Chapter 4: An Unwelcome Neighbor

-Beep.

“…Um… Are you sure that ID isn’t fake?”

“…Would I do that?”

“Hmm… The ID looks real, but… you look so young for 27…”

“I get told I look young a lot. Just give it to me.”

“Okay… That’ll be 86,000 won.”

Back from my taxi ride, I was buying groceries with my ill-gotten gains. The new cashier kept questioning my ID.

Annoying, but what could I do? I really was that age.

-Rustle

“Have a good day.”

“…”

“Damn… Is it fake? But who would forge an ID just to buy cigarettes…”

‘Mind your own business.’

I understood their caution. Underage smokers were a nuisance. Still, they shouldn’t jump to accusations of serious crimes like identity theft.

Every interaction in this form was stressful. I wouldn’t have lowered my hood if not for the age check.

I preferred not to interact with people as Alice either, but the stress was different. As Alice, I had to maintain a facade. In this form, I was simply uncomfortable around people.

I pulled my hood back up, carrying my cigarettes, instant ramen, and frozen meals.

“…?”

“Ugh… Oh! Hello! I’m your new neighbor from 101! Whoa!”

-Crash!

…What was this now?

A woman, laden with moving boxes, was struggling to get into the apartment next door.

“Ow… S-Sorry! I’ll clean this up! Sorry for blocking the way!”

“…It’s fine.”

Her clumsy movements and dazed expression spoke volumes.

‘Ugh…’

This type was usually nosy and overly friendly. My least favorite.

I hated unwanted attention, especially from a neighbor. Hopefully, she’d lose interest if I ignored her.

“P-Please go ahead! I have a lot of luggage… Sorry! I should have moved during the day, but something came up…”

“It’s okay.”

“I-I’ll move as quickly as possible! Sorry for the noise!”

This building was a single story. 101 and 102 were the only units. High-rises had become less common since the Abyssal invasion. This one had lost its top three floors and was hastily repaired.

The landlord, an elderly woman with no family, seemed to run the place as a hobby. It worked for me. I’d given her a lump sum for minimal hassle.

The single-story setup allowed me to smoke indoors without complaints. A rare perk these days.

Hoping my new neighbor wasn’t intrusive, I reached for the door.

“Heave-ho!”

-Thump!

-Rumble!

“Waaaah!!”

-Thud.

“…”

Items spilled from her box and landed at my feet. Not a big deal, except for one item:

[Infused with Starlight and Love★ Alice Vol. 1]

‘…Why is that here…?’

The remnants of my past I’d tried so hard to erase were right in front of me.

“S-Sorry! Are you okay?! Are you hurt?!”

“…That.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry! I’m always so clumsy..! Are your feet alright?! Did anything heavy fall on you?!”

I looked closer. It wasn’t just the CD. A limited-edition figure, a discontinued photobook, and even unofficial merchandise.

All featuring the familiar white-haired, blue-eyed magical girl.

‘…I thought I’d retrieved most of them.’

I’d tried to erase my past self, but I couldn’t control everything circulating in the shadows.

The music was mostly suppressed through copyright claims, but the physical copies…

I knew they existed, but seeing them was unsettling. Should I try to retrieve them…?

“…I’m fine. Good luck with the move.”

-Click.

Forget it. I couldn’t explain my interest in this form. Any connection between me and Alice was a risk.

–Thump!

-Buzz!

-Clatter!

‘…There are still Alice fans?’

It made sense years ago. Alice was once a national sensation.

Now? I’d minimized my public appearances and media exposure. Newer, more active magical girls had eclipsed me. I was a has-been.

‘A collector? Or a reseller?’

Perhaps she specialized in magical girl merchandise. Maybe that’s why she only had Alice items left.

-Click

-Hiss…

“Sigh…”

I didn’t care. Whether a fan or a reseller, I wasn’t interested in other people’s lives. Mine was complicated enough.

“Bunny. Remember my two-day break? Until midnight tomorrow, I’m off duty, no matter what.”

“[I know. You deserve a rest, Sejin.]”

“…”

-Exhale

My heart felt heavy.

When would this end? This charade of pretending to be a magical girl, saying things I didn’t mean, wearing ridiculous clothes…

It was absurd. I wasn’t suited for this.

‘…But I had no choice.’

I hadn’t expected to be trapped for eight years.

Knowing what I know now, I might have made a different choice.

“Cough. Hack.”

The nicotine addiction was another consequence. I couldn’t cope without it. Especially after…

-Nausea

“Ugh…”

The familiar wave of nausea. I stubbed out my cigarette, grabbing a pill and water.

“Haah… Haah…”

Fifteen minutes for the medication to kick in.

‘It’s okay… It’s okay… It’s all in the past… It won’t happen again…’

I buried my face in the table, controlling my breathing, clenching and unclenching my fists.

Fifteen minutes later.

“Haaah…”

The disgusting sensation lingered. The combination of nicotine and medication was never pleasant.

I hadn’t chosen this life. If not for that, I’d have a normal job, a normal life, maybe even a family.

But here I was.

Dwelling on the past only brought nausea and regret.

As the medication took hold, a wave of apathy washed over me.

-Ding-dong…

“…What?”

My doorbell? I wasn’t expecting anyone. Probably just religious solicitors or salespeople.

-Knock!

“Hello! It’s your new neighbor! I brought some rice cakes to apologize for earlier! Y-You don’t have to accept them if you don’t want to… I-I’ll just leave them at the door!”

“…Damn it.”

My initial assessment seemed accurate. She was definitely the annoying type.

…I should have known from her face.