Ch.117Chapter 19. Longing (6)

“You still haven’t decided what to do going forward, right?”

Jihye, who had been silent for a while, asked.

“Yeah.”

I answered quietly.

Along with the embarrassment from earlier, a feeling of guilt welled up inside me.

After all, we were the ones unilaterally occupying this room. And we might even end up bringing equipment in if we’re not careful.

“I see.”

Jihye responded calmly, then after pausing briefly, she said:

“Then, we’ll all be staying in this room for a while. Maybe for quite a long time.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

When I answered somewhat awkwardly, Jihye spoke as if she had made some major decision.

“Then, how about just the two of us go out and have fun this weekend?”

“Just the two of us?”

I was a bit surprised by Jihye’s suggestion.

I opened my eyes again to look at her, and she was watching me with a very determined look in her eyes.

“Yes. Just the two of us.”

Maybe she’s uncomfortable around the Magical Girls—

…No, beyond discomfort, I’m family to Jihye. Perhaps she just wants to spend time alone with family.

I used to go out for meals with my family in my past life too.

But…

I got up and sat cross-legged.

Then I looked at Jihye.

She was looking at me with a somewhat stiff expression. As if she knew I was going to refuse.

No, it’s not that I’m planning to refuse outright… it’s just that Hayun and Ju-a have been trying to stick close to me lately, so it’s been difficult.

Besides, I can’t just ignore the friends who are staying as guests.

“Is that not okay?”

Jihye asked, looking straight at me.

…Right.

Since I came back, I haven’t had much time alone with Jihye. Even with her room being invaded, it must be tiring for her to have these kids she barely knows tagging along whenever we go out.

Even if she doesn’t dislike them, even if the discomfort has lessened somewhat, it’s still the same. It’s less exhausting to deal with one person you know well than to constantly socialize with people you’ve just started talking to.

“Okay.”

I nodded.

If Jihye is asking like this, I should make an effort too.

Thinking about it, I haven’t been apart from those kids for quite a while either.

“Okay. I’ll try to make time. We don’t have anything to do anyway unless the government tells us something.”

While we’re at it, let’s visit the hospital too. It’s near the downtown area anyway. Jihye will understand if we briefly check on Pang Pang’s condition.

At my answer, Jihye’s face brightened.

I thought to myself that it had been a really long time since I’d seen such a radiant smile from her.

*

“…Okay, got it.”

That weekend, having essentially given up on the midterm exams.

When I honestly told Hayun and the other Magical Girls about Jihye, Hayun nodded with a smile.

“Will you be okay?”

“Of course we’ll be fine! Actually, we should have been asking if you were okay, since we’re borrowing your room.”

That’s fine, but… I guess they might be uncomfortable too. After all, this place is an orphanage rather than entirely my home.

The kids seem to be enjoying playing with me and finding some fulfillment in it, but they’re also approaching several months since they ran away from home.

They still haven’t gone to see their parents.

I thought about suggesting they at least contact their families but decided against it. That’s something they need to figure out themselves.

If I interfere, it might just make things more complicated and worse.

I looked over at Ju-a, and she nodded too.

“Well… I’ll be going then. You guys can go out too if you want. We’re in a situation where we can move around freely now anyway.”

The children laughed at my words.

“Well, it’s still comfortable being here. Peaceful, you know?”

Rose said.

“And we don’t have to worry about what others think.”

Dalia said with a shrug.

“…And no one bothers us.”

Don’t the kids bother her? I tilted my head slightly at Delphinium’s words, but if that’s what she says, I guess that’s how it is.

Or maybe she actually likes children.

Still, it’s reassuring to hear them say this. I know they’re saying it so I won’t worry, but still.

“…”

After our conversation ended, there was a moment of silence between us. It’s been a while since I felt this kind of awkwardness. Just like when they had first run away.

But unlike then, the atmosphere itself is much softer now, which is good.

Well, back then, the atmosphere was mostly tense because of me anyway.

“Well, I’ll be going then.”

After saying that once more, I waved to Hayun.

Leaving behind Hayun, who smiled and waved back, I left the orphanage with Jihye.

*

I didn’t seriously consider what we should do for fun.

Last time we went to Hongdae, a place I’d never been before, but this time we decided to go somewhere familiar. Actually, I’d already been to that area several times during our battles, but of course there was no reason to look around and have fun then.

Since I was out with Jihye to do things “like we used to,” I thought we should have fun “like we used to” as well.

Jihye agreed with my idea, so we walked toward the bookstore as we always used to do—

“…”

“Do… do you still feel it?”

When I remained silent and looked around, Jihye cautiously asked.

“Yeah. I’m not certain yet, though.”

I was wearing my hat pulled down low. I wasn’t wearing a mask, but surprisingly, people on the street didn’t immediately recognize me.

There were some who recognized me and whispered, but no one openly approached me.

I am a Magical Girl, but my image isn’t exactly positive. I was once a wanted person—no, maybe that warrant still hasn’t been lifted, but anyway, that image must be clear in people’s minds.

Threatening the police and making demands, or barging into someone’s company and causing chaos without proper evidence, even if they were evil forces.

The reason people don’t point fingers is probably because they think I had reasons for doing what I did.

Jihye is also somewhat well-known, but her exposure in the media was relatively brief compared to mine, and later she appeared on TV with her face blurred because she wasn’t a Magical Girl or a wanted person, so far fewer people recognized her than me.

So, if things had gone normally, we could have looked around and had fun without any major problems.

But.

“…”

I looked around with sharp eyes.

We deliberately came to a less crowded area, but since it was the weekend, the weather was getting better, and it was broad daylight, there were people everywhere.

In parks, every bench had people sitting on them, and even if we went into alleys, strangely enough there were people in restaurants and cafes all the way inside. Even when we entered a somewhat gloomy and old alley, there were foreign tourists taking pictures, so we quickly came back out.

The reason I was looking for places without people wasn’t because of the people watching us.

Paparazzi.

“Sorry. I should have thought more before coming out.”

“No, no, it’s the fault of whoever is following us.”

Jihye responded with some surprise to my words.

Yes. There seems to be… paparazzi following me.

The reason I say “seems to be” is because I’m not completely certain yet.

When I was with Hayun before, she immediately grasped the situation, but I’m not quite at that level yet.

There are suspicious circumstances.

Every time I turn my gaze, there’s a figure that disappears into a corner. It’s not some ghost-like entity, just a person, I think.

The problem is that in crowded places, they keep disappearing just outside my field of vision whenever I move my gaze, maintaining a perfect distance, so I couldn’t accurately identify their appearance.

So I was trying to get to a less crowded place to make them come out alone, but when we got to a relatively less crowded area, they completely disappeared from sight.

They probably went behind us or something like that.

But I didn’t want to call the Magical Girls. That would completely ruin the atmosphere.

This is everyday life regained after a very long time. It’s already precarious with people recognizing me, and using the communicator in this situation would be like saying I want to shatter even that brief moment of normalcy.

I thought it would be better if I caught them myself and handed them over to the police, trying to imitate Hayun.

“It seems like… they’re not trying to fight.”

If their goal is to avoid being detected by me, and if their purpose is to take pictures of me to sell, then of course they won’t do anything violent.

But at the same time, hiding themselves must be their professional expertise.

“Hmm.”

As I was lost in thought, Jihye also fell into contemplation.

After thinking for a while with her hand on her chin, Jihye looked up at me and suddenly clapped her hands as if she had an idea.

Startled by the sound, I blinked, and Jihye said:

“Jieun.”

“Yes.”

“You can transform using the power of hope too, right?”

It feels a bit strange when she specifically says “transform” like that.

Well, I am transforming, but I’ve never actually said something like “Trans-form!” out loud.

Not having transformation poses or phrases was the author’s preference. After all, that webtoon depicted what would happen if Magical Girls existed in reality.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

When I answered somewhat glumly, Jihye looked straight at me.

Her face was slightly red, as if she was about to say something.

“And I know from reading many newspaper articles that you feel hope most strongly in certain situations.”

“Huh?”

For a moment, I didn’t understand what Jihye was saying.

Only after a delay of a fraction of a second did I realize what she was talking about.

“Wait, Jihye. You don’t mean…?”

“It wouldn’t be good to call the Magical Girls here, right? It would take time for them to arrive. And since this person is so good at escaping, they’ll probably run away the moment we use the communicator.”

“Wait, just wait.”

I held out one hand to Jihye as I spoke.

Then I brought that hand to my forehead and pressed my index finger firmly against it.

Seriously?

“Jihye, wait. Even so…”

“No.”

Before I could finish speaking, Jihye cut me off sharply.

How long has it been since I’ve seen that expression on her face?

After I ran away, Jihye always looked somewhat precarious. She was much stronger than me, so she could endure, but her face suggested she hadn’t been sleeping properly, worried about losing her only family.

And even when we met and talked, that confident attitude she used to have wasn’t very visible anymore.

But this expression was different. It wasn’t that kind of expression.

Rather, it was more like her expression from earlier times, when I used to fight with Jihye often.

With her hands on her hips, her face set firmly as if she was absolutely certain she wasn’t wrong, never backing down.

I would get irritated and not back down either, just like Jihye, but eventually, we both learned to give a little and resolve situations.

Naturally, as time passed, Jihye rarely made that expression anymore.

“What do you mean, ‘no’?”

“Whatever you’re thinking, that’s not it.”

“What was I thinking?”

“You were going to refuse my idea, for whatever reason.”

“…”

At Jihye’s words, I slightly opened my mouth.

Well, that’s true, but…

Jihye took a step closer to me. I stepped back half a step.

“Jieun.”

Jihye said firmly.

“If the situation calls for it, you need to actively use your power.”

“I understand that, but…”

“And if I can help make that power usable, then of course you should use me. What if this is that kind of situation?”

“No, this isn’t that kind of situation.”

“What if it is?”

It can’t be. I want to believe it can’t be.

If it is that kind of situation, then this situation is essentially one I created.

I should have anticipated this when Jihye asked me to go out just the two of us. After all, someone had taken pictures of me kissing Hayun and made it into an article.

Of course, the chances are slim that the person following us now is the same person, but still, aren’t they the type who would do anything for views?

Besides.

“That photographer might be similar to the person who followed us last time. And they’re not someone you can just catch by running after them with your power alone.”

That’s right. They could be an alien. One who has modified their body.

And… if they’re that kind of alien, their raw strength would be much greater than most Earth people. Even if they’re human, they could harm Jihye while I’m fighting them, and if they’re an alien, how much worse could it be?

Among the Kaijin I’ve faced, there was one whose bodily fluids could melt metal.

“That’s why we need your power.”

“…”

“Yes. The moment we use the communicator, they might run far away and escape. But that doesn’t mean they’ll give up. They’ll definitely approach again to take pictures or interview us.”

Jihye looked at me as she spoke.

“If that’s the case, we need to tell them directly. Catch them and warn them not to do this again. Otherwise, they’ll just keep doing the same thing. If we chase them away, they’ll come back. Even if we go home, they’ll follow us there. Even with police, even with curtains, they’ll wait until we’re visible from outside to take pictures. So we need to clearly tell them to stop.”

…Even with a direct warning, they might not stop.

And it might not be the same person who bothers us next time.

But.

“…I know.”

Yes. I do know.

What’s needed in the end is power. The government, companies, the Federation—they all tried to use me when I stayed quiet, but when I started resisting fiercely, they began to keep their distance and treat me with respect.

Noir Corporation even thought about running away because of me.

“Sometimes, you have to stand and fight instead of running away. You, who has fought so many times, know this well.”

Jihye said.

“And if you decide to fight, I intend to follow you all the way and help you. Because we’re family.”

“…”

Jihye took another step toward me.

This time I didn’t back away. I think I understood what she wanted to say.

“I know you want to protect me. And thank you for that. I’m grateful that there’s someone in this world who thinks of me that way. But I don’t want to be a hindrance to you.”

Jihye’s words were firm. Her voice didn’t waver.

Nor did her steps as she approached me.

“So let me help you when I can. I don’t want to just be protected in situations like this.”

I closed my eyes briefly.

Then I nodded.

When I opened my eyes, Jihye was smiling at me.

“Good. Then…”

Jihye said, raising both arms.

“…is it okay if I help you?”

“…Yes.”

At my words, Jihye immediately rushed toward me.

And came into my arms.

I embraced her with both arms.

“Can you see them?”

“No.”

But—

“I can hear them.”

Yes.

I couldn’t see them. But I could hear it.

The sound of a camera shutter moving.

The reason I could hear it from so far away was probably because I wanted to.

And also because the circuit I always wear now is running powerfully.

My mind is at ease. All the worries I’ve had until now seem irrelevant. Because Jihye said those things to me.

Perhaps, even if it hadn’t been this situation—Jihye simply wanted to say those words to me. And those words were too personal to say in front of the others.

“Now, we need power.”

Jihye suddenly said.

“Power?”

“Power to fight.”

I was startled by Jihye’s breath and looked down.

There were Jihye’s eyes.

Her bright eyes filled my vision.

Those eyes were so close—

—that something soft touched my lips.

Smooch.

With that tiny sound, Jihye’s face slowly moved away.

“It’s only natural for a Magical Girl to transform when fighting, right?”

Jihye looked at me with a grin.

Her face was bright red as if it might burst, but that smile—was Jihye’s smile, so familiar to me.

It was a smile only Jihye could make.

It was Jihye’s face, perfect for making me feel hope.