Chapter 26

**Chapter 26: You've Really Put Your Heart into It, Prittina...** is the twenty-sixth chapter of *We are Magical Boys*. It is the 2nd chapter of vol. 5.

## Summary

*Lily Lilly isn't able to cope with Kaito's rejection, leading him to make a drastic decision after he has a conversation with a familiar face...*

## Synopsis

Lily and Kamekichi are getting to know a recent transfer into Prittina and the boy is very happy he decided to join. He doesn't feel tired like he used to, everyone here is so nice too, and he loves what this place offers. Lily gladly tells him to keep in touch and once the boy leaves, Lily excuses himself to go scouting again. Kamekichi suggests he take a break, he's already brought in five Magical Boys and earned one. Lily refuses, because now is the best time to gather them with more and more boys are becoming fed up with Tokimekia. Kamekichi agrees, but he reminds Lily that his first priority should be helping people and he should make sure he has enough rest to do so.

Lily hesitantly agrees and leaves the room, but his mind remains on Kaito's rejection. He doesn't want to keep harassing Tokimekia like this but it can't be helped. He hates feeling uneasy and anguish from each rejection he's met with. He wants to move on from the past but that monster within him resurfaces when he feels this way. Lily mourns while standing outside until Rakuto suddenly approaches him. He becomes anxious and attempts to greet him, leading Rakuto to question his behavior after explaining that he came for a visit. He compliments how nice Lily looks in the Prittinese uniform, then calls him cute noticing how upset he was. Lily is embarrassed that Rakuto saw him worked up but he pays it little mind, offering to comfort him as his "big brother" back in his room. He'll do what he can to make him feel better.

- - - -

Kaito and Makoto meet up with Magiru, who informs them that Momo-chan was too busy to join them. But he'll be free to return in three days, and he was hoping they could have a little party for the occasion. Makoto and Magiru weren't surprised by this, but they notice Kaito is behaving unusual and call him out on it. Kaito insists that he's alright but Makoto can tell he really isn't. He warns Kaito that his Girliness could be warped again if he isn't careful, and that he should just be honest with Momo-chan instead of trying to force himself to accept his unreliability. He offers to speak to him on his behalf but this ends up infuriating Kaito and they start arguing. Kaito insists that he will be fine and suggests that they transform and go on patrol, to prove it to him, and if Makoto is right than he can say it. Makoto agrees, going on to note how disheveled Kaito looks once he transforms. He insists its fine and they take off.

Just then, the boys discover Steady Cobalt being confronted by a group of Prittinese Magical Boys. They watch as they slip a transformation bracelet onto his wrist, causing his Girliness to transform into Newliness. Cobalt is shocked by his transformation but quickly becomes swayed by the light costume and his sword, as a member of kendo club at school. The boys tell him that he's free to keep the bracelet for the time being, it's just a sample of what he can look forward to if he joins Prittina. Kaito and Makoto's relief is short-lived when they notice more and more Magical Boys being solicited just then. Kaito is impressed with their efforts and doesn't think it's really a problem, but Makoto is worried and points out the fact that at the rate things are going, Tokimekia will lose so much Magic power that the country could collapse. Kaito starts to panic hearing this and immediately tries to put a stop to the recruitment going on. Makoto tries to calm him, pointing out that they need to go to the source to speak with them about it, and just as he considers contacting Momo-chan about it, they are swarmed by the Prittinese Magical Boys.

Kaito tells them to beat it but they stand their ground, only for Lily to appear. Kaito explains the problem to him and asks that he have Kamekichi stop this, but he is stunned after Lily refuses, confessing it was his doing. Makoto takes this moment to introduce himself to Lily, as they haven't met before. Lily asks that Kaito not fight him on this because they must put a stop to Tokimekia, and he's handling it in a very peaceful way. Kaito angrily asks Lily what brought him to do this, and Lily gently expresses that he's not able to recover from the wounds Tokimekia left on his heart. He's going to see to it that Kaito joins Prittina, and he pulls out his sword prepared to do battle.

Kaito remains in place, deciding that he must stop Lily if that's how it is going to be, but Makoto tries to convince him to step aside and let him fight. With the way his emotions are now, he's not in any position to attempt a serious battle like this. Kaito angrily insists he's alright and turns to Lily, telling him that when he beats him, he'll make him cut the crap and maybe consider letting him leave peacefully. But before they can fight, he gets swarmed by the other Prittinese Magical Boys. Lily observes them attempt to fight and force the Transformation Rings on them but they're no match for Kaito's Girliness, and he swiftly attacks Kaito after he insults Prittina, claiming they are bad guys. Lily insists that as a pure-hearted hero, he's done nothing wrong. Kaito asks if he's insinuating that Tokimekia is the bad guy, which he doesn't think is right because they don't hurt people. Lily coldly states he is lying, surely there must have been a time when they angered him. This makes Kaito recall the time he went on the trip with Momo-chan and the cruel Tokimekian they ran into. Kaito was distraught over that, but he's never wanted to destroy Tokimekia for it.

The boys are shocked when Lily lifts his sleeve to reveal a broken Transformation Ring from Tokimekia. He was formally *Pure+Blonde*, and working for Tokimekia nearly cost his life.

- - -

Two years ago in third grade he fell onto the street and was almost hit by a car. A Magical Boy saved him and he was left in awe as he took off, and he became obsessed with the idea of becoming a Magical Boy too. He was so happy the day his dream was granted. The Tokimekians were convinced that he would be a natural when he easily managed to transform for the first time. The boy who inspired him left Tokimekia shortly after, but he never forgot him as he helped everyone. He knew he could only do so much as one person, but every day was so much fun and he was happy to share his joy with others.

But he was forced to learn that after obtaining his dream, the only thing left from that point was reality and he realized how greedy *Saiaku*, his Tokimekian partner was. He only cared about furthering his career and abused his desire to help others, forcing him to do hard labor on top of gathering Light Crystals. He was beginning to feel hopeless but forced himself to believe he was happy to be doing something he loved; it became so bad that his wings were losing feathers. One day, he couldn't handle it anymore and his Girliness failed him when he was trying to save someone, causing him to be seriously injured. He called Saiaku for help but was met with rejection for not giving him any light crystals that day. He hung up on him as he laid helplessly against the wet ground, where all he could do was observe his broken Transformation Ring until he lost consciousness.

- - -

Lily thanks the guys for listening to his story, but while they feel badly for him, it doesn't convince them that he's going about things the right away. Kaito's words infuriate Lily into attacking him again, but because of Kaito pushing himself so hard earlier and hearing Lily's story, he's too weak to defend himself. Kaito lays on the ground as Lily approaches him, suggesting that he gives up; seeing his tattered Girliness proves they are the same, and he must hate Tokimekia too. Makoto attempts to intervene but the other boys block him, forcing him to yell out to Kaito in an attempt to help him ignore Lily. Lily begins to weep as he tells Kaito that the tattered costume he wears comes from his heart, the same heart the Tokimekians trample all over regardless of their loyalty. He demands that Kaito acknowledges that he is right as Makoto desperately tries to convince Kaito to stop listening.

To their horror, they realize Kaito is succumbing to Beastliness, and they are unaware of Rakuto being nearby, having witnessed everything.