Ch.263IF Side Story: From the Beginning (31)

I’m not, like, an attention seeker or anything.

Actually, I don’t really enjoy getting attention normally. You know how sometimes you suddenly become the center of attention in class? People staring at you for no real reason. I hate that kind of attention. That’s why I was always dragging Hayun outside the school building.

But this kind of attention, how should I put it?

The way a fan looks at you—it wasn’t so bad.

If there was someone who remembered me even though I’d just started my activities, and someone who remembered that what I do isn’t meaningless, then…

I accepted the white board and pen that Pang Pang brought after running into her room, and thought for a moment.

I’d never even thought about autographs before, so I wasn’t sure how to—

Wait a second.

“Isn’t this an actual autograph board?”

I didn’t know the exact name, but anyway, one of those sturdy boards.

“Ah, yes!”

Pang Pang nodded with a smile.

“I bought tons after coming to Earth. For days like this when I meet famous people!”

“…”

Well, I guess.

If that’s why she came to Earth, it makes sense. She did have quite a few Earth-related items in her room.

It’s kind of funny to call them “Earth-related items.” I mean, anything you buy to live on Earth would technically be an Earth-related item.

I held the autograph board, thinking for a moment, then just scribbled my name however I could. You know, to make it look like a celebrity’s signature.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the creativity to make a cute signature like idols do. All that remained on the board was a large, hastily written “Happy Lily.”

When I handed it back to Pang Pang, she received it with a bright face and started jumping up and down.

“…”

For some reason, Hayun was staring blankly at the autograph board in Pang Pang’s hand with her mouth open.

Why?

“Ah.”

Only after catching my gaze did Hayun start moving her hand, writing “Happy Cherry Blossom” on an autograph board just like I had.

Pang Pang was delighted to receive that one too.

“Ah, since you came all this way, would it be okay if I offered you a small treat?”

Is that okay?

I thought for a moment.

Very briefly, some unpleasant thoughts crossed my mind.

I’d heard that celebrities sometimes encounter ridiculous types of stalkers. There were all sorts of creepy and disturbing rumors, so it wouldn’t be strange if something bad happened.

What were the chances of actually running into that “celebrity” while drunk?

Could my address have been leaked somehow?

Only after these thoughts did I feel a chill run down my spine.

That’s right. Celebrities’ homes can be exposed more easily than you’d think. Information about which celebrity lives in which apartment complex is often just a quick internet search away.

At least Hayun would have fewer problems with that. She probably lives in a huge house in a wealthy neighborhood. The other magical girls didn’t seem to have this problem either.

But my situation is different.

I live in an orphanage.

It’s a secure place, and since children live there, outsiders can’t easily enter. But that also means if a strange stalker did get in, the damage could be significant.

Moreover, if where I live appeared on TV or something, Hayun would find out too.

“Jieun?”

As I was lost in thought, Hayun called my name.

Blinking back to reality, I looked at Pang Pang in front of me again.

She was fidgeting a bit. From her perspective, she was standing in front of someone equivalent to a celebrity, not knowing how that person was judging her.

Was she the same age as us?

She couldn’t have been on Earth for very long, no matter how you look at it. She must really love Earth to come here at such a young age.

There was no evidence of stalking right now—it was just my paranoia, so I decided not to treat her that way.

Since she’d come all the way to this country, I hoped she’d leave with a good impression.

“I’m fine with it, but what about you, Hayun?”

When I asked, Hayun nodded.

“Yeah. If it’s just for a little while.”

At Hayun’s words, we took off our shoes and went inside.

The place was just a studio apartment. The semi-basement studio wasn’t as small as I expected. If there was something suspicious in here, it would have to be that she was hiding some strange ability and was actually a kaijin. Well, in that case, wouldn’t it be polite to let ourselves be attacked?

*

After listening to her story, it seemed like Pang Pang really was interested in us.

To be precise, in the three junior magical girls.

“That hammer was amazing!” Pang Pang said.

“From what I heard, the wand follows the user’s mental image, so did you imagine that hammer? It was efficient and cool!”

Watching her spread her arms like a child while saying that made me feel a bit strange.

Had I really been that impressive?

In reality, everyone had run away before I even hit anyone.

I picked up the glass in front of me and drank. It contained orange juice.

“It wasn’t made that way. It was manufactured as separate equipment. Though my power did go into the head part.”

“That’s so cool…”

Even though I said something that might have shattered her fantasy, Pang Pang didn’t seem to mind.

“I didn’t make it though.”

“The pink sword was cool too. It looked like something from a movie.”

At Pang Pang’s words, Hayun’s face turned slightly red.

“By the way, how long are you going to keep using formal speech?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, we’re the same age. So I don’t think there’s any need to be so formal.”

We’re all middle schoolers, right? Wouldn’t it be less awkward to use casual speech from the first meeting? Unless we were in different grades, but Pang Pang said she was the same age as us in Earth years.

“Oh, yeah, should I?”

Pang Pang immediately accepted my suggestion.

“Anyway, you were cool. I’ve been watching since your debut.”

“…Really?”

I started feeling a bit strange.

She wasn’t a stalker, but from what she was saying, I seemed to be the most important to her. Could she be my biggest fan or something?

Maybe we’ll meet again as the president of a fan club? That’s assuming magical girls even have fan clubs.

“…”

Hayun was still sitting quietly beside me. She would occasionally sip her orange juice, but seemed deep in thought.

“Hayun?”

I called out to her, wondering if she was uncomfortable.

“Oh, yes!?”

Hayun was startled a bit too much. The juice in her cup almost spilled over.

I pulled out a tissue from the table and handed it to her. As Hayun wiped her hands, she said:

“Ah, that… Jieun.”

“Yes?”

“Have we ever exchanged autographs with each other?”

“Autograph exchange?”

I’d never even thought about it.

It’s not that I thought it was useless or anything, but…

Literally, I’d never thought about it. I just made my first signature when I gave Pang Pang my first autograph a little while ago.

“Then, would you like to exchange autographs with each other?”

“Oh, should we? Then, next time when we all get together.”

But hearing Hayun’s suggestion, it made sense.

We’re all magical girls, aren’t we? From what I’ve heard, we’re similar to idols.

Exchanging autographs and keeping them would make nice memories.

…Is that too girlish a thought? Well, Hayun suggested it first, so it’s natural if it’s natural.

“L-let’s do it here.”

“Huh? Just the two of us?”

“If we practice signing a lot first, we can make them more stylish next time.”

But even if we do a lot, this would only be the second one.

Still, whatever.

Since Hayun wanted to do it, I agreed.

“Oh, here you go.”

Pang Pang, being quick-witted, handed each of us another autograph board. I shrugged, took it, and scribbled my signature on it again.

Yeah, Hayun was right. The shape changed from the first time, but the lines were smoother.

“Here.”

“Thanks, Jieun.”

For some reason, Hayun received my autograph with both hands respectfully, as if it was something precious.

“Here.”

Hayun also handed me her autograph.

I took it.

I didn’t think much of it until I held it, but looking at Hayun’s round handwriting made my heart flutter.

“Thanks. I’ll treasure it.”

That’s what I said.

“Yes!”

Hayun nodded with a bright smile, and I found myself blushing, momentarily forgetting there was someone else in the room besides us.

“Ahem.”

Finally returning to reality, I cleared my throat.

“Well… should we head back now? Thanks for the juice.”

As I said that and got up from my seat a bit hastily, Pang Pang also stood up and smiled.

“Thank you for today too! Come visit again sometime!”

“…”

Um, well.

I’m not sure if that’s okay, but…

Well, if we’re friends, I guess there’s nothing strange about it.