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I’ve gained a few advantages by kissing Ha-yoon in front of others.

First of all, no one wants to come close to me anymore.

I mean, sure, there weren’t many to begin with, but now it’s a whole different situation.

Before, it was more like “I’m avoiding you because you’re gross,” but now it’s more like “I’m staying away because you’re scary.”

It’s almost as if I’m giving off the vibe that I might pounce on them. Even if not literally, they probably think I might suddenly kiss or confess my feelings.

Even though I’m in this… situation, I wouldn’t just randomly approach any girl. If we really analyze the situation, it’s more accurate to say that I got tangled up with some others first, and that’s how it ended up like this.

Besides, it kinda bothers me that they seem to think I have no preferences at all.

I don’t like it, but… seeing that they’re not even attempting to approach me, maybe it’s for the best.

And this situation doesn’t only apply to me.

I’m not sure if I should call it fortunate, but at least none of the kids trying to get close to Ha-yoon see her as a sexual target.

The safety bubble that applies to me also applies to Ha-yoon, so now, no one talks carelessly to her.

Does Ha-yoon not see it?

It’s absolutely not like she kisses anyone indiscriminately. It’s good that no one seems to realize that.

Ha-yoon seems to think of it as a comfortable situation anyway. She’s not exactly the most socially adept person, so maybe this is better for her.

And it’s not like we don’t have friends.

*

Lunchtime.

We went outside together.

The school grounds were so spacious that the people who built this school didn’t really know what else to do with it, so they kind of made it like a park.

Normally, there would have been a group nearby waiting for an opportunity to join in on our conversation while sneaking glances, wanting to talk to Ha-yoon. But not now.

As if they were scared we might eat them, they scattered like mice in front of a cat the moment we entered the park. Their movement was almost artistic, and the two of us couldn’t help but chuckle.

I was the first one to sit on the bench.

Ha-yoon followed. It was as if she was waiting for me to sit first, as she snuggled right up next to me.

Hmm.

Surely, I would’ve kept a little distance if it were me. Not that Ha-yoon was uncomfortable, but, well, you know… When you want to relax, there should be a bit of space between two people.

Unfortunately, I’ve never dated anyone in my past life, so I’m not too good at this kind of distance. And Ha-yoon doesn’t have an ex-boyfriend either, so it’s not like she’s well-versed in it either. For now… I just let Ha-yoon do her thing.

Isn’t that only natural?

There’s no reason to fend off someone like Ha-yoon approaching me. Sure, I can’t cross certain lines, but still.

What a strange situation. I sometimes don’t hold back from pressing my lips to Ha-yoon’s face, yet I find it oddly embarrassing to sit so close to her.

…Maybe it’s because the attack power in different areas is different, just like now.

Feeling each other’s body warmth is, in many ways, quite embarrassing. I’m not just talking about staring into each other’s eyes or hugging. It’s like how we’re sitting so tightly next to each other.

Moreover, we’re wearing school uniforms, and it’s not winter, so my legs are just plain bare beneath the skirt. Same goes for Ha-yoon.

Ha-yoon clings to me, wrapping her arms around my waist like an octopus, with her cheeks already resting above my chest.

I cautiously rested my hand on Ha-yoon’s shoulder and pressed my cheek against her hair. The pink hair that looks like it could be dyed is actually just a natural color found from time to time in this world, and it felt wonderfully soft. I kept bringing my cheek closer, feeling her warmth against me.

Ha-yoon smelled like me. Naturally, we both use the same shampoo and body wash every morning.

“…”

Is this okay?

If people living in the same place are people who like each other, can’t you just call that cohabitation? At least it feels a bit different from just two same-gender friends living together to save on rent.

Hmm, no. I decided not to think like that. If I think like that, I’ll end up as a scandalous person for having a housemate in the room I shared with a friend from the orphanage.

Not to mention that the ‘friend’ I’ve shared a sisterly bond since we were very little is now a ‘housemate’ feels a bit precarious.

Oh my, to bring in another housemate while already living with someone, that’s a whole level of scandal.

So I forcibly twisted my thoughts, deciding to just think of it as ‘living together.’

As I was savoring the faint scent of flowers, Ha-yoon’s head shifted slightly.

When I pulled back a bit, Ha-yoon’s cheek, previously stuck to my chest, fell away. That part was already slightly damp with sweat. It wasn’t wet enough to be big deal, but it was slightly moist.

They say the heart is on the left side, right? Well, anatomically speaking, it’s “slightly to the left of the center,” but literarily, it’s often referred to as such.

I’m not sure if the sound would carry because of the fat covering my chest, but thinking about that symbolism made that damp spot strangely impactful.

Coming back to myself, I saw Ha-yoon smiling while slightly blushing on her cheeks.

It felt like she was intentionally teasing me. It was a look that someone who knows I tend to get flustered with such antics would give.

My face instinctively changed.

I pulled my arm that was wrapped around Ha-yoon’s shoulder, tugging her closer to me, causing her already close body to move even more inward. My torso twisted slightly, pulling Ha-yoon’s upper body towards me as well. My own upper body followed suit.

I felt part of my body being pressed slightly. Ha-yoon was feeling the same way.

And our lips met.

“Uhm!?”

Ha-yoon’s body jolted from the sudden attack. If she were a cat, her tail would have puffed up.

Feeling a bit satisfied with such a reaction, I wrapped my other arm around Ha-yoon’s back, pulling her even closer.

I indulged in that warmth. Lips and body.

While I can’t stand ticklish sensations, I wonder what allows me to take such bold actions.

Well, my personality has generally been like that. I’d just been too shy to push forward with Ha-yoon, yet I wouldn’t hesitate to create complications with other guys who approached her for different reasons. It seemed I couldn’t let anyone bother me.

So, I guess that’s how it just was.

Our lips parted, and I could feel Ha-yoon exhaling softly.

As my strength left my arms, Ha-yoon swiftly fell back.

Then, she covered her cheeks with both hands. But even with both hands, she couldn’t hide the bright red flush on her face. It wasn’t just her cheeks turning red.

As I tilted my head slightly to get a better look at her face, Ha-yoon lowered her head further, hiding her face like a rabbit in a burrow. It looked unexpectedly cute.

A cat-and-rabbit combination, how could that not be adorable?

Just as we were enjoying our little world—

Thud.

I felt something plop down beside me.

Was my startled expression similar to the surprised one that Ha-yoon had earlier?

Looking to the side, I saw a cat sitting there.

The silent cat was purple. It had no tail and tied back its hair in a ponytail. The reason I call it a ponytail is because its hairstyle truly resembled a ‘ponytail.’

It had a similar hairstyle to Ha-yoon’s.

This was Iris, the purple magical girl who admired Ha-yoon in the original story.

The pouty expression it wore could also be likened to a cat. It seemed to have a rather grumpy demeanor.

Like it didn’t want to just stand by and watch our time together.

“How did you sneak up on us without making a sound?”

No answer came.

I guess she flew over or something. On her wrist was a circuit. Unlike Rose, Dalia, and Delphinium, who were still using their hope circuits, Jua had received the same kind of circuit that I, Ha-yoon, and Ji-hye used.

The fact that Jua had genuine feelings towards me at least serves as proof that they aren’t fake.

Was she in such a hurry to find us that she came without transforming?

Right. The reason girls avoid me is not simply because I act like that only with Ha-yoon, as I mentioned earlier. It’s not often that Jua and I are seen together alone at school, and while I’ve never been one to suddenly pounce on Jua to kiss her, kids always knew about it through the news.

After the ‘magical girls’ became independent and formed a new organization, the newspapers had been buzzing about it for a while about our relationships.

I knew there were a lot of people looking at us sideways. Honestly, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to have that kind of view. In modern society, monogamy is considered default in quite a few countries, including Korea, and even if the counterpart is of the same gender, that ‘basic’ concept doesn’t change that much.

While they didn’t state it outright in the news, it seems the kids thought I was involved with Rose, Dalia, Delphinium, and Ji-hye altogether. Still, I can confidently say it hasn’t gone that far.

…

Anyway.

“…”

Jua, who had been sitting silently with no answer, shifted closer to me, almost touching my thigh.

But as my body shifted outwards, we ended up with a distance of about three centimeters between our shoulders.

It wasn’t my intention to move away. Ha-yoon had wrapped her arms tightly around my waist and pulled me to her side.

Of course, Jua refused to give up. Even back in the magical girl days, her persistence was unrivaled.

Bump.

Jua edged closer to me again, while I shifted sideways along with Ha-yoon.

After a few repeats of that back and forth, Ha-yoon finally came to a stop at the edge of the bench.

But of course, Jua didn’t stop, so I found myself wedged right between the two.

“…”

“…”

I’d rather they at least say something.

Ha-yoon had her chin resting on the dampened area above my chest, glaring at Jua.

Jua’s eyes, which had been directed at me, shifted away. It seemed that facing off with Ha-yoon was a bit daunting for her.

Well, considering how close things were getting, it was understandable that Jua might be hesitant to have her chin resting on my chest as well.

But that didn’t mean she was ready to give up.

Jua looped her arms through mine, linking them together, and placed her face on my right shoulder.

Her naturally-colored purple hair smelled wonderful. That floral scent was also similar to my own.

In the end, I ended up in an awkward situation where I couldn’t go either way. I might be able to pull off kissing Jua and stepping back like I did with Ha-yoon, but right now, I couldn’t bring myself to do that.

Having already pressed my lips against Ha-yoon’s, Jua and I were feeling a strange form of embarrassment, preventing us from moving any further.

Jua was really doing her best, but…

“Impressive.”

In the end, stuck between the two, I heard those words.

I spotted someone with red hair in the distance.

Holding a sandwich with ham and egg salad in one hand, she strolled over leisurely.

Then, she plopped down on the bench facing us and took a big bite of the sandwich, wearing an expression as though she was observing us.

“Isn’t lunchtime meant for eating lunch? This kind of illicit… same-sex interaction? Hm, I don’t think that’s what lunchtime is for, right?”

“When did you start caring about school rules?”

As I responded in disbelief, Rose burst out laughing.

And amidst that, Ha-yoon and Jua showed no signs of breaking away from me.

“Where are Dalia and Delphinium?”

“They went to the library for a moment, looking for something. But despite how I appear, I’m a social butterfly, so I didn’t want to eat a sandwich alone. So I went out looking for my junior friends.”

Isn’t she a third-year? Shouldn’t she be studying for the entrance exam?

Well, the reason she can hardly focus on it lies mostly with me, so I can’t exactly say anything about that.

“Ji-hye might be a bit sad, huh?”

“…”

At that comment, I glared at Rose. She shrugged her shoulders and took another bite of her sandwich.

Ji-hye… she’s already been showing off more than Ha-yoon or Jua.

Just let someone point it out.

I ought to be cautious about considering what I can actually do at this point.

 

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