22. I'll Take the Lead, So Just Follow Along (End)
Two men who had come to a department store to put together an outfit for an adult woman.
I'd thought the odds of the two of us getting through this schedule in one day without incident were slim.
"Try this one on too."
"Th-this one too...?"
"When you're short, longer bottoms keep you from looking even shorter."
I was honestly surprised by Park Won's unexpected sense of style. Everything he picked out was spot-on.
Park Won's choices were a neatly hemmed long skirt and a blouse with a relaxed fit.
Honestly, I wasn't exactly thrilled about putting on women's clothes just because he told me to....
But since I knew nothing about clothes, I had no choice but to go along with Park Won's pace on this one.
And when I looked at Peregrine's reflection in the mirror after changing....
"Honestly, it is kind of cute...."
Park Won just gave a single nod instead of answering.
What the hell. You... why do you know so much about women's fashion?
Even I, who knew nothing about this stuff, could tell that Peregrine's reflection looked good.
"Did you look this up beforehand? It's not bad, actually."
"I've been looking into it for a while now. Still do these days."
"Thanks to you, picking out clothes will be easy. But how exactly did you end up knowing so much about this kind of clothing?"
Park Won's words dwindled again.
Seeing him drag it out with that blank expression, I wondered if this was just a habit of his.
I was just about to poke him in the side and ask what could possibly be such a big deal when Park Won finally opened his mouth.
"A long time ago, someone advised me to develop some fashion sense."
"Who was it?"
"There was someone. A person who dressed better than you."
So this sense of style was someone else's work?
Well, I'm grateful they fixed this man's sense, which was probably as much of a mess as his sunglasses.
But something about it bugged me. My chest felt tight too. I felt vaguely dissatisfied.
What is it? Why? Ah....
'I said I'd take the lead today, but I've just been getting dragged around.'
At this rate, I'd end up being the one dressed up by Park Won. I couldn't let that happen.
I had to create at least a somewhat more assertive mood. That was the only way I'd get to see your true colors.
Even if it was just the mood.
"Anyway, this outfit has your taste in it, doesn't it, Partner?"
"Not really."
"Clothes always end up reflecting the taste of the person choosing them, don't they? Didn't you want to see a Magical Girl dressed like this, Partner?"
This was it. With this, I could fluster him.
No matter what people look for, they always end up looking according to their own taste. You were the same.
Go on, say it. Say you actually wanted to dress a Magical Girl in clothes that fit your taste.
Go on.
"My taste...."
"Tell the truth. I'll be generous about it."
That was a lie.
If he told the truth, I was going to latch onto it relentlessly from now on.
"You're too young for me to dress you in clothes that suit my taste."
Huh?
That's where this was going? That's the issue?
Wait. Why are your hands on me.
Who said you could just lift a person up?!
"Ah...?! Could you not suddenly lift me up?!"
"You insulted my taste."
"Insult is a bit much..., if it's not, then it's not. Why react like that, like I hit a nerve?"
"For clothes that suit my taste, you'd need to be about this tall."
"Did you really have to remind me of that, Partner—!"
Why, why are you looking at me like that.
Stop staring at me through those ridiculous sunglasses.
It's too much..., you're too close. The shadows are falling on your face and I can't breathe....
And I'm lifted up so my feet aren't even touching the ground. Doing this with my smaller body is overwhelming, so stop!
"S-stop...."
"I'll give you a chance to retract what you just said."
"I said stop looking at me...! It's really too much. I feel suffocated!"
"My taste runs toward more mature women."
"Fine, I get it...! I was wrong, so please put me down!"
What was this, that he had to get all serious about it....
While still caught in his grip, I held out as long as I could, then reached out with both hands.
And then, so he couldn't say another word, I pressed my hands firmly against his lips.
My mood had already been swinging all over the place lately, and now he kept pushing me around and making a scene.
"Mmph. Mmph. Hmm."
"I said keep your mouth still, your mouth...!"
"Hmmph?"
"Your breath is hitting my palm through your lips and it feels weird..., i-it."
This man was completely uncontrollable.
It was only after a long while that I finally let my hands drop and was freed from Park Won.
How dare he lift me up. And how dare he put me down.
Handling my body however he pleased without permission—I'd remember this....
"Honestly, being next to you always makes me snap, Partner."
"This time, you were the one who misspoke."
"Yeah, sure. Go have a nice time with some tall person...."
"Thanks for the well-wishes. Anyway, let's get going."
Right. Our original goal was the ecological park.
Thinking about walking through a quiet place, it wouldn't be bad for a change of mood..., but would there really be migratory birds?
"There's no chance we'll get there and find no birds, right? That would be awkward."
"If that happens, well. It'd be a shame, but nothing we can do."
"What do you mean..., we're going to see migratory birds."
"We're just going hoping to run into them by chance. Even if the birds fly off, we can't exactly catch them."
"Wouldn't you be disappointed?"
"If anything, it'd be a good thing. It means they weren't tied down anywhere and went their own way."
Hmm....
He says some pretty plausible things.
Well, let's see. Whether he really won't be disappointed if there are no migratory birds, just like he said.
As for me, even if we go, I won't lose anything, so it doesn't matter.
Actually, it might be nice if there really were birds when we got there.
————
"What are you so disappointed about?"
"I really thought there'd be some...."
There were no birds.
We had gone to meet chance, and there was no chance at the ecological park.
It was just me and Park Won, standing at ease among the reeds of the ecological park.
"Cheer up. Some days are just like this."
"Still, honestly, I did expect it just a little. It's true that I'm disappointed."
"Did you like birdwatching too? I didn't know."
"Is there anyone who dislikes a quiet atmosphere...?"
It's a good chance to get away from all the chaotic thoughts.
There's a limit to how long I can sit around zoning out alone at home like some pitiful loser.
I'd hoped for a nice chance to unwind for once, but in the end it was a bust.
"Let's go sit on that bench over there."
"You really don't seem disappointed at all, Partner."
"I am."
"You don't seem like it?"
"If I show it, you'll feel embarrassed too."
"So you are disappointed after all?"
Following Park Won, who nodded, we headed toward the bench in the corner.
And then, for a while, neither of us said anything.
There was no particular reason. It was just that nothing came to mind to say.
Even if I broke the silence and forced out some words, the conversation seemed like it would scatter right away.
As expected, I was still uncomfortable around this man.
Judging only by what I'd observed today, he might not be a bad person, but I still felt a bit uncomfortable around him.
I couldn't judge based on just one day of observation, so I'd probably need to watch him a few more times to know.
Maybe I should test him a little first.
"Today, going out with me must have been boring."
"What do you mean?"
"Just. Recently..., I happened to observe another Partner and Magical Girl at the Association."
"And?"
"Other Partners and Magical Girls talk a lot with each other and seem to get along well."
But, honestly, things between us are a bit awkward.
As long as you still make me uncomfortable, I can't form a proper judgment about you.
But on the other hand, that's exactly why I want to get to know you more.
Once I'm sure whether the rumors are true or not, it won't be too late to criticize you then.
This is me being wary of you.
"But those pairs all have their own struggles too, I'm sure."
"Well..., I suppose so."
"For our part, we're getting along without much trouble. Thanks to that, it brought back some old memories too."
Wait.
Let me address one thing.
I'd been wondering what was bothering me, and now I thought I knew why.
"There's something I want to ask of you, Partner."
"Tell me."
"Let's agree to be careful about mentioning former partners from now on. How about it?"
I turned my body toward Park Won, who had gone quiet with a blank look.
So that was what had been bothering me at the department store too....
Having the name Peregrine used as a point of comparison. That was what I hated.
"Even if I'm not exactly faithful to the name Peregrine, I'm still Peregrine. This name, and choosing you as my Partner—both were my choices."
"So."
"I'd rather you didn't use the name Peregrine as a point of comparison. I'll go at my own pace, so you just have to follow."
"Was it uncomfortable? Or...."
Ah, I wish he wouldn't bring that up.
"Were you jealous?"
"Who was jealous...? I don't feel anything like that at all, okay?"
"Between Partners and Magical Girls, that kind of thing happens sometimes."
"Our relationship started under extremely unusual circumstances, remember? That will ab-so-lute-ly never happen, Partner."
"I agree."
"Ugh, seriously.... You weren't imagining that kind of relationship, were you?"
"Absolutely not."
"I could never, ever have that kind of relationship with an old man like you."
I was about to frown at him again when a bird's cry broke the silence instead.
Startled, I stopped getting angry and turned my gaze toward the sound.
"A sandpiper."
"Eh...."
"Well, how about that..., we got to see a bird before leaving after all."
"That's true."
"In the end, it wasn't so bad, was it?"
"...."
Well....
"Today was all right."
"Thanks for putting up with me. When we get back, memorize that public statement."
"I was going to do that on my own anyway."
...
Still feeling unsettled, I pointed a finger at Park Won.
"Just so you know, really. Absolutely. I was absolutely not jealous...?"
"I know."
"Absolutely, absolutely not...? If you get the wrong idea like that, I'll kick you...?"
"I said I know."
"You shouldn't do that either. Understood...."
"I told you, you're not my type."
"I really want to kick you into a swamp...."