I Became a New Magical Girl Priest

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Is this really okay?

That thought kept swirling in my head, but I figured that just thinking about it wouldn’t lead to some grand conclusion, so I decided to just give up.

Let’s just go with the flow.

It’s not like meeting those kids was a one-time thing.

When I think about it, in the end, we’re all magical girls. Including me, there’s something otherworldly about all the kids.

Of course, I like to pride myself as the most normal one among us, but I’m sure everyone else thinks the same way.

“……”

Ji-hye was looking troubled, wondering how to accept this situation.

The休憩室 (break room), at first, was used normally. It was a bit strange that every empty spot was covered with blankets, making it possible to walk around barefoot, but when I first came in, the休憩室 (break room) had the impression of a proper ‘break room.’

But then, the kids kept moving around, complaining about it being annoying, so they started pushing the furniture aside. They shoved all the tables against the wall and pulled the sofa outside the blankets. So, it turned out that if one wanted, they could roll all the way to where the sofa was and climb on up.

Before I knew it, more and more blankets had appeared, and aside from a small area in the middle, every spot where we could lie down was connected.

The reason there were no blankets laid in the middle seemed to be that they were thinking of putting food there. It’s like a campfire was set up indoors, but instead of a ‘fire,’ there were snacks and drinks gathered there.

Whose idea was this……? It just seemed to turn out this way because everyone pointed out what was inconvenient in the situation and changed it.

“Alright. When we sleep, we can just move this out and spread more blankets.”

For some reason, Yeon-woo said that with a very proud expression.

“……We can even lie down and watch a movie.”

Hey, Chae-yeon. You’re usually smart, but I feel like saying that right now makes you seem the exact opposite of what you usually appear to be.

I glanced at Ji-hye.

I’m fine with saying that I’ll sleep here, but Ji-hye was practically dragged here by me.

I already knew that magical girls had some odd quirks that ignored common sense, but Ji-hye… well, at least she hasn’t had many chances to see that side of me.

“This is really nice. Should I ask them to clear out the休憩室 (break room) and just put down a giant mat?”

Are you thinking of making a second training room? I thought to myself while looking at Seo-hee.

Honestly, the kids are all so hyped up that I have no idea where to poke them without hurting feelings.

No, more than that, it seems really inappropriate to act serious here.

…….

Is it me that’s weird? Of course, thinking like this didn’t lead to any conclusion.

“Ji-eun, Ji-eun.”

With a slightly dazed expression, Ji-hye tugged gently at my sleeve.

“Yeah?”

“So, this… it’s ‘prepared,’ right?”

Ji-hye whispered quietly. The very fact that she was asking something like that in this situation seemed to trouble her deeply.

I was having the same thoughts.

“……Well, it’s true that it looks good for us all to be ready to go at once.”

A magical girl doesn’t have to change outfits, just putting on her circuit and dashing out is enough. So, I guess just huddling together like this is more efficient in many ways.

Watching the kids who turned on the movie with the projector, that’s what I thought.

By the way, that projector was actually meant for presentations. But this place can serve as an improvised meeting room. Of course, there’s a proper meeting room as well.

“Well, I think we can just enjoy ourselves.”

Ha-yoon gave Ji-hye some advice, sounding a bit more determined. Maybe she was sticking close to me because she’d listened to Ji-hye.

“Even if something happens…… it’s practically like a sleepover anyway.”

At Ha-yoon’s words, Ji-hye nodded, looking a bit dazed.

“Magical girls really aren’t that different from regular kids, huh….”

Well, that’s a given, but in a situation like this, I felt a bit like a dodge, so I decided not to respond at all. After all, saying that ‘heroes’ who fight against entities that are hard for ordinary people to deal with are the same as everyone else would sound a bit off.

*

Inside, where the air conditioning was pleasantly cool, I chatted about various things with the kids.

Still, it seemed like we had at least thought about the reason we gathered; the topic of Noir Corporation came up at first. But there’s not much meaning in discussing Noir Corporation in this situation. The information we have is just too little.

So, it was natural for the conversation to shift to more ordinary everyday topics.

It didn’t seem normal that Chae-yeon quietly played a somewhat suggestive movie on the projector.

No, when you think about the atmosphere, again, it ultimately resembled a group of teenage girls gathering in a house, so it might not be too strange after all.

“……No way.”

“Hmm? Ji-eun, what were you talking about?”

Hearing a voice that almost seemed defensive, I turned my head stiffly to see Ha-yoon lying next to me, staring at me intently.

“Ah, no. Just a random thought popped into my head.”

Fortunately, since the male lead in the movie was cheating right now, Ha-yoon didn’t seem to suspect too much and moved on.

Well, thinking back, it didn’t seem all that different from the training we received in the military.

Even though I was ready to mobilize at any moment, we joked around and made small talk while lying in bed, and even dug our graves while chatting about random nonsense.

It had to be that we were supposed to endure for hours, but if we just kept quiet and sat still, that would be torture in itself.

We were even planning to stay here until Cherry handed over the generator to the rebels after finishing her research, not a day but the entire weekend.

……Sitting here in our magical girl outfits without saying anything would be a kind of torture too.

“……”

In the same way that Ha-yoon seemed to be guarding me, Ji-hye, lying in front of me but at a distance enough to not touch me like Ha-yoon, was now lying back comfortably.

She must be tired from staying tense the whole time.

In the end, it seemed like we all adapted to this strange atmosphere.

*

We watched a movie and fell asleep like that on Friday.

On Saturday, I didn’t really have to go to school, and since I had my friends and Ji-hye around me, I could easily fall asleep without tension.

The other magical girls seemed a bit uncomfortable sleeping on the ground, but the truth is, I was already used to spreading blankets on the floor every day with Ji-hye.

Ha-yoon and Ji-hye ended up lying next to me. Neither of them clung to me. It seems Ha-yoon had to do that since it was such a narrow bed.

“……”

But on Saturday morning.

At the time I was supposed to be sleeping in, I woke up.

The reason was the same as when Ha-yoon had been snuggled up to me.

Strangely warm, a bit stifling, and sticky.

When I opened my eyes, the hair color that came into view was blue.

Ice is usually transparent or white in reality. After all, it’s normal for colorless, transparent water to freeze, so it makes sense. To see blue ice, you’d have to look at a glacial iceberg hidden underwater.

But for some reason, seeing that blue hair reminded me of ice. Maybe it was because most of Chae-yeon’s magic was ice-related.

“Chae-yeon?”

I lay straight.

And there Chae-yeon was, leaning over me.

Chae-yeon, who usually had a cool image, was actually the smallest among us. Not completely childlike, but she was a bit smaller than Ha-yoon, if we wanna be precise.

That distinct blue hair seemed to give the impression that her body was just as cold, but Chae-yeon was, of course, just like us.

Her body temperature was normal, so being clung to like this was a bit hot.

And I was sweating along with that warmth, cold sweat alongside it.

Why was she here?

If she were just next to me, I could think she rolled over and snuggled up, but did she perhaps get confused about her place after going to the bathroom?

But that’s also strange.

The temperature was regulated by the air conditioning, but it’s summer, isn’t it? Isn’t it a season where one seeks coolness rather than warmth…?

“Um, Chae-yeon—”

I gently shook Chae-yeon’s body with my hand while softly calling her name.

But the one who woke up to my call wasn’t Chae-yeon.

“……Ji-eun?”

I heard Ha-yoon’s voice from the side.

For some reason, that voice sounded harsh to me.

When I stiffly turned my head, I found Ha-yoon lying a bit turned toward me, quietly gazing at me.

“Um… it’s not what you think?”

I unconsciously found myself making excuses.

…….

No, what is it that’s not what you think? I’m at a loss myself.

 

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