Chapter 25: Is it because of my mood?

The woman asked if I was a fan of Scarlet, not Scarlet Lily.

A name fading into obscurity.
It briefly trended but is now mentioned less, officially listed as a deceased magical girl.

Before answering, I studied her closely.

Maybe a local, given her casual attire.

A feminine figure with a slim waist.
Her legs, visible under her skirt, were slender and graceful.

She looked mid-20s, though probably closer to 30—youthful for her age.

“A Scarlet fan, I guess…”

Even after ten years, I recognized her instantly.

Spica.

Finally reunited.

Suppressing overwhelming emotions, I was about to reveal myself when—

“Mom, her hair’s pink!”

A girl, maybe seven, stared at me curiously.

Fresh into elementary school.
She’d just called Spica “Mom.”

“Guess she’s a Scarlet or Scarlet Lily fan,” Spica said with a gentle smile.

I froze.

Oh no, what now?

“…Yeah, a Scarlet fan.”

Big mistake.
I passed as someone else.

Seeing her with a daughter, I couldn’t bring myself to say I’m Scarlet.

“Not Lily, but Scarlet?”

“Yeah.”

Both are me, but claiming to be a fan of the active Lily felt off.

“I’ll sit here and rest. Wanna play?” Spica said to her daughter, who nodded and ran to the playground.

She gestured to the bench.

“Got time to chat?”

“Sure.”

Time’s no issue, but the situation got awkward fast.

Still, I came to meet Spica—can’t back out now.

“I’m a Scarlet fan too. So excited to meet another,” she said as we sat.

“What do you like about her?”

“All magical girls are, but she’s strong, just, and above all, cute.”

“Ugh.”

Excluding my ten years in the demon world, my magical girl career’s long.

I’m used to “cute,” but hearing it from Spica hit hard.

“Oh, you okay?”

“It’s nothing, don’t worry.”

I took a deep breath.

My own mess.
Steeling myself, I continued.

“Don’t like Stella or Spica?”

“I do! First-gens and all magical girls, really.”

She answered nonchalantly.

“What do you think about Spica disappearing?”

“Dunno. She had her reasons.”

“Got tired of being a magical girl?”

“Nah.”

Spica cut me off firmly, then added with a shy smile:

“I mean, her personality didn’t seem like that. Spica looked happy.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’d bet on it. Not her, but still.”

You’re literally her.

The words nearly slipped out, but I swallowed them.

“Is she happy now?”

“I’d like to think so.”

“Then why quit?”

She wasn’t weakening.
It was her prime.

She left at her peak, barely savoring it.

Now I know it’s because she started a family, but maybe my disappearance played a role.

“When the time came,” Spica said.

“What time?”

“Time to step back. She trusted the second-gens to take over. Results were… mixed.”

So it wasn’t about me.

Now, multiple generations are active, but Spica might’ve thought stepping aside let the next ones shine.

Worried her shadow would eclipse them.

“Mom, I wanna go home.”

Spica’s daughter approached, already bored with the playground.

“Ended up just talking about Spica. Nice meeting you,” Spica said, standing.

“Wait!”

I stopped her as she turned to leave.

Pulling out my phone, I held it out.

“Can we exchange numbers?”

“With me?”

“I’m glad to meet a Scarlet fan too… It’s fate.”

Spica blinked, then smiled.

“Sure.”

We swapped numbers and parted.

“See you again.”

With a hint of reunion, Spica left with her daughter.

I stared blankly at her retreating figure.

I didn’t reveal I’m Scarlet.

What a spineless move!
Too timid to say it, how pathetic!

I wanted to berate myself, but it was a deliberate choice.

Spica has a daughter.
Married early, judging by the seven-year-old.

She didn’t say it, but I can piece it together.

Met her spouse around retirement, maybe.
Wanted privacy for romance, perhaps.

Having a kid might’ve forced her to quit.

She had to graduate.
I think that’s right.

Even if she fought nearby monsters last time, getting hurt or dying would be disastrous.

With reliable juniors around, it’s even more reason.

So today, I didn’t fail to reveal myself—I chose not to.

I didn’t want to disrupt her peaceful life.

But I got her number, so we can meet again.

After I retire, maybe.

As regular people, not magical girls.

We’ll catch up on ten years’ worth of stories, leisurely.

My steps home were light.

A half-reunion, but my heart felt clear.

“She’s living a new life.”

Or maybe reclaimed it.
The first-gen Armo forced our contracts.

I worried she resented me, like Yena suggested, but it seems not.

Confirming our friendship was reward enough.

[Haeun: Met Spica? How was she? Still cool and cute?]

Haeun messaged, eager for details after I mentioned visiting our old hideout.

[Lily: She wasn’t there. Just killed time and heading back.]
[Haeun: So disappointing!]
[Lily: You wanted to meet her that bad?]
[Haeun: Duh! She’s my idol!]

Hurts to lie when she’s this hyped.
I’ll introduce them after I retire.

[Lily: Bet it’d be fun. You two are kinda alike.]
[Haeun: Really? That’s huge praise!]
[Lily: Wasn’t a compliment.]
[Haeun: Argh!]

Haeun sent an angry emoji.

I pocketed my phone and kept walking.

Recalling my talk with Spica, something nagged me.

“Felt like she recognized me…”

In magical girl mode, I use perception-blocking magic.

In civilian mode, it’s off.

No way she’d know me, but given the place, did she guess it was me?
Pink hair’s not that common.

Like Aurora Lora, who grilled Frozen Princess to learn my identity, Spica’s sharp too.

Hmm… I’m not being played, am I?

Then, a college girl walking toward me caught my eye.

Blue hair, stylish fashion.
Her outfit was striking, but that hair screamed magical girl.

“Maybe pink-haired civilians exist.”

A girl stared up at a giant billboard on a busy street.

An idol in a magical girl outfit advertised a product.

Flashy CG effects dazzled.

“Acting like you’d fall to evil, then chickening out.”

Not aimed at the idol, but Reaper Mors.

She was invited to the banquet but didn’t follow orders.

Despite dropping Angelic Luna, she helped magical girls as a “hero of justice.”

“If not for Scarlet Lily, we’d have succeeded.”

The girl clicked her tongue, annoyed.

The plan was for a dinosaur-like monster to devastate Korea that day.

An unexpected variable—Scarlet Lily—ruined it.

She even turned Reaper Mors.

All their preparations went down the drain.

“I won’t forgive her.”

Wasting the Dark Magical Gem stung, but she wouldn’t just take it.

She pulled out her phone and made a call.

“It’s me. Can we move the schedule up? I’m confident. Yeah, this week.”

After a brief exchange, she hung up.

A mischievous smirk spread across her face.

“Time to really stir things up.”