Ch.102102. Amethyst and Garnet (2)

I decided to stop teasing Seohyun and get ready to go out.

Of course, I could have teased her more, but she might have gotten genuinely angry.

I got dressed, came downstairs, and prepared to leave.

Well… there wasn’t much preparation needed.

“Do I need to tie my hair back?”

“Have you ever seen me tie my hair during combat, Seohyun? I don’t bother because it’s annoying.”

“Isn’t it uncomfortable having such long hair?”

“Well… I’m used to it, so it’s fine. Besides, don’t those hair ties break too easily?”

“Huh…? They break easily?”

“They snap if I move just a little bit, so I find them inconvenient.”

“…Isn’t that because you’re too rough with them?”

“Pardon…?”

Me, too rough with them?

I only fly at speeds slightly slower than the speed of sound…

I don’t think I’ve done anything particularly strenuous on hair ties, yet they keep snapping.

That’s why even when Ellie tied her hair, she’d end up with it loose again.

“I don’t recall being rough with them.”

“Never mind. I’ll give you one of mine. I use these when I’m on duty. Use this today.”

“Um… well, if you insist. Alright.”

I tied the hair tie Seohyun gave me around my wrist.

I’ll tie my hair later if it gets uncomfortable.

“…? Shouldn’t you tie it now?”

“I’ll tie it when it gets uncomfortable.”

“…Are you just too lazy to tie it?”

…Tch.

I don’t like magical girls who are unnecessarily perceptive.

“Come here.”

“Yes.”

I was about to give her the hair tie from my wrist, but—

“Keep that one for later if this one breaks. It’s a gift.”

“I don’t really use these things even when given to me.”

“Well… then think of it as handcuffs I’ve put on you.”

“…You, could it be that you have that kind of preference…?”

“Hey! No…! Arin is listening…!”

“Pfft… I’m kidding. What were you thinking?”

“…You know, if you keep this up, who knows what I’ll do?”

“Whatever you do would be cute anyway.”

“…Sigh. I give up, I surrender…”

“That’s right. Hehe… you’re no match for me.”

“…Haah.”

Ah… this is too much fun.

What should I do?

Well… I’ll stop here for now.

Seohyun was sitting on the sofa waiting for me.

“Here I am, a villain in handcuffs before the magical girl. Please tie me up.”

“…Sigh. Really.”

Despite her verbal complaints, Seohyun silently and diligently arranged my hair.

She even brushed it before tying it.

Arin was watching with a strange look in her eyes.

Wondering why Arin was looking at Seohyun that way, I asked:

“Arin…? Is something wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Are you in pain?”

“No. I’m not in pain. Well, I am hurting, but not physically, I think.”

“Pardon…?”

“…I lost the chance to give big sister a gift first. Ugh. I should have given it earlier. As expected of an experienced high schooler…”

“Arin, what are you saying?”

“Nothing. Big sister, would you accept a gift from me if I gave you one?”

“Well… if it’s from you, Arin, I’d be happy to. Of course I’d accept it.”

“…Hehe. Really? You promise? You’ll accept it?”

What kind of gift could an elementary school student give?

At most… maybe a cute keychain or something.

Even if I can’t carry it around all the time, I could keep it somewhere precious and within reach.

If I can see Arin’s happy face just by saying I’ll accept her gift, that’s a good thing.

“Well then, have a good time! I’ll be up in my room!”

Arin greeted us energetically and went up to her room.

Well, it should be fine.

Today is Seohyun’s day, so I should accommodate her.

It’s not good to just tease her on her special day.

My hair was comfortably tied by Seohyun’s hands.

“How is it? Not uncomfortable? Any pain?”

“No, it’s fine. You tied it well.”

I just made a simple comment, but—

“W-what? Y-you, keep doing that…!”

“No, I didn’t mean it that way this time…”

It seems she’s still bothered by my teasing earlier.

If she’s still thinking about it to this extent…

Hmm, so that’s how it is.

“Well, I can only explain it as you having a truly perverted demon in your head. Whew… and you’re a magical girl. Alright, I’ll stop teasing you now, so you don’t need to show such amusing reactions every time.”

“What…? Amusing…? Urgh… really… Haah. Fine, let’s go…”

She slumped her shoulders as if to show she was already exhausted before we even left.

Even with such a sturdy-looking body, pretending to be slumped…

“You must work out quite diligently?”

“Huh…?”

“Your body seems more toned than I expected.”

The reason I could say this to Seohyun was because while I was just wearing a white T-shirt and sweatpants, she was dressed in a tank top and shorts, with wristbands, as if she was going for a real run or perhaps she regularly runs.

So, I could see her muscles.

“Huh…?”

“Well, I’m sure you don’t just run. You don’t rely solely on magic power when fighting, do you?”

“Well… it’s just a hobby. And after exercising… there’s this sense of accomplishment? It feels good. That pleasant exhaustion feels good too.”

“Well… that’s just like you. Meanwhile, Baeksu just abandons exercise and relies on magic power.”

“That sister really needs to exercise. Seriously. Once the mandatory physical training time is over, she just uses magic…”

“Well… I do think Baeksu needs exercise.”

“Right? Phew. Maybe I should drag her out for a run like you later.”

“She’ll probably refuse. She’s someone who barely manages to eat lunch late.”

“Really? Hmm… I think she might come along if I tell her you’re coming too.”

“Pardon…?”

“No, never mind. It’s not worth telling you…”

“Well… I understand for now.”

As we conversed and left the house, the bright sun was shining down on us.

“…It’s going to be hot.”

“The breeze is cool, so it’s perfect weather for running.”

“Haah… I don’t like daytime.”

“You’re not a vampire. What’s with that?”

We started running.

The dormitory is in a surprisingly populated neighborhood.

For now, I followed her lead.

“Phew… huff, huff. Bine, tell me if you’re tired? I’ll carry you right away.”

“No thanks. I already suffered that from Baeksu yesterday, so I’d like to decline today.”

“…Sometimes it can’t be helped if it’s urgent, right?”

“I doubt we’ll be that pressed. If you match my pace.”

“Really…? Hmm…”

“Don’t look at me like that and please watch where you’re going. It would be inconsiderate if you bumped into someone.”

“Yeah. No big deal.”

We ran and ran more.

Facing the cool breeze as we moved forward, sometimes turning sideways.

The difference between having my hair tied and untied was bigger than I expected.

With my neck somewhat exposed, it felt a bit cooler.

The wind could flow more freely than usual, making it feel a bit colder.

Well… it’s as if the wind alleviates even the discomfort of the collar.

Additionally, the sensation of the swinging ponytail hitting my back was unfamiliar.

It swings with a bit more weight, I’d say.

Nevertheless, it was definitely more comfortable for running.

For running.

“Phew, huff… haah. Haah…”

“Bine, are you out of breath?”

“No… I’m just regulating my breathing… haah… haah…”

“Hmm… there’s a convenience store on the other side of the lake. Let’s make that our turning point and head back.”

“…Well, yes. That’s fine. Phew…”

“You look tired.”

“I’m not.”

There’s no way I’d be out of breath already.

How many things have I done without using magic power?

I was truly just regulating my breathing.

“Heck… huff…”

“…You really do look tired.”

“I’m not tired… huff… it’s just that I’m not used to this much activity after a while. I haven’t properly moved my body for months.”

“Should we go slower?”

“No. Phew… I’m fine.”

Despite my assurance, Seohyun slightly reduced her pace.

…I guess we were running faster than I thought.

With the slightly reduced speed, I looked around and realized that no one was particularly interested in us.

Even though a magical girl with unusual hair color was running around in just a tank top.

“Haah… Seohyun, you must have run here quite often…?”

“Huh…?”

“If someone with such unusual hair color passes by, people would at least glance once. But you…”

“Hmm… maybe it’s because they’re used to it?”

“Yes. Otherwise, even with my eye color.”

Eyes that would be revealed unless covered with colored contacts.

How could I afford colored contacts when I had no money?

Can’t disguise properly, can’t find a proper job.

Then I have no money again.

This vicious cycle.

A vicious cycle stemming from being different.

What comes back to me is rejection and violence.

Like before I entered Eden’s embrace.

Like before I was saved by the Boss, treated as a monster.

Bullied, ostracized.

Karma.

…Sigh.

“…Being different means standing out, after all. So I’ve become accustomed to being different. I thought you’d be similar, but you’re not, which surprised me.”

“…When the unusual lasts long enough, it becomes the familiar. Come on, we’re almost there. Hang in there. I’ll buy you a drink.”

“…I’m not tired. Huff…”

As I had boasted to her, I didn’t collapse at the turning point.

I’m not weak enough to collapse after just that much running.

“We’re here. Anything you want to drink?”

“…Water is enough. Haah…”

“I’ll get you a sports drink. Wait here… no, let’s go in together.”

After looking around and noticing people, Seohyun decided not to leave me alone.

“…I’m monitoring the villain to prevent mischief. Even tiring you out is to prevent you from causing trouble.”

I wasn’t sure if she was saying this for the people around to hear or for herself.

“Yes, yes. Haah, haah… I understand… Come on, here are the handcuffs you put on me. Let’s go quickly.”

I extended my arm to her, urging her to go in quickly.

Seohyun, looking a bit flustered, took my hand instead of my arm and led me.

“Alright, I’ll get you the coldest one.”

I had no choice but to be led by her.

Once again, by a magical girl.

…Oh, my hands must be sweaty.

Ah…?