Just Don't Get Caught
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was a familiar texture wrapping around my body.
"Oh..."
Before I knew it, my clothes had reverted to the t-shirt and black cardigan I originally wore. I brought the fabric to my nose and sniffed; it smelled of fresh fabric softener, as if it had just been pulled from the washing machine.
I pondered the reason for a brief moment, but gave up after less than ten seconds. Whatever the case, it was a relief I hadn't woken up in just that dress shirt from yesterday, and having my clothes back was a win in itself. All's well that ends well.
"Ughhh... I'm so tired..."
Stretch, stretch.
As I was idly tugging at my clothes, a faint groan drifted up from my feet. Popo's usual plump, fluffy self was nowhere to be seen; instead, the spirit lay sprawled out with a deep scowl, looking like a pillow that had lost all its stuffing.
"Pfft. Is that so?"
"This is all because of you, Mir...!"
"It's partly your fault too, Popo."
"Ugh..."
There was a very good reason the little creature was in such a state. As punishment for tempting me with the forbidden knowledge of transformation, it had to play the role of my favorite plushie all night.
Still, just like last time, I didn't think my sleeping habits were that bad. I had no idea what on earth had happened while I slept, but Popo looked absolutely wrecked.
"Ugh, it's so damp..."
Well, whatever. It was just Popo's karma. Who told it to tempt someone with such half-baked knowledge in the first place?
"Waaah."
When I poked its deflated side with my finger, a bizarre sound escaped it—pshhhh—as the air literally leaked out of its once-plump body in real-time. It really did look like a toy.
"...Still, Popo. You were surprisingly useful."
"Huh? For what?"
"Your texture. You're way fluffier than you look."
Thanks to that, I slept like a baby. Popo might have suffered all night, but its sacrifice allowed me to fall into a deep, peaceful slumber despite the crushing embarrassment and fatigue.
Ah, there was a minor incident, though. In the middle of the night, I had mistaken Popo for an actual plushie and tried to squeeze it between my thighs out of habit, just like I used to do with my body pillow.
Fortunately, I stopped myself halfway, so it remained an attempted crime. Please don't misunderstand, though. It's not like I'm some kind of weirdo; everyone does that, right?
Hugging a pillow like that is the gold standard of sleeping positions. It's just an instinctual drive to find ergonomic comfort... or something like that.
"Hehe, really? I am pretty soft and fluffy! I knew even you couldn't resist my perfect skin, Mir!"
Taking my words as a compliment, Popo—who had been completely withered just a second ago—spun around in the air as if it had never been tired, instantly re-energized.
It had looked ready to burst into tears just moments before, but now it was wagging its tail and humming a tune. I let out a quiet chuckle at the sight.
"You're so easy, Popo."
"...Wh-what?! No, I'm not! Lord Popo was famous in the Demon Realm for having a very prickly personality!"
I had muttered it under my breath, but Popo somehow caught it. It puffed up its cheeks in mock outrage. I had said it without much thought, but it seemed I had struck a nerve.
"Really?"
When I casually raised an eyebrow, the creature flusteredly shrieked, "Yes! Really!"
Hmm. Is that so? Instead of replying, I quietly walked over to the kitchen. I grabbed the apron hanging on the wall and slipped it over my head. Popo's ears instantly perked up.
"Gasp."
Realizing what I was about to do, Popo hesitated for a split second before flying over to the dining table. It landed softly, settling into its seat.
"Hmm."
Told you, you're easy.
Soon, a simple breakfast of crispy bacon and golden egg toast was served on the table.
"Nom, nom, nom."
There really was nothing better than brunch for breakfast. Moist egg tucked inside crispy bread—the perfect harmony of carbs and protein.
Since I needed some meat too, I had fried up some salty bacon. It wasn't anything fancy, but it made for a complete, satisfying meal.
"Mmm! Your cooking is always the best, Mir!"
Popo took a hearty bite of the toast, showering me with compliments. It seemed its resentment over being treated like a stuffed toy yesterday had been thoroughly washed away by the bacon grease. I took a sip of milk as I watched it eat.
If I were in my old body, having milk and bacon together would have sent my stomach screaming in agony, but my current body was incredibly young. I could handle this with ease.
"Ah, now that I think about it..."
"Hmm?"
"Popo, let's rethink our approach."
"Huh? Whad approach?" Popo tilted its head, a large strip of bacon hanging from its mouth.
"...Finish chewing first."
At my scolding, Popo swallowed the dangling bacon with a loud gulp. It wiped its mouth with a paw and asked:
"Okay, all done! So, what approach?"
I popped the last piece of toast into my mouth, chewing as I got straight to the point.
"Like I said before, we haven't made any progress since we started this plan."
Quite a bit of time had passed since Popo and I first met, but the absorption rate of the magical girls'—well, whatever you want to call it—power was still sitting at a flat zero percent. In other words, we had accomplished absolutely nothing.
"Well, yeah, that's true. But I told you last time, we have to look at the big picture and take our time."
"I think we need to look at a slightly smaller picture."
The longer this drags on, the faster my precious paid leave evaporates.
"What I'm saying is, we need a breakthrough."
"Then what are you going to do? Do you have a plan?"
I downed the rest of my milk in one go and muttered:
"Yeah. I'm going straight to the Association."
"Wh-what?!"
Popo leaped into the air. The empty milk glass on the table tipped over with a loud clatter.
"Mir, that's the headquarters of the magical girls! You're going to walk right into the lion's den?"
"I'm not walking in. I'm infiltrating."
It sounded like the exact same thing, but whatever.
"You said it yourself, Popo. My magic is fundamentally similar to theirs. If I just blend in..."
"You don't even know where the Magical Girl Association is!"
"Who says I don't? I have my ways."
I let out a subtle smirk as I recalled Red, whom I had run into in the shopping district yesterday.
"That building Red came out of. If we search that area thoroughly, we'll definitely find it."
She had explicitly said she had just finished training. That meant their training grounds or base was within spitting distance of that spot. After all, optimizing commute times is a universal human trait.
"Think about it, Popo. Instead of waiting around for a monster to show up so we can ask, wouldn't it be much faster to snatch up some girl at the Association who's already contemplating her resignation?"
"...That actually makes sense, but isn't it way too reckless? What if you get caught!"
"We just have to not get caught."
My simple answer made Popo freeze mid-air.
"..."
"Why are you looking at me like that? It's a pretty solid plan."
"How is that solid?! You literally have zero backup plans for if you get caught!"
Popo shrieked, flailing its front paws again. Its cotton-stuffed, drumstick-like limbs fluttered frantically.
"Can't you at least call me brave? I'm marching into enemy territory all by myself."
"You do know the rest of the world calls that foolhardiness, right...?"
Looking utterly exasperated, Popo paced in circles on the table as it continued.
"Do you think magical girls are stupid? If some random newbie they've never seen before starts wandering around their hideout, of course they're going to be suspicious!"
"I doubt it. Popo, people are surprisingly indifferent to others."
I casually placed my empty glass in the sink and continued. Most people only care about how they look to others; they rarely pay attention to what anyone else is actually doing.
"No, but stillll—!"
Popo trembled with frustration and yelled, but I merely gave a light shrug.
But really, even if I did get caught, would it really be that big of a deal? It wasn't like I had done anything bad.
At most, I had offered some backseat advice at a monster-slaying scene and chatted a little.
Furthermore, I had a strategy of my own. Just as I had told Popo, if I completely masked the Wolf's magic power before going, the magical girls wouldn't sense my energy and feel threatened or suspicious. If anything, this plan was a win-win.
"The girls who want to retire get to hand over their duties, and I get my hands on some power. It's a win-win for everyone, especially me."
Leaving Popo to keep whining behind me, I stood at the front door and slipped on my shoes.
"Are you coming or not, Popo?"
"Ugh, I really don't think this is a good idea..."
"You staying?"
"I-I'm coming! Ugh, fine, whatever! Do whatever you want, Mir!"
Popo grumbled, still clearly displeased.
"Don't blame me if we get caught and thrown into solitary confinement..."
The little creature chattered incessantly as it took its usual spot on my shoulder.
"Good choice."
I gave Popo's deflated side a gentle poke with my index finger and opened the front door.
Alright. Let's go to the Magical Girl Association.