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Chapter 37
Chapter 2 — Expand, my world! • Episode 2-2 • New Team ①
Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV
A fresh, lush breeze caresses my cheeks. It was a cool and pleasant breeze that cools my body that has been burning in the sun.
I took a look around and found a variety of playground equipment. There are sandboxes, slides, jungle gyms, Tarzan ropes, and so on, some of which I actually played with as a child, and some of which I have never used, only gazing at from afar. It was like being in a very large park.
Children, whom I felt I had seen somewhere before, were playing happily and harmoniously. Some children play on the playground equipment, others run around the large park and play tag, all with a uniform smile on their faces.
The park is supposed to be very lively and noisy, but their voices are blurred like rumblings and cannot be heard clearly. It’s as if I’m the only one in the same place but isolated in another world, and as soon as I realize this, I become irresistibly anxious.
I rushed over to them and wanted to tell them to join me. But against my will, my body moved only sluggishly. I should be running as fast as I can, but all I can do is plod along as if I were struggling in the water.
I scream as fast as I can, but they don’t notice me. They’re not recognizing me.
I was scared, anxious, and cowering on my knees, not knowing what to do.
「What’s wrong?」
「Are you alright?」
I suddenly heard a gentle voice and looked up to see my father and mother there.
They looked into my face with concern and reached out their hands to me. For some reason, that made me irresistibly happy.
I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes with the back of my hand, took my mother’s hand, and stood up.
Come to think of it, what was I crying about that made me so sad?
Besides, something seems to be wrong. Father and Mother are so much……, so much, what?
I don’t know. I don’t know, but Father came to pick me up, so it’s done.
「Where did you come from, little girl?」
「Where are your father and mother?」
…? What are you talking about? I’m Mizukami Ryōichi. I’m not a little girl, and Father and Mother are right in front of me.
「Ahh, you must be Ryōichi’s friend.」
「Where did he go without his lovely girlfriend?」
No! That’s wrong! It’s me, Ryōichi! I am a boy! I am your son!
「Ufufu, what a funny joke. But look how pretty you are.」
Mother laughed hysterically and took out a mirror to show my reflection. In the mirror, I saw a girl with beautiful green hair like a jewel in twin-tails, a girl who could only be described as a beautiful girl from any angle.
What’s this? No! This is wrong! I! I’m Mizukami Ryōichi!
「Oh dear, I don’t know what little kids are thinking.」
「You’re right, let’s find Ryōichi and bring him here. Then I’m sure she’ll calm down.」
Father smiles gently and says, “Wait a second,” and walks away with Mother.
I desperately move my legs to chase after it with all my might, but it doesn’t go forward, it doesn’t reach me.
Wait! Wait for me! It’s me! I’m right here! Please believe me!
My vision was blurred by the overflowing tears. I rubbed my eyes and saw that Father and Mother were no longer there.
I was standing alone in the spacious house.
「Nii-cha? Where are you?」
From somewhere, I heard a little girl crying.
…Ahh, right. I have a sister 10 years younger than me.
We don’t have Father or Mother here, so I have to be strong…
I’m the only one she’s got…
I ran out of my room and headed for the living room to find my little sister scattered with dolls, blocks, and sketchbooks, shuffling around like she was about to cry.
It’s okay, it’s okay now. Your brother is with you. So don’t be lonely anymore.
「You’re not Nii-chaaaaa!!! Waaaaaghhhh!!」
When my sister saw me appear in the living room, she was stunned for a moment and then began to cry loudly.
Come to think of it, she was very shy around that time, and she was always like this when she was alone with a stranger.
I’m your brother! I don’t know either! But I’m your brother!
「Eeeeeeehhhhnn!!」
She would not stop crying. Instead, she began to cry even harder.
She might have misunderstood that a stranger was loudly angry with her.
But, I am…
「There, there, what’s wrong?」
It seemed that the nanny had heard her sister crying and came to check on her.
The nanny was faceless, as if painted with black paint.
Father and Mother, who weren’t always home, hired a housekeeper to take care of us.
「Oh? Who are you? Are you a friend of Ryōichi-kun?」
I am Ryōichi! I don’t know why, but I’m becoming a girl!
「I see, that’s a big problem. But if he’s going to invite friends, he’ll have to tell me in advance.」
The housekeeper muttered as if complaining to someone who was not here.
That means that this person doesn’t believe for a second that I am Ryōichi, either, and I guess I was just talking to the kid’s nonsense on the surface.
No one, nobody believes me! I am Mizukami Ryōichi! Why?
It was hard and painful to be in this house as someone who no one knew and who was not Mizukami Ryōichi, and before I knew it I was running out.
When I came to, it was pitch black, the moonlight could not reach me due to the thick clouds, and none of the houses in the residential area had lights on, so I felt like I was left alone in the darkness… I was lonely, scared, helpless…
「Uuuh… uuuuuuuuhh…」
While crying, I still walked.
Even if I stopped and cried, Father and Mother would never come again.
That’s wrong. My mother and father were never interested in me from the beginning.
「Sylph-chan?」
Suddenly, I heard someone’s voice.
I don’t know whose name it is or who is calling that name.
But just hearing that person’s voice naturally stopped the tears.
「You are such a crybaby, Sylph-chan.」
Suddenly someone hugs me from behind and pats my head.
A voice full of tenderness was heard from right behind me.
I, I’m Mizukami Ryōichi! Who’s this Sylph-chan! I don’t know that person!!
「But I do know. Sylph-chan is strong, kind, whiny, and that you are really a boy. You are Mizukami Ryōichi, right?」
I can feel the warmth from the girl’s arms that wrap around me.
Do you believe me?
「I believe you. Because we’re friends! Let’s go now, Sylph-chan! It’s only going to get more fun from here on out! No, I’ll make it fun! So don’t be afraid! Don’t stand still! Come with me!」
The person who pulled me by the hand and started running was so forceful that I almost fell at first, but my body, which should have been heavy, and my legs, which should not have moved properly, were incredibly light. I knew I could run anywhere with this person.
The darkness that had been covering the area cleared away, and I ran with her under the blue sky surrounded by light.
Ahh, right, I know this person.
Vivid blue hair and a pretty sky blue outfit. Her boots are made of a gauzy metal, and she is a Magical Girl who looks more like a Magical Girl than anyone else.
And for the first time, my friend.
「Okay! Elephant-san!」
•
「Nngnh, Elephant-san……」
I feel dazed.
I feel like I’ve had some terrible dreams and some good dreams, but… I can’t remember the contents.
The soft feel of the back of my head lulls me back to sleep. I can sleep some more…
「Ah, you’re awake, Sylph-chan!」
「…!!?」
For a moment I couldn’t understand the words, or rather the meaning of the voice I heard, and after a beat I opened my eyes.
There was Elephant-san staring at my face as if peering into me.
I seemed to be asleep with Elephant-san’s lap as my pillow.
「Don’t make a fuss! You’ll get in the way of the two.」
Elephant-san lightly restrained me from jumping up and down in surprise, smiling happily at me.
Umm, what was that about?
I think today, I was supposed to have dinner with the Magical Girls from Elephant-san’s team in the Magical World under the guise of friendship, and then I was invited to play with them in a casual way, and…
「Look, it’s a nice place, and you should cheer them, Sylph-chan.」
Looking in the direction to which Elephant-san pointed, I saw Magical Girl Blade, who was wearing armor in key places over her white blazer uniform, and Magical Girl Press, who was wearing a gothic lolita outfit, playing tennis.
Why tennis? I wondered, but then I remembered. We were to play at an entertainment facility where we could enjoy karaoke, sports, and other activities, a place like Round Two in the real world.
I couldn’t sing in front of anyone but Elephant-san, but I did participate in the sport, and I was so exhausted as a result that I had to take a break. I would have sat on the grass in the shade of a tree with a cool breeze and watched Elephant-san, but I think I fell asleep in the middle of it.
Oh? I don’t know if I recall why I am on Elephant-san’s knees.
「Good luck on both you!」
「Ah, G–Good luck!」
My voice is like a mosquito’s, in contrast to Elephant-san’s, who cheers for them loudly. Partly because I am embarrassed, but also because I have little intention of getting to know these women.
In the first place, I have no intention of getting along with Magical Girls, with the exception of Elephant-san because she is special, but anyway, I have no intention of getting along with the other two. But Elephant-san insisted, so the four of us are going out like this. I couldn’t say no to Elephant-san’s request.
「Press! The! Haaannnddd!!!!」
As if in response to Elephant’s support, Press-san launched her magic at the same time as the smash. It appears that the sphere is triggered with a slightly reduced range to increase its power. That seems like dexterity. I mean, is it possible to use magic?
Blade-san has succeeded in catching Press-san’s smash with her racket, but she is slowly starting to be pushed away by the momentum.
「Sword Dance!」
So it seems that Blade-san also used magic.
The four swords floated up in the air, and to my surprise, the bellies of the swords were stacked on top of each other and slammed into the racket from behind.
The racket, swung with the force of six arms, hit the heavy ball back with great pressure, and that seemed to be the point that set the game.
「It’s not fair to use magic, not fair, not fair!」
「Press was the one that used it first, right!?」
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They seem to be arguing about something, but it looks like the game is over for now.
「Umm, Elephant-san. It looks like they’re done, and I can get up now, right?」
「You can’t. I’m not satisfied yet. Sylph-chan, your hair is so smooth and it feels so good when I stroke it～」
「B–But they’re coming back, they’re going to find out…!」
「This is normal between girls. They won’t mind, they won’t mind.」
I–I see. I never had any friends, but there is no way I would have done this with a couple of guys. That’s true of manga and anime, no doubt about it. But I think the girls certainly had many scenes of skinship with a lot of physical contact with each other.
I just feel uncomfortable because I used to be a man, but this is normal for girls to do this with each other, even if they are not friends. I’m learning a lot…
Wait, it’s not about that!
「Th–Then, as a girl…」
「Look! We’re coming over there, both of us, and we’re done talking about it! They’ll know, okay?」
I couldn’t complain to Elephant-san, who laughed mischievously, and even if I tried to force myself to get up, Elephant-san’s physical ability as a Magical Girl is superior to my own, so she would probably obstruct me as she did earlier.
Well, I’m not a girl, but I know that, Elephant-san also does, and that’s why sometimes it’s good to do something like this…