18. I'll Take the Lead, So Just Follow Along (1)
"Tell me your plan."
"...."
"The news and the forums. Talk of Peregrine's return is coming up across every media outlet."
"That's right, Director. Yes...."
"Park Won, An Gi-yeon. Tell me your plan."
The Director had us standing in her office while she alone perched on the edge of the table.
In front of the Director, who was swinging both legs expressionlessly, I could only swallow dryly.
Abruptly, she tilted her head and turned her gaze toward Park Won.
"Park Won, you are Peregrine's Partner."
"That's right."
"There was ample opportunity to stop her. Guiding a Magical Girl so she does not make mistakes is also a Partner's role."
"That's also true...."
"You must reflect on this."
"Yes.... I'll reflect on it."
Even Park Won, who was like the world's craftiest old fox, just nodded without making excuses.
He was even clearing his throat awkwardly in a voice I'd never heard from him before.
Honestly, this whole thing happened because I charged out on my own. Park Won wasn't at fault in any of this.
This isn't the place to be hashing out who's right and who's wrong. That's exactly what I've been waiting for a chance to do.
If I end up owing him over something like this, it's just going to make things more uncomfortable....
"If Peregrine cannot be controlled, then there is no choice but to change Partners."
Wait a second.
"Peregrine. I am asking whether you have grown close to Park Won."
"Y-yes...?"
"No, I am changing the question. I am asking whether you can trust the Partner called Park Won."
Well, obviously I can't trust him.
Asking that to someone who's been agonizing over how to butter this guy up and then tear him apart....
"...."
"He is not even properly fulfilling the role of a Partner."
"Wait a moment. This incident was entirely something I did on my own! This incident, at least, has nothing to do with Partner Park Won!"
"I am not speaking only of this incident. Even if it was an independent action, it cannot be denied that it occurred because trust was lacking."
The atmosphere was strange.
Park Won..., they were going to send him to another Magical Girl?
Why did I go to all the trouble of exclusively marking Park Won? He's a Partner with a record.
I've been going through all this misery to stop him from doing something awful to another Partner..., and now they want to change Partners?
And on top of that, with Park Won taking the fall for a mistake I made, which feels disgusting?
This isn't how adults do things. I'm the one who decided to keep close watch and figure out what Park Won had and hadn't done wrong.
I can't accept them tearing Park Won away from me this way, at this timing.
Are they trying to turn me into a cowardly adult...?
"Please wait...!"
"Speak, Peregrine."
"I-I. I mean. Th-that is."
Saying it with my own mouth was torture.
If Park Won really is that unpleasant, then just going our separate ways this time is also an option.
But even knowing that, it still felt wrong.
I didn't like the idea of the Partner I'd asked to have assigned to me going to another Magical Girl....
And besides, this was my fault, so this incident, at least, was mine to clean up.
"I-I..., I fully trust Partner Park Won!"
Silence fell over the Director's office.
The gazes of the three people besides me all fixed on me at once.
Well, what else was I supposed to do? My plan was about to fall apart.
I can at least tell a lie. I'm already pretending to be a Magical Girl....
"That statement lacks credibility."
"Then I just have to prove it, right? Proof that I'm accepting this person as my Partner."
"Prove it once. If it is not proof that conveys trust, then there is no choice but to change Partners."
The Director looked at me expressionlessly and lightly raised one hand.
It was as if she was politely saying, go ahead.
I got up from my spot and walked over in front of Park Won.
Looking up at Park Won, who had his mouth firmly shut, I blinked.
You'd better do your part too. Getting through this smoothly is in your interest as well.
So just play along.
"Partner..., you know."
"Huh...?"
"Help me. Quickly."
I smiled faintly at Park Won and spoke with my eyes.
'Take the hint, seriously....'
"...."
Park Won watched quietly from behind his sunglasses, then eventually reached out toward me.
When I closed my eyes, Park Won's hand, which had hesitated for a moment, moved up to my head.
"Mm...."
I let out a short breath and quietly accepted Park Won's touch.
My hair tickled as it slipped between his index and middle fingers.
The weight of the hand resting on my head.
The warmth coming from that touch.
The feeling of lowering my guard and offering up my head so he could pet me properly.
All sorts of sensations came trickling down from the top of my head, ticklish and soft.
"If this is difficult for you, I'll prove on my own that I trust you."
"...."
Once my hair started getting mussed, I even put on an act of fussing for more petting.
I just had to do the opposite of what I usually did.
I just had to make them believe that I trusted Park Won.
"When I feel your touch, Partner..., I can relax a little. I'm anxious right now that I might end up separated from you."
"...."
"We've only just started getting to know each other..., but I want to believe that you're not a bad person."
I narrowed my eyes, lifted my head a little more, and glared up at Park Won.
You always petted me so casually before.
Why are you hesitating now? Do you want to get fired?
'Do it properly.'
Meeting Park Won's eyes, I moved only my lips.
Something about this wasn't enough. Being this stiff wasn't enough to fool the Director....
I'd better take the reins.
"Do you not want to?"
"No. Hey."
"I said I want to trust you. Sincerely."
Then I took Park Won's hand in one of mine, lacing our fingers together.
I pulled it over and moved his palm to my cheek, then lightly rested my face against it.
At some point, while swiping through the forums on my device, I'd seen a video of someone handling a bird.
It kept nuzzling its head against its owner's hand, begging for affection for no reason.
Was this what that felt like....
"This is so frustrating..., it's stupid."
Then I buried my face in Park Won's palm.
I nuzzled the bridge of my nose against his palm, and for no reason pressed my lips to it and whispered meaningless words.
After making a show of taking in the cigarette scent lingering on his hand, I smiled quietly and lowered my head.
"Is this enough..., to prove my trust in you, Partner?"
"...."
Looking at the Director, who was still expressionless, I felt a chill.
Was that too much? No. It had to be at least this much to look believable.
How long had it been since Park Won and I met? At most, not even a week.
Wait, was it too much after all...? Did I blow it? Did I actually give away that I was acting?
Ah, shit....
"Interesting. An Gi-yeon, tell me what you think."
"Y-yes?! Me?!"
An Gi-yeon, who had been watching with her lips pressed tightly together, spoke in surprise.
Ah.... I'd forgotten An Gi-yeon was even there.
Why does the shame always come flooding in only afterward?
"In your view, do those two seem to trust each other?"
"Weeeell...?"
"Speak truthfully."
"Uh, um. At this level..., I-I mean, aren't they sufficiently trusting each other? Oh, that's right. Park Won even personally helped with her first Egg-Laying Season!"
Of all things.
She had to bring that up.
Ugh, seriously....
"That kind of thing is only possible when two people trust each other, so their trust level.... seems sufficient...?"
"It is a leap, but not entirely wrong."
Ah....
Still, it seemed like it might somehow blow over....
Let it blow over. Okay? Let's just have her believe us cleanly and end it. Please.
I threw away my dignity just now. Okay? I rubbed my face against him to show I trusted him, said I was anxious, said things I didn't mean.
I'm sticking with him to expose this guy's wrongdoing, and now they're saying they'll attach Park Won to another Magical Girl.
If that happens, the only thing left for me would be the fact that I became a Magical Girl. That's too miserable.
Please....
"Hm."
The Director, who had been quietly stroking her chin, slowly shifted her gaze to Park Won.
"Park Won, you are a fortunate Partner."
"Yes.... Thank you."
"Prepare for Peregrine's return announcement soon."
"...."
"All three of you, leave."
After briefly raising the corners of her mouth, the Director raised her hand again, expressionless.
We left the Director's office through the door she pointed at, and only after the three of us gathered on the rooftop did we sigh at the same time.
And then, the words we'd been holding back started bursting out.
"Ugh.... I feel sick..., I want to die."
"Why do I have to get dragged into this minefield?! Huh?!"
"You're not exactly without a stake in this! You freeloaders who only know how to suck honey, you and Park Won are the same!"
"Hey. What on earth were you thinking, pulling something like that...?"
"Don't get the wrong idea, it was the only way?!"
"This is hard to understand! Peregrine, you're the weirdest of all the Magical Girls!"
"I'm the only weird one?! Park Won's weird too, and so are you! Everyone's weird except me!"
"You two are the weirdest."
"You're just as weird!"
Only after An Gi-yeon and I ended up shouting at Park Won at the same time did it get quiet.
Looking at An Gi-yeon and me collapsed in exhaustion, Park Won leaned against the railing and pulled out a cigarette.
Making a groaning sound, I scratched at the head Park Won had petted for no reason.
That was because, even after his touch had left, something kept feeling strange.
Look at this, even my tail feathers were trembling away cluelessly.
"Haaah.... So, did we get through it...?"
"I don't know, me neither.... More importantly, a return announcement, what does that even mean...?"
"It means you have to announce in public that you're a Magical Girl. That Peregrine has returned."
"What...? No, I don't want to! I'm not even properly prepared yet!"
"Then maybe don't go saying your name.... Give me back my honey pot."
Ah..., strictly speaking, it was true that this person had gotten dragged into this too.
I was starting to feel a little sorry....
"There's a limit to how long the Association can hold an embargo. It'll probably be soon."
"That...! Haaah. Sorry..., you got dragged into this for nothing too."
"Don't be sorry. You handled it well."
"Park Won, if you go easy on her here, what does that make me?!"
"She's pitiful. She didn't even commit a crime."
Park Won, who had been listening to the conversation, quietly spoke to me.
As he spoke, he was flexing and unflexing the hand he had petted me with.
"The immediate fire's been put out, so let's think about it slowly."
"Aren't you being too carefree, Park Won?"
"It's past six, so I'm heading home."
"Excuse me?! You should at least come up with a plan before you go! Hello?!"
With a word that things would work out, Park Won looked down at me slumped on the ground.
"Like you said, I left work on time today."
"Huh...?"
He'd been aware of that comment?
No. That wasn't the issue.
"Do you have a plan for what comes next?"
"Park Won has already gone home."
That, this. Shit.
Hold back the bad words.
Hold back the bad words....
"Anyway, I'm not the one making the announcement."
"You, you certified beast of a sly fox.... Are you abandoning your Magical Girl?!"