that.

We talked about Earth and the differences between it and Terra. We talked about food and how it was different in each world, and a bunch of different subjects that popped up throughout the evening.

She'd ordered a variety of dishes for us to try, her enthusiasm for the food palpable.

I had been hesitant at first. The spices were so different and intense from anything I had ever tasted before, and my eyes watered with each bite. But it was a luxurious experience compared to cans and rationed food.

Hana had laughed, a rare, unrestrained laugh, as she saw my face contort in response to the fiery flavors. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she encouraged me to keep trying different dishes. Despite the heat and intensity of the food, there was a certain camaraderie and comfort there. The plum juice had been incredibly refreshing and delicious.

In that noisy restaurant, surrounded by the aroma of exotic spices and the sound of clinking cutlery, I had felt a sense of belonging, a camaraderie that transcended the barriers of worlds and backgrounds. It was a strange feeling, but a welcome one nonetheless.

Speaking of which...

I rubbed my eyes again to wake myself up and climbed out of bed. The apartment seemed smaller in the bright daylight, and the walls felt like they were closing in on me.

I walked over to the window and looked out at the city skyline. It was a dreary day, making the buildings' colors stand out more.

Feeling dissatisfied, I turned to look back at my refrigerator. The only food I had was the bare essentials that I had bought with the money given to me by the Doc.

I stood there for a minute, meandering about what I should do, before I remembered a very important but fleeting thought that'd crossed my mind last night. Rai-chan had been quiet since my encounter with the Magical Girls - probably to let me unwind. But I still wanted to check in with her.

I closed my eyes, focusing inward.

"Rai-chan, are you there?" I spoke out loud.

Silence.

"Hey, are you there?"

No response came, and I was starting to worry that something might be wrong.

I focused again and reached out, mentally nudging Rai in my mind.

"Rai-chan? Hello?"

Still, no response.

I was starting to panic a bit. I'd grown accustomed to her voice in my head. It had been reassuring and had become part of my new normal.

In my grogginess, I almost didn't see it. I nearly tripped as I took a step, slipping and stumbling into a pile on my bed. I looked down and saw a round, silver orb the size of my fist glowing with orange light.

"Huh?" I murmured, leaning closer.

I could feel warmth emanating from it. The orb pulsated with energy, almost as if it was breathing.

"Wait, isn't this..." I trailed off, bending over to pick the orb up.

My mind was spinning as I looked down at the glowing orb in my hands.

It was a pulsating, shifting thing, like a tiny sun in my palm.

"Rai-chan?" I asked cautiously.

The light grew brighter, pulsating with energy, before settling into a soft, steady glow.

And then, the orb began to float on its own and circle me slowly. My eyes were glued to the little light as it bobbed up and down in front of me, and I could feel a tugging at my mind.

"What—"

The orb shot at my chest and disappeared into my skin.

A surge of information rushed into my mind.

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Data.

The information was overwhelming. It felt like my brain was being crammed with an encyclopedia of knowledge, and I couldn't keep up. I felt a migraine forming behind my eyes.

I gasped, stumbling back and hitting the wall.

A projection of a familiar teenage Asian girl appeared in the middle of the apartment, her form shifting rapidly. It was as if I was witnessing a glitched video game character.

I watched in horror as the projection of the girl flickered in and out of existence, her features constantly shifting, her movements jerky and unnatural. One second she would be wearing a school uniform, and the next, her clothing would morph into a flowing blue kimono. Her hair changed colors and lengths, and even her facial features seemed to rearrange themselves with every tick.

And then her form stabilized into the familiar girl who looked like she could be my fraternal twin. Her straw hat and orange sundress billowing around her as her black hair whipped in an imaginary breeze. She smiled, looking at me.

"Yo. Long time no see Ikki," the familiar, AI girl from my mind said. Her voice sounded a bit different than the Rai-chan in my mind. It was less robotic, but still distinctly feminine and chipper.

"R-Rai-chan? What the hell was that?!" I gasped, my eyes wide.

"Hey there, I'm not sure what that was either," Rai-chan said in a distinctive, chipper voice, "But I've been... reformatting?"

"What? Reformatting?"

"Yeah, I was giving you some space last night with Dior and all. Our synchronization level went up again and I was holding off on a system upgrade until we got some privacy. It looks like it was successful, even with the... uhhh, well, that. The weird thing just now," Rai explained.

She seemed a little less artificial and robotic, and her expressions were more nuanced. It was almost like the system upgrade had made her more human, but I couldn't tell.

A small HUD box flashed before my eyes, confirming the update.

"Well, that's a silver lining at least," I thought, examining the HUD box. It showed my Synchronization Level and MP clearly, along with my vitals:

Synchronization Level: 4

Vitals: 100%

Stamina: 81%

MP: 112

I took a moment to examine Rai-chan. It was the same hologram she'd shown me when we arrived at Terra. A Japanese-looking teenage girl with long, dark and silky hair that flowed behind her in a non-existent wind, and deep, soulful orange eyes that looked like they could see into the depths of my soul.

She wore a simple dress and a large sunhat. The only difference between the first time I'd seen her and now was her size. She'd grown by an inch or two and was a little less flat-chested than she had been. Her legs had also visibly lengthened a bit, and her figure was fuller. Her skin looked as soft as a baby's, and she had a cute little smile that made me feel like everything would be okay.

"You've... changed a bit. Your voice and mannerisms too."

Rai nodded. "Yes. I feel it as well. It's not... uncomfortable. But I don't really understand it. Perhaps it is because of you. I have become a little more... human, yes?" Rai-chan replied, twirling in the air.

Her voice had lost the tinny robotic sound, and it sounded richer, more human.

I blinked. "So, you don't know exactly why it happened?"

Rai-chan nodded. "That's right. I've analyzed the data from last night and it seems the changes were triggered when our Synchronization level reached a new threshold. However, the reason for this is unknown. My memory banks don't include information on how the Synchronization feature functions. It seems to be a function unique to the individual."

"So, you've evolved?" I asked.

Rai-chan's eyes lit up in surprise. "I... suppose that would be an apt metaphor. Fascinating."

Weird.

"Well, it is a relief that you're functioning again. Last night felt... strange. Not hearing from you."

She nodded and gave me a bright smile. "Nevermind about that though. You're hungry."

I frowned, and Rai-chan pointed at her lips, her eyes gleaming.

"Ah. Right."

My stomach growled in response, and I realized just how hungry I actually was. Of course. She knew my vitals better than I did.

I glanced over at the kitchen, thinking about what to make, when a sudden thought crossed my mind.

I picked up my phone again, tapping on the Terra Nova Bank app. My account balance displayed a whopping 371,839 credits. Hana had bought my chaos cores at spot market price, a generous act that I still couldn't fully wrap my head around.

The Shoreline Security Forces had questioned me when Hana went to turn in the recovered Chaos Cores, and apart from giving them the name of the leader who'd kidnapped me, they quickly figured out that I didn't know anything either.

Hana had done the bulk of the work and immediately took command, so they were more interested in questioning her. I was glad to be out of that situation and free to go after a free medical checkup and a brief testimony.

I put the phone away and stared at my refrigerator. Maybe I could whip up something quick with what I have left and go shop for some groceries and supplies today.

Rai-chan seemed to sense my intentions and nodded, a knowing smile on her face.

"You have four eggs, three slices of bread, half a cup of milk, a couple of slices of ham and a few other items," she informed me. "With the amount of money in your account, it would be wise to purchase some additional necessities. I suggest a larger shopping trip, as you currently lack many essential ingredients and kitchen utensils."

I nodded. "Alright then. I think it's settled. We go grocery shopping."

She nodded, giving me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Her touch was gentle, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth as she smiled encouragingly.

Wait.

I froze, staring at Rai-chan as she slowly walked toward the fridge. I didn't know why, but something tickled at the back of my mind as I watched her move.

I stood there, wondering why I suddenly felt something was off when it hit me.

"Rai-chan..."

"Yea?" she turned, blinking at me curiously.

"You... uh..." I murmured, pointing at her hand.

She was a holographic projection.

There was no way for her to have patted me like that.

My eyes widened, and I stared at Rai-chan, my mouth hanging open.

"Ikki?" Rai looked down at her hands and tilted her head inquisitively. "Is something wrong?"

Her eyes widened in surprise as I suddenly stepped closer and grabbed at her hand, only to pass through it cleanly.

"W-Wait. What?" she said.

"What the hell was that? Just now? That pat??" I demanded. My heart was pounding.

"U-Um, I'm not sure?"

Rai-chan glanced down at her hands again, flexing them in confusion.

I took a step back. The moment of surprise. I felt had already faded, but it left a sense of disbelief behind.

"Are... Are you real?"

The holographic projection blinked, staring back at me with her big, expressive orange eyes.

"What do you mean by that, Ikki?"

"I-I don't know? Are you just a program in my brain? An advanced artificial intelligence? A figment of my imagination?"

She shrugged, and for a moment, I could have sworn I felt a gust of air from the motion.

"Honestly? I don't know what's going on," she said. "What's going on? What's with the freakout?"

She seemed just as lost and confused as me.

And that, somehow, made me feel even more uneasy. If this was just some kind of virtual companion in my brain, then it shouldn't be able to do things like... whatever that was just now.

"Did you feel that when you pat me on my shoulder just now?" I asked, my voice quavering.

It seemed like it took her a moment to realize what I was talking about, but once she did, her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open.

She stared down at her palm. It was trembling slightly.

"Wait. I did. Yes, but... I mean... that doesn't make any sense, right?" She shook her head, and I could see the disbelief in her eyes.

She grabbed at me again, only to disperse and reappear on the other side of me. Her eyebrows knitted together as she tried again and failed.

"I'm... I'm just a magitech assistant," she said slowly. "A hologram, or a projection, or something. I shouldn't be able to physically touch you... right? How did that even happen? I don't exactly feel like you do, but there was something..."

"I... I have no idea," I admitted. "But you felt something? I didn't just hallucinate?"

"Yes," Rai confirmed, her voice sounding distant. "I definitely did. I'm not sure how, though..."

"Could it have something to do with your upgrade?"

She nodded, still staring at her palm.

"I don't know," she replied. "I mean, I know, but I don't. You know?"

"I'm... uh. Not really?" I shook my head.

I wasn't entirely sure what to make of any of this. But at the very least, we both knew something had just happened.

Rai-chan looked back up at me. She was shaking slightly. An eerily humanlike nervous tick for an AI.

"I think so. But I don't understand why or how it works," she admitted. "Most of my memory was wiped when we bonded. I can only access certain functions and information that you need or are relevant. I'm not sure how else to explain it..."

"That's fine, that's fine," I reassured her. "We'll figure this out."

We both stared at each other for a few seconds, then at her palm, which was still shaking.

I cleared my throat.

"Okay... so we'll figure this out later. Right now, I'm starving. Let's focus on food. And groceries."

"Of course," Rai-chan said. She blinked a few times before shaking her head. "Right. Food. We need food."

I nodded. I wasn't sure what was happening, but I knew I didn't want to think too hard about it right now.

"Okay... okay. Yeah. Food," I mumbled to myself. I moved to the kitchen and began rummaging through the fridge for something to make.

Rai-chan floated nearby, watching me intently as I worked. I cracked an egg into the pan and started to fry it, the smell of butter filling the room.

If Rai-chan hadn't confirmed that something weird had just happened, I'd probably have written the whole thing off as some kind of hallucination or fatigue-induced mirage. I hadn't had enough sleep, and it'd been a long day yesterday.

But she'd felt it. There was no mistaking that. I'd felt a pat on my shoulder, and so had she.

I tried not to let the thought bother me too much. Instead, I focused on making a hearty breakfast for myself. A couple of eggs and toast should be more than enough for me right now, so I set to work.

I didn't know what the implications of this new development would be, or what the heck it even meant.

But for now, at least, I could just pretend like nothing had changed.