5. How Do I Get Used to a Body Like This (1)
Emergency. This is an emergency. An emergency....
It shows right through my clothes.... It just barely rubbed against the fabric, so why is it this sensitive?
What am I supposed to do about this? What am I supposed to do.
Go into the Association? Just go in for now?
No, I should stop and get something to cover it....
No. Going in and asking for help is awkward too.
Convenience store. Right, there's bound to be a convenience store.
Let's just go into the convenience store for now. Go in and....
"Ugh..., shit. Do I seriously have to do that?"
I walked into the convenience store with an almost wronged expression, on the verge of tears, hunching my shoulders for no reason.
The place was already busy with people grabbing coffee before heading into the Association.
Right. Now was as good a time as any.
Honestly, I'd only ever imagined it. I never thought it would actually come to this....
I don't want to create some weird image!
So....
For Peregrine's sake, at least....
"Yes."
"Th-this. Give me this, please."
"Huh?"
"Ring it up, please. How much is it...?"
The part-timer eyeing me with suspicion was deeply irritating.
But what could I do.
[Square Bandages, 5-count.]
My face was this red just from buying some bandages.
Of course they'd look at me like I was weird....
But what am I supposed to do about being embarrassed for no reason.
[Beep.]
After paying, I bolted out of the convenience store.
Anyway, it was done. Now I just had to go into the Association bathroom and take care of it.
It's not hard, right? Just go in and stick them on....
Right, the humiliation would only last a moment. Bathroom. Bathroom....
Go in through the entrance and take an immediate right.
The bathroom was a little farther past the elevator.
Okay, okay...!
"Wh-whoa..., who are you?!"
"Huh?!"
"This is the men's bathroom! I think you're confused...?!"
"Why would I...."
"Excuse me?!"
"S-sorry..., I'm sorry..."
I'm fucked.
I'm so fucked....
───
"Eek."
"...."
"Did something happen, Peregrine?"
"Don't talk to me...."
Those were the first words An Gi-yeon said after seeing me looking utterly haggard.
She even approached with an uncharacteristically worried face, and I stretched my short arm straight out toward her.
"Don't tell me it's already...."
"It's not that, so don't come over here...!"
In the end, I did manage to stick them on even after going through that disaster.
But just in case. Just in case, you never know. If she came near me, something unfortunate might happen.
So I was telling her not to come over. Please. For the love of god.
"You're deathly pale. Are you sure you're really okay?"
"Yes! I'm completely..., completely fine?! I'm not sick or anything! Something just came up, that's all!"
"So what came up...."
"Do I really need to tell you that too?!"
At An Gi-yeon's relentless prying, I raised my outstretched hand and covered my mouth.
Just, please don't make me talk about this any further.
I earnestly expressed with my hand that just thinking about it gave me a headache.
An Gi-yeon looked baffled at first, but soon returned to her seat.
"Shiiit...."
No, how am I supposed to say this.
How am I supposed to say that I went out like usual and realized I wasn't wearing underwear.
That I'd never worn women's underwear in my entire life, and until yesterday I'd only ever worn a hospital gown.
So today I got dressed like I always did, went out, and it rubbed and stung....
There was no time to go back, and the only thing in sight was a convenience store.
So instead of nipple patches, I just bought some bandages and stuck them on.
How the hell am I supposed to say that.
"So annoying...."
"I-if you need it, I could at least get you some medicine...."
"I already handled it myself...!"
I squeezed my eyes shut and lightly tapped the desk with my small fist.
Tap.
A pathetic little sound again this time.
Hoping that today would just pass without incident, I pulled my blazer closed once more for no reason.
"Hm. Ahem. Well, fine. If it really gets urgent, you won't be able to hold out without asking for help anyway."
"Please stop with the ominous talk, An Gi-yeon."
"Your Peregrine acting has improved overnight, hasn't it?"
"It's none of your business. I just practice a little on my own time. I have to do it anyway, don't I."
Well, that's true.
An Gi-yeon spoke briefly and tapped lightly at her terminal.
More importantly, yesterday's text had clearly told me to come to the interview room.
So, why?
"You've got a curious look on your face. Wondering why I called you to that tedious interview room."
"If you know, then hurry up and tell me."
"Ah. Park Won's administrative procedures are all complete. We even got a written pledge. That he will never lay a hand on a Magical Girl again."
So that rumor was actually true.
Just as I was about to feel disappointed that they'd ultimately decided to assign Park Won, the door opened.
"Pfft."
The man who walked in looked..., honestly, a little ridiculous.
Clumsily trimmed facial hair and a neat crew cut.
A sturdy build and firmly pressed lips.
Scars left all over his face.... He looked rough, sure, but up to that point, okay.
He gave off the impression of a field veteran, after all.
But why, out of all the sunglasses in the world, did he have to wear Léon sunglasses.
I almost laughed, you bastard.
"Welcome, Park Won."
"So this is Peregrine? Haven't you gotten a bit shorter?"
"Yes. She's a Magical Girl who has currently undergone Memory Erasure."
Park Won and I, seated, locked eyes.
A ridiculous and unpleasant Partner.
That was the first impression I formed of Park Won.
"First, have a seat."
"It's not like I can back out now..., but are you serious about this?"
"Yes. He's a Partner with proven skill."
"You clearly said temporary Partner. Didn't you?"
"Well, yes, but...."
Was I too blatant? But I had to say what I had to say.
Peregrine, or the other Magical Girls who never appeared on broadcasts.
This was a man with a prior record of causing harm to them.
No matter how capable he was, having someone like this as a Partner was obviously unpleasant, regardless of gender.
"I know exactly who you are. The Magical Girl you assaulted was hospitalized with aftereffects and then retired permanently."
"You know your stuff."
"Why did you do it? She was your Partner. A Partner you should be able to trust enough to stand back-to-back with."
"Because hierarchy needs to be made clear. That's the only reason I did it."
"Do you even hear yourself?"
Do you know how much other Partners and Magical Girls had to be on guard against each other because of you?
My brow furrowed on its own. Just looking at this man made my blood boil.
No matter how hard I tried to think kindly of him..., he was someone I absolutely couldn't overlook.
"She's a bit different from the Peregrine I knew, Gi-yeon."
Park Won adjusted his sunglasses and turned his head toward An Gi-yeon.
That meant he was going to flat-out ignore my feelings.
"She's still experiencing a sense of disconnect, so that's why."
"There must be Partners more put-together than me overflowing everywhere. Was the Association really that desperate?"
"Peregrine is a special case. We needed someone befitting the fastest Magical Girl."
"Well. Fine."
I was on the verge of boiling over at the sight of Park Won nodding, still expressionless.
An Gi-yeon turned her head back toward me, as if to refocus my attention.
"If you really don't want this, you're free to refuse. Even though he was difficult to bring in."
"You know exactly how I feel. I don't want this. So switch him out."
"However, since we've already brought him in, if you refuse, he'll be assigned to another Magical Girl."
"...."
"I'm just letting you know. We'll assign a different Partner to you, Peregrine."
"Are you threatening me right now?"
"That wasn't my intention?"
A lie. It was an obvious, transparent lie.
If not you, then this Partner with a criminal record will be working with another Magical Girl.
And she was saying that right in front of me, someone who despised this man.
Her threatening skills were really clumsy.
"Let me confirm one thing. You clearly said this man would be a temporary Partner. Right?"
"That's right."
"And you've secured a proper written pledge from him."
"If any problems arise, report them to me immediately. I'll make sure we sort it out properly."
"Not mediation. Punishment. Punishment is what matters."
"Yes, punishment. I'll make sure of it."
"...."
This man was repulsive.
But I hated the idea of someone like him going to another Magical Girl even more.
If that happened, I'd always be anxious, always worried. Because I wouldn't know what he might do.
I didn't want to let another Magical Girl end up retiring like that again.
"I'll keep a close eye on you myself. An Gi-yeon, assign this man to me."
"Huh? You've decided? Eek. Already...?"
"Is there a problem?"
"I, I even prepared all these documents in my own way...?"
An Gi-yeon opened her bag with a disappointed look and pulled out a pile of documents.
Legal matters between Magical Girls and Partners.
Actual punishment precedents. Regulation manuals. Methods for mediating opinions between Magical Girls and Partners. Etc.
I'd always assumed she only ever thought about slacking off, but she was surprisingly thorough with this kind of thing.
But.
"Not needed."
"Isn't that too harsh?!"
"All right, then. From now on, I'll be right beside you, making sure you don't try anything terrible...."
I clasped my hands together in front of Park Won and bowed.
Then, glaring at him sharply, I cleared my throat.
"Shall we move on to the main topic now, my ex-con Partner?"
"...."
Silence. I knew it. Scared, aren't you?
You thought that because Magical Girls had no choice but to follow when you pushed them around, the whole Association was your world, didn't you?
Wrong. I've been under a lot of stress lately anyway, so this works out. You picked the wrong person.
Even if I have to stake the honor of a former Grade 1 Partner, I won't let you lay a hand on any more Magical Girls....
"Let's do that."
He was going to accept this?
"An Gi-yeon, just take care of the paperwork."
"Are you serious too?! I even worked overtime at home by myself because of this...."
"That's not my problem." / "That's not my problem."
We spoke at the same time toward An Gi-yeon, our voices overlapping.
Ah. Shit.... This was way more unpleasant than I'd expected.