Ch.103103. Amethyst and Garnet (3)

“…”

“Why is your face so red? Bine, are you hot?”

“It’s because of you…!”

“Huh…?”

Even though I’m drinking an ion beverage, my throat feels parched.

Really, this convenience store has chairs and tables, but no umbrel… oh, there actually is one.

Ugh, I’m just hot.

It’s because I’ve been running and my body temperature is up.

“Want some more? Hmm… though we should probably wash up before going to the movie.”

“…I don’t know! It’s your fault. Anyway, it’s all your fault…!”

“…Huh?”

It’s all Seohyun’s fault.

Even when I try to sit down and drink slowly, really.

Damn it. Seriously… I can’t stop thinking about it.

Why…

I try looking around to see if there’s anyone interested in me, thinking that would be better.

But why is Seohyun staring at me every time I look around?

“Seohyun, is there something on my face…? Why do you keep staring at me…!”

“…Huh? No, just because.”

“Please stop looking at me…”

The memory from earlier keeps coming back.

Seohyun pulled me along like it was nothing, but it must have been damp.

No, it was damp.

I felt it too.

“Bine, you’re getting even redder. Are you sick?”

“…Really.”

“Bine, Bine? Look here. Huh? Why are you about to collapse?”

“I’m not about to collapse… ugh…”

Even when I try to look away, she’s sitting right in front of me. She keeps catching my eye.

With those worried eyes.

Ugh… I’d rather see that provocative expression or indignant face from the old days…

Seriously. She’s looking at me with such a gentle expression. Why, how…

Ugh.

“Are you okay? Want some of mine? Was it too hard for you?”

“I’M FINE!!!!!!!! SERIOUSLY!! THIS PERSON!! Seohyun, you really…!!!”

I shouted when I saw Seohyun thoughtlessly offering me her drink that she had put her mouth on.

“…Huh?”

People around us start to stare.

A magical girl with unusual hair and eye color, and a small child with unusual eyes wearing a collar that no human would proudly wear.

I momentarily forgot that this combination of us in tracksuits would easily attract attention.

No, I knew it, but Seohyun’s actions were too…

Too much.

So it’s all Seohyun’s fault.

All, all of it is Seohyun’s fault.

The attention we’re getting now,

People staring at us.

…

It’s all Seohyun’s fault.

Yes, that’s what it is.

That’s it.

* * *

[Domestic Magical Girl Gallery]

I live in ○○-dong – Cassiopeia’s300GalaxiesOfMilkyWay

If you go to the lake park now, you can see Garnet and Bine

There’s a convenience store inside the apartment complex by the park, they’re sitting there

I felt awkward getting too close so I just watched from behind and took a few photos…

But what’s that thing around Bine’s neck…?

(Photo of Bine with a ponytail)

Is that the magic-sealing necklace or whatever?

Likes 392 Dislikes 12

───────────────────

Comments

ㄴ NUOOOOOONG LOLOLOLOLOLOL

ㄴ You sick pedo…

ㄴ NUOOOONG LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

ㄴ LONG LOLOLOLOLOL LONG LOLOLOLOLOLOL LONG LOLOLOLOLOLOL LONG LOLOLOLOLOL

ㄴ WACKYAPAHYEOKNONGJJUKMALLANGMALLANGKEUREURUNGKEONGGEONGGEONGGEONGGKEUREURUNGNOOOONGNONONONOLONGKKKKKKKKKKKKNOONGNONGJOKKKKKKKKKKKKKNUOOONGNUNNONUUUOOONGLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

ㄴ You sick bastards…

ㄴ Yeah, that’s it. Without that thing, it would be chaos, right? But it’s still concerning. How can that one thing hold it back? What if it accidentally breaks? Would we all die then?

ㄴ No way it would break. And even if it did, looking at all the photos, she’s always with a magical girl, that must be why.

ㄴ ? I think I’ve seen photos of her alone?

ㄴ ZeldaUrgentlyNeededRightNow

ㄴ The design of that magic-sealing device is insane… and with a ponytail? I’m joining Eden right now, where do I sign up

ㄴ You sick pedo

ㄴ Taking notes for my future villain career…

ㄴ Eden’s been wiped out for how long and you’re still going on about it

ㄴ Ponytail OMG f**k that’s so hot f**k so sexy OMG f**k

ㄴ Please remain human

ㄴ This IP belongs to a weirdo, it must be, it has to be, there’s no way this person is a normal citizen

Bine’s photos analyzed – MagicalGirlPleaseEradicateMeHaakHaak

(Photo of Bine sitting restlessly with a flushed face)

Why is her face so red?

She was mumbling something and eventually shouted.

Did Garnet tease her…?

She seemed out of breath too…?

No way they have that kind of relationship…

Are the toxic shipping fans going to show up here?

Sigh, the gallery’s going to be a mess again…

Likes 219 Dislikes 83

───────────────────

Comments

ㄴ Toxic shipping fan? No, it’s canon now.

ㄴ Look who showed up right away;;;

ㄴ For real

ㄴ Shipping fan caught red-handed

ㄴ It’s real…

ㄴ Look at their clothes, they were running… what shipping are you talking about…

ㄴ Seriously, making real-life couples out of them is a bit much…

ㄴ Where’s Shin Chang-seop who can normalize these toxic shipping fans…

ㄴ For real, we need normalization but the officials are adding fuel to the fire

ㄴ ? Haven’t you seen this before? That’s Garnet’s regular running spot. People living in ○○-dong can often see Garnet running in the morning

ㄴ ??? Moving to ○○-dong from my current house right now.

ㄴ Crazy… the housing prices there are insane…

ㄴ It’s true, but looks like she brought Bine along today. Wonder what’s up.

ㄴ She probably just brought her for company.

The community heats up as much as the surface temperature of Bine’s face.

Today again, the magical girl community began to burn up with content about Bine.

* * *

“Bine…”

“What.”

“I’m sorry…? I don’t know what I did wrong, but…”

“Forget it. You insensitive magical girl.”

“Sorry, sorry…”

“Hmph.”

“Please stop being angry… What did I do wrong…?”

“An insensitive magical girl wouldn’t know anything.”

Really. Making me embarrassed and then acting like she doesn’t know anything, this person really haeuah…

As I was getting angry at Seohyun, she took my hand that she had been holding and put it on her fac-

“HYAAAK?!?”

“Huh?! Y-you startled me…! Why did you scream…?”

“Ugh…! Seriously!!”

“Whyyy…”

Really, such an insensitive magical girl.

Saying she doesn’t know anything while naturally doing that, th-that…

M-my hand must have been covered in sweat.

And she just…! Her hand…!

Why, why would she do that…?

“Seriously…! Taking my sweaty hand and just, no, carelessly, um, handling it… Ugh. Really, you evil magical girl…!”

Earlier she was teasing me about being lewd or whatever.

I don’t know if I started thinking that way because she teased me, a magical girl who’s a student going through puberty, but today I’ve become particularly sensitive to Seohyun in this way…

“Hand…? Sweat… Oh, uh…?”

“Forget it! Hmph. Let’s go back quickly. People are gathering again…”

“U-um…? By the way, Bine… you were really conscious about that…?”

“About what…! You’re the biggest problem! Anyway, it’s your fault for being like that…!”

“Uh… well, sorry. I was a bit thoughtless…”

“Yes. Your thoughtlessness is the problem. You shameless, lewd demon, pubescent boy.”

“Huh…?”

“Really. Hmph.”

“I’m sorry, I’ll be more mindful from now on, so please stop being angry, okay?”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Really.”

I got Seohyun’s firm confirmation.

So. Yes.

Umm…

I’m embarrassed…

Actually, I was just saying that because I had nothing else to say after I’d already calmed down…

“Let’s head back now, Seohyun…”

“Okay. You’re not angry anymore, right?”

“Yes. Since you were the one who did wrong, I’ve forgiven you now. Yes. Be more careful from now on.”

“Umm…? Alright. By the way… more people are gathering than I expected. I guess it’s because you’re famous, Bine.”

“…I don’t want to be famous. I created that fame through evil deeds. And you’re quite famous yourself, Seohyun. Despite being a magical girl.”

“Well… I’m not even celebrity-level famous, just an ordinary magical girl, and compared to Yunseul unnie, I’m nothing…”

“Being a magical girl itself is what makes you famous. Plus, you’re one of the Ragnarok 20, aren’t you?”

“…I guess so?”

“You appeared at that press conference.”

“That’s right.”

“How could you not be famous? The citizens’ hero who destroyed Eden?”

“Oh…?”

“Sigh. So insensitive. Saying you’re not as famous as Blanc… You’re already plenty famous.”

“I guess so… Yes, I suppose I am.”

“Standing around like this with more people gathering doesn’t seem right. How about we head back?”

“Yeah. Let’s go back before our bodies cool down.”

We clean up after finishing our drinks and start stretching.

Click, click.

Shutter sounds keep coming from somewhere.

Especially when I stretch my arms out looong─.

When I bend over or lean to the side.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Yes. Let’s go. We’ll take a quick shower when we get back, then go out again.”

“Yeah. That was the plan. It wouldn’t be right to go to the movie theater all sweaty, would it?”

“…Really, Seohyun, you…!”

“Huh…? What did I do wrong now?”

“Nothing. Let’s just run.”

Really, she keeps doing this to me.

I let Seohyun take the lead and started running behind her.

Unlike when we came, I feel like we’re being watched.

It seems like some people are even following us.

But well… they don’t have hostile intentions, so…

I run.

Around the lake.

The running course is well-designed, which is nice.

Clear sky, warm sun.

…I must be really sweaty.

I should wash properly when I shower.

The breeze coming through the collar feels cool.

How long has it been since I ran like this, feeling the wind?

Not fighting or running away from people with malicious intent.

Running just for the sake of running.

Thinking about that.

Seeing Seohyun’s ponytail, the sweat flowing from her.

Thinking “that insensitive magical girl, she’s really annoying…” as I ran.

I ran refreshingly.

I ran without thinking.

I ran feeling the joy of running that Seohyun had talked about.

“You filthy monster! How dare you show up here! Disappear! Die!!!”

“…H-hukkeup?!”

SPLASH─!

Until someone ran up from the side and pushed me, making me lose my balance and fall into the lake.