Heaven and Hell
Until recently, Yu Sihyun had been an ordinary young man. A recent university graduate pouring all his energy into job hunting. He held no grand ambitions to change the world, but his future plans were reasonably set and he was advancing toward them one steady step at a time. Then, like a lightning bolt from a clear sky, he suddenly became the lover of a magical girl.
The lover of a magical girl was an extremely important figure, even if not quite on the same level as the magical girl herself. And because he lacked a magical girl’s strength, the protective measures placed on him were even stricter. Though they called it protection, it was practically imprisonment. Without an accompanying magical girl, he could not leave the designated area. Naturally, getting a regular corporate job was completely out of the question.
All the effort he had poured into job preparation had evaporated into thin air. As she lay face-down on the bed, what could she possibly be thinking about?
“Ughhh… What should I even have for lunch…”
She was extraordinarily, unbelievably, impossibly happy.
She was the type of person who didn’t need to work. She could live perfectly well without the sense of accomplishment that came from productive labor. Besides, she couldn’t get fired. Her very existence was equivalent to working! As the lover of a magical girl, she received a “dignity maintenance allowance” that paid her just for breathing. Thanks to that, paying off her student loans would be surprisingly easy, which put her mind at ease. She had a house, clothes, and plenty of good food.
With Spica gone, she rolled around the room in a daze. It was peaceful. Relaxed. How long had it been since she could simply space out like this? It was so long ago she could barely remember.
Three solid meals a day, all the naps she wanted, (though it had turned out a little different from what she’d imagined) tons of lovey-dovey time with an adorable girl, and even pocket money! This truly was paradise!
“This place is hell…”
Magical girls rotated standby shifts so they could deploy the instant an incident occurred. While resting in the standby room today as usual, Spica’s true feelings had slipped out.
Her junior was relieved that only she had heard it.
“…Being lovey-dovey with your lover must be nice, I suppose. But you’ve only been apart for a few hours. Could you please not call our regular standby time ‘hell’?”
“That’s part of it, but…”
“But?”
“I want to have sex.”
(She’s talking like a middle-school boy who just discovered masturbation.)
The junior, who had always known Spica as kind, wise, and diligent, felt something hot rising behind her eyes. It was probably respect.
“It’s been almost a whole month…”
“A month is quite a long time.”
“Yeah.”
“How did you end up not doing anything at all?”
“The cohabitation house was delayed, we spent days shopping for furniture and appliances, there was a sudden event in the game Sihyun-ssi plays, my shift was on nights for a while…”
“Wow. A lot happened.”
“But the biggest reason is something else.”
“What is it?”
“I want to cling to him and naturally slide into skinship, but I went too far before, so I can’t.”
“Ah~~”
Went too far. In erotic matters, Spica had only ever gone massively overboard. From their very first meeting, she had pounced on him without a single word of explanation. Not even a week after Sihyun forgave that with a single errand, she had exhausted both his mind and body with continuous orgasms until he signed the cohabitation application. Even while forgiving that, he had driven the point home that there would be no next time. If she had any conscience left, she could not go too far again. From start to finish, everything had been Spica’s fault; she had no defense. She could joke that “my lover is too lewd,” but if she seriously tried to use that as an excuse, whatever affection remained would vanish completely.
Sihyun-ssi’s cold gaze… thrilling… but that wasn’t the point. She liked seeing his occasional “I can’t handle this” expression. She did not want to see the “this is hopeless” look.
After listening to the full story, the junior spoke in open admiration.
“Still, you endured a whole month of built-up desire? Senior, your patience is incredible.”
“………”
Spica could not meet her junior’s eyes.
“Senior. Why are you avoiding my gaze?”
“……”
“Don’t tell me… you didn’t, right?”
“I didn’t touch it.”
“Then what did you do!?”
Spica hesitated for a moment before speaking. Her junior grew visibly anxious.
“…You know how Sihyun-ssi doesn’t wake up no matter what happens until it’s time once he falls asleep?”
“Ah. Never mind.”
“And he’s the type who sleeps almost naked because he gets hot easily.”
“You can stop now.”
“Seeing him sleeping like an angel right in front of me, completely naked, I used that image as material and—”
(She’s developed a terrifying fetish…)
Hot respect poured from the junior’s eyes. It kept flowing without end.
“Last time I put real effort into planning a date course, you know?”
“Oh. Where?”
“I prepared a beautiful dress and we went to the opera. Then we had dinner with wine at a high-rise restaurant with a gorgeous night view.”
“That’s an impressively intentional date course.”
“As soon as we entered the hotel, Sihyun-ssi said he was tired and fell asleep.”
“Oh no…”
That date course—something that wouldn’t even appear in shoujo manga these days—had given Sihyun fresh enjoyment. It had also given him the fatigue that came from experiencing so many unfamiliar things. Wearing a dress for the first time, memorizing information he had looked up beforehand for his first opera, feeling nervous about an expensive restaurant he would never have considered due to the price. On top of that, he had drunk alcohol. Falling asleep the moment they entered the room was not surprising at all.
The junior had roughly guessed the circumstances but chose to stay silent.
“At this point, isn’t the final option to throw yourself down and beg for sex?”
“What?”
The junior shrank back at the sight of Spica’s wide eyes. No matter how you looked at it, that was not something one should say to a respected senior.
“…I was just throwing it out there.”
“That’s a wonderful idea! Why didn’t I think of that until now?”
“Senior…”
The flood of respect refused to stop. At this rate, every last drop of admiration she possessed would drain away.
— Bam-ba-ba-bam-la-ba-ba-bam-ba-bam-ba-ba-ba-bam —
“See you tomorrow!”
There was no time to clarify that it had been a joke. The moment the bell signaling the end of duty rang, Spica bolted from the standby room. All that remained was one stunned magical girl.
“What now…”
She pondered for a moment but humbly accepted there was nothing she could do and decided to head home.
Spica believed momentum was crucial in all things. Therefore, the instant she opened the front door and took one step inside, she threw herself to the floor and shouted.
“I’m home! And Sihyun-ssi! Please have sex with me!”
“…….Yeah. Welcome back. And…”
Only then did the smell of blood reach her. Spica lifted her head. Sihyun stood in the middle of the living room. His face was deathly pale. Though he tried to smile, it only looked pitiful and heartbreaking. He rationally understood what was happening to his body and was trying to remain calm, but emotionally it seemed almost impossible to accept. The corners of his eyes glistened as though tears might spill at any moment. He attempted an adult, composed smile, but the resulting strained expression only stirred greater sympathy.
Beneath her black skirt, blood flowed down her pure-white legs. The vivid red liquid trickled along her thighs, past her calves, and soaked into her snowy-white socks.
“Sorry. I don’t think I can today.”
“A-a-a-are you all right!? What happened? You’re bleeding!”
“It’s probably my period. I was told it would come around now…”
Sihyun laughed as if it were some kind of joke—ha ha. It was a weak, failed attempt to laugh it off.
“Could you get me a rag? I want to go to the bathroom, but I’m afraid blood will drip on the floor.”
“Towel! I’ll bring a towel!”
Spica rushed over with an armful of towels. Fortunately she was fast enough. Sihyun wrapped his lower body and legs and safely reached the bathroom. After neatly arranging the remaining towels, Spica called out.
“Do you need anything else?”
[Haa… Could you bring me some clothes to change into from the bedroom?]
“Yes!”
Sihyun felt grateful that Spica had read the mood. Normally she would have said something like “We’re both girls, so let’s wash together!” and slyly tried to enter the bathroom with him. Instead, she seemed to understand he wanted to be alone for a while and simply left the clothes before quietly withdrawing.
The warm shower helped him calm down somewhat. He had been told that becoming a woman meant he would experience menstruation, but actually seeing blood flow from his own body for the first time had startled him. It was fortunate that Spica had arrived at exactly the right moment. Even while showering, remaining clots continued to emerge in soft clumps. Watching them swirl away with the water left him with a strange feeling.
Shaaaaa~
Meanwhile, Spica was extremely busy. With the sound of the shower coming through the door, she had no time to indulge in fantasies.
“Let’s see… keep the abdomen warm… calming herbal tea, iron-rich foods…”
After placing comfortable clothes in front of the bathroom, Spica frantically searched the internet and consulted acquaintances about what to do during a period and what items were necessary. Magical girls did not menstruate. As beings seemingly reborn solely for combat, their reproductive functions were shut down from the moment of their first transformation. Those functions revived once they recognized their lover, but modern magical girls had magic cast on them so that only the male organ functioned. Therefore, in special cases, there were magical girls who had never experienced menstruation. Spica was one such example.
Her constitution had always been late to begin menstruation, and having become a magical girl at a young age, it had remained an abstract concept—something that happened to other people, something she would only experience much later. Now it was no longer someone else’s problem.
If she had known in advance she could have prepared, but there was no time. It would have been easy to say honestly, “Actually, I’ve never had a period either. Hehe.” Sihyun would have understood and found his own answers. But Spica deliberately chose the harder path. It would not be for long, but at least until Sihyun’s current period ended, she resolved to become a woman who understood menstruation thoroughly.
Because Sihyun had been crying. He had not shed tears, but it was no different from crying.
I have to be his support.
It could be called stubbornness. It might even be pointless bravado. Nevertheless, Spica decided to see it through. Right now, Sihyun had no one but her. He had been kidnapped without explanation, his body modified, and he could not even go outside without an escort. The only thing he received in return was the love of his kidnapper.
……
Plus money.
“Hmm…”
Spica halted the thoughts drifting in a dangerous direction and decided not to overthink the details for now. It was fine. It was all thanks to love. Not the money. In any case, she left the house and hurried to the convenience store. She needed to buy menstrual products.
When Sihyun emerged from a somewhat longer shower than usual, Spica was waiting with perfect preparations. Multiple pairs of panties with sanitary pads already attached. Sleepwear pajamas. A belly warmer. Warm cocoa. Painkillers. The air conditioner running to keep the room cool and a blanket of just the right thickness. Led by Spica, Sihyun was dressed, fed medicine and cocoa, had his teeth brushed again, and found himself lying in bed in the middle of the day.
“First, rest well! Does anywhere feel particularly bad? Any discomfort?”
“Lying down makes it somewhat bearable.”
“I see…”
“My appetite is gone, my head feels dizzy, my stomach hurts, I get occasional chills, and my arms and legs feel weak. That’s all.”
“That’s still a lot!”
“Still better than earlier.”
“Whew. That’s a relief.”
“Yeah. The medicine seems to be working.”
Watching Spica worry about his body more than he did himself made Sihyun feel a little shy. He had known about this in advance. He knew it was a natural phenomenon. Yet he had still made a fuss over a little blood. Why had he reacted that way? Having regained some composure, he asked himself the question. Why had he panicked so badly?
“Hmm…”
“What is it? Do you need something?”
“No. I just thought of something for a moment.”
“If you have any worries, tell me anytime!”
He could think about it later when he felt better. He was improved compared to earlier, but his condition was still poor. He felt a surge of respect for women who endured this every single month.
“I heard that the first period after becoming a woman is especially intense. After this, it apparently won’t hurt as much.”
“That’s good to know. If it hurt this much every month, I don’t think I could stand it.”
“If the pain gets bad, take a nap. It should help.”
“Yeah. Thank you.”
With the tension gone, a yawn escaped him. Occasionally groaning in discomfort, supported by the medicine and the soft blanket, Sihyun gradually grew sleepy.
“…Spica.”
“Yes. I’m right here.”
“…Sorry.”
“For what?”
“I didn’t realize you were holding back.”
“Pardon?”
“…Sex.”
Spica wanted to flee, but she endured with iron will. This was exactly why acting hastily when you had momentum could lead to regret.
“Ah… um… well, you see…”
“After I take a nap and wake up.”
“Uh… yes…”
“Once my body feels a little better.”
“Yes.”
“Hehe… I can’t do anything below, but would you like me to use my hand?”
“No. It’s all right.”
As Spica gently stroked his hair, Sihyun gradually calmed. He felt composed. Sleepy. His whole body grew pleasantly languid.
“For now, just focus on resting.”
“…Yeah.”
“………”
“…Spica.”
“Yes.”
“I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Yes.”
“….Haaam… Good night…”
“Yes.”
Leisurely, Spica continued stroking his hair until Sihyun fell completely asleep.
“Sleep well.”
“………”
After confirming he was deeply asleep, Spica left the bedroom and returned to the living room. With the tension gone, regret washed over her.
“Haa… I should have said yes when he offered to use his hand…”
Spica felt self-loathing for being swayed by lust while Sihyun was suffering. She felt a surge of respect for men who lived without being controlled by such desires.
“I should wash up and clean.”
After seeing Sihyun in pain, her own sexual desire had cooled completely. That is, if only the blood-stained towel had not caught her eye just as she was about to wash and eat.
“………”
Her reason told her this was wrong, but her instincts were honest. For the first time, Spica thought it was fortunate they slept in separate rooms.