7. With the Senior (1)
7. With the Senior (1)
Time passed.
Only three days, though.
It feels like I've been holed up at home for three days just staring at the Masubang. And that's actually what I've been doing.
I'm a total hikikomori.
But what can I do? I'm a high school grad, unemployed, and now a 2012-born baby. Can I even work at this age?
[My friend, sometimes I can't keep up with you.]
"Why?"
[How should I put this... right. I haven't even known you for a week, but I feel like I've seen every facet of your character.]
"What are you talking about?"
[You. How can you be so calm? It hasn't even been a week since the last battle!]
"So what?"
I rolled around on the bed. No reason, I just wanted to. Better to move around than stay in the same position.
[Usually, magical girls... after a battle where they almost died, they tend to panic even during daily life. That aside, they strive to work harder and get stronger. That's only natural, of course. But why are you so nonchalantly doing nothing?]
For a moment, I didn't understand what Dori was saying.
Isn't it better not to panic than to panic? And as for working hard to get stronger, is that even something I can do right now? Do I have a training ground or anything?
I could study theory, but I've already studied plenty of magic theory to take the wizard exam. I failed, of course. Anyway.
I glared at Dori for spouting nonsense. Dori let out a dry laugh as if dumbfounded.
[Are you even capable of living a normal life?]
"I am."
[Haa, is that so.]
What is this guy saying? Why the sudden insult? Like it's impossible, seriously.
[Phew, anyway. You've received an official document from the Bureau.]
"Suddenly?"
[Yes, suddenly. It's an official document that usually goes out to most rookie magical girls.]
"What is it?"
[The Mentor-Mentee Program. A so-called master designation system.]
"Huh?"
This was a thing?
[Of course, about five people have already been assigned to you. They will take turns each week, in the order you decide, to be responsible for your growth. Most of them are high-ranking OP-class or above, so don't worry.]
With that, Dori handed me the list of seniors who would be my masters. And then. My world went dark.
"Equitesia is... also on here?"
Right. The magical girl whose doujinshi I bought. The magical girl I was indebted to for a while. And a magical girl who, like me, was originally a man.
Why is this happening to me?
[Pfft, hahaha! It's been a while since I've laughed like this. Good luck, my friend.]
"Ugh..."
[There's nothing I can do for you, I'm afraid.]
I looked at the list once more.
MAGNA(MG)-Equitesia
MAGNA(MG)-Alea
OPTIMA(OP)-Strawberry
OPTIMA(OP)-Justia
OPTIMA(OP)-AA
Reserve List
MAGNA(MG)-Devia
Hmm. Two MG-class (A-rank) and three OP-class (B-rank). One MG-class in reserve.
The fact that Equitesia is one of them is the real problem.
I'm definitely not saying this because of a lack of skill; it's just a personal mental issue. To begin with, I'm not in a position to discuss skill.
Why, just why!
And wait a second. Why is Devia on the reserve list? Isn't she the department store owner I visited the other day?
"A star-studded cast..."
[That's true. Plus, most of them are hard workers, so they'll definitely identify your problems quickly and put you through the wringer.]
"Why..."
[You're the one who chose the magical girl life. Endure it with grit and determination. And above all, regardless of everything else, I vouch for your talent.]
What good is your vouching going to do...!
[Anyway, hurry up and choose. It's already Saturday. You have to start next Monday.]
&&&
Meanwhile, in the Masubang.
-Berry: Oh, I became a mentor for the newbie.
-Tiatia: Me too, grats.
-Mal-dal-li-ja: Wait, I'm doing it too?
-IAMMAGNA: Why am I doing it too? Though I'm just a reserve, hehe.
-Jusawi: Me too... If I get close to them using this as an excuse, I should be able to borrow some money...
-Mal-dal-li-ja: Alea, shut up^^
-Alice Lover: Ah, I need to go see Alice-nim, why am I doing this too? Why me, why me, why me, why me, why me!!!!!! Does the Bureau not work?!!!
The Masubang was in chaos. What is this, it's scary.
&&&
"Welcome."
"It's been a while..."
Monday, 9 AM. I arrived at the training ground run by the Magical Girl Bureau. Standing before me was the magical girl who summoned me today, Strawberry.
Today's teacher, my mentor Strawberry-sunbaenim, was wearing sunglasses and an angular hat, I don't know where she got them.
"Sunbae, what's that?"
"Ah, this? I borrowed it from my mom's son at home."
"What?"
"Hmm. Doesn't suit me after all."
Sunbaenim took off the sunglasses and threw the hat aside. Well, "threw" is just a figure of speech; she actually stored it away using inventory magic.
"Enough joking around, shall we start?"
"Start what?" The question was just passing through my throat when an awl grazed my cheek.
"Ouch!"
"Hmm, you couldn't dodge that."
"Y-yes?"
"Well, when I watched the video of you fighting last time, I thought you'd easily dodge something like this."
A red line was drawn on my cheek, and blood started to bead up.
It hurts!
"Why would you do that?"
"Because you're a magical girl. Never let your guard down. That's the very, very important principle this Sunbaenim will teach you today."
Sunbaenim... you seem like a completely different person...
"Why are you just standing there blankly?"
"Ah."
"You have to take training seriously."
Is this what they call 'Emeeeergency!'?
Emeeeergency!!!
I'm in big trouble, damn it!
"Sparring. You'll have to do your best, right?"
Sunbaenim, Sunbaenim. You've become too scary...
But this was only the beginning.
&&&
Strawberry moves first. The girl's hair, wrapped in brilliant light, flutters.
I can't just stare blankly. I have to grasp her movements immediately.
I try to follow Strawberry with my eyes as much as I can as she disappears from my field of vision at high speed, as if aiming for my back.
However, she is a magical girl who has been through all sorts of trials. There's no way I can track her with my eyes.
In the end, I took out a wooden sword. To block Sunbaenim's attack.
I don't know where it's coming from. Because my eyes can't follow Sunbaenim.
Then, the only thing left is to rely on my senses to detect her presence.
And that sense,
Clack!
The sound of wooden swords clashing rang out, and it was a direct hit.
"Oh, looks like you've finally grasped it to some extent?"
Sunbaenim's voice was heard. It sounds like my senses have purely improved, but I can't let my guard down yet.
I tracked Sunbaenim with my eyes again. And then I saw it.
A wooden sword coated in magic, wrapped in blue spiritual energy, and Sunbaenim ready to swing it.
As if time were moving slowly, the wooden sword flies toward my neck.
Parry with the wooden sword?
No. That won't work. How could I parry a wooden sword imbued with that kind of magic with a regular wooden sword?
I had to think.
Sunbaenim's body is in a charge, and the tip of the sword is looking at where it's headed: my neck.
How?
In an instant, I ducked. The wooden sword sliced through the air. Sunbaenim immediately gripped the sword as if to slash vertically, but I quickly threw my body to the left.
At the same time, I cast magic.
Fire magic. Specifically, a low-firepower spell. The magic I cast by touching the ground the moment I ducked immediately set Sunbaenim's wooden sword on fire.
"Uh, uh?! This is a foul!"
Sunbaenim immediately put down the wooden sword and clapped her hands. At that moment, the tension broke. Because of that, I fell over.
Because clapping meant stopping the sparring.
I panted and wiped the sweat I'd shed with my hand. The problem was that my hands were already covered in sweat too.
It was tough, seriously. Phew.
"I clearly said we'd only use wooden swords!"
"But Sunbaenim, you had magic plastered all over yours too."
"I did not! You must have seen it wrong!"
"That aside... you've returned to normal, haven't you?"
"Ah, ah this! Ugh... yeah. Can't keep doing something that doesn't work."
Sunbaenim tapped my shoulder as if annoyed. How should I put it, like a cute girlfriend?
Uh.
Hmm.
No, no. That's just a figure of speech, maybe just the kind of prank a woman of that age would pull on another woman?
Of course, I'm not a woman, so I don't know for sure.
Anyway, thanks to the tension breaking, and because Sunbaenim was showing the exact opposite side of herself from before, a small smile bloomed.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Just because. It feels so much like Strawberry-sunbaenim."
"What kind of feeling is that?! It's not weird, right?"
That someone like this was that scary sparring partner from earlier. The world is truly scary.
"Ahem, anyway, shall we call it a day?"
"I was waiting for those words!"
"You seem happy?"
Shudder!
Ah. Did I make a slip of the tongue?
But honestly, we've been at it for five hours, isn't it time to rest...?
It's already 2:30 PM, isn't it?
"For now, we'll end the sparring here. As for the rest, well, I'll decide while taking you around."
"...Taking me around?"
"Yeah. You didn't know? It's a week-long training camp."
Ah. Goodbye, my hikikomori life.
Wait. No way.
"That week-long training camp, by any chance, with the others too?"
"Yeah. Probably?"
"Ah."
"Why. Do you have something to hide?"
It's over.
My hikikomori life. Confiscated for about 5 weeks.
Why is this happening to me!
"What's wrong with this kid."
Sunbaenim scratched her head, looking flustered. I couldn't say anything. A training camp with others for 5 weeks in a row. The sense of despair was immense.
"It's nothing. Really."
"Is that so? Anyway, what do you want to eat?"
"What?"
"I'm your senior. I should feed my junior something delicious."
Unexpectedly, Sunbaenim. She was someone who could properly act like a senior.
What's tasty?
I thought about it carefully, but nothing came to mind. Hmm.
Since I only eat ramen every day, I can't remember what kinds of food there are...
"Hmm..."
"If you can't choose, how about Malatang?"
"Malatang?"
That Chinese food that was popular on iTube?
"They say it's surprisingly tasty."
I've never eaten it before, but for some reason, I was drawn to it. It sounds like it would be tasty. That thing called Malatang.
"Yes! That's great!"
"Alright, alright. I'll place the order."
Sunbaenim immediately operated her smartphone several times. Then she turned it off and sat down in front of me, where I was lying spread-eagled on the floor.
"Hey, a girl shouldn't be so sloppy."
"Eek."
Sunbaenim smiled and caressed my cheek. To think she'd touch my cheek, which was covered in sweat.
Naturally, as soon as she pulled her hand away, she was surprised, saying, "What is this, why is there so much sweat?!"
I also just tried to brush it off with an awkward laugh.
"Go take a shower. I'll go take one too."
Uh.
Huh.
At that moment, I remembered.
I have never taken a shower in this body.