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Yeon-woo.

Lee Yeon-woo.

That was Dalia’s name.

“How could I spend months without even knowing your name?”

On the way back, on the bus, Dalia—no, Yeon-woo—asked that.

I thought it was a somewhat androgynous name, but the more I thought about it, the more it suited her. Dalia’s appearance as a Magical Girl was rather flashy, and I remember she was quite popular with the girls. However, when she wasn’t in her Magical Girl outfit, she looked somewhat boyish and lively.

It’s not like she had short hair, but her appearance gave that impression, indicating just how spirited she was. Then again, Seo-hee was like that too.

On the way back, there were many people vying for the seat beside me. Well, that was to be expected. Somehow, there were already three people who liked me, and Pang-pang had sneaked in to compete as well.

The fact that Yeon-woo ended up sitting next to me was purely coincidental. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing for Yeon-woo or not. From watching their conversations, it seemed like Yeon-woo was closest to Seo-hee.

Still, considering how relaxed she looked sitting next to me, it didn’t seem like she had a bad impression of me.

If not, she probably would have looked like she was about to die when her seat was drawn next to mine.

“… Right. I find it a bit strange too.”

I replied like that, then said, “No, but we never actually introduced ourselves.”

That’s true.

Given that my mental state wasn’t great and the Magical Girls were cautious around me, we hadn’t had many conversations at all.

“I thought you would at least know the Magical Girl’s names since you’re friends with Ha-yoon.”

“Even if we’re friends, we don’t go around saying each other’s names one by one.”

I wasn’t really a fan of the Magical Girls from the start.

So, this wasn’t exactly a good story, but I treated the Magical Girls as just ‘Magical Girls.’ The only one I interacted with on a personal level was Ha-yoon.

So I never thought to learn their real names.

Thinking about it like that made me feel a bit empty about the time that had passed. It was as if everything I had aimed for was meaningless.

… No, that’s not it.

Rather, it’s just that I’ve only now begun to realize that those I had such hostility toward were, in fact, just the same as me.

“Well, isn’t it good that you found out now?”

Dalia said that while rummaging through her bag.

Then she pulled out a chocolate bar.

“Do you want this?”

Her demeanor of passing me a chocolate bar without any trace of previous resentment came off as so natural that I ended up chuckling a bit.

*

Not long after that, it was summer vacation.

I was fond of summer break.

Starting next year, I would properly enter preparation for the entrance exams, and I knew my free time was bound to decline.

So, little did I know that this summer vacation would be my last one. It was my last chance to enjoy a leisurely time before I had to recover the disastrous first semester grades for various reasons and prepare for the exam to get into a good university.

No matter how late, I had to start preparing from winter break onwards.

So I thought I should enjoy this summer vacation—

“Hey, junior!”

As I arrived at the promised place, a now-familiar red-haired girl waved her hand energetically at me.

“… What’s this? I’m sure I promised to meet with Ha-yoon.”

“Hmm? Disappointed it’s not Ha-yoon?”

Seo-hee came over, putting an arm around my shoulder.

Now that I notice, Seo-hee seemed slightly taller than me. Just by a tiny bit, but enough to notice.

“Of course, I’m disappointed.”

I replied decisively.

If I hadn’t gone out last time, I don’t think I would’ve said this much. Considering how I had treated these Magical Girls until now, it felt a bit shameless.

However, after spending time chatting during our last outing, I realized that these girls didn’t harbor any bad feelings toward me at all.

Magical Girls are indeed Magical Girls. They can truly shake off negative emotions like it’s nothing.

Seeing my answer mixed with playful banter, Seo-hee brushed it off with laughter.

I think, even if it really was a negative response, Seo-hee would just laugh it off. That’s how she is.

“So, why did you older girls call for me? You don’t seem worried about the exams at all.”

“Of course I’m worried about them, but it’s not to the point where I’m overly concerned, junior. Our first-semester grades didn’t totally tank.”

“…”

Well, that’s… impressive.

I can’t say I completely bombed it either. But my grades did take a bit of a hit. Enough that I couldn’t just let my guard down completely.

“And Magical Girls have their own ways of dealing with such things. You’ll learn when you reach your third year. You’ll probably get contacted by various universities.”

Yeon-woo said.

“Really?”

That’s a bit tempting.

“… You look intrigued.”

And Delphinium pointed out my expression.

Delphinium. Her name is Jeong Chae-yeon. I only just found that out last time.

I could’ve looked it up later and pretended to know, but I didn’t want to. Now that we’ve become friends, I figured it was better to introduce ourselves directly.

“What’s with that face?”

Seeing my expression, Yeon-woo laughed and poked my cheek.

“So it looked like you didn’t want to become a Magical Girl, but now you seem intrigued? Don’t you think you’re glad you became one, Magical Girl?”

…

I can’t deny it, which was a bit irritating.

“Ah, whatever.”

I gently pushed her hand away as I spoke.

“So what are you older girls planning to do? Since I know you’re all relaxed, I think I’ll just follow along.”

Saying this, I realized how much my guard had lowered.

Though, considering that Ha-yoon had introduced me to these older girls, everyone around me probably knew how much I had relaxed.

When I hung out with Ha-yoon, I usually paid for our food.

Ha-yoon didn’t know I lived in the orphanage.

Well, I didn’t treat her to anything extravagant. Just burgers or café drinks, or cheap and simple food. Mostly food that students would enjoy.

As a typical middle school girl, Ha-yoon eagerly ate those kinds of foods. Maybe those weren’t things she could easily get at her house. Some of the things she said were food she had never tried before.

Ha-yoon returned the favor with gifts. She had given me a ton of CDs from our house.

But, well.

I didn’t want to act all high and mighty here. It’s not that I dislike the seniors.

It’s just that, how should I put it…

I’m the junior here.

Up until now, I hadn’t had anyone I could treat like seniors, and now I was meeting them for the first time.

In this kind of gathering, isn’t it okay for the junior to get a little something to eat?

“… Your junior’s expression.”

Delphinium, no, Chae-yeon pointed at my face.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

When I asked, dumbfounded, Chae-yeon stared at me intensely. Her blue hair and pale face made her look almost like she wasn’t Asian.

Her expression wasn’t very rich. She was also considerably shorter than me. Anyone could mistake her for a first-year student.

“… The expression of someone wanting to leech off the seniors.”

“Ah.”

With her words that seemed to see right into my mind, I involuntarily admired her, then hurriedly shut my mouth.

But my reaction only made my feelings get summed up even more clearly.

“Oh my, what’s this? You were complaining, but in the end, you’re secretly looking forward to it, aren’t you?”

Yeon-woo poked my cheek again.

“No, I really didn’t come here knowing seniors would be around.”

I felt a bit unjust since I had brought some money with me. Not that I had any particular intention to spend it, though.

“Haha, don’t worry about it, junior. We didn’t come here to starve you out, you know.”

Seo-hee said that while placing her hand back on my shoulder.

Ugh.

I often let Ha-yoon or Ji-hye place their hands on me, but it felt a bit hard to adapt now that it was someone else.

Besides, now that the prejudice against Magical Girls had disappeared, seeing them, I only concluded that they were just ‘pretty girl friends.’

Given that there were already many who were showing interest in me around here, if I thought that way, Ha-yoon, Ji-hye, Jua, and Pang-pang would probably be shocked.

…

Eh, whatever.

I just decided to stop thinking.

“So, if you called the junior here, you must have thought about where to take me, right, seniors?”

“Oh, right. That’s a junior’s attitude, uh-huh.”

For some reason, my response didn’t even phase Seo-hee at all.

She even seemed a bit pleased.

Why?

“Ha-yoon would never have reacted like a junior.”

Yeon-woo said.

“… Even though she’s younger, she acted like an older sister.”

Chae-yeon chimed in beside her.

…

Oh.

I think I just stepped on a landmine.

But by the time I was thinking that, Seo-hee, who had her arm around my shoulder, was already pulling me to another place.

…

Well, whatever.

Since it had come to this, I might as well enjoy myself.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

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