Ch.187IF Side Story: Galactic Love (12)

And then, over the next two days, several things happened.

Strangely enough, these various events were somewhat odd for me to experience.

Well, um.

Despite being what you might call a group of runaway teenagers in many ways, the arguments that broke out were all somewhat amusing to watch from the sidelines.

For example, Hayun and Pang Pang fought over who would bathe with me.

No, even before that, Hayun seemed incredibly shocked by the fact that I had bathed with someone else.

Was there even a reason to be shocked about something like that?

I’ve never actually bathed with anyone else before. Even when I shared a room with Jihye, the shower room only had one showerhead, so naturally, we took turns showering. Even between people of the same gender, showering together in a space designed for one person could easily lead to misunderstandings.

In that sense, getting into a bathtub with Pang Pang was also a bit awkward… but that was unavoidable in its own way.

We did wash ourselves properly. Both me and Pang Pang. It’s just that Pang Pang found a better method.

Now we’ve managed to create something like a water supply to draw water, but before that, we had to fetch it ourselves, right? Sharing heated water that was brought once was efficient.

No, actually, it’s still the same now. Even if we can draw water, it still takes time.

“…Me too.”

And after hearing about this, Hayun puffed her cheeks and said:

“I want to do it too.”

“…”

I was at a loss for words when I heard that.

So, what Hayun wanted was to bathe with me. Why?

Ah, maybe it’s something like this. Going to the bathhouse together means you’re close enough to go together. It means you’re comfortable enough with each other that seeing each other doesn’t bother you.

Was that what Hayun was thinking?

…In a way, Hayun and I were that close.

My feelings haven’t completely disappeared yet. Strangely, even after learning my identity, Hayun didn’t seem to harbor any ill feelings toward me, but seeing her like that made me feel guilty.

I keep dragging these kids into places like this.

“…”

After quietly listening to the conversation, I raised my hand slightly and said:

“Can’t we just take turns?”

“Huh?”

Both Hayun and Pang Pang looked at me simultaneously. They both had strangely shocked expressions, but after staring at my face, they quickly composed themselves.

What was that about?

I felt a strange uneasiness, but decided to just stay quiet for now.

In the end, the matter was resolved that way.

Bathing would be done in turns… though the order became somewhat peculiar.

While I was close with Hayun and Pang Pang, I couldn’t really say I had a close relationship with the other magical girls.

Iris was the only one who was somewhat aware of me. Rose remembered me too, but—well, she didn’t seem particularly interested in bathing with me.

We could save time, but we couldn’t violate personal dignity. I might have been able to be a tyrant here, but with Pang Pang around, who had done nothing wrong to me, I couldn’t lose my mind like that.

Ah, but the tent was still my and Pang Pang’s space. The kids seemed to accept that we were the ones who had brought it.

We set up another tent for the kids to use, so that worked out for now.

At least the weather wasn’t freezing cold. We were also able to make something like a blanket.

“…”

But strangely, I didn’t feel like this was enough.

Because this wasn’t over yet.

*

And time passed again.

It’s not like we did nothing. We kept fighting.

Fighting the kaijin that kept appearing, telling people why we were fighting.

Decorating our living space a bit more, getting closer to each other.

Both Hayun and Pang Pang clung to me as if they didn’t want to lose me again. Strangely, at some point, Iris started doing the same.

…But that sense of stability didn’t last long.

“…”

Hayun almost died.

While trying to help me.

There was a bomb in the chairman’s house when we broke in trying to find him.

We were somehow able to remove the bomb, but we ended up caught in an explosion in mid-air.

In that situation, Hayun took an attack to help me.

She somehow regained consciousness, and the wounds—could be healed with magic, but…

…

After returning, I didn’t know what to do.

It was unbearable to think that everyone here could end up like that because of me.

Hayun, the other magical girls.

Pang Pang, Jihye. All of them could end up that way.

Especially Pang Pang and Jihye, who weren’t even magical girls—

“Jieun.”

The person who found me wandering at the edge of the abandoned village was Pang Pang.

I had Hayun rest in the tent. I almost forced her to, thinking that a good rest would be better for her health.

“…Pang Pang.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Pang Pang said.

“…Really?”

At Pang Pang’s words, I found myself asking that before I knew it.

I quickly shut my mouth, but I couldn’t take back the sharp tone that had come out unconsciously. It was water already spilled.

But strangely enough, Pang Pang didn’t look hurt at all.

Pang Pang was… yes, always like that.

Although I was somewhat careful, I had often been curt with Pang Pang. Many times, from when we were both combatants until now.

I had even thought of her as just an Earthaboo, treating her like a weirdo in my mind.

Of course, Pang Pang wouldn’t have known that much, but still, when we first met, she couldn’t have completely ignored all the emotions that were evident in my voice during our conversations.

But Pang Pang became my friend, and even helped me when my life was truly in danger.

Even at the risk of her own safety.

There was no reason for me to be irritated with Pang Pang now. That’s what being a decent person meant.

“…It is… my fault.”

“Why?”

“All of this is happening because I exist.”

The kids don’t know.

The impact my existence has had on this world.

Jieun was originally a non-existent character. Even if she had appeared in the webtoon, she would have been an unnamed extra character whose face was never drawn.

One of the many extra friends around Hayun. I would have been among them.

Not even in an important role, like someone who speaks.

…

No, thinking back, I might not have even been a friend to begin with. I might have been someone who didn’t even appear in the frame, with a setting too embarrassing to mention, not even considered to exist within the story.

An essentially original character who only appeared in this world.

The story was distorted because of me. I was at the center of that distortion.

Pang Pang probably wasn’t that important in the story either. Just an unnamed combatant. That would have been all.

It was because of me.

Because of me.

“…”

Pang Pang looked at me quietly.

Somehow, her expression seemed like she had made up her mind about something.

Realizing that, I trembled a little.

I was the one who had told Pang Pang to run away several times. If something happened to me, if I didn’t return, she should run away. Go to a nearby city, and I would find her.

But somehow, if Pang Pang were to say such things now, it would be scary. I would want to tell her not to go.

Among the people staying in this abandoned building, Pang Pang was literally the one who had no connection to me.

…That’s too selfish a thought. I should have been the one to send her away first.

“It’s not your fault.”

But denying my thoughts, Pang Pang simply said that.

There was even a strange tension on her face.

As if she thought I might get angry after hearing what came next—

Pang Pang slowly opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, then closed it again.

“Pang Pang?”

When I asked again, Pang Pang shook her head with a somewhat pained expression.

“Later.”

Pang Pang said.

“I’ll tell you later.”

“…”

I looked at Pang Pang in astonishment.

Instead, Pang Pang took my hand and pulled me.

“…Let’s go back for now. The kids are waiting.”

“…Okay.”

Pang Pang’s face looked so pained as she said this that I couldn’t refuse.

So, led by Pang Pang’s hand, I went back.

And today, I slept outside the tent with the children.

Although all the children were quiet without saying a word.

At least, not one of them blamed me.