episode_0049

She sensed it.

Hwayoon grasped the meaning behind it.

At first, the children tried not to speak while being mindful. Even those who initially made verbal mistakes seemed to sense something odd about Hwayoon and changed the subject.

“If you don’t speak, I’ll figure it out my own way.”

Upon hearing Hwayoon’s words, they eventually began to spill the story.

In reality, Hwayoon’s only method of “figuring out” now was meeting Jieun, but it seemed like the other party knew that would eventually happen. Perhaps because Hwayoon understood that her thoughts towards Jieun weren’t just about “hostility.”

Their concept of “sensing” was truly about reading between the lines.

So, whether it was bumping shoulders while passing by on the street,

glancing at textbooks,

writing notes and leaving them on desks,

or warning not to call out separately,

since these actions were recounted by the children themselves, she knew they were likely much more condensed than what actually took place.

Glancing at a textbook wouldn’t have been the end of it. They probably didn’t even bother returning it properly. Even tearing it apart wouldn’t be surprising. Hwayoon knew that Jieun put a lot of effort into writing notes in textbooks or notebooks.

The notes surely contained words that shouldn’t be spoken aloud. Even after seeing them, perhaps the response was to discreetly dispose of them elsewhere. Or did it really end with just a note? Could there have been something else included?

Did bumping shoulders truly end with just a physical collision? Wouldn’t there have been unpleasant words following that? Or did it truly end with just words?

The warning not to call out separately was similar.

“….”

Listening to the story, Hwayoon remained silent.

Initially, she was angry. No, not just initially, she was angry throughout. She wanted to stand up and shout right then and there. She wanted to tell them never to come near her again.

However,

If those kids tormented Jieun, did Hwayoon torment her as much as they did?

Jieun, who had endured their torment, faced Hwayoon with an expression that showed no signs of distress.

And the next day, after being hit and hurt by Hwayoon, it was the same.

Perhaps Jieun could endure that torment because she was already accustomed to much greater suffering?

I don’t know how I returned to the classroom and sat down.

The kids who followed me to eat didn’t speak to me all day. Other kids also seemed to have noticed the strange atmosphere and didn’t say anything.

But even after finally having the quiet time I desired for so long, Hwayoon’s heart did not calm down at all.

All of Jieun’s misfortunes were intertwined with Hwayoon.

The reason why Jieun suffered so much as a combatant.

The reason why she was ostracized and tormented by the kids at school.

All for one reason – connected to Hwayoon.

Yet, Hwayoon knew nothing. While Jieun was suffering so much, she knew nothing and simply enjoyed being with Jieun.

Even now, that was the case.

When Jieun defeated the monster, just the fact that she protected Hwayoon made her hope surge fiercely. In that moment, all doubts vanished from her mind.

…But that shouldn’t have been the case.

It couldn’t mean that Jieun forgave Hwayoon.

Moreover, right after that, Jieun was shot. By the very people she helped.

It was understandable to be furious.

No, rather, it was miraculous that no one got hurt in such a situation.

What would Hwayoon have done?

Wouldn’t she have been overwhelmed by intense betrayal, her body losing all strength? Wouldn’t she have lost all hope and been unable to do anything?

We don’t know where Jieun is. But surely, she won’t be in a place where her body and mind are at ease.

And—

—The biggest reason for this was related to Hwayoon.

Because the magical girls didn’t testify about that terrorist incident.

Due to the magical girls’ silence in the face of Jieun’s plight, she ended up being labeled a terrorist.

Even though logically, it was absurd.

A high school student, lacking time in many ways, couldn’t possibly prepare such a huge amount of explosives to destroy a part of the largest compound of the biggest company in the country.

Moreover, Hwayoon witnessed the situation that day. Jieun truly knew nothing.

Some action had to be taken.

Instead of wallowing in self-pity, she had to think of something else—

“Hwayoon.”

Walking absentmindedly, she heard someone calling her from behind.

Iris was standing there when I turned around.

Hayoon blinked.

The place they were in was not inside the school.

Class had ended without them realizing. Hayoon was currently on her way home. Perhaps Jua was in a similar situation.

There were no other kids around. Perhaps they sensed something from Hayoon’s aura and decided not to approach. The thought crossed her mind that maybe the kids she had lunch with today might never come near her again.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

Jua said to Hayoon, who had a blank expression.

Hayoon nodded.

Jua moved first. Hayoon followed silently behind.

The face of a magical girl was already well-known in the vicinity. It was to the extent that people would gather in crowded streets just to catch a glimpse of the “magical girl.”

However, this was not the case near the school. Since her face was already quite familiar, people’s interest was significantly lower. It wasn’t as easy for stalkers to emerge. This was because magical girls were, quite literally, “magical girls.”

Those who could stalk even after witnessing battles were either individuals confident in their physical abilities or those backed by some sort of power. Just like the stalker from last time.

Where Jua led Hayoon was a café near the school.

At this hour, there were usually many students overlapping during dismissal time.

Hayoon herself didn’t usually go to cafes alone, but she had been going home with Jieun every day.

However, the place Jua guided them to was not very crowded.

In fact, it was a place without even a signboard.

“It’s upstairs, and unless you know someone, you can’t come up. But it’s not a suspicious place, so don’t worry.”

Jua said so and casually gestured towards a table in the corner.

It was quite far from the window.

There were a few students inside, but most seemed to be alone or in pairs. They were all unfamiliar faces.

In addition to students, there were also a few adults, all sitting separately. They weren’t looking around or talking to anyone. Each person either closed their eyes and listened to the café’s music or looked at their smartphones or read books.

“A place like this…”

“It’s a place that’s hard to come to if you don’t hear about it from someone else. Most of the people here are just peculiar individuals.”

“…”

Hayoon’s eyes widened at Jua’s words.

The café interior was a bit dim. It wasn’t gloomy, but the lighting was low.

Behind the counter where orders were taken, there were shelves filled with old LP records.

“I didn’t expect a place like this near the school.”

“Probably because it’s near the school.”

Jua said so and placed her bag on the seat, then turned around.

“…What would you like to drink? We only have coffee anyway.”

“…I’ll have whatever you recommend.”

Upon Hayoon’s response, Jua shrugged her shoulders.

*

Hayoon didn’t know much about coffee. In fact, unless she was with Jieun, she rarely drank it separately.

Personally, she didn’t particularly like bitter things.

Even so, she knew how to drink based on the atmosphere, but she didn’t know how good the coffee Jua brought was.

“How is it?”

“It’s good.”

Hayoon replied to Jua.

Jua didn’t show any particular reaction to her answer. It was as if that was an expected evaluation.

“…”

She was relieved that she didn’t say she didn’t like it, thinking so.

Jua’s expression changed slightly.

It wasn’t the usual somewhat playful expression; it seemed more serious and contemplative.

As Hayoon waited for her to speak without saying anything, Jua opened her mouth.

“What do you think of Jung Jieun?”

“Huh?”

Hayoon had a moment of confusion at Jua’s sudden question.

“I don’t think you just consider her as one of many friends.”

Jua said, staring at Hayoon intently.

“…”

Hayoon tried to guess Jua’s intentions.

Jua gazed at Hayoon with a slightly furrowed brow.

It seemed a bit annoyed, making it difficult to easily discern the underlying emotions. It was a look Jua often wore.

“Well, it’s fine. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. Your reaction just now is enough.”

Saying so, Jua leaned against the chair attached to the wall, crossing her legs.

Hayoon felt a little uneasy.

Jua had recognized Jieun as a combatant. She had identified her by the mark on her helmet.

And Hayoon already knew that their relationship was not particularly good, having heard Jua muttering after the battle.

Therefore, if Jua were to express hostility towards Jieun, Hayoon couldn’t act otherwise.

Juah looked around a bit.

No one seemed interested in this matter.

However, perhaps feeling a bit uneasy nonetheless, she untangled her crossed legs, leaned forward slightly, and glanced at Hayoon.

The expression she saw this time was different from before.

Slightly anxious.

Why would she change her expression like that for just a moment? Hayoon speculated that it might have been an attempt at acting that failed. Juah had done that sort of thing occasionally.

“…Will things continue as they are?”

Juah asked with a serious expression.

“…As they are?”

“Exactly. We all know.”

It was only after hearing that much that Hayoon could understand Juah’s words.

So, Juah was talking about Jieun right now.

“We all know everything, don’t we? Logically, she couldn’t be causing such terror.”

That was true. Everyone knew.

For an ordinary high school student, especially one who almost always found herself in situations where group living was nearly compulsory, obtaining that level of explosive material was impossible.

“But still, we’re not saying she’s not capable of that.”

“….”

After a brief pause, Juah spoke up.

“If we were truly righteous beings, wouldn’t it be natural to reveal such things?”

Hayoon thought Juah wasn’t blaming her but rather counseling her.

Magical girls have parts they find disagreeable about each other. Delphinium and Dahlia’s roles overlap.

Rose is somewhat neutral, but there were still troubles until Hayoon managed to mediate between the bickering Dahlia and Delphinium before entering their circle.

Iris became a magical girl around the same time as Blossom. Naturally, she had to become closest to Blossom.

From the start, Iris always aimed for the top, which made it difficult for her to get close to other magical girls.

But was it because of that stubborn trait?

Iris, or rather Juah, seemed to have been pondering over this for quite some time.

Hayoon remembered Iris’ arrows not hitting the mark at work. Wasn’t it because Iris was contemplating in her own way?

“….”

“I don’t think it’s an easy task, but…”

Juah said with a furrowed brow.

“And yes, if we were to do something like that, we might even lose our circuits… ”

Seeing Juah’s serious expression, Hayoon clenched her teeth.

Juah sometimes grumbled with a dissatisfied expression while working as Iris, and after battles, she would even curse out the combatants believed to be Jieun.

But even so, taking on the role of a magical girl made her genuinely proud. The thought of having that taken away was frightening.

That’s why she must have been contemplating.

“….”

What about Hayoon herself?

She was just making excuses and wallowing in self-pity, not taking any action.

Jieun… was innocent. She was just being pushed into a corner and struggling with all her might.

If they were to blame Jieun in her current situation, then those surrounding Jieun were the ones truly at fault.

The Federation.

The company.

And themselves working within it.

“….Got it.”

Hayoon nodded.

“Let’s find a way. But as you said. If we act without warning, we might end up returning the circuits. We might not even be called magical girls anymore, and instead, we might become the target of people’s scorn.”

If Hayoon were to speak the truth and thus become the target of others’ scorn…

Could that also be considered unjust?

No, she thought.

She had been hiding the truth just like Hayoon. Simply out of fear, out of an inability to think differently, she kept postponing it.

If one more day passed, Jieun would suffer for another day.

Now, arguing over forgiveness or whatever was pointless.

Why was she thinking these thoughts now?

…Perhaps, she realized that she was included in the words spoken by the kids who tormented Jieun.

One-sided violence, and neglect.

Quitting being a magical girl was terrifying. Despite this and that, it was because of that that she could meet her parents’ expectations and that other kids didn’t harass her.

The reason people were kind when speaking to her, the reason those cautiously approaching her for conversation treated her gently—all of it was because of that.

But she didn’t want to lose Jieun forever.

And she didn’t like the idea of weighing Jieun’s existence against what else she had.

That’s why.

“Got it. Let’s do that.”

“Yes?”

Even though she was the one who spoke first, Jooa looked extremely surprised when Haeun said those words.

“But things will change a lot from the moment we start talking.”

Haeun said seriously, looking at Jooa.

“Whether people believe it or not, just by saying it, there will be those who believe it. It might even spark debates on various broadcasts.”

“….”

Jooa’s face turned pale.

It was a conceivable story. Above all, if you think about the facts, not speaking from the beginning was also wrong.

“But before we speak, we should ask others too.”

Haeun said calmly.

Being a magical girl isn’t just about Haeun and Jooa.

So, they couldn’t speak on behalf of the entire ‘magical girl’ group.

“If someone opposes, then what?”

“…Then we should talk separately from everyone else.”

At Haeun’s words, Jooa fell silent.

“Maybe not everyone can be together. If you’re not on the speaking side, you might be able to maintain the position of a magical girl.”

“But…”

“This isn’t about seeking eternal oblivion.”

Haeun said that.

Jooa gazed at Haeun in silence for a while.

Then she nodded.

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Let’s talk to everyone first, and then decide.”

Haeun said, raising her coffee cup.

The taste of the coffee felt unusually bitter as it rose on her tongue.

*

On the way home after parting with Haeun,

Jooa tried to organize her complicated thoughts.

One side of her wanted to speak first, wondering why Haeun had to make the decision.

“….”

She didn’t really want to believe it, but perhaps Jooa was hoping that Haeun would intervene.

To focus on resolving the incident first, even if her words seemed unreasonable, and to argue for Jiyeon’s innocence in court, wherever it may be.

…But she knew that ultimately, that too would be an escape.

As time passed, the innocent would suffer more and more. And as time went on, the possibility of the innocent not remaining innocent would increase.

So far, no one has died because of Jiyeon.

Illegal entry or property damage is much better than murder. Moreover, once the truth is revealed, public opinion would criticize the rest more than Jiyeon.

Why is it acceptable for vigilantes like magical girls, essentially illegal and different from the police, to exist?

Because NuArc Corporation is perceived as a corrupt company by the public, and it is allowed to act for the sake of those suffering underneath.

Moreover, being able to deal with monsters that occasionally appear without victims—even without killing them—was possible because they were magical girls.

She knew this, which is why she told Haeun.

“…Was it all about creating accomplices in the end?”

She thought she was contemplating it herself.

In reality, maybe she just wanted someone else to make the decision she desired.

To pass it on to someone she acknowledged…

Jooa walked in silence for a while, then suddenly remembered Jiyeon, the ‘magical girl.’

She overlaid the image of the fierce combatant she had encountered so far.

“….”

It seemed to fit somehow. The posture, the specific parts.

Jooa wasn’t one to easily acknowledge others. She often thought they were rigid and lacked flexibility.

But every time she faced that combatant, she wanted to defeat her decisively.

Despite being defeated multiple times, despite being crushed, the fact that she kept getting up made her somewhat admirable.

It wasn’t because of positive feelings, but sometimes when she didn’t appear, she found herself thinking, even if briefly, “Did she give up?”

…Yes.

It wasn’t just because of outward appearances.

Even in this situation, what came to mind was not giving up and continuing to fight.

“….”

She couldn’t express the emotions rising within her.

She was still anxious. She still didn’t like the situation.

Once all the facts come to light, they would have to acknowledge that they were just ordinary citizens like the ones they had chased away and assaulted many times, just like Jiyeon, who never gave up.

And among them, there were individuals with dreams just as significant as magical girls, something she hadn’t even considered.

But even so.

Deep down inside, Jooa couldn’t turn away from that stubborn, obstinate side of herself.

Jooa shuddered slightly.

She couldn’t imagine what would happen next.

Ultimately, what bothered her the most was that she couldn’t stick to her own thoughts and ended up leaving the judgment to someone else.