Chương 92: Chapter 25 Tentative Title: “The Duo(Part 4)

"Um... do you think... I can become stronger?" Yuji looked at me with completely sincere eyes. Beside him, Suguru wore much the same expression. Could they become stronger...?

"Who knows?" I smiled faintly.

"There's a difference between giving someone a push and dragging them along."

"It all depends on you."

"What will you think?"

"What will you feel?"

"What conclusion will you ultimately reach?"

"It's alright to rest sometimes."

"It's alright to run away sometimes."

"But in the end, the only person who can come to terms with all of that... is yourself." What exactly constituted strength? It was the same question I'd posed to Chiyoda. Physical strength was one answer. If it were a board game, intelligence might be strength instead. Or perhaps strength could belong to a team rather than an individual. If they wished to pursue strength as Sweepers, then they first needed to decide for themselves what strength actually meant.

"Chloe-san..." Suguru spoke up.

"If I accept your offer... would it be possible for me to work under Miyafuji-san?"

"I can't forget the magic I saw him use during that battle." So the bespectacled one had been captivated by Miyafuji. Back then, the two of them had fought side by side, launching fire spells together. Perhaps things were different now. Magic itself was certainly rare. But to inspire someone... The impression left behind had to be powerful indeed.

"Of course." I nodded.

"If you're willing to come aboard, then it's only fair that I offer some flexibility."

"I have my own motives too."

"Ah! That's not fair!" Yuji protested. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Then I'll join too! As for what favor I want... I'll think about it later."

"Understood." I smiled.

"Thank you, both of you."

"Yuji-kun, I'll grant reasonable requests, but don't start setting your sights on me."

"I'm a married woman."

"W-What!? N-No way! I wasn't thinking anything like that!" He panicked so badly that I couldn't help teasing him a little longer. He really was an entertaining young man. In any case... We'd talked for quite a while. I'd gained two promising subordinates, and Miyafuji looked far more energetic than before. That alone made the visit worthwhile. After saying goodbye to Miyafuji, the two new recruits guided me around the other wards where the injured had been admitted. I spoke with many of them.

Some talked about their injuries. Others spoke about their families. Many spoke of the comrades they had lost. When I told them I wouldn't be attending the official memorial service, several looked puzzled. After I explained my reasons, they understood. Even so... They asked me to pay my respects privately afterward if nothing else.... Would it be alright if I visited after the ceremony? I couldn't give them a definite answer. The uncertainty left an unpleasant feeling in my chest.

"Thanks for today, you two."

"If anything comes up, just contact me through Miyafuji-san." I had barely finished saying goodbye when my phone rang. The caller ID read: Chiyoda. Hmm... I'd supposedly been given several days off. Had something happened? The worst possibilities immediately crossed my mind. Had another country's Gate reached the brink of a Stampede and requested assistance? Or had a monster we'd failed to eliminate appeared somewhere?

"Hello? What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"... A problem has occurred." His exhausted voice came through the speaker.

"... However, it's a personal matter." Personal? And he was calling me? That could only mean...

"A personal matter...? Don't tell me punching that politician finally caught up with you. Did they fire you?"

"... No."

"The politician I punched resigned, so that isn't the problem." He resigned? Not because he punched someone... But because he got punched? Well... Perhaps there had been some kind of scandal. Illegal political funds. Fundraising parties. Something along those lines. Still... I couldn't think of anything else that would involve me.

"I'm not following. Could you explain?"

"... Chloe."

"The trunk I gave you..."

"Did you look inside?"

"I did."

"I certainly wasn't expecting to ask for clothes and receive them immediately." The contents had been gifts from the volunteers. That alone had surprised me enough. Surely Chiyoda hadn't been involved in that too?

"It wasn't just the clothes."

"The bag containing the underwear Mochida-kun bought for you was packed together with it."

"It seems it slipped under the seat when I slammed on the brakes."

"I didn't notice until this morning."

"I see." I nodded.

"Now that you mention it, Mochida-san has been buying almost all of my clothes and underwear." Ever since I'd started going back and forth between the hotel and work, I'd simply left all of that to Mochida. Even when I had to leave early in the morning, everything had already been prepared. He must have kept extras on hand. You could buy those things at convenience stores these days, but having them prepared in advance was certainly more convenient.

"Yes."

"When I moved your belongings from the hotel using my personal car, the trunk and that bag of underwear were the last items."

"When they were missing, I assumed you'd already taken them."

"And then..."

"This morning, while I was driving my daughter..."

"Your daughter found them?"

"... No."

"My wife did."

"..."

"And now I'm under suspicion of having an affair..."

"... being a lolicon..."

"... and having a cross-dressing fetish."

"My condolences." I couldn't help smiling.

"I hear that if you're labeled a lolicon, people start shouting abuse at you in the streets, and your name goes down in criminal history." Someone on an internet forum had once made exactly that joke. Well... A certain girl had flown through the sky.

"I'm really not in the mood for jokes..." He sounded utterly defeated.

"... My favor is..."

"... Could you please meet my wife and daughter?"

"If you come..."

"... everything can be explained."

"I suppose I don't have much choice." I let out a small sigh.

"As long as I get to call this a favor you owe me."

"Come pick me up."

"... Understood." The call ended. Good. Now Chiyoda owed me one. I hated being indebted to other people. But having someone indebted to me... That I could live with. Even if I never intended to collect. Still... Poor Chiyoda. Well then... For the sake of his daughter, who loved magical girls... I might as well go all out in Gothic Lolita fashion.