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The youth story on the blue beach hasn’t ended yet.

After Ha-yoon and Ji-hye leaned on me once, Jua naturally came along.

It feels like there’s some kind of order to how they approach me, but in reality, it’s just them coming over whenever they see a chance. Honestly, at this point, I’m starting to feel like I’m using my magical girl powers in a weird way, but questioning that seems a bit silly now.

Still, the odd thing is that Jua’s physical contact wasn’t as overt as the other two’s.

No, I don’t mean to say it wasn’t ‘overt’ at all. Objectively speaking, just lightly touching my hand or grabbing my arm can definitely be seen as overt.

Even though we were the only ones playing on the beach, there was still a shop nearby.

It wasn’t a franchise or anything; honestly, it looked quite rundown, like a local hole-in-the-wall shop that’s almost faded away, but it had all the essentials you’d expect at a tourist spot without any ridiculous prices.

Well, it’s understandable since it’s a place used by public servants. Even if there were no discounts, it makes sense not to overcharge.

It was Jua who tagged along when I went to buy ice cream.

“I feel like the others are being a little considerate of me.”

“…That’s true.”

I’m not sure if that consideration was for me or Jua.

While I was in the changing room, changing into my swimsuit for the third time, Ha-yoon and Ji-hye seemed a bit sorry for me. I mean, if you change that often while going out shopping for clothes, it’s bound to wear you out.

Moreover, I was changing into a swimsuit while I was in the middle of having fun, which made it a bit inconvenient. It’s already tricky to take off regular clothes when they cling to your body, but swimsuits being uniquely designed made it even more confusing.

Even though I changed thinking it was a consideration for everyone, it seemed to weigh on the conscience of those three a bit.

“…”

Did Jua think my silence meant I was giving off cues? She subtly pulled her hand away from mine.

What, does she think I’m in a bad mood or something?

To be honest, changing into the swimsuit was a hassle. It wasn’t behavior I wanted to engage in. It’s simply more comfortable to wear the same thing until the end.

But you know, complaining in this situation seems utterly pointless, right?

Objectively speaking, I was blessed… no, overblessed. Is it really inappropriate to think that the things I experienced right after coming to this world were absolutely inconsequential?

To say I was unhappy with having too many girls who like me is a complaint no one would relate to, no matter who I told.

Moreover, I’m unsure if I should even have such complaints. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable, or want to be alone, and I wonder if I’m spending too much time with all these girls, but in the end, I’m the one hugging them or kissing them.

If I really disliked it, I should’ve turned them down much earlier. Before changing into my swimsuit.

By the way, the swimsuit Jua picked out for me surprisingly resembled ‘casual wear’. I just learned this time that there are swimsuits that look like just regular clothes.

Well, it was still a much shorter pair of shorts and a belly-exposing rash guard, but compared to the other two’s much more revealing swimsuits, this one felt more modest.

Maybe Jua didn’t want to continue in such a manner, but rather wanted to have her own ‘romance’ experience?

“…”

Jua was still hesitating a bit. It seemed she thought I sent a strange message by mentioning consideration; I genuinely meant it as it was.

I just brought it up, thinking it was the kind of atmosphere we were in.

Hmm.

I reached out my hand and firmly grabbed Jua’s hand.

And I pulled her close to me.

In terms of physical contact, what I just did to Jua was completely ‘ordinary’ compared to the actions of the other two.

However, just that alone turned Jua’s face beet red.

More so than Ji-hye, who had just clung to me.

Seeing that reaction made me feel a bit embarrassed, so I threw a comment at her.

“After sharing kisses, you’re suddenly being so cautious?”

“W-wait, isn’t the atmosphere a bit off for that? Can you think about the mood before you speak?”

What’s wrong with the atmosphere?

…

Well, I somewhat get it.

In the end, we walked into the mart without saying another word.

Only after seeing the shopkeeper staring at us as we held hands did I pull my hand away in surprise, and on the way back, we purposely bought loads of ice cream and snacks.

Thanks to that, on the way back, we weren’t holding hands, just each gripping a handle of a plastic bag.

Even now, it was a mystery why that felt so embarrassing.

*

I liked the night sky.

I probably would still feel the same way even after time passes. Even if the stars beyond are occupied by different aliens, I’ll probably feel the same.

Pretty things are pretty, right?

We played joyfully in our swimsuits during the day and grilled meat late into the night.

We nearly finished off the ice cream and snacks we bought earlier. I thought teenage appetites were truly not something to underestimate.

Amidst that, there was a moment where I accidentally spilled ice cream on my chest, and the three of them fussed about wanting to wipe it off for me, which led me to jump straight into the water. But afterwards, the kids just enjoyed splashing around like normal.

Seo-hee kicked a plain inflatable ball, and though it didn’t look special, it hurt quite a bit. Dalia and Delphinium surprisingly didn’t seem to enjoy moving their bodies much.

When I asked Dalia if she was able to swing the wand properly, she knelt down and made me a bit flustered.

After a round of playing and eating like that, by the time everyone was washing up again, I stepped outside just for a moment to catch my breath.

The summer night wasn’t just refreshing, but the sky was so clear it felt unusually cool for summer.

While cracking open and sipping on a sports drink can, I looked up at the stars when I heard footsteps approaching.

“Isn’t this sky magnificent no matter how many times you look up at it?”

“Does it not look like this from your star?”

“Hmm, the atmosphere is a bit thick. Well, there are definitely planets out there where stars are more visible than here.”

Pang-pang responded while chuckling at my comment.

Then she stood beside me and cracked open a drink can just like mine.

“But still, it feels different, doesn’t it?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. When we look at those tiny flickers, the people of this planet imagined what lies beyond the stars. And they didn’t just stop at imagination.”

“Other aliens think the same, right?”

“If we had never been able to use magic, would we have had the same thoughts?”

I believe we would, but it seemed Pang-pang held a different opinion, so I chose to remain silent.

“Isn’t it amazing that we sent navigators out into space differently from you guys? Just considering all those various situations and the outcomes, I think that’s magnificent.”

“…Yeah, I think I understand what you’re trying to say.”

I paused for a moment before asking cautiously,

“By the way, how’s the company doing?”

Pang-pang answered casually, “It’s a mess.”

I felt a hint of guilt upon hearing her tone, which seemed a bit more tired than the last time I had heard it.

“But, I’ve gained a lot.”

“Gained what?”

“After cutting out all sorts of things—like what my country should compensate for, and stuff like cloning humans, apart from all those bizarre technologies left over, there’s actually quite a bit remaining. With that, I’m trying to pursue my dream.”

“Are you going to create a spaceship?”

“Not just any spaceship.”

Pang-pang grinned at me as she spoke.

Then she pointed at the sky with her hand.

“You guys, are just like how the navigators did it.”

“…”

“Ah, did you just think, ‘what significance does that have’?”

“Uh, to be honest?”

“I thought so.”

Pang-pang said while smiling.

“Did you know? The Galactic Federation can sustain itself solely with what exists within the galaxy.”

“That seems likely.”

The energy coming from the stars is enormous.

Just that alone could sustain a civilization for millions of years.

“But that’s why the Galactic Federation has shut off its thinking. They wonder if it’s necessary to go beyond the galaxy.”

“To go beyond the galaxy?”

“More precisely, we’ll send a ‘navigator’. There might be other planets, even if they’re not seen as different galaxies, right?”

“It’ll take hundreds of thousands of years just to get to the neighboring galaxy?”

“Well, I’m not saying we’ll completely ignore Galactic Federation technology. However, we can still carry on the spirit of ‘Voyager.’”

Some say it’s a pointless endeavor, but it’s the noble navigator sent forth out of sheer curiosity.

“Did you hear? When they were taking pictures of space from Earth, they said to take a shot of an empty space, and it turned out that so many galaxies were captured in that shot?”

“…Yeah.”

“So, even if we can’t see all those galaxies—it’s magnificent. That’s what adventure is.”

Pang-pang’s eyes were looking up at the sky.

“I want to continue that adventure. That’s my dream.”

Despite some calling it ‘Earth Buddy’ or ‘a useless endeavor now’, someone remains steadfast in not giving up on that dream.

Right next to me.

“…I see.”

That’s such an embarrassing thing.

“…I’ll support you.”

That was all I could say to Pang-pang.

“Yeah. I’ll definitely make it happen.”

Pang-pang smiled as she replied.

 

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