Ch.208IF Side Story: Somehow, Everyone Seems to Like Me (9)

Just because we defeated the enemy doesn’t mean we’ve stopped being Magical Girls.

As evident from the Magical Girl headquarters still operating, we were quite symbolic figures.

Research on energy was steadily continuing as well.

Though the plan wasn’t to use people as batteries like before, if we could generate power by fighting crime with our abilities, wouldn’t that be a good thing?

Besides—

Swoosh.

I moved my head sideways to dodge an incoming knife.

Then I swung my hammer to block another beam flying toward Chaeyeon.

There were still quite a few remnants of Noir Corporation. The problem was that this company had operations in other countries and had collaborated with other corporations to some extent.

Noir Corporation’s weapons were being sold everywhere. Pang Pang was using funds to recover as many as possible, but it seemed nearly impossible to completely track down weapons that had been purchased long ago and carefully hidden.

Still, things were much better than before. Even if they weren’t Kaijin, the moment weapons were discovered, we were immediately contacted, and I could promptly deploy to the location.

Bang!

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Nothing special.”

When Seo-hee blocked an attack coming from behind me and asked with a smile, I answered somewhat resentfully.

“It’s not like I have eyes on the back of my head.”

I grumbled and stood back-to-back with Seo-hee.

Enemies gathered around us.

Wasn’t I the person they resented most? Come on, this was a company that played with human lives from the beginning—shouldn’t they be grateful their name still exists at all?

I don’t think they recklessly fired ordinary combatants. Those who knew about the company’s secret projects should be punished more than those who just received their salaries without knowing anything.

So, the remnants picking fights with us were likely either those people themselves or humans employed by them. Those who were still evading arrest.

But we weren’t the only ones fighting.

From a distance, beams flew in and took down several enemies—and for some reason, an extremely angry Hayun jumped down from above, slicing all the enemy weapons in half with her sword.

Some did open fire, but Jihye jumped in between and blocked with her shield. At the same time, Dalia rained magic from above.

“…That’s enough.”

Chaeyeon, who had been standing with her eyes closed, said that as she swung her staff.

Crack!

The ground instantly froze, binding the legs of all the approaching enemies.

With that, the job was finished.

“…I mean, even if it’s work…”

I muttered while looking at the confused guys who couldn’t move, my feelings boiling over.

“Why do we have to fight guys like this even when we’re on vacation!”

As I shouted that, my transformation wore off.

I was still holding the hammer in my hand, but I was in a swimsuit. That white swimsuit the seniors had picked out for me.

Plus these unfamiliar high-heeled shoes.

…Everyone else seemed to like it. Strangely, even the seniors blushed and approved, so I thought they must have chosen a good swimsuit.

“Come on, cheer up. At least there are police nearby, so we can hand them over quickly and get back to having fun.”

I had been somewhat reassured because it was a private beach, but the problem was that even though it was private, it was still an open space.

Right, people intent on harming others wouldn’t care about fences.

At least there was security nearby, and a police station wasn’t far away.

I wonder how long these guys will keep coming after us.

I scratched my head in slight irritation.

*

Still, that was the only trouble on the first day.

It didn’t take up much time, but since having someone trying to kill you isn’t exactly a pleasant experience, we played even harder to shake off that feeling.

“Hmm? Senior, what are you doing here?”

“…”

Meanwhile, Chaeyeon was sitting under a parasol with a book open, so I asked incredulously.

“…Reading.”

“Even at the beach?”

“…The sound of waves helps me concentrate.”

I understand what she means, but I wish she’d do that in a café near the beach. This is a place where we all came to play together.

Above all, isn’t this the seniors’ last summer vacation? During winter break, they’ll be able to relax more since the college entrance exams will be over, but still, this is their last “summer” vacation.

So, I’d like everyone to enjoy the cool beach together.

“But, senior.”

So I decided to pick on her a little.

“You made me wear this kind of swimsuit, but why aren’t you showing yours at all?”

That’s right. Chaeyeon was wearing an outer garment over her swimsuit. The outer garment seemed to be waterproof and meant for swimming, but she still seemed to be wearing a proper bikini or something underneath.

“…”

Chaeyeon blushed at my words.

“Come on, don’t just sit there.”

“…Ah.”

I took the book from Chaeyeon’s hands. I almost felt a little guilty when I heard a momentary sound of disappointment from her, but I held back.

I grabbed Chaeyeon’s hand and pulled her up from under the parasol—

“…!!”

I grabbed the collar of that outer garment and spread it wide open.

Since it wasn’t buttoned up in front, I could immediately see what she was wearing underneath.

And then I realized.

Oh, this looks kind of bad.

That’s right. Even if what she was wearing underneath wasn’t underwear but a swimsuit, and even if what she was wearing on top was just another swimsuit-like outer garment, at first glance it looked like I was undressing Chaeyeon.

…No, even without a glance, I was literally undressing her.

What Chaeyeon was wearing wasn’t a bikini.

It was a tube top one-piece. Her chest wasn’t as large as mine, but her figure was still quite well-balanced.

Looking at Chaeyeon’s face, she had turned her head to the side with her face bright red.

…That expression made me feel even more sinful.

Just in case, I turned around and saw everyone had stopped what they were doing and was staring at me with their mouths open.

…

Well.

How should I put this—I feel like I’ve done something terrible.

No, I definitely did.

“Ah, whatever.”

I muttered that to myself, bent down, and lifted Chaeyeon up.

“Aaah!?”

A scream I’d never heard before came from Chaeyeon’s mouth. I hadn’t heard it even during battles.

I carried Chaeyeon like a princess and ran with all my might toward the sea. Only then did the others start to move in a fluster.

Still carrying Chaeyeon, I jumped high into the air, and an even higher-pitched scream escaped from her mouth.

Splash.

In an instant, my vision was covered with water, and the cold seawater touched my entire body, immediately cooling me down. I could hear the water churning in my ears, and salty seawater entered my nose and mouth.

“Puha!”

I stood up right away and lifted Chaeyeon up with me.

“…”

Perhaps because I had jumped into the sea so suddenly, Chaeyeon seemed to have been tightly holding onto my neck at some point.

Hmm.

Somehow the surrounding sounds seemed much quieter than before.

I carefully put down Chaeyeon, who was trembling slightly. The sea only came up to our thighs, so it wasn’t particularly dangerous.

Chaeyeon sat down in the sea without saying anything.

And she sat with her back toward me.

Ah.

She seems a bit angry.

It wouldn’t be strange if disapproving looks came from around us—

“Me.”

But before I could finish that thought, someone raised their hand and said that.

“I want to try too!”

Yeonwoo was raising her hand with sparkling eyes. She didn’t seem to care at all that Chaeyeon was frightened.

“Uh…”

I mean, no matter what, my colleague is in this state?

But then,

“Me too!”

Seo-hee also raised her hand.

“No, why are seniors suddenly acting like this? We’re similar in height.”

“I’m not as heavy as you might think.”

Yeonwoo said with quite a serious expression.

“I’m not heavy either. Probably just a little heavier than Senior Chaeyeon.”

Ju-a, who hadn’t even said “me,” chimed in very naturally, as if it were obvious.

“Me too, me too!”

“Of course me too!”

Pang Pang and Jihye raised their hands high.

“…”

Hayun was raising her hand modestly with her face slightly flushed.

That’s right.

With one moment of poor judgment, I paid for my sin by becoming everyone’s amusement ride.

After throwing all the girls into the sea and checking again, it seemed Chaeyeon wasn’t actually scared.

Even from behind, I could clearly see her ears had turned bright red.