Chapter 9
"Don't go anywhere, and live with me."
The next morning.
Yoo Seo-ah, who had slept soundly through the night without waking once, suggested that I live with her.
You ask if we weren't already living together?
Um…. I told you Yoo Seo-ah dragged me home that day it rained.
I already told Myo-a that, too.
It isn't a lie.
"Unless you're planning to sleep rough outside, you need money to sleep and eat, so just live with me."
Perhaps she was embarrassed to say the truth plainly, so she cited lodging and food expenses.
"I have plenty of money, so I'm fine."
I spread my palm and made gold appear to show her.
You mean there isn't a limit?
Since I only had to use it for magical girls, it was effectively limitless.
If I put my mind to it, I could even cause deflation in the price of gold.
"Haa…. That's the problem. What are you going to do if some bad person kidnaps you?"
"Kidnap me?"
No matter whether they kidnapped me or did something else, I was confident I could escape without a scratch.
After all, all I had to do was fly away through walls or whatever.
But even if I said that, I didn't think Yoo Seo-ah would simply say, I see, and let it go….
"Even if I got kidnapped, you'd come rescue me, wouldn't you, Ms. Seo-ah?"
When I said it with a bright smile, Yoo Seo-ah's eyes widened, and she whipped her head away.
"…It'd be best if nothing like that happened."
"Ehehe, you aren't denying it."
"Umm…. Haa, never mind. I'm going out for a smoke and be back."
"See you later~"
Yoo Seo-ah stopped, then glanced back at me.
"…Yeah. I'll be back."
Even though she was embarrassed, the way she said goodbye…! So cute…!
I tapped the sparkling halo a few times to turn it off and switched on the TV.
[My dad is sick. He coughs, coughs all the time…. He can't run very well either.]
Of all things, a smoking-cessation ad came on the moment I turned on the TV.
"Quitting smoking…. Quitting smoking, huh…."
The fact that Yoo Seo-ah smokes isn't itself a problem.
This isn't to say I don't care about Yoo Seo-ah's health.
It means magical girls can smoke without issue.
The tremendous regenerative power they possess to fight monsters neutralizes all the toxins in cigarettes.
Thanks to that incredible regenerative ability, cigarettes are little more than a recreational habit for her.
So I can't just tell her to quit smoking outright.
If her health were suffering, I'd recommend quitting for that reason, but it isn't.
Money… doesn't seem to be an issue either. The only thing I could really criticize was that it didn't look good.
'Is it really right to tell her to quit something she uses to relieve stress?'
Wouldn't it be better for her to relieve stress with cigarettes than to fail to relieve it and go astray some other way?
But still, I wish she'd take care of her health….
"Hmm…."
I pondered deeply with my arms folded.
Was it really right to recommend that Yoo Seo-ah quit smoking?
"…It is!"
"What is?"
"Pyaaah!"
Startled, I hastily switched the TV to another channel.
"Y-you're back early?"
"It only takes a moment to smoke a cigarette. But why are you reacting like that? Like someone who's done something wrong."
"No…? Not really? It's nothing."
I subtly avoided her eyes and played dumb.
Even I have to admit I'm terrible at lying….
No, this isn't my fault.
Angels can't lie in the first place!
"You don't look like you're watching nothing. What were you watching?"
I was about to say it was nothing, but the angel inside me started pounding on my halo.
―Be honest! Be honest! Don't lie! Lying is bad! Be honest!
It wasn't a joke; my head was genuinely buzzing, so I pressed my temples firmly with my thumbs.
"A smoking cessation ad…."
"A smoking cessation ad? There's nothing strange about that, so why are you acting so…. Ah."
At the sight of her letting out a sigh as though she had realized, I furtively looked away.
"You've been using smoking to relieve stress all this time. It hasn't caused any particular health problems, and you're not short on money…. If it's only a matter of a recreational habit, I wondered whether it was right for me to recommend that you quit…."
Yoo Seo-ah blinked at my words.
She seemed to think for a moment, then scratched her head and sat beside me.
"Well…. I had been thinking I should quit smoking, too."
"You don't need to quit just because of me."
"It's not because of you. It's just that, seeing the room fall apart more and more each day…. I realized this wasn't right. So I did try quitting once before."
"Did you fail?"
When I asked, Yoo Seo-ah smiled bitterly and nodded.
"When I didn't smoke, I couldn't sleep. Sleeping pills don't work on magical girls, either, so I ended up staying awake all night. Then all kinds of thoughts came to me, making me anxious, and bad memories surfaced…. And eventually, I failed. This is the result."
"If you're okay with it, Ms. Seo-ah, I'll help you quit smoking."
Yoo Seo-ah stared at me in silence, then gave a small laugh and stroked my hair.
The moment her hand touched my head, I shuddered at the strange sensation.
"Ugh…."
"Do you dislike having your head stroked?"
"N-no…. It's not that I dislike it; it just feels strange. Like it gives me goosebumps…. I can endure it if you want me to, but it doesn't feel good…."
"I see. Sorry. Then I won't touch your head."
Yoo Seo-ah took her hand off my head and hugged me tightly.
Feeling a little better than before, I quietly let myself be held. Still holding me close, Yoo Seo-ah said.
"You said you'd help me quit smoking, right?"
"Ah, yes. I did…didn't I?"
"Then stay by my side. That's enough on its own."
As she held me tight, I smiled faintly.
…But could you loosen up just a little? I'm having trouble breathing.
She looked so happy that I couldn't bring myself to say anything, and I stayed in her arms for a long time, until the alarm rang.
Aaaaaaah―――!!!
"Again…. Haa…."
When the alarm sounded, Yoo Seo-ah frowned and sighed.
Anyone could tell she didn't want to go.
'Last time, she moved as soon as the alarm sounded.'
―The more you indulge Seo-ah's whims, the weaker she'll become.
Was this what Myo-a had been talking about?
…Right, since I started this, I had to be the one to solve it, too.
"Come on! The alarm's going off, Ms. Seo-ah! Let's go! Let's protect the people!"
"…Right."
Her expression clearly said she didn't want to go, but should I be glad that she still made herself go because of me?
Or should I be sad that Yoo Seo-ah had ended up like this because of me?
No, it didn't matter which.
I would take responsibility either way.
While Yoo Seo-ah was transforming, I was just about to fly to the scene myself.
Then, just as before, my wing was caught.
"Urgh!?"
As I stretched, a pain like a cramp shot through my shoulder, and my body went limp of its own accord.
Fortunately, my wings were separate from my ability to fly, so I didn't fall to the ground, but the pain prevented me from moving properly.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going…to the scene too…!"
"It's dangerous there. I'll go alone. So wait here quietly at home."
She seemed firmly determined not to let go until I answered.
No… That wasn't resolve like that.
The eyes of a magical girl, which should shine brightly like the night sky with hope and love, had been dyed pitch-black by the murk of obsession and fear.
Yes, it was obsession.
Obsession born from fear of letting go of the warmth she had only recently gained.
That twisted affection had arisen from the resolve not to lose someone precious, intertwined with that obsession.
I couldn't feel any fear.
All I felt was pity.
The child who had once rejected warmth while covered in wounds was now struggling not to lose it.
What a pitiful, tragic being she was.
The moment I understood her, even the pain disappeared.
"Ms. Seo-ah."
I smiled faintly and reached out, and Yoo Seo-ah flinched and looked at me.
"Ah, s-sorry. I hurt you, didn't I?"
"It's all right."
I'm fine.
You'll be fine, too.
I slowly reached out and gently stroked Seo-ah's cheek.
Hoping my warmth would reach her. Praying my love would reach her.
"Don't be afraid. I'll stay by your side, Ms. Seo-ah. And even if I disappear one day, don't be surprised. I'll definitely return for you."
"Ah…."
The hand gripping my wing relaxed.
I spread my wings, far larger than I was tall, and wrapped Seo-ah in them.
"I'll help you. So that you can have a heart like steel and an unshakable will that nothing can sway."
A small space for just the two of us, with its walls and sky all covered in pure-white feathers.
With a gentle smile, I washed away the fear in Seo-ah's eyes.
"Don't be afraid. I'm your angel, and yours alone."
As I hugged her close and shared my warmth, Seo-ah's trembling gradually subsided.
Eventually, when we pulled apart again, Seo-ah's eyes were clear, unlike before.
"Um…. Sorry. I think I lost my head for a moment."
"It's all right. More importantly, hurry and go save the people. Everyone's waiting for you, Ms. Seo-ah, you know?"
"Right. I have to go."
Yoo Seo-ah nodded, placed a foot on the windowsill, and turned back toward me.
"I'll be back."
"Yes, have a safe trip."
Perhaps aware that they had wasted time, Seo-ah tore through the air with a bang.
Ah, I said I'd go with her, but somehow I ended up staying home.
Was it intentional, or an accident?
"…I suppose I should clean the room first."
I sighed as I looked at the room that had been wrecked by the sonic boom.
Next time, I need to make sure she leaves on time….