Innocence Seekers: April Light

Special Episode 1: Inori's Story

At Inori's house, the doorbell rang. Inori went to the door and opened it.
Waiting outside was Mirai.
-Inori: "Ah, Mirai, you're here."
-Mirai: "Ah, it's nice to see you again, Inori. How have you been?"
-Inori: "I've been doing well. How are Akari and the others?"
-Mirai: "Well, given the recent events, they've been quite busy."
-Inori: "Now, do you know why I called you here?"
-Mirai: "Is it about Uzuki's condition?"
-Inori: "No; Catherine is taking care of that. What I want to ask is, what do
you make of these recent events? If the Donsilans are truly after us, then..."
-Mirai: "I think there's more to it than what we've experienced."
-Inori: "Mirai, what do you mean?"
-Mirai: "Inori, there is a possible explanation for all of this. But before
that, let's head inside."
-Inori: "Ah, okay."
The two girls headed inside.
-Mirai: "Anyway, it feels awfully quiet here. Are you alone right now?"
-Inori: "Yes. I told you this before, but Kazuya moved out a while ago. Right
now, my parents are at work, Souma went to school early for club activities,
and Takumi was sleeping over at a friend's place."
-Mirai: "I see. Anyway, don't you have school? Shouldn't you get ready?"
Inori pointed at the clock. It was 7:30.
-Mirai: "Ah. Anyway, what I said about the Donsilans, there is a possible
explanation for all of this. The Amaterasu's analysis of the Donsilan ship
which attacked it showed that it had capabilities only barely exceeding the
Amaterasu itself. This is in direct contradiction to the Donsilans' supposed
power."
-Inori: "Then, they might be holding back."
-Mirai: "No. If it were the entire Donsilan species, then they would've gone
all out, and it would've been the end of humanity."
-Inori: "Then, it may be a rogue faction."
-Mirai: "That's possible, but I've been thinking along the lines of an
independent state being responsible."
-Inori: "An independent state? You mean that you think that the Donsilans
aren't united?"
-Mirai: "That's right. It's a fairly simplistic assumption to think that a
species consists of only one state. After all, we're a species of hundreds of
different independent states."
-Inori: "That makes sense. I guess I've been watching too much sci-fi. But why
would a single state try and take over the entire galaxy?"
-Mirai: "We do not know. But there is some evidence that whoever is trying to
take over the galaxy is being hindered."
-Inori: "What do you mean? Is someone or something opposing them?"
-Mirai: "Inori, do you know about Lyra?"
-Inori: "Lyra? You mean that girl Chelsea rescued five years ago?"
-Mirai: "Yes. The monsters working for the Donsilans seem to be after her."
-Inori: "This is the first time I've heard of this. How do you know?"
-Mirai: "I saw it first hand. I was on Haralni, after taking Uzuki and her
friends there, and I saw the young princesses, fighting against a powerful
monster who was after Lyra."
-Inori: "I see. Mirai, I have a task to set you. I want you to investigate
Lyra's origins. Try to find out whatever you can about her."
-Mirai: "That's easier said than done. Lyra herself doesn't remember anything
before that incident five years ago. But I'll try. Anyway, I'll be going now."
-Inori: "See you later."
Mirai left.
-Inori: "It really has been a while. Anyway..."
Inori picked up her phone, and called someone.

At school, Inori entered the club room. However, only Sakura was inside.
-Inori: "Sakura, where is everyone?"
-Sakura: "Inori, I was supposed to tell you this before, but today's meeting is
cancelled. In light of all the recent events, Shiba-senpai saw it fit to cancel
the meeting."
-Inori: "Even though we've just begun the new school year?"
-Sakura: "Well, it's not like there will be new members of the Flower Club
anyway. Most of the members were already members in elementary school, so
there's no need to reintroduce ourselves."
-Inori: "Anyway, why are you still here?"
-Sakura: "Because... I forgot to tell you beforehand."
-Inori: "Sakura, if you told me before, neither of us would be wasting our time
here. Next time, write it down on your hand if you think you'll forget."
-Sakura: "Inori, you don't have to get angry at me. Anyway, I'm heading back
home. What about you?"
-Inori: "I'll go with you."
-Sakura: "Are you sure?"
-Inori: "Well, I want to go over what I discussed with Mirai in the morning."
-Sakura: "Eh, you met Mirai?"
-Inori: "I called her over. I'll tell you more once we get back."
-Sakura: "Okay."

At Sakura's house:
-Sakura: "My parents aren't home yet, so the door should be..."
Suddenly the door opened. It was Mirai.
-Sakura: "Eh?! Mirai? What are you doing here?"
-Mirai: "I needed a place to stay, as my old house is being rented out. So I
asked your parents, and they said that I can stay here for a while."
-Sakura: "Anyway, I heard from Inori that you were following Uzuki's group for
a while."
-Mirai: "Ah, that. I was asked to take them to Haralni. By the way, I heard
from Catherine that Uzuki's condition has been cured."
-Inori: "Well, that's good news. Anyway, Sakura, let's head inside."
-Sakura: "Okay."
The girls headed inside.
-Mirai: "Sakura, Inori asked me to investigate Lyra's origins. We all know that
she isn't an ordinary magical girl, given her mana signature. However..."
Suddenly, Mirai's phone rang. Mirai picked it up and answered it.
-Mirai: "Hello, this is Mirai. Ah, what is it, Louise. I see. I'll tell the
others. Bye."
Mirai put away the phone.
-Sakura: "What is it, Mirai?"
-Mirai: "Louise told me that blue and red orbs were appearing out of thin air
right next to Lyra. She told me that this may be a case of transportation of
matter via telepathy."
-Inori: "Wait, is such a thing possible?"
-Mirai: "No human has ever displayed this kind of power. Every time a human
mage needed to transport objects from one place to another, the precise vectors
needed to transport the object must be calculated. It's the main reason why our
teleportation technology runs the risk of interpenetration or other nasty
effects."
-Sakura: "But how is this relevant to what you've observed? Those things could
have been created by alchemy, for all I know."
-Mirai: "No, it would've been way beyond Lyra's capability. Those orbs were
Portal Orbs; meant to provide portable one-way transfer points. An
inexperienced magic-using alchemist would struggle with even creating a small
amount of sulfur or silicon from thin air, let alone something as advanced as a
Portal Orb."
-Inori: "Then, what does this mean? Where did these Portal Orbs come from?"
-Mirai: "The only plausible explanation, as put forward by Louise, is that the
Donsilans sent them to Lyra. While we don't know the full capabilities of the
Donsilans, we can assume that they are capable of transmitting matter via
telepathy."
-Sakura: "That makes sense. So, what does this all mean?"
-Mirai: "Louise also mentioned that matter transportation via telepathy only
works if the mana signatures of the sender and recipient are similar. While the
mana signatures of any two humans, regardless of who they are, are similar
enough, it is generally impossible to send objects to a recipient of a
different species. In the case of Lyra, her mana signature is different enough
that none of us can send objects to her even if we are capable."
-Inori: "Then that must mean that Lyra is a Donsilan magical girl, right?"
-Mirai: "That's how the theory goes. Inori, do you know how I said that whoever
is trying to take over the galaxy may be being hindered?"
-Inori: "Ah, yes, I recall that."
-Mirai: "My guess is that Lyra is the important figure in this conflict. My
assumption is that both sides want Lyra, and are willing to do anything to get
her to their side. Hence the monster attacks on Lyra."
-Inori: "But those monsters are from one faction only. What about the other
faction?"
-Mirai: "Maybe... they're trying to help us."
-Sakura: "Help us? What do you mean?"
-Inori: "That makes sense; after all, Lyra does see herself as a part of
humanity."
-Mirai: "That's right. They're helping us precisely because Lyra is herself
associated with us."
Suddenly, a note appeared in front of Inori.
-Inori: "Eh?"
Inori picked up the note.
-Mirai: "Inori, what is that?"
-Inori: "It just says that it is a test. It is signed with Akari's name,
though."
Another note appeared in front of Inori.
-Sakura: "Another one?"
Inori picked up the note.
-Inori: "Another test. Another one from Akari."
-Mirai: "Wait, is Akari..."
Yet another note appeared in front of Inori. Inori picked it up and read it.
-Sakura: "What does that one say?"
-Inori: "Akari wants me to head to Chiyohara. I'm not sure why, but apparently
something is going on there."
-Mirai: "I see. Inori, should we come as well?"
-Inori: "No, Akari just wants me to come by myself."
-Mirai: "I see. Anyway, when does she want you?"
-Inori: "Tomorrow. Anyway, I better get going now. See you two later."
-Sakura: "See you later, Inori."
Inori left Sakura's house.

Back at Inori's house:
-Inori: "I'm back..."
-Voice: "Welcome back, Inori."
Inori headed to the living room, where she found her older brother, Souma,
sitting on the couch. The television was on.
-Inori: "Sou-kun, is it just you at home right now?"
-Souma: "Yeah."
-Inori: "What about Mum and Dad?"
-Souma: "They called me; they said that they'll come home late."
-Inori: "Again..."
-Souma: "Well, it's not like we can do anything about their jobs."
-Inori: "And Takumi hasn't returned, has he?"
-Souma: "Nope. Although, he should be back by now."
Inori pulled out her phone.
-Inori: "I'll give him a call."
Inori dialled a number. She got an answer.
-Inori: "Ah, Takumi, just where are you now? Are you at a friend's place? No?
Then, where are you? It's nearly five o'clock. What? Why are you at Mizutani-
senpai's house? Takumi, just wait there; I'm going to pick you up."
Inori put away the phone.
-Souma: "I've been wondering; why does he visit your senpai's place so often?"
-Inori: "I haven't really told anyone about this, but... he seems to have a
crush on someone living at Mizutani-senpai's house. But, that person isn't
there at the moment."
-Souma: "I see. Well, I guess you better head out and pick him up, then."
-Inori: "I will. Sou-kun, watch the house for me, okay?"
-Souma: "I will."

At Fuyuka's house:
-Inori: "Takumi, how many times have I told you to head straight home after
school?"
-Takumi: "But..."
-Inori: "Let me guess. Wakaba was absent, so you decided to check on her,
right?"
-Takumi: "Ah.... But she wasn't here either, so..."
-Inori: "Members of the Mimori Flower Club are expected to be absent for
significant periods of time. If you want to have some sort of relationship with
Wakaba, I suggest taking what opportunities come to you."
-Takumi: "Ah, yes."
-Inori: "Then speak to her when you get the chance."
-Takumi: "Yes, but... she already has her own friends."
-Inori: "Takumi, are you scared of her friends? In particular, are you scared
of Benio?"
-Takumi: "Ah..."
-Inori: "Benio told me that you've been avoiding her."
-Takumi: "But, she can be scary at times."
-Inori: "Yes, Benio can do mean things. Yes, Benio has a short temper. But that
doesn't mean that she isn't nice to her friends. I can assure you that if you
become friends with Wakaba, Benio will look after you."
-Takumi: "I... okay."
-Inori: "Anyway, let's head back home."
The two had only walked a little bit when, all of a sudden, a monster leapt
straight into their path.
-Takumi: "Sis, monster!"
-Inori: "I'll take care of this. Go and hide somewhere."
-Takumi: "Yes."
Takumi headed into the bushes.
-Inori: "I don't know what you want, but..."
Inori changed into her mage outfit.
-Inori: "... I won't let you harm my family and friends!"

End of Special Episode 1