*
19th August, 11508
As she read further into the diary, she realised it was likely a weekday. She was already a couple hours late for school when she first woke up, she didn't feel the need to resign herself into going at this point. The problem for her was that... She's never been to school before.
There's a map on the inner side of her closet, if she wanted to commit to it, she would open that closet.
It was then that a doorbell rang so clearly into the depths of her home... Her own doorbell system, perhaps? She had never heard this sound before, but it wasn't irritating to the ear. She felt her way to the entrance, tracing her steps from last night, she reached the door she's only seen once in her life. Well, everything was a first. The only thing she inherited was muscle memory, like 'that'. She didn't want to use 'that' if possible, she didn't want to mess with too many relics of the past.
A gentle knocking could be heard on the other side, snapping her out of her thoughts which passed by in an instant. Twisting the knob of the lock, she turned the door open, showing up... Was not the same girl from last night. She was in a school uniform of sorts, dark greyish blue collared vest over a white button shirt. A checkered and striped marron skirt, accompanied by beige stockings that wrapped snuggly around her thigh. A pair of powerful gleaming eyes in short black hair that was dark blue at the ends.
It was only noticeable from upclose, like the residues of uncompressed ink. Lastia wasn't tall by any means, but she, Arin's head reached her eyes. Just looking at her gave off a different impression from Sariel, who had straightened back lengthed hair and a straight laced demeanour.
"... Ah, right! Nevermind about that, for now could you let me in?" (Arin)
She cupped her hand and hit her other palm, realising something. Looks like she wasn't there to bring her to school. Well, bringing her at this point might be too strange. Lastia moved to the side and waited for Arin to reach inside, before locking the door.
"I brought some food, have you had breakfast? " (Arin)
"... No. I woke up not long ago." (Lastia)
Perplexed, she looked towards Lastia's bedroom before turning back her gaze to Lastia.
"Was the alarm clock not on? Oh well, the matter with your attendance has been taken care of by Sariel.
With her quick thinking, she convinced the teacher that you were sick rather than overslept. I was a little worries so I came over with some food. Help yourself! " (Arin)
Some convenience store branded plastic bags lay atop the coffee table in the centre of the living room. Various pastries spilled out of some bags in their packaging, with drinks carefully layed out. There were a couple bottled and canned beverages, each with a different flavour. There was also some over the counter top medicine from a pharmacy, in case Lastia was sick. Mostly painkillers and fever relief patches, medicine that would treat generic illnesses.
"Hey, Arin... How was the previous Lastia like...?" (Lastia)
Unable to find any appropriate topics, what with how she lacks any memory beyond today, she irresistably followed her curiosity instead. She didn't seem to be impacted much emotionally, her calm poker face suggested that it was purely from a inquisitive desire.
"She... She had too much hope for her own good. We indulged her and hurt her in the process.
It sounds like we're blaming her when I said this, but her emotions spiralled beyond anyone's control. When a magical girl's gets like that, 'yesterday' happened. " (Arin)
"... I see. So she caused a scene because she was sad. " (Lastia)
Cold judgement spilled from her own mouth, a frigid air licked her breath as she put down the cooled beverage can. She helped herself to some of the steamed cake, their bright colours attracting her the most out of the variety of pastries.
"... It's almost like you're blaming her." (Arin)
"Am I not allowed to? Well, it's not something YOU can control. It's an opinion I formed independently which conflicts with a previous 'me'. A unique phenomenon born from these circumstances befelled by the curse." (Lastia)
A slightly defiant tone was let slipped as she voiced her thoughts, she was a little worried about coming off as too arrogant, but ultimately these were her true thoughts. Her heart jumped for a moment before calming down, Arin digested those words for a short while, as if to let Lastia calm down before continuing.
"Haa~ I won't control how you think. Arguing against your opinion of yourself sounds very silly. I didn't think you would be this blunt though." (Arin)
Her voice raised in pitch for a moment, letting loose how she was surprised. Lastia chuckled in reply, maintaining the momentum.
"Fufu~ Am I sufficiently distinctive from 'her' then?" (Lastia)
"... Do you strive to be different? Is that what you want out of this life?" (Arin)
Lastia's grin slowly faded as she spoke. She didn't have any ill will against Arin anyway, and talking to someone about her thoughts might make her feel better. It was better than going about it alone.
"... It'd be a simple matter if I had such a convenient goal, but no. I was like this when I woke up, when I had the time to reflect on last night.
I woke up next to Sariel in public, the day must have had changed. She brought me home and I put some thoughts together on why I woke up outside my house. " (Lastia)
"... What the hell... " (Arin)
She murmured under her breath begrudgingly, it was almost silent but no noise would go unnoticed in this excessively and empty serene home. Arin ostensibly had some revelation unknown to Lastia, but it wasn't something Lastia particularly cared about so she let it go. She picked up a baked bun this time, the fragrant aroma of the baked in flavours reached her olfactory senses. For a short moment almost unnoticeable, she stared at the bun before returning her gaze to Arin, who had also begun to pick up some food.
"How about we watch some television? I have no idea about the contents, so you just pick whatever you like." (Lastia)
"... Sure! I got some good ideas already. Since you've never watch any movies before, I have some 'must-watch' tier ones that you have to see! " (Arin)
She perked up instantly, almost like a different person. Her cheerfulness began to rub off on Lastia.