CH 112

Chapter 3 — Dry scrape, burn and perforate! • Episode 3–4 — Witch Cup ⑰

Translated by KaiesV

Edited by KaiesV

The Magic Bureau and the tower apartment aren’t that far apart, but I couldn’t afford to be late in case I was, so I flew at full speed and managed to arrive five minutes early.

I could have unlocked the door and entered the room as it was my room, but there were Elephant-san and others in the room, and I didn’t want to startle them, so I pressed the intercom.

『Okay—』

「Uhh, this is Sylph.」

It seems it was Elephant-san who answered the door, and I follow her words to come in and enter the house through the front door.

As I continued down the hallway and opened the door leading to the living room, a popping sound rang in my ears and colorful elongated papers and bright, small pieces of paper landed on my head.

「「「「「「「Congratulations on winning—!!!」」」」」」」

「Eh? Ah, is this…?」

The room was filled with four magical girls from Sakira Town and three from Junkoi Town, not including me, each holding a cracker pointed at me.

The room is decorated with origami rings, and party food such as cake and chicken is laid out on the desk.

And there is Elephant-san. I haven’t seen her since that day.

「Congratulations on your victory, Sylph-chaaaaahn!」

「Ex–paisen did a great job too!」

「This is a surprise party to celebrate and to thank both of you two for your hard work.」

「I also got to celebrate with a cracker a while ago, and it wasn’t bad, as if I was the star of the show!」

「I think the star of the show this time is Tyrant Sylph…」

「I don’t mind about the details, don’t mind. Come on, come on, Sylph-san, don’t stand there like that, come here, come here! There’s an available seat for you!」

「Hehe, ahh, you’re just as good as they say you are, Wind Witch-sama. Even I, your servant, am proud of you.」

「I don’t remember making you a servant… Everyone, thank you very much. I’m sure you had a hard time getting ready just now, didn’t you?」

I didn’t expect them to have prepared such a celebration, so I was taken aback and didn’t respond very well. I had never been to a party like this before, and I wasn’t sure how I should have reacted.

However, it must have been very difficult to set up the venue and prepare the food so well when the match was only a little over two hours ago. I am honestly happy to think that they went to such trouble for me and for Extend-san.

「We’ve been making decorations and stuff for a while now, so it’s not that hard!」

「We didn’t have much time, so most of the food ended up being store-bought.」

「I tasted it and everything was delicious! Here, Syl-chan, let’s eat, let’s eat.」

「T–Thank you very much. Itadakimasu.」

I accept a plate and fork from Press-san, who pushes the cake toward my mouth as if to say “ahhh” and eat it by myself.

Yes, it is delicious. Blade-san said that it came from a store, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all, because I don’t imagine that amateurs can make cakes and pastries, let alone cook them.

「Sylph-chan, this one is delicious too. Okay, ahhhn.」

「Eh, uhh, my hands are full right now… I mean, the amount…」

「Ahhhn」

「A–Ahhn…」

Elephant-san, who has moved to the seat next to me on the opposite side of the room from Press-san, smiles and laughs and slowly brings a fork with a large chunk of cake on it closer to me, without question. Feeling some strange sense of power and unable to resist, I opened my large mouth and chewed the cake that was stuffed into my mouth.

It was very difficult to eat, or rather, I got cake all over my mouth, but it was delicious.

「Mmph, Sylph-chan. You’ve got cake all over your mouth.」

As I silently chewed the mouthful of cake, Elephant-san began wiping around my mouth with a paper napkin. I naturally tried to resist such child-like treatment, but my hands are blocked and I can’t open my mouth, so there is nothing I can do.

I mean, this happened because Elephant-san was reckless and packed a lot in one go, so why am I being treated like I’m a bad eater? I don’t mind if Elephant-san seems to be enjoying herself.

「It’s rare for Shadow-san to attend a gathering like this.」

「Ah, I just have to tell you something…」

When my mouth was finally empty, I asked a question that occurred to me, and Shadow-san bristled and mumbled and looked away. Is she doing something wrong again? If it seems to involve Elephant-san, then a purge is in order.

「No, it’s not that bad or anything, right? I’m just wondering if it’s a good idea to talk about this kind of thing out of the blue in a place like this…」

「Are you referring to the newcomer in Sakira Town by any chance?」

「Ahh, it seems that you knew. Yes, I did, but the fairy asked me to do something for her. Can I take care of her?」

「What are you talking about? Fairy for a newcomer?」

「I’ve never heard of it either.」

「Tsk-tsk-tsk, you both have very narrow antennas. You should always be gathering information.」

Blade-san seems to know what he is talking about, but Elephant-san, like me, doesn’t seem to know what she is talking about.

To us, Shadow-san showed us the Magiphone screen while waving her raised index finger from side to side.

There was a list of magical girls belonging to Sakira Town displayed there, and in order from top to bottom, there were Elephant-san, Blade-san, Press-san, myself, Shadow-san, and finally Succubus, some kind of bewitching name.

「Magical Girl Succubus?」

「Yeah-yeah, A Magical Girl of Dreams. I thought she was working alone, but Shado-chan was taking care of her!」

「But Shadow-san was supposed to be working with Elephant, right?」

「This newcomer was added only recently, but it just so happened that Elephant-san couldn’t make it, and a fairy pushed her to join us… However, I don’t want to split the existing team and have her worry about us, so I will be working with her from now on. I’d like to ask the four of you to continue to work together as before.」

「Is it still difficult for you to fight with us, Shadow-san?」

「As I told Elephant-san the other day, I am not good at group activities. Even if I can stand it, two people are my limit. Well, Sakira Town was still slightly understaffed, and this is finally just right. Let’s work well together as separate teams, shall we?」

For my part, I don’t care whether the newcomer and Shadow-san work together or join our team, but this means that Elephant-san will be back, right? That’s how it is, isn’t it?

「I hate to say it, but I don’t think a new Magical Girl can be counted on to be a serious contender. Can you say a team of two?」

「Well, that’s true, but I could at least call for help or carry her and run away. I wouldn’t challenge such a superior person in the first place. In fact, even after I started working with Elephant-san, I’m basically fighting alone.」

「…Is that so?」

「Yeah. If I get involved, Shadow-san’s share will decrease, so if nothing happens, I’ll basically keep an eye on her. I’ve never had anything happen to me before, so I’m just supposed to keep an eye on her all the time.」

「Heh, then why not? Instead of letting Ele-chan play, we can strengthen our coordination and gain experience against stronger Diests, so why not have her come back?」

「Uhm, I agree with Press-san’s idea.」

Since Elephant-san originally made the decision to help Shadow-san, I can’t speak too strongly against that action, but I will make my point in a modest way. If it’s a majority decision, it’s as if it has already been decided.

「…」

Blade-san is looking at me in response to my whispered comment. Somehow, I feel like I’m being watched. What did I do!? I just said the same as Press-san, why am I the only one being stared at!?

「I understand. I have no objection. What about you, Elephant?」

「Hmmm, I’d like to meet Succubus-chan, but I guess I agree with Press about the team. Shadow-san, you say you’re not very strong, but you are.」

「I don’t think so, though. Well, I guess that settles it then.」

That was the end of the discussion about organizing the team, and from there the topic moved on to the new Magical Girl. Apparently, she is almost the same age as my outward appearance in terms of age, and she is the type of person who has a fascination with Magical Girls.

「Excuse me, I have to go to the toilet.」

I listened to them until about halfway through, but the realization that I would be able to fight with Elephant-san again and see her a lot again gradually began to sink in, and I decided to evacuate once my cheeks were almost loose with happiness. I don’t want people to see me smirking.

I go out into the hallway and close the door that connects to the living room, then attempt to rub the corners of my mouth, which tend to hang up, to get back to a serious expression.

「What are you doing?」

「Fueeh!?」

I was suddenly accosted by this person, who had approached me without a sound before I knew it, and I let out a strange scream from surprise. I knew by her voice that I didn’t need to see her face, but when I turned around, I knew that Elephant-san was there.

「Sylph-chan, your cheeks are so soft and smooth. Do you want to squirm?」

「Hyah!? E–Elefanho-hyan!? Pweash stoph thish!」

「Ahaha, I don’t know what you’re saying.」

Before I had time to make any excuses, Elephant-san grabbed my cheeks with both hands and started squeezing them. I asked her to stop because this was embarrassing to me, but it seems that I am not pronouncing the words properly and Elephant-san doesn’t seem to understand my intention.

「M–Mmph, I told you to stop already!」

「Is that so? Sorry, did you hated it?」

I managed to escape from the munching attack by backing away while grabbing Elephant-san’s arm and complaining a little, but I can’t say I didn’t like it when a shuffling Elephant-san asked me that.

「I–I don’t hate it, but I’m embarrassed, so you can’t do it anymore!」

「Eh, how unlucky. So, what’s wrong?　You weren’t in the toilet, were you?」

「It’s not really a big reason.」

It’s nice to tell Elephant that I’m glad she’s back, but I’m too embarrassed to say that I had to sit out until she calmed down because that would have loosened my cheeks.

「But more importantly, Elephant-san, there is one thing I wanted to tell you.」

I’m a pushover for Elephant-san and I can’t say no to Elephant-san if she presses me too hard, so let’s get off the subject. It’s just the two of us now, and I wanted to tell her as soon as possible, so it’s convenient for me.

「…What is it?」

「I’m talking about my original appearance. Elephant-san, you helped me make up my mind.」

If Elephant-san hadn’t told me to face Futaba properly, I would probably still be running away from her. I had no idea that Futaba was a Magical Girl or that she was suffering.

The fact that I am able to continue being a Magical Girl like this now, and the fact that I was able to obtain the magic medicine, it’s all thanks to Elephant-san.

That’s why I want you to know about it, Elephant-san.

「I’ve been worrying about it for a long time. I wondered what I should do when this battle was over. I wanted to be friends with the first friend I finally made, and I wanted to stay friends with you, so it would have been better to stay the way I was, but I never completely stopped wanting things to go back to the way they were…」

I knew it deep down inside, but I was afraid to face it, so I looked away. That’s why I didn’t understand. Why do I want to go back to being a man forever? Why do I keep trying to go back to those hard and painful days?

「I, I wanted to start over with my family. So I always wanted to get back together. I wanted to be the real me, and I wanted to be with my family again.」

I will miss you.

I don’t want to leave.

I don’t, want to…

——■■■■■■

No, but I’ve already had my fill of courage.

「When that battle is over, I——」

「Sorry, Sylph-chan.」

Before I could finish, something soft covered my mouth.

It was only a moment, over in the blink of an eye, but I froze as if I had been cursed to turn to stone and couldn’t speak the rest of the words.

Kiss, I’ve been kissed…?

「Heh? Eh!? Ah, w–why…?」

I can see myself getting redder and redder in the face. It’s hot and I can’t stop sweating strangely.

「I like you, Sylph-chan. I love you. I want to make you my own. I don’t want to give you to anyone. Even if it’s your family, Sylph-chan. That’s why, Sylph-chan…」

I take a step or two backward as Elephant-san slowly approaches, but soon I hit the wall and Elephant-san’s face gradually gets closer.

I don’t know why I’m trying to escape from Elephant-san, but I turn over and close my eyes, thinking that she will kiss me again.

In my ear, Elephant-san whispered to me.

「I’ll make you go crazy for me.」

When I opened my eyes, Elephant-san had her back to me and was about to return to the living room.

「You can count on it!」

The smile she showed me as she turned around saying that was as usual, and I don’t sense the slightly odd air she had earlier.

W–What does this mean～～～～～!?