I Became a New Magical Girl Priest

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“One year…”

Ha-yoon suddenly mumbled that.

“Huh? One year?”

I reacted as I took a break from skating to sip my hot chocolate, and Ha-yoon shook her head.

“No, I just thought it’s already been a year since we got to know each other.”

When it comes to remembering exactly when Ha-yoon and I first met, our opinions differ greatly. I think it was around autumn, while Ha-yoon insists it was winter.

Maybe, I had recognized Ha-yoon first, and it was around winter when we had a proper conversation.

No matter how much I remember from my past life, memories from when I was ‘too young’ in this world aren’t as clear as those after I became an adult.

Honestly, it doesn’t really matter that much. What’s important is that we met during those youthful days and have been knowing each other like this ever since.

One year.

With that time, another year has piled on.

I can’t guarantee how we’ll be in the future, but all I thought was that I simply wanted to keep knowing Ha-yoon.

Oh wait, that might be a bit inconsiderate of me.

Just knowing each other isn’t enough for me anymore.

In the heart of Seoul. Ironically, it’s where the Noir Corporation headquarters, which we once despised, is located. Well, if you really want to pick, the Seoul City Hall is more famous than the Noir Corporation building, and the plaza in front of it becomes an ice rink in winter, which is even more well-known. But anyway, here we are.

At first, I only came out because Ha-yoon suggested we go skating for the first time in a long while.

Yet, since I’ve become an adult this past year, like other kids, Ha-yoon didn’t just plan to come out with me to buy something from a bookstore and then head back home.

Naturally, she linked her arm with mine and slipped her hand into my coat pocket to hold my hand, and honestly, she doesn’t blush at such actions anymore.

Even if she does, it’s probably just because she’s a bit cold or simply happy. She doesn’t give me a shy expression about holding hands anymore.

“Huh.”

“Want a sip?”

As I leaned against the railing of the area with tables, I handed Ha-yoon my hot chocolate, and she gently wrapped both hands around the cup, thanking me. I wondered if it was too hot, but she was wearing gloves.

I quietly watched as Ha-yoon took a sip.

“Uh, sorry. I got too excited.”

“No problem. It’s just that I’m not good at it.”

I flat out can’t skate. Ever since becoming a magical girl, I’ve been working hard to exercise, but it seems like skating isn’t something you can just do without a bit of training.

Without a second thought, I followed Ha-yoon, and only after putting on the skates did I realize I had never really skated before.

By that time, I had already taken her hand and stepped inside.

For a while, I either stumbled like a broken doll, slipping around, or was dragged along by Ha-yoon, trying to keep up. Aside from falling about five times, it was pretty fun. And given the end-of-year atmosphere, even the five falls could just be seen as amusing.

Ha-yoon looked at me with eyes like she was watching the cutest hamster. I felt a bit embarrassed.

Ah.

Ha-yoon took another sip and sighed. A white puff of breath floated in the air. Because she’d just had chocolate, there was a faint sweet smell.

“I guess I should go back in soon.”

When I stood up from my seat, Ha-yoon looked a bit surprised.

“Uh, is that alright?”

“Yeah. I just feel a bit bored.”

Half joking and half serious. Honestly, I wouldn’t care much if I never skated again, but I didn’t want to miss out on hanging out with Ha-yoon.

When I later play with other kids, I wouldn’t want to be left outside alone either.

“I’ll wait for you. I’ll come over that way.”

I said that as I headed toward the entrance.

…I said that coolly, but I ended up falling again on my way to Ha-yoon.

*

But isn’t failure the mother of success?

I gradually learned while falling, and my skills improved little by little. I figured out how not to fall while wobbling. And little by little, I learned how to move my legs to go forward. Despite being much better at skating, Ha-yoon stayed close to me, teaching me step by step.

Suddenly, memories of the past came to mind.

Ha-yoon wasn’t particularly weak physically, but when she walked with me, her pace strangely slowed down.

Maybe she was exhausted even at that young age. Running around to various academies, expected to achieve good results at every one. Perhaps the pressure from parents was high, and despite being good at so many things, Ha-yoon often seemed a bit withdrawn.

Each time, instead of rushing her, I would match my steps with Ha-yoon’s. Or sometimes just sit next to her and let her rest.

I would pet her head or treat her to something tasty. In my own clumsy way, I never just left Ha-yoon alone. Just like now with the Ha-yoon of today.

“It’s like it flipped.”

“Huh?”

As I got up while holding Ha-yoon’s hand, she blinked her eyes.

Her cheeks flushed red from the cold. Her big round eyes. The expression and state of her face suited Ha-yoon so well that it was adorable.

“I think I understand a little now. Shall we try again?”

“Yeah.”

Ha-yoon reached out her hand.

Right.

It was just like when Ha-yoon first called me to be a magical girl.

I felt such inferiority to Ha-yoon. Even though I knew what kind of life she had in her childhood. Despite being the one comforting her by her side, I became envious just because I couldn’t be the protagonist of the story.

Perhaps, it was around the time the aliens made contact with Earth.

When Ha-yoon became a magical girl and I couldn’t do anything… Well, that was just a fact. It only meant that I didn’t have the talent to be a magical girl; there was no reason to feel emptiness about life.

Even so, that was when I realized the reason I transitioned into this world, and I felt envy.

Yet Ha-yoon still reached out her hand then. Just like now.

Our hands clasped together warmly.

As Ha-yoon moved her feet, I matched to her rhythm. At first, it was a bit slow. But then smoothly.

The speed of our gliding gradually increased, and the scenery around us rushed past. As the short sun completely set and the sky darkened, the lights running towards the edges of our vision flowed beautifully like water. It must have been due to the end-of-year decorations with all sorts of lights installed.

Still, amid that flowing scenery, Ha-yoon’s silhouette remained vivid.

Clutching hands tightly, the image of Ha-yoon moving forward beside me did not disappear from my sight; she was always right there.

After skating a few more laps, we came to a slow stop.

“…You were wonderful, Ji-eun.”

Ha-yoon said with a captivated expression.

Did Ha-yoon see the same view I did? I hoped so. Because her being with me meant I was with her too.

We both understood it was time to stop right now. Because everything, if overdone, becomes too exhausting. Especially for me, having just learned to skate, honestly, my body was a bit sore.

We tidied up the skates and stepped back outside.

Somehow, I didn’t feel like going inside yet. The sky had turned dark, but it wasn’t quite late enough to say it was truly midnight.

The two of us walked slowly back toward the bookstore, staying close to each other. There were quite a few couples like us around. Well, most couples were boy-girl pairs, of course, but just because girls were close together doesn’t mean they were all dating.

Still, that’s the vibe.

We hadn’t transformed or done any magic, but somehow, just by looking at each other’s expressions, we knew what the other wanted.

As we walked down the street, our eyes happened to meet, and after letting out playful giggles, we ducked into a nearby alley.

An alley doesn’t mean it’s empty, but still, it felt a bit inappropriate to kiss right out in the open.

Ha-yoon nestled in my arms and tightly wrapped her waist.

I hugged her back. Her waist was slim. Even through her thick coat, Ha-yoon felt snug in my hold.

Ha-yoon looked up at me, and I leaned in slightly towards her.

Our lips met softly.

With the cold weather, those soft and warm lips felt very vivid.

A faint scent of chocolate wafted from Ha-yoon’s breath.

As our lips parted, we looked at each other again.

Silently, endlessly.

In any case, we were there. Always in a place where we could see each other whenever we wanted.

So, there was no need to work so hard sharing words.

We still had plenty of time.

Just pressing our foreheads together and feeling our presence was enough for now.

 

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