Crush Confessions and B-Rank Hearings
Want to hang out with me? Yun Seoyeon's expression was somehow off when she returned from the teachers' office.
Her face was kind of blank, like she was in a daze, and the symptoms seemed even worse than before. I couldn't help but wonder if she was really okay.
Especially since that incident two weeks ago—it was only natural to worry.
But the moment she uttered a single word after coming back.
"...It's about a friend of mine...."
All my worries vanished in an instant.
Yeah. It's about herself, obviously.
Even back at the Association, plenty of magical girls had come to me for advice on similar topics, so I understood right away.
It's a romance thing.
I had no idea why she was blushing while looking at me, but she must have developed a crush on someone.
...Probably not me. I'd spent the past month around her and knew she loved cute things, but it wasn't sexual attraction.
Besides, my current body looked like a child's but was biologically female.
To like someone like me, you'd basically have to be a pedophile and a lesbian. Not exactly easy.
Sure, I'd seen some magical girls at the Association develop crushes on each other, but for someone with my appearance? Outside of kids my age, I'd never witnessed it.
Anyway, convinced it wasn't me, I started listening to Seoyeon's story.
"Um... it's really about a friend I know... She keeps... thinking about... gulp... a specific someone...."
. . .
"Something like that."
Hoo-hoo....
She started off super hesitant, but as she went on, she seemed to lose her reservations and spilled it all out freely.
So... just imagining this specific person makes her heart race like crazy, and she's worried if it's some kind of illness?
Maybe she was fretting that these unfamiliar feelings meant something was wrong with her.
She had a pretty pure side to her, huh.
I responded to her concern first.
"For starters... your friend doesn't have some disease."
"Really? Phew... good."
She looked so relieved, like it was her own issue—which, well, it was.
"Then what's causing it?"
She turned the question back on me.
Hmm.
I pondered her question for a moment.
Given her situation, straight-up telling her the truth might lead to unpredictable results.
Better to fib a little and guide her toward realizing her feelings herself.
"It's a kind of pent-up desire."
"Ooh...."
Fortunately, she seemed to buy it.
"Your friend keeps thinking about that specific person no matter where she goes, right?"
Her eyes went wide, like How did you know?, and she nodded vigorously.
"Then, if she meets that person and does all sorts of things together, it might resolve itself."
If she really likes them, a few meetings should help her recognize her emotions.
"Ooh... like, specifically?"
"Well... anything, really. Just hanging out and doing stuff with that person might satisfy the urge."
She pondered my answer deeply, then thanked me.
♪~
The bell rang right on cue, so Seoyeon and I returned to our seats to prepare for class.
I had no clue who her crush was, but they were in for some trouble, I figured.
In a dim room lined with countless chairs and desks.
Those seated there with solemn expressions were VIPs elsewhere, but here, they were just regular staff.
In that grave atmosphere, a young girl's voice rang out fearlessly—but no one batted an eye.
"Next agenda: English Lavender's promotion to B-rank."
Association President Lee Hana.
She commanded the conference room with her dignified voice and got straight to the point.
"Recently, she successfully subjugated a B-rank kaijin, the Doppelganger, in a joint operation with the wild magical girl Pronesis."
A few let out small gasps at her words.
The Doppelganger.
This kaijin had appeared ten years ago, caused countless casualties, and given the Association endless headaches with its special abilities. Its defeat was clearly welcome news.
Click.
With a light tap of her heel drawing all eyes, she gestured to her secretary, who projected English Lavender's profile and a video on the central screen.
"Help me...."
It was footage of her pleading with Pronesis.
In the video, English Lavender was covered head to toe in black, tar-like corruption.
And anyone could see what that meant.
"A corrupted magical girl...?"
Someone murmured, and the others nodded unconsciously.
But the moment she grabbed Pronesis's hand in the video.
A white light burst forth, illuminating the darkened conference room.
"Ugh...."
Others squeezed their eyes shut with silent cries, but those who knew the light stayed wide-eyed.
As the glow faded, there stood English Lavender, pure white spear in hand.
"She realized her corruption."
The first change when a magical girl becomes aware of her affliction.
And soon after.
"From now on, I'll vanquish that evil."
As she thrust her spear, it pierced the kaijin's massive arm and the Doppelganger itself, ending the video.
"Yes. As you saw, her unique magic is penetration. And in that scene, her magic now pierces even immaterial aspects."
The moment she pierced her father with her spear—not him, but the kaijin inside.
They paused it there and began debating her qualifications as a B-rank magical girl.
"She has ample power and qualifications for B-rank. Her potential is limitless, and her ability to penetrate immaterial boundaries is undeniably useful."
Some supported the promotion.
"Growth potential alone applies to other magical girls too. Lumina Betaris reached B-rank for similar reasons, yet she struggled against a recent C-rank kaijin."
Others were skeptical, as expected.
The title of B-rank magical girl was no light matter.
If a B-rank kaijin or magic beast could devastate a city.
A B-rank magical girl was the one to protect it.
They couldn't take it lightly, hence the heated debate.
Intensive internal reviews of English Lavender would follow, and this discussion would drag on.
"Her unique magic itself is extremely powerful, and...."
"If raw power were the only criterion, other magical girls...."
Haa... this review period's stretching out again....
Lee Hana sighed inwardly as she watched.
She wanted to join the debate, but as president, her words would tip the scales unfairly.
Her role was just to moderate and prevent it from turning into a shouting match.
Lately, even that was rare, so she simply observed.
As she watched, she replayed the recent video.
Come to think of it... Pronesis was a huge help, huh?
Seeing her support English Lavender so effectively only made Hana want to recruit her more.
But she seems totally uninterested in joining the Association. Wonder if she heard something from her peers....
Her expression soured at the thought.
"Haha, on second thought, you have a point."
"N-no, we...."
Everyone but her noticed and toned it down—a fact well-known.
Might as well bump her estimated rank to B while I'm at it....
She kept drifting into side thoughts.
Either way... recruiting's off the table, but maybe propose a temporary alliance later. If I get the chance, I'd love to meet her myself... but I'm swamped....
Suddenly, a question crossed her mind.
Speaking of... what's with her staff? Didn't see it even in combat....
A magical girl's staff was inseparable, their ideal form for wielding unique magic.
They came as swords, spears, daggers—or even trumpets, compasses, flags.
Magical girls always pulled them out in battle, but Pronesis had none in the video.
Hmm....
What could her staff be?
She pondered quietly, watching the debate.
Meanwhile, Pronesis—who'd just met her first customer via the new summoning feature—was in the midst of.
"Want to hang out with me?"
Her meeting with English Lavender.