Adult Circumstances
After some light morning banter with the grown-ups' excuses, I sat on the edge of the bed, roughly combing through my messy hair.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to check yesterday. Mir, you okay?" Popo asked, circling around me with a serious look on its face.
"Why?"
"You suddenly absorbed a massive amount of magic power. Ker's not your average power source. There might be side effects. Anywhere hurt? Feel anything off?"
Side effects? I stood up and gave my body another once-over.
⋯⋯Doesn't seem like there's any fever or pain. If anything, after sleeping so soundly, my body felt lighter and more refreshed than usual.
"Dunno."
"For real? Well, that's good, then⋯⋯ But just in case, let's test it out. Try jumping lightly?"
Jump, huh. No big deal. I shrugged at Popo's suggestion, planted my feet, and hopped lightly⋯⋯?
"Ack⋯⋯."
Huh. Maybe because this new body was so sleek and different from my old heavy one, the jump height was way higher than expected. Nearly smashed my head into the ceiling.
"How's it feel? Compared to before?"
I thought for a second, then answered Popo, who was staring at me with sparkling eyes. "Nimbler."
"⋯⋯That's too vague! Can't you be more specific?"
Popo swung its cotton-candy paw in frustration. I just shrugged in response.
What can you do. Asking me for sensory details like that is a lost cause. Back in the army, my juniors under me suffered because of it.
"Ugh, fine. No pain, so we're good."
Just as Popo let out a relieved sigh, a little tune rang out in the room.
Ding-ding, ding-ding—!
The source was my smartphone, tossed on the bed beside me.
"⋯⋯Crap."
A bad premonition flashed through my mind. I snatched up the phone in a hurry.
The screen lit up with a flood of notifications—alarms screaming it was time to clock in, mixed with messages from coworkers. The clock read 09:55 AM. Way past start time.
"M-Mir? Why the sudden face? You really hurt somewhere?"
Popo fluttered over, worried at my suddenly pale expression.
"⋯⋯No, something way worse."
I scrolled through the screen with trembling fingers. Obviously, going to work like this was impossible. But no-show absence? That's social suicide.
"Popo. We need an excuse for missing work first."
"An excuse⋯⋯?"
"Grown-up circumstances. Scary stuff."
"Aha!"
Ignoring Popo's mysteriously smirking face, I hammered out a message in the group chat with practiced fingers.
It was basically a one-sided declaration, but right now, it was the best option. If this dragged on, I'd have to burn precious paid leave.
"Popo. Let's head out."
"Ooh! Mir, suddenly so motivated! That's my partner!"
Popo cheered, waving its squishy paws at my determined expression. If this looked like motivation, great. It was just desperation to save my leave.
Anyway, as I headed for the front door—
Whoosh.
A soft breeze suddenly brushed over my body.
"⋯⋯."
I froze, hand on the doorknob. Empty. That spot where something should definitely be felt nothing—this creepy openness. The chill of wind crossing between my thighs sent shivers down my spine.
The sensation of wearing a skirt for the first time in my life was impossible to process with thirty-plus years of pants-only common sense. Every step made the hem flutter, chipping away at my sense of self.
Inside, I was already screaming in panic a thousand times over, but on the outside, I fought to stay calm. Otherwise, I'd really lose it.
"Mir? What's up? Why'd you stop?"
Popo, flying ahead, noticed something off and turned back, blinking its button eyes up at me innocently. I bit my lip hard.
"Ah, uh. Nah. Let's go. Gotta go."
I forced my stiff legs to move. It was awkward, like a newborn fawn, but Popo just figured I was nervous and buzzed ahead excitedly. "That's right! Hurry hurry!"
"Ugh⋯⋯."
I subtly gripped the skirt hem and took a deep breath. God, can't get used to this. Should I just change into pants? ⋯⋯No, impossible. No pants in my size at home. And squeezing into ill-fitting ones might lead to a strip show mid-street.
Realizing this was my only option, I gritted my teeth and descended the stairs.
Thud, thud. With each step down, the hem tickled my calves, raising goosebumps, but all I could do was hope my body adapted quick.
Stay calm. This is just wide shorts. Really big ones, so it's airy between the legs. Just shorts.
Self-hypnosis engaged, I stepped out the apartment lobby.
Morning sunlight poured in. A bit late for rush hour, the streets were quiet. Just some elderly folks out for walks and kids heading somewhere.
The peaceful morning scene lifted my mood oddly. A luxury I'd never known, crammed in hellish subways every day.
It eased the skirt-induced shame somewhat, but the passersby glancing my way? Couldn't get used to those stares.
Why are they looking? Something on my face?
"Mir, the stares bothering you?"
"Yeah."
No clue why. Do I look that weird? Popo eyed me up and down at my words, then gave a meaningful "Hmph, I see."
"⋯⋯Why?"
Something off about that reaction.
"Nah, just... you know. Anyway, you don't go out much, huh? Skin's super pale."
"Well⋯⋯ yeah, kinda."
I started to explain, then shut my mouth. Pointless. It wouldn't believe me, just like last time. No use talking myself hoarse.
One truth from office life: with people who don't get it, just nod along. Isn't there that saying? The way to win an argument with fools is to not argue at all.
"Aw~"
Popo wagged its tail, unsatisfied, and started lecturing. "Get out more now! Weather's great, staying cooped up makes you gloomy. Soak up some sun, grab some tasty food!"
"⋯⋯."
Mom?
"Fine⋯⋯ hold on. But Popo, you okay flying around so openly?"
Already looks nothing like other mascots. Won't we get caught?
I stopped and stared at my shoulder. Popo blinked like I was worrying over nothing.
"No worries! Stick right by you like this, and the magic power scrambles it. To normals, I'm invisible. Only someone with magical girl-level detection sees me—otherwise, I'm air!"
Handy system, that magic power stuff. Wait—doesn't that mean to others, I'm just some crazy chick talking to thin air?
"⋯⋯."
Eh, fake a phone call and it'll pass. Wireless earbuds are everywhere; solo mutterers are common. As long as I don't yell.
"So, where to now?"
Magical girls aren't everywhere; we'd have to hunt them down. How?
"No worries, Mir. Follow me!"
"Got it."
Popo brimmed with confidence, like it had a plan. I nodded and trailed it toward the subway station.
Passed a café with floor-to-ceiling windows, so I checked my reflection.
White hair, big eyes, short skirt—pure cute kid vibe. No matter the angle.
Ugh. Face scrunched up on its own. Really can't get used to this.