Ch.335IF Side Story: From the Beginning (103)

Although Pang Pang wasn’t a Magical Girl, she often came to visit our headquarters.

While there were quite a few restricted areas for civilians, it wasn’t particularly inconvenient for us to hang out. Most of the restricted areas were places we Magical Girls rarely needed to enter anyway.

“How have you been lately? Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah. If anything, I’m gaining weight since I’m not working.”

Pang Pang answered my question with a smile.

She’s still a bit awkward with the other Magical Girls. Well, that makes sense since she only ever hung out with Hayun and me.

But that relationship is gradually improving.

She used to be a Combatant, and while she’s the granddaughter of the Noir Corporation chairman, she was at the very bottom of the hierarchy until the end of her time as a Combatant. When I was at my weakest, she was the one who delivered a powerful flying kick while the other Magical Girls couldn’t do anything.

“I’m learning a lot of different things.”

Pang Pang said.

“Mostly about how to run a company. Honestly, it’s pretty tough trying to cram all this information into my head when I’ve barely studied any of it before.”

I smiled at that and handed her a can of coffee.

Of course it would be difficult. I’ve never once thought high school classes were easy. Running a major corporation must require much more effort.

“I’ve found something I want to do.”

Pang Pang took a sip of coffee and spoke to me as I opened a can of cola.

“Something you want to do?”

“A dream.”

Pang Pang looked at me with a smile.

She doesn’t seem drunk yet. So this is probably a conversation she’s having while completely sober.

“I want to become an astronaut.”

“Right, you mentioned that before, didn’t you?”

I recalled our previous conversation and smiled as I spoke.

“Now that you’re rich, are you planning to build a spaceship?”

“Yeah. But I want to go somewhere different, not places others already know about.”

“Somewhere different? There are still plenty of places in this galaxy that no one has visited.”

The galaxy is vast and empty. Even though the sky seems full of stars, the distances between them are typically enormous. In the past, it would have been “unreachable even if you traveled for an eternity.”

Even now, these are places absolutely inaccessible without technology.

“But still, being first is nice, right? Like Earth’s astronauts were. If I’m going to have a dream, I want it to be big.”

Seeing her face gradually turning red, I wondered if this conversation was still happening while she was sober.

“…There are a lot of different technologies. Things that Noir Corporation has been researching.”

“I’m sure there are.”

Technologies that only Earthlings living on Earth could develop.

“And maybe, I might find a way to reach other galaxies. It would probably take a long time, but I think it’s definitely possible.”

“Really?”

So that’s what she meant by being first.

“Is that too far-fetched?”

“To be honest, I wouldn’t know.”

I truly knew absolutely nothing about space technology.

However.

“But if it’s possible, then it’s possible.”

“Yeah. Exactly.”

Pang Pang said.

“If, in a few years, when I become an adult and can properly run Noir Corporation.”

Pang Pang looked at me with a serious expression and asked.

“Could you maybe help me a little?”

“Sure, why not.”

No harm in that.

I’m also confident that Pang Pang wouldn’t use my power for anything strange.

“Great. I’d like to visit other galaxies too.”

There are probably countless life forms living in those galaxies too. Just like there were countless life forms we didn’t know about within the night sky we used to look up at.

“Really?!”

Pang Pang exclaimed with a bright red face.

“I can at least help a friend achieve her dream.”

“That’s awesome!”

Is she completely drunk now? Judging by how red her face has become, it seems like it.

The fact that she hugged me tightly and gave me five consecutive kisses on the cheek confirms it.

*

Jihye and I used to be together almost all the time, but after I became a Magical Girl, that time decreased a bit.

It wasn’t like I had completely moved out, but I was spending more time outside.

I thought we’d spend more time together now that she’s also become a Magical Girl, but since Jihye found her family again, we actually ended up having less time to meet.

Though if I had to compare, it’s about the same amount of time I spend with the other girls.

“How are things with your mother these days?”

“To be honest, it’s still a bit awkward.”

Jihye said.

But her expression was clearly smiling.

If it were me, I wouldn’t have been able to view that person so positively.

While she did make some effort to find her daughter, the fact that she didn’t really search until after the church collapsed suggests she hadn’t been looking for her before then.

It’s only because neither of us had been adopted that Jihye can meet her like this without any issues. If she had been adopted into another family, it would have been quite confusing.

As it was for me.

But that’s not something I should bring up in front of Jihye. People can have different thoughts, after all.

Besides…

Yes, to be honest. I’m just a little jealous. That person must be treating Jihye extremely well.

So that “awkwardness” she mentioned is probably just the unfamiliarity of having a family for the first time, the awkwardness of being in a different environment.

“But I’m happy.”

“I see.”

Jihye has found hope. The hope of having a family.

Since Jihye’s power was created in the form of “protecting,” having someone to protect must be a joyful thing. That’s how I decided to interpret it.

“But it’s not as joyful as being with you. It’s a different kind of happiness.”

Jihye’s sudden comment caught me by surprise.

As I sat up in bed, Jihye was already jumping onto my bed.

“It’s okay. I won’t eat you.”

Many people come into my room, but the only one who climbs on top of me like this— ah, there is one, but, um.

“I told my mom I’d be staying out tonight, so is it okay if I sleep here today?”

Jihye obviously has her own room prepared, but I understand what she’s asking.

“Like when we were little. Is that okay?”

“We didn’t sleep this close when we were little.”

“Come on, no need to worry about such small details.”

Jihye said with a smile.

Well, I guess it doesn’t matter.

After Jihye left the orphanage, we didn’t have much time like this anyway.

Seeing Jihye snuggle up next to me made me wonder if she had some other motive, but she really did just sleep.

Fortunate… I guess?

*

It wasn’t fortunate.

The complicated feeling I had was because Hayun came to mind.

Didn’t I mention there was one more person besides Jihye who had come into my bed? That was Hayun.

She had stayed over once before, and now it seems Jihye must have bragged about it to Hayun, resulting in this situation.

But maybe because I’d experienced it once before.

I was surprisingly calm. Have I reached the point where I don’t mind girls getting into my bed?

…No, that definitely doesn’t seem right.

“…”

Looking up at the ceiling, I felt a bit annoyed at Hayun, who was holding onto my arm.

My heart feels like it’s about to burst, yet she’s sleeping so peacefully.

“Hey, Hayun.”

So, I called out to her.

“Hmm?”

“Have I ever told you about my dream?”

“Dream?”

Hayun’s eyes suddenly opened. Was she not sleeping?

Well, I guess it doesn’t matter.

“Yeah. My dream.”

“What kind of dream was it?”

“…”

What should I say?

After thinking for a bit, I suddenly realized there was no need to hide it anymore.

My dream has come true.

I’ll continue to have dreams in the future, but at least that particular dream I had.

“To stand beside you.”

Hayun was like a star shining above me.

I know she has ordinary aspects too. A normal girl who gets hurt, feels pain, and worries.

But at the same time, Hayun was always someone who never gave up.

She was good at everything, yet never too arrogant. A wonderful girl who remained friends with me.

That’s why I wanted to stand beside her.

Especially after learning that this world was like a webtoon.

I was even jealous back then.

“…”

Hayun suddenly went quiet.

Then, she closed her eyes as if she had fallen asleep.

“Hayun?”

Judging by how red her face is, she’s definitely not sleeping.

A bit of light from outside the window illuminates Hayun’s face, and I can see her eyelids twitching.

“…Me too.”

Hayun said softly.

“Huh?”

“You were my dream too.”

“…Hayun?”

There was no response.

Hayun continued to pretend to be asleep with her eyes closed.

“…Ha.”

I let out a small laugh and lay facing Hayun.

Then I slowly moved closer and pressed my forehead against hers.

Hayun’s body trembled slightly.

I was her dream, she said.

It was an answer that left me with many questions, but it made me happy nonetheless.

I can ask her about the reason later.

We have plenty of time left anyway.

Just because a dream comes true doesn’t mean the dream ends.

If that’s the case, all that’s left is to continue that dream.

“…Good night, Hayun.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Hayun softly replied to my words.

I think I’ll have a good dream tonight.

A dream probably not much different from my “everyday life” these days.