Make no mistake, mortal reader. I am not a being of good or evil, light or darkness. The Lord of Darkness and Herald of Oblivion are but names given to me after my coming into being. I am born from the void and exist beyond the reality of my Earthbound self.

My identity, Bridget, is but an avatar conceived for the sole purpose of meeting with my destined one. The champion of my Crystal of Happiness and the person from beyond time who freed me from the shackles of causality.

Now, you’re probably wondering. Or not. I feel like many of you are only here because of Lawrence’s perception of me as a sassy child.

Regardless!

The minions of Darkness. Born from the hearts of mortals who stain my Crystal with their malice. I once set out on a crusade to eliminate all mortal life across existence until Kyrie stopped me. Now I and Kyrie’s descendants and magical girl progeny work against this darkness.

Even though I say I, it is my higher self that cleans the stains from my crystal. The magical girls are the ones responsible with eliminating the darkness born from the hearts of their kin. As such, I try not to let it bother me when a shadow is born.

***

“Yo, Lawrence! Thanks for coming in on such short notice.”

“It’s no big deal. Not often you give me the change to make overtime.”

Ryce is still waiting for his wife to return from her mother’s, so it's not easy for him to leave the shop. Fortunately, he caught me before I went to sleep.

“Anyway, could you bring the girls their lunch?”

“… Wait, what?”

“Don’t worry. I already called the school to let them know their uncle would be dropping by.”

“I don’t think that’s the problem here. I’m a store clerk, not a maid.” Actually, I should try maid cosplay later.

“Think of it as online ordering. I’ll even throw in a lunch set for you, too.” Ryce held out a grocery bag with three square bento containers.

“Fine, let me clock in.” I guess the alternative is watching the shop…

“I have a pre-paid card for the train. Oh, and the lunch sets were made special, so no peaking, ‘kay?”

Lancaster isn’t the largest metropolis out there. In fact, I don’t know if it actually qualifies as a metropolis. From Richardson Cove to Crystal Gleam is only a ten-minute train ride.

***

I try not to let it bother me. And I try not to get involved—those moments when shadows are born.

He didn’t say anything. He just stared at the ground while another student had him pinned against a wall. Another student, a girl from my class, stripped a wallet of its contents before casting it aside.

Shadows are born when mortals revel in happiness born from cruelty. It is not my responsibility. When the time comes, I will wipe the crystal clean. None will remain.

Bullying like this is not uncommon. It could have been worse. It can always be worse. But I should make my way to Rainy so we might eat.

“Hey! What’s going on here?!”

That voice?

“What’s it to you? Get lost.”

“I’m a concerned person. I thought I’d make sure everyone was getting along.”

“Course we are. Tell’em, Francis.”

“Y-yeah. Just mind your own business.” Francis continued to avert his eyes while in a headlock. The girl stood off to the side, sneering at my destined one.

For the first time in a long time, I was angry.

***

“Come on, guys. Let’s not act like I didn’t see everything on my way over here.” I picked the wallet up and brushed off the dirt. “Now, return Francis’ money.”

The girl continued glaring down at me. Our difference in height was all too apparent. As Lawrence, I was taller than these kids. But right now, I was feeling a little more than the normal anxiety.

Things became quiet, and it seemed like the four of us were waiting on who would make the next move. It would have been easy. I’m transformed right now, so no one would know if I twisted an arm or, god forbid, tore into these kids emotionally.

“Fine, whatever. Take it bitch tits.” The girl threw the wallet’s contents at me, scattering them to the ground before stomping away.

“You and your rental slut better watch out, Francis. It’d be a shame if anything were to happen to her pretty face.” The other student followed after her, and soon it was just Francis and I standing in the hall.

Really? Bitch tits? And don’t they just call them prostitutes anymore? At least he thought my face was pretty.

“Damn it…” Francis looked like he was about to curl up on the ground and cry. I guess that crying part was already happening.

I collected his money and ID, placed them back into the wallet, and handed them to him. “You shouldn’t give in to this kind of thing.”

“And what should I do, huh?!” Francis snatched his wallet from my hand. “You heard him, didn’t you? They’re just going to do it again tomorrow!”

“Well, why not tell a teacher?”

“It’s not like they’re going to do anything. I’ve tried.”

“You could always leave your wallet at home.”

“I tried that once! Stephen punched me in my stomach and said it'd be worse next time.” I could see that Francis was just becoming more upset. “It’s not your problem anyway, so why do you even care?!”

“Sounds rough, kid... Well, you’re right. Do something or do nothing. So long as you don’t become a murderer, it's not my problem.” I picked up the grocery bag with the lunch sets in them. “But when I see someone hurting. It reminds me of my own pain. So I can’t help but care.”

***

“If you were watching, why didn’t you step in?”

“I’m surprised that you stepped in. Did being transformed spark an act of goodness?”

“... Not really. Maybe? Walking over there, I could feel my heart rate rising. I was starting to rationalize all the reasons I should just ignore them. But then I transformed.”

“And you couldn’t help but step in.”

It was surprising seeing Lawrence stand up for someone else. Maybe his time as Kyrie has finally caused him to mature.

“I still don’t see why you couldn’t have stopped them. Aren’t you supposed to be battling against the darkness and all that good stuff?”

“Um… I know this is important to you two, but…”

GWUMBLE

“It would seem my sister grows hungry. We will continue this discussion after we have had lunch.”

The school rooftop was a decent enough place for three magical beings to hold their private meeting. When my father had told Rainy and me that one of the uncles would be bringing our food, I had not expected to see Kyrie.

“Here you go.” While choosing one for herself, Kyrie placed a bento before my sister and me.

“Hold a moment. Have you peeked inside these?” I quickly asked before anyone could open their bento.

“No. In fact, your father told me not to. Said they were special.”

“Are we really doing this now? I’m hungry.” Rainy didn’t wait and opened her bento.

The bento was filled to the brim with an assortment of tako sausage, onigiri shaped into various animals, veggies, and an omelette with a ketchup heart and a message ‘love dad!’

“Ooohh, so that’s what Royce was talking about. He really loves the two of you.” Kyrie said with a cheerful smile.

“That’s Dad for you. I think he does it to make us feel embarrassed.” Rainy said with a giggle as she quickly cut through the omelette with her chopsticks.

I had to act quickly. Manipulating probability and shifting causality, I can claim any outcome I desire. Before Kyrie could open hers, I quickly shifted reality to make this box the one meant for Lawrence.

“Oh, it looks like I got yours, Bridget… Bridget?”

Curse that father of mine. For a mortal, he’s grown too clever for his own good!

“To my precious daughter. I thought you might try to steal Lawrence’s bento, but my love for you is not so easily broken.”

“Do not read it aloud!”

“Hey, you're blushing.” Kyrie chuckled to herself as I could feel my ear becoming warm.

“It’s because it’s cold, and my Soul of the Dark Lord isn’t active!”

Kyrie pressed her chopsticks against her lips and made a thoughtful face to look cute. “Bridget, could it be… you’re chunnibyou?”

Rainy held her hand over her lips as she giggled to herself while chewing on her food.

***

I scarfed down my food quickly. The temptation to eat the rice balls was strong. Typically, as my thirty-year-old male self, I wouldn’t be able to eat anything that would spike my inflammation. I like being able to sleep, after all. But I couldn’t help but wonder if eating food as an adorable magical girl would count.

Regardless, I yielded my cat and dog onigiri to Bridget and Rainy… I bet the seasoning makes the rice taste even more delicious. And they had salmon in them, too… Maybe I should test what I can eat with this body.

“You look troubled. Everything alright?” Rainy pulled me out of my slump with her innocent charm.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. Just old person problems. I can’t eat rice anymore because of my body.”

“If that’s what you’re worried about, then why not just eat while you’re transformed?”

“It works like that?!” Could this be the sign I’ve been looking for? A glimmer of hope shining down from this angle’s beautiful lips!

“That’s what I’ve been told. So I eat all my sweets during my streams. Oh, and before and after my live performances.” I stared at the onigiri that I gave to Rainy. She then held it out for me. “Would you like it?”

I must have had the goofiest smile. “I would love it! Thank you!”

I graciously accepted the onigiri before taking a peek at Bridget and the onigiri I gave her…

She looked me dead in the eyes and ate the onigiri in front of me. Licking the grains of rice off her fingers after savoring the flavor of the salmon onigiri.

“Why are you so crruuuull…?”

“Hmph.”

“Here you go, Kyrie. You can have my other one, too.” Rainy held out her bento tray with a single onigiri left inside. Her generous smile radiated pure light. This is what the character Lily Mint is known for! Her kindness and purity. It's what makes her streams worth watching!

“You’re an angel.”

I was now holding an onigiri in each hand. It has been so long since I’ve had rice. I was excited and worried. Almost scared to eat it. What if I didn’t like it anymore? What if Rainy is wrong? I used to be able to eat rice just fine when I was her age, after all…

My thoughts were drawn back to when I first went to Japan town with my cousins, and I got to try conbini style onigiri. The rice tasted way better than how I was able to prepare it. Not that that meant much, considering I was the second-worst at preparing rice.

My hands shook as I brought the ball of rice to my lips. They quivered as I tried to open them. I could feel myself drooling just as I could feel my heart racing. The moist grains were so close to my mouth.

Finally, I took the first bit.

NOM!

***

The train back to Richardson Cove was quiet. It was hard to believe that I was laughing and chatting with Bridget and Rainy just moments ago. I’m enjoying my job, and I get along with my boss. I can transform into the girl I’ve always wanted to be while still living my life as Lawrence.

I’m so happy… so why do I have to feel so nervous again…?