Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Second Magical School Days (1)
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There was a lot of talk about school trauma and all that, but if you boil down a Magical Girl's tendencies, it comes down to this.
She's an I in MBTI.
An extreme introvert.
In simple terms, she suffers from severe social anxiety. She's terrified of talking to other people.
So the solution is straightforward.
Just get her used to interacting with people. Do that, and she'll naturally overcome the fear she feels around others.
In other words, give her a second real school experience.
I put the plan into action without delay.
Assigning roles, securing the venue, and so on.
But there was one unexpected snag: the octopus didn't help us out.
"This girl has no intention of cleaning the Magical observatory for those inferior Magical Girls."
To be precise, she was taking a different approach. It wasn't direct help, but still.
"No, why? Just leave it."
"Aren't they suffering from Magical depression? Those inferior types won't even do Magical cleaning. We have to start with that."
I wondered if it was really necessary, but who could break the octopus's stubbornness?
In the end, we had to give up on her help.
Of course, it wasn't all bad.
There were good things too.
Something I hadn't even considered: we got a surprising amount of support.
"Oh, nice. Siyul. We can use this for promoting advanced Magical Girls."
I don't know how she found out, but the purple Magical Girl took an interest and reached out to us.
Thanks to her, we were able to set up a proper event on a fairly large scale.
And finally, the day all the preparations were complete arrived.
We invited Magical Girls to the gathering.
Now this would completely cure her fear.
"Hey."
But the Magical Girl scowled the moment she saw it.
"What?"
"What the hell is this?"
"A way to overcome your fear."
I answered with a bright smile.
The Magical Girl grabbed my collar.
"How the fuck is this overcoming fear!"
She was pointing at a gaudily decorated signboard.
A custom-made one for today.
【Magical Gathering to Chat with Magenta Eagle】
Gathered beneath that sign were crowds of Magical Girls huddled together.
Looking at them, I thanked Sora.
"Sora, thanks. You worked hard. Must've been tough rounding up this many."
"It wasn't that hard. I just blasted the announcement across the entire Magical unit via Magical broadcast."
She said it casually, but it definitely wasn't easy.
To pull something like that off, you need wide connections. At the very least, she must be close with the Magical Girls who control the broadcasts.
It's something I couldn't do, since I don't get along with most Magical Girls to begin with.
Good call handing it off to Sora.
Way more Magical Girls showed up than I expected—an overwhelming number.
This many should be plenty.
"I don't need it! Send them all home right now!!!"
But today's star, the Magical Girl herself, flew into a rage and shook her head furiously.
Unbelievable. Ignoring the goodwill of all these people who came for her.
She really was a severe social anxiety case—a total nutjob.
"Anyway, I'm leaving."
Now she was even throwing a tantrum.
If I let this go, she'd ditch all these grateful folks and bolt.
So I had to step in quick.
I shoved the Magical Girl into the crowd with a cheerful grin.
"Thank you all for coming!!!"
"Y-you psycho! What are you doing!"
"Now we'll go around and have everyone introduce themselves one by one!!!!!!"
It was sudden, but since Sora had gathered such outgoing types, they adapted fast and started introducing themselves.
That created an atmosphere where slipping out would be awkward. Now the Magical Girl couldn't run anymore.
"You……!"
She glared at me like she wanted to kill me.
Sora noticed and shot me a worried look.
"Sunbae, you okay? She holds grudges like crazy. Might get annoying later."
She seemed concerned the Magical Girl might do something extreme.
"It's fine."
But no big deal.
If anything, her reaction was pitiful.
Her school trauma must've messed her up so bad she could only express herself like this.
I got it completely.
"She'll be crying and thanking me later anyway."
"You think…… so……?"
Meanwhile, as introductions went around, it was the Magical Girl's turn before we knew it.
Perfect chance to remind her once more.
"Okay! Everyone pay attention!!! Today's star! The main event! Magical Girl Magenta Eagle's turn to introduce herself!!! Give her a big round of applause!!!"
A thunderous applause erupted, and all eyes focused on the one Magical Girl.
"Ugh……!"
She bit her lip hard.
Her face turned beet red. The name Magenta Eagle really fit her to a T.
"Go ahead with your intro!!!"
"……."
But even with all the attention I'd drawn, she said nothing.
"Come on! Magenta Eagle!"
"……."
She just clamped her mouth shut.
And sure enough, the classic problem with extroverts started brewing.
Yeah.
The small talk among themselves.
The unexpected snag threw the mood into chaos. I rushed to steer things back, calling out to her urgently.
"Magical Girl Magenta Eagle!!! It's your turn! Get to it!!!"
"N-no……!"
"Are you usually this quiet? Why so silent today of all days!!!!!!"
"Hey, fuck, I mean……!"
Right then, Whitey jumped in to back me up.
"Everyone, be silent!!!!!! Magical Girl Magenta Eagle has something to say!!!!!!!"
With her booming voice, she seized the chaotic vibe in an instant, refocusing everyone on the Magical Girl.
"Hey, don't……."
"Magical Girl Magenta Eagle! Can't hear you! Speak louder!"
And she kept egging her on to speak up properly.
"I brought a Magical footstool—hop up here! Then everyone can see you!"
"N-no, stop……! Please……!"
Not just that. She'd even prepared a platform in case anyone in the back couldn't see.
What a pro, that Whitey. Setting the stage perfectly for mingling.
She was a real dog with it.
For real.
Meanwhile, was she secretly hoping for this even as she resisted? Blushing furiously, the Magical Girl slowly climbed onto the platform.
"H-hello…… I'm Magenta Eagle."
She added a few words to wrap up her intro, and the watching Magical Girls started sharing their reactions.
"Hey, who's that anyway? I don't know her."
"The one who scribbles in her Magical diary and giggles to herself. She took on Magical messenger duties recently."
"For a messenger, she never talks and just slinks around. First time hearing her voice."
"What a voice."
Of course, the reactions weren't all glowing.
Her quiet, creepy image was apparently pretty ingrained.
But that ends today.
I'll carry her through it.
I jumped right in without hesitation.
"Magical Girl Magenta Eagle!!! Let's do an image makeover right here today!!!"
She shot me a fierce glare.
How? her eyes demanded.
Whitey had the answer ready.
"Liven up the atmosphere with a song!"
She shoved a glass bottle with a spoon stuck in it at the Magical Girl.
The Magical Girl shook her head desperately, her face paler than before.
"W-wait! I…… can't sing……!"
"You can do it! You got this!"
Ignoring her protests, Whitey forced the bottle into her hands.
The Magical Girls, fired up by the scene, grinned and chimed in one by one.
"Hurry up. Don't kill the vibe."
"Just do it? We're not forcing you."
"Yeah, yeah. Close your eyes once and get it over with."
"N-no! It's……!"
Unable to just wait, they started chanting in unison.
- Sing!
"N-no! Hold on! Just a sec!"
She shook her head harder.
The group's voice grew louder.
- Sing!!!
"I really can't sing!"
She denied it desperately, but it was too late.
- One beat rest!
Everyone knew.
Once a group's momentum builds, it doesn't stop easy.
- Two beats rest!!!
There was only one way to halt these cheerleaders riding the wave.
- Three beats rest!!!!!
Have the Magical Girl sing.
- One! Two!! Three!!! Four!!!!
In the end, she started singing.
Her voice grew misty bit by bit—she must've been truly touched that I'd set this up for her.
Why do I think that?
Obvious.
She kept shooting me fervent glances amid her halting song.
"See, Sora? Told you. She'll be in tears thanking me later."
"……Sunbae, that looks more like a murder glare."
"She's always had that face. Don't overthink it."
I couldn't let this moment pass. Better record it with the borrowed camcorder.
Whenever life got her down and suicidal, she could watch this for strength.
Meanwhile, how long did she sing in that cracking, halting voice?
Finally, she finished, panting with a teary face.
"Th-that's…… enough……."
But we all knew.
- Magical encore! Magical encore! Magical encore!
Songs don't usually end after one.
In the end, with a weird expression and an even more teary voice, she started singing again amid the Magical Girls.
Probably overwhelmed by all the attention.
What a touching moment.
First time in her life for something like this, no doubt.
From here on, she wouldn't fear people anymore and could blend in just fine.
But I wasn't done yet.
"Okay! Now our star! The main event! Magical Girl Magenta Eagle will do a talent show!!!"
The gathering was just getting started.