Chapter 49

After a brief commotion.

Garnet hesitated, as if questioning whether it was really okay to leave like this, unable to easily take a step forward.

No, I told you it’s really okay to go, right?

“I don’t know who you really are, but I’ll never forget this favor.”

“Yeah, yeah, I really hope you do.”

“…Are you really okay with letting me go like this?”

Why is this human being so clingy? I said it’s okay to go, right?

Despite barging into the hospital room and causing a scene with a sword, it seemed like they couldn’t stand just receiving without giving.

These kinds of humans are the most annoying, the most annoying.

‘Ah, right. I just thought of a fun place to use this guy.’

“If you really want to repay the favor I did for you, could you do me one favor?”

“…What kind of favor?”

“It’s a story that should be quite appealing to you too.”

As I raised the corner of my mouth at the amusing thought, tension spread across Garnet’s face.

It was an expression that seemed to say she didn’t know what unreasonable request I might make, but honestly, it wasn’t an unreasonable request at all.

In fact, it would be good for Garnet.

“You were looking for the whereabouts of a suspicious man with narrow eyes, right?”

“…!! Do you know?!”

“Well—yes, he’s alive. I saw him with my own two eyes, so I can be sure.”

“So he was alive after all, that guy…”

It seemed like Garnet had some grudges against that Curs guy.

That despair-filled collar around her neck was clearly the work of that Curs guy.

“I’m going to look for him around dawn tomorrow, want to come with me?”

“What…?”

“You can do whatever you want with him after we find him. It’s okay to kill him.”

“…”

There’s always something thrilling about watching a Magical Girl fight a monster.

Especially a fight between Curs and a Magical Girl who hates Curs.

‘I’m already excited, heh…’

I reflexively covered my mouth as a sinister laugh threatened to escape.

I wonder what kind of spectacular fight Garnet will put up against Curs.

Both of them had previously put holes in my body, so I was even more excited.

Of course, Curs would have the advantage in a direct fight, but what if Garnet ambushed him?

My heart started racing at the combat simulation running through my head.

“Can you win?”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Well, you’ll probably know what I mean by tomorrow.”

I chuckled as I watched Garnet tilt her head in confusion.

Garnet had only seen Curs in his human form, so it was highly unlikely she would recognize him immediately.

His voice was different too, probably because his vocal cords changed when his human head turned into a monster’s.

“Now, go ahead.”

As I opened the window, the cool dawn breeze flowed into the hospital room.

I was definitely in a bad mood when I got stabbed, but now I felt somewhat cheerful.

‘Is it because I ate despair?’

Hmm, it’s true that people get less irritable when they’re full.

Nodding at the obvious fact, I saw Garnet off.

See you tomorrow, Magical Girl.

***

“What on earth is that guy…”

Garnet sighed and lightly touched the wound where the monster—no, Akari—had bitten her.

It hurt, but not that much.

It was a gentle bite, to the point where anyone would think she had controlled her strength.

…I don’t know how biting can be gentle, though.

‘See you tomorrow, Magical Girl.’

Recalling the shape of her mouth from the last time she saw her, Garnet ruffled her hair.

One mysterious guy, the Doctor, was enough, but just when she thought she had escaped him, an even worse guy had latched onto her.

No, actually, this time it was her who had latched onto him, but still.

‘Garnet, what did I say? Double for enemies! Tenfold for favors!’

“…Senpai.”

What kind of attitude should one take towards someone who repays enmity with favor?

The events of the early morning were still vividly replaying in Garnet’s mind.

Every time she thought it might have been a dream, Akari’s face would appear.

“Freedom, huh…”

She brushed her neck, where the collar had been until just this morning.

She had thought that as long as the Doctor was alive, freedom was something she could only imagine.

But who would have thought she’d gain freedom in such an absurd way.

Ding dong— ding dong— ding dong— ding dong—

“Ah, I’m coming! I’m coming!”

In the midst of calming her troubled mind, the ringing doorbell made Garnet jump up irritably.

She didn’t know who would be ringing the doorbell this early in the morning, but she was determined to give them a piece of her mind as she roughly opened the front door.

“Hey, making noise this early in the—”

“…Senpai? Are you hurt?”

“—Peridot?”

But the person in front of Garnet wasn’t a salesman or a religious solicitor.

Peridot.

Her precious junior, someone she had to protect.

Usually, Garnet was the one who woke up early to rouse Peridot from her deep sleep, so seeing Peridot standing awkwardly at her door made her eyes widen in surprise.

“Peridot came to my house without oversleeping…?”

“Why are you surprised about that? And, the sun has been up for a long time, Senpai.”

Peridot’s eyes narrowed in annoyance.

Even with that threatening look, to Garnet, it just looked like a red panda trying to be intimidating.

“…The sun is already up?”

“Yes! You were supposed to come by now, but you didn’t, so I was really worried!”

“Sorry…”

She thought about whether she needed to apologize, but since Peridot was already angry, she decided to apologize.

More importantly, it was already this late.

She was completely out of it.

“So. What’s with that wound?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Let me see. It’s not a wound from a monster, is it?”

“I told you it’s really nothing! I disinfected it and put a bandage on it, so it’ll heal soon.”

Garnet sighed as she tried to calm Peridot, who was tugging at her clothes.

If she had known this would happen, she should have worn something around her neck.

Not knowing it was Peridot who rang the doorbell was a mistake.

“Well, anyway… this means I win, Senpai.”

“…What do you mean, win?”

“Don’t you remember? You definitely said, ‘If I wake up later than you, I’ll grant you one wish!'”

“Ah.”

She definitely remembered saying something like that, but who would have thought Peridot would still remember it.

And she had been oversleeping all this time despite remembering it.

Garnet sighed in disbelief and started pressing Peridot’s forehead.

“Sorry, but I didn’t even sleep, let alone wake up later than you.”

“I don’t know about that, but I did come to wake you up, so grant my wish!”

“…You’re not a child.”

Actually, she was a child.

A child too anxious to be left alone.

As Peridot desperately clung to her arm while her forehead was being pressed, Garnet shook her head.

There’s no way I can leave this kid and go—

“Ah.”

“What is it, Senpai?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing.”

To leave…

‘That’s right. I’m trying to leave Peridot now.’

They lived in different worlds.

Unlike the pure Peridot, she was already tainted by darkness.

With these hands, she had killed dozens of experimental subjects—no, people.

A Magical Girl, who should exist to protect people, had been harming them, so she was practically disqualified as a Magical Girl.

“…Alright. I don’t know what kind of wish it is, but if it’s something I can grant, I will.”

“Eh, can I tell you later? I haven’t thought of anything specific yet!”

“If you don’t tell me by today, the wish is canceled.”

“Eh, that’s not fair!”

“Then think quickly.”

Actually, it would have been fine to take her time.

But the reason she set the deadline for today was, well—

‘Today might be the last day I can see Peridot…’

Even if Akari’s words were lies, Garnet had no choice but to go see the Doctor.

The only person she could vent her frustrations and hatred towards for all the absurd things she had endured so far was the Doctor.

A twisted, distorted feeling that could almost be called love-hate.

That’s why she had to see it through.

No matter what, definitely.

“Ah, really! This makes me feel like the bad guy, Senpai!”

“I’m not thinking that way, so just say it. I’ll really grant it.”

“Well, um. So, you see…?”

After a brief pause, Peridot clenched her fist and made a determined expression.

What kind of wish could she be making with such a serious face?

While thinking it was probably something trivial, the seriousness made her a little nervous.

“Could you stay with me, forever—?”

“…”

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. It’s just, you know. Lately, Senpai has been showing a lack of motivation, right? So I thought, ‘Is she going to quit being a Magical Girl~?’ That’s why I’m making this wish.”

“…Haha.”

Really, she’s sharp in the most unnecessary places.

Garnet let out a hollow laugh at Peridot’s words.

As Peridot said, she was planning to quit being a Magical Girl soon.

Though she wasn’t sure in what form that would take.

“Of course, Senpai is mean and says harsh things often, but you’re still the one who cares for me the most. Ah, and there’s that saying, right? ‘Hate me one more time!’ or something…”

“…”

“So, Senpai, if you ever start to hate me, give me one more chance. If you leave without a word, I’ll be really sad.”

The green eyes she met again were filled with anxiety.

She’s sharp in the most unnecessary places, after all.

It left a slightly bitter taste in her mouth.