Ch.267IF Side Story: From the Beginning (35)

My grades weren’t at the very top of the school.

Perhaps they would have been if I hadn’t become a Magical Girl.

Even after becoming a Magical Girl, I studied hard and maintained what could be considered above-average performance, but I wasn’t good enough to get a scholarship to an expensive private school.

I suppose my motivation had weakened.

The reason I originally aimed for top grades at school was because I didn’t want to seem even more inferior next to Hayun.

I hated how people would whisper about us being together, thinking our friendship didn’t make sense.

But now, that reason had completely disappeared.

Who in the world would question my friendship with Hayun just because my grades slipped a little?

I was a Magical Girl.

Just like Hayun.

It’s a bit different, but it’s similar to how no one thinks it’s strange when an idol group has members with both good and bad grades.

Of course, I still needed decent grades to get into this school, so I did work hard to maintain my current performance.

“…”

Even so, I couldn’t help but hear the whispers.

But they were different from what I heard in middle school.

Instead of questioning why Hayun and I were friends, they were excited about having two Magical Girls in the same class.

It still wasn’t particularly pleasant whispering, but it was much better than those suspicious looks from before.

“Excuse me.”

Before the teacher came in, while Hayun and I were making small talk, someone suddenly approached us.

“Um, are you Lily and Blossom?”

She asked even though she already knew.

The girl looking down at us was wearing her uniform properly, without shortening it or anything.

But she had quite a few other students gathered around her. She probably enjoyed socializing more than she appeared to.

“…Yes, that’s right.”

I replied, wanting to hear what she had to say.

Hayun was watching the interaction between me and the girl. Hayun was always like this. She had a certain wariness, a wall against new people.

To be precise, it wasn’t wariness toward all new people.

It was caution against people who wanted something from her. Of course, this wasn’t about emotional benefits of friendship or small gifts exchanged casually.

Rather, it was about children who seemed to want family connections, or those who wanted to ride on Hayun’s reputation.

It’s a bit strange—while the latter makes sense, isn’t the former something people our age shouldn’t be thinking about yet?

Well, besides the kids right in front of us now, there were always some with strangely political mindsets even in elementary and middle school.

Maybe because they were too young, their intentions were too transparent to become more than superficially friendly with Hayun.

The girl smiled at my answer and told me her name.

“Since we’re in the same class now, let’s get along for the year.”

She extended her hand to me.

Did I seem more “approachable”?

“Yeah, sure.”

I reached out and shook her hand lightly.

After becoming a Magical Girl, I realized I couldn’t get angry at every single person who approached Hayun.

Besides, some of them, like this girl, approached me first.

It’s exhausting. And among them were some who genuinely approached us because they were our fans. Getting too angry or irritated with them didn’t seem right.

So I chose to get along with everyone in a neutral way. With Hayun included. Of course, Hayun and I carefully made sure we were treated as a set by other kids.

Thanks to that, I, who had been at odds with many classmates until the first semester of middle school, was able to blend in with the other students by second year.

Hayun also seemed more at ease with this approach than completely rejecting everyone, and she managed situations by always sticking to my side in such gatherings.

While being so confident and talkative among other Magical Girls.

…

To be honest.

Well, I did like it. Hayun depending on me.

“I really enjoy watching you two in action! Your outfits are pretty, and Lily, you look so cool when fighting.”

“Jeong Jieun.”

“Huh?”

“My name. It’s Jeong Jieun. Just call me Jieun. I’m not a Magical Girl right now.”

The girl’s face brightened at my words.

Strangely, children seemed to think they’d become closer when told “call me by my name, not my Magical Girl name.”

When I was just saying it because it was less embarrassing.

As we chatted, questions were also directed at Hayun.

Hayun, who had been watching me talk with the others, cautiously joined the conversation. Afterward, she chimed in appropriately so I wouldn’t have to carry the entire conversation myself.

This was a kind of strategy we had developed. To be seen as a set, while also blending in with the other kids enough to avoid conflicts.

While we were exchanging these rather meaningless introductory conversations, the classroom door opened and the teacher entered.

The students quickly returned to their seats.

I made eye contact with Hayun. We both smiled wryly before turning around to sit properly in our seats.

The teacher checked in our direction. That wasn’t just my imagination. I had developed a sense for it during training, and besides, our middle school homeroom teacher had always kept an eye on us too.

For some reason, I wanted to turn around again to make eye contact with Hayun and share another wry smile.

…When they reassign seats, should I try to get the one next to Hayun, even if it’s a bit farther back?

*

“…”

Back in her room, Jihye was deep in thought.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, well.”

Jihye looked at me and said.

“I was wondering if it’s okay to tell my friends that I live in the same place as you.”

“Of course—”

I was about to say “of course it’s okay,” but I abruptly closed my mouth.

Is it really okay?

What was it like in middle school? Come to think of it, we didn’t really share stories about school.

Jihye has many friends and is the type to share various stories. But at the same time, she’s also quite perceptive.

She knew that I hadn’t told Hayun that I lived in an orphanage.

Among Jihye’s elementary and middle school friends, how many knew she lived in an orphanage?

“It’s not okay, is it?”

“…”

I was at a loss for words at Jihye’s question.

She’s right.

This is almost like me imposing something on Jihye. It also meant that she couldn’t comfortably open up about certain things in front of her friends.

Yet Jihye, who had asked the question, didn’t seem bothered at all.

Rather, she had an expression suggesting it was only natural to ask permission because of my position.

“…Um.”

After pondering for a while, I finally spoke.

“I’ll try to find a solution for this issue.”

“Huh? Can you solve it?”

Well, there must be a way, right?

If I look, I’m sure I’ll find something. In various ways.

I scratched my head.

Somehow, Jihye’s expression seemed to brighten a bit, which made me feel even more troubled.

*

“You’re asking if you can live here?”

Cherry spoke as if she’d heard something completely unexpected.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Since I couldn’t change orphanages.

So I thought if I moved out and lived somewhere else, things might be different.

Cherry blinked at me for a while, then opened her mouth.

“Did something happen at the orphanage?”

“No, it’s nothing like that.”

I scratched my head and sighed deeply.

Cherry obviously knew I lived in an orphanage. She had even visited once. She needed to talk with the teachers there.

But she hadn’t told the other kids about it. Cherry was very good at keeping the secrets I asked her to keep.

After thinking briefly, I opened up about the situation.

“I see.”

Cherry spoke as if troubled.

She didn’t laugh or mock me.

As an adult, she was trying to understand my feelings. I’m sure there are children without parents on Cherry’s planet too.

I’ve stopped caring about other aspects of my pride, but I don’t know why I’m still so sensitive about the orphanage.

Am I ashamed of living there?

I’d like to think that’s not the case. The orphanage where I live is a good place. At least, I don’t know about other places.

“I’m sorry. As much as I’d like to help, it would be difficult for you to live here before becoming an adult.”

“I figured as much.”

It’s not a school dormitory, and there are various issues with me being a minor trying to live independently.

“Hmm… let’s think about this together. But, Hayun.”

Cherry looked up at me carefully as she spoke.

“The other kids won’t laugh at you or anything just because you live in an orphanage.”

“…I know.”

I do know.

If it weren’t for Hayun, I would have just been open about it.

Strangely, I just can’t bring myself to say it when I think about Hayun.

“This is difficult.”

Cherry said with a bitter smile.

“It really is.”

I sighed deeply as I replied.