V4: Chapter 43: What's the Secret of That Tomboyish Girl I'm Curious About?

Chapter 43: What's the Secret of That Tomboyish Girl I'm Curious About?

Today, I'm in my room... on a certain girl's... lap.

Her hand strokes my head with a somewhat displeased expression. Her face is smiling, but her eyes are not smiling at all.

She's quite... angry.

More accurately, jealous...

"Hmph!?"

"Were you thinking something rude just now?"

"No, not at all..."

She delivers a light snapping blow to my butt. It hurts, but it feels good... no, that's not it.

She somehow found out that I went to see a movie with a girl... in fact, she knew almost everything that had happened recently.

I mean, I wasn't doing anything wrong, right?

I have absolutely no intention of hiding it...

"I heard you had a wonderful time staying overnight at the Magic Association?"

"Ugh, Chloe-chan... I'm so sorry..."

"Oh dear, if you act so scared, it makes it seem like I'm angry."

"No, you're actually angry... Hmph!?"

Chloe, with her mouth turned down in a frown, slaps my bottom every time I talk back. Ah, it's exciting to be punished like this... or is it?

"I heard that Squire and Tinkerbell ate some very interesting things."

"Uh, I'd rather you forget about that..."

"I haven't had my share either..."

"What?"

I know why she's angry. It's true that a lot has happened recently, and we haven't seen each other for about four days... but it's only four days, right?

Well, I admit I did want to see Chloe too.

"Is that really true?" (Chloe)

"Did I say that out loud?" (Shizuku)

It probably came out unconsciously. The hand stroking my head was gentle. And she seemed to be in a good mood. I shouldn't be saying this, but isn't she a little too easily coaxed?

"I know I'm being clingy, but if I don't see you for a while, I remember what it was like when you left... and I can't sleep."

"Ahhh!? I'm sorry, sorry, sorry, I'm really sorry!?"

I almost inflicted a wound that won't heal because of me. I'm truly sorry about that. I have to show my sincerity, I have to show my sincerity... It's a little awkward, but desperate times call for desperate measures...! 　

"Come on, Chloe-chan, you can pet me as much as you like!"

"It's not like I'm sulking or anything... but I suppose I have no choice..."　

I flopped down on the bed, sticking out just my fox ears and one tail. After practicing using it a bit, my supernatural powers had taken shape. And I had also started to be able to change my animal-like appearance. Now I had even evolved to the point where I could make my nose and hands look more fox-like?

I'm probably around 30% furry.　

This ability is quite profound. I'm sorry for saying I didn't need it, Shirayuri-sama...

"Kon, kon♪"　

With my adorable face, cute fox ears and tail, it's only natural that anyone would want to pet such a cute creature lying on the bed with its belly exposed.

Come on! You can spoil me to your heart's content...! 

"Are you... inviting me? You are inviting me, aren't you? This is a case of 'it would be a shame to refuse a ready-made meal'..."

"Wait, no? That's not it...♡"

Besides, it's me who'll be embarrassed if she doesn't take advantage of the ready-made meal...!

Those words didn't come out of my mouth, and I was thoroughly petted, but... somehow I managed not to lose consciousness today. It's not like I mind being petted all day, or rather, it's not good...　

Lately, regardless of the Lust Mark, I feel like I've been doing naughty things whenever I get the chance.

As a healthy middle school girl, is this acceptable?

Well, it's probably too late now, isn't it...?

★

The next day, we were heading to a residential area in Tokyo.

"After saying all that yesterday, you're talking about another woman? That's pretty audacious..."

"But I like that you're still coming along despite saying that."

"Well... I suppose I have no choice. You owe me one."

The envelope Bell handed me contained an address. That means she must have tracked down the house where Jane likely lived during that time.

What incredible initiative and searching skills! Bell might really be a genius.

I hesitated for a long time about whether to open the envelope containing information about Jane. But I decided to open it because... she seemed to want to talk to someone more.

"I won't ask too many questions, but... this is a well-considered decision, isn't it?"

"Of course, I thought about it... and it's a decision I believe I should make."

"Yes, then I won't say anything more."

Even if it was a memory so unpleasant she wanted to erase it, I felt I had to know. Otherwise... she might end up living a lonely life. Unless I understood why she unconsciously continued to avoid people, I would never find a solution.

This judgment might be wrong by general standards. But even if it means peeking into someone's hidden private life... I will do it. Because I felt I had to.

"At first glance, it looks like an ordinary house."

The address written down led to an unremarkable house.

"But even so, you can't tell anything just by looking from the outside, so I guess we have no choice but to go inside, right?"

"So... we're going to trespass? That's some incredible initiative."

From the outside, there's nothing particularly strange... but the curtains are drawn, so you can't see inside. Since the second-floor window is open, it seems possible to enter from there.

"Well, trespassing isn't anything new for me so whatever, [Ice Mirror]."

Ice Mirror is a magic that creates a mirror of ice. It's an extremely versatile magic that allows for invisibility and reconnaissance.

It's an unparalleled magic for information gathering, such as reconnaissance and infiltration. Breaking into a house with weak security is easy.

After trespassing into various places like the Kaminagi company's factory and headquarters building without permission, talking about the law now is pointless. Besides, it's impossible to prove a crime committed with magic anyway. The fact that the law doesn't apply to magical girls is terrifying when you think about it.

From here on, I can't make a sound. This is the time to use Shirayuri-sama's power.

"Well then, I'll leave it at that."

"Ah, in my head... anything is possible, isn't it..."

"All thanks to Shirayuri-sama."

Telepathy... it certainly seems like a fox god's ability... but I never thought it would be this easy to use.

["Please, I really want you to stop!"] I thought I heard a fox's voice say, but Shirayuri-sama couldn't possibly be here, so it must be my imagination.

The room with the open window seemed to be a bedroom, and now I feel incredibly sorry for having trespassed.

"There's no one in the hallway, but even so..."

"The smell of cigarettes and alcohol is really strong..."

The suffocating smell of nicotine and alcohol mixed together, cigarette butts and empty bottles scattered all over the bedroom, making it impossible to even step.

I never thought her upbringing was good, but this is the reality for girls like live Magic Alley... the kind of girls the New Star Magical Girl Association has likely rescued.

"The landlord is downstairs, Jane's room is probably... this way."

"Okay... let's go."

It would be nice if there was something that could be a clue, but even so, I have a bad feeling about this. I was prepared for it, but seeing this environment in front of me... yeah.

The door creaked open, and beyond it was a room that seemed to be used as a storage room. There was a desk and a bed, so someone must have lived there. But as a result of the memory of having lived there being erased... the room remained unnaturally untouched, just as it was.

Even if it's a close relative, the magic can completely erase memories. Seeing its effect in person... it's truly powerful. Otherwise, it might be impossible to erase the intense memories of the traumatic abuse suffered by these girls.

However, there's nothing particularly unusual in the room itself. There's no diary in the room, and the only things in the desk are a notebook and pencil case, likely used for studying. If anything, there are very few personal belongings.

I close the notebook I was flipping through and put it back in the desk drawer...?

"...How many people live in this house?"

"How many? Just adult men and women. Judging by the number of shoes, there's no sign of anyone else."

Is that... is that even possible?

If so, her attitude... is that even allowed?

Despite my unwavering denial, my thoughts calmly led to a single conclusion.

"The name written on the notebook and pencil case..."

"Yutaro...? Wait, wait a minute. There's no boy in this household...!? "

["You can just call me Jane!"]

I thought she just liked boyish clothes.

["Yeah! They're really cool..."]

I thought her boyish hobbies were just her own preference.

["Um... isn't it... kind of out of place for me to watch romance movies?"]

She reacted as if it were strange for her to enjoy a girl's hobby.

From that reaction and the name, the conclusion was that her real parents didn't acknowledge her individuality.

The Magical Girl of Memories... Jane Doe...

It turns out she was raised as a boy by her real parents.