White Night Interlude
The White Night Incident.
When we rescued Yujina, light had spread across the skies over Seoul. That's how it got its name.
There was heated debate about it being some aftermath from the erosion zone or whatever, but since only we knew what really happened that day, it ultimately remained a mystery.
A few days passed since the White Night Incident.
I went to visit Yujina in the hospital.
"You bring coffee?"
"What coffee for a sick person? I got fruit juice, so drink this instead."
Yujina's face lit up at the bag in my hand, but it fell the moment she realized there was no coffee.
What am I gonna do with this caffeine addict?
"Everyone's making such a huge fuss. I'm not that badly hurt."
"Unnie... You've still got a long way to go before discharge. What are you talking about?"
Han Seoyeon, who had arrived first and was peeling an apple, let out a sigh.
Thanks to Hod, Yujina's witchification was completely resolved.
But apparently, the aftermath from that last fight had left her with a few broken bones.
"Seriously, go easy next time."
Yujina stared at me pointedly. Her gaze stung.
"I was sore in the gut for a while after you hit me too, you know."
Of course, it was mostly one-sided on my end, but I did take one solid hit to the abdomen. The pain lingered longer than expected, and it was rough.
"Unnie, I was just defending. Did good, right?"
Seoyeon flashed a V-sign at Yujina.
While I was making the provisional contract with Hod, Seoyeon focused solely on defense, buying me the time I needed.
That's how we were able to revert Yujina.
Come to think of it, she played the biggest role.
"But seriously, how'd you undo the witchification? Never seen anything like it."
"There's a way for everything."
"I'm curious. Why won't you tell me when you and oppa know?"
"No point since you can't do it twice anyway. Don't bother asking."
"That's mean."
How Hod and I managed the contract. How Hod fully purified Yujina.
Now it's impossible to know. Hod, the one involved, is gone.
Yujina seems to have a vague idea, but she doesn't look like she wants to talk about it, so I didn't press. Doesn't seem like a happy memory anyway.
"It was all thanks to Hod."
Yujina said, gazing out the window.
Seoyeon finally caught on and fell silent.
Of course, according to Yujina, Hod didn't meet a true death.
They're still contracted, and once recovery's done, it might return. Or so she says.
"Right. So what was that light from oppa's gauntlets?"
"No idea."
"Huh?"
"Can't use it anymore."
A provisional contract with the mascot.
Seems like I temporarily borrowed Hod's power that way.
Tried seeing if I could do it again, but no dice.
Asked Keter, but all I got was, "Because you're special, miss."
"Whew, well, glad it worked out. Didn't wanna have to cut you down myself."
Seoyeon handed Yujina a piece of apple as she spoke.
It was a casual remark, but no joke.
I'd come that close to finishing witchified Yujina myself.
"Yeah."
Yujina said bitterly.
"Showed an ugly side of myself."
"Your mind was slipping from the erosion. Holding out that long was impressive enough."
Yujina's second erosion hit earlier than we'd thought.
Erosion digs into deep trauma, making it hard to stay sane as it progresses.
Even with Hod's help midway, enduring on mental strength alone was no small feat.
"Enough gloomy talk!"
Seoyeon plopped down on the edge of Yujina's bed.
"It's all over anyway. No point dwelling."
"True enough."
She's right.
It's done and resolved. That should be enough.
No need to keep hashing it out.
Then the door opened.
"Everyone's gathered, huh."
It was Kim Doa, holding a vitamin drink in one hand.
"Eek."
Seoyeon hid behind my back the second she saw Kim Doa.
Like that'll hide you.
Of course, we'd given our report after the incident wrapped.
She hadn't said much then. Thought she was fine, but seeing her displeased expression now, guess not.
She approached us slowly.
"Good work."
And started ruffling my hair. No chance to dodge—just vigorous petting.
"S-stop."
My hair was a mess.
Why does everyone love petting so much?
"Cause trouble, and you gotta take the punishment."
"Didn't do anything wrong. Reported on time—what's the issue?"
Sure, we left her out of the preemptive action briefing.
But no choice.
"What if it had failed?"
"Better than zero chance."
I puffed out my cheeks and glared at Kim Doa.
She sighed at my words.
"Well, results speak for themselves. Nothing to say."
Still, she looked quietly pleased.
"Right? Oppa and I made a huge call."
Kim Doa flicked Seoyeon's forehead and set down the vitamin drink.
"...How's your body, unnie?"
"A few broken bones, but I'm fine. Everyone's taking good care of me."
"Rest up properly. No wandering till they're healed."
"Not going anywhere."
"And call anytime if it's tough. I'll come right over."
"You're busier at the Bureau than unemployed me. Take care of yourself first."
Kim Doa must've been worried about Yujina.
Her only sister, after all.
But why me? By age, I'm the senior here.
It's all this damn appearance. The appearance.
"Haven't all gotten together like this in forever."
Yujina smiled, looking at each of us in turn.
It really had been ages.
Since Yujina retired, no reason to meet up like this.
Especially with everyone's schedules—hard to gather unless for work.
"Everyone's busy."
Seoyeon's guild master. Kim Doa pulling overtime at the Bureau daily.
"Not you, though."
Kim Doa shot me a side-eye.
"I've been pretty busy lately too."
Swimming with Seoyeon. Pension trip with Kim Doa. Busy playing, yeah.
"Want me to make you really busy?"
"That'd be..."
Status quo's perfect.
Would love a few more subjugation requests, but kept it to myself—god knows what she'd do if I said it.
"But Baek Yuri."
"What."
"You seriously dressing like that on purpose?"
Kim Doa looked at my outfit with disbelief.
"I can wear women's clothes, can't I...?"
Yujina had given me more clothes than expected last time.
Can't exactly not wear them, so one outfit a day it is.
Was getting used to it, but her pointing it out made me self-conscious.
"They're gifts, so no choice but to wear 'em..."
"Right? I gave 'em. Suits you, huh?"
Yujina beamed at me, satisfied.
She'd picked them carefully—various styles.
Some mature, some cute, some feminine.
Today's pretty normal, though. The safest pick.
"Does suit you."
Kim Doa smiled at me.
Something about that expression rubbed me wrong.
"Told you, oppa's changed lately. Used to throw fits if we tried dressing him up. Now he just does it without a word."
"Been a girl for years. Bound to change."
"Still can't believe he was a guy."
I'm putting up with it 'cause they're gifts.
And they wanna tease me over it? Too much.
"Sigh."
Seoyeon sneaked in a head pat, so I stood to dodge.
"Oh... perfect."
Yujina pulled out her phone at the sight.
"What."
"Stay like that. It's perfect right now."
"Huh?"
Click.
Yujina looked smug.
She turned the screen to show me.
A photo of me looking ridiculously embarrassed.
Is that me?
"Whoa, unnie, epic. Send it to me too."
"Hold on. I'll make a group chat and send it."
"Don't send! Delete it now."
.
.
.
After a solid thirty minutes of tussling, I finally got the photo deleted.
My pic nearly got shared among the magical girls again.
After that, we caught up on all sorts of chit-chat since it had been so long. Everyone was chatty—no lull in conversation.
Time flew, and night fell before we knew it.
"We'll head out now. Rest up, unnie."
Seoyeon had guild work.
Kim Doa had ditched Bureau duties to come, so back she went.
Me... gotta get home for the dinner Keter made. Important stuff.
"Thanks, everyone."
Same scene as that day. But this time, we parted with smiles.
Really glad. That's what I thought.
Everyone gone, Yujina alone in the hospital room.
She gazed out the window. A touch of bitterness lingered.
Even with erosion gone, the void left by Hod's departure remained.
But maybe now it's a little filled.
Baek Yuri.
Han Seoyeon.
Kim Doa.
All precious people. Today made me feel that.
Still.
"...I'll be waiting."
The promise from that day.
Yujina smiled faintly, looking forward to the day they'd meet again.