Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Friend
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The crispy fried chicken was doing a breakdance in my mouth.
'Damn, this is good.'
Across from me, Arin was tearing into her chicken with shining eyes, plainly showing her thought of 'Delicious!'
'She really is like a cat.'
She'd had this cool beauty vibe, but the chicken had melted her expression into something soft and gooey before I knew it.
I'd normally want to chat a bit, but... she seemed starving, so I'd just wait a spell.
A smile crept onto my face unbidden as I quietly watched her chicken mukbang.
After about three minutes like that, Arin's eyes met mine, and she jolted like a startled cat.
"S-Sorry. When I eat something delicious, I kind of lose myself..."
"No, it was nice watching you enjoy it. So... shall we... talk a bit? Us?"
"...Sure."
I'd probably never see her after today anyway, but spending Christmas with a beauty like this made it plenty worthwhile.
"Do you come here often? Or a regular? I always get delivery here, so this is only my second time actually visiting."
"First time for me. I have a roommate I live with, and they had plans around here, so I tagged along."
"Ah? So on day one, that happens... What a piece of trash that guy is."
"But Si-woo handled it, so it's fine."
Unlike her haughty looks, Arin kindly answered every question one by one.
Thanks to that, our conversation flowed smoothly.
"Um, if it's not too rude..."
"Hm? Go ahead."
"Could we... order some beer? I've never had it before..."
"Pfft, beer is fine anytime. You're the one treating, so I don't have any right to complain."
"!! Thank you! If it's okay with you, would Si-woo like to join?"
"Beer... Well, I was planning chi-mak solo anyway, so sure."
"Got it."
Arin called the auntie over and ordered two draft beers, and soon enough, frosty mugs arrived looking refreshingly cold.
"Cheers?"
"Ah, yeah...!"
Arin and I clinked glasses, then chugged them down.
"...Kaaah, chi-mak hits the spot."
"...Nice."
We both set down our half-empty glasses at the same time.
"...Come to think of it, what do you do for work, Arin? You don't seem like an ordinary person."
"Work... Freelancer."
"I see."
She didn't seem too keen on the question.
Better drop it.
"Freelance, but the job means I have to head out on sudden calls all the time, so I ended up with no friends."
"Hm?"
A job where you have to bail suddenly, leaving you friendless?
'Makes a certain sense.'
I couldn't make friends in this state either—they'd just chew me out for vanishing so often.
"Haha, I get it. Similar situation for me."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. I have to head out on unexpected stuff too. Honestly, I'm on edge right now wondering if work will pop up."
After seeing that knife fight earlier, I realized even non-monsters could cause trouble, so I was keeping a minimal guard up.
"!! Me too..."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. That's why I'm savoring this moment."
"Haha, comrades."
Our shared plight brought us closer psychologically, and we chatted about all sorts of things after that.
As we talked, a thought naturally crossed my mind.
'With her, maybe...'
She could be a good friend.
With that in mind, I cautiously asked Arin.
"Arin."
"Yes?"
"If it's okay with you, want to exchange numbers?"
"!!!"
'Was that too sudden?'
She looked shocked, so I gave an awkward smile and waved it off.
"No, sorry. Too pushy, right? Meeting a stunner like you got me too excited—"
"Sure."
"Hm...?"
"I was about to ask the same."
Arin looked at me with sparkling eyes.
"Really...?"
"Yes. Talking with you became fun before I knew it. I'd like to meet up sometimes."
"...Haha! Great! So we're friends from now on?"
"Yes...!"
And so, I made my first friend in this world.
"Uwaaah... That was fun..."
Magical Comet—Arin—returned to her room and flopped onto her bed.
Thankfully, only two weak monsters had shown up all Christmas day, and she'd dispatched them quickly enough not to be late for her friends.
'Hope Aste had fun.'
While hanging with friends, Arin had told her mascot Aste to enjoy Christmas on its own.
Mascots could teleport to their magical girl's side anytime they wanted, so this was her way of giving Aste some personal time today.
'Aste can turn human too.'
Arin's mascot Aste could transform into a human—and not just any human, but one as stunning as Arin herself.
Unlike Arin, who still had a girlish air, Aste gave off mature older-sister vibes.
Arin trusted Aste would have no issues and have a good time.
And so, a bit later around 11 PM.
[I'm baaack...]
Her mascot slipped in through the open window.
It looked a little drowsy from all the fun.
Arin smiled and asked.
"Aste! Have fun?"
[Yeah... Might've overdone the drinking, but it was great, nya...]
"Overdid it? You drank?"
[Yup, nya.]
"Hey! You're a magical girl's mascot—how can you drink?!"
[Unlike you, the minor, I've been an adult for years, nya. No problem.]
"Ugh! Can't argue with that!"
[Hehe, you lose to me still, nya.]
Aste burrowed into Arin's arms with half-lidded eyes.
Arin gently hugged it and closed her eyes to listen.
"So, what'd you do?"
[Headed to a chicken joint right after splitting from you, nya.]
"I see."
[And got taken hostage, nya.]
"I see, hostage—what?!"
Arin bolted upright in shock.
Aste calmed her, saying it was fine.
[Wasn't a monster, just some regular guy with a knife. No real danger, nya.]
"Still..."
[In human form, I'm stronger than most adult guys anyway. Worry not, nya.]
"...Sigh, fine."
Arin sighed like she couldn't stop it, then closed her eyes again to listen intently.
Aste continued regardless.
[Anyway... A human guy showed up and saved me, nya.]
"Cop?"
[Nah, just a handsome regular dude. Subdued the knife guy with quick moves and rescued me, nya.]
"Impressive..."
[Then we went to the station together. I offered to repay him, and he said let's eat, nya!]
Aste continued with a happy smile, clearly thrilled.
[So we ate chicken and talked, and I really wanted to try beer, so I asked. He said yes, nya! Drank beer, kept talking...]
We clicked over beer and even swapped numbers, Aste said.
"...Hold on. You don't have a phone."
[Right, nya. So I gave him yours, nya.]
"What?"
[I'll borrow yours when Si-woo calls, nya.]
"Si-woo...? Hey, don't just use my phone—"
Arin was about to unleash a scolding barrage on the cheeky Aste when her phone rang.
-♪~♬~
"Eek! W-What's that?"
She checked—it was an unknown number.
"No way this is..."
[Ah! Si-woo's number, nya!]
Aste leaped into a flip mid-air and transformed into human form.
The navy-furred cat was gone, replaced by a navy-haired, cat-eared beauty.
'...Taller than me.'
Mature in every sense compared to Arin.
Such Aste snatched Arin's phone with a blissful look.
And answered the call.
"Ah, Si-woo? Yes, this is Arin. Yeah, I got home safe."
Arin stared blankly as she chatted.
The call went on for a good while before Aste ended it with satisfaction.
"...Aste."
"What, nya?"
"You like that guy?"
"Pbbbt!"
She'd dropped a nuclear bomb casually.