Chapter 5: A New Magical Girl and Familiar Faces

Magical girls had always felt like a distant, almost mythical presence in my life.

Even after discovering that Shiraishi Kisa was indeed Magical Girl Sakura Tsui, I had never breathed a word of it to anyone.

Beyond the sheer unlikelihood of anyone believing me, there was a far more significant reason: I had always known that Shiraishi-san harbored feelings for Hayato.

The sole indicator had been that peculiar scent of romance that clung to Watanabe-san whenever Shiraishi Kisa was near. It was precisely this subtle aroma that had allowed me to recognize the true identity of Magical Girl Sakura Tsui, despite the distorting force field that typically concealed her.

“Aoyama-kun?”

Shiraishi-san, seemingly oblivious to Lingling’s chatter, turned to address me directly.

“Oh… Hayato seems to have headed to the student council. Don’t you need to be there, Shiraishi-san?”

Hayato served as the vice-president, and Shiraishi-san was the student council secretary. It struck me as odd that she wouldn’t be present if there were student council matters to attend to.

“I have a few other things to take care of, so I’m waiting for someone here.”

Shiraishi-san discreetly slid the manga she was holding beneath the table, having kept its cover hidden from view since I arrived. Why the secrecy?

A powerful wave of embarrassment emanated from her. Why would Shiraishi-san be feeling so self-conscious around me? Her gaze drifted away as she spoke, and a faint blush colored her cheeks.

This was utterly unlike the composed Shiraishi-san I knew from everyday life.

“Kisa, did you hear what I just said?”

Lingling, the small black cat who claimed to be a pixie from the land of fairies, and who had forged a contract with a magical girl, playfully nudged Shiraishi-san’s chin with her tail.

“Hmm?”

She scooped Lingling into her arms, then, offering a quick apology, retreated behind a bookshelf. I remained standing in the doorway, feeling utterly bewildered.

Yet, their hushed voices were still faintly discernible.

“Lingling, if I had spoken just now, Aoyama-kun would surely think I was losing my mind, especially since he can’t see you.”

“He can see me, you know.”

“Why!”

“I told you at noon that I was bringing a new magical girl to meet you.”

“Right, right. So, where is she?”

“Right at the door. I mentioned it the moment we walked in, didn’t I?”

“Wait a minute…”

From within, Shiraishi-san’s bewildered gasp echoed.

Then, her head cautiously emerged from behind the bookshelf, her eyes meeting mine for a fleeting moment before she quickly retracted it.

“Aoyama-kun is a boy, you know. Even Lingling can tell the difference between human boys and girls.”

“Kisa, even though I appear small, I’m older than all of you magical girls combined.”

“Ren-kun—come here for a moment—”

Lingling’s voice suddenly boomed, calling out to me.

“Um, may I come in?”

It felt impolite to enter someone else’s clubroom without the president’s explicit permission.

“Yes, Aoyama-kun, please come in.”

Shiraishi-san replied, and with a nimble leap, Lingling sprang from her arms onto my shoulder. Observing my startled reaction to the tiny black cat’s sudden move, Shiraishi-san’s expression shifted to one of surprise.

“Aoyama-kun, can you truly see fairies?”

“Well, ah… for a variety of reasons, I suppose.”

I responded to Shiraishi-san, admitting that I wasn’t entirely sure of the exact circumstances myself.

At that moment, I had awakened from a nightmare to find the small black cat beside me. Driven by an overwhelming desire to protect Hayato, I had forged a contract with it, transforming into a magical girl.

It all felt somewhat surreal, even though it had only transpired a mere few hours prior.

“So, the magical girl who severed the monster’s arm at noon—that was you too?”

‘A boy transforming into a magical girl—it must be utterly repulsive,’ I thought, my silence heavy. Eventually, I simply nodded in affirmation.

Regardless of what Shiraishi-san might come to think of me in the future, at that crucial moment, I had been left with no other option.

The mere thought of Hayato leaving me forever had filled me with a terror I could not possibly endure.

As these thoughts swirled, the regret of not having held Hayato’s hand at noon began to sprout like persistent weeds. ‘What is wrong with me?’

‘I care for Hayato so deeply, I just don’t want to be separated from him…’

Unexpectedly, I heard Shiraishi-san’s voice, originating from an alarmingly close proximity. I jumped, finding Shiraishi Kisa’s face suddenly before me.

It was incredibly close.

I could discern every detail: her strands of hair, the delicate fringe of her eyelashes, the texture of her skin.

Most importantly, however, I found myself utterly unable to decipher her emotions.

Why, with Hayato nowhere in sight, did I distinctly catch a faint scent of honey?

I had always believed this aroma signified romance.

Yet, I was certain Shiraishi-san harbored no such feelings for me.

Back in junior high, I had been keenly aware of every student in every class who secretly harbored a crush, even playing a game of ‘connect-the-dots’ by drawing arrows between their names in my notebook.

Sometimes, it would even involve three or four individuals, eventually forming some peculiar, intricate cycle.

If that notebook had ever been exposed, the consequences, I imagined, would have been utterly catastrophic.

I would have single-handedly ruined the entire class.

It was precisely for this reason that I understood, more clearly than anyone else, just how incredibly popular Hayato was.

“Indeed, Aoyama-kun,” Shiraishi Kisa observed, “you possess a heart as delicate as a maiden’s.”

“To protect Watanabe-kun?”

“…Yes.”

There was no need to deny it; Shiraishi-san, being one of the involved parties, could easily deduce my true motivations.

“That’s truly remarkable, Aoyama-kun.”

Shiraishi-san’s breathing grew heavier, and the scent of honey became even more pronounced.

I found myself suddenly bewildered; I had always believed that these very emotions from Shiraishi-san were directed towards Hayato.

“That was a B-rank monster, and for your first time transforming into a magical girl, to possess such power…” Shiraishi-san remarked, as if trying to explain something to me.

“Perhaps it’s because the wish I made when I signed the contract to become a magical girl was to protect Hayato? I suppose.”

It was this wish, then, that had brought my magical girl form into existence.

I couldn’t quite grasp why, but Shiraishi-san’s emotions seemed to intensify, growing richer and more pervasive, much like the omnipresent aroma of coffee beans in a bustling café.

Within the manga clubroom, Shiraishi-san’s palpable emotions seemed to swirl and linger around me.

“It’s truly astonishing, a boy actually becoming a magical girl!”

“It certainly is.”

Lingling chimed in from the side, echoing Shiraishi-san’s stunned exclamation.

“Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Shiraishi Kisa, and I am also one of Nagawa City’s magical girls—the A-rank Magical Girl Sakura Tsui.”

Shiraishi-san took a few steps back and performed a graceful, ladylike bow.

Feeling utterly flattered, I quickly stammered that there was no need for such formality. She, however, pressed on with another question:

“Have you considered what name you’ll go by as Magical Girl Aoyama-kun?”

“Is that something I decide myself?”

I was somewhat taken aback, as I had always assumed that magical girls’ names were designations coined by their adoring fans.

In the various magical girl idol mobile games, one could find a plethora of names, each wildly distinct in style.

“Your name is incredibly important, so the next time you make an appearance, Aoyama-kun, especially if it’s being recorded, remember to loudly declare your chosen name. Otherwise, once a nickname gains widespread acceptance, it becomes impossible to change.”

‘…’

‘So, that’s how it works? I had absolutely no idea. Does this mean I’ll frequently have to transform into a magical girl and fight battles from now on? Between school, club activities, and cram school, wouldn’t that just pile on even more responsibilities?’

I glanced at Lingling, who was meticulously grooming its fur, seemingly in the midst of a thorough cleaning.

“The number of magical girls in each region is determined by the Fairy Kingdom. Nagawa City, for instance, has a total of four magical girl slots. The magical girl who served before Ren-kun moved to another city to attend university last year, a common occurrence for them.”

“Nagawa City’s other two magical girls attend the neighboring Egret Girls’ High School. That’s why, after the previous one left, Kisa had always hoped for a new magical girl to emerge.”

As I absorbed Lingling’s explanation, I couldn’t help but gain a deeper appreciation for Shiraishi-san’s arduous plight. Juggling countless school responsibilities, she also frequently had to confront terrifying monsters entirely on her own.

Monsters were inherently dangerous, possessing incredibly bizarre abilities. The noontime gloom, for instance, coupled with the monster Lingling called ‘Nightmare,’ had plunged the entire school into a state of terror. A single lapse in vigilance could lead to falling prey to their insidious traps.

Magical girls, I realized, weren’t always glamorous. While undeniably adorable, they bore immense responsibilities and faced formidable risks. It was precisely this blend of charm and courage that made them natural idols.

Almost every magical girl boasted a considerable online following. Who wouldn’t admire those who tirelessly protected their cities, vanquishing monsters and safeguarding peace?

“So, Aoyama-kun, you must really strive to become stronger from now on.”

“Y-yes, I will!”

My respect for Shiraishi-san surged within my heart.

I was utterly awestruck.

“Speaking of which, Aoyama-kun, do you truly not recognize me?”

Shifting the conversation abruptly, Shiraishi-san suddenly posed the question.

“What?”

“Junior high. I was in the class next to yours.”

“…I apologize. I was a bit strange back then.”

‘Compared to how I was, I’ve become much more outgoing now, you know.’

However, it suddenly occurred to me: given Shiraishi-san’s striking beauty, she must have been quite a celebrity in junior high. Why had I never once heard anyone discuss her back then?

“I thought as much,” Shiraishi-san sighed. “You were completely glued to Watanabe-kun’s side back then.”

‘…’

It seemed it was true; Shiraishi Kisa truly was my junior high classmate.

“But I’m so glad, Aoyama-kun, that you became a magical girl! Especially for Watanabe-kun. Isn’t protecting your best friend as a magical girl the absolute best thing?”

Shiraishi-san exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

‘Perhaps it’s because she now has a companion to fight alongside her once more.’

‘It’s a relief. Shiraishi-san doesn’t hate me.’

I nodded in agreement. I absolutely could not allow myself, as a boy, to stand by and let the other three magical girls shoulder even greater responsibility and risk by not fighting monsters.

“This is wonderful, you two already know each other so well.”

Lingling lifted its head, looking between Shiraishi-san and me.

As the student council still had some wrapping-up to do, Shiraishi-san glanced at her phone, offered me an apology, tucked the manga she had been reading into her bag, and prepared to leave.

Lingling and I stepped out into the hallway, just outside the clubroom.

“Oh, by the way, can I join the manga club?”

As Shiraishi-san locked the classroom door, I suddenly remembered and asked.

“Yes, of course. I’ll give you a new application form tomorrow morning, Aoyama-kun. Just fill it out and give it back to me. Besides, we’re comrades now; it’s always better to act together.”

“Thank you, Shiraishi-san.”

She waved goodbye to me, her figure exuding the grace of the school’s top beauty. The air still seemed to carry that honey-like scent, an emotion I remained utterly unable to comprehend.

Since Shiraishi-san mentioned the student council’s concluding tasks, Hayato’s work must be nearing its end as well. I checked my phone; it was five o’clock in the afternoon.

–Almost ten more minutes. Meet at the school gate?

Just then, Hayato’s message popped up.

I replied with a popular idol mobile game emoji of a yellow-haired character, indicating I had received it.

“What about you, Lingling?”

I asked the small black cat perched on the windowsill.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to visit your house.”

It leaped onto my head. Being so small, it didn’t feel uncomfortable at all, though maintaining balance proved quite challenging.

At the school gate, bathed in the setting sun, I carried my backpack and finally spotted Hayato’s figure emerging from the teaching building.