Ch.148Chapter 24. Love (4)

The situation was resolved faster than I expected.

People seemed to be surprisingly considerate of us. Well, I suppose it makes sense—even though we took off on our own, we did end up saving the world.

That doesn’t mean everything was simply forgotten. We did cause an incident, after all, and we had to provide more detailed explanations about it.

What I mean is… we weren’t being treated as fugitives or villains anymore.

To summarize what happened that day—

When we finally returned, it was late at night, but the government, already aware that we had commandeered their ship, was waiting for us.

If we had disappeared for days or weeks, they might have kept people waiting that entire time.

When the ship returned, people who had been waiting outside approached nervously.

Most were police officers, with what looked like soldiers behind them. Well, I suppose it makes sense since we essentially stole a military destroyer and fled with it.

They didn’t open fire on us.

However, the people who had been watching us tensely as we landed suddenly erupted in cheers as soon as we disembarked.

I was completely dumbfounded by the sound.

Rose, Dalia, and Delphinium were waving to the crowd as if they were used to it, and Ju-a didn’t look entirely uncomfortable either.

Were Jihye and I the only ones who were surprised?

Hayun patted both of us on the back.

When I turned around with a puzzled expression, Hayun smiled and said:

“Wave your hand. You’re a hero, after all.”

Hero.

That word made me feel somewhat ticklish inside.

Am I… do I think of myself as a hero? I’m not sure. I don’t even know if I should think that way.

I may have saved everyone, but in the end, I was just acting because I wanted to live.

Still, I followed Hayun’s lead and raised one hand to wave.

The crowd cheered even louder. Most of them were police officers, but well, it was certainly better than being treated as enemies.

Following my lead, Jihye raised both hands and waved. A bright smile spread across her face.

“…”

A little.

Just a little, but still—

It doesn’t feel too bad.

“Is this normal for magical girls?”

“Huh? Yeah. That’s right. There might be people who dislike the Federation, but not many who dislike magical girls…”

Hmm.

There must have been people who disliked us.

I couldn’t be the only one who thought that way.

Not that I have any intention of pointing that out now.

So.

Have I really become a magical girl?

It’s a bit ridiculous to be thinking about this now, but well.

I looked back at the crowd.

“I gave them a heads-up on our way back.”

Cherry, who had flown over to us, said with a somewhat proud expression. She looked like she was about to clear her throat with an “ahem.”

“That way people would understand more easily.”

“I see.”

I wasn’t sure if I should praise her or be surprised by her quick thinking.

While I was still trying to figure it out, Hayun gently wrapped her arm around my waist and pushed me forward.

As luck would have it, my magical girl outfit had a very open back… or rather, almost no fabric at all in the back. I wondered briefly why my Lily form looked like this, but it wasn’t a question with any real answer. I suppose this was just what my brain’s image of a “magical girl second form” looked like.

“We’ll have a lot to do when we get back.”

Rose slowed her pace to match mine as she spoke.

“Administrative stuff? Legal issues?”

“No, that’s for the civil servants to handle. At least, that’s how it’s been until now.”

Rose answered with a smile.

“I’m not talking about that. I mean your circuit.”

Rose deliberately glanced at my left wrist as she spoke.

“It’s not a Hope Circuit anymore, right? Shouldn’t you change it to a Love Circuit? When you transform—”

I reflexively swung my hand at Rose’s face, but I couldn’t quite match her in close combat. She easily dodged my hand.

Or had she anticipated my reaction and teased me on purpose? Either way, she was not an opponent to be underestimated.

“But you are planning to change it, right?”

At her teasing words, I let out a long sigh.

Well… she wasn’t entirely wrong.

Good grief, a magical girl who fights with love.

…What’s more annoying is that it feels strangely accurate, which irritates me even more.

Feeling somewhat deflated, I lowered the arm I had been waving, only for Jihye to quickly grab it and link her arm with mine.

As if it were the most natural thing, Hayun took my other arm.

I wondered if this would look strange as we walked past the police and military crowd toward the waiting journalists.

Even though it’s fairly natural in this country for close female friends to link arms, given that our kiss had been prominently featured in the newspapers, this might easily lead to misunderstandings—

“…”

It’s not even a misunderstanding anymore.

I thought this as I felt both of them leaning against my shoulders.

Hayun, Jihye, and Ju-a had all confessed to me. I was the only one who hadn’t given an answer.

…A love that feels beyond what I deserve.

And quite embarrassingly, I have feelings for all three of them.

That’s something I absolutely cannot deny. After all, my circuit spun wildly every time we kissed.

What should I do with these feelings?

Unable to decide one way or the other, I ended up being escorted home with both arms “restrained” by Hayun and Jihye, as if I were under arrest.

Needless to say, I could feel Ju-a’s sharp gaze on me the entire time.

*

We went home that day.

I thought civil servants or officials would be waiting to take us away, but that didn’t happen. They were probably concerned about our condition. Trying to get explanations from irritable people covered in dirt and grime wouldn’t have led to much cooperation anyway.

Exhausted, we quickly took turns showering, changed into clean clothes, and lay down in our room as usual.

Only then did I realize:

“Hey, why did you all follow us here?”

Yes.

In this room were not only me, Jihye, and Hayun, but all the other magical girls as well.

It made sense for me and Jihye to be in this room since we’d been sharing it, and for Hayun to be here since I’d basically destroyed her home not long ago. But Rose, Dalia, Delphinium, and Ju-a had no such reason.

I’m sure they all had their own parents to answer to, and they weren’t in the same situation as Hayun.

“Hey, we’re all runaways today too.”

Rose’s explanation made perfect sense to me.

I see. They had also gone home promising to behave, only to run away and steal a government-guarded spaceship for a trip to Jupiter.

Even though things turned out well, no sane parent would easily permit such a thing, whether they worked for the Federation or not.

…The orphanage teachers had also facepalmed when they saw us earlier.

“And then there’s her too.”

“Haha…”

Rose pointed at Pang Pang.

“Well, she’s in a similar situation right now.”

“That’s right. My place got destroyed again. I need somewhere to stay for a while.”

When I defended her and Pang Pang responded, Jihye, Hayun, and Ju-a all pouted for some reason, but I pretended not to notice their expressions.

Come on, they couldn’t possibly think I was trying to seduce her.

Besides, Pang Pang doesn’t have those kinds of feelings for me. If she did, something would definitely have happened when I was staying at her place.

“I stayed at her place when I needed to hide, so I can return the favor sometimes.”

Rose couldn’t argue with that.

“Fine. Anyway, it’s okay if we stay just for today, right?”

“…Sigh, go ahead.”

I said that and flopped down on the bed.

At this point, we might as well have gone to the magical girl headquarters. There would have been plenty of empty spaces with many people having withdrawn.

…

To be honest, it was a bit cramped.

But at the same time, I didn’t mind having an excuse to be pressed up against Hayun and Jihye.

I really am shameless.

Just moments ago, I was annoyed at Rose for barging in and lying down with us, but since I hadn’t rested at all from the battle until now, it didn’t take me long to fall asleep.

After all, how could I not enjoy that stifling softness?

*

The incident of us stealing the ship that was legally occupied by the government was essentially treated as if it never happened.

Instead, we agreed to go with the story that we had “given advance notice” to the government.

It would have been strange to claim that the officials who had appeared incompetent suddenly gained insight and quickly obtained information about the situation near Jupiter to inform us, so instead we agreed to say that we had received government permission before departing.

There were other witnesses, but they wouldn’t refuse if we asked them to go along with it.

Part of me wanted to cut all ties with the government and the Federation and just live my life, but what could I do? I had to live in this country for now. Moving to another country wouldn’t make much difference anyway.

Since getting caught up in legal issues would be annoying for us too, we decided to be satisfied with the fact that “the greatest credit belongs to us.”

The government also said they wouldn’t interfere with our activities as long as we didn’t illegally pursue power or openly declare villainous intentions.

As for the Federation… they won’t be withdrawing from here for now.

They need Federation technology to examine that massive facility. James’s abilities were also needed to interpret the design. With Cherry joining as a supervisor, it was decided that Cherry, our magical girls’ technical expert, would remain in this country.

The decision on what to do with James was postponed until then.

The chairman was officially going to trial, and Pang Pang returned to her repaired room.

She suddenly became unimaginably wealthy but also took on the responsibility for that fortune. We magical girls agreed to help as much as possible, but honestly, I felt a bit sorry for her.

And we, the magical girls, returned to school.

“…”

During lunch break.

“Do you have something to say?”

I asked Hayun, but she kept hesitating to answer.

Seriously, does she lose all her confidence when she puts on a school uniform?

As I took a bite of my cream bread while staring at her, Hayun blushed and lowered her gaze.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, it’s just…”

“Just what?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? For what?”

When I asked in disbelief, Hayun slightly lowered her shoulders and fidgeted with her fingers.

The shape of the bread in her hand changed as her fidgeting fingers moved it around.

“Because… you know, that article about you came out.”

“Oh, that.”

The article mentioned “rumors of romantic entanglements.”

It said I had the magical girls wrapped around my finger, that I was openly involved with multiple girls and none of them could say anything about it.

But why was she apologizing?

Isn’t it somewhat true?

…

Wait, does saying that make me sound like a terrible person?

Just as Hayun seems to lose her confidence in a school uniform, I apparently grow bolder in mine.

“Hey, Lee Hayun.”

“Huh?”

When I deliberately lowered my voice to sound angry, Hayun looked up at me in surprise.

Smooch.

I pressed my lips against hers.

I heard people around us gasping.

It was the sound of students shocked at seeing such behavior between classmates sitting in front and behind each other.

But so what?

At this point?

White cream was left on Hayun’s lips.

I stared at the cream, then grinned.

Hayun smiled slightly at the corners of her mouth and bowed her head deeply.

So, you see.

At this point?

Whatever others might say, it doesn’t matter.

The Love Circuit was also a medium that confirmed our love. It wouldn’t work properly if those feelings weren’t genuine.

And because of that—well.

It seems our complicated love story still has some chapters left.

But that’s our story.

It’s not something for others to worry about.

So, it’s okay.

If Hayun can smile, and if they can smile.

The form it takes doesn’t matter, does it?

I took another bite of my cream bread.

I couldn’t tell whether the sweetness came from the cream or from the kiss just now.