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No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.

And that’s why Ha-yoon and the other magical girls chased after the two. At first, I only thought it was to ensure their safety. And that was somewhat correct.

Wasn’t there an alien following behind the two? Based on the strength of an ordinary Earthling, an alien is a threatening being. Sometimes, an alien’s punch is more dangerous than an Earthling swinging a rock.

Ji-eun, who could transform, might somehow be able to handle that power, but Ji-hye, being an ordinary Earthling, couldn’t, right?

So it was only natural. Although the other magical girls showed various subtle expressions, it made sense.

Therefore, Ha-yoon didn’t rush in the moment the alien appeared. The opponent wasn’t even a monster, after all.

“…….”

When I saw Ji-eun kissing Ji-hye, for some reason, Rose next to me tightly grabbed my arm and shook her head.

… I really didn’t plan to jump out, honestly.

Ha-yoon had her own convictions.

Ji-eun liked Ha-yoon. If not, the circuit wouldn’t have activated during that kiss.

For Ji-eun, Ha-yoon’s kiss had the power to change the circuit’s color entirely.

So if she said she didn’t like her, wouldn’t that be strange?

But there were a few problems.

Ji-eun didn’t only like Ha-yoon.

For some reason, “kissing” wasn’t special only with Ha-yoon for Ji-eun. She had already kissed two other girls before.

Then, does that mean Ha-yoon merely held that position for Ji-eun?

After spending so long getting to know each other, I thought we had become precious to one another, but it seemed Ha-yoon’s position wasn’t much different from the others.

Thus, it was only natural for her to feel anxious.

Ha-yoon’s feelings for Ji-eun were more than just the feelings one has for a friend.

Was it too late to be certain about it?

No, perhaps it was too late to realize it. I could only slowly come to terms with it after losing the existence of Ji-eun.

So for Ha-yoon, that “thought” was somewhat shocking.

“Isn’t that right, Ji-eun?”

Ha-yoon said to Ji-eun, leaning over the table with both hands.

She wanted to say it. She hoped Ji-eun would realize.

If Ji-eun truly valued Ha-yoon that much, she wished for her to understand that feeling itself.

“……Love.”

Ji-eun murmured.

Her heart skipped a beat at those words.

Much more than when she herself had shouted it out.

Ha-yoon remembered. Ji-eun had already revealed a certain desire towards her.

When Ha-yoon had gotten too close to Ji-eun. And when Ha-yoon lost her confidence regarding Ji-eun.

Both times, Ji-eun had pushed Ha-yoon against the wall, forcing her to think with her face almost touching.

What did Ha-yoon mean to Ji-eun, really?

She had thought about it since they met again. And she could reach a conclusion.

Perhaps Ji-eun also thought of Ha-yoon as a shining being.

Just like Ha-yoon felt looking at Ji-eun, could Ji-eun have thought of Ha-yoon like that as well—

Admiration and jealousy. The various feelings one can possess when observing someone doing something they cannot do themselves.

And perhaps that feeling, which had been buried deep for years, bloomed into love.

“That’s….”

As Ji-eun slightly parted her lips, seemingly overwhelmed by Ha-yoon’s piercing gaze, Ha-yoon felt something very clearly intended to come forth.

And before that word Ha-yoon had spoken could come out—

“Y-Yeah!”

Someone quickly shouted out, standing up like Ha-yoon.

“I-I think, it could be called love! Right?!”

It was Ji-hye.

Just like Ha-yoon—no, even longer, she was a girl who had spent time with Ji-eun.

Just moments ago, she was one of the two who had kissed Ha-yoon.

… Ha-yoon decided not to interrupt Ji-hye’s words, who was another hope for Ji-eun this time.

Persuasiveness comes from objective facts.

For now, it wasn’t the time to fully reveal that sincerity either.

Ha-yoon thought she somewhat understood Ji-eun’s personality.

If she talked that way, Ji-eun would surely push Ha-yoon away. She might think it was just a misunderstanding and try to ensure she had a “better” option.

So, to make it possible for Ji-eun to acknowledge her feelings sincerely, Ha-yoon needed to create an environment where Ji-eun could speak freely about loving her.

“I’m sorry.”

She felt guilty for having such gloomy thoughts. She also felt some guilt towards Ji-hye.

But she couldn’t help it.

Ha-yoon thought that she, too, had this gloomy side.

… Having received so much kindness from Ji-eun until now. While Ha-yoon was unable to reject, Ji-eun had taken the disdain on Ha-yoon’s behalf.

Ji-eun would never think like that, but ultimately, Ha-yoon’s actions weren’t much different from those of a villainess in a romance novel.

Using the weak to advance herself, taking advantage of their gains.

The fact that she wasn’t even aware of that was more sinister.

That’s why Ha-yoon couldn’t outright say she loved her yet. Not until she atoned for those sins.

Ha-yoon couldn’t demand to be told she was loved brazenly.

So, she couldn’t stop Ji-hye, who had done nothing wrong.

All she could do was wait.

… Even so, she was still scheming, slyly trying to ride someone else’s kindness.

She realized that about herself, thanks to Ji-eun.

“So—I’m sorry.”

Ha-yoon thought.

Sly and gloomy, but still unable to give up.

Until her relationship with Ji-eun became one where she could say she “liked” her, she couldn’t stop.

 

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