White Night, Salvation (3)
Yesterday, I pulled the clothes Yujina had given me out of the shopping bag and put them on.
A collared blouse paired with a sky-blue checkered miniskirt. There were even white knee-high socks inside, but no way in hell was I wearing those.
"Lady Yuri, why are you suddenly dressed like a school uniform?"
Ar, who had been floating around my room at some point, asked.
"This isn't a school uniform."
Now that I had it all on, it did look a bit like a high school girl's outfit. But it wasn't a uniform. Absolutely not.
"Is that so? In any case, it suits you perfectly."
"...Tch, that's not it."
"Does the outfit not please you?"
"No. It's fine."
I'm gradually losing my resistance to women's clothes. Ever since that bikini last time, I've started thinking parts of it actually look okay on me.
"Milady, are you ready?"
Keter poked his head through the door crack.
"Yeah."
Click.
"Don't take pictures."
"For personal collection."
"Don't you dare send that to Kim Doa."
"Understood." Lately, with Esostar and everything, my private life keeps getting shared without my knowledge. Fine if it's Keter, but I don't want the others seeing it.
I got ready quickly, met up with Seoyeon, and headed straight to Yujina's place.
I had plenty of worries about what to do next, but thanks to Keter, I felt less anxious than yesterday.
Seoyeon seemed a bit relieved seeing me like that. I must've looked pretty wrecked yesterday. But I'm okay now. I've made up my mind. What needs to be done going forward is clear.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
I mashed the doorbell.
Today, without any noisy fuss, Yujina opened the door right away.
"Three of you today? ...What is my house, your playground?"
Yujina sighed as she looked at us.
"We're here for something else today."
I said, my eyes fixed on Yujina's left arm.
"What is it."
"When did the second erosion start?"
"……"
Yujina subtly covered her left arm.
The look on her face screamed how did you know.
"After the great subjugation ended, I got this weird new ability. I can sense erosion now."
Listening to me, Yujina lowered the arm she'd been covering.
"...Faster than I thought it'd get found out."
Yujina gave a wry smile.
"Well, can't be helped. Come in."
Yujina's house was the same as yesterday.
As we sat on the sofa, she brought out coffee and cocoa again.
For a while, no one spoke. Just the occasional clink of cups being set down.
"The second erosion hasn't been going on long."
Yujina broke the silence first.
"There were signs after the great subjugation, but I guess I was too weak. Before I knew it, it started spreading through my body."
Yujina rolled up her sleeve. It was wrapped in bandages.
Visually, the erosion hadn't spread too badly yet.
"...It's not too severe yet."
Seoyeon let out a small sigh of relief.
"I get purified by Hod every day. Can't cure it completely, but it can delay the third stage."
If she keeps getting purified, yeah, that could work.
Hod's purification has properties completely opposite to erosion.
It had helped my senior a ton back then too.
"...Where is Hod, if I may ask?"
Keter set down his coffee and asked.
"Sleeping in the room. After purifying my arm, he always crashes. He'll wake up around evening."
Yujina gestured toward the room.
Mascots' innate abilities drain their stamina based on usage intensity.
If he was resting from purification yesterday, that makes sense.
"So what're you planning to do? Turn me over to the Management Bureau?"
No intention of that. At least not from me.
I'll go along with whatever Yujina wants.
"No... Just came to ask what you think, sis."
"My opinion?"
"Yeah. Wondering if we can help."
Seoyeon looked at Yujina with worry.
"Dunno. I can still hold on for now."
Yujina unnecessarily lifted her cup with her left arm.
Like she was showing off that she was still fine.
"...Any weird voices or anything?"
"None at all. I've seen Arin, so I know how bad second-stage erosion gets."
"Good, then."
I finished my cocoa and spoke.
Her words just now let me know exactly what her situation was.
She seemed brighter than expected—relief washed over me. My mind felt a little lighter.
"If I can't hold out, I'll say so. The moment I became a magical girl, I was prepared to die anyway."
"Sis."
Seoyeon's eyes wavered at Yujina's words.
Kim Doa, Yujina... why do they all talk about death so lightly?
No one's absence can be filled that easily.
There's still a gaping hole in my heart, like it was punched through.
"I've still got things I wanna do. Give me a little more time."
It was lingering attachment.
Yujina was still hoping for something.
"Was gonna do that anyway, even if you didn't say it."
I nodded.
If that's truly what she wants.
I'll understand.
"Speaking of, Baek Yuri, you're wearing the clothes I gave you."
Yujina nudged me with her elbow.
"Well... you gave 'em, so."
Truth is, I wore them hoping she'd like it.
Even if it's this ridiculous look.
I wanted to leave even a little impression in her eyes.
"Cute. That's how girls should dress, right?"
I made a displeased face.
"What're you saying."
Even so, it was embarrassing for real.
Especially since this outfit felt kinda like a uniform.
"You look so cute in it, it's great. Want more clothes?"
"...Keter, take 'em later."
"Yes."
Keter didn't add any of his usual comments, uncharacteristically.
That was enough.
"It's been a while since we all hung out like this. Would've been nice if Doa was here too."
During the great subjugation.
At night, we'd always gather at base camp and chat.
Mundane daily stuff.
Weird things that happened that day, stuff that pissed us off, sad stuff—all of it.
That's why we became like real family.
"Why so gloomy? I'm still fine, like I said. Not like there's anything we can do anyway."
She's right.
Even gathered like this, there's nothing we can really do.
The second erosion's already started. No good ideas came to mind.
"I'll stick around today."
Just being here together. That's all we can manage.
"That's kinda burdensome."
Yujina chuckled at my words.
Just as the mood started sinking.
Seoyeon suddenly shoved her phone screen toward Yujina.
"Check this out. Oppa started an Esostar."
"Baek Yuri?"
"Yeah."
"Hey, why show her that."
"It's public to the whole world anyway, what's the big deal."
Seoyeon gleefully showed off my photos, despite me wanting to keep it secret.
"Whoa, what is this. Kinda hot. The whole 'ajussi' thing was just a concept?"
"Don't say that when you know."
I couldn't even lift my head.
In the end, my embarrassing pics got shared with all the magical girls.
"Look, she even wore a bikini before."
Wait, when did she take bikini pics of me?
They chattered on about my photos for a bit, and the mood lightened up.
Yujina laughed, Seoyeon laughed. After that, no one brought up the erosion. We just shared everyday stuff like old times.
By the time we finished talking, it was night.
Couldn't stay at Yujina's forever, so we got ready to head out.
"We'll get going now. Call if anything happens."
At the front door, Seoyeon waved to Yujina.
I lifted my shopping bag slightly in a wave and stepped outside.
The air was getting heavy. Instead of the car, we headed to a nearby bench.
To prepare for what was coming.
"You can head back if you want." I wondered if there might be another way with Seoyeon here. There wasn't. In that case, better to handle the end alone.
"...Oppa."
"If that's what Yujina wants, no choice."
The erosion had worsened since yesterday.
Almost exactly like the day my senior lost it.
Impressive she was still holding on.
"You sure you're okay with that?"
Seoyeon looked at me worriedly.
"I've prepared myself."
No courage. Not even sure if this is right.
Truth is, I'd hoped for even a sliver of hope today.
But now it's time to wake from the dream.
Can't cling to happy memories forever. Just quietly.
Waiting for the end of the one who was humanity's hope.
Yujina opened the firmly locked bedroom door.
"Hod, the kids found out now. Guess I can't hide it anymore."
Yujina spoke to her mascot Hod, who lay with eyes quietly closed.
No reply.
And rightly so—Hod had poured everything into delaying Yujina's second erosion.
In return, he could no longer move.
Yujina was alone again. Even so, she talked to Hod every day. Today was no different.
"When we first met and you asked me to become a magical girl, I thought you were nuts."
Back then, Yujina was already a working adult.
Too late to call her a girl. It was Hod's mistake, fooled by her youthful looks.
"But thanks to you, I learned even someone like me could be useful to others."
At the end of her life, mascot Hod had appeared.
For Yujina, who'd lived unhappily her whole life, becoming a magical girl was a ray of hope.
First time being loved by others. First time feeling useful. First time having someone precious. That's why Hod meant more than anything to Yujina.
"...Just leave me and become human like Keter."
Truth was, when her second erosion started, Yujina had planned to ask Kim Doa to kill her.
Her life would've ended without Hod anyway. She'd had her fill of enjoyment.
"...Sorry."
But for Yujina's sake, Hod sacrificed himself.
Hoping she'd live a little happier, even if just a bit longer.
Not knowing it would become a lifelong curse for her.
I can grant what you desire.
A voice echoed in Yujina's mind.
I'm waiting.
The devil's voice, offering sweet terms.
Accept my grace.
She knew what end awaited if she accepted.
"...Please forgive me."
Slowly, something dark red began to bloom over Yujina's body.
With an unpleasant pulsing, the light faded from her eyes.
Well chosen, my little lamb.
"In the end, I—"
Even if it meant turning her back on the world she'd saved.
"value you more than the world."
In Yujina's life, the existence of Hod could not disappear.
That was all.