Jealousy from Fellow Mascots
A mascot monster, burning with jealousy toward me, charged forward with its massive bulk. Just then, the magical girl who had been hovering tantalizingly within the monster's grasp executed a sharp ninety-degree turn and vanished from sight in an instant.
[Kweeeeeek?!?] The monster let out a bewildered screech.
"Now!! While it's off-balance from its momentum, target the legs first!!! Losing mobility is the top priority!!"
I shouted immediately. Pig-shaped brutes like this one weaponized their hefty bodies. But creatures that fought with their size only mattered when they could move. Without mobility, they were nothing more than oversized targets.
BOOM!!
The magical girls' attacks rained down. Lightning burst from the wand in one's hand, while another's slender leg kicked at the monster's underbelly. The explosive impact—unbelievable coming from such small bodies—echoed thunderously.
CRACK!!
[Kweeeeeek!!!]
At that moment, the monster rolled its entire body across the ground. Caught off-guard, the magical girls hurriedly pulled back.
Familiar. I'd seen this move countless times before. And the girls, having encountered it a few times themselves, handled it with practiced ease.
"Alright, here we go again!!"
The magical girl darted toward the monster's head once more. She dodged its strikes fluidly while pressing her assault. The beast swung its tusks wildly time and again, but not one connected.
Finally, in a rage, the monster reared up for another charge—
"Wait, not that way!!!"
I yelled urgently at her. People were still in the direction she was luring it.
"Abort the lure!!! Scatter and reset from the start!!!"
At my command, the magical girls dispersed in a flurry. One glanced my way, her face a bit teary as she bowed her head.
"...It's fine! We haven't failed yet!"
I reassured her. Perfect plans didn't exist. If they did, my comrades from my past life wouldn't have died like that.
As if nothing had happened, I resumed command.
"Lure it again! You can do this!"
I kept issuing orders. Their movements grew smoother, and soon they were coordinating seamlessly without my input.
They must have been working together for a long time.
At some point, I stopped directing. They were handling the lure, attack, and scatter perfectly on their own. It reminded me of my old comrades.
I chuckled awkwardly, stepping back and shifting my gaze.
...Talk about doing absolutely nothing.
While the magical girls risked their lives battling the monster, three mascots watched from the rooftop of a distant building.
A faint bitterness welled up. Those words from Pink Star about mascots being useless—I was starting to grasp what she meant.
That's when their eyes met mine.
"...Oh!"
The robot-shaped mascot waved at me. I considered waving back but held off.
"..."
The tornado-shaped one glared with half-lidded eyes. It was obvious he didn't like me one bit.
"I don't like you."
"...Pardon?"
"Why are you trying so hard? Trying to say you've got skills or something? Or do you just enjoy helping them out?"
"What..."
My face hardened. It was so absurd I couldn't even speak properly.
"We're not just standing around uselessly either, but you go showboating solo—what does that make us?"
The Tornado Mascot approached me closer, the air thickening like he wanted to throw down.
That's when—
"Hehey, come on now. Why the attitude?"
Thud. Someone grabbed him from behind and stopped him.
"Even if you're annoyed, picking fights like that? We're all in the same boat here. No need to raise blood pressure."
"..."
A translucent figure stepped between us—a humanoid balloon or soap bubble-like mascot.
"And if he's helping, isn't that good? Looks like it's wrapping up already. Faster subjugation benefits everyone. Why get so mad?"
"You asking 'cause you don't know? Seeing him hog the spotlight like that..."
"Please. Just chill."
Thud. The Balloon Mascot gripped the Tornado Mascot.
"Don't embarrass us mascots."
Squeeze. Suddenly, the Balloon Mascot's hand ballooned massively, like it'd been inflated with a ton of air.
"You...!"
"Mascot Code, Article 3, Section 3: Prohibits disputes with other mascots over matters unrelated to contracted magical girls' safety. Forgot?"
"That's..."
"Sure, it's just guidelines, but you know who set them. Why act up?"
The Tornado Mascot ground his teeth—somehow making the sound despite having no mouth.
"...Now you're pretending to be all principled?"
"Hypocrite? Haha, must be a misunderstanding."
The Balloon Mascot shoved him away effortlessly, shrugging at the easily pushed-back Tornado Mascot.
"We shouldn't have to watch you trash other mascots just to prop up your poor record."
"...Annoying bastard."
The Tornado Mascot shot me a glare.
"You, just you wait."
Whirrr. His whirlwind grew fiercer and faster as he retreated to his spot.
"...Looks like it's ending soon."
The Balloon Mascot glanced at the magical girls.
I followed his gaze. The monster lay collapsed.
"Already done?"
I flew over to check. It heaved ragged breaths, its skin swelling and contracting repeatedly.
"...Yeah, it's over."
"Yep, done."
Pink Star had flown up beside me before I knew it.
"Pink Star."
"Thanks again... We handled it way faster thanks to you."
"No, no. It was all because the magical girls performed so well."
Not empty words. Commands mattered from the issuer, but the followers were equally—no, perhaps more—crucial. One slip, one misalignment, and everything crumbled.
In that regard, these girls had followed flawlessly.
"If anything, they could've bristled at my sudden orders hurting their pride... but they trusted and followed, so I should be thanking you."
"...You're something else."
Poke. Pressure on my head. Pink Star was petting me.
"...Huh?"
"Ah, s-sorry!"
She yanked her hand back frantically.
"I didn't mean to, it just..."
She averted her eyes awkwardly. Seemed genuine.
As she started to say something, the magical girls approached.
"Hey~!!!"
"Our MVP's over here!!"
They swarmed in groups, eyes sparkling at me.
"No wonder Pink raved about you!"
"Right? Our boss could learn a thing or two, fucking hell..."
"Uh... Pardon?"
Clap clap clap. They applauded, reaching out to touch me all over.
"Thanks, our mascot~"
"Made this subjugation a breeze!"
"Who's acting like he's everyone's mascot? He's my exclusive one."
Pink Star grumbled, though she looked pleased.
"Anyway, big hand for the mascot who helped us out big time~"
"Woo~"
Clap clap clap clap!!
"Alrighty, time to settle up~"
Swish. The blue-haired magical girl pulled something from her bosom.
"...!"
My eyes locked on. In her hand was a stone radiating far more brilliant light than the one I'd seen before—a Core.
"My turn for the core this time, right? Any objections, hands up."
"Nope~"
"Me neither~"
The girls nodded cheerfully. The blue-haired one pocketed the Core promptly.
"Treat us!"
Clap!
"Treat us!"
Clap!
"Treat us!"
Clap!
"You punks! I'm busy paying off my house loan—treat what?!"
She laughed, playfully shouting back. Then she looked at me.
"...?"
I clapped on reflex. Instantly, all eyes turned to me.
"...Kidding. Honestly, holding onto this feels wrong when it has a real owner. Can't just hog it."
She pulled the Core from her pocket.
"Come here, mascot."
"...Pardon?"
"Hurry up, or no deal."
She was giving it to me? Stunned, but my body moved on instinct, flying to her.
"Never had a hunt this easy. Heard you're going exclusive with Pink Star?"
"Ah... Yes, that's the plan."
"If you're sticking with her, you'll run into us anyway. Might as well take this as a bribe since we're meeting."
Swish. She grabbed my hand.
Squeeze. She passed the Core to me as she clasped it.
"And Pink's got a rotten personality—if you don't wanna stick with her, contract exclusive with one of us instead. Think it over."
"Hey, you crazy...!"
"Why? Look at your attitude. Instead of appreciating him going exclusive with you, you're just yelling and grumbling—fix that first."
"..."
Pink Star mumbled awkwardly. The blue-haired girl smirked at me.
"Cut her some slack. She hasn't tasted life's ups and downs yet."
"Ah... Sure."
Something clicked in my mind. Pink Star was already an adult, right? If even she hadn't lived fully, how old were these girls?
"Alright, Pink Star. We got stuff to discuss?"
"Huh? Like what..."
"This guy's solid. Black might be worth calling after so long."
"...The hell?"
"Yeah, worth a chat, right?"
The girls murmured among themselves, then waved goodbye and vanished.
"See ya!!"
"Bye-bye!!!"
They departed waving cheerfully. As I pulled out my phone to return, someone held another phone over mine.
"...?"
"Hello there."
I looked up. The Balloon Mascot approached with a smiling expression.
"Care to talk?"
"...About what?"
"Well, if I had to say..."
Snap. He stroked his chin, then snapped his fingers.
"Headhunting?"
"..."
Senior's words flashed back—people might try to scout me.
...But I hadn't expected it this soon.