V4: Chapter 38: Chatting at a Family Restaurant is So Student-like, isn't it?

Chapter 38: Chatting at a Family Restaurant is So Student-like, isn't it?

After the ceremony, we naturally ended up having lunch together. I was curious about what kind of Magical Girl she was, so it was a godsend.

Of course, it would have caused a commotion if we had gone to a restaurant as Magical Girls, so we had to revert to our human forms.

But even so, what exactly am I supposed to do when Squire said, "I want you to talk to her"?

No, Squire doesn't even know that.

After all, Jane has lost her memories of when she gained her magic. Her past, without memories, doesn't even surface in her subconscious.

For now, all I can do is look at her as she is now, not her past. That said, I'm not a counseling expert, so I'll just be talking to her.

"This is my go-to family restaurant. It's delicious and they have a great menu." (Jane)

"Really? Is it because it's close to the association's... dorms?" (Shizuku)

"Yeah, that's part of it. But seriously, are you sure this place is okay?"

"I don't usually go to family restaurants. It's unusual."

She, and many others, stay in the association's dorms because they have no home to return to or live far away. There are also several other spaces available for overnight stays at the association headquarters. She said she had no memory, but it seems she's the same.

"I'll bring the drinks. What would you two like?" (Jane)

"I'll have apple juice." (Shizuku)

"Could I have a vegetable juice, please?" (Chinatsu)

"Okay, please wait a moment!" (Jane)

Dressed in a boyish outfit of khaki chinos and a hoodie, she walked towards the drink bar.

"She's a good girl, a kind girl." (Shizuku)

"Yeah, that's right." (Chinatsu)

She was very considerate, bright, and cheerful. She didn't seem like the type of girl to bottle things up... but the fact that such a girl had erased her own memories was certain.

"Sorry for the wait. Hmm, Satellite-san, normally, you're not like this... you're not all sparkly, are you?" (Jane)

"Well, the TV crew comes here sometimes. But even so, if I always like that... well, you know?" (Shizuku)

I live my life using three different faces: my everyday self, my magical girl persona, and my school self. I play the role of my ideal self and enjoy the contrast...but that's irrelevant right now. I think everyone has that side to them, to a greater or lesser degree.

"Here's your hamburger combo lunch, sorry to keep you waiting." (Waiter)

"Oh, that's mine! Please give it to me." (Jane)

Even her taste in clothes and food is kind of boyish, or something like that. It's not uncommon these days, but she was a type I don't usually see around, so it felt refreshing.

I twirled the spaghetti around and brought it to my mouth. Indeed, considering this is a family restaurant owned and operated by an individual in the heart of Tokyo, the taste is quite delicious.

"But why did you contact me? It's an honor to be contacted by Satellite-san, but..." (Jane)

"I heard you helped me out during the Kaminagi Sou... Hm, Kaminagi Something incident, and I really wanted to thank you." (Shizuku)

"Something... Ah, Kaminagi Souichiro thing? Oh, that was work, so don't worry about it!" (Jane)

Well, it wasn't entirely a lie. If we couldn't erase his memory, we'd have to erase his existence. Sending him to the demon world would leave no evidence too, that's another option.

"I wanted to thank you too, you know. Because of my position, my job is to take care of Magical Girls who have 'that kind of thing' happened to them... but I can't defeat the External Enemies." (Jane)

"That's exactly what I should be thanking you for. There are so many Magical Girls who have been saved thanks to you, Jane." (Shizuku)

"Is... is that so? It really pains me to think of the people I couldn't save..." (Jane)

According to Squire, there are two paths for Magical Girls who have been abducted by External Enemies.

One is to have their memories erased and return to their normal lives. The other is... to end their journey as they wished.

"Magical girls aren't gods. We're just ordinary humans... I think all we can do is be grateful for the life we've been given." (Shizuku)

"I know that too..." (Jane)

Even with a strong wish, no magical girl has yet been able to resurrect the dead. And I don't think there ever will be one. Magic is a miraculous power, but we are still just humans.

Even so, that's a very powerful ability.

Squire's Magic, which prevents her from forgetting, and Jane's Magic, which makes people forget.

I wonder what the result would be. They've probably tried it before...

"To perform memory erasure on a Magical Girl, I need the subject's consent, you know? Or else, something will likely try to repel my Magic" (Jane)

"Incidentally, I couldn't forget. Probably because of my constitution and other factors." (Chinatsu)

They gave me the answer to the question I had been thinking about earlier. Since it had no effect on perfect memory, does that mean her Magic gradually erases memories? Or perhaps it's just that it's making it difficult to remember... No, it's probably rude to speculate too much about someone's magic.

★

We finished lunch, chatting at a moderate pace. Feeling pleasantly full, we left the restaurant, the stark contrast between the air-conditioned interior and the outside temperature made us wince.

"But seriously, was it really okay for you to treat me to lunch?" (Jane)

"It's fine, it's fine, I was the one who invited you." (Shizuku)

"Thanks, I really appreciate it!" (Jane)

She was so happy that I treated her to lunch. This was despite the fact that, given her job, she must be earning a considerable amount.

"Well, shall we part ways then? Thank you, I had a great time today!" (Jane)

"Yeah, see you later!" (Shizuku)

She waved goodbye to me and walked away, remaining a very pleasant person until the very end.

We both watched her retreating figure.

Once her back was out of sight, I opened my mouth to continue the conversation.

"I'm glad Nacchan has friends she's close to other than me."

"Yeah, but... I still felt scared when talking to stranger. It's a normal reaction for a person. It can't be helped..."

It seems that having your innermost feelings laid bare is quite stressful for an ordinary person. And knowing that, even now, seems like a lot of trouble.

"So, about Jane..."

After talking with her, I realized that there's no need to do anything special for her. Whatever happened in the past, if she's happy now, that's all that matters. It's okay to forget things you want to forget; there's no need to confront everything and live with it.

"Yeah. If that were all, I would have left it as it was. But there's one fatal... misunderstanding." (Chinatsu)

"Misunderstanding? From our conversation, I didn't get a strange impression..." (Shizuku)

She was probably hesitant to say anything; it's not a good idea to spread rumors about the depths of someone's heart. The fact that she decided to talk to me despite all that must be because she trusts me. Of course, I have no intention of spreading rumors either.

"She seems so cheerful, yet she doesn't want to meet people. Even worse, she unconsciously tries to erase her own existence from other people's memories. The reason for this is missing."

Not based on memory or experience, but instinctively, she doesn't want people to remember her existence...?

How much experience would it take...? No, it's not right to label someone based on information that's still just speculation.

"I'm afraid that one day she... might just disappear. If it's just a baseless fear, that's fine... but at least we should remember her."

"Okay. I'll try talking to her a little, okay? We'll probably see each other for work, and I think we still don't know enough about her."

"Yes, please."

★

As we walked to the association, basking in the midsummer sun, Squire took out her smartphone and flicked something.

"By the way, this is a thank you for the bodyguard and dinner today."

As she finished using her smartphone, a LINE message rang from my pocket.

It seems she sent some kind of file or link...

"Since when did the Magical Girl Association start using LINE payments? I'm so out of touch, I didn't know."

"It's the wave of the times. We should keep updating."

She said, making a V-shape with her fingers, but her expression was somewhat awkward.

Lately, she's been playing along with jokes like this; I'm so glad she's become more emotionally expressive. But what could that gift be...? Well, it's probably not actual cash, but I'm still curious about what's inside.

"That being said..."

"Hmm, what's wrong?"

"It makes me uneasy to see Shizuku getting along with other girls."

"But it's Squire who said, 'I'd like you to look after that girl'... How is it my fault!?"

"Squire's judgment and my feelings as Chinatsu are separate."

That's a wonderful character; I'd even say I respect her for not mixing personal and professional matters.

If only things were different...

"Sandwiches at the hotel. Shizuku, do you prefer the big ones?"

"Sandwich....Wha-How did you know... no, that was a stupid question."

"Hey, answer me? Depending on your answer, I'll... try my best."

Saying that, Chinatsu emphasized her chest, but it was flat.

But while big, bouncy breasts are wonderful... there's definitely a charm to flat breasts too. For example, the surface area when you hug, or how you can clearly hear the heartbeat. The fact that you can completely cover them with your hands is also kind of erotic in its own way.

...I felt like something was off, but I guess it's just my imagination.

"So, shall we... take a nap?"

As Chinatsu said that, looking up at me with her eyes, my heart skipped a beat.

What's wrong?

What's been so strange lately...?

It's been like this ever since we went on our trip.

I need to reply to her first.

Well? Napping together at the middle of the day... surely okay, right?

"...Yes."

"Great! Then, let's go to my room, shall we?"　

...It's okay, right?