Ch.236IF Side Story: From the Beginning (4)

“…..”

“Um, hey, Hayun?”

After work was over—well, it was still training rather than actual work, but anyway, as we were heading out.

Since we weren’t actually employees yet, we didn’t finish that late.

Cherry’s promise not to interfere with our studies was sincere. Come to think of it, there was a scene in the original story where magical girls got angry about having to deploy during exams, and the absurdity of that situation was played for laughs, so it made sense that this organization would be considerate about such things.

Training ran from 10 AM to 12 PM for the morning session, 12 PM to 1 PM for lunch break, and then continued until 3 PM for the afternoon session.

So now it was 3 PM.

As we were leaving, I was thinking about going somewhere with Hayun, but she just:

“Hmph.”

How should I put it? She deliberately made that sound and turned her head away.

I thought about it seriously.

It seemed a bit theatrical. To be honest, I’d never actually seen someone get upset and go “hmph” in real life.

So Hayun’s behavior right now was deliberately showing her dissatisfaction.

…..

Wait, if she’s sulking because she’s dissatisfied, isn’t that genuine sulking? Maybe magical girls express anger in a cartoonish way?

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

Whatever the case, it was obviously my job to comfort Hayun. That’s how it’s always been, and she’s probably acting this way because she wants me to respond.

“Jieun, you’ve changed.”

“Changed… huh?”

I thought about it seriously again.

Are we close enough for that kind of talk? Isn’t that something couples say when they fight?

Obviously, we’re not dating. No matter what, I’ve never confessed to Hayun. And she’s never said anything like that to me either.

So this must be Hayun’s way of joking around.

“Today again, you were just having fun with your senior.”

Hayun stuck out her lower lip.

Ah.

I see.

It’s true that I haven’t been paying much attention to Hayun lately.

When I say I haven’t been paying attention, I don’t mean in general. I’m talking about during training time.

Of course I pay attention to her normally. We’re in the same school and same class, so we talk all the time, and I often grab Hayun and escape to some corner when someone tries to butt in.

We eat delicious food together, go to coin karaoke and sing together.

But it’s true that since we both started training, that time has decreased somewhat. At the very least, the time I spend alone with Hayun outside of school has definitely decreased.

Because I’ve been sparring with Rose all this time.

Like someone who started an incredibly difficult game, I’ve been racking my brain trying to find ways to beat Rose. And I’ve been fighting with her throughout the training sessions.

To Hayun, it probably looked like I was spending time with Rose.

“Come on.”

Once I figured that out, I felt relieved. So Hayun wasn’t really angry with me. She just wanted to hang out together.

I put my hand on Hayun’s shoulder and said:

“That’s training, just training. I need to build up my skills before becoming a magical girl.”

“Yeah… but. Doesn’t it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt.”

Hayun was the one who brought me here. Because of that, she seemed to feel a bit guilty.

In the original story, Hayun and Rose’s relationship wasn’t that bad. They might not have been best friends, but they were at least within the category of friends.

But lately, Hayun had been a bit cold toward Rose.

It seemed she couldn’t control her emotions when watching her close friend get beaten up.

Hmm.

That’s cute.

“…Don’t laugh.”

She must have realized her thoughts were a bit strange, because when she saw me smiling, Hayun turned her head away again, pretending to be upset.

But she didn’t push away my arm around her shoulders. Encouraged by this, I changed the direction we were walking and said:

“Well, it is kind of fun though.”

“Fun?”

“Yeah. I’ve never really taken on such a big challenge in my life before.”

Hayun looked up at me intently. Her mouth was slightly open.

Yes, that was definitely true.

There is someone I want to fight and defeat. That person is Hayun.

But how would I fight her? Hayun hasn’t become a magical girl yet. And after she becomes one? There’s no way I could win as a combatant. Why are they called combatants? Because they come in groups against magical girls and get swept away all at once—that’s why they’re combatants.

Now it’s different.

The more I fight, the more I can see my skills improving. And there’s someone who sincerely wants me to get stronger while matching her skill level appropriately.

So how could I not be motivated?

Besides, someday when my skills are solid and both Hayun and I become magical girls—surely, we’ll have a proper opportunity to duel.

“It’s thanks to you.”

I looked straight at Hayun and said that.

“Thanks to you, I feel like my life has direction.”

Hmm, did I go too far with that? It doesn’t seem like something a middle schooler should say.

Well, whatever.

Hayun had somewhat of a dreamer’s temperament. How could she be a magical girl without that? Even Iris, who was described as the most rigid and realistic among the magical girls, had a dreamer’s quality, so what about Hayun who was the protagonist?

“Thank you, really.”

When I said that, Hayun’s eyes blinked.

The sulky expression had completely disappeared.

Hayun blushed and lowered her head. But she couldn’t hide how her ears and the nape of her neck visible beneath her ponytail had turned red.

I laughed out loud again and started walking.

“Well, as thanks, should I buy you something today?”

“Huh, what!?”

When I grabbed Hayun’s shoulder and moved forward, she exclaimed in surprise.

“No, well, you already do so much for me normally.”

“…No, I don’t do that much…”

Really?

In terms of cost, I definitely spend way less. I do buy her drinks, bread, and other small things, but what Hayun gives me tends to be more like gifts.

A single CD costs tens of thousands of won, so thinking about her buying those for me, I’ve definitely received more.

Above all, didn’t she give me the opportunity to become a magical girl?

Even if something happens and I can’t become one, this experience itself is already valuable.

In the end, Hayun was dragged along by me to drink an incredibly high-calorie beverage, then burn off those calories by singing enthusiastically at a karaoke place before heading home.

It was only after I got home that I realized my whole body was aching, and I collapsed in pain.

Jihye looked at me with an expression that said “you’ve got to be kidding me,” which made me feel a bit sad.

*

While I continued my battles with Rose steadily, I had one concern as someone aspiring to be a magical girl.

I don’t have a wand.

Not only do the other magical girls have them, but even Hayun, who’s still in training like me, has one—I’m the only one fighting with bare hands.

To begin with, I still haven’t decided what’s precious to me in this world. I think that’s the problem.

The mindset of fighting to protect something.

I’m fighting more to win than anything else.

If Iris were here, I could at least ask if she could make a wand for me too, but Iris hasn’t even joined yet.

“Hmm.”

Since talking with Hayun didn’t solve the problem, after worrying about it for several days, I happened to run into Dalia in the facility’s lounge.

“Hmm.”

“Hmm?”

And after hearing her lukewarm “hmm,” I returned the same sound.

“What’s with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, I just don’t understand why you’d make that sound as soon as you see someone.”

“No particular reason.”

Dalia answered while lying stretched out on the sofa with her legs extended.

“I was just thinking you’re holding up pretty well under Rose.”

“…..”

I think I understand what she means.

But honestly, that comment was a bit irritating.

At first, I thought Rose might just enjoy beating people up, but now I knew she was just a girl pursuing her own dream in her own way. In some sense, she was someone who had lost her dream and turned in a different direction to find a new one.

And I was starting to understand what it meant to communicate with fists.

Wait, am I getting muscle-brained just like Rose?

“Hmm?”

Dalia tilted her head after seeing my expression.

“Looks like that’s not it? Don’t tell me you actually enjoy fighting with Rose?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“…You’re something else.”

When I answered confidently, Dalia responded as if she found it interesting.

“Well, I don’t think she’s a bad person.”

“…If you say so, I guess that’s how it is.”

Dalia shrugged and answered indifferently.

They must not get along well.

…Well, since this won’t be resolved even by the time of the main story, what can I do?

I don’t want to get caught up in emotional conflicts. I have more important concerns.