The Magical Girl's Swimsuit Shopping Ordeal
“Kuhhhh…”
I'd slept like a rock for the first time in ages.
Stretching as I glanced at the clock, it was already well past lunchtime. A legendary oversleep incident had occurred.
Probably because I'd taken so much erosion head-on yesterday— I was exhausted enough that I hadn't even heard my alarm.
“Did you sleep well, miss?”
Keter peeked her face through the slightly ajar door.
Glasses on, so she must've been working again.
Way too much of a workaholic.
“Yeah. Overslept big time, though.”
“You had no other plans today, so I deliberately let you sleep. Is something wrong?”
“Nah. We've been crazy busy lately. A day off like this is fine.”
Lounging on the sofa all day used to be my routine.
Lately, though? Taking down a 1st-grade doll, catching that impersonator... yeah, it had been hectic.
“You should rest too, Keter.”
“I'm fine. I was looking into something from yesterday that personally piqued my interest.”
“Oh?”
Well, can't be helped then.
I couldn't force her to stop.
“Lunch is ready—simple stuff. Come out whenever you're hungry.”
“Thanks.”
I flopped back onto the bed.
I'd given Kim Doa a quick rundown of what happened in the nest yesterday. The Management Bureau was handling the investigation, but it seemed like a bigger deal than I'd thought. They basically ordered—more like threatened—me to take a break for a while.
Resting magical girl makes her comeback.
I fired up the Magical Girl Gallery I hadn't checked yesterday.
The top posts from yesterday were packed with familiar names.
Word had spread through the Magical Girl Gallery that Kim Dohee was the star of that Seoul magical girl cosplay.
“Ugh, poor thing…”
I'd have to bump up the payment I'd promised her. Felt kinda bad now.
At least the buzz had shifted to Gwangwon's new 3rd-grade doll subjugation. Not sure if it was a relief that it'd already spread everywhere.
It's just 3rd-grade, right? Why the big fuss?
(Spinning kon)
↳ ㅇㅇ: First type ever observed. They smashed it on first sight, that's why it's impressive ㅇㅇ
↳ ㅇㅇ: Whoa
↳ ㅇㅇ: Why hit stationary Dawn out of nowhere
“A new type, huh? That's fresh.”
Until now, it was just the same old dolls popping up over and over.
Back during the Great Subjugation, or even later, people got wrecked because there were no strategies. These days, as long as you don't charge in recklessly, most subjugations succeed.
But Gwangwon's latest was a brand-new type, so it was getting extra attention.
With Seoyeon there, though, no new type would be a problem.
I didn't really want to talk about the impersonator. It wasn't a feel-good story.
Thinking back now, it felt a little tragic. If someone else had reached out to her sorrow. If it hadn't been that monster prying at her wounds, but a gentle hand instead. Maybe it wouldn't have ended so hollow.
After that, Seoyeon ghosted my messages.
I never said yes?
“...Hmm.”
In the end, I couldn't resist Seoyeon’s bulldozing and ended up at the department store to buy a swimsuit.
I'd never been to a pool since turning into this body. Meaning, no swimsuit.
I'd tried to just grab something random off CuX, but Keter talked me out of it. Now I was stuck doing this unwanted shopping.
“Hmm... what color would be good?”
I browsed the boardshorts corner. No intention of actually swimming, so anything decent to throw on would do.
Boardshorts plus a rash guard, all bundled up, and I'd just watch everyone else splash around.
“Miss, how about this one?”
“Hm?”
Turning around, Keter was holding something with an excited grin.
Why did this feel so ominous?
“After much deliberation, this is my recommended swimsuit.”
In Keter's hand: a small, cute pink bikini.
She expected me to wear that?
“No way.”
The women's clothes I'd worn before had at least been modest.
This? Ugh...
“A shame. Then how about this? A bold color to suit our haughty miss.”
Keter had somehow pulled out a black one of the same design from behind. Full confidence on her face.
Rejected.
“It's not the color. It's the bikini that's the problem.”
Wearing women's clothes outside was awkward enough.
Bikini? Hard pass.
“Please reconsider, miss. It's no different from your usual underwear. Being shy about it is the odd part.”
Keter with her persuasive logic.
“You don't show your underwear to other people!”
That logic's rejected too.
“Tch.”
“You just clicked your tongue.”
“I did not.”
Ever since I'd caved to her begging last time and worn girls' clothes, Keter had gotten more aggressive.
Sure, I'd look cute in it, but it'd mess with my head. No thanks.
Self-control time.
“So what swimsuit do you plan to wear?”
“Boardshorts over there with a rash guard. Perfect since I'm not swimming.”
Might be annoying if I did swim, but whatever.
I'd outgrown that fun phase anyway—no real interest.
“Absolutely not.”
Keter stated firmly.
“Why.”
“If you're wearing that to the pool, why go at all?”
“Seoyeon's dragging me. I don't wanna go either.”
Seoyeon gets super annoying when she sulks.
She's not a kid anymore, geez...
“How about this skirt swimsuit then? Less aggressive than before, but it'd suit you well.”
Keter pulling out yet another from somewhere.
Thought she'd given up. Nope.
“That's a skirt.”
“It's a swimsuit.”
“Pass. Too much skin anyway!”
“Miss, the essence of a swimsuit is exposure.”
Logically sound, but...
Your intentions are impure. Impure.
As Keter and I bickered, a store clerk approached.
“Oh my... want sis to pick a cute swimsuit for you?”
“...I'm good.”
This was why I wanted to shop quick.
I glanced at Keter, but she avoided my eyes—pouting from our chat, apparently.
Oh, come on.
“Hey, do you have Esostar by any chance?”
The clerk eyed me closely, then clapped as realization hit.
“Yeah... I do.”
“This your account? Whoa, a real-life sighting! Can sis get a pic with you?”
She showed me her phone screen—my account.
Mission accomplished from when I first started Esostar.
Not as a magical girl, but as that cute kid posting pics.
That separation between magical girl me and real-life me? Nailed it.
“Sure. A photo's fine.”
“For real? Thank you!”
Click—
I posed with the clerk, flashing a small V and a smile.
What was this feeling? Like I was an idol or something.
Am I already at that level?
“As thanks, sis'll pick the perfect one for you.”
“N-no, it's f...”
“Don't be shy. Trust sis. This style's all the rage now.”
Ignoring me with bubbly cheer, the clerk handed me a cute white frilly bikini.
Less revealing than Keter's picks, but...
No real difference. If anything, this felt more embarrassing.
“Come on, try it on. It'll look perfect.”
Eeeeek.
Forced along, I clutched the frilly bikini and shuffled into the changing room.
I don't wanna wear it. This isn't right.
I'm an old man, for crying out...
“This is seriously not it, right?”
“I've never been wrong in my choices before, but I must concede this time. I was mistaken.”
“Driving me insane...”
I sighed, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
Well... it's cute, I guess.