Ch.336IF Side Story: From the Beginning (104)

I came to realize I’d be telling this story.

As third year approached… no, I should say after becoming a third year.

The way others looked at me gradually changed.

Until then, things mostly stayed within the boundaries of “friendship.” Well, there were times when they’d slip next to me while I was sleeping, climb on top of me, or suddenly kiss my cheek or lips, but that was about it… though I suppose that already crossed the line of friendship.

Anyway, the gazes directed at me were generally gentle. Even if I couldn’t tell what thoughts lurked behind those faces.

Naturally, our seniors became adults first.

By “adults,” I simply mean they legally came of age. Even after our seniors entered university, our lives didn’t change much.

Actually, we probably saw each other more often. The seniors usually finished their classes much earlier than we did.

“I’m here!”

Yeon-woo would always shout that and rush toward me when I entered headquarters, even though she had finished her morning classes and had been waiting there first.

I thought those words would suit me better, but what could I do if that’s how she wanted to greet me?

“I was here too, you know?”

When Yeon-woo buried my face against her chest and hugged me tight, Seo-hee would say that with exasperation and pull me away from her.

Before I knew it, Chae-yeon would silently come up behind me and hug me.

And when that happened, the junior team would get angry and try to steal me away. Hayun, Jihye, and Ju-a. And somehow Pang Pang had joined them too.

Pang Pang wasn’t a magical girl, but she diligently learned Noir Corporation’s technology and now works in cooperation with Cherry. She even exchanges some technical discussions with James, who’s still in prison. Apparently, she’s steadily developing our technology overall.

Anyway.

I think she spends more time at headquarters than we do. Her working hours don’t seem that long, so maybe the employee benefits are just good?

…Well, if we’re talking about short working hours, we’re practically unemployed too. We are employees? Workers? Something like that, but we generally don’t do much unless there’s an incident that requires magical girls to deploy.

Anyway, that’s how it was.

The seniors tried their best to drill study material into me as a third-year student, and since I had studied diligently throughout my first and second years, I smoothly advanced to the same university as them.

The same went for the other girls who stayed with me. Pang Pang didn’t follow us all the way to university, but she naturally joined us whenever we went out to have fun.

So I became prey that was being well-fattened—but honestly, I enjoyed it.

We went everywhere together. Even when the seniors were in their third year, and when I was in my third year, we enjoyed traveling during every vacation. They’d say that since we had built a solid foundation, we could enjoy three or four days of fun.

Since everyone was beautiful, people’s gazes would turn toward us when we went around in swimsuits. I didn’t particularly enjoy that attention, but it was still fun.

Maybe being magical girls played a part too? We’d quickly run away whenever we noticed someone trying to approach us.

In winter, we’d all go up to the rooftop and enjoy camping that wasn’t quite camping.

Our teenage years, spent like this, were now approaching their final act.

“…Phew.”

I looked up at the sky and exhaled. Rather than sighing, I was just checking if I could see my breath, as it was getting to be that season.

Though it wasn’t yet time for snow, the sky looked strangely clear.

The college entrance exam had passed, and even the results were out. As I mentioned earlier about “passing,” we had nothing left to worry about. At least, there were virtually no more concerns typical of high school students.

“Hehe.”

Hearing that suspicious sound beside me, I turned to find Hayun pressed right against me.

At the bus stop.

We were sitting side by side.

How did we end up sitting here alone together?

I thought about it for a moment.

Right… I had said I wanted to visit the orphanage.

Jihye said she was going to see her mother briefly, and the three seniors seemed to still be at university. Pang Pang happened to have some machinery to fix at headquarters, and Ju-a was apparently sticking by her side.

So somehow, it ended up being just the two of us.

After getting off the bus, we sat at the stop for a while. It seemed like Hayun really wanted to do that.

Although the bench at the bus stop had heating, it wasn’t exactly warm, so we sat pressed tightly against each other.

Hayun gripped my hand firmly. She interlaced her fingers with mine, making sure I couldn’t pull my hand away.

Then she slowly rested her face on my shoulder.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“I’m warm.”

Hayun replied as if she wanted to fully enjoy this moment.

“What about you, Jieun?”

“I’m warm too.”

I answered with a smile.

Fortunately, there was no one walking around us, and no one waiting at the bus stop. Glancing at the information board, I saw that the earliest bus wouldn’t arrive for another 12 minutes.

I leaned slightly toward Hayun.

Her soft hair brushed against my cheek.

“…”

For a while, neither of us spoke.

I wondered if we should be talking more during this rare time alone, but then I thought it didn’t really matter.

Just silently feeling each other’s warmth was pleasant enough. The warmth of Hayun’s hand, the softness of her hair, her quiet breathing. The slight movement of her shoulders with each breath. Every moment was wonderful.

“…Hmm.”

Alright.

With this, should I try to be a little brave?

I lifted my head slightly and turned toward Hayun. My vision filled with pink hair. Hair the color of cherry blossoms, beautiful enough to remind one of spring even in the dead of winter.

“Hayun.”

At my call, Hayun raised her head.

Our eyes were close enough to almost meet.

Usually, it’s Hayun or the other girls who initiate kisses with me. Honestly, I was too surprised to respond properly.

Now that I think about it, I feel sorry. They must have gathered their courage to do that.

I raised one hand and gently held Hayun’s cheek.

Hmm. This feels awkward somehow. Come to think of it, it’s something I rarely do.

Hayun’s cheek felt slightly hot to the touch. And soft. So soft I wanted to keep touching it.

I pinched her cheek lightly.

“Huh?”

Hayun made a strange sound. At the same time, her eyes showed a hint of disappointment. Those cherry blossom-colored eyes filling my vision.

And I seized that moment.

My lips immediately felt warm.

Hayun’s lips are softer than her cheeks. I know this from experiencing it several times already. Hayun regularly targeted my lips, after all. I almost feel like I could identify who’s who just by the sensation.

But right now, what matters is Hayun.

I moved my lips slightly, brushing them against Hayun’s lips from top to bottom. Our breaths mingled. The inside of my mouth warmed a little.

When I pulled back slightly and opened my eyes, Hayun’s large eyes were staring up at me in shock.

“What? Didn’t you like it?”

“Huh? Ah, ah, ah, um, no?”

Hayun stumbled over her words several times before answering.

I smiled.

Then I wrapped both arms around Hayun and hugged her tight.

We were both wearing thick clothes, but this was nice in its own way. It didn’t feel overly clingy, but rather like embracing someone purely out of affection.

A pleasant warmth spread throughout my body.

I gave Hayun’s cheek another quick kiss before letting her go.

“Whew.”

Hayun exhaled again. Her reddened cheeks looked cute.

“…I, really…”

Unlike her usual self, Hayun backed away slightly with an expression full of embarrassment.

We fell into silence again. Like before, it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. But that’s not to say the atmosphere was the same as earlier.

“…Shall we get going?”

After enjoying the quietness for a while, I asked as I stood up.

“Yes.”

Hayun quietly nodded and got up.

We walked slowly toward the orphanage. Toward the place where I used to live.

*

After leaving the orphanage, the first place I settled was, quite boldly, headquarters.

Although I had saved up some money, it was still a bit tight to buy an apartment. Rather than going into debt right away, I decided to save more and become independent in a more stable state. I hugged the teachers once more, exchanged greetings, had a good cry, and then… with some lingering attachment, I left the orphanage.

So while my current situation is technically independence—

“…Um, this is my room.”

For some reason, the girls who usually hung out in the lounge visited my room extremely often.

“Don’t you like it?”

Hayun asked. The other girls occupying the room looked up at me intently.

I smiled wryly.

Well, how could I not like it?