"It can get awkward, chuu... We can make fake parents who are pretty much dumb robots, and make it look like to the real parents that their child grew up successful and moved out, so they can still call them sometimes, or visit with disguise magic. Some girls hate the idea and some think it's the best option but not good and some really like it."

"My parents are pretty chill, can I just tell them?"

It waggles its ears indecisively. "A few coppers every year - that's not very hard to get - can do that but if they start telling other people, the veil will probably make them forget again... The veil makes people come up with other explanations for magic. It can make things worse sometimes, if they decide you're delusional or lying."

"I don't think they'd tell other people..."

"It can be hard to predict the veil but telling two people should be okay!"

"Okay, that's good. Who are the magical girls I should call?"

"I'm only allowed to give out one of their phone numbers, Tanya Falstaff's, but I was thinking about asking Sarah Vanders- who also goes by Mighty Gravity Maven, or Jean who doesn't use a last name anymore and goes by Magical Girl Titanium Steel- If they wanted to call a prospective new magical girl."

"Are the monikers obligatory or can I make like Tanya and use my normal name?"

"They're kind of traditional but you don't have to."

"Maybe I'll think of one I like eventually. Anything you should cover before I call Tanya?"

"She appreciates professionalism and directness." Puchuu gives the number!

Bella gets out of her truck and lets the puchuu into the house and dials.

Puchuu curls up on the couch.

It picks up on the fourth ring.

"Tanya Falstaff speaking, is it urgent?" Comes in a clipped, slightly stressed tone. One that is very high pitched, as if spoken by a small child.

"Uh - no -"

"Right, I'll- Tch!" There's a scraping noise.

A moment later, her tone changes suddenly, and she sounds out of breath after the brief pause. "Never mind! Thank you for holding~ Who is this, please? It's showing as magic-aware but I do not recognize this number."

"Your phone shows who's magic-aware? Uh, my name's Bella and I got your number from a puchuu."

"Yes, it does. It was custom commissioned from-" A slight sigh- "Artificer Tsukumogami Circuit. Considering signing on and wanted to ask questions?"

"That's right. Did I interrupt you, I can call another time."

"I'm a time mage. You interrupted me, but everything is now taken care of. I try to make a habit of answering this line, it's occasionally critical, don't worry."

"- ooh, a time mage, what does that wind up looking like?"

"My principal power is slowing or stopping it from my own perspective. Can't go backwards. With enough futzing can do tricks with varying passage speeds, but that's hard to explain over voice. Think a wheel that falls for a long time on one side and rises on the other- Perpetual motion machine if not for the magic, like. So has the fuzzball been acting sketchy?"

"Uh, it doesn't act like it has centuries of experience with appealingly pitching magical girlhood but it sounds neat anyway?"

"Puchuu are Puchuu. You get used to it. Well, magic, right? Neat is an understatement."

"Yeah! Apparently I have an in-demand specialty or something? Psychic?"