Ch.303IF Side Story: From the Beginning (71)

“I’ve been thinking about something.”

Seo-hee said while munching on her sandwich.

“I don’t think it would be so bad if we stayed together like this for a while.”

“…Huh?”

It was such an unexpected comment that I stared at Seo-hee.

“Well, after what we did, the company must be on high alert, right? I think it wouldn’t be strange if they tried something.”

“That’s true, but…”

I didn’t think Seo-hee’s words were completely unreasonable.

Noir Corporation is definitely a massive entity. If they weren’t fighting with the Galactic Federation, they’d probably fall into the category of cosmic horror wearing a capitalist skin.

So she’s saying that after what happened, they’ll probably be eager for revenge for a while.

The power plant is here at the headquarters.

I’m not sure if Noir Corporation would actually consider attacking the headquarters, but if we’re talking about ‘possibilities,’ it’s higher now than ever before.

If 1 percent becomes 2 percent, that’s double, right? Though it’s still almost impossible.

“At least while Cherry is researching the power plant, we need people to protect this place. And having just one or two people doesn’t seem right.”

“But we have to go to school.”

“Today is Friday,” Seo-hee said.

“The power plant will only be here until this weekend. Cherry doesn’t think Noir Corporation will make a move right away today. There must be things happening inside that company too. They’ll need to assign responsibility and discipline people. It’s a relationship based on money, right? That executive will definitely be struggling to survive.”

They can’t move large forces to the headquarters right now. The government wouldn’t want that either.

And a few people attacking wouldn’t be enough to defeat us.

Obviously, it wouldn’t mean much if that executive made the decision alone.

In other words, yes. It would be difficult for this place to be attacked while we’re at school today.

“So, what I’m saying is, why don’t we hold out here until the weekend?”

“…”

I looked around at the other kids.

“That’s cool… I mean, that’s a really good idea,” Ju-a said, initially speaking with an excited expression before quickly changing to a serious face. It was obvious she was excited about staying together but tried to be serious about it.

That makes sense.

Still, we can’t just be having fun. There’s also the issue with my and Hayun’s friends.

We’re getting along well for now. And the executive said they couldn’t do whatever they wanted, so we should be safe for now.

But I can’t keep emphasizing that my friends should stay gloomy either, so things have become quite awkward.

“Apart from Ju-a being excited, I think it’s a good idea,” Yeonwoo said, nodding slowly.

“If we’re talking about the most politically dangerous situation we’ve faced as magical girls, it’s probably now.”

“I’m sorry about that,” I replied somewhat weakly. Yeonwoo quickly waved her hands in surprise.

“No, don’t worry about that. It’s not like you did this because you wanted to, right? You did it because you were ordered to.”

Ah, that’s right. I immediately changed my expression.

True. I did have some personal feelings involved. I can’t honestly say there were no emotions when I beat up that executive.

But even so, I was just following the Federation’s orders.

The kids gave bitter smiles seeing my expression change.

“…”

Chaeyeon didn’t say anything, but she didn’t look uncomfortable or express any opposition to our conversation.

I thought for a moment.

“But… still.”

“Still what?” Seo-hee tilted her head at my words.

“If I don’t go home, there are people who will worry about me.”

“…Ah.”

All the kids simultaneously made awkward expressions at my words.

No, I didn’t mean to make them feel that way.

I don’t have blood relatives.

But everyone at the orphanage is like family to me. How close we are varies from person to person, and many don’t keep in touch after leaving the orphanage, but that’s unavoidable.

The teacher and Hayun, who shares a room with me, already treat each other like family.

So, while I don’t have what others would call a normal family, I do have a different kind of family.

“The teacher would probably say it’s fine, but I’m a bit worried about Jihye.”

“Um, Jieun,” Hayun, who had been quietly listening until now, finally spoke up.

Though she had been hanging her head with a blushing face, now she was looking at me with a serious expression.

“Yes?”

“How about bringing Jihye along?”

“Jihye?”

I had a blank expression for a moment.

“Is that okay? Even though…”

She’s still an outsider.

The last time I brought Jihye, we clearly defined where she could and couldn’t go. But is it okay for Jihye to come in a situation where we’re staying overnight?

“Even if we sleep here, we don’t really go to places other than what we showed Jihye last time.”

With Hayun’s explanation, I understood.

That’s true.

Whether we sleep here or not, there’s no reason for us to go into places like the equipment room.

“Won’t it be hard to get permission?”

I asked once more just to be sure.

“I’ll talk to Cherry about that,” Hayun said.

“You just need to bring Jihye after school.”

“…Okay.”

I finally nodded at Hayun’s surprisingly proactive suggestion.

*

“Are you sure it’s not dangerous?”

Jihye asked that several times.

Even though I usually came back home no matter how late I stayed out for magical girl duties, yesterday I stayed out all night.

And I even forgot to notify anyone until late.

Now, they’re asking me to bring Jihye along too, so it’s not strange that she’s worried about whether we need that much protection.

“Dangerous… well, to be honest, I’m not sure.”

Since lying would be problematic in this situation, I answered that way.

“There might be a higher chance of enemies attacking than usual. But that doesn’t mean the possibility is high. It’s just… we took something important from inside there, and it’s so important that we need to protect it.”

“Is it okay for me to be there?”

Is it okay?

If you ask that, of course it’s not okay. But we’ve judged that it’s not dangerous, so Jihye can come, which means it’s ‘not okay, but likely to be okay’ – an ambiguous answer.

If it’s safe enough for Jihye to come, doesn’t that mean I don’t need to be there either?

It doesn’t take long to get there. I could just fly there if needed.

“…”

No matter how I think about it, it still feels like an excuse.

But we’ve already come this far. Everyone else is gathering, and it wouldn’t look good if I’m the only one missing.

“It should be fine. There are many places to evacuate, and above all, there are people who aren’t magical girls there 24 hours a day.”

Only after I said that did Jihye think a bit more and nod.

Jihye, who usually laughs brightly and makes jokes, is now so quiet.

“…It’s okay. You don’t need to be scared even if there are lots of magical girls. I’m a magical girl, right?”

I puffed out my chest as I spoke.

“If anyone bullies you, I’ll get revenge for you!”

“…What are you saying?”

Jihye, who had already met those kids several times, hit my arm lightly as if she couldn’t believe what I was saying.

Well, if that helped improve her mood a little, that’s good. I thought as I let out a small sigh.

*

After packing a few personal items, we headed to the headquarters.

Hayun was already at the headquarters with the other kids. Everyone had brought things from their rooms and placed them in the lounge.

Seeing the pile of blankets next to the sofa, it seems they’re planning to sleep right here.

“Well, if we’re going to move together, we need to be in the same place. I thought about sleeping in the training room instead, but the atmosphere there isn’t the same as here, right?”

I was speechless at Seo-hee’s words.

When she speaks so confidently, what more can I say?

“Will you be okay?”

“Ah, yes. It doesn’t seem too hot here.”

Jihye responded to my question, looking a bit intimidated.

“Come on.”

Seo-hee approached Jihye and patted her back.

“No need to be so scared. Is someone going to eat you?”

Why are you looking at me while saying that?

I let out a deep sigh.

“Well, we’re not going to sleep right now, right? No need to lay out the blankets yet.”

“That’s right. Let’s spend some time relaxing first, and then sleep later.”

Seo-hee smiled and plopped down on the sofa.

“Until then… let’s just rest. We can talk or do whatever. How about that?”

“…Sounds good.”

I nodded in response to Seo-hee’s suggestion.

I don’t know what they’re hoping for by gathering like this, but it’s true that there’s not much else to do right now.