Ch.215IF Side Story: Somehow, Everyone Seems to Like Me (16)

Thinking about it, my past self didn’t really study that hard during exam preparation.

I worried about the college entrance exam in my own way and did study somewhat, but I couldn’t really focus. I just wanted that period to end quickly so I could go to college or get a job.

Actually, trying to keep up with exams after entering university was much harder than studying for the college entrance exam.

That’s not to say I completely slacked off during my third year.

Because everyone around me was always working hard.

Hayun obviously studied diligently. So did Ju-a. Both of them were naturally hardworking and ambitious in their own way.

Jihye also studies hard when it’s time to study. She just strictly divides her rest time and study time and sticks to that schedule.

I studied hard alongside them. Just sitting next to them created an atmosphere where I couldn’t help but look at my books, and we asked each other questions and answered them, which helped me study diligently.

“Ta-da, juniors, we’re here to visit!”

The seniors would often come find us studying and tease us.

If they had just teased us, I might have gotten properly angry, but they always brought something with them and placed it in front of me right when I was about to get mad.

Usually it was cake or coffee—things we could eat during study breaks.

By the way, for some reason, Pang Pang would also come sit next to us and study when we were studying at the Magical Girl facility.

“I have a lot of new things to learn too.”

She didn’t seem particularly interested in going to college, but I suppose running a company requires all kinds of knowledge. I’d heard that children who would inherit large corporations studied various things diligently from a young age.

Thanks to the grades I’d secured in the second semester of my second year, and because I’d studied somewhat during winter break, my third-year grades and mock exam scores turned out fairly decent.

I didn’t plan on going to the best university in Korea, but it seemed like I could go to the same place as my friends.

“…This is a bit strange.”

Around June, I muttered while sitting on the orphanage swing.

“What’s strange?”

Hayun, sitting next to me, asked.

“That we’ll be adults next year. Only about six months left.”

This was my second time becoming an adult, but it felt awkward both the previous time and now.

I still didn’t feel fully grown up, but being pushed forward bit by bit by time was somewhat scary.

When we go to university, we’ll spend a bit more time at the orphanage.

But we can’t stay here forever. For us, “independence” was like a deadline that would inevitably come. We couldn’t extend that time. We could only leave earlier.

I’ll have to handle recycling myself, clean up my own trash. I’ll need to deal with food waste, and if I’m working, I’ll have to pay taxes. A life of paying rent, keeping a household ledger, and calculating living expenses awaits.

There are probably many good things about living independently, but unfortunately, I was the type of person who thought of worries before benefits.

Well, at least I wouldn’t have to worry about finding a job. We were Magical Girls, after all.

“Yeah…”

Hayun looked up at the sky as she answered.

“It’s been so long since we met.”

That’s right.

It’s already been that long.

I don’t know how I’ll feel when I’m in my 40s or 50s, but right now, at this age, ten years is by no means a light amount of time.

The time Hayun and I have spent together exceeds half of the time we’ve lived in this world. The same goes for Jihye.

For us now, each year feels so big and precious.

“I understand why the seniors keep visiting us.”

Because for us, “just one year” doesn’t exist.

If anything, it’s “as much as one year.” And if we’re counting time, it’s already been two years.

Hayun’s time with the seniors was even longer.

I see.

Perhaps that’s why relationships with friends from childhood feel particularly significant. Because they occupy so much of my childhood memories from a time when all those moments felt so enormous.

“…”

After being lost in thought for a moment, I spoke.

“Hayun.”

“Yeah?”

“Should we go visit the seniors when we have time? It’s not that far.”

Right.

Even as exam students, it’s not like we never have free time. Well, some people seem to wish that were the case, but I’ve never lived that kind of life, neither in my past life nor in this one.

“That sounds good.”

Hayun answered with a smile.

*

Meeting Seo-hee wasn’t that difficult.

She had already come to us several times to let us know when she finished classes.

Considering she told us multiple times without us even asking, she must have really wanted us to visit her.

When I held up a slice of cake high above my head—

“Kyaa!”

Seo-hee shouted and ran toward us.

“That really doesn’t suit you.”

When I heard that scream, which Seo-hee would never normally make, I said that, and she frowned at me.

“Why? I’m just trying to act like other girls my age.”

“Do girls your age act like that?”

“Probably?”

What’s with that “probably”?

Well, I think I get what image she’s going for.

“Well, I can’t just do nothing when my juniors come to visit.”

She’s barely out of being a freshman in college.

Well, with the semester ending soon, I suppose she’s shedding that label somewhat.

“I already told the others. They should be here soon. We tried to match our class schedules.”

They all went to the same university, but different departments, I guess.

Seo-hee took us to the university lounge.

There weren’t… that many people. Ah, come to think of it, today is Friday. College students would be busy at this time.

Especially freshmen, who would be enjoying their freedom from last year’s entrance exams and the liberation of becoming adults who could do whatever they wanted.

We took over one of the larger tables in the lounge and set out the cake and coffee we’d brought. Since no one told us not to, it seemed this wasn’t a problem.

“So this is university…”

I looked around.

The people passing by were all different. Some walked weakly, dragging their feet, while others laughed and chatted energetically. There were also many couples.

Not everyone looked completely happy, but still, it seemed nice in its own way.

“So, have you decided which university you want to go to?”

Seo-hee asked while boldly unwrapping the cake packaging, which made me look at her incredulously as I said:

“Aren’t you going to wait for the others?”

“They’ll be here anyway, so what’s wrong with eating a little first?”

I was speechless at her response. Not because her logic was flawed, but because it was obvious she would eat regardless of what I said.

Hayun and Ju-a smiled bitterly. Jihye’s expression was closer to mine.

“So, which university? Which department? Isn’t it about time you started preparing?”

“Are you saying you prepared for everything? For what you’d be doing in the near future?”

“Hmm. To be honest, no.”

This time, even Ju-a looked a bit dumbfounded.

“Well, most people who go to university just choose a department that seems good for employment among the places they can get into with their grades. That’s how it is. If you think too deeply about it, it becomes harder to choose.”

I suppose people who go to university for genuine self-realization are truly admirable.

“But for us, our jobs are already decided, and honestly, you won’t have a financially difficult future, right?”

“Huh?”

“With friends like us doing so well, if you borrowed money from each of us just once, you could live comfortably for the rest of your life.”

“I have no intention of doing that.”

“Still, what I’m saying is that you can live doing something you want to do. Even if you retire as a Magical Girl, you could sell the energy you produce.”

“…”

Is that so?

“So, is there something you’ve wanted to do since childhood? Tell me, your senior will listen.”

That’s rich coming from someone who couldn’t even wait for the others and has cream on the corner of her mouth.

Well, still…

I looked around.

Not just Seo-hee, but the others were looking at me too, with expressions of genuine curiosity about what I would say.

I see, something I want to do.

What I wanted to do in this world, I’ve already accomplished once. To fight and win. Or to become skilled enough to fight as an equal.

To defeat evil, become a Magical Girl, and be the protagonist of my own life.

I’ve already achieved all of that, so what else do I want to do?

I was lost in thought for a moment, then smiled slightly.

“Don’t laugh too much.”

“I won’t laugh.”

Seo-hee responded with unexpected seriousness.

“No one here would laugh at your dream.”

“…”

Saying it like that just makes it harder to speak.

Well, I guess it’s okay.

After thinking for a moment, I slowly opened my mouth.

“I want to… write stories.”

I’ve thought about comics before, but honestly, I don’t think I can go into an art-related department starting from now.

So, first I want to learn how to write stories themselves. Creating characters, plotting, that sort of thing.

It doesn’t have to be comics. The stories I’ve seen were comics, but who knows? Maybe as I write, there will come a day when they become comics.

They could even become movies or dramas.

So, for now, it’s stories. Whether novels or whatever, I wanted to write my own stories.

“…That’s great.”

Seo-hee answered with a smile.

Except for the cream on the corner of her mouth, her expression was relatively senior-like.