“So, when blood comes out of a woman’s body, it’s called menstruation, a period, or moon cycles…”

Kitty, the boss’s personal secretary, was enthusiastically conducting a sex education session. The sharp-minded Regalia quickly absorbed the information and soon figured out what exactly she had done earlier.

“Ugh… Ughhh… So, I went to a scientist without even knowing something this basic…?”
“I apologize, Miss. This is entirely my negligence.”

Regalia, her head buried in the table, groaned in embarrassment, tormented by shame. Meanwhile, Kitty, who hadn’t provided prior sex education, started to feel a level of shame rivaling Regalia’s.

To think that her lady would turn to someone else instead of her—especially a dark-haired man she had known for barely a year—for something like this? Just how low was her trust in Kitty for something like this to happen?

And it could have been extremely dangerous. What if Eight had been the kind of scoundrel who had no qualms about touching a teenage girl? If that were the case, he might have taken advantage of the situation under the pretense of providing a “menstrual treatment injection” in response to the boss’s orders to make her better…

‘Hah—! What am I even thinking?’

Snapping out of her inappropriate thoughts, Kitty quickly shook her head to clear them and looked at Regalia. Fortunately, Regalia was still burying her head and stomping her feet in despair over her dark history, completely unaware of what had crossed Kitty’s mind.

“Well then, Miss. Let me also inform you about what you need to be cautious of moving forward.”
“Hmm? There’s more?”
“Yes. Starting menstruation means that your body is now capable of having children, so regarding that—”

Kitty continued the lesson as naturally as possible. Perhaps it was too early for the boss to hear such things, but—

Well, wouldn’t it be better for the great ruler of the world to be informed rather than clueless?

*****

“I never imagined you would choose our university.”
“You said I’d be free to conduct research without being tied down by classes.”
“I see. Certainly, we can’t waste someone like Dr. Eight on regular lectures. But if you ever feel like nurturing the next generation, you’re welcome to open a class anytime. We’ll make arrangements for a lecture hall…”

E University in E City.

Even if generously described, it couldn’t be called the best, but it was still ranked within the top five universities in the world. I was currently speaking with its president.

“You can start as early as this year. We can prepare a lab immediately.”
“Oh, no need to make it too big. I already have a personal lab.”
“Is that so? But we can’t possibly give someone like you a half-baked setup…”

The president carefully observed my reaction. He welcomed my employment at the university but was also visibly uneasy. It couldn’t be helped. While their offer played a part in me joining the university, the main reason was that this was the most prestigious university that Aile had been accepted into.

Since Aile decided to attend this university, it would have been absurd for me to go somewhere else. I used the boss’s name to pressure them into hiring me, so to the president, I must have seemed like a meteor crashing down from the sky.

If a rolling stone could displace a planted one, what could a stone falling from the heavens accomplish? He was well aware that if I felt like it, I could replace him as president.

“Today is truly a historic day for E University, Dr. Eight.”
“You’re expecting a lot…”
“Well, just having your name associated with our school—no, our university’s reputation will skyrocket.”
“Thank you for your kind words. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another appointment.”
“Oh dear, I’m sorry for taking up your time.”

After a brief farewell, I stepped out of the president’s office and spotted Aile sitting alone on a bench in the university garden, fiddling with her smartphone.

Despite my approach, Aile didn’t look up from her phone, seemingly projecting an aura that pushed others away. Watching her, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

If she behaved like this at university, she’d end up isolated. It would be a waste for her to spend the next four years alone. University wasn’t meant for that.

I plopped down right next to her on the bench and casually draped my arm over her shoulders. Startled by the sudden contact, Aile flinched and froze in place.

“Hey there, cutie. What are you up to all alone?”
“…I-I have company.”
“Why not ditch them and hang out with me instead?”
“N-no, stop… Let me go…”

Turning her head, Aile finally recognized my face and let out a sigh of relief before lightly punching my chest as if to scold me.

“You scared me…!”
“Why? Thought you were being hit on?”
“N-not exactly… Just don’t pull pranks like that again, okay?”

Even as she pouted and tried to act upset, I found her reaction endearing. Moments like this made her seem alive. If she showed this side of herself to others, she’d be popular in no time.

Her teenage years had been rough, but that couldn’t be helped. High school was a time when half-formed beasts ruled. How many people had looked down on me just for being a normal human? It was terrifying to imagine the humiliation and ridicule Aile must have faced as a powerless girl.

Hopefully, there wouldn’t be too many like that at this university. E University was a far cry from the trash schools in Z City. As a magical girl, Aile wouldn’t have to endure insults about being powerless anymore.

“By the way, what department did you apply to?”
“Astronomy…”
“Astronomy? Were you always into stars?”
“N-no, not really… But a lot of magical girls are said to have awakened by drawing power from stars, so I got a little curious.”
“Ah, magical girls again?”

I chuckled as I looked up. The clear sky had no stars, but closing my eyes was enough to vividly picture the stars twinkling in the night.

Stars that pierced through the satellites cluttering Earth’s orbit to reach us—once sacred guides of humanity.

And now, nothing more than relics of memories never to be seen again.

“Is something up there?”
“…No, nothing. Shall we head back?”
“Okay!”

“Oh, right, Aile. I’m joining the faculty here as a professor, so from now on, you’ll have to call me Professor.”
“P-professor? Hmm… Okay!”

Recalling the stars that once sparkled in the sky, we walked back together.

*****

All of modern civilization was built on radio waves.
And these radio waves were constantly and carelessly exposed.

[You—! I told you not to go to that club—]
[This is Red. Villain subdued. Requesting support team—]
[You must’ve forgotten what I’m like. Time to remind you—]

Radio waves, emitted at a speed of 300,000 kilometers per second, traveled through space, scattering as they went. The farther they traveled, the weaker their signals became. Most of them didn’t even make it past the atmosphere.

However, if the number of waves multiplied endlessly, the quantity escaping the planet would increase as well—eventually reaching a point where those dwelling in space could hear them as clear as day.

Tommy, stationed aboard a space station, had developed a hobby of eavesdropping on these waves.

“Women, seriously… They always go for weird guys instead of someone amazing like me, then end up getting burned.”

Chuckling smugly, Tommy adjusted the antenna installed in the station to better listen to the signals coming from the planet. In the process, he accidentally pressed the wrong button, amplifying the outgoing radio waves.

Fortunately, the waves were sent toward the Moon—Terra’s satellite. A barren, rocky wasteland with no moon rabbits or secret villain bases.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Tommy began to consider how he would explain this mistake to ground control. If word got out, he might not just face a pay cut—he could even end up in prison, depending on how unlucky he was—

“...Huh?”

And then, Tommy saw something that made him forget all about his mistake.

An eye.

A massive eye.

To be more precise… an eye that had appeared on the surface of the Moon.

“H-Holy shit—what is that?! Base, base!”
[What’s happening?]
“Look at the Moon! Look at it!”

While Tommy was panicking and scrambling to contact the base, the awakened Moon simply gazed down at Earth.

As if searching for the one who had stirred it awake.

Just staring.

And staring…