I Became a New Magical Girl Priest

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And then back to the present.

So, I tried to think that everything was just fine for now, but honestly, I felt anxious all the time.

I wasn’t sure if I was this starved for affection, or if it was because I liked those kids that I felt this way.

Knowing that being certain about my feelings could be dangerous, I was still scared that they might eventually get tired of me and leave.

Aren’t we still just first-year students?

The seniors are in their second year, and if next year passes, they’ll become adults. Once we’re in college, it wouldn’t be strange at all to have a boyfriend around.

…I know I’m saying weird things.

Even though I’m not thinking of dating anyone, at the same time, I feel uncomfortable and scared at the thought of them getting involved with someone else. The idea of them hanging out with someone else terrifies me.

Since then, every time the kids stuck close to me. Every time they playfully kissed my cheek or lips. Every time they lay against my thigh, hugged me, or suddenly wrapped their arms around me from behind.

I felt flustered because of those feelings.

…

This is dangerous in many ways.

So, I decided it would be better to sort out my feelings first.

*

After things calmed down a bit, we made a promise.

The meeting place? Well, it was the usual spot we always met.

The Magical Girl Headquarters.

In typical stories like this, when the Magical Girls’ enemies were gone, they’d usually return to being civilians, but that wasn’t the case for us.

Instead, after melting circuits and generators into pure magic with our own hands, it seems like we’d be working as Magical Girls for a lot longer than expected. Maybe by the time we can’t be called ‘girls’ anymore—what name will we go by then? Magic Agents?

…Well, whatever.

What’s important right now isn’t that.

We haven’t even completed our second year yet. In fact, we’re not even on break yet. It’s almost the end of the semester, but that’s not the main thing.

This year, so much happened. Really.

In the short span of just one semester, unexpected incidents kept piling up, and we ended up at the base of a massive space corporation near Jupiter. Well, technically, we didn’t blow it up, but still, we were involved in the fight, so the cause was us.

But compared to everything that happened, what I’m dealing with now is really nothing.

I looked at the kids.

Blankets were spread all around.

“I want to talk to you all a little seriously,” I said, gathering the kids during lunchtime at school, and immediately—

“Got it,” Ha-yoon responded seriously.

“Well, if that’s the case, we all have to sleep together today.”

“No, what kind of conclusion is that?”

“If the conversation drags on, we might get stuck for one or two hours.”

With her comment, I lost any further argument.

I mean, I thought it wasn’t entirely wrong from an efficiency standpoint.

Even though it felt a bit off, I had nothing left to say and agreed, and we somehow ended up in the lounge of the headquarters again.

Seeing them all kneeling in front of me, I rubbed my forehead again, but what could I do?

“…Fine.”

I muttered to myself, took a deep breath, and after exhaling, opened my mouth again.

“I… that is, I want to know your feelings.”

“I like you.”

“I know that already.”

Ji-hye quickly interjected, cutting me off, looking a bit deflated after I did.

“Isn’t that a bit too much confidence?”

“You usually can’t kiss someone you don’t like.”

Seo-hee teased, and when I answered, they all giggled. I remained endlessly serious, yet they didn’t seem so.

Strangely enough, I didn’t dislike it. It wasn’t like I felt ignored; it just felt so natural that it didn’t bother me at all.

“So, if you already know those feelings, why’s it so important?”

Yeon-woo asked, sounding baffled.

“…Indeed, way too confident.”

“It’s still perfectly logical, though. You can’t kiss someone you don’t like.”

Chae-yeon and Jua chimed in.

Pang-pang wasn’t there. She had so much to learn about the business. I planned to find some time next time to talk to her properly. Right. There’s no way she’s gonna sneak out of a meeting with me.

I want to clarify these feelings once again and move on.

I mean, I may appear tough on the outside, but inside, I’m pretty timid. I constantly worry and contemplate other people’s feelings.

I’m not sure if it’s a strong desire for validation or what, but no matter what, I can’t just brush this off.

…I tried to brush it away, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.

“Don’t you get what I’m saying?”

“I do.”

Ha-yoon replied.

Unlike the other kids, Ha-yoon had a serious expression.

“You’re asking what kind of feelings the ‘like’ refers to. Whether it’s just friendship or a personal liking, or if it’s some other kind of feeling.”

“…”

I nodded.

“I like you, Ji-eun.”

Ha-yoon said that.

It was the same thing Ji-hye had said.

But her expression was so serious that without any further explanations, it felt clear that her “I like you” held feelings that went beyond friendship.

Of course, Ha-yoon didn’t forget my request.

“And of course, this feeling is beyond just friendship. I don’t know what choice you’ll make.”

“…”

Looking at Ha-yoon’s words, the expressions of the other kids stiffened a bit.

“…I see.”

I looked around at the other kids.

“And what about you all?”

“Well, is there anything different from Ha-yoon? Isn’t it natural? Do you think I’d go around stealing kisses from others if I was really close?”

I thought it’d be plausible for someone to be like that, but I couldn’t imagine it being Seo-hee.

“Me, I feel the same way!”

Ji-hye had an expression of genuine indignation.

“I see.”

“…You aren’t suddenly going to ask me to name someone, are you?”

Chae-yeon said reassuringly.

“Honestly, just being this way is good enough.”

“Whenever the time comes that you want to cross that line, well, you’ll realize it too.”

Yeon-woo warned.

“…”

What can I say?

Isn’t it normal to feel uneasy after hearing that? I’ve never wanted to let go of any of the many people who like me.

Yet, perhaps precisely because of that, my battered heart felt reassured.

I see. So that’s how you all feel about me, huh?

“…”

We fell silent for a moment.

“Then, is that all we’re going to talk about?”

“Uh… yeah.”

Did I perhaps make a mistake in suggesting we all sleep together? Maybe I should have turned down Ha-yoon’s proposal?

“Alright, then!”

Seo-hee jumped up from her seat and shouted.

“After all, tomorrow’s the weekend, right? Let’s hang out during the weekend! This time, there shouldn’t be anything crazy happening!”

Seo-hee declared.

Well, that’s true.

With Noir Corporation out of the picture, most crimes were anyway under the police’s jurisdiction. And aliens… well, they mostly seemed to have been the fault of Noir Corporation. This part is a bit uncertain, but at least the fact that Noir Corporation disappeared reduced the likelihood of alien appearances significantly.

So—

“Okay.”

As soon as I responded like that—

A pillow flew at my face.

Thud.

Staring dumbfoundedly at the pillow that fell to the floor, I turned to see Yeon-woo confidently stand up and shout.

“Let’s have a pillow fight!”

Wait, how old are you guys?

Besides, you’re a senior. You’re a year older than me.

If we’re counting past lives, it makes things a bit different again, but in this world, that’s how it is.

But hey, whatever.

It should be fine, right?

People always feel like children no matter how old they get.

I got up from my spot.

And then, rushing towards the kids holding blankets or pillows in their hands, I charged in.

The pillows and blankets were soft and fluffy.

Just like the feelings I was experiencing at that moment.

I could hear the kids laughing.

Finally, after hearing that carefree laughter, I could finally feel relieved.

Perhaps, from some moment on, I’ve been fighting for that laugh.

 

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