Chapter 93 : Intimacy (2) Part-1

Jo-ah lay on her neatly made bed in her room, located at the end of the hallway in the office building, lost in thought for a moment.

According to Jieun’s observation, Jo-ah’s response had been somewhat out of the ordinary.

It wasn’t that she had never displayed similar reactions to her other coworkers before.

Interestingly enough, Rose seemed to view Jo-ah’s personality as an open invitation for teasing, often pushing her buttons and causing her to react with frustration.

However, as time passed, the teasing gradually decreased, and they eventually found a way to interact somewhat harmoniously.

Nevertheless, Jo-ah couldn’t shake the feeling that the impact of Jieun’s words on her was unlike anything she had experienced before.

Jieun’s comments were not intended to target Jo-ah’s vulnerabilities.

They were delivered in a matter-of-fact manner, almost as if spoken without regard for the circumstances. Surprisingly, there was no ill intent or malice evident in her words.

Reflecting on the situation, it became clear that Jieun had made those remarks strategically during the heat of battle in order to exploit a weakness in the opponent’s defense.

In combat, individuals with average abilities found themselves at a significant disadvantage against more skilled adversaries.

They naturally had to strategize ways to create openings in order to successfully land attacks or secure an escape in combat situations. It was difficult to discern any ill intentions from Jieun in this context.

Additionally, unlike a few days ago when Jieun had not been wearing proper undergarments during a similar scenario, Iris was properly attired at that moment.

The question arose: if Jieun teased Iris outside of combat, what underlying meaning or intentions could be driving this behavior?

Judging by her expression, it didn’t seem to be “just teasing.”

Perhaps it was Jieun’s way of expressing familiarity.

Jo-ah wasn’t sure how or when Jieun came to regard her as “close.”

“Jo-ah,” Hayoon called out.

Jo-ah found herself with idle time and a restless mind, so she settled onto the plastic mat as the evening crept in, contemplating her thoughts in the quiet of the campsite.

Just then, Hayoon approached her, prompting Jo-ah to sit up and meet her gaze, immediately noticing the gravity etched on Hayoon’s features.

The intensity of Hayoon’s expression sent a wave of unease through Jo-ah; she knew that this demeanor was reserved for situations of utmost importance.

With no one else in sight, the surrounding area felt oddly empty.

Although not completely devoid of other campers, the lack of immediate company pushed individuals to seek out their own space for moments of solitude.

The only respite available was within Jieun’s tent, encouraging everyone to maintain some distance for their own personal reflection and peace of mind.

Luckily, the campsite was spacious enough to accommodate these moments of solitude amidst the communal setting.

It appeared that whoever had previously resided in this house must have been a solitary individual, as the structure consisted of one large room.

In one corner, Rose was seen stretching her limbs, trying to ease the tension in her muscles.

Dahlia was deeply engrossed in her thoughts, carefully examining the freshly harvested crops that lay before her.

Delphinium was meticulously jotting down tiny notes in her book, her focused expression indicating that she was thoroughly absorbed in her task.

Meanwhile, James and Cherry seemed to be occupied inside the nearby tent.

Although Jo-ah had not verified, it was evident that Jieun’s bag was crammed with various items, suggesting that they may have been on a scavenger hunt for parts in the vicinity.

Regarding Jieun, she had accompanied them back earlier but opted not to head home right away.

Instead, she expressed a desire to linger and enjoy the breeze a little longer.

It seemed as though she had made the effort to alleviate Hayoon’s concerns.

Being a magical girl, her physical abilities surpassed those of an ordinary individual, including her heightened sense of hearing.

If they were to converse in this location, Jieun would most likely catch every word spoken—but it needed to be a dialogue that she wouldn’t object to overhearing.

“Yes, go ahead,” Jo-ah said, sitting up with a serious expression.

Hayoon nodded.

“You were with Jieun earlier, right?”

Jo-ah felt a sense of relief knowing that Jieun was not present in the situation.

Had Jieun been there, Hayoon might not have broached the topic at hand.

The discussion seemed to revolve around the idea of possibly changing the portrayal of magical girls.

The outlook for the future was still uncertain, and there seemed to be no superior alternatives to the current strategies in place.

As someone with a certain level of authority, Hayoon’s words held significant influence.

However, the subsequent question posed by Hayoon caught Jo-ah off guard, as she had been deeply engrossed in the issue at hand.

“She didn’t talk about me, did she?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, was Jieun there because of me?”

Jo-ah tried to grasp the meaning behind Hayoon’s words.

The answer came quickly.

So they did fight.

Jieun must have run off after a fight, and Hayoon was asking because of that.

“She didn’t say anything specific.”

What should she do in this situation?

Jo-ah had no experience mediating between others.

Within the magical girl group, Jo-ah had always been the one fighting, not resolving conflicts.

While it wasn’t ideal for Hayoon and Jieun to be at odds, what could she say to resolve it when she herself knew so little about Jieun?

Jo-ah thought about Hayoon too.

“So, it’s not because of me, right?”

No, it probably was because of Hayoon.

Even though Jo-ah wasn’t particularly interested in interpersonal relationships, she could tell that much.

However… she didn’t recall seeing them have any major fights.

People don’t always need to yell to fight, and since the two were often alone in places where others couldn’t see them, it was possible they had fought without anyone knowing.

“Probably not,” Jo-ah replied.

She didn’t know how to mediate conflicts, but she knew at least not to escalate their argument.

Besides, neither Jieun nor Hayoon seemed inclined to reveal they had fought, so Jo-ah decided to pretend she didn’t know.

Watching Hayoon breathe a sigh of relief, Jo-ah found herself a little puzzled by Jieun’s reaction.

“Hayoon.”

“Hmm?”

When Jo-ah called her name, Hayoon looked at her with a somewhat more relaxed expression than before.

But Hayoon quickly lost her composure again at Jo-ah’s next question.

“Do you like Jieun?”

“Li… L-L-L-Like…?!”

Saying it so abruptly might not have been the best idea.

Of course, Hayoon’s reaction to Jo-ah’s single sentence was full-on panic.

Knowing what she was likely to say next, Jo-ah refrained from pointing it out to avoid embarrassing her further.

“Like her? What do you mean by that?!”

Hayoon barely managed to finish her sentence before Jo-ah interrupted her with a probing question.

The tension in the plastic tent was palpable, and Jo-ah couldn’t help but wonder if Jieun, who was just outside, had heard their conversation.

Despite this, Jo-ah decided to push forward and confront Hayoon about her feelings.

“Why are you so flustered? Is it bad if people know you like her?”

Jo-ah asked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence that had settled between them.

Hayoon hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by Jo-ah’s direct question.

“Bad if they know I like her? Of course not—uh…”

Her voice trailed off as she struggled to come up with a response.

Suddenly, Hayoon froze mid-sentence, a look of realization dawning on her face.

It was clear that she had just come to a significant revelation about her own feelings, causing both Jo-ah and Jieun to hold their breath in anticipation of what she would say next.

Jo-ah tilted her head curiously, and before long, Rose, who had approached unnoticed, spoke with a mischievous smile.

“Why would liking her be a problem? Isn’t it normal to say you like your friends?”

“Well, yes, technically that’s true, but doesn’t it sound a little… odd?”

There were far too many unnecessary question marks in her response.

Jo-ah tilted her head again in a different direction, confused.

“Then, Jo-ah, what about you?” Hayoon asked, throwing the question back at her.

Jo-ah felt this was an odd way of avoiding the question.

“What about me?”

“She’s your friend, right? What do you think of Jieun as a friend? Do you like her or dislike her? Pick one.”

Jo-ah found the question slightly absurd.

“Are we close enough to even be considered friends?”

“So, you’re saying you’re not friends?”

Jo-ah’s mind was filled with uncertainty when faced with the follow-up question.

She pondered deeply on the concept of friendship, questioning what it truly meant.

Was it simply the companion your parents nudged you towards spending time with, or perhaps the individual who slyly inquired about your family during casual conversations?

Could it be defined as acquaintance with someone you have a deep understanding of?

Although this definition seemed fitting, Jo-ah couldn’t help but feel that it was somehow altered in a way that she couldn’t quite pinpoint.

Then what about magical girls?

If Hayoon mentions that they consider themselves friends, it is likely that they have a genuine friendship.

Although they do not make concrete plans to hang out, they do have casual conversations when they happen to be in the same vicinity.

This dynamic is consistent with how relationships between other magical girls are as well.

Even if they aren’t as “close” as Hayoon, they’re all in the same organization, risking their lives together.

And since it wasn’t merely for monetary reasons, they could be considered friends.

What about Jieun, then?

Jo-ah thought she had come to know her fairly well—not completely, not her personal life, but at least her identity and fighting style.

They’d even risked their lives together.

While they hadn’t exchanged something as simple as “Let’s be friends,”

Jo-ah began to think, belatedly, that they might indeed be friends.

“Well, if you put it that way, I suppose we could be friends,” Jo-ah said.

“Right? So, how do you feel about her? Like her or dislike her?”

“Well, of course I like…”

…

Wait.