"We two exchange a Schutzengel pledge. We swear to respect, love, and support each other in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health."
Shirai Yuyu
Hitotsuyanagi Riri
This means you're my Schutzengel now, right, Miss Yuyu?
It's a dream come true.
I can hardly believe it.
Assault Lily
I have to get good enough to fight alongside you, Miss Yuyu.
First year
Oh, but I'm such a beginner I don't even know what my Rare Skill is.
Fumi says her Skill is "Hawk's Eye."
She can see things from really high up.
Oh, what's your Rare Skill, Miss Yu--
Lunatic Trancer.
Huh?
Second Year
That's my Skill.
No.
You can hardly even call it a Rare Skill.
What do they think they're doing, flirting like that first thing in the morning?
First year
They look kind of awkward to me.
By the way, what are you writing?
I'm doing a serial on them for the Weekly Lily News .
I see you're awfully merciless yourself.
I'd be interested in that, too.
I can't believe she won over Yuyu in just two days.
Of course she did. That's nothing for Riri.
And you are?
I'm Yoshimura Thi Mai, a second-year.
Second year
Pardon me, Miss Mai.
Still, the Yuyu...
Episode 3
It's a Huge!
That's...
So, that's her Hawk's Eye.
Watch closely.
What's that?!
The Defense Force's initial assault.
But it's not possible to effectively damage a Huge using their armaments.
Is it my imagination, or is it heading this way?
Yurigaoka Girls' Academy isn't just a Lily training facility.
It's our front line against the Huge.
O-Oh yeah.
We concentrate Huge attacks here to reduce damage elsewhere, right?
And the number of Lilies gathered here
must make it difficult for the Huge to ignore.
Alfheim second year
Don't fall behind, ladies!
Isn't that too harsh on us newbies, Miss Soraha?
Alfheim first year
Tease me like that and I'll end up falling for you.
Alfheim second year
Alfheim first year
Miss Soraha is mine.
Cut the chit-chat!
This is it!
Alfheim is engaging the Huge using the Neunwelt Tactic!
Whoa! What's that?
A legion of nine build up a Magie sphere by passing it
and then smash it into a Huge.
That's the Neunwelt Tactic.
On your guard, Riri.
R-Right.
Like this?
Huge are normal organisms made monstrous by Magie.
Huge are controlled by the supernatural power of Magie.
Only Lilies, who also use Magie, can fight them.
A CHARM without Magie in it is just a knife.
R-Right!
Concentrate harder.
That will make your CHARM heavy and strong.
This is too much for an amateur!
Hold out a little longer, Riri.
I-I'll try.
Too light.
You're being awfully rough.
If I were a masochist, I'd be over the moon.
I've heard the rumors about you, Miss Yuyu.
Armed with your Rare Skill, Lunatic Trancer,
you've slaughtered countless Huge to become one of Yurigaoka's top Lilies.
They say in your trance, you even mercilessly attack other Lilies.
Kaede, that's...
It's fine.
I...
I'm behind everyone else,
so I have to do this.
So please, let me keep going.
third years
second years
first years
Ow, ow, ow.
It breaks my heart, Riri. You're covered in bruises.
Look. Here, and here, and...
Oh my, even here!
I'm not bruised there !
I just can't understand it.
Why are you so fixated on Miss Yuyu?
So were you at first.
I can't give in now.
I mean, I still don't know anything about Miss Yuyu.
You're Miss Yuyu's Schild, right?
I can't believe you actually snagged her.
Congratulations, Riri.
Everyone from Alfheim?!
Perfect timing.
Would you tell us about Miss Yuyu?
Well, we were in different buildings for junior high.
But when it comes to Miss Yuyu...
The evacuation of Koshu.
Koshu?
The battle two years ago, when most of Koshu fell to a massive Huge attack?
Several legions from Yurigaoka engaged them but suffered heavy losses.
It's what caused the powerful previous-generation Alfheim to disband.
The upperclassmen don't like to talk about it.
You must have guts to ask them.
Miss Yuyu, who was a junior-high third-year, was allowed to participate.
Then you must also know
that Miss Yuyu lost her Schutzengel there.
You were awfully rough on that new girl, Yuyu.
This is how I am.
I can't help it.
Aren't you afraid she'll hate you?
I really... wouldn't mind.
You're really scared of that new girl, aren't you?
So, you try to push her away.
You're afraid to accept her.
That's not...
I just...
Sorry.
Look over there.
The Yoshino cherries bloomed again this year.
First year
She's been training for a week now.
This isn't training.
I'm afraid of Riri?
Impossible.
Yes! I did it, Miss Yuyu--
Focus my Magie.
Oh!
She shattered Miss Yuyu's poise.
She finally channeled her Magie.
That's enough for to--
We're going.
Right!
Umm, where?
We're on duty today, aren't we?
Oh, yes!
But first...
Umm,
do we have time for this right now?
A Lily from Yurigaoka Girls' Academy
must never look so slovenly on the battlefield. It sets a bad example.
Th-That hurts, Miss Yuyu.
I'm not used to doing this either.
I think we have some time before it makes landfall.
Are you sortieing, too, Kaede?
We're a group of freelance Lilies who haven't joined legions yet this time.
It's a common sight this time of year.
Then you, too, Fumi?
She'll be watching from the sidelines.
She has no combat experience.
Good luck, everybody.
You'll be the only first-timer, Riri.
O-Okay. I'll do my best.
You stay here, too.
You'll be in the way.
Watch from here.
Miss Yuyu.
I wish she'd make up her mind.
This Huge looks even more twisted than usual.
It jumped?!
This Huge is a Restore.
Arsenal Division second year
Looks like a Restore.
I hear they've been appearing more frequently of late.
Oh, Miss Moyu and Miriam.
Why are you here?
What's a "Restore"?
We may be in Arsenal Division, but we're still Lilies.
We can hold our own in a fight.
Although we're not on duty today.
So, Huge that sustain damage and survive return to a nest for repairs.
We call them "Restored" or "Restores."
They've survived multiple battles, so they're no pushovers.
Miss Yuyu is amazing.
But she's placing herself in jeopardy.
She's incredibly skilled, but she's charging too far ahead.
Those are...
Fall back already, Yuyu!
What the--
First year
So many CHARMS...
What?
Then...
How many Lilies has this thing...?
Seriously?
Wh-What's wrong?
A Lily's CHARM is a part of her body.
She'd only let it go if...
That's enough!
Fall back, Yuyu!
Miss Yuyu!
Wait, Yujia!
Huh?
That's...
Lunatic Trancer.
Once a Lily enters that trance, she loses all sense of reason
and continues to destroy friend and foe alike until her Magie is exhausted.
It's a Skill Yuyu herself sealed away.
Then why unleash it now?
All those CHARMs that lost their owners must have made her remember.
You mean...
Yuyu lost her own Schutzengel when she was in junior high.
Because Yuyu had activated Lunatic Trancer at the time,
suspicion fell on her.
That's horrible.
I hear there were actually cuts inflicted by Yuyu's CHARM on the body.
In the end, she was cleared due to lack of evidence,
but Yuyu's own memories are hazy.
She's been blaming herself ever since.
I'm going to go to her.
No! Yuyu is dangerous right now!
I think I understand Miss Yuyu a little better now.
That's not an answer!
Whoops.
Yuyu!
Misuzu?
H-How dare you do that to my sister?!
Miss Yuyu!
I-I'm sorry.
Don't look.
Riri! What are you doing?
Are you stupid?
I felt Miss Yuyu just now.
What do you mean?
It's Magie.
Riri and Yuyu's Magie touched through their CHARMs.
I've never heard of anyone using a CHARM that way.
But it is conceivable.
Miss Yuyu saved me once before.
Now I have to save her!
Are you insane?!
You have to let me wash your back later!
Guess I've got no choice.
Shall we join in, Yujia?
Y-Yeah.
Maybe I should have brought my CHARM, too.
I ought to be out there with them!
Miss Yuyu!
Didn't you tell me that we always have to look our best?!
Look at me, Miss Yuyu!
Is that...?
A Magie sphere.
You must be disappointed, Riri.
This is who I am.
Just an ugly, despicable monster consumed by hatred.
Even if that's true, you're still my sister!
Miss Yuyu!
Riri.
We're going to jump, Riri.
Right, Yuyu!
We're riding on Magie.
Riri, we'll do this together.
Yes!
Nice going, Yuyu.
Yoshino cherries need the cold of winter to bloom.
I'm told they used to bloom when spring came, marking the change of seasons.
But the line between winter and spring is blurred now.
They must be confused about when to bloom.
This is your Schutzengel, Miss Yuyu?
Yes. My big sister.
Kawazoe... Misuzu.
Yuyu!
Honestly, you're so reckless.
Misuzu.
Don't overdo it.
That power of yours
will end up destroying you, too.
Don't worry, Yuyu.
This is our destiny.
Misuzu.
I'll hold on to this CHARM.
I'm back.
You're in the dark again.
Student council, second year
You'll ruin your eyesight.
You sortied today, right?
Good work.
Thank you, Matsuri.
I think... I managed to carry myself well.
Did you just say, "Thank you"?
Say it again.
Why?
Because I don't know when I last saw you be this nice.
What? I'm the same as always.
To be continued
Next time
Episode 4
Next time, Riri forms a legion!
I'll do my best for my big sister!
Illustration: Fuzichoco