Magical Girl, Thirty-Five

*

Ye Chunyling's first thirty-five years were fairly uneventful.

After graduating from college, she became a high school teacher and adopted a relative's child and a cat.

As an ordinary cat-loving woman with a child, her only hobbies were secretly watching anime, playing video games that required no skill, and buying little paper collectibles and plastic figurines.

Then, a month ago, Ye Chunyling witnessed her adopted daughter and a classmate transform into magical girls and fight monsters.

With a major exam the next day, her daughter had enormous dark circles under her eyes. She fought fiercely with a magic wand in her left hand, while gripping a last-minute cram sheet of essential classical poems and essays in her right.

"Even magical girls have to go to college. Leave the fighting to the teachers."

And so, Ye Chunyling made a contract with a spirit and became a magical girl.

*

What's so great about being a magical girl?

First, you can cosplay anytime, anywhere.

Second, defeating monsters can make you money.

And you can become a revered senior to other magical girls...

"I want to become a magical girl just like you, Teacher Chun!"

"I love you, Teacher Chun!"

"Teacher Chun, you seem so familiar..."

Ye Chunyling was sweating bullets.

"...Don't call me Teacher. Have a little respect for my teaching credentials."

*

No matter what, Ye Chunyling never regretted fighting monsters and saving the girls' lives.

The spirit told her that the monsters were calamities drawn to the girls' futures.

The top-tier star who would set fire to a concert twenty years from now.

The scientist who would unleash a deadly virus fifteen years from now.

...They would still shine in the future, but Ye Chunyling's presence would keep them from meeting an unhappy ending.

Theme: Respect the old and care for the young.