episode_0024

“…I’ll think about it.”

Is that a positive response?

It’s ambiguous.

Japanese people commonly have what they call ‘tatemae,’ not revealing their true intentions.

While it may vary from person to person, magical girls are no different.

Unlike the mask-persona they show in front of others, they don’t easily reveal their true feelings – honne – that lie within.

“Especially true for people from Kyoto.”

I’ve never seen anyone as skilled as Kyoto people in expressing themselves.

I once stayed briefly in Kyoto for work-related reasons, and the boarding house owner I stayed with at that time said something to me when he left.

-…You really don’t know how to show respect!

For a Kyoto person to say such words is practically equivalent to cursing.

In Japan, there are many who hide their true intentions, deflecting and avoiding situations, hoping that the person causing trouble will leave or disappear before they have to deal with it.

“I see, I believe you.”

“Oh, that’s…”

In that sense, perhaps Japan as a country might not suit my personality.

“I’ll see you at the Comprehensive Measures Department tomorrow.”

“T-that’s…”

“Or should I come here tomorrow instead? How about commuting together?”

“T-that!”

Whatever Sayaka says, I need Sayaka.

‘I’ll lose my sanity without Sayaka.’

The RGB team can only function smoothly with Sayaka mediating between Red Seiya and Blue Karin.

If there’s no Sayaka to balance the situation between Red Seiya and Blue Karin, then maybe I should boldly suggest not the RGB team but just the ‘Seiya Team.’

“Sayaka, it might be overwhelming for you. But we’re also in a desperate situation. Why do you think we came to you right after Seiya?”

“Mumei, up to that point…”

“We need to speak frankly. Before discussing adult matters, as teammates, we need to know everything.”

“I went to see Seiya first because…”

Would she get upset if she feels she’s being pushed back in line?

“Well, I understand. Seiya is stronger than me and was chosen as the leader of the RGB team.”

That’s like not acknowledging Seiya as the leader.

And this issue had already been settled within the RGB team before Nuemomomokami appeared.

“If I become stronger than Seiya…”

However, leadership doesn’t always have to be held by one person.

“If I don’t just get stronger but reach ‘perfection,’ would I become the leader then?”

“That’s…yes. Regardless of other aspects, in the world of magical girls, the one with the highest rank should be the leader.”

Leadership can change.

If someone who originally joined as the youngest becomes stronger than their seniors and becomes the strongest, the leadership can change.

Especially if there’s a significant gap in the level of magical girl abilities, the leader will be someone in the higher tier.

“Okay. Until I reach perfection, let’s leave the leader position to Seiya.”

Sayaka smiles as if resigned to the situation and corrects her posture.

“Ah. If I were to reach the ultimate stage, would the team still be RGB?”

“At that point, I will talk to the Mayor and try to create the SOR team.”

“The SOR team?”

“Si-O-Ri team.”

“Misaki Team Leader, you seem to enjoy jokes.”

“It’s not a joke.”

“……”

“……”

As relaxed enough to make jokes, Sayaka seems to have lightened up a bit.

‘It’s best to approach things honestly.’

Japanese? Tatemae?

Well, that doesn’t really apply to magical girls.

The differences in personality based on individual tendencies or nationality may exist, but most magical girls tend to understand each other if they have a sincere heart.

“Thank you, Shiori.”

“Thank you. Doing this much…is because it means you’re thinking of me. Even if others in Neodongtan don’t, at least two people are putting in effort for me in various ways. Yes.”

Yet, the darkness has not completely lifted.

Shiori has her own darkness, and those like her actually have the greatest potential for corruption.

“If plants can rot without seeing light, they can still survive once sunlight shines upon them.”

Continuously shining sunlight, giving attention and love like watering, can make them grow well, becoming trees with stronger roots than anyone else, like the Green lineage.

“Phew. That’s a relief. So, shall we…tomorrow?”

“Um, before you go. There’s something I want to ask.”

As we tried to get up, Shiori stopped us.

“What do you want to know?”

“Our team is RGB, right? …What happens if it becomes RG? Is B absolutely necessary?”

Shiori asked seriously, and Misaki, the team leader, closed his eyes with an expression that said, ‘Here it comes.’

“Blue….”

Blue.

Arguably the worst existence in this team.

“I heard Seiya has family here. Although I still have a contract remaining, leaving here for somewhere else is a last resort. But…”

“Karin is different.”

Misaki took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

“I was planning to discuss this tomorrow morning when everyone gathers, but speaking now might unnecessarily keep us awake.”

“Is there a problem…?”

“Well, actually.”

Misaki took out his smartphone.

“Karin sent me a separate message. A long email.”

Long.

The smartphone screen, relatively long vertically, couldn’t fit all the lengthy text.

“Wow….”

It was so long that Shiori seemed disgusted.

“When will I be able to read all of this….”

“I’ll summarize it in three sentences.”

Misaki held up three fingers.

“One. She wants to be on the same team as Himari, who was on our team.”

“Wow.”

“Two. If it’s not RGBY, she will leave the RGB team.”

“Oh.”

“Three. …This is actually the main issue.”

Misaki pointed his middle finger towards the screen.

“If we don’t meet these demands, she said she would leave Neodongtan.”

* * *

Close to midnight.

[Hmm…. Karin, I’m really getting sleepy….]

In a dark room with no light, a girl with short hair is holding a smartphone, having a conversation with someone while lying in bed.

“Already? It’s only midnight.”

“You should sleep early; it’s good for your growth. Sangdalphone said so.”

“……No one knows if I’ll grow big.”

“No! I’m sure they’ll be huge. Sangdalphone may have a small head, but they’ll be bigger than that. Hm, Karin.”

The voice on the other end sounded almost as if it were dying from a sleeping pill.

“Himari?”

“Don’t worry too much. It’ll be okay. We don’t know what will happen from above, but with you, Karin….”

Silence.

“…Goodnight.”

At the clear sound of falling asleep, Karin pressed the end call button.

“Recording has ended.”

“…….”

A message appeared on the smartphone screen.

Karin held the smartphone and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

“Himari….”

Calling her partner’s name, Karin reached out towards the ceiling.

“Can I exist without you…?”

Where the gaze lands, the left ring finger.

“You led me this far, how can I be alone without you.”

Thud.

“In a place without you, I can’t breathe. Himari….”

Crash!

From below, a sound of something breaking is heard.

“……”

Karina covered her face with her hands.

Clank, clank, clank, clank!

The sound of a door opening forcefully.

Sounds like trying to force open a locked door.

[Hey! Don’t open the door!!]

“……”

“What are you going to do? Answer quickly! The whole family is only looking at you! Is this how it’s going to be?!”

“Honey. Stay calm for now….”

“Do I look calm?! She needs to make a choice quickly so we can act accordingly! Whether to wear armor or do something else!!”

Karina remained silent, just quietly staring at the ceiling.

* * *

The next day.

“There’s no ‘B’ in RGB.”

Arriving at work and gathering in one place, only two magical girls appeared.

“Um, Manager Misaki? What about Karin-chan?”

“…Are you going to fill her spot with someone else?”

Seiya and Shiori in the meeting room wear worried expressions.

Not just concerns about Karin herself, but also worries about potential issues arising from Karin that they couldn’t hide in their eyes.

“I plan to hold a manager meeting on that matter.”

“A manager meeting?”

“Yes. In three hours, I will attend a meeting with several department heads. The agenda includes two items. Introduction of the new head of the Monster Countermeasures Department and…”

“The whereabouts of ‘B.’”

All three sets of eyes turn towards me.

“There are many magical girls from other teams eyeing the Blue position in RGB. I noticed a lot of glances when I came to work today.”

“Um, Meimei-san. That’s because Meimei-san…”

“Yes. Even as an intern, there seems to be significant interest in the RGB team – Comprehensive Strategy Department.”

I wonder.

Seiya and Shiori seem like they want to say something but can’t, smiling awkwardly while avoiding my eyes and looking at my chest.

‘Manners are important.’

There’s a saying that looking directly into someone’s eyes during a conversation is impolite, and looking at the chest area is considered polite.

Maybe that’s what they’re practicing now.

“Blue, should we go with Karin? It seems like something you should decide, Manager.”

“So, let’s have a light meeting.”

Manager Misaki gestured as if drawing a circle.

“Let’s review our resources once and see if Karin is a necessary presence or not. Let’s analyze that quickly.”

Manager Misaki took something out of his pocket.

“Let’s start the briefing.”

“……”

“Why the hesitation?”

“No, it’s just…”

That was.

“You just suit them well.”

It was glasses.