Ch.307IF Side Story: From the Beginning (75)

To be honest, I don’t feel bad about it.

I wasn’t sure how much physical affection between women was considered normal in the world I used to live in, but I think that if they really disliked it, they definitely wouldn’t hug me like this.

However, that doesn’t mean I can get all giddy about it by myself.

The reason is, well, typical of me.

So… yes, I’m embarrassed. Honestly.

I’m more embarrassed about showing that I enjoy being loved than actually being loved by others.

My past self didn’t live a particularly unfortunate life. I think I lived as ordinarily as anyone else. It’s just… how should I put it?

Right. I didn’t have many connections with women.

Besides, they’re much younger than me. Counting my age from my past life, I’m a bit older, and if you add the time I’ve lived in this world, I’m much older.

Even though I’m also a high school student here, I need to draw a line, or I’ll obviously end up confusing myself.

I don’t overestimate myself, after all.

“…Well, fine.”

When I got a bit serious, the girls came to their senses and slowly backed away.

I’m not sure what the other girls’ clothes are like. They don’t look that noticeably affected from the outside.

But my clothes are completely soaked. With sweat. Probably not just mine.

To be honest, it feels a bit uncomfortable.

But I can’t just leave in the middle of hanging out to go shower.

“…”

Feeling it was too quiet, I looked up to see all the girls looking dejected.

Did I come across too stern?

I thought about my attitude toward the girls. I thought I was being appropriately serious and dignified, but thinking about it now, I usually acted more cheerfully with them.

Suddenly putting my arm around their shoulders or challenging them to sparring matches.

So maybe it was a bit scary when I got serious.

“…I mean, um, it’s fine. I was just feeling hot.”

Even to me, it was a strange excuse. Saying I was fine after clearly showing an angry face—it didn’t make sense.

But still, Hayun’s expression brightened again.

“R-right? Yeah, summer’s coming soon.”

“True. Should we get together like this a few times during summer vacation too?”

Seo-hee immediately responded to Hayun’s comment.

“Oh, I’m in favor.”

Yeon-woo raised her hand high above her head.

Though they usually bicker, looking at them now, they’re truly close friends. Or maybe they can bicker precisely because they’re so close.

…Right. They’re close friends. Everyone here. Each one irreplaceable.

That’s why it feels particularly pleasant when these girls rush toward me.

“…”

Chae-yeon silently raised her hand as well.

Then the three of them turned to look at us.

“…Aren’t you seniors going to be second-years? You’ll be college entrance exam students next year. Shouldn’t you start preparing soon?”

“Huh? Of course we’ll be exam students next year. But in terms of our high school life, this year is our peak.”

Yeon-woo immediately countered my words.

“…I’m studying properly.”

Chae-yeon spoke as if she were a junior being lectured. Even though she’s a year ahead of me. Both my senior and a year older.

“That’s right. Despite how we look, we’re all honor students. If we weren’t, our parents wouldn’t have let us become magical girls.”

Seeing Seo-hee speak with a smile, I found it strangely both convincing and unconvincing.

“…I thought your parents made you do it?”

“Not me!”

Ju-a raised her hand high and shouted. Okay, that makes four.

Two magical girls, and Jihye, who I would definitely invite to such events, making three people left.

“Well, it’s obvious that Ju-a really wants to be a magical girl.”

Ju-a seemed to take my words as a compliment and smiled at me.

It is a compliment. …Or is it? I’m not sure. I was just stating a fact.

But at least, it’s true that among us, Ju-a has the heart most suited to being a “magical girl.”

…I wonder how badly the original Ju-a was treated by the other magical girls to undergo such a dark evolution? The current Ju-a is even modifying her bullets in complex ways to minimize injuries to combatants.

No, what’s even more curious is how the other magical girls’ attitudes changed just because I joined.

Ju-a’s attitude was heavily influenced by the other magical girls.

Though it may have started somewhat forcefully, slowly, all these girls changed their hearts.

It’s a good thing. It is, but… I question whether it was because of my help. And at the same time, I’m the only one who changed.

“That makes me feel a bit sad when you put it that way.”

Seo-hee said.

“Thanks to you, we’re enjoying our magical girl lives quite a bit. I’m even grateful to Hayun for bringing you along.”

“…”

As I stared at Seo-hee after hearing those words, she frowned.

“Hey, that doesn’t mean Hayun wasn’t needed, okay? Hayun fights incredibly well, and among us… how should I put it, she’s the most magical girl-like in every way, from her mindset to her outfit.”

At those words, Hayun twisted her body and blushed.

That’s right, isn’t it?

To be honest, I don’t look like a “magical girl.” If anything, I’m not much different from those mercenaries at Noir Corporation.

My outfit is a bit embarrassing, but the weapon in my hand is a war hammer. Something used to smash things.

Or to drive things in.

“So, what you’re saying is, it’s meaningless unless all of us are together, right?”

Yeon-woo said.

“Exactly.”

Seo-hee nodded emphatically.

And even as she spoke, they kept their hands raised high above their heads. Don’t their arms hurt?

“So, this vote isn’t simply about the side with more hands winning. We need everyone to raise their hands for it to proceed. Not a single person can be left out.”

So that’s why they were holding their hands up.

I made eye contact with Hayun.

Hayun smiled with a slightly troubled expression.

But I can distinguish that smile. Even with the same troubled expression, Hayun tends to show clear signs when she wants to do something versus when she doesn’t. Though if asked to explain exactly how I can tell, it might be a bit difficult.

Right now, it’s an expression that says she wants to.

“Alright.”

I raised my hand. Almost simultaneously, Hayun raised hers too.

“See? We definitely need days like this in summer too, right? We could even go somewhere a bit farther.”

“…With Cherry again?”

As if I don’t already have enough to do.

“Cherry can spare two nights and three days. She needs a vacation too.”

“How is looking after kids a vacation?”

I said incredulously, but it seemed my words were already falling on deaf ears.

But our hands were still raised.

“Huh? Eh?”

When we turned our gaze, Jihye looked very flustered.

“M-me too?”

“Just like Hayun always sticks with Jieun, you always stick with Jieun too.”

Yeon-woo said.

“Well, you’re also Jieun’s sister. Wouldn’t it be fun if we could all go together? We welcome close friends joining us.”

“Ah, ah, yes.”

After receiving our gaze, Jihye hesitantly raised her hand.

Seo-hee beamed.

“Great, then. Are we proceeding with this?”

Though I’m not sure exactly how we’re supposed to proceed.

The girls lowered their hands and gathered around the food. The meat was almost gone, and they were now grilling sausages and chicken skewers instead. I wonder when they bought all this.

“…”

I looked up at the sky.

Since the aliens arrived, Earth’s environment has improved significantly. It’s amazing how much better it’s gotten in just a few years.

Fine dust has decreased, and there are more clear days. Summers aren’t getting hotter than before either.

But even in that clearer sky, there were still few stars visible. It can’t be helped. The stars aren’t visible because it’s too bright around here.

Even if we were in the middle of a mountain, Seoul is still Seoul. Because of the lights spread like stars on the ground below, not many stars in the sky were visible. Besides, I’m not even sure if what’s visible is actually stars. Since encountering aliens, many spaceships have been flying through the sky.

Suddenly, I thought of Pang Pang.

Another child I could face without any concern.

…

I wonder what the summer vacation schedule will be like, but if I can rescue Pang Pang before then.

Could I invite Pang Pang too?

What would Pang Pang be like if invited? Since she likes magical girls so much that she asked for an autograph from me, even though I’ve never given one before, she might have a heart attack.

No, since she can smile so normally in front of me, maybe she’d be calm instead.

…Well, I can only think about that after I rescue her.

Alright. I must save her.

One by one, step by step. Gathering clues.

“Jieun!”

Hayun called me, so I lowered my gaze and approached where the girls were.

A delicious smell wafted into my nose. The fact that my stomach was growling even though I had been eating until just a moment ago shows that I’m still a high school student after all.