CH 36

“Good morning…?”

When he arrived at school in the morning as usual and greeted his classmates, they all turned to him at once.

Tsugumi, who was drawn to the momentum, quietly closed the door of the classroom. It was a bit like a horror experience.

…Though it didn’t seem possible, he wondered if yesterday’s unmanageable behavior towards the elementary school girls had been revealed. Or did someone see two guys entering a fancy store? Either way, he’d either be pulled in or made fun of.

As Tsugumi pondered about this, he received a light tap on the back.

“What are you doing standing there in front of the door, Tsugumin?”

“Oh, don’t surprise me like that, Fuyuno.”

When he turned around in surprise, he saw a girl who was also his classmate.

Her name was Fuyuno, and she had a strange hairstyle with red mesh on both sides of her appropriately chopped hair.

It was a wonder why she decided to wear her hair in such a punky style in this progressive school. Perhaps it was because she was in the art club, her sensibilities were sharp. In a way, she was a suitable member of class F where Tsugumi belonged.

“I’m not sure what to make of your glasses. They don’t suit you.”

“…They’re just a disguise. It was the only pair of glasses they had at the convenience store.”

Tsugumi replied with dissatisfaction. He didn’t really like the black-rimmed, unfashionable glasses he was wearing now.

The reason was simple. Perhaps because of yesterday’s interview with Hagakure Sakura, many people were more persistent this morning.

He thought it would be a bad idea to keep it as it was, so he bought glasses and a mask at a convenience store in a hurry, but even Tsugumi would feel a little depressed if someone said it didn’t look good on him.

He had a hard time sleeping last night because Bell had been nagging all night long, telling him that he was talking too much, why didn’t he end the conversation earlier, and how dare he made up the settings.

“Ha-ha! Must be though being famous.”

Fuyuno, who had no way of knowing Tsugumi’s melancholy feelings, reached out to his face with a laugh and picked up his glasses.

“I’m not famous… Hey, give it back.”

As he said so, Fuyuno put the glasses on her own head and stepped closer to look into his face.

Tsugumi tried to retreat involuntarily, but the closed door was in the way and he couldn’t move. Fuyuno, not caring about his reluctance, observed his face.

“I knew it. –Are you really not brother and sister?”

“Hey, you’re too close…”

He tried to turn his face away, but her hands were pinning both of his cheeks and he could not move. As he wondered what to do, the door he was leaning against slammed open.

His body, without any support, slumped backward. Thinking that if he fell, it would be a disaster for both of them, he managed to stay on his feet, but the load on his legs was too much and he was in a lot of pain.

He glanced behind with irritation, and standing there was Akiyama with a dubious look on his face. Perhaps he had grown numb to Tsugumi, who had not entered the room anytime soon.

“…What are you guys doing? Could it be some kind of play?”

“It’s definitely different. See, let it go.”

Akiyama asked with a dumbfounded look. Tsugumi didn’t know what he was mistaken about, but this was not that sexy. Fuyuno’s eyes were only looking at the shape of his face.

“Tsugumin has become cute recently. Can I draw you in the upcoming tournament?”

“Please don’t do that. If you win an award, I’ll be in big trouble.”

“Tsk.”

Fuyuno said and walked to her seat as if she had lost interest. He wondered if she would ever return the glasses that were still on her head. But it would be a bit of a hassle to get them back.

Tsugumi sat down in his own seat and let out a big sigh. But peace wasn’t easy to come by.

“Why did you shut the door on me earlier? We’ve been talking about you since this morning, remember?”

Akiyama, who was sitting in front of him as if it was natural, spoke like that. He was sitting there on his own, but that seat belonged to someone else.

“It’s not about me anyway, it’s about ‘Hagakure Sakura’, isn’t it?”

When Tsugumi said this in a dismissive tone, Akiyama laughed deceptively, saying, “You got me.”

“I saw her talking about it on the news yesterday, but aren’t you blood-related? You see, her behavior was just like Chidori-chan.”

“At least, I don’t know. Chidori doesn’t seem to know either, so I guess she’s just a stranger to me.”

Tsugumi replied quietly, trying to sound as disinterested as possible. It wasn’t a good trend that he was considered ‘conscious of Hagakure Sakura’.

When Akiyama said “She looks like Chidori,” he was a little nervous, but thinking about it, he made it look like that on purpose so it was only natural. There was no need to be upset about it.

“…Hmm.”.

Akiyama stared at Tsugumi’s face for a moment, then snickered with cowered shoulders.

“Well, Nanase and Hagakure are too different in terms of dignity. Maybe it’s just my imagination.”

He felt a pang of frustration when Akiyama laughed so openly, but he held back.

“…You said you were going to vote for Hagakure Sakura, right? Who are you going to vote for instead?”

Tsugumi interjected, trying to change the subject. As of yesterday, Hagakure Sakura had effectively renounced her bid to become Rikka. This meant that he wouldn’t be selected. In a sense, a weight had been lifted.

But Akiyama tilted his head curiously and slowly shook it sideways.

“I’m not going to change my vote, though?”

“Huh? But she said in the interview, ‘I don’t want you to vote,’ right?”

“I don’t have anyone else to vote for this time. The others wouldn’t vote anyway, so even if I did, it wouldn’t amount to a valid vote!”

“…Well, I am not sure about that.”

Tsugumi felt something inexplicable, but he was sure there weren’t many people who would dare to vote for Hagakure Sakura. It shouldn’t be a problem if some of them voted for her.

“The guy in the seat in front of me is about to come to school. Get out of my way before I make you.”

Tsugumi waved his hand to drive him away. It would be him who got complained later by the front seat guy.

Akiyama stood up from his seat without minding the rough treatment and said in a small voice.

“By the way, are you free after school today? I am talking about going to karaoke with the guys from the class.”

Akiyama asked this, but Tsugumi made a small cross with his finger.

“I’m sorry, I’ll pass for today.”

“What, you’re going out with that guy again?”

To Akiyama who complained, Tsugumi shook his head. And then, with a small smile on his face, he quietly opened his mouth as if to tell an important secret.

“No, this time I’m going to visit a pretty princess.”

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

“–When I said that, he laughed so hard he hyperventilated. Frankly, I think I could have been forgiven for punching him once.”

“Hahaha! Oniisan’s friends are sure interesting!”

With that, Itadori Kanae wiped away the tears that had come from laughing too hard. A giggle and a laugh that could not be contained echoed in the room.

–The tension seemed to have dissipated.

After school, when he arrived at the hospital room where Itadori was staying, he was greeted with a stiff face. Sensing that they would not be able to have a proper conversation at this point, Tsugumi tried to talk about what had happened this morning, but it seemed to be received better than expected.

Thinking about it now, he usually wouldn’t have said that punchline. It might get him laughed out of the room. He wondered if the actress mode from yesterday had not yet been turned off.

With this thought in the back of his mind, Tsugumi turned to Itadori and said.

“Are you feeling all right now?”

“Yes. The doctor said I’ll be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.”

“I see. That’s great.”

When Tsugumi laughed, Itadori lowered her eyebrows with a troubled look. Seeing that look on her face, he realized his mistake.

–Being discharged from the hospital meant that she would have to go back to school afterward. From her point of view, it would be nothing but pain to face those bully girls.

The awkward atmosphere was then followed by a bland conversation to get away from the subject, but then Itadori squeezed her own hand as if she had made up her mind and stared at Tsugumi.

“Listen, will you listen to my story?”

“Ah, I don’t mind.”

When Tsugumi nodded at her question, she smiled as if she was relieved.

–And what she said was something that he had not expected.

“I change class this year. Do you know what a special magic class is? This is a class for people with an aptitude for Magical Girls–those with high receptive receptors.”

“Special Magic Class…? I thought it was a rumor, but does it actually exist?”

Tsugumi was surprised. Perhaps the receptor was what Bell often called the “vessel.” The bigger the vessel, the more power a Magical Girl could exercise.

He was told that only the government had the equipment to test it, but perhaps it was deployed in prestigious schools nowadays.

“I had a measurement before the new semester, and it was very high. It was the highest reading since the beginning of the school year. The teacher laughed and said it was a miracle, but I wasn’t too happy about it. I am afraid of fighting with Demonic Beasts.”

Tsugumi gasped at what he was told.

–Magical Girls were a blossoming profession in this country. Every child in elementary and junior high school must have dreamed of it at least once.

In such a world, what would a child who had been told that she had the potential to become an excellent Magical Girl think about her powerful rival, Itadori, who had suddenly appeared on the scene?

–The answer was, needless to say, exclusion.

“…Maybe that’s why those kids treated you like that? That’s just jealousy.”

“But I think it’s my fault too. I don’t want to move to the new class, but I can’t say it.”

“Why? Was it forced by the school teacher?”

When the Tsugumi said that, the Itadori sadly shook her head.

“Un. — because Okaasan looked happy. That’s why I couldn’t say it.”

Then Itadori started talking about herself.

Her parents divorced last April, and her mother took her in. Her father still paid for the hospitalization and other medical bills, as well as the high tuition at Asuka Academy, but he only came to see her on special occasions, such as the last time he was here.

And her mother worked hard to provide for Itadori. She had always been worried about her mother, who always looks tired. Such a mother was happy with tears in her eyes that Itadori had the aptitude to be a Magical Girl. …There was no way she could refuse the offer, no matter how she thought about it.

“Okaasan said that when she was little, a Magical Girl saved her from a dangerous situation. She said that’s why she always wanted to be a Magical Girl. She said she would be really happy if I became a Magical Girl like that. …But do I really have to become a Magical Girl?”

As Itadori turned her head, a teardrop fell.

–Her mother’s expectations and her own feelings. Both were important to her, and she couldn’t choose between them. Tsugumi had a similar experience.

He had no regrets about the path he’d chosen, but he wondered what would have happened if he picked another choice. The answer probably would never come out.

Tsugumi gently placed a hand on her head and stroked it gently.

“It’s okay if you’re not sure about it right now. If Kanae-chan doesn’t want to do it, that’s okay. Even your mother won’t force you to do it.”

“…Really?”

“Oh, it’s true. Don’t worry about what anyone says. –If you can be proud of your choice in the end, that’s the correct answer.”

“Correct answer?”

“Yes. You’re the only one who knows the answer.”

When Tsugumi smiled at her, Itadori laughed, as if she was relieved. Maybe she had been struggling for a long time, unable to talk to anyone about it. All he could do was push her back.

“I don’t know if I’m going to become a Magical Girl yet, but I’m going to try just a little bit harder. Thanks to Oniisan, those girls probably won’t get involved with me anymore. …And I don’t want to disappoint Okaasan”

Itadori, looking firmly ahead, clutched the futon tightly to hide her trembling hands as she told him this. Tsugumi wondered how much courage it took for her to say those words. He was sure that only she herself would know.

–For some reason, her figure reminded Tsugumi of who he used to be. It was probably why he couldn’t leave her alone.

“Then, let’s make a promise.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s hook our fingers. –If Kanae-chan asks for help, I’ll definitely come to the rescue. See, this will make you feel a little less scared, right?”

When Tsugumi said so and held out his pinky finger, Itadori looked at him with a tearful smile on her face.

“…Yeah. Promise?”

–Pinky swear, if you lie, you’ll get a thousand needles.

They both sang in unison. They both knew it was only for comfort. Even so, the vow born out of it was surely not a lie.

After that, when Tsugumi was about to stand up and say that it was time to go home, Itadori shouted as if she had just remembered something.

“I’ve got a field trip next week. And it’s on a Saturday. I’m going to hate it.”

“Well, where are you going? It has to be a  pretty nice place if it’s a field trip of Asuka Academy.”

“They said it’s a new amusement park. –I think its name is Tenma Amusement Park.”

Hearing Itadori’s words, Tsugumi let out a surprised voice with a blank expression.

“I’m not sure if this is a coincidence or not. –I’m going to the same place that day.”

Saying this, Tsugumi laughed innocently.

-Unaware that the chains of destiny were slowly ganging up on them.