Ch.225225. Hoodie

After lunch, I wander slowly around downtown.

Since Citrus’s shop is in the central area, it’s convenient to get to other places quickly.

“The subway.”

“Why? You rode it with Yunsul before, didn’t you?”

“…I don’t remember riding from this area.”

“Hmm… really?”

“The section I traveled with Blanc had quite a few people related to magical girls or the Association. I suppose they were somewhat used to my appearance. It felt like that, at least.”

“Well… stay close to me. I’ll protect you.”

“…I’m stronger than you, you know.”

“You’re really going to say that in this situation?”

“Couldn’t we just walk comfortably or look for another mode of transportation?”

“That’s a bit… The subway is better, actually.”

“Sigh…”

She just grips my hand a little more firmly.

Well, even if I said we shouldn’t go, she’d probably go anyway.

Hyewon must have had something in mind when she tried to drag me this way.

…Or maybe not.

Maybe she just planned our route without thinking.

Perhaps she used a map application to help plan the route.

Or maybe she just thought about the hot spots near Citrus’s shop when planning.

Or she might have only considered the starting and ending points, without giving much thought to anything else as usual.

Hmm.

All of these possibilities make sense.

For Hyewon, that is.

“What are you doing?”

“Uh, um…? I was trying to catch a taxi?”

“Would a taxi even take me? It would just be a waste of money. The subway is fairer for everyone.”

“Uh, right…!”

When I urge her to move a little, Hyewon finally leads me again.

Well, the stares are burdensome.

And I’m afraid of what might happen down there.

But for some reason, I feel like I’ll be okay if I’m with Hyewon.

Maybe it’s because I remember how Seohyun saved me before.

Or perhaps there’s been a change in my mindset since Eden collapsed, I’m not sure.

Without thinking, I just follow Hyewon down the stairs.

Somehow we buy tickets and head down to the platform.

It would be a lie to say I don’t feel the glances of people passing by.

I can feel their gazes.

Since it’s just the subway for transportation, I don’t receive particularly intense stares.

But still, I notice people looking at me like I’m something curious.

Then, I hear smartphone camera shutters.

That’s when I realize these people are taking pictures of me.

I’m used to this.

When I was a villain, I got photographed a lot.

Well, it’s nothing to brag about, but I’ve been photographed a lot while wandering outside with the magical girls here.

Those photos are probably spreading all over the internet and community sites.

Well, I just hope no one draws weird pictures based on those photos.

…The thought of that punishment makes me a bit scared.

Ugh, maybe I should really cancel that plan.

“Vine, what are you thinking about that’s making you tremble like that?”

“No, it’s just… it’s a bit chilly down here.”

“Don’t lie. I’m not cold either.”

“Well, the wind or something. That sudden temperature difference.”

“We’re underground?”

“Even underground, wind blows when the subway passes by. Or maybe they’re running ventilation fans from above.”

“Hmm… but you’re a monster, aren’t you?”

“That’s embarrassing for the monster who’s listening. You could have just let my lie slide. I was trying to cover it up with a lie.”

“So, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Just… I was anticipating some unsettling future events, so…”

“…That won’t happen. And if it does, I’ll stop it.”

What Hyewon is anticipating is probably different from what I’m thinking.

But whatever.

She’s saying she’ll protect me, right?

Well…

If people, citizens try to punish me again, she’s saying she’ll protect this filthy body of mine.

…Besides that, if there’s another punishment, would she join in punishing me? Or would she protect me then too?

I feel like I can’t predict Hyewon in that regard.

On the subway platform, waiting for the train, we talk about such trivial things.

Yunsul bought new clothes, have you seen them?

Seohyun’s test scores might not be good this time, maybe she’s focusing too much on building her strength as a magical girl.

Arin seems to be pushing herself too hard these days. It feels like seeing herself from the past…

“Like you back then?”

“Hmm… let me correct that. Like Yunsul back then.”

“What…?”

I asked because I thought it wouldn’t be that extreme.

But in Hyewon’s opinion, it’s even worse.

Back then, Hyewon was filled with revenge against me, really putting in effort during that period.

And Yunsul… Blanc.

Blanc is just Blanc.

A person who confronted me with an indescribable level of effort and talent.

…Love.

No, person.

Phew.

If I let my mind wander even a little…

“Huh? Didn’t you say that knowing?”

“No… I was just asking a question. If it’s like seeing you back then, putting her heart into it. Isn’t that dangerous…?”

“Well, the source of Arin’s dedication won’t be depleted, at least. Like me now.”

“Depletion…”

“After you were captured. I was going to quit being a magical girl.”

“…Ah.”

It makes sense.

The reason Hyewon became a magical girl, the reason she awakened as one, was for revenge against me, the terrible villain who took away her sister Citrus, Hyein’s dream.

After completing that revenge, what was left for Hyewon?

I was her driving force, even if it was a negative emotion.

Still, she probably didn’t quit completely after realizing how enjoyable and rewarding it was to save citizens and people as a magical girl.

“I work an office job now. After that day, I spoke to the Association Director and got employed there, I guess you could say.”

“But you didn’t completely stop your magical girl activities.”

“Well, my deployment frequency has definitely decreased a lot compared to before.”

“By how much?”

“Hmm… about 5% of what it used to be?”

“That’s a significant reduction.”

“Yunsul goes out about half as much as before. No, not even half. If we’re talking about the usual from the Eden era.”

“But villains haven’t completely disappeared?”

“There aren’t villains that require Yunsul’s intervention; they can be handled by the magical girls in the area.”

“By magical girls whose names I don’t even know?”

“Even by just one such magical girl. I’m not sure if I should call it natural occurrence, but after the monsters you brought disappeared, the frequency of monster appearances decreased. The strength of those monsters has definitely decreased too.”

“Isn’t the current magical girl force excessive for protecting Earth?”

“That’s why we’re accommodating early retirements. We’re not just responding to damages; we’re also helping magical girls retire and become reserve forces. Ah, have I not shown you that side?”

“I would have seen it if it wasn’t handled by another team.”

“The processing of Eden-related matters probably completely paralyzed that department.”

“So, what do you do for retired magical girls?”

“Life support, arranging future careers… things like that. Giving magical girls who couldn’t study properly another chance to study. Or if they want to work for the Association, they can change careers like I did. Having the Association on your resume is something to be proud of. Or they can work in other public service positions.”

“…I see.”

“The reason I got into this work is also because of my sister.”

“I was wrong then.”

“It is your fault for making me work.”

“Well… didn’t you say it was a good job?”

At that, Hyewon laughed and agreed.

Well, while we were having such trivial chat, the subway arrived.

“Hyewon, please sit down.”

“Huh? You should sit instead of me.”

Hyewon lifts me up and sits me down.

Then she stands in front of me.

“If I’m sitting, it would be hard to respond to threats that might come from somewhere while claiming to protect you, right?”

“That’s true, but…”

“So you sit.”

“…I don’t think people will look kindly on a villain sitting down.”

“Surprisingly, people don’t pay attention to those around them.”

Hyewon tells me to look around.

The person sitting next to me is nodding off.

With their head against the window, showing no signs of waking up.

The person sitting on the opposite side…

“…You’re right.”

“Ah. That one might be a bit dangerous.”

“…Please handle it.”

A person watching videos of magical girls.

The fact that they’re watching magical girls means they probably know my identity.

However, they seem too focused on the video to look this way.

“Right? Even if something happens, I can stop it. But most likely, nothing will happen.”

“Sigh… well, please take care of it.”

I don’t have a hoodie to cover myself now.

Oh, I do have my hood.

It’s a flaw that it glows yellow.

That hood does attract quite a lot of attention.

But it protects me.

It… protects me.

Yes.

I guess it’s okay to be attached to it.

No, I already am.

Ha.

Since that day, I’ve already been attached to everyone.

I’m just waiting, just receiving the date.

Yes.

So what?

As long as I’m happy, that’s all that matters.

Thinking that, I,

I took Hyewon’s hand on my own.

Nothing happened on the subway.

Nothing at all.