Puella Magi Rei ♥ Magica

Chapter 2: "A Bite to Eat"

The bell had just rang at Mitakihara Middle School, and all of the kids were rushing off into the hallways to put their books in their lockers and race off to lunch.. whether it was getting food at a nearby fast-food joint or grab something from the Cafeteria. Rei decided that she would stay at school for lunch. She threw her textbooks into her locker and grabbed her phone, her notebook, and a pen, and walked down the hallway into the lunch room. 

I don't understand.. I thought Ring said she'd be here?.. It's already halfway through the day..

She kept walking down the hallway, her hands inching closer and closer to her phone.

Maybe I should text her.. What if she's-

"Ough!" Rei gasped/whimpered, before dropping to her knees, her notebook, filled with her beautiful, yet embarrassing drawings falls flat on the floor, papers flying all over the empty hallway, and her phone lying on the ground, with Ring's contact info pulled up.

"H-Hey! Watch where you're!-" She hit her fist against the chest of a tall boy with orange hair, and golden eyes.

"..Sorry." He said, kneeling down and picking up her papers, and folding them neatly into her notebook as they were. He picked up her phone and handed it to her. "..I should watch where i'm going." He spoke, his voice abnormally calm.

"U-Uh!! Y-Yes you should!" Rei took her belongings from the strange boy. "M-- Good day!" She bowed and sprinted off behind the boy, not caring to ask for his name as she raced to get her lunch.

"...Okay." He turned back around, and continued on his merry way.

..

Rei was panting as she approached the lunch room,  when she threw open the doors, she immediately was greeted by a friendly face. A tall, second-year student by the name of Ring Huo.

"Ring!" She gasped, smiling widely before hugging her best friend.

"Hey, Rei!" Ring grunted from the hug, but returned it nonetheless. "Surprise!" She smiled, looking down at Rei. "How have you been?" She gave a welcoming chuckle.

"I've been fine! Asa got a new job with her friend Naomi, and that's pretty much been taking the majority of their time." Rei smiled, before noticing a beautiful blue necklace around Ring's neck. "Oh wow! That's a beautiful necklace? What is that? Sapphire?" Rei looked at the necklace, in depth.

"Uh-- Sure!" Ring nodded, "Pure Sapphire.. can't find it anywhere." She laughed, scratching the back of her head. "I already grabbed us lunch. Wanna head to the roof?" She showed the two lunchboxes in her bag.

"Sure!" Rei smiled, wrapping her arm around Ring as they both walked to the stairs, marching up.

The  fresh and crisp summer breeze met Ring and Rei as they opened the rooftop doors, walking out on the patio. They sat down, opening their Bento Boxes. "So.. How was China?"

"So absolutely beautiful!" Ring smiled, replying. "When we landed, we went back to my home village, and I saw some of my old friends who were happy to see me," She said, eating a bit of her food. "..But then, the strangest thing happened. It was like.. a miracle or something."

"Oh please. Miracles and magic don't exist." Rei smiled, opening her box.

"No.. like.. Okay. You remember Tsukiumi?" Ring said, breaking apart some chop sticks.

".. I think so? Why? What happened?" Rei said, with a mouthful of food.

"Well. Out of EVERYONE that I could have met when I first landed, I saw her! She ran up to me and was like 'Hey, Ring!' and of course I replied 'Hey, Tsuki!'. At the end of the day, we all hung out, ate some pizza, and had a sleepover.. The strangest thing out of all of this is that the night before my flight.. I was crying." Ring said, putting down her Bento Box.

"Crying? What for? You.. never cry." Rei blinked, resting her box on her lap, looking at Ring with curious eyes.

"..Well.. I was crying that all of my friends had grown apart.. I moved and I couldn't see you.. Tsuki left a long time ago.. it was like my whole group disintegrated into fragments that fell apart in sync." Ring said, tearing up. "But then I saw her.. and now I'm back here.. It's like.. My dream is coming true." She sniffled, rubbing her eyes.

"D-Don't cry, Ring!" Rei gasped, feeling extremely uncomfortable. "H-Hey! I have an idea!" She grabbed Ring's hands. "After school today, why don't we head back to my house? I'm positive Asa would LOVE to see you!" She smiled, wanting her friend to be happy.

"..Alright.. if- if you're sure.." Ring smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes. "..Thank you, Rei-chan." She gave a reassuring smile.

..Her necklace began to flash.

"W-Woah! Ring, I didn't know your necklace was one of those fancy LED ones--Waah!!"

Rei gasped, as Ring hoisted her over her shoulder. "Not now.. Not now!" Ring grunted, and began sprinting towards the fence.

"R-Ring! What are you-- NO WAIT!" Rei shrieked, as Ring threw Rei over the fence.

... The wind was whipping through Rei's ears, as she was falling from a three-story school.

"NO! WHY?! OH GOD- THIS IS HOW I DIE, ISN'T IT?!" Rei cried out loudly, looking down at the incoming ground..

"Nope!" A voice rang out in Rei's mind, as large, white ribbons began to wrap around the area, before launching up towards Rei, catching her in mid-air.

Rei slowly opened her eyes, hear own tears slowly dripping down her cheek as she looked around, anxiously. She couldn't move. She was tightly wrapped in a silk, white ribbon.

"Don't worry. You're safe now."

"..Ts-Tsuki?.." Rei looked around, anxiously.

The ribbons slowly lowered her to the ground, once she was on her feet again, they disappeared.

".. Hello, Rei." a girl with white hair stepped out from the shadows. She was in a beautiful, white gown, with a large hammer on her back.

"..Tsuki.. Can you please explain to me WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?! Why did Ring throw me off the ceiling-- Wha--HOW DID YOU DO THAT?" Rei shrieked, whipping her now frizzed out hair over her shoulder.

"Do you truly wish to know, Rei Asano?"

"Eh-?" Rei turns her head, to a small, white creature sitting elegantly across from her.

Do you really wish to know about the world of Magical Girls?