I Have to Protect My Friend
"Ha-young, what's wrong?"
"Uh... Joo-hee. It's just..."
I was caught completely off guard since I never imagined a folder like this would have that kind of photo, and my flustered reaction spilled out raw and unfiltered.
Joo-hee noticed and peered over my shoulder at the photo on the monitor.
"Huh...? Wh-what the hell?!"
Once she realized what photo was on the screen, Joo-hee let out a weird yelp of shock and stumbled back.
Did her reaction mean she had no idea there were nudes in this folder?
"Wh-why is there a photo like this...?"
"You didn't know...?"
"N-no...! I really didn't. I just downloaded a Serendipity photo collection from some community this morning..."
I let out a sigh of relief at Joo-hee's words.
It was a relief because the idea of my best friend jerking off to my nudes felt like something out of a bad dream, not reality.
The rest of the photos were normal.
Just that one was a nude, so her reaction made perfect sense.
"Ughhh! I had no idea there was a photo like this! I woke up late this morning, downloaded it in a rush, and left it there...!"
That explained why the folder was named 'New Folder'.
"Ha-young, I swear I didn't download it for that. Serendipity's like an idol to me...!"
"Pfft, I get it. There's no way you'd do that, Joo-hee."
"Y-you believe me?"
"Yeah, of course. Should I delete it?"
"Y-yes! Delete it right now!"
She agreed to delete it without a second thought, so my worries must've been way overblown paranoia.
"Ugh... sorry... for making you see something so weird all of a sudden."
"It's fine. Still, who keeps uploading stuff like this?"
"Right?! Some malicious user keeps posting Serendipity videos and photos on shady sites!"
I already knew about it, which was why I'd started paying attention lately.
The user's nickname was 'Serendipity 12'—they'd gotten permanently banned from multiple sites, so they started adding numbers.
In other words, this was their twelfth permanent ban.
Even after accounts got banned and uploads deleted, they kept posting relentlessly. Total scum.
"It makes Serendipity look like she only shows up to get jumped by villains!"
Uh... I couldn't exactly deny that, since it was kinda true.
"Sigh, poor Serendipity. Must be tough dealing with creeps like that."
"Y-yeah... totally..."
I couldn't meet Joo-hee's eyes while we talked.
One look and all her innocent words would've stabbed me right in the heart like daggers.
"Joo-hee, let's study now."
"Yeah, okay!"
I pulled exam notes from another 'New Folder' onto a USB, and we started studying together.
From the moment she entered college, Joo-hee had never missed a full scholarship—her focus was insane.
And it wasn't just that.
Even though I was starting from zero basics, she explained everything step by step like she'd done it a hundred times.
"Joo-hee, you're amazing at teaching! They say knowing something well doesn't mean you can teach it well."
"Really? You're the first person I've ever taught! Glad it's helping."
First time? She might actually be cut out to be a teacher.
"Wanna take a break?"
"Yeah, let's."
Thanks to her, I nailed the basics and applications for tomorrow's subject without a hitch.
This might be my best college grades ever.
During our break, the topic shifted to magical girls—Joo-hee asked if I was into any besides Serendipity.
"Hmm, Electra for me."
"Electra's awesome too! She's got insane power—ranking fifth!"
For the record, Hee-soo unnie dresses conservatively around civilians.
But alone with villains? Short skirt showing off her pussy and ass, crop see-through tee with nipples on full display.
She plays the villain-milking machine role with enthusiasm.
Me as the villain-exclusive cumdump, Electra as the villain juicer.
Special Resource Management Corporation HQ girls sure aren't easy.
"Raphtel for me! She's so mature and grown-up!"
"Yeah, definitely."
"And she's the team leader at HQ!"
Just like Joo-hee said, Ye-na unnie led the HQ magical girls.
Her maturity gave her top-tier skills for handling villains.
Though she wasn't always leader—back when she was called the Murder Ghost, she was a bigger problem child than Electra.
"Jester's cute too! I like magical girls from other regions too!"
"Wow, you really love them all, huh, Joo-hee?"
"Yeah! I'd become one if I could!"
"You've got nine years left, so who knows?"
Magical girls lose eligibility at thirty.
No one knows why, or the mascot selection criteria.
Han Hee-jung team leader lost hers at thirty too.
Though she still had superhuman power.
"How do you even become one?"
"No idea. I'm curious too."
I couldn't spill any insider info.
"What about you, Ha-young? Any dreams?"
"Dreams? Never really thought about it."
"I'm taking over my parents' restaurant... Oh, sorry."
"It's fine, Joo-hee. I've told you a million times."
My parents died in an accident when I was little.
Grandma raised me, but she passed when I was twelve.
Alone until twenty-one, then transferred here with villains and magical girls.
I'd hoped my family might be alive, but no such luck.
"Really, don't worry about it."
Since Joo-hee learned about my parents, she tried avoiding family talk.
But it slipped out naturally sometimes.
She'd always apologize, head down, no matter how much I said it was fine.
"It's okay. Like I said, it's been over ten years."
"Still..."
"Sigh! No gloom allowed! We promised, right?"
"Yeah... sorry, Ha-young."
"Say sorry one more time and I'm mad."
"Okay...!"
Our friendship still amazed me.
A total loner life, transferred to college world with one best friend waiting.
The contrived setup felt awkward at first.
But now? I was fully part of it.
"Anyway, I'll take over the family restaurant!"
"That super famous udon place, right?"
"Yep! I help out on weekends."
"Such a good daughter."
"Pfft, you sound like an old lady, Ha-young."
People who didn't know I was a magical girl often asked about missing my parents.
At first, I hoped they'd be alive here—grieved for a month.
Then accepted the dead stay dead; the longing faded.
"Got any other friends besides me?"
Ye-na unnie, Hee-soo unnie, Soo-ah.
All precious like Joo-hee, but couldn't mention to civilians.
"Nah, just you."
"For real? You're my only one too!"
She clapped her hands, eyes sparkling at our shared trait.
That gaze twisted me up inside.
Like I was toying with her sincerity.
"Oh, and..."
That's when it happened.
-Bzzzzt! Bzzzzt!
My terminal vibrated in my bag.
"Joo-hee, one sec."
"Sure."
The vibration set me on edge—and sure enough, it was a villain alert.
Location...
"Fuck...!"
"Ha-young, what's up?"
"J-Joo-hee... emergency at home. Gotta go."
"Emergency?"
"Yeah, back in an hour! Wait just a bit!"
Villain spawn: ten-minute walk from Joo-hee's place.
High mobility from the activity radius logged.
No time to hesitate.
-Crashhhh!
Then—the villain shattered Joo-hee's studio window and burst in.
"Human detected...!"
"Kyaaaaah!"
Villains felt only murderous intent toward non-magical girls.
This one spotted us, claws sharpening.
One hand turned steel-like, lunging at Joo-hee.
"Joo-hee!!!"
My body moved first.
I threw myself to shield her; its claws gouged deep into my back.
-Slashhh!
"Gaaahhh...!"
"H-Ha-young...!"
Untransformed, a villain wound like this was no joke.
Back muscles shredded, breathing ragged.
Still, my body kept going.
"Grrrh... kill... human...!"
HQ gave me emergency gear for situations like this.
"T-take this and fuck off!"
I hurled my bag; its claws shredded it.
"Joo-hee, close your eyes!"
-Flash!
A blinding light exploded.
"Kieeeek!"
Villain clutched its eyes, rolling on the floor.
I dragged Joo-hee out while my body barely obeyed.
"H-Ha-young... blood...!"
"I-I'm fine... ngh...!"
Its range was massive—way beyond walking distance.
Once vision recovered, it'd hunt us down. No escaping the building.
"J-Joo-hee... hide here for now..."
"What about you...!"
"I'll draw it off. Magical girl'll come soon... it'll be okay..."
"But...!"
"It's fine. Trust me, right?"
For some reason, that one line would calm her.
"Y-yeah..."
Her eyes still teary and scared, but she nodded carefully.
"Yeah, wait just a bit. I'll come back soon."
"You have to..."
Her trembling hand slipped from mine.
I slammed the emergency stairwell corner door shut, forced my staggering body upright on shaky legs.
"Dorri!"
"Se-Serendipity-nim...! B-blood...!"
"Huff... haa... let's end this quick."
"But..."
"Listen to me!"
"Y-yes!"
Untransformed wound like this was fatal.
Even transformed, full power against the villain? Impossible.
But I had to.
To protect my closest friend.