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“Oh, I see…”

For some reason, Ha-yoon muttered that while staring at the torn part of my clothes until I removed the circuit.

I had no idea what was so “I see.” Her gaze was somewhat unnerving, so I decided just not to ask.

“…”

After separating from me, Jua barely calmed down and was now pitifully watching her evidence of victory vanish.

No, come on, give me a break. You can’t just hold onto your shoulder straps all day. And didn’t you just say sorry a moment ago?

After removing the circuit and returning to my pre-transformation outfit, I let out a light sigh and said, “Jua, your dress is pretty too.”

“Re-really?”

Jua beamed at my compliment.

In terms of being secured around the neck and exposing her shoulders, it wasn’t that different from my outfit.

But still, Jua’s was way more modest. At least her chest didn’t have a hole.

…Wait, it feels a bit inappropriate to call it a hole. In that respect, it’s the same, but I… well, you know.

…

Anyway, it is somewhat of a peculiar outfit, yeah.

Jua twirled around, playfully holding her skirt with both hands.

Hmm.

I should make sure not to show my back carelessly next time.

I’m not exactly sure how to phrase it nicely, but whatever.

Still, I couldn’t help thinking that magical girls wouldn’t be able to transform anymore. We all managed to transform, after all.

Especially for Jua, she seemed to be influenced by me even more than Ha-yoon. If she couldn’t transform like this, it would literally boil down to my fault.

If she had fallen out of the magical girl position because of not being able to transform, I would probably be haunted by guilt for life.

Guilt for a magical girl.

That was something I would have never considered this time last year. I had always felt inferior to the magical girls, and obviously, Ha-yoon was included in that list of mine.

“…”

Ha-yoon had a somewhat sulky, cold expression, but when I gazed at her with a slight smile, her expression immediately softened.

I’m grateful to everyone. I felt like I had grown a little since coming here.

But if anyone deserves my utmost gratitude, it has to be Ha-yoon. I wouldn’t even be here without her.

If there’s a miracle in life, it’s probably the fact that the two of us met and became friends by such coincidence.

Our living environments were completely different, and our interests didn’t overlap much either, yet we ended up meeting like this.

“Today, are the seniors all here?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“Then, let’s have a party! Isn’t it a good day for a celebration? It’s the day the magical girl team is complete!”

“Re-really?”

“Yeah. What kind of magical girl has just three members? It’s common sense that magical girls have five or more in different colors.”

That’s right. Magical girls are like special heroes or transforming robots.

After all, the more there are, the more they can commercialize and sell. If I remember correctly, Rose, Dalia, and Delphinium had related merchandise too.

…Could it be that there’s merch of me too?

Honestly, with my outfit, it wouldn’t be surprising if it had some censorship or at least a 12+ rating on the news.

…

They’ll handle it. It’s not something I need to worry about.

Today is just a fun day.

I felt a bit tired, but not to the extent that I couldn’t munch on snacks.

“Okay, let’s go.”

I grabbed Ha-yoon and Jua’s hands and walked forward.

“Ah, hey…!”

“What? It’s fine to stay transformed. I was like that when I transformed for the first time too. After all, when we fight together, we’ll see each other’s faces, so there’s no need to be shy, right?”

“Y-yeah, you’re right?”

Jua seemed to accept my words oddly well, leaving the circuit alone that she was trying to take off.

Well, it’s fine for me with my front somewhat exposed.

I wonder how Jua will handle it.

Would showing her back on livestream be much of a problem?

…Well, they’ll figure it out on their own.

*

“Oh, so pretty! So bold!”

Seeing Jua’s appearance, Seo-hee exclaimed, making Jua’s face flush even more red.

While playfully poking Seo-hee’s arm, Yeon-woo looked my way.

“…Why?”

“Just, doesn’t it seem like you had an influence on her?”

I couldn’t deny that. Ha-yoon looked kind of irked, but our dress codes were oddly similar.

Jua just had a bit more common sense than I did.

“Didn’t it seem like Jua followed you around as if she were your sister?”

“N-no, we’re the same age!”

It’s not even a few months apart.

Whether I replied in disbelief or not, Seo-hee and Yeon-woo were chattering away.

Then, Chae-yeon quietly approached me.

“…Is that your type?”

“…”

Hmm.

What should I say?

I guess it’s better to just let Jua transform back instead of bringing her up. It seems like my enthusiasm to show the kids caused a misunderstanding.

“No, it’s not.”

I replied.

“So, Ji-eun has that kind of taste…”

“No, that’s not it!”

I slapped Ha-yoon’s arm, who was mumbling to herself beside me.

Looking at me, Ha-yoon chuckled.

…Right, I see now.

Ha-yoon was finally mingling with her friends and starting to speak up.

When I initially came here, I didn’t know what to do, but maybe it was because they all lived with hope.

Or perhaps it was because they’re magical girls.

They could somehow understand each other.

Strangely, even more than in the original.

“…Huh?”

When I came to my senses, all the magical girls were staring at me.

“What?”

As I tilted my head in confusion, the magical girls looked at each other, then back at me.

“It feels like someone should make a speech or something.”

“A speech? But we all know each other’s faces already, right?”

Maybe it would’ve been necessary if we were in a stiff company, but honestly, I really hated that kind of thing. Why would I say “cheers!” with people I don’t even want to get close to?

“And why is everyone looking at me if we’re making a speech? Ha-yoon could easily do it!”

“Me?”

Ha-yoon seemed genuinely surprised at the suggestion.

Huh.

That’s because Ha-yoon was supposed to be the center in the original story—

…

Wait a minute.

“Uh, isn’t it obvious that you’re the one who has to do it?”

Seo-hee asked as if she couldn’t comprehend.

Is that so?

The magical girls’ relationships are “tighter” than in the ‘original.’

And the only thing that changed from the ‘original’ is me. I was an extra in the background that didn’t even exist in the first place, let alone not even having my face shown, but now I’ve integrated myself among the magical girls.

Thinking back, Seo-hee and I got close, and then after I befriended Yeon-woo, the two of them awkwardly bridged the gap in their relationships.

I pulled Chae-yeon closer to me and slotted her between us, and Jua, who had been a bit isolated in the original, had started to follow me around and even transformed based on my appearance.

Ha-yoon had just been quietly present. That was no different from the original.

It was just me, a different me, who was diligently moving around between the magical girls to connect and restore relationships.

Without even realizing it.

“That’s right. The one who fits best in this situation is you.”

Yeon-woo chimed in.

“…Yeah.”

Chae-yeon too.

Jua simply looked up at me with sparkling eyes, without saying anything.

Feeling like I couldn’t refuse this atmosphere, I awkwardly stood up.

“Okay, here. Say a few words!”

For some reason, Jua handed me a 500 ml cola bottle, which seemed to serve as a microphone.

“…Umm.”

I dislike making speeches. When friends gather, we should just talk among ourselves.

Aren’t we still underage to be drinking alcohol anyway?

But.

Well, fine.

I knew well enough what a huge disturbance refusing here would cause. It’s not like I’m completely clueless about the situation.

This event is organized by me, after all.

It’s only natural.

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat.

I was only going to say something minor, but everyone was suddenly looking at me with serious expressions, so I got a little nervous.

“…So, the magical girls have all come together like this.”

I don’t know how they found each other. I’m not sure if they’re not considering adding anyone else or if there simply isn’t any talent left to bring in.

But in any case, we’ve gathered like this.

“Everyone has gotten their own wands now and can transform following their own hopes.”

The seniors already knew how to transform, but it was a bit different for our three juniors.

“Now that we’ve gathered as a true team—let’s do our best moving forward.”

I was about to sit down after saying that when Ha-yoon gently tapped my arm.

“Toast, toast.”

Why are these kids who can’t even drink acting like this?

I grumbled a bit while getting back up from my half-seated position.

Then, I lifted the bottle and said, “For justice!”

“For justice!”

However, the voices that returned were too hearty and joyful, which caught me off guard.

…Oh, I see.

In this place, there’s no moderation.

Everyone, ultimately, was sincere.

…

I was too.

Our eyes met, and Ha-yoon was smiling brightly as if to say “well done,” and I couldn’t help but return the smile.

 

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