Ch.346Epilogue. And, Family (3)

First, our university.

The seniors got into a good university first, and the rest of us studied hard to attend the same university, eventually succeeding in getting in.

The university is spacious. While not so large that it was impossible to walk around, it was considerably bigger compared to high school or middle school.

Jihye’s mother wandered around the campus with a somewhat dazed expression.

“Mom.”

She was startled by Jihye’s voice and looked in her direction.

Jihye also had an awkward expression. Her face was bright red, and she looked unsure of how to handle using that word.

But still, Jihye didn’t seem to want to give up.

I recalled the brief conversation we had last night.

“Still, I don’t want to give up.”

Jihye had said with a somewhat determined expression.

“Trying and then giving up is better than not doing anything and just letting it pass. If I try and it seems absolutely impossible, then that’s the end of it, but I don’t want to declare it over from the beginning.”

I could only nod at those words.

I had thought it was impossible, but now that possibility was at least within reach. Perhaps it was okay to have some “hope.”

After all, we were Magical Girls.

They don’t link arms or hold hands like close mothers and daughters.

But Jihye and her mother walked quietly, side by side, a few steps ahead of me. I walked a little distance behind them, just listening to their conversation.

Passersby glanced at us. But perhaps because Jihye’s mother was with us, they didn’t approach us easily.

Do they think she’s someone important at the university?

Jihye’s mother was looking around enthusiastically. Her eyes lit up whenever Jihye told her about what she did here or what she ate at this restaurant.

Where did that person live, and how did she spend her time? Did she search for Jihye even at that age?

Although I had heard about the past, since I hadn’t experienced it directly with them, I couldn’t make assumptions in many ways.

My friends also appeared in Jihye’s stories.

Hayun, Seohee, Jua, Yeonwoo, and even Pang Pang. As well as classmates and seniors from the same department.

Long ago, in my previous life when I had a family, my parents would often ask about my friends’ names. Even though they didn’t know their faces and had only briefly seen them once.

When I asked why they wanted to know so badly, they said it was just because it was their son’s business.

“…”

In this world, I haven’t really thought about having a different family.

Because those children who are with me are enough family for me.

“Jieun!”

Jihye suddenly turned toward me and called out.

“Yes?”

I was a bit startled, having missed their conversation while lost in thought.

“Next, we’re going to the high school!”

“High school?”

Is she really planning to go back to the past?

Well, we have plenty of time today, so I can follow them wherever they go.

*

Come to think of it, I’ve rarely visited Jihye’s high school. After the chaos of our first year was completely over, I occasionally came to pick her up, but I never went inside.

Compared to the school I attended, the building was somewhat old, and the facilities seemed a bit lacking.

Now, during the vacation period, there were hardly any students, making it look somewhat desolate.

We couldn’t go inside and just quietly looked in from outside.

“This is the school where I spent three years.”

Jihye said.

“I see.”

“Yes. My middle school is a little distance from here. But I really worked hard. Truly.”

“…I see.”

At Jihye’s words, her mother slightly bowed her head.

She did work hard.

Not just with studies, but in our relationship too, Jihye was always diligent. She eventually became friends with someone as prickly as me, and even when I became a Combatant and ran far away, Jihye couldn’t cut ties with me.

I don’t want to simply attribute it to Jihye’s nature. Saying that would make it seem like Jihye didn’t put in any effort.

“Really…”

Jihye’s mother began speaking with some difficulty.

“Really…”

And then closed her mouth.

Jihye looked at her mother, then turned her gaze slightly elsewhere and said,

“You can just praise me, you know.”

Praise, is it?

I’ve thanked Jihye before. I’ve told her I love her many times. But I… haven’t often praised Jihye.

It’s not that I’m stingy with praise, but rather a difference in the emotions I feel.

If Jihye did something well for me, it was something to be thankful for, not something to praise. I could hug her tightly and tell her I love her, but praise… well, it was a somewhat awkward word between us.

“…You really worked hard. Really…”

Jihye’s mother said with a tearful voice,

“You really… grew up… well…”

That’s all she managed to say.

Jihye cried.

I approached Jihye and gently rubbed her back.

Jihye leaned against me to catch her breath for a moment, then reached out her hand toward her mother.

I’m still not sure if Jihye can forgive her mother. Whether that long empty time can be healed, whether it can continue into the future, I don’t know.

But one thing is certain.

At least, Jihye won’t give up.

She won’t give up on her relationship with the person in front of her. She’ll try to connect, talk, create memories together… and gradually overcome the past.

Just as Jihye has always done.

That’s what I believed.

After all, Jihye was also my hope.

*

After that, the number of visitors to our headquarters increased.

Well, besides the original employees and civil servants, the only “outsiders” who visited were literally just “us,” with Pang Pang being the only exception.

Now there was one more person added to that number. Jihye’s mother.

There still seems to be a slight wall between Jihye and her mother. Jihye doesn’t run up and throw herself into her mother’s arms like she does with me.

But still, spending time together calmly like this was definitely a good sign.

“How’s Jihye doing?”

Hayun, standing next to me, asked.

“She seems to be doing much better than expected.”

We also showed her our children. Upon learning that she had grandchildren she never expected, Jihye’s mother stared at the children for a long time in a daze.

As if they were too beautiful to even touch, she watched from a distance.

The children just smiled brightly at Jihye’s mother.

“Maybe she’ll be able to accept them as family soon.”

Even if Jihye can, I think it might take me a little time to fully accept her. But at least I don’t feel overwhelming hostility, which is fortunate.

“That’s good news.”

Hayun’s face beamed with such genuine emotion that I couldn’t help but smile.

Before I knew it, other girls besides Hayun and me had appeared on the rooftop. Jua was the first to show up, followed by Seohee, Yeonwoo, and Chaeyeon.

They all naturally stood next to us in a row, looking in the direction we were facing.

I guess we were noticeable standing like that.

Jihye, down below, looked up at us.

Even from this distance, I could see her face brighten.

“Jieun!”

Jihye called out to me, waving her arms widely.

I just smiled.

We’re all adults who occasionally drink alcohol and see each other’s naked bodies much more frequently. Kissing, hugging, or even mixing our bodies is nothing.

But even knowing that, Jihye’s smile always looked so pure.

Perhaps purity isn’t just about clinging to such facts.

It’s not simply having childlike thoughts, but sometimes being able to have a child’s positive mindset.

Knowing how to dream, knowing how to smile.

Sometimes expressing what comes from the heart through the body, rather than formal, stiff greetings.

That must be the source of Jihye’s purity.

And perhaps one of the reasons why I could not give up on life in this world.

Jihye’s mother also looked up at us.

I waved to both of them.

Tap tap.

Someone was tapping my arm from beside me.

“What are you doing?”

Jua asked incredulously.

“Let’s go down quickly. Your mother-in-law is here.”

“She could be my mother-in-law too.”

Yeonwoo joked from the side.

…That’s a difficult question.

“Right. Let’s go down.”

Hayun said with a smile.

“We’ll be down soon too.”

“Should we all eat meat together today?”

“…That would be reasonable if we’re all dining together.”

Chaeyeon nodded with a slight smile.

So we decided to do just that.

It’s something we do often. It shouldn’t be a problem to include one more person occasionally.

“Ah, I’ll invite Pang Pang too!”

The others nodded at my words.

I headed toward the stairs with a somewhat joyful heart, almost bouncing as I walked.

Perhaps that purity.

It seems to be contagious.

When I got to the first floor, I saw the two of them approaching. Jihye’s mother looked a bit flustered seeing my face. Well, I had always maintained a serious expression in front of them.

Alright. Then, since I’ve received this gift, let me try using it.

This thing called purity.

“Let’s all eat meat together!”

“Oh, great!”

Jihye smiled at her mother.

There are still many things to resolve. Many things to accept.

But, well, aren’t we Magical Girls? We may have grown a bit older, but the fundamentals haven’t changed.

Always looking toward hope.

So, I decided to look at the hope visible between these two people.

The rest can be worked out between them.

That was the best response I could give, having received the gift of purity from Jihye.

Jihye’s brightly smiling face looks good.

So that I can continue to look at that face for a long, long time.

Because we’re family. All of us.