Charity
The Magical Girl Association HQ building. Back here again, I headed straight to the top floor.
Thankfully, Iris had put in a good word for me this time, so I got in without any hassle.
Whirr—!
—Ding!
Top floor.
The familiar elevator chime rang out as I arrived at the summit. The very top floor of the Association housed the chairman's—Isia's—private office.
...And my own private office, where I'd clocked in every day before retiring. Just two rooms in total.
I was about to head to Isia's when a sudden curiosity pulled me toward the other door instead.
Click.
'...What? It's exactly the same?'
My old office was frozen in time. I'd snuck off into retirement without packing up the little things, leaving them as-is...
But for some reason, Isia hadn't touched the place.
...Judging by how spotless it was, she must clean it regularly.
Juidori's words from before flashed through my mind, stirring a faint pang of guilt.
'She must've heard about my retirement. No contact for a whole month, and all she did was quietly keep my office clean...'
...Yeah. Made me feel like total trash.
I couldn't even guess what was going through that girl's head.
Then—
[What brings you here~?]
"......"
A familiar voice pierced my mind after all this time. Cold sweat beaded on my skin as I thought:
...That drawn-out tone. She's definitely pissed.
[Did you leave something behind~?]
"...Uh, well..."
[Not coming straight to my room means you obviously don't have business with me, right~?]
"No, I—obviously I came to see you! I just popped in here for old times' sake!"
[Hmmm... Is that reeeally true~?]
A chill prickled my nape.
...This girl Isia. Using her unique magic to sniff out lies in what I said.
"You've been keeping this place spotless, huh? Haha... kinda touching, actually...?"
[......]
"...Isia?"
[Got it. Hurry up and come to my room.]
I left my office without a word and practically jogged across to hers.
As I reached the door to knock—
It swung open on its own.
"Come in."
I stepped inside naturally.
Thud!
The door slammed shut behind me. I glanced back, then turned forward again.
Scratch-scratch.
The smooth scratch of a fountain pen gliding across paper.
At the desk in her office sat my old friend, diligently working away as always.
Just like always.
"......"
Step-step.
I approached her slowly and plopped down on the sofa in front of the desk.
Back before I retired, this was our routine. I'd come to her office first, sit on the sofa, and wait for her fountain pen to stop.
On the side table next to the sofa sat a teacup, right in front of me.
'...Cocoa again.'
Isia always prepared it before I arrived.
I'd sip it leisurely, relaxing until her work paused.
Clink.
Slurp—
'...Always so damn sweet. How many sugar cubes does she dump in this?'
Same thought every time. I like sweets, but Isia takes it to another level.
...Or maybe not. Her dulled taste buds might just crave the sugar hit.
We hadn't even talked yet, but this sequence had become ritual in her office.
A precious slice of time where we served as each other's sanctuary.
Scratch-scratch.
Slurp—
Scratch-scratch.
Slurp—
......
Click.
Clink.
We set down the pen and cup at the same time.
As always.
Just like ever.
In the familiar silence, Isia spoke first, impassive as ever.
"How long's it been since you retired?"
"...Dunno. A month? Something like that."
"Day 55, to be exact."
"...You knew that. Why ask?"
"Someone with no sense of time needs constant reminders, don't they?"
"......"
I shifted my gaze from the teacup to Isia.
She'd finished work and kept her head turned my way.
For the first time in ages, I took in her appearance properly.
'Still the same... both of us.'
Snow-white skin paired with silvery-white hair in a ponytail. Crisp white dress shirt.
She was purity incarnate. Add the magical girl aura, and it was easy to see why they called her a saint.
And most striking: the white bandages over her eyes.
The chains that stole Isia's sight.
...Looking at them dredges up the past. Sours my mood.
"Staring at my face again? Bet you look like you bit a bug."
"You know me. ...How's it been lately?"
"Fucking exhausting~. If some asshole hadn't bailed without a word, I'd be way healthier. Right~?"
"...Ouch. Thorns in your words much?"
Sure, she wasn't exactly saintly.
What saint talks like that?
...But very magical girl.
"Mad?"
"Nah, not at all~? Why would I be?"
"You seem mad..."
"Whatever. Get to the point. I'm busy."
She tapped the desk with her index finger, urging me on.
What's the reason you're here?
"...This incident was a big deal."
"The double rift, right? I was gonna call you about that anyway."
"That's why I came first."
Probably. Things wouldn't stay quiet like before. Major incidents would crop up more often.
It was around when the original story kicked off, and part 2's players were starting to cross over.
"...That 'part 2' you mentioned before?"
"Yep."
"And this mess is the spark for part 2?"
...Her pronunciation's off? I nodded, ignoring it.
"...Sigh. Work was finally easing up... What a shitshow~?"
"Hey, easy there."
Isia muttered curses. Definitely not saintly.
...But very magical girl.
"Hoo... So? Coming out of retirement? I'd welcome it."
"...Nah."
"Fuck..."
"You're getting way too casual with the swears...? You do this in front of others too?"
"Like hell I do!!!"
She ruffled her hair with a groan. Probably just imagining the headaches ahead.
...Tough break.
"So, Cha Seol-hyun, what's your plan from here? You're not the type to sit on your ass post-retirement."
"Obviously I'll handle my own stuff."
"How?"
"......"
"...Yeah. You never explain this shit. ...Asshole."
No need to spell out the thorny path. Isia would sense it vaguely anyway.
Why confirm and drag her down it?
Faith.
I just trusted Isia.
As always.
Just like ever.
Faith we'd pull through this time too.
"...Nothing observed yet?"
"Nope. No magical girls holding onto 'hope' so far."
As expected. This part stuck to canon.
My path forward solidified. Jeong Hanbyeol needed to grow fast—asap.
Beep-beep—!
An alert chimed from Isia's desk.
"Sigh... Break's over."
You have it rough too. Guess I'll head out.
"Yeah, yeah. ...You gonna drop by often?"
"Nah?"
"...Fuck me. You're a real asshole."
Isia chuckled and leaned back in her chair, waving me off.
Get lost, I gotta work.
Classic us.
I waved back and turned for the door.
Then—
I paused.
"...Isia."
"Yeah?"
"You sure you're really okay?"
Not some shallow you mad? or need help?
A deeper question. About magical girl Isia.
I recalled canon Isia. In this world, she faced trials too.
"You still 'love'?"
"......"
"Still love me? Magical girls? This world...?"
"What're you on about? Of course I fucking love it. More than my own life."
"...Good. Relieved to hear it."
"Just trust me for once. I'm more worried about you."
"Nag. Heading out for real~"
......
Charity.
Not romantic or sexual love.
Unconditional good—giving of self, embracing others.
The law binding magical girls. One of the three virtues all must aspire to.
Classic Isia.
Hard to call her a saint.
...But the greatest magical girl, no question.
Beep—
Beep-beep—
I woke to the steady machine beeps.
"...Mm."
I opened my eyes.
...Super unfamiliar ceiling.
Sniff-sniff.
Hospital smell.
Did Seol-hyun unnie bring me here?
"Seol-hyun unnie..."
She saved my life again.
Really... no idea how to repay her.
But then—
Bonk!
"Ow!"
Someone smacked my head. Half-asleep, it jolted me wide awake.
Heat rushed up; I shot a glare at the culprit.
"—Huh?"
"Call me sunbae-nim, not unnie."
"...H-Huh? S-Seol-hyun un— I mean, sunbae-nim?"
"Good."
Sitting beside me was Seol-hyun un— no, Sunbae-nim.
...Peeling an apple into a cute bunny shape.
"Here, eat up."
"...Uh. Th-Thank you..."
"Eat plenty. Gotta grow big and strong."
"...I'm already an adult."
"Still. Fuel for training, right?"
"...? Training...?"
Back then, I didn't catch her meaning.
...If I'd caught on sooner, I'd have bolted from that hospital right away.