''What nonsense are you spewing?''
Osbeckia was immediately displeased with Aloe's attitude. Folding her arms, she leaned back, brows furrowing. It did not seem as though she could get any useful information out of this lunatic.
Yet, as she pondered how to approach this mess, the cuffed criminal let out a startling laugh, ''You don't believe me, magical girl!''
Osbeckia flatly denied, ''I don't.''
''But can you afford to?'' Aloe's gaze sharpened, ''Because you have disturbed my peace, the world has been permanently altered.''
''Don't get it twisted. You altered the world while trying to avoid arrest.''
During her five years as a magical girl, Osbeckia had encountered countless villains who refused to acknowledge their crimes. More than anything, she loathed those irresponsible individuals. Though what she loathed even more... was the kind of self-centered criminals that Aloe was.
Regardless of the magical girl's visible displeasure, Aloe continued taunting behind the glass, ''Hey, but thanks to you, I've mustered the courage to do it! The world is a better one now!''
''What do you mean?'' Osbeckia asked cautiously.
''Have you heard of the Omegaverse?''
''The... what?''
The Omegaverse.
A fiction trope that had spread over the internet and persisted through the decades, remixing the human society using alpha, beta, and omega dynamics, which were loosely borrowed from animal hierarchy ideas. Often used to explore power, status orders, and oppression, as well as breaking gender roles in love that transcended circumstances.
''...''
Osbeckia had a different look for Aloe once she left the search results. Pushing herself to be patient, she questioned, ''What about the Omegaverse?''
Aloe did not open her mouth; instead, she smiled meaningfully. Peering into those eyes clouded by madness, the magical girl felt a deep shiver, as if her body had sent a warning for a certain, grim possibility.
Pieces of information flashed in her mind—the global unrest, strange, new widespread symptoms, and Aloe's deliberate mention of the term 'Omegaverse.'
Osbeckia bolted out of the room, sparing the smug criminal half a glance. Immediately, she pulled both Hibiscus and Miss Casey to the side, urging, ''We have to hurry!''
''Calm down. What did she say?'' Fumiko sighed.
The magical girl took a deep breath and relayed the information to the two. As the explanation proceeded, their faces underwent various expressions—confusion, realization, and then shock.
''What kind of ridiculous plot is this...?'' Casey facepalmed, ''I swear, these otakus...!''
''Hey, I'm an otaku, too.'' Fumiko interjected, ''But... you're right. This whole thing is stupid beyond belief.''
Osbeckia undid her transformation, a worried look lingered on her face, ''What should we do now? Is there a way we can reverse the change?''
Moeka was looking at her childhood friend when she uttered those words. In this area, Uehara Fumiko was indeed an expert. Yet, the girl ultimately averted her eyes, seeming somewhat helpless, ''...Doesn't seem like it, unfortunately. I just checked The Federation's published report on the case. What hit everyone yesterday was a type of magical frequency that permanently altered our bodies.''
''We'll have to try and adapt until further notice from The Federation.'' Casey decisively said, ''If Aloe Mochizuki told the truth and the ABO hierarchy will become true, we can expect an outbreak of people with their pheromones running out of control. At that point, some kind of suppressants is absolutely needed.''
''Why do you sound like you're familiar with this—''
''Hibiscus, take the criminal to the lab and force it out of her. Extract any information you may need—don't hold back. We need suppressants ASAP.''
Both of the veteran magical girls tacitly understood that their boss was taking a risk by allowing them to touch a criminal who had not been trialed. Yet, the urgent situation indeed called for it.
The chief then continued, ''Osbeckia, you were the closest to Aloe Mochizuki when she used her ability. Take a few days off and monitor your body carefully. I'll contact you when we decide on the next move. Both of you, got it?''
''Understood.''
''...Understood.''
''Good. I'll handle things on my side now. See you later.''
As Casey stormed away, Moeka and Fumiko looked at one another blankly. Nonetheless, the orders had been given, and they soon parted ways.
Leaving the bureau, Moeka trudged back home, ignoring the unrest premeating the streets. The world was in turmoil, and so was her heart. Mentally, she had barely accepted this sudden shift, though more sinisterly, something faint yet constant had been stirring in her body ever since she woke up this morning.
Moeka felt it on every step she took—her own world was changing each passing second.
''Moeka?''
''...Ah, mom.''
At some point, she had entered her home. Greeted by her kind mother, Moeka snapped out of her trance, replying with a smile, ''I'm back.''
Yuzuki was her mother's name. Though both Moeka's surname and golden eyes were inherited from her late father, she was exceptionally proud of the mellow pink hair she got from her mom. It often reminded her of the connection she had with her closest family.
''Come in and wash your hands. Lunch is ready.''
''Okay.''
The visit to the bureau had taken Moeka the entire morning. She had rushed there without having breakfast, too, so she could gladly accept a hot meal.
As the two sat down, Yuzuki opened the TV. Predictably, almost every news channel was still fussing over yesterday's case, delivering the latest developments live.
''My... I hope everything's alright.'' Yuzuki softly sighed.
Moeka's chopsticks halted when she saw her mother's weathered look, but soon, she regained her confidence, ''...We'll be fine, mom. Definitely.''
That evening, Moeka spent time idly in her room. Usually, she would read books or study for a few hours, though she felt disinterested in either of them at the moment. After a shower, the girl sat blankly at her desk.
Cherry, the cat-like mascot, perched beside the window, musing, ''What are your plans now, Moeka?''
''I'm trying to think of one...''
''Hm... how about researching what that criminal mentioned? The Omegaverse thing.''
''...That's a good idea, actually.''
Pulling out her phone, Moeka began to surf the web for materials. She approached the topic as she would for school subjects, opting to go from the general to the specifics—relearning the definition of ABO, searching its smaller items and variations before moving on to real examples.
''Huh... so Alphas and Omegas are attracted to one another... what about Betas? In the middle...? What's this? Scent? Marking? H-Heat cycles?! How raunchy...''
More than she dared to admit, Moeka was drawn into the genre quite convincingly. After hours of gluing her eyes onto the screen, she belatedly realized the next day's morning sunlight was already falling onto her.
''Ugh... this stuff is dangerous...''
Thankfully, Moeka did not have to go to school for the next few days. Rather, her university already had its classes canceled for the time being, fearing a pandemic. The crime rate had also plummeted, as if the villains themselves were busy dealing with the same problem.
Which meant... Moeka had nothing in particular to do.
''...''
A thought later, she decided to dive back into the materials. Of course, Moeka did keep up with the news on the side.
Two days after the catalyst, the symptoms had become even more prevalent, reaching virtually every corner of the world. On forums and social media, Moeka found that most people experienced a surge in lust level to some degree. Some speculated an evolutionary trigger, others suspected a virus. Only a few hailed this change as positive.
Moeka, too, finally experienced those symptoms herself. It was faint at first, then gradually ramped up to a level she could hardly control. Fueled by the binge smut reading, Moeka was aroused enough to touch her scorching body several times a day. Nothing could quite quench the thirst. It felt as though she was becoming someone else—someone lewd, and not herself.
Most irritatingly, she kept thinking of Fumiko's face whenever she did it. Still, Moeka chalked it up to mere instinctual desires. Fumiko was indeed attractive, but there was no way she would yearn for that idiot!
On the third day, governments finally caved in and began categorizing the new changes in humans. Each group of people was given new names according to the pheromones they released and the behaviours they exhibited. Alphas, Betas, Omegas—in the end, they were exactly as fiction once prophesied.
Moeka, meanwhile, was barely calming herself down, even using magic to cool her horny head off.
It would be a lie to say that Moeka was not curious about her type—her 'gender,' per se. According to the news, those who could use magic or had dominant physical and mental traits would certainly become Alphas.
The official term was 'differentiated.'
Most magical girls were already differentiated into Alphas—strong, natural leaders, and charismatic. Magical girls... such as Moeka herself.
''Heheh...''
Moeka was a little proud of herself. Surely, as an Alpha, she would find even more success in the future...
Day four.
Moeka was summoned to a government hospital for her differentiation.
''Miss... you're an Omega, it seems.''
''...Eh?''