Say You're Sorry to Me!
"Say you're sorry to me!"
"Popo, so what's that method?"
"Simple. To go back, we have no choice but to divide it. Ker's magic power and your body."
"Divide...?"
Popo nodded at my question.
"Yeah. But we can't do it right now. We're sorely lacking in magic power."
Well, yeah, that makes sense. It evaporated right in the middle of talking to me, after all.
"So, we need to absorb the magical girls' power."
Magical girls? The unexpected word popped out, and my head tilted on its own.
"Monsters and magical girls use the same magic power. The texture is a bit different, sure."
"..."
"Once we've absorbed enough, we'll have enough magic power to regenerate the body. Then you just extract the power you have. Half is fine, even less is okay."
Popo waved its front paws excitedly in front of my eyes as it kept chattering on.
"Once we gather a certain amount of power, Ker's consciousness will return on its own, and all we have to do is make a body for it!"
And that was it. Once Ker was back, it didn't care what I did with the power I'd gathered, and wrapped up there.
"Oh, and."
It even added that taking the power wouldn't harm their lives at all.
"Hmm..."
Definitely not a bad proposal. It felt a little bad doing something mean to kids fighting so hard, but...
I had to hear out what that cheeky wolf bastard left unsaid.
And above all, I needed to turn back into a guy to live my daily life, so there was no reason to refuse.
"Got it."
I nodded. It wasn't like I was killing them—just absorbing a bit of power.
Once I restored that Ker bastard later, I could give it all back, and everything would be fine.
Popo even promised not to meddle after that.
Oh, and as a bonus, if I messed with that wolf's body on my own... sweet revenge.
Just imagining it made my lips curl up.
Reconstructing that wolf bastard's body into something even shorter and more kid-like than mine.
How satisfying would it be to see it flailing in panic? Heh heh.
"As expected! Only you, Mir! I picked the perfect partner!"
The moment I gave permission, Popo sparkled its button eyes and rubbed its face against my cheek again.
The fluffy bundle touching my cheek was still as soft as ever.
I've noticed it since earlier, but how does this thing maintain its fur? The texture is insane.
I wondered what it would feel like to squeeze it.
Unable to hold back my curiosity, I grabbed Popo from my shoulder and set it down.
"Wh-what...? Mir? What're you doing all of a sudden?"
Popo blinked its button-hole eyes in confusion.
Instead of answering, I started poking and prodding its plump body with my fingers.
Whoa.
"Mir?"
This is seriously amazing. Like freshly steamed glutinous rice cake mixed with the feel of a luxury down comforter.
I could get addicted.
"St-stop! It tickles...!"
Popo started flailing its stubby paws in resistance. This made it hard to squeeze properly.
"Sorry, Popo. It was Ker inside me. It said we have to do this."
"...For real?"
Squish squish.
As I said it with a straight face, Popo's expression turned weird.
Since it was Ker's will, Popo probably couldn't refuse.
It eyed me suspiciously but let me continue for now.
Good, good. That's a good kid. Heh heh heh.
After indulging in that supreme texture for a good while and relieving my stress, I grinned with satisfaction filling my body.
"Oh, by the way, that was a lie just now."
"...Huh?"
"Consider it punishment for teasing me earlier."
"Ugh...!"
Popo rubbed its belly and wailed in injustice, but whatever.
My stress levels, stuffed full inside me, had been purified by a single cotton ball. It had to deal with it.
Squeezing something soft must be why I felt so good.
Oh, right.
I stared at Popo and asked.
"But hey. How do I absorb a magical girl's power?"
Like shaking hands or something?
But Popo shook its head no, saying absorption didn't work that way.
"Tsk tsk. Stealing someone's power is no easy feat. Absorption only happens when the magical girl is sufficiently weakened."
"Weakened?"
I tilted my head. That sounded tough.
A weakened magical girl? Magical girls are hard enough to even encounter—where the hell do I find one like that?
No way I had to beat one myself. That'd prick my conscience.
A grown adult bullying a kid? Yeah.
Plus, with this squirt body, could I even win?
"Find one who wants to quit being a magical girl and negotiate..."
"Gyaah! No, absolutely not!"
Before I could finish, Popo let out a random scream, cutting me off.
"Magical girls instinctively feel disgust around monsters. Wander up to one cluelessly, and who knows what'll happen!"
"...I'm a monster?"
"Yup! You might look harmless and dumb with a nasty aftertaste, but inside, you're the king of monsters itself. A monster!"
"Then what do we..."
Wait, what did it just say?
"Dumb, and nasty aftertaste...?"
"Eek."
Our eyes met as I sensed something off. Maybe realizing it'd let slip its true thoughts, Popo rolled its eyes wildly before clearing its throat and changing the subject.
"D-don't worry! Your Popo here has a plan!"
According to Popo's explanation, if it entered me directly and converted the magic power, no one would recognize me.
Not in a weird way—just sticking somewhere on my body like Ratatouille.
Magic power was surprisingly simple; cover the surface well, and it was perfect camouflage.
"I have a question."
"Permission granted, student Mir!"
I voiced my concern while watching Popo thump its chest.
Hiding and disguising the magic power was great, but there was a catch.
The first time, sure, no one would know. But after that, my face would be out there.
Wouldn't I get caught just walking around outside?
"Hmph, valid point, student. But unnecessary worry!"
Popo puffed out its chest proudly, saying it'd thought of that too.
"Magic power is more amazing than you think! Even the same person feels like a stranger if the texture differs. So even if you look identical, different magic power means no one's catching on!"
Ah, that kind of thing. The classic magical girl trope.
Where the transformation and civilian forms look exactly the same, but no one notices.
I'd always wondered how these kids, with paparazzi everywhere, kept their identities secret.
So that's the backstory. Knowledge gained.
"When hunting magical girls, I'll hide inside and suppress all the magic power. Normally, I'll stay outside and keep it tamped down as much as possible. Unless they're right in your face, no worries about getting caught."
Popo strutted on my shoulder, raising its cotton-candy paw like a baton.
"How 'bout it? Perfect plan, right?"
"Sure is."
I nodded readily, and Popo buzzed around me in joy, like it owned the world.
Yeah, if Popo was right, even bumping into a magical girl on the street wouldn't get my collar grabbed.
Whew—
As I nodded in agreement, frigid night air whistled through the half-collapsed wall.
Had a lot of time passed? The moon was high in the sky, obscured by clouds, dimming its light and quickly darkening the room.
"Yawwwn..."
Darkness brought sleepiness. No idea the connection, but maybe the tension easing up?
Today had more going on than expected. Anyway, I was exhausted.
I rubbed my eyes with one hand and beckoned Popo.
"Sleepy. Let's crash and talk tomorrow..."
"Agreed! I spent all day searching for Ker and I'm wiped too!"
Kreeaang— Stretching with a weird yawn, Popo floated to the corner of the room.
"Popo, where you going?"
I stopped it.
"Huh? I'm gonna crash in the corner over there."
Huh.
"Get over here."
Where do you think you're sneaking off to? I wasn't letting go of my supreme tactile sleep pillow.
Come here.
"Eh, why?"
I snatched Popo, who tilted its head and approached slowly. Then dove straight into bed.
"Wh-what, Mir?! What's going on...?!"
Popo flailed in full panic, but I ignored it.
I just hugged it tight to my chest and wriggled under the covers.
"Mmm, so soft and squishy."
Sleep was coming fast.
"Mir? Mirrrrr?!"
* The next morning.
"Ugh, uuuugh... I'm gonna die of exhaustion..."
Popo floated around half-squished.
"Spirits feel tired too?"
"You think not? I'm a living being!"
"Didn't know. Thought spirits lived on dew."
"Grr, Mir... your sleeping habits are the worst."
It grumbled and pouted its lips. Various marks—probably from my night—stood out vividly on its white fur.
Weird. I'd never had bad sleeping habits before. Slept pretty quietly, no thrashing.
Did the body change swap out my habits too?
"Say you're sorry to me quick! Your Popo-sama's precious face is ruined!"
Popo swung its cotton paw and shrieked.
I shrugged indifferently and replied.
"Sorry to me."
"..."
Popo's face froze like ice in an instant. The dumbfounded look was a sight to behold.
Seeing it so baffled, my held-back laughter leaked out in chuckles.