Ch.238IF Side Story: From the Beginning (6)

I was actually quite serious despite how I might appear.

Until now, I’d avoided people who said irritating things at school, but I’d always found a way to deal with those who directly attacked me.

Of course, I never hit them directly. That would be troublesome if they tattled to the teacher, so I’d maneuver my body to make them collide with each other, get their fists tangled, or trip and fall. That way they’d be too embarrassed to tell anyone.

It might sound like bragging, but despite my appearance, I have decent athletic abilities.

I’m not tall enough to say I’m taller than most guys, but I’m quite tall compared to the average female height. And the natural talents I possess aren’t lacking either.

Those who ignored me because I kept quiet in class would become subdued after being dealt with once, and at least wouldn’t say anything to my face afterward.

Maybe it was because of that personality? I completely fell for Dalia’s provocation.

Even if I couldn’t win completely—well, one fight wouldn’t end things anyway.

With that thought, I charged at Dalia—

And I was finished in one go.

“Ah, it ended up like this after all.”

Seo-hee scratched her head.

The initial charge was good, but Dalia’s casting time wasn’t as long as I’d thought. About 3 seconds? Of course, that was only possible because the spell she cast wasn’t particularly powerful, but since I couldn’t withstand it physically, there was no point in arguing about that.

“Hmph.”

Perhaps irritated that I’d said I could win with just my fists without a wand, Dalia just made that sound before turning around and leaving.

“…That’s infuriating.”

“Jieun?”

Hayun spoke with surprise when she heard me muttering.

I sat up and scratched my head.

“Hey, how can you be so fearless no matter what?”

I wish she wouldn’t say that while smiling.

It’s ridiculous how she’s smiling like she’s looking at an admirable junior. Does she think I took her side?

Well, I guess I did end up doing so.

“Are you okay?”

As I struggled to get up, Hayun quickly came to my side and supported me.

Actually, I didn’t need support. If we’re talking about the level of hits I took, I’d taken far more from Seo-hee, and during our sparring, Seo-hee had landed many more hits.

But I didn’t stop Hayun because I liked the feeling of her hand on my arm.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

That’s what I said for now.

“Until you get a wand, don’t rush in recklessly. No matter how she looks, she’s a magical girl. Even I wouldn’t want to fight her seriously.”

“But it’s so frustrating.”

Yes. I’m the type who can’t stand losing. If it were a situation where I truly had to compromise, that would be different, but this is a magical girl agency and I’m going to be a magical girl.

Of course I want to land at least one hit on Dalia. Even if I can’t win completely.

“Hey.”

I called out to Seo-hee.

“What?”

Seo-hee had an expression like she already knew what I was going to say.

“Tell me how Dalia usually fights. Preferably without leaving anything out.”

“Hahaha!”

Seo-hee laughed loudly as if amused, then nodded her head exaggeratedly, perhaps deliberately.

“Alright! I’ll tell you everything I can!”

“Hayun, you too.”

“M-me too?”

Hayun asked back, a bit surprised.

“You must have sparred with her. Or at least she must have offered to teach you something.”

She did it with me, so there’s a high chance she did it with Hayun too. And isn’t Hayun the type everyone loves?

Well, I’m not asking her to spy or anything, but I’d like her to tell me what she knows.

“Hm? Hm?”

As I pulled Hayun, who was holding my arm, a little closer to me while speaking, Hayun couldn’t bear my face gradually getting closer and exclaimed with a bright red face.

“Ah, okay, I-I’ll teach you! I’ll teach you!”

I grinned at Hayun’s reaction.

Yes.

My thinking has changed quite a bit since coming here.

I, who thought I could never reach Hayun, am now right beside her. If I could just become a magical girl, I could stay by her side from now on.

Well, of course I’d need to be skilled for that.

Not having a wand yet is a bit worrying, but even in the original work, Iris made her own wand. In the worst case, I could just make my own wand too.

The most important thing is skill.

Yes. I have absolutely no intention of becoming the leader of the magical girls. I don’t want to suffer in such an exaggerated position.

But I want to be the magical girl with the most excellent skills. Even though I can’t transform properly yet and don’t have a wand.

And those skills don’t just involve power and talent.

“Hey, your eyes are burning.”

Seo-hee said with an incredulous laugh.

Even though I was knocked out in one hit, Seo-hee was smiling brightly as if just charging in like that had landed a hit.

What probably made her happiest was this:

That I hadn’t given up despite what happened.

“Come on, let’s go. Tell me everything from now on.”

“Huh? N-now?”

“Yes. I’m going to challenge her again tomorrow.”

Seeing my expression, Hayun finally sighed deeply and shook her head.

*

The next day.

“Hey.”

As soon as I arrived at the facility, I went straight to find Dalia and picked a fight.

Dalia, who was sitting in a lounge chair looking at her smartphone, glanced at me and frowned.

“What?”

“Do you have time today?”

“For what?”

“Sparring.”

“I’m busy.”

Oh ho.

So that’s how she’s going to play it?

She seems to be maintaining the attitude of “you’re terrible at this.” I don’t think so at all, but in Dalia’s mind, I’m already on Seo-hee’s side. Does she think responding to me will just tire her out?

I grabbed a nearby chair and dragged it over to sit in front of Dalia.

“…”

As I sat facing her, Dalia frowned at me again.

“…Are you serious?”

“Of course I’m serious. Didn’t you see me challenging Seo-hee?”

“No, I did see that.”

Dalia tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand, then said:

“But that’s different, isn’t it? At least you could attempt a few hits against her, but fighting me, you’d be knocked out in one hit.”

“Who says so? Have you seen me fight her? Did you only see me after I’d improved?”

I said, feeling bewildered.

“I was knocked out in one hit at first too. Just like with you. So if I keep clashing with you over and over, I’ll eventually land a hit.”

“…”

Dalia looked at me with a slightly stunned expression.

Then she smoothly erased her expression and looked back at her smartphone.

I pulled my chair closer. Dalia’s outstretched legs curled up a bit.

I didn’t stop there and moved even closer, until our knees were almost touching.

“Haah.”

Finally, Dalia sighed deeply as if to make a point.

“Fine, fine. You just want me to blast you once, right? Are you a masochist or something?”

“I just like winning.”

“You think you’ll win?”

“Does anyone fight intending to lose?”

At my words, Dalia rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Fine. You won’t even be able to get close this time either.”

And that day ended the same way.

*

But that didn’t mean I was going to give up.

The next day, I went to the lounge again.

Maybe Dalia was trying to avoid me, because this time she wasn’t in the lounge.

“Where’s Dalia?”

“…Don’t know.”

“Oh, I see.”

When I asked Delphinium, who was quietly reading a book in the lounge, I got such a direct answer that I felt a bit embarrassed and scratched my head.

“Senior Yeonwoo might be on the roof.”

Hayun, who had followed me into the lounge, said.

“Yeonwoo?”

“…That’s the name of the ‘Dalia’ senior you’re talking about.”

Oh, so that was her name?

Well, it’s not that important right now. I’m not close enough with her to call each other by name anyway.

Saying this makes me sound like a character from a Japanese manga.

I headed straight to the roof, and sure enough, Dalia was there just as Hayun had said.

“I’m busy.”

Dalia said, as if she’d recognized my footsteps.

Indeed, she did seem busy today.

Dalia was moving flowerpots around on the roof. Was she repotting plants?

“I’ll help you, so let’s finish quickly and spar.”

“…”

Dalia looked up at me as if she couldn’t believe it, but I squatted down next to her as she held a gardening trowel, and immediately brought over another flowerpot and placed it beside her.

Hayun made a small laughing sound as if she found it ridiculous, then did the same.

Dalia stared at me blankly for a while.