LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 59
(An entity wearing a headpiece stands in the center of the screen.)
“Hello, it’s already December of 2011, a year filled with special events.”
Sad background music
“For the past six months, I’ve been busy making a 1/1 scale model of [Start]!”
(Countless records of failed attempts and the headpiece entity’s documentation flash by.)
(From the prototype that only replicated the chest to the high-quality full-body mannequin doll representing skin texture.)
(The headpiece entity wearing casual clothes and warmly embracing a successful model while watching the Magical Girl friendly match.)
“I stopped uploading the making of the 1/1 doll representing [Start]’s amazing body since early October.”
(The headpiece entity bows politely.)
“I got caught by my mom. The size became too large to keep in the closet, so leaving it out was my downfall.”
Even sadder background music
“…I guess it must have been very sad to see a 35-year-old living as a freeter obsessed with a hobby.”
(The headpiece entity stares blankly into the air for a moment.)
“There’s no way I can continue living as a freeter just doing what I love forever.”
“I’ve been running toward becoming a modeler since childhood, but all that’s left is this pitiful wish in the shape of a headpiece.”
(The headpiece entity bows its head.)
“I started this broadcast to update those who were looking forward to my videos… it might turn out to be my last personal broadcast.”
Grand background music
“…Because starting next year, I’ll continue working as a designer for a large silicone doll manufacturing company to fulfill your dreams.”
(The headpiece entity shakes hands with the president of the silicone doll company and signs a contract.)
(The headpiece entity sits in a conference room as an official designer with other company presidents.)
(The headpiece entity silently points at the screen.)
“…In February next year, if you send me your dreams and hopes written out on our website’s estimate form, I will dedicate myself to making them come true.”
(A close-up of the headpiece entity.)
“…Your girlfriend, your favorite.”
＊
122: Anonymous 2011/12/20
＼(´^q^｀)/ Oh no, I failed again. My favorite Magical Girl lost again. She didn’t even make it past the preliminaries.
123: Anonymous 2011/12/20
122<< Just go and give her a nadenade ww
124: Anonymous 2011/12/20
I’m already getting nadenade (cash) from a big company… Do you think they’ll pay attention to my fan letter…?
125: Anonymous 2011/12/20
124<< Then just pick a strong favorite like [Flame], [Memory], [Pierce], [Shooting]! 126: Anonymous 2011/12/20 125<<< ???????? You want me to change my favorite??????? 127: Anonymous 2011/12/20 125<<<< Are you crazy???? And [Flame] hasn't shown up in a friendly match since then. 128: Anonymous 2011/12/20 <(´･ω･`)> This is why regular people…
129: Anonymous 2011/12/20
Rooting for a proven strong contender is something only a kid who just started being a Magical Girl fan would do ww
130: Anonymous 2011/12/20
Don’t you realize the fun of giving nadenade when the girl I support barely scraped by due to luck in the first match and lost in the second? Grass
131: Anonymous 2011/12/20
Seeing her work hard to ask for support without any corporate sponsorship really ignites my passion ww
132: Anonymous 2011/12/20
For a mediocre yet uncultivated Magical Girl who can’t even participate in friendly matches and barely manages social media, five bowls of rice would be easy ww
133: Anonymous 2011/12/20
After all, being a Magical Girl fan and giving nadenade to uncultivated mediocre Magical Girls is quite enjoyable ww
134: Anonymous 2011/12/20
Sometimes, when she posts an update shyly in her cheerleading team outfit, I feel like I’ll be flooded with over ten photos that day ww
135: Anonymous 2011/12/20
Thanks to your support, I received a gift from the star! <<< It makes me like a truly mediocre Magical Girl ww 136: Anonymous 2011/12/20 You all seem a bit crazy. (◦Д◦;;;) ＊ [What are you doing?] “Um… Am I being too picky?” Tick tick
[Hikari, what are you up to right now?]
“Um… Am I asking too insistently?”
[Hikari! Wanna guess what I’m doing?]
“…That’s a bit too silly.”
[I’m watching TV with Dad, what about you?]
“Um… Would it seem too childish…?”
Tick tick
[I’m watching TV, how about you?]
“Ugh, now it feels like I’m being forced to speak…”
[I’m watching TV.]
“This seems weirder…”
If Hikari sent back a ‘?’, I wouldn’t have the confidence to handle it.
Flop
Yuki pulled the hood of her bunny pajamas over her head and flopped onto the kotatsu in the living room.
Before she knew it, Dad, now abstaining from alcohol, glanced at her and then returned his focus to the TV.
That day, after both had cried for a long time in the park, they didn’t even get to have a proper talk.
Only that she knew about my struggles, that she came from another world, and…
“…She wanted to become my friend…”
Thump thump
“Ughhhh…!”
“Yuki, did you make a friend?”
“Eh?! Ah… Yes.”
“…I see.”
“…….”
“…Good for you.”
“…Yes.”
Friend.
Yuki boldly told Dad she had made a friend for the first time.
Thump thump
It wasn’t a lie, but Yuki’s heart raced as if she had done something wrong.
Feeling embarrassed for no reason, Yuki stuffed her smartphone into her pajama pocket and pretended to watch TV.
‘…I was a bit surprised that I didn’t carry my smartphone around.’
When she asked Hikari, who said she had to go back because she had something to do, to exchange social media contacts.
‘…I don’t have a smartphone.’
It was the first time she realized a person’s face could turn so pale it looked transparent.
So, Yuki gave the smartphone she had received as a prize in the friendly match to Hikari.
‘I’ll treasure it…’
Hikari gently cradled the smartphone and noted down Yuki’s contact information.
Now, three weeks later, they had been frequently messaging each other.
‘…I ended up calling her by her first name because of the atmosphere, but it should be fine since we’re friends?’
Wasn’t it Hikari who called her Yuki first anyway? Yuki felt confident.
More than that, she needed to think about how to start a conversation with Hikari now.
“…But Yuki, don’t you think you’re looking at your phone too much these days?”
“Eh? I just check it now and then to contact you.”
“With my friend.”
“Well, Dad… It might be unnecessary concern, but every time I see you, you’re just looking at your phone.”
“…….”
Yuki felt perplexed by that remark as she recalled the moments she had touched her smartphone today.
As soon as she woke up, she sent, [Did you sleep well? Today’s weather in Japan is cold.]
While changing her clothes, she chatted on the phone, and then during breakfast, she suddenly wanted to show what she had eaten and sent a picture.
She talked with Hikari about the scenery of Germany, which she sent a photo of.
When Hikari texted, [Actually, I’m smuggling into the world of Magical Girls right now.] she panicked and asked if she was okay.
Before she knew it, it was lunchtime, and while boiling udon with Dad, she asked, [Do you like udon?]
She queried whether they preferred eating it with broth or dipping, if they liked having tempura with it, or if they liked adding an egg.
She asked if there were any snacks they liked.
When the sun was setting, she took a picture of the beautiful sunset and sent it, and Hikari replied with, [It’s pretty.], which made her happy.
When she sent Hikari the link to a compilation video of her previous remarks, she could see Hikari was flustered, and it made her laugh.
“…….”
Am I being too clingy?
Yuki felt her heart drop.
Just like this, she wanted to send [Am I too bothersome?] to check.
No, she had to check. She didn’t want to lose her first friend over such a silly reason.
Tap tap tap
[Am I too bothersome?]
Send.
Shikishima Ryota shook his head while watching his daughter.
His daughter, who had recently reconnected with him, seemed to have been getting satisfactory reactions from her new friend as she was grinning.
‘It’s fortunate that Yuki made a friend.’
Unbeknownst to him, his daughter had participated in a Magical Girl friendly match and unexpectedly won, and now it seemed she had made a friend from the Magical Girl community.
Since the first match, which had caused a stir worldwide, the friendly matches held weekly for three days had begun to be treated as a new era of sport.
Confident Magical Girls aimed only for friendly matches where they could showcase their skills. The council introduced various restrictions like banning repeated participations and regional league separations as the number of participants soared.
[Wow! This drink is super refreshing! It feels like starlight is sparkling!]
[Ha, haha! Was I able to win because I wore this brand of shoes~?]
Among these Magical Girls, those who garnered attention for their looks or skills received ‘voluntary sponsorship’ from companies and ‘voluntary advertising’ from the Magical Girls. This peculiar symbiotic capitalism was a hot topic in the council, but it was decided to be tolerated under the premise of it being voluntary.
‘However, we will legally respond to companies that oppress Magical Girls under this excuse, and conversely, restrict participation and ability usage for Magical Girls that unjustly profit.’
…Thus, backed by capitalist support, Magical Girls honed their abilities daily to win battles held on weekends.
“The Magical Girl of [Pierce]!! Has finally become the champion of the Born 1-Star division!!”
Most participants were from Japan, where the population of Magical Girls was overwhelmingly high, but strong contenders with unique preparations also made remarkable contributions from abroad.
“Well, she really fights well.”
Ryota muttered while watching Magical Girls engage in cinematic battles on screen.
“How did you win in a place like that, Yuki?”
“…….”
“Hmm?”
Once again, his daughter stared at her phone with a grin.
“Geez…”
That friend must be tired too.