29. Please Understand, Partner (4)
After the Association released the information, my impression on the way to work was....
'Suffocating.'
It felt like I'd become a mannequin in a shop window.
In an environment so completely different from before, with my tail feathers standing on end, the gazes pouring in from every direction felt like hands groping over my body.
Every time I took a step, it felt like eyes were following me, so I was forcing myself not to glance around out of habit.
Even so, I had to smile brightly and pretend I didn't notice any of it.
Because that's what Peregrine is....
Even if playing Peregrine in this space was overwhelming, I had no choice but to pull it off for now.
"Just look straight ahead. Don't turn your head for no reason."
A quiet voice came from Park Won, walking in step beside me.
I didn't give him any answer.
He probably hadn't said it expecting a reply anyway.
He must have said it out of worry that I might show signs of wavering.
"Most of them are just watching you out of curiosity. With the sense of, 'Oh, Peregrine's back,' that sort of thing."
"...."
"The only Magical Girl you need to be careful about is Gannet. Ignore the rest."
Park Won was right. Don't get rattled.
I am Peregrine. Not Yu Seong-woo, but Peregrine.
If I don't want this appearance to look awkward, I can't let myself be shaken by trivial things.
Yeah. I can do this.
A Magical Girl wouldn't be easily shaken by stares like these.
"I'm working hard at it, you know, Partner."
I put on the Peregrine smile I'd been watching and practicing.
A graceful, clear expression and a bright smile.
It was still awkward, but I used a cheerful voice bright enough to bury even that awkwardness.
I just had to recall the image Peregrine had built up and throw Yu Seong-woo away, like being swept into a raging current.
All I had to do was show others the most desirable, ideal version of myself I could imagine.
At the point where I was acting this desperately, I did feel some skepticism about what a Magical Girl even was....
But right now I didn't have the luxury to worry about that.
"Having you by my side, Partner, still puts me a little at ease."
"You're doing well. Looks like you practiced a lot."
"I watched whenever I had time. How is it? Am I doing okay?"
Just like that, I stepped a couple of paces ahead of Park Won and clasped my hands behind my back.
As I turned in one long circle and lightly swept my gaze around, what I felt was the stares from every direction.
Let's set aside who was watching me and with what intent for now.
The walls have ears, and the Association has birds on every side.
For now, I just needed to keep that much in mind.
"That's fairly convincing."
"Ehehe..., then that's a relief. I'm trying really hard right now."
"It shows."
"You'll help me adjust too, won't you, Partner?"
I wasn't saying this because I actually wanted to lean on Park Won.
This was nothing more than an act. An act to create a Peregrine-like atmosphere.
So all you have to do is answer. It's simple, isn't it?
"...."
"Partner?"
Park Won stopped abruptly.
Say something, would you. This was just frustrating.
As I tilted my head, waiting for an answer from the silent Park Won, a voice soon came from the distance.
"Peregrine...!"
"Oh. Albatross."
What perfect timing.
Seeing Albatross in the distance straining to squeeze out her voice to call us, I bowed my head along with her.
When my eyes met Albatross's, the gazes began to fade one by one, as if by magic.
The closer Albatross got, the easier it felt to breathe, somehow....
"Good morning. Did Park Won get home safely yesterday?"
"No."
Yun Ha-ram had come all the way over to us and opened with small talk, and Park Won's response was a sight to behold.
I kicked Park Won in the shin from behind.
Hard enough that it probably hurt.
"Huh?"
"No. I got home fine."
"Really? That's good...! Yesterday was definitely kind of fun, though."
"What...? I didn't do anything embarrassing, did I...?"
"Should I say it myself? Or would Park Won like to?"
"...."
What. Why. What.
Why are you looking down at me with those eyes.
Did I mess something up outside the house yesterday too...?
"Should I tell her?"
"No.... You don't have to say anything, Partner."
"Anyway, I got home fine. I was lucky."
"Well, with you there, nothing would've gone wrong. Hmm, hold on."
Yun Ha-ram came closer with a puzzled look.
She sniffed once at my tense neck.
Then sniffed again at Park Won's neck.
Then, standing beside Albatross, she looked back and forth between us.
"Why do the two of you seem to smell the same?"
"Eek...."
"A strangely similar smell.... Cigarette smoke mixed with fabric softener. Ah."
"What are you trying to say...."
"Ah-ha...."
"Excuse me...?!"
Yun Ha-ram's eyes turned catlike as she whispered with Albatross.
Hearing that, Albatross immediately turned red.
I couldn't figure this woman out at all.
And had the two of them planned this beforehand? Why were they so in sync.
"Do we look like that to other people too, Partner?"
"Probably not."
Right, probably not.
"Anyway, I have something to discuss with the Director. It won't take long."
"Okay, then we'll head up first. I have things to check with Peregrine."
"Ah, then I'll...."
"Peregrine, you go with Yun Ha-ram."
"What about you?"
"I'll be right there."
Park Won thumped my back with unnecessary force, as if telling me to get going.
Following the friendly Yun Ha-ram, we split up at the clock tower in the center of the Association.
If it had been her, she probably would have said goodbye warmly at this moment, wouldn't she?
"Um, Partner Park Won...!"
"Mm."
"I'll be waiting. So you have to come right back."
"Go on, now."
Park Won's figure, waving slowly, gradually receded.
For some reason, now that he was gone, my body ached again.
My lower abdomen had been bothering me for the past few days, and it was making me uneasy....
"Ah, I'm not sure if this is the right time to bring it up, Peregrine."
"Yes?"
"You're keeping the transformation costume as is, right?"
Huh...?
"Um, I haven't even thought about that yet...?"
"You'll be officially active soon, won't you? So it's a pretty important issue."
"Can't we decide that slowly later...?!"
"The rule is that Magical Girls stay in transformation attire in public settings.... Oh dear, you forgot this too...."
I hadn't forgotten, but I decided to pretend I had.
More importantly, you're telling me to stand around in a frilly skirt in front of all those people?
Hi, I'm Peregrine.
Dripping with ribbons and frills, ta-da.
"Uwaaaah...."
"Your face has gone completely red. Are you that embarrassed, Peregrine?"
"Yun Ha-ram, wait a moment.... Did Albatross do this too? All this time...?"
"I didn't often have occasion to appear in public, but yes...."
No.
I'd hoped that at least you would deny it from beside me.
"Now then, shall we see if your body remembers...."
"What are you trying to do?!"
"Here, like this. Raise one hand."
"No...! I'm not doing any transformation!"
"This isn't a transformation. It's magic. That, what is it."
Why are you rolling your eyes around so awkwardly.
"Ah...! Right, it's a test to see if you still have magical power! That's what it is!"
"...."
"You have to trust me completely. Here! Raise one hand!"
"Nnng...."
Maybe it was because with Park Won gone, I'd lost the only person I could rely on.
Still, since she was the only Partner I knew besides Park Won, I'd do what she said, but....
"Like this, bring your fingers together."
"Okay, together...."
"Give them a snap."
"Okay.... Like this?"
Snap.
"Eek...?"
"That's a relief. Your body really does remember."
A light, Magical-Girl-like sound rang out.
But that sound was only light to the people hearing it. To me, it wasn't light at all.
"How in the world...!"
"It still suits you so well! Maybe because you wore it so often...."
"You said it wasn't a transformation, Yun Ha-ram!"
"Amazing. This actually transforms you...."
"Could you look this way and say that again?!"
In an instant, my pants changed into a skirt, and everything below felt exposed.
I was wearing everything I needed to wear, and everything that needed covering was covered.
But still, I felt stripped bare....
More than anything, the wind was touching places it shouldn't touch.
Ah, my head was going fuzzy.... I was screwed. I was so embarrassed my heart was lurching again.
She said it wasn't a transformation. She said she was just checking if I still had magical power.
"Ugh. Hnk...."
"Ahem. I'm just checking. Just checking."
"You tricked me.... I trusted you, Yun Ha-ram!"
Yun Ha-ram scratched her cheek awkwardly.
You knew this was going to happen, didn't you!
Traitor. Liar. Deceiver.
This grudge, I would definitely....
"Still, at least there's no transformation incantation...."
"Look at me right now...! No, wait, Albatross, you have a transformation incantation...?"
"I do...! Magical Girls who can transform without an incantation are actually rare. Of course, if you transform in the abbreviated form, the Magical Girl's power weakens by that much."
Ah, so that was the setting.
So that was why Magical Girls transformed while chanting incantations.
My memories from when I handled Magical Girls had mostly flown away, so I'd forgotten....
More importantly, that wasn't the point.
"Peregrine mostly transformed without an incantation, though. Honestly, I'm a little jealous...."
"Ah..., well. Let's set that aside for now! More importantly, how do I undo the transformation...."
Snap.
I snapped my fingers. But my outfit stayed the same.
Huh.
If I transformed by snapping my fingers.... then the same action should undo it, shouldn't it...?
"Ah! You need your Partner to release it. For now, Peregrine, this way."
Ah....