Chapter 14: The Ever-Positive Angel Is in Charge of the Magical Girl's Mental Care

What a Magical Girl Wishes For

Three days can be short or long, depending on perspective.

It all depends on how the person spends them.

If someone devotes themselves to something, three days will pass in the blink of an eye.

But if they merely drift through, wasting time, those same days could feel like an eternity.

In that sense, Yoo Seo-ah, whose attention was completely on me, would probably feel the time pass far more quickly than I would.

…If only the time would literally fly by too, that’d be nice.

You know what I mean, right? That thing.

The one that only needs 14 phrases but somehow includes rhinoceros beetles 4 times.

Like that priest who suddenly awakens with glowing eyes while floating outside the window sill.

(TL: I think this is a reference to Jorge Joestar, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Over Heaven)

Ah, well, maybe that’s a bit too fast. I’m not exactly trying to see a world one second ahead, after all.

Anyway, I digress.

Back to the point: after I told Yoo Seo-ah I’d do anything she asked, the very first thing she requested was…

“Sniff…”

…to hug my wings tight and smell them.

…Sounds like a joke, right? I thought it was a joke too.

“Huff… U-um, S-Seo-ah? I think it’s… haah… about time you—nghh!”

“Just a little longer… just a bit more…”

With her entranced voice and her breath brushing over me, I trembled from the ticklish warmth.

It's just breathing — no big deal, right? I mean, people breathe hard when they run too.

The problem isn’t the breath itself.

…It’s the fact that she’s so close that I can clearly feel her breath.

Once or twice? Sure, understandable. I get it.

But every breath? At this range? Even I have limits, okay?

Not that I hated it. No, not at all.

It’s just… this sense of pressure is different from the desire to shower someone with affection.

“Snfff… Haaah… Angel wings smell so good…”

“Uuuuh… Ahh! Seo-ah! That tickles…!”

She hugged me from behind and took a deep breath like...

I’d say like someone chain-smoking, but this was more like she was snorting drugs or something.

…Is comparing this to drugs too inappropriate for a magical girl?

Alright then, let’s call it an oxygen tank instead.

With every breath, it was sniff sniff like she was using a medical mask.

“Maybe it’s because you fly around so much… but they smell warm. Like a blanket dried in the sun…”

“D-Do you like it that much?”

“Yeah… Honestly, if I could, I’d sniff this all day…”

It was a bit overwhelming, sure, but if she enjoyed it that much, what could I say?

Besides, I did say I’d do anything.

No way I’m backing out now.

“Hmm…”

And thinking about how this usually strong, composed girl was clinging to me like a baby… it was honestly kind of cute.

“Are you comfortable?”

“Your wings are thick and fluffy…”

“That’s good to hear. Fufu.”

It felt like I was taking care of a giant baby.

Once that thought crossed my mind, the sense of pressure vanished.

Instead, I started wondering if there was anything else I could do for her.

Then, it hit me.

‘Doesn’t Seraphim have three pairs of wings?’

If just one pair of wings made her this happy, wouldn’t three make her happiness triple?

"Seo-ah? Could you stand up for just a moment?"

"Aren’t you supposed to do whatever I want for three days? I’m not satisfied yet."

She glared at me and let out a low, growly protest like a child about to have her favorite doll taken away. It was so cute, I couldn’t help but chuckle and shake my head.

"I’m not taking anything away. I just want to make you feel even better, so please stand up for a second."

"…Okay."

Seo-ah got up with a pout, like she wanted to see just how impressive this was going to be.

I got off the bed and stretched my body a bit.

'Wait. Now that I think about it... I don’t actually know how to bring out more wings.'

Hmm… Maybe I can do it like I did with the clone earlier?

Or is there some trick I’m not aware of?

Up until now, everything just worked when I wanted it to. So I’d never had to think about it.

‘Okay, let’s give it a try.’

Rather than growing new wings, it felt more like unsealing ones that were already there.

Unlike when I made gold or that weird living plushie—which felt like creating something from nothing—

This felt more like retrieving something from inside me.

It’s like the difference between grabbing an object off a shelf and fishing something out of deep water.

Yeah, a surprisingly big difference.

"Uuuh…"

After a while, I felt a strange sensation around my shoulder blades and waist, and then, with a soft flutter! sound, two more pairs of wings appeared.

I was worried that the added wings would increase my weight, but thankfully, that didn’t happen.

I guess that meant they were already factored into my total mass somehow.

"Ta-da! Extra fluff, extra comfort!"

"Whoa…"

As I grinned and spread my wings, Yoo Seo-ah approached me as if she were hypnotized and hugged me tightly from behind.

It was a little suffocating, but it wasn't particularly unpleasant, so I just let her hug me.

And after that?

Things were pretty much the same as before.

More sniffing of wings, more hugging me like I was a teddy bear, and sleeping curled up together.

Isn’t that dangerous to sleep together, you ask?

Well… if she were hugging me facing me, yeah, I’d say it was a bit dangerous.

But it was just her spooning me from behind, so it’s okay!

Barely safe!

Anyway, that's what happened on the first day.

At this rate, I figured the rest of the days would go by without issue.

That well-founded confidence filled me.

…Until the next day, when Yoo Seo-ah returned from fighting a monster, covered in blood and dirt.

"Let’s take a bath together."

"…Hwaa?"

And just like that, my confidence crumbled.

W-Wait, from being a pseudo-teddy bear to suddenly taking a bath together... Isn't this too fast?!

"Y-You mean… you want me to help you with your ablutions, right…?"

"I mean, we’ll wash together. And get in the tub together."

"Uhhh… W-Well, the tub might feel a little cramped with my wings, you know?"

"It’s fine. My tub’s huge. And besides, you haven’t taken a single bath since you came here. Don’t you think it’s about time?"

The way she was trying to gently persuade me made something in me snap a little.

"Angels don’t need to go to the bathroom or bathe, okay!?"

"It’s about feeling clean."

"Th… That’s… well, I guess you have a point…"

I’d been too distracted to think about it, but when it comes to feeling fresh, I couldn’t really argue.

It’s just basic human (or angelic?) desire, after all.

Still… is it really okay for me to bathe together with Seo-ah…?

Even if I’m agender now, I used to be a guy. So… is it really forgivable for me to share a bath with a girl?

Or if it’s something Seo-ah truly wants… then maybe fulfilling her wish is more important?

"...Do you not want to bathe with me?"

...How am I supposed to say no when she makes that face, covered in blood and dirt?

"...Alright. Sure, let’s bathe together."

"Yay!"

She smiled brightly like a black retriever who had just been told she could go in the water, then scooped me up and carried me straight into the bathroom.

Apparently, "time to mentally prepare" wasn’t part of the plan. Yoo Seo-ah was holding me tight, dragging me into the bath before I could even protest.

It goes without saying, but Seo-ah, who assumes I’m just another girl, threw off her clothes without a shred of hesitation.

And watching that happen…

...I was genuinely surprised that I didn't feel anything at all.

‘Is this what it means to be agender...?’

It wasn’t that my Eros drive had been completely erased, more like it had been dimmed to a whisper.

I can still feel pleasure, but I don’t actively seek it out anymore?

Yeah. Like that.

‘Guess this won’t be a problem.’

I smiled contentedly and slowly took off my own clothes, following Seo-ah’s lead.

Though, to be honest, I was only wearing this long-sleeved, old-fashioned one-piece dress anyway, so there's not much to take off.

"Can you take it off yourself? Your wings make it a little tricky, don’t they?"

"It’s okay! I can do it on my own!"

Come on, I’m not a kid. I can handle taking off one piece of clothing, right?

Just fold the wings a bit and pull it over my head like a T-shirt, and—

Wait. No, uh... like this...?

Or like that...? Uh oh?

"Do you need help?"

"...Please help me."

With Seo-ah’s help, I finally got undressed — and for the first time, I got to really look at my own bare body.

I’d expected something like a smooth, featureless doll body since I was agender now, or maybe something ambiguous with both sets of anatomy, but...

‘I’m just a woman.’

Everything that "should" be there on a woman’s body was there.

Just... without the sex drive behind it.

I only took a moment to admire my body before setting my halo aside with my clothes and stepping into the bath.

"...Wait. That thing… it’s removable?"

"Huh? What thing?"

"That, uh... thing floating above your head..."

At her words, I glanced in the mirror and sure enough, the halo above my head was gone.

Oh. Right. I just set it down with my clothes a second ago.

"...Why is it removable, though?"

"How would I know?"

A chill ran down my spine, and I instinctively shuddered as I reached over and set the halo back on my head.

Thankfully, the moment I let go, it floated perfectly into place as if it had never left.

‘So it really is detachable...’

If I could remove the halo, maybe I could retract my wings too?

Curious, I focused for a moment and my wings slowly melted back into my body.

"Oooh..."

With my body feeling way lighter, I twisted and turned to check myself out, glancing in the mirror to see my back.

For a second I thought maybe I’d see some kind of mystical tattoo or something left behind, but nope, it's just smooth, regular skin.

"All done getting ready!"

"You can tuck your wings in, too?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Though I can’t fly once they’re in."

That explained the odd heaviness earlier — I couldn’t stay aloft at all.

I had just realized that myself, but I tried to play it cool and answered casually as if I’d known all along.

"Alright then, shall we hop in?"

"Yes!"

Smiling sweetly, I followed Seo-ah into the bathroom.

"I’ll wash you squeaky clean."

And with those words—

Click.

The bathroom door closed behind us.

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TL Note: Ehehe, next chapter's gonna be fluffy bath scene~~

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