Ch.135Chapter 22. Hope (5)

I got scolded by my parents.

No, Hayun thought, maybe this was different from what people typically consider “getting scolded.”

Usually when other kids get reprimanded, it’s because they did something wrong.

Coming home too late, skipping school, not doing what they’re supposed to do. At least that’s what Hayun had heard from other kids in her class.

The complaints her classmates shared after being scolded by their parents weren’t usually that serious.

But.

“…”

Hayun entered her room, lay down on the bed, and stared blankly at the ceiling.

The room was well-organized, though probably not by her mother personally. It was too spacious for her to clean herself, so they likely hired someone to do it. This room was surely cleaned that way too.

She didn’t think her parents didn’t care about her. They probably loved her in their own way.

But their way of loving focused solely on money and power.

“Where did things go wrong?”

Hayun muttered quietly.

If her parents had scolded her for running away on her own, she would have been glad. If they had expressed concern about her going out and getting into fights, she wouldn’t have felt bad.

And if they had praised her for fighting against people who might have endangered Earth, Hayun might have smiled.

But what she heard wasn’t anything like that.

Instead, their eyes showed deep disappointment. They didn’t yell or blame or scold her, but the way they looked at her—as if her existence had caused problems with their relationship with the Federation—was unbearable even for Hayun.

Yes, deep down she knew it would be like this. That’s why she hadn’t wanted to come back.

On her way home, she had resolved to speak proudly about helping Jieun. She wanted to talk about risking her life to fight.

Even if they blamed her, she thought she could defend herself.

“Even if you hadn’t done that, nothing dangerous would have happened to us.”

But Hayun was left speechless by her father’s words.

“Even if something like that had happened, nothing would have happened to us. The Federation wouldn’t have approved such a thing.”

But what about Jieun?

Yes. Maybe that statement wasn’t wrong.

Because it was the Federation, perhaps they would have continued researching only the Hope Circuit out of respect for human rights.

Maybe they planned to operate the generator only with volunteered personnel to provide energy to the entire Earth and eventually export it beyond space.

Maybe they would have boldly criticized Noir Corporation’s methods as too extreme and cut ties with them.

But in that process, Jieun would certainly have been sacrificed. That day, Jieun was clearly about to be taken somewhere else.

‘Nothing would have happened to us.’

‘So breaking ties would be disadvantageous to us.’

But Jieun would never have been included in that “us.”

“…I’ll go up to my room.”

At that point, Hayun lost the will to continue the conversation and went up to her room after saying that.

She heard someone calling her from behind. If the conversation had continued, they might have asked if she was physically okay.

But still.

What good would it do to hear that only after everything else?

Fortunately, they didn’t yell or try to pull her out of the room, and there was no knocking on the door.

Did they just assume she would come back eventually?

Hayun raised her hand and looked at her wrist.

Her parents had taken the circuit. It seemed the Federation wanted to recover it. Well, it didn’t seem like something that could be easily made.

“…”

For the first time in a while, she felt helpless.

Even though she was lying alone in a room larger than the one at the orphanage, Hayun felt suffocated. She thought she had been much freer back when she was crammed into that small room with the other children.

“It’s okay.”

Hayun muttered to herself.

Yes, it’s okay.

After all, she had to go to school tomorrow. Even her parents wouldn’t stop that. The “perfect daughter” wouldn’t deliberately skip school.

Well, that “perfection” was already broken.

If Hayun told them she liked someone, what expression would they make? Would they be disappointed that it wasn’t someone they had chosen? Or would they try to investigate that person?

What if they found out it was a girl?

It was strange. Hayun thought her parents would probably get angry. Without any basis, she just felt they would try to separate them if they knew two girls liked each other.

What would they say if they knew she had already kissed that girl several times?

The “perfection” was already broken.

At least as Hayun felt it, she could no longer be perfect on her own.

No, “no longer” wasn’t quite the right phrase.

From the moment she met Jieun, Hayun couldn’t be perfect on her own.

A smile slowly spread across her face.

Not yet. She couldn’t escape from here yet, but someday—

As she was thinking that, bringing her hand to her lips,

Knock knock.

She jumped up, startled by the sudden sound from the window.

“Huh?”

She looked at the window once, rubbed her eyes.

And when she looked at the window again, there was an angel in white clothes beyond it.

The angel had Jieun’s face.

No, actually that description was wrong. To Hayun, Jieun was nothing short of an angel.

Somehow, for whatever reason, in whatever way, Jieun was always beside Hayun whenever she felt alone.

Even now.

Jieun beyond the window grinned at Hayun. Dressed in white clothes—a wedding dress, though with a bit more exposure—crouching at the window, Jieun’s appearance was so surreal that all the worries that had been occupying Hayun’s mind flew far away into the surreal.

Hayun quickly moved toward the window.

When she opened it, Jieun, who had been sitting on the windowsill, jumped down. Her flowing white dress was beautiful.

She didn’t seem to have come to fight, as there were no weapons in her hands.

“Why do you look so gloomy?”

Jieun asked with a smile, cupping Hayun’s cheeks with both hands.

Those hands were warm.

The mood that had improved slightly just moments ago while thinking about Jieun became a bit gloomy again.

It wasn’t because of Jieun. If anything, it was Hayun’s own heart that moved that way.

She wanted to be spoiled.

Jieun surely had many worries of her own, and naturally there were things she struggled with just like Hayun.

But perhaps because she had relied on Jieun so much since childhood?

Hayun rushed into Jieun’s arms.

And with her face buried in Jieun’s chest, she hugged her waist tightly.

Jieun, who had raised both hands in surprise for a moment, soon chuckled as if finding it ridiculous, then slowly lowered her hands onto Hayun’s back.

And while gently stroking her back, she said:

“Why has this child become such a spoiled baby?”

“…”

She hadn’t been like this before.

It must be because she had relied on her too much during the time they were all working together as magical girls.

Sticking close to her had become so natural that being apart felt awkward.

In that old house, where the cold air seeped through the doors they couldn’t fully seal, Hayun had always stuck close to Jieun.

Yes. She had to admit it.

Hayun liked it.

Even if it had been a terrible time for Jieun, selfishly enough, Hayun simply enjoyed being able to be so close to her.

What expression would Jieun make if she told her that?

This scent, this touch. This warmth.

Indeed, she didn’t want to leave.

Hayun looked up.

Her vision was blurry.

Jieun gently wiped beneath Hayun’s eyes.

“Was it hard enough to make you cry?”

Jieun asked.

Her face was still smiling, but not as brightly as when she had entered the room.

It was probably because she had seen Hayun’s tears.

“…”

As her tears were wiped away and her vision cleared, she could see Jieun’s face. Clear and close.

Only then realizing how close their faces were, a slightly embarrassed expression appeared on Jieun’s face.

Again, selfishly, Hayun liked that face.

In truth, she liked all the expressions that appeared on Jieun’s face, but she especially liked when those expressions changed because of her.

“Uh, wait, Hayun. Um, right now…”

As Jieun stammered in great embarrassment—

“Ahem.”

Just before Hayun’s face could completely touch Jieun’s, someone cleared their throat beside them.

Hayun was startled and quickly turned her head toward the window.

There stood a girl wearing a dress that mixed light green and deep green colors.

“Jieun?”

Jihye called out to Jieun.

“Ah, wait a second.”

Jieun said with a flustered expression, as if trying to make an excuse.

Hayun didn’t like that.

So—

Smooch.

She kissed Jieun’s cheek as she was turned to the side.

“Oh!?”

Not expecting Hayun to do such a thing in this situation, Jieun’s face quickly turned back toward Hayun.

Hayun didn’t miss the opportunity. The skill she had developed fighting as a magical girl perfectly captured the moment she needed to seize.

This time, instead of the softness of a cheek, the softness of lips met.

Jieun’s hands on Hayun’s back tightened.

Probably not intentionally, but simply because she was surprised and tensed up.

Hayun liked that.

The fact that Jieun was holding her tightly was because of Hayun’s actions.

Any thoughts about Jihye, who was watching the situation with disbelief from the side, had already flown away.

*

It was fine that Hayun had come home.

Embracing Hayun was also, well, fine. How could it not be? Hayun is one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen.

And even the kiss was, well, okay. It happens. We’ve done it several times already.

But honestly, I felt a bit provoked.

I know the kids around me like me. I know that love is more than I deserve.

But it’s a bit annoying when those kids who like me keep playing with me.

So I tightly embraced Hayun’s waist. I could feel her body flinch in surprise.

Just like I did with Jihye earlier—

Wait a minute.

Earlier?

With Jihye?

…

Oh.

I pulled my lips away from Hayun.

For some reason, the room is quiet. There shouldn’t be anyone else to make noise anyway. In terms of noise level, it shouldn’t be much different from when we entered the room.

Right. “We.”

I looked to the side.

There stood Jihye, arms crossed, standing with one leg bent.

The light green dress suited her very well, but that posture made her look very unbalanced.

“…”

I gently removed my hands from Hayun’s waist.

But Hayun didn’t move away from me. Instead, she tightened her arms around my waist even more.

With her face buried in my chest—thinking about it again, my outfit is, um.

…

To be honest, I feel a bit wronged.

I can’t say I’m completely blameless in this situation, but in the end, it’s Hayun and Jihye who cling to me, isn’t it? And then they get jealous, which is a bit…

No, this is all just excuses.

As my thoughts became increasingly convoluted, I swallowed my sense of injustice with tears in my eyes.

“Ah, right.”

I finally remembered why we came here.

“Hayun.”

“Yes.”

Hayun answered without lifting her head. My chest resonated with the sound, and the part where her mouth touched felt a bit ticklish. I wish she would move her head away a little.

Well, that probably won’t happen. She’s doing this because she can’t. I think I understand what she might have gone through.

“We, we were thinking of flying through the sky, what do you think?”

“The sky?”

“Yes.”

In the world I used to live in, there would be fine dust in certain seasons, but in this world, we don’t need to worry about that.

Breathing in the clear night air while flying around. Isn’t that romantic?

Hayun finally lifted her head.

“Tell me honestly. Something sad happened, right?”

“…Yes.”

Hayun answered heavily to my question.

I looked down at Hayun’s face and said:

“So let’s fly. We can do that. Let’s free our minds.”

Until now, we only flew when we needed to go somewhere. And at those destinations, there was almost always an enemy.

Flying there to fight, getting injured here and there. We eventually heal, but the act itself isn’t always pleasant.

Beating up someone you dislike and feeling refreshed only lasts a day or two. Sometimes, you just need time to rest comfortably.

So, flying.

“Just floating around with no purpose, no destination. We’ve never done that before.”

Hayun looked up at me blankly at my words.

Then she lowered her head.

But this time, she didn’t bury her face in my chest.

The face that had been smiling at me just moments ago, as if just looking at me made her happy, lost its strength.

Feeling the strength leave her hands around my waist, I also let go of Hayun.

Hayun stepped back slightly and said with her head slightly bowed:

“I… don’t have the circuit anymore.”

“Huh?”

I blinked, muttering without realizing it.

“What do you mean you don’t have the circuit?”

Only then did I look at Hayun’s wrist. It was true. The circuit that had almost always been there like a wristwatch was now gone.

“How did that… oh.”

And a bit belatedly, a possibility occurred to me.

Hayun’s parents work on matters related to the Federation. They don’t seem to be Federation people themselves, but they probably coordinate between the government and the Federation.

Naturally, they must also be mindful of the Federation’s opinions.

And the circuit on Hayun’s wrist was literally a “weapon.” An expensive, cutting-edge weapon at that.

It’s only natural that the Federation would want to take it back.

“…”

I pressed my lips together, then spoke again.

“It’s okay. We can get that back for you.”

I hadn’t thought exactly how to do it. Any circuit would work as long as it was on Hayun’s wrist. Though it would be better if it was the one she had been using.

“How long will they have that circuit? Until tonight?”

“Probably… yes. They’ll probably go to work tomorrow.”

“Are your parents still awake?”

As I pondered with my hand on my chin, Hayun nodded. This time, sensing something in my voice, her eyes widened.

“Jieun, you’re not thinking…?”

“Well, let’s see. Let me think about it first.”

For now, I’ll think about it until they fall asleep. Then I can decide whether to sneak in and take it or not.

“But more importantly.”

“Ah, eek!?”

When I suddenly put my hand under Hayun’s knees and lifted her up, she let out a scream before quickly covering her mouth with both hands.

“You can still fly without the circuit, right?”

If anything, Hayun’s weight is much lighter than the hammer I usually carried around. I’m certain of this since I’ve held both.

Hayun very naturally put her arms around my neck. Well, that’s to be expected. In this position, there aren’t many other comfortable poses.

No matter how confident I am, it’s easier for me when the other person actively clings on.

In that state, I turned around—and just like before, I faced Jihye, who had a very sulky expression.

“…”

Uh, um.

“…I’ll do it for you next time.”

“Really?”

Jihye asked, still with puffed cheeks.

“…Really.”

When I answered while holding back a sigh, a slight smile appeared on Jihye’s face.

…Well, how should I put it.

I hope Ju-a doesn’t ask for the same thing later. I should at least try not to mention it in front of her.

I still don’t quite understand how things ended up like this.

“…”

I quickly shook my head from side to side to clear my thoughts. We didn’t come here for such comfortable worries.

“Let’s go.”

I said in a slightly stronger voice and approached the window.

Jihye went out the window first with a leap.

Seeing her floating in her green dress—

“You look like Tinkerbell.”

“Then, are you Wendy?”

Is that how it works?

Shouldn’t I be Peter Pan and Hayun be Wendy?

…

No, if I said that, I felt like I’d get scolded again, so I just jumped out the window.

Having no resistance to jumping from high places without a circuit, Hayun clung tightly to my neck. Still, it was commendable that she held back her scream.

I could see Hayun’s lips slightly as she buried her face in my neck.

Those lips had an unmistakable smile, which made me think I had made the right decision to come.