AtE Arc 3: Chapter 3

AtE Arc 3: The Magical Girl’s Iron Hammer – Chapter 3

Kasamiya Suzuri lived in the student dormitories in the residential area.

Although her home was in the metropolitan area, as it was by the seashore, commuting from there would be rather far – apparently.

When I made small talk to help her recover from the shock of encountering the random slasher, she indifferently told me thus.

Though it may have only been a front, she didn’t appear too panicked, so I gave a rough explanation about why Mutsu-sensei had become a Kasamiya-san lookalike. Hearing it, she gave a loud laugh and nodded.

 

「I see, so it was like that.」

「S-Sorry, Kasamiya-san. I didn’t think that it’d end up looking exactly like Kasamiya-san either.」

「I-It’s alright! I sort of realized that I had the kind of appearance liked by perverts since a long time ago after all!」

「T-That’s not “alright”……M-Mitsukasa-sensei, I’m quite worries about this child.」

「Yes, I understand that feeling.」

「Hueh?」

 

Saying that kind of thing so nonchalantly, just where did Kasamiya-san’s steel-like mentality come from?

Now that I think of it, when she was being bothered by the delinquent students previously, she did say that she was “used to it”……

Yeah, let’s take Kasamiya-san’s protection into consideration while thinking about what to do in the future.

 

「Incidentally, why is Kasamiya-san going home at a time like this?」

「M-Mitsukasa-sensei——umm, the truth is…when I was reviewing on my own, I got sleepy……」

「You dozed off, huh……no, that was beyond my expectations.」

「Ehehe」

「Don’t “ehehe” me. All of the classes were told about the pervert right?」

「I’m sorry.」

 

Seeing the dejectedly reflecting Kasamiya-san, I made a wry smile.

Well, it’s fine as long as she’s careful from here on out. Reviewing and working hard to understand her lessons itself is a good thing after all. Though as expected, I am pretty worried, so I’d rather that she went home earlier.

 

「Um! Mitsukasa-sensei, Mutsu-sensei.」

「? What is it?」

「About this incident, could you perhaps allow me to be of assistance?」

 

Appearing as if she had resolved herself, Kasamiya-san appealed directly with her eyes.

Before I could say something to her, Mutsu-sensei raised his voice.

 

「Y-You can’t! It’s too dangerous!」

「But……but, if I leave things as they are, then other people will end up as victims.」

「Putting that to an end is our job. There is no need for Kasamiya-san to act as bait.」

「T-There is!」

 

Though I tried telling her off sternly so that she wouldn’t get anymore involved than this, Kasamiya-san didn’t show any signs of backing off.

Did something happen to her, I wonder?

 

「Umm, you might think that I’m unreliable, but so that Kasamiya-san won’t worry anymore, I promise that there won’t be any more victims. And, I will protect that promise “no matter what happens”. Would that give you a peace of mind?」

「It’s not-……it’s not like that.」

 

Kasamiya-san shook her head in distress.

Not understanding what was making her appear like that, I leaned over to meet her gaze.

 

「Could you tell me why you’re so fixated on this? Of course, only if it’s alright——」

「Twelve times.」

「——eh?」

「Since the age of 3, from the time I started becoming aware of my surroundings, it’s the number of times I’ve been targeted by perverts. If you want to be particular about it and include the number of times I’ve been entangled with delinquents, then I don’t know how many it’s been.」

 

I-It’s at a rate of once per year…….

As one might expect, I became speechless, and my face went stiff.

 

「At first I was so scared that I couldn’t sleep. When it exceeded the fifth time, I got used to it. The seventh time I seriously started to learn how to deal with it. After the tenth time, I decided to go to a school with a boarding system. The eleventh time, I managed to prevent it before anything happened. This time is the twelfth time.」

 

A young girl who was fluffy like cotton candy.

I felt ashamed at the me who thought that. Up until today, she had surmounted countless obstacles to be here.

 

「I have been averting my eyes to the fact that I had an appearance that was liked by perverts. But, I don’t want to ignore the truth anymore. Please, give me the chance to fight…….」

「Kasamiya-san……I see, of course.」

 

——during the time when I was still a magical girl.

Because I was strong, because I had ability, I naturally went to fight. At that time, when I was a young girl.

When a strong enemy that I couldn’t do anything about appeared, I got scared and ran away from battle. But the moment I saw the injured people where I ran, I finally understood the meaning of running away.

Those who possess a natural ability. Those who were blessed and rose up. It would be very simple to run away from it all, and that was precisely why running to fight was hard.

If this fluffy and kind young girl desired that, then I wonder what she would be able to do as the pioneer*.

*T/N: It is a bit unclear what she’s referring to here in terms of what she is being the “pioneer” of, but I assume she means if Kasamiya-san was in her position as a hero at the time.

 

「I’m sorry, Mutsu-sensei.」

「No. I feel proud of Mitsukasa-sensei.」

「You’re saying too much, geez.」

 

Relaxing my shoulders, my face loosened.

Kasamiya-san’s shoulders were stiff with nervousness, and she was biting her lips hard, but even so she didn’t close her eyes.

 

「You’re not allowed to be rash.」

「Ah——-yes!」

「You absolutely must keep your promise with me and Mutsu-sensei.」

「Yes, yes!」

「And also——prioritise your own safety. Can you promise that?」

「Yes! I absolutely will protect that promise until the very end!」

 

I looked at Kasamiya-san nodding strongly, and then turned to Mutsu-sensei who was scrutinising her kindly.

Then it’s fine. As long as there is someone around who will stay to encourage me, then I can stand firm.

 

「The decisive battle will be next Friday. Let’s settle this before the holiday.」

「Yes!」

「Yes.」

 

Because even if I’m not a Magical Girl, I’m a teacher.

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