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I might look like this, but I was pretty serious about it.

Up until now, I had avoided those annoying people at school as much as I could, but when it came to those who directly attacked me, I managed to handle it one way or another.

Of course, no one actually hit me. If they did and someone snitched to the teacher, that would be trouble. So, I did my best to make them bump into each other or get tangled up in their own punches, so they would be too embarrassed to talk about it later.

It might not be something to brag about, but I do have some decent athletic skills, even if I look like this.

I may not be taller than the average man, but compared to the average height for women, I’m quite tall. Plus, I have enough natural talent to not fall behind.

The ones who ignored me because I was quiet in class became a bit more respectful after being taken down a notch, at least they couldn’t say anything in front of me anymore.

But maybe it’s because of my personality? I completely fell for Dalia’s provocation.

Even if I couldn’t completely win—well, fights don’t end after just one round.

Thinking that, I charged at Dalia—

And it ended in a single blow.

“Ah, so this is how it ends up.”

Seo-hee scratched her head.

I mean, it was fine that I charged in, but Dalia’s casting time was shorter than I expected. About three seconds? Of course, that was possible because the spell she cast wasn’t particularly strong, but debating that didn’t matter since I couldn’t withstand it physically.

“Humph.”

Seemingly irritated by my earlier boast that I could win with just my fists, Dalia turned her back and just walked away, leaving those words behind.

“…That’s annoying.”

“Ji-eun?”

Ha-yoon looked surprised when she heard me mumble.

I lifted my head, scratching it.

“Hey, aren’t you a bit too fearless about this?”

I wish she wouldn’t say it with a smile.

It was ridiculous to see someone act like they were admiring a commendable junior. Did she think I was on her side?

Well, I guess I kind of was, in a way.

“Are you okay?”

As I awkwardly got to my feet, Ha-yoon rushed over to support me.

Honestly, I didn’t need any help. Considering how much I got hit—when it comes to damage, I had been hit way more by Seo-hee, and she had landed a lot more hits during our sparring.

But since I appreciated Ha-yoon’s gesture of putting her hand on my arm, I didn’t stop her.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

That’s what I said for now.

“Until you get your wand, don’t charge in carelessly. Even if you look like that, you’re still a Magical Girl. If we really fought for real, you’d be someone I couldn’t afford to take lightly.”

“Still, it’s frustrating.”

Right. I’m the type who can’t stand losing. Of course, if it’s a situation where I absolutely have to compromise, I’ll have to, but this is a Magical Girl organization, and I’m supposed to be one of them.

Naturally, I want to give Dalia a taste of defeat, even if I can’t completely win.

“Hey.”

I called Seo-hee.

“What is it?”

Seo-hee looked like she thought she knew what I was going to say.

“Tell me how Dalia usually fights, and don’t leave anything out if possible.”

“Hahaha!”

Seo-hee laughed heartily as if she found it amusing and exaggeratedly nodded her head.

“Sure! I’ll do my best to tell you everything I can!”

“Ha-yoon, you too.”

“Me, too?”

Ha-yoon asked back, a little flustered.

“You’ve fought her, right? Or at least she would’ve taught you something.”

Since she did that with me, it’s likely she did the same with Ha-yoon. And doesn’t Ha-yoon seem to be the type everyone loves?

Well, I’m not asking for espionage, but I’d appreciate it if she could share what she knows.

“Hmm? Huh?”

As I pulled Ha-yoon a bit closer, she couldn’t handle the closeness and blushed bright red as she yelled.

“Okay, okay, I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!”

Seeing Ha-yoon like that made me smile.

Yeah.

My thoughts have changed quite a bit since coming here.

I used to think I could never be close to Ha-yoon, but now she’s right here beside me. If I can become a Magical Girl, I could stay by her side in the future as well.

Of course, to do that, I’d need to be really skilled.

I’m a little nervous about not having my wand yet, but after all, Iris made her wand in the original story. I can always create one if push comes to shove.

The most important thing is my skills.

Yeah. I have no intention of becoming the leader of the Magical Girls. I don’t want to suffer as if I’m in some overblown position.

But I do want to be the most skilled Magical Girl among them. Even if I still can’t transform properly and don’t have a wand yet.

And that skill doesn’t just come from strength and talent.

“Hey, it looks like your eyes are on fire.”

Seo-hee, who was next to me, said with a laugh.

Even though I fell in that one hit, she seemed to think that merely charging in counted as a hit for me, and she was grinning ear to ear.

I suppose what she finds the most satisfying is that I didn’t give up.

“Come on, let’s go. Tell me everything from now on.”

“Huh? Right now?”

“Yep. I’m going to challenge her again tomorrow.”

Seeing my expression, Ha-yoon sighed deeply and shook her head.

*

The next day.

“Hey.”

As soon as I arrived at the facility, I went straight to find Dalia and start a confrontation.

Sitting in the lounge chair, looking at her smartphone, Dalia glanced at me and frowned.

“What?”

“Do you have time today?”

“What for?”

“To spar.”

“I’m busy.”

Oh, is that what’s coming out of her mouth?

Seems like she’s going to pull the ‘You can’t do it’ attitude. I think that’s far from true, but apparently in Dalia’s mind, I’m on Seo-hee’s side. Does she think that responding to me will only tire her out?

I grabbed a nearby chair and dragged it over to sit in front of Dalia.

“…”

As I sat facing her, Dalia scowled at me again.

“…Are you serious?”

“Of course I’m serious. Didn’t you see me challenge Seo-hee?”

“Well, I saw it.”

Dalia tilted her head as if she didn’t quite understand.

“That’s different, right? I can at least try to land a few hits on her, but if it’s you, I’d just end up knocked out immediately.”

“Who said that? Have you seen me fight her? I bet you only saw me after I improved a bit later.”

I exclaimed, feeling absurd.

“At first, I got knocked out in one hit too! Just like what happened to you! So if I keep charging at you, eventually I’ll get a hit in.”

“…”

Dalia looked at me with a confused expression for a moment.

Then, she wiped the expression away and went back to staring at her smartphone.

I didn’t stop there and moved closer until I was almost knee-to-knee with her.

“Haah.”

Eventually, Dalia let out a deep sigh to let me know she was annoyed.

“Alright, alright. Just give me one good shot, okay? Are you perhaps a masochist?”

“I just like winning.”

“Do you really think you’re going to win?”

“Who fights to lose?”

Dalia rolled her eyes at my reply.

“Okay. You won’t even make it close this time anyway.”

And just like that, it happened again.

*

But that didn’t mean I was about to give up.

The next day, I found myself searching the lounge again.

Dalia wasn’t here this time, maybe because she was trying to avoid me.

“Where’s Dalia?”

“…I don’t know.”

When I asked Delphinium, who was quietly reading a book in the lounge, her reply was that, and I scratched my head a bit awkwardly.

“She might be on the rooftop if it’s Yeon-woo.”

Following behind me, Ha-yoon said as she entered the lounge.

“Yeon-woo?”

“…That’s what you call Dalia, right?”

Ah, that was her name?

Well, that’s not particularly important right now. After all, we weren’t close enough to be on a name basis yet.

Saying that made me feel like a character from a Japanese manga.

I headed straight to the rooftop and, just as Ha-yoon said, there was Dalia.

“I’m busy.”

As if she heard my footsteps, Dalia said.

Indeed, she seemed quite busy today.

Dalia was moving pots around on the rooftop. Is she repotting or something?

“I’ll help you, so hurry up and finish so we can spar.”

“…”

Dalia looked up at me, incredulous, but I didn’t mind and squatted down, leaving her with her trowel, and then brought another pot and set it down next to her.

Ha-yoon snickered softly as if she found it amusing and followed suit.

Dalia watched me in silence for a while, looking utterly bewildered.

 

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