Chapter 61 : The Great Chaotic Christmas Operation

December 21st

“Welcome back! Leader!”

“Welcome back, Hikari-chan!”

“Hikari! Welcome back!”

As soon as I came out through the immigration gate at Narita Airport, I heard my companions calling out to me.

Ichika and Hana were jumping up and down, calling out loudly, while Yuki was waving both hands from a bit further away.

‘I wonder if it’s because I met Ichika in summer. It’s a bit strange to see her in winter clothes.’

I had the impression that Ichika would somehow be running around in short sleeves and shorts even in winter with a runny nose.

Hana was wearing winter clothes and a skirt based on yellow, which seemed to have been chosen by Mrs. Sato, while Ichika was wearing a green sukajan over ripped jeans.

Yuki was wearing the same red coat I saw her in at the park that time, with a red scarf wrapped around her neck.

“I’m back.”

I took a plane from Busan Gimhae Airport and arrived at Narita Airport. I’ve learned from recent travels between countries by plane and warp, but the smell when arriving in each country is subtly different.

As soon as I arrive and smell the different air, I feel ‘Ah, I’m in a different country now.’

…Although this entire world is foreign to me, so everywhere I go gives the impression of being a different land.

It seemed natural to say ‘I’m back’ in the place where Sato Hana, the Sato couple, and Master, whom I’ve known the longest, are.

“Leader! Don’t you have any more of those French snacks left? Kyoko and I ate them all that day!”

“I want Belgian chocolate! Mom said it was really delicious too!”

Ichika and Hana immediately moved on to casual conversation since they had seen me periodically through the domain. It reminded me of when my parents would just say ‘Oh, you’re back’ during military leave, making me smile wryly.

Squeeze

“Hm? What’s wrong, Yuki?”

“Um… welcome back.”

Feeling someone grab my sleeve, I turned around to see Yuki looking at me intently with a truly glad expression.

‘Ah, I’ve only talked to Yuki through messenger.’

I had been wondering whether to tell Yuki about the private room or not, but I felt bad about bringing a new friend in arbitrarily without Ichika, Kyoko, and Hana’s permission, so I didn’t.

‘I kept putting it off once or twice, and then I missed the timing to bring it up because I was busy…’

Also, since Yuki was a celebrity from the 1st friendly match, it didn’t feel right to ask her to meet in the plaza.

Even now, I felt like every passing person was furtively recognizing our group.

“Yeah, I’m back, Yuki.”

“Ooh! [Flame], you really did become friends with the Leader? I wondered what [Alliance’s Shelter] was, but it was a code word you two decided on!”

Ah.

Come to think of it, this is exactly the time when Ichika would have broken away from Fujimoto and the Alliance’s research facility and started a rebellion.

The tragic December.

The Fujimoto Uprising.

Yuki seemed to recall that too, as she looked at Ichika with a slightly pale expression.

“Huh? What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

Ichika laughed with a ‘kuhu’ and rubbed her nose. Hana patted Ichika’s waist.

“…I think Hikari-chan wants you to just move past this topic!”

“Ah, okay okay.”

Hana whispered to Ichika, but it was all audible due to the born 3-star magical girl’s hearing.

“Shall we take the subway?”

“No! Mom said she’d come pick us up by car!”

“Oh really? Where is she waiting?”

“In the parking lot over there. She told me to let her know when Hikari-chan comes out!”

Hana tapped her smartphone a few times and answered cheerfully.

“She said she’ll pick us up at exit 5!”

“I see, thank you, Hana-chan.”

“Mm-hmm! It’s natural because Hikari-chan is my friend!”

Squeeze

Feeling pressure on my sleeve again, I turned around to see Yuki looking at me with restless eyes.

‘Ichika and Hana are my friends, but Yuki doesn’t have much connection with them…’

In the original work, Ichika was a supporting character who appeared to express the brutal atmosphere of Japan, and Hana wasn’t even mentioned.

It’s like going to a university club room with a friend and then the friend leaves to smoke. If I had to compare, Yuki’s current situation would be like that.

‘I’ve never experienced it because I didn’t have friends.’

Understanding Yuki’s awkwardness, I gently held her hand and also held Hana’s hand with my other hand.

“Thank you all for coming. Mrs. Sato is waiting, so let’s go together!”

“Yay!”

“Hikari…!”

Yuki looked at me with slightly moved eyes.

“Huh? If I read the mood, this is the position where I should get a piggyback ride, right?”

Seeing Ichika grinning mischievously, I shifted my backpack to the front and bent down slightly. Ichika ran over with a patter, her ponytail swaying, and jumped on my back.

“Heave-ho, here we go!”

“It’s a bit embarrassing, so let’s go quickly.”

It was such an intense piggyback that my back might have given out if I had my original body, but the body of a born 3-star magical girl handled it easily.

“Pfft, what is this!”

“Ahahahaha!!”

“Hehe…”

We left the airport looking like a strange Bremen Town Musicians, and I could feel people around us watching our appearance with warm smiles.

‘Ever since awakening cause and effect reversal, I can sensitively feel the mental images of those around me even when I don’t want to.’

It was a bit painful when I felt mental images I didn’t particularly want to feel, but I’ve gotten somewhat used to it over the past 3 months.

As we exited through gate 5 in our strange appearance, Mrs. Sato’s car was right in front.

“Hello! I heard you’d be picking us up. Thank you so much.”

“Hoho, it’s nothing. Of course I would when Shirogane-san is here!”

“Huh, I’m sitting in the front.”

“Eh, Ichika always sits in the front!”

Ichika quickly sat in the passenger seat, and in the back seat, Hana sat in the innermost seat, then me, and finally Yuki who got in hesitantly.

“Hehe, Hikari… actually, this is my first time at an airport. It was amazing.”

“Really?”

“Yeah… I’ve never been in my whole life… and… the airport disappeared because of various incidents.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“…Was I too much of a country bumpkin?”

I whispered a reply to Yuki’s sudden words as she fidgeted uncomfortably.

“It would have been my first time too if not for this incident.”

Incheon Airport, Narita Airport, Brussels Airport, Beijing Airport, Gimhae Airport, all of them.

Yuki’s eyes widened slightly at that, then she smiled broadly. Hana tilted her head looking at Yuki like that, then started dozing off again.

‘Hana seems to be the type to fall asleep right away in cars.’

Japanese radio was playing in the car, and outside the window I could see signs in Japanese and roads going in the opposite direction from Korea.

‘…I’m back. To the place I first came to.’

I had forgotten for a moment because of all the things I’d been doing going between Korea, Europe, and China, but <Magical Girl HAZARD> hasn’t even started yet.

Now that I think about how we’ve barely reached the starting point, I felt deflated and looked out the window.

Cars passing on the road.

The road leaving the airport.

‘…Come to think of it, since it’s Wednesday, the cafe would be open.’

“Oh, Shirogane-san, Master asked me to let him know when you arrive!”

“Huh? Master did?”

“Yes! Kyoko-chan and Master said they’d prepare a welcome dinner party at the cafe when Shirogane-san arrives!”

That Kyoko… did she master even the cafe’s meal menu in just 3 months of being there? What a terrifying talent.

‘…It took me a year to get that far.’

I felt a slight sense of inferiority rising.

“I already sent a message.”

Ichika, who had been fiddling with her phone in the front seat, said nonchalantly.

“What about Yuki?”

“Huh?”

“What do you want to do, Yuki?”

“The cafe…? Is it okay for me to go? Isn’t it a place run by Hikari’s acquaintance?”

Yuki asked back, tilting her head.

“It might be a place you know too, Yuki.”

“…Huh?”

Yuki thought for a moment, then looked at me in surprise.

“No way…?!”

“Yes.”

Squeeze

Yuki habitually grasped my sleeve and showed agitated eyes.

The place where Yuki received somewhat humane treatment when she returned to Japan from the domain of death in the original work.

…And the place that was tragically destroyed after the appearance of the trial demons.

It was that cafe where I used to work now.

“It’s okay.”

“…”

“It’ll be fine.”

“…Okay.”

Yuki, who had been a bit startled, seemed to have calmed down as the grip on my sleeve loosened slightly.

“Let’s go together. Master will surely welcome you warmly.”

“…Okay.”

Yuki calmed down while lightly holding my hand.

Her hand was very cold.

“…”

“…”

Mrs. Sato and Ichika glanced at us, seeming to pretend not to notice Yuki’s bewilderment. It’s understandable for Mrs. Sato, but Ichika isn’t actually oblivious, so I wonder why she sometimes acts so foolishly?

Our car drove past Narita Airport to Yokohama where the cafe is located.

In front of the cafe we finally arrived at, Kyoko was standing with her orange bridge-colored hair fluttering, wearing Master’s signature black apron over her waitress uniform.

“Leader! I have become the official successor of this cafe!”

“…What?! Really?! No way!!”

I couldn’t get out of the green apprentice apron for 2 years!

I was so surprised that I looked at Master, but Master gave me a look as if to say ‘Why are you asking about something so obvious?’

“…Welcome back.”

“Is it really true, Master?!”

“…She had talent. I’m getting on in years too, you know.”

“But no matter how you look at it, Kyoko?!”

“She’s much better than you. She’s about to get additional confectionery and baking certifications too.”

…Overcome by an inexplicable sense of defeat, I trembled for a while, unable to enter the cafe.

3 months.

In just 3 months, she surpassed my 2 years of experience.

Damn it.