The Unspoken Reason
I crossed the corridor beside the empty classroom after leaving the rooftop.
"Where did they come from?"
"The sports field. Straightforward."
Why do you always have to judge?
Even that thought was brief. The sports field...
The school's shelter was located near the main building, the annex, and the cafeteria.
The main building and the annex stood like mirrors, with the cafeteria a little farther away.
Inside that mirror-like shape, the sports field spread out.
That meant, if I stepped outside the main building and ran, it was the shortest route.
"Chase them!"
"I know a little about rescue...!"
I ran ahead, opened the small door, and headed outside the school.
I kept running until suddenly a pink streak of light pierced the windows and landed on the edge of my vision.
The class president.
But it was only for a moment.
"...Construction work!?"
The places damaged by the monster attack last time were being repaired.
The concrete wall blocking the dirt mound had collapsed, leaving an eerie pile of dirt.
Moreover, this road was the only passage leading outside the main building.
Beyond that lay the lawn, a thin fence, and behind it only dense forest and the rear mountain.
I had no choice but to cross the main building and move to the opposite side, between the main building and the sports field.
Fortunately, there was a shade and the grass was growing, so it didn't look suspicious.
Most importantly, if it became dangerous... Harin wouldn't let me be hurt, would she?
...I wasn't completely at ease, but if it was this much...
With the warmth I'd received until now, I could endure it somehow.
I lowered my body and quietly moved, peeking at the monsters popping out from the shadows.
Next, the pink streak that had flashed from the sky landed opposite me and shouted at the creatures.
"You can't move even one step from here!"
Then, behind me, countless pink flame-like clusters appeared.
The clusters gradually became clear in shape, transformed, drew out tails like flames...
"**Magic Missile!**"
They shot forward like missiles and struck the ground where the enemies stood.
**Kwaaakwaakwang!**
"...Do I really have to chant the skill name?"
"Of course. Magic's power changes according to the imagination resolution."
"Ah, so..."
At the exact moment I heard Harin's explanation from behind.
**Pakching!**
A sharp sound pierced my eardrums in the sports field.
When I turned toward the sound, what appeared was the magical girl's attack flashing and bouncing away.
And soon, right in front of my eyes.
*****
"Kuh... damn it...!"
Something flashed, the magic flying toward the monsters suddenly changed direction and ricocheted toward me.
That stupid bitch didn't even check if there was a reflector attribute and fired a launch spell...?
It was probably the purification attribute mana I felt from the last fight. Even if it bounced back, it wouldn't hurt.
Still, that bastard.
If she hadn't pulled me in and wrapped me before I got close...
Almost...
"Yo, Jeong Siwoo. You okay..."
I glared at that pink head girl and turned to Siwoo.
"...Yo."
My worried answer didn't seem to reach Siwoo.
"Ugh... uuu..."
Siwoo.
Even though I was scared in front of him, he hadn't panicked or cried.
But now he was collapsed in front of me.
"Ugh... keuk..."
"Yo, why are you like this. Seriously."
He was trembling all over like a poplar tree, sobbing.
What was the problem.
I hadn't been hit.
I'd protected you.
Was it my fault?
Why...
"Ugh..."
...My head hurt.
Because of Siwoo's disturbed state, the confusion that had been healing came back and covered my mind again.
The only bright part was...
"Yo, Jeong Siwoo...!"
He hadn't gone mad yet.
Why this kid was acting like he was already crazy before me, I couldn't figure it out no matter how much I thought...
"You, why are you like that? Seriously!"
"Ugh, haa, suck...!"
No matter how much I asked and shook his shoulders, Siwoo who was in panic couldn't answer.
His jaw was clenched, arms and legs trembling without pause.
His gaze stared into empty space; I couldn't guess what he was seeing.
**Tap.**
Just as I was wrapping my arms around his body and calming him, light shoe sounds came from behind.
"Students, are you okay..."
The voice of the pink head girl who had fired the magic without even checking for the reflector attribute.
The words didn't continue.
She must have seen the sight with her own eyes.
"Si, Siwoo!"
"Don't come!"
I shouted reflexively.
The approaching pink head girl stopped.
She'd almost been hit by the attack she fired.
"It's because of you. If you hadn't attacked...!"
"...Students. Step back. Right now that state is..."
It was disgusting.
The instinctive hatred carved into my soul and mind gradually raised my head.
I wanted to plunge tentacles into her heart and head right then.
The instinct whispered to continue the fight we hadn't finished at the apartment last time.
...But I didn't do it, simply because of the promise I made with Siwoo.
It was neither more nor less.
"Shut up! Don't you see I'm the problem!?"
"...I'm sorry."
The voice was subtly rising with filled mana.
She glanced at my and Siwoo's condition for a moment, then knelt on one knee and lowered her head.
"But right now treatment is needed. If we leave it longer..."
"...Tsk."
A twisting feeling inside.
But listening to this guy's groans coming from behind made my stomach twist more.
With the hand hidden behind my back, I grabbed his ankle hard.
If I lost even a little focus, everything would be exposed.
Moreover, I didn't have magic I could use for this direction.
So here, I had no choice but to...
**Tub.**
"...Jeong Siwoo?"
When I turned back, Siwoo, who had only been breathing roughly in panic a moment ago, was holding my sleeve.
His hand was still trembling, thick tears flowing from both eyes.
"If we fight... we can't fight..."
"Yo, what the hell are you saying right now..."
It was unbelievable.
A moment ago he had been in panic, but now he was grabbing my clothes and saying we couldn't fight.
But.
"With friends, friends, if we fight..."
A nonsense sound came from the guy's mouth.
"...Yo. What kind of nonsense is that."
I asked instinctively.
I, and that pink head girl... friends?
Don't talk nonsense.
No matter how much it was me, I wouldn't say that kind of empty talk...
**Thud.**
But before I could finish thinking.
Siwoo's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious on the floor.
"Yo!!!"
"Siwoo!!!"
*****
'Siwoo...'
"...Hah."
Shaking off the headache I'd felt for a long time as I sat up from the infirmary bed.
I looked around and heard faint birds chirping from the distant rear mountain.
The blackout curtains completely blocked the outside sunlight, but the faint red glow peeking through the gaps told me evening had already arrived.
I pressed my ears hard with both hands below them, and the tinnitus and phantom sounds slightly decreased.
Should I call this good fortune in misfortune...
"Calm down, calm down..."
I've lived quietly without showing anything until now.
Why suddenly...
"Huuu..."
I glanced around and saw my phone on the side table.
I pressed the power button to turn on the lock screen, and countless notification popups poured in like hail.
Among them, the class president's chat asking to contact when I woke up caught my eye, and I immediately sent a reply.
[I woke up.]
After sending the message, a short while later.
**Bang bang bang!**
Outside the infirmary suddenly became noisy.
"Siwoo!"
"Are you okay?!"
The class president and Harin both burst into the room.
"Yeah, I'm okay."
"...Lie."
"I'm telling the truth."
It was sincere.
I had panicked, but after fainting and some time passing, it was nothing.
...Besides, I didn't want to worry either of them.
One was a magical girl assigned to protect the world.
The other was my wounded childhood friend in a position where I had to help.
Compared to them, this was nothing.
It was barely overdoing it.
"...I'm leaving first."
Harin, who had checked my condition, glanced back and forth between the class president and me, waved her hand, and left the infirmary.
**Drrrruk.**
The sliding door closed.
The class president looked around for a moment, then spoke with a serious face.
"Siwoo. I'm really sorry. I should have checked for the reflector attribute beforehand..."
"No, well... it's an act to rescue people. And since it's purification attribute, it doesn't hurt even if hit."
"But still..."
"That was enough."
If that's the case, it's fine.
Since it's fine, don't ask any more.
"...Siwoo. Did something happen long ago?"
"Huh? What kind of talk is that, class president?"
"Well... actually, while you were unconscious, I used Cure. No matter how much mana I poured out, it didn't seem like it was healing. It must have started long ago..."
The class president continued speaking, then swallowed the words.
She probably thought that speaking more would poke at the uncomfortable part.
"...No, I won't ask. Anyway..."
"..."
"If you ever feel like talking about what happened, come find me anytime. We're friends."
People sometimes put their hearts into helping others.
And some feel more uncomfortable because their reactions make them feel bad about what they're uncomfortable with.
Even today, wearing a mask named kindness.
"...Thank you, class president."
I just endured and kept living.
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