My Name is Cherry Blossom
My Name is Cherry Blossom
The loose gray sweatpants I was wearing just a moment ago had vanished without a trace, and in their place, a white shrine maiden outfit wrapped around me.
"Hmm... It's pretty, but... something... something is missing."
Why a shrine maiden outfit, of all things?
Even worse, at some point, a wooden wand with white paper streamers attached had appeared in my right hand.
Isn't this that thing? The tool shrine maidens use in Japan. I'm pretty sure it's called a Gohei...
Is this really my magical girl weapon?
I turned my gaze back to the Status Window.
【 Job: Magical Girl 】
【 Stats 】
【 Stamina: D | Strength: C- 】
【 Agility: D | Magic Power: D 】
"......"
Is this an increase? Well, it did go up. Just by a rat's tail worth, though.
I had definitely awakened, but a sense of unease washed over me that my life wouldn't change much from before.
I sighed and clicked on the other skill.
【 Magical Girl's Longing: E 】
You can reproduce the powers of the magical girls you long for.
As the grade increases, the number of reproducible magical girls increases.
The higher the reproduction rate of the movements and lines, the higher the power of the skill.
【 Currently reproducible magical girls are as follows. 】
White Lily
"Huh? What does this mean?"
Reproduce the power of a magical girl? Even reading it slowly, I couldn't quite understand what it meant just from the text.
Besides, the name written at the very bottom was White Lily. She was my favorite magical girl from the Prism Fantasia series.
Does that mean I can transform into White Lily?
Since just standing there wouldn't change anything, I decided to give it a try.
"Transform!"
But unlike before, nothing happened.
"Eh...? Transform! White Lily!"
After struggling with it for a while, I inadvertently looked up and saw a girl in the mirror striking a strange pose.
This is embarrassing for no reason. Good thing no one is watching... What is a grown adult man doing right now?
I read the sentences slowly again, and one sentence stopped me in my tracks.
The higher the reproduction rate of the movements and lines, the higher the power of the skill.
Don't tell me... does this mean I have to copy White Lily's transformation scene exactly?
Of course, I know all the transformation lines. I've watched it dozens of times.
But... you want me to do that? To a healthy young South Korean man who even finished his mandatory military service?
In the mirror, a pink-haired girl with a bright smile was reflected.
"Right... that's not me anymore. Just once, yeah, I'll just endure it just this once."
I ran a simulation in my head.
"Pu, pure white will, bloom with a noble fragrance! Magical Change Form!"
Flash-
As soon as I finished the line, a white flash enveloped me once again, as if it had been waiting.
When my vision returned, the figure of a girl wearing a pure white frilly dress came into view.
It wasn't just the outfit. Faint white light was shining through the pink hair as well.
"Oh."
So this is how it works. It feels like cosplaying...
Excited by White Lily's outfit, I turned my body this way and that, admiring my reflection in the mirror.
Then, suddenly, my legs gave out, and I slumped down without realizing it.
At the same time, the outfit returned to the loose gray sweatpants I had been wearing at the very beginning.
"Whoops..."
Unable to withstand the sudden wave of fatigue, I collapsed right there and lost consciousness again.
"Ugh..."
Why does this keep happening since yesterday?
When I struggled to open my eyes, a blue window was floating there, as if waiting.
【 The current maximum reproducible duration is 10 seconds. 】
【 You can increase the duration by raising your Magic Power grade. 】
I tried to sit up, but I couldn't put any strength into my body.
"This is killing me, seriously... How can I be like this after just a short transformation?"
Still, it's a relief that I roughly understand the skill itself.
I don't really want to do it, but it seems I can use the skill if I follow the magical girl's lines and movements.
The problem is that my base magic power is lacking, so transforming into White Lily was all I could do.
So if I want to increase the duration, I need to increase my magic power. Anyway, that's not the important issue right now.
Whatever the case, it's a fact that my body has changed, and since I don't know when I'll turn back, my immediate livelihood is the problem... Right, my part-time job.
When I checked my phone screen, I saw a mountain of missed calls and text messages.
I hurriedly reached out to make a call, but... I stopped.
"What am I supposed to say if I call in this state?"
I can't exactly say, "I'm sorry. My body suddenly turned into a girl's. I don't think I can come in starting tomorrow."
Ring-ring-!
Just then, the phone rang again.
"What do I do?"
If I ignore it, it's obvious they'll keep calling, and I can't ignore it forever.
"He, hello..."
In the end, I gave up and chose to answer the phone.
"You didn't show up for your shift, you're ignoring my calls, why are you acting like this all of a sudden when you were always reliable! Shouldn't you tell me in advance if something comes up?"
The boss's voice boomed from the other side of the phone.
"Bo, boss...?"
"Huh? What? Isn't this Choi Soo-hyun-ssi's phone?"
He must have expected to hear a man's voice, but because he heard a young girl's voice, the boss seemed flustered.
"Ye, yes, that's right. I'm his younger sister."
"Ah, you're his sister? Could you tell me what your brother is doing right now?"
"Ah... my, my brother got hurt badly... I don't think he'll be able to come to work anymore!"
"Ah... is that so? Then it can't be helped. Tell him to take care of himself."
"Ye, yes... I'm sorry I couldn't contact you in advance."
Perhaps because I said he was hurt, the boss hung up without saying much else.
He always treated me well... I never imagined I'd end up quitting like this.
Anyway, the part-time job issue is resolved, and now I really need to think about what to do from here on out.
Even if I live off my savings for a while... what happens when it runs out? What then?
"For now, I should register as a Hunter, right...?"
I know that if you awaken, you basically have to go to the Association and register.
That's the only way to get the qualifications to operate as a Hunter, whether it's Gates or Dungeons.
After that... should I go to a Gate? I don't know if I can catch monsters in my current state, though.
Just then, a blue window interrupted my thoughts again.
【 Quest Generated - Go out to the street and help someone in need. 】
What is this all of a sudden... Is this the random quest that was mentioned in the skill earlier?
"The one who needs help the most right now is me..."
I turned my gaze to the mirror and saw a girl wearing loose sweatpants that looked like they would fall off at any moment.
Looking at it, I get the feeling that I'm seeing something I shouldn't. If someone reports me to the police, I feel like I'll be arrested immediately.
"I can't go out like this... Transform."
Whoosh-!
Honestly, going out in this outfit is embarrassing too, but... I don't have any clothes that fit my body, so I have no choice.
I can feel gazes from all directions. The sound of murmuring coming from everywhere.
"Isn't that kid super cute?"
"Yeah. Looking at her hair color, she must be a foreigner!"
......I'm not a foreigner. I should have at least worn a hat or something.
I thought I would attract attention because of the outfit, but I didn't think it would be this much.
The surrounding gazes feel more burdensome than I thought.
Why did this kind of quest have to pop up... I don't even know what the penalty is, so I can't ignore it.
I don't see anyone who needs help...
At that moment, in the corner of my vision, I saw an old lady walking while carrying a heavy-looking load.
"I, I'll help you!"
"It's heavy... are you okay?"
"I, I'm okay...!"
It was fine until I took the load... but it was heavier than I thought. What on earth is inside?
"Tell me if it's too hard. I'll carry it."
The grandmother didn't look that tired... Maybe she didn't actually need help?
"No, no...! I... can... carry it!"
Still, since I'm doing it, I should do it properly.
Sweat was pouring down my forehead, but I somehow managed to carry it to the end.
"Huff... huff..."
"Thank you for your help. Here, drink this."
I gulped down the sikhye the grandmother handed me.
Phew... now I feel like I can live.
【 Quest completed. 】
A blue window appears in front of me again.
It calls itself a quest, but there's only a penalty for not doing it and no reward for completing it? That's really too much.
"I don't think I've ever seen you around here before, what's your name?"
"My name?"
I was about to blurt out my original name without thinking, but I stopped. I can't use my old name as it is.
A cherry blossom petal fluttered on the wind and landed on my palm.
Cherry blossom, pink hair...
"I, I'm Magical Girl Cherry Blossom! Nice to meet you!"