C H S M G R L

     The mage stands with crossed arms and doesn’t voice anything. Instead displays a light smile as he brings one arm up so he could position his hand where his index and thumb cross. He then would snap them, thus, using his magic, he creates a heart in the form of sparkling purple stardust.

It was the anticipation that brought a tinge of rosy color to Sumie’s cheeks. She framed the spellcaster within the camera lens and so the recording began.

“Oh that is so cool!” she exclaimed upon the sight of colorful dust being born out of thin air. “Thank you so much this should be fine!” Then came the viewing and Sumie gestured for the other to come closer.

“Do duel monsters show on camera?”

     He hums, slightly amused by the questions. Regardless, he appreciates the girl’s enthusiasm.

     “Not quite. And it wouldn’t be fair towards the other spell casters. But I suppose, it’s rewarding to be of such title.”

She follows in the other without hesitation, even though it seems strange. Hey, she is magic, odds are this girl is too. And her intuition is proven right when the other’s sigil opens up a hidden doorway. She cannot help but softly applaud. All of her own power has been rather spontaneous and unintended so far. This is real art.

“We could still go to your hot springs, you know,” she says softly. “If they’re discounted tickets, won’t they be for a certain date? I’d hate for you to miss your trip on my account. And considering none of this is ringing any bells anyway…” she was half-joking, but her concern was real. It seemed like such a waste.

And they’d been planning it for a while, the girl had said. It made Mana feel bad that she had forgotten. It made her feel worse to think that this one would lose out on her own trip for someone who didn’t know her.

She looks around again, taking it all in and yet not paying a lot of attention to her surroundings. The feel of it was familiar enough. “… I’ve spent some time here, right?”

“Ahaha your carefree spirit never changes, I am glad.” But obviously Sumie wouldn’t go, why was Mana insistent on brushing her condition off? “We will make another trip when your memory is fixed, do not think for one second that I’m letting the idea go.”

The transition between the magic door was as seamless as walking inside from the outside, blink and you miss the fact your body traveled distances within a single step.

“I assume you can’t tell but it is my room, we are in my house.” Sumie nodded closing the door once both of them entered. It was a spacious room with traditional entrances and large windows giving view to a slim veranda. The inside looked like typical cross between a study room and a bedroom, except for the contents on the desk and the cabinet, which contained both school books and magical materials alike.

“I don’t know, there wasn’t anything like potions or anyone else near me when I woke up. I was just… somewhere.”

The girl’s touch was comforting and she knew instinctively that she was someone Mana could trust. She let herself be tugged along, smiling just a little. “Please don’t be so concerned, I’m not in any pain. Just a little confused. But now that you’re here I feel quite a bit more at ease. I take it we are close?”

“Where were we going for this trip?” Maybe hearing about plans might stir up something, even if it was just a smile to this person’s face.

‘Somewhere’, she thought, could mean anywhere, and therefore was completely unhelpful. That wasn’t ideal, if Sumie knew what caused the amnesia it at least would be the first step to reversing the effect.

Her hand squeezed Mana’s hand as she lead her through the streets into less crowded sidewalk. “We are friends so obviously I worry. Silly. How can I leave you like that?”

They eventually arrive at a dead end in a nook between three buildings. Sumie walks in further as if that was the most obvious thing.

“We were supposed to visit hot springs in Akita since I won discount coupons. Does it ring any bells?” 

She gives a small smile and then fishes out a piece of chalk from her bag. She draws an almost-person sized rectangle on the wall of one of the buildings and then a sigil in the center of it. Before one may know it, the concrete changes into a slidable door 

On the 14th I wish every popular boy who wont remember whose chocolates he is eating

a very merry

“Oh, um, that trip!” She tried before sighing and nodding.

“I’m sorry... but I have no idea who you are. I’m assuming we’re friends, but... I don’t have a single memory of anything before yesterday.” She bowed her head. “You seem nice, so I didn’t want to say anything, but I have no clue... what I am. Or where I am. And what are these clothes, please, I don’t understand.”

She didn’t have a lot of a choice, she’d have to put her trust in this person to help her out.

Her smile immediately dropped. 

“What...?” Sumie blinks, looking at Mana as if she’d laugh and confirm it is some sort of joke. But the more time passes the more woman’s words sink as they are - a sudden truth.

“Isn’t that like super bad?” She grabs the other’s hands by the wrists “Do you remember anything that happened? Were you attacked? Did some potion of yours go wrong?” The younger mage felt a wave of heat rise slowly from her chest to her head, what should she do? What could she do?