"Becoming a Magical Girl," Akira chuckled softly, "How cute."
"They are powerful, radiant, and very cool, wearing flashy yet adorable clothes, doing whatever they want."
"When I was little, I longed to be a Magical Girl, almost to the point of obsession. My wish back then was that when I grew up, I would definitely become a Magical Girl."
Sajuna said with a touch of emotion, "This wish to become a Magical Girl was even written in my diary, and I loudly told everyone in class about it."
"Then, after I started elementary school, I realized that it was a created world, and even if I prayed as hard as a Magical Girl, it wouldn't make any difference."
"It was a world I could never reach. Becoming a Magical Girl was a wish I could never fulfill in this lifetime."
Sajuna paused, gently cupping her face. "I thought I would never have any connection with Magical Girls in this life, but when I was in junior high, I found Magical Girl outfits for sale in a store, and I immediately bought one and put it on."
"It's very childish, isn't it, Akira-kun?" Sajuna said with a bitter smile.
"No, not childish at all." Akira shook his head. "That's what's cute about Sajuna."
"At the time, because I had never understood cosplay, I simply put on the Magical Girl outfit. I didn't put on the wig for the corresponding character, nor did I put on makeup, let alone the fact that the clothes I bought weren't even my size."
"But when I saw myself in the mirror, I just felt incredibly happy." Sajuna said, lowering her head, tears seemingly welling in her eyes. "I felt like I had become a Magical Girl from that world."
"I can wear this outfit and live out my dream, becoming a true Magical Girl!"
Sajuna said in a low voice, "Akira-kun, you must find it hard to understand such feelings."
Akira shook his head and said firmly, "What nonsense are you talking about? Why wouldn't I understand?"
"Sajuna, do you know what I've always wanted to tell someone?"
"Gomen ne. I don't know," Sajuna apologized.
"It's this: you have to believe in the light!" Akira said firmly. "Sajuna must want to tell me that it's a created world, right?"
"But everyone has a light in their heart. As long as you believe in the power within your heart, then Ultraman exists, and we ourselves can become light."
"Akira-kun, you're so cute." Sajuna laughed through her tears, gently wiping her eyes.
"I never thought Akira-kun would have such childish thoughts!" Sajuna said with a laugh. "I thought, I thought Akira was the mature type."
"Why would you think that?" Akira asked, puzzled.
"Because Akira-kun has always seemed very mature in front of me, whether it's helping me make late-night snacks or taking care of me when I'm sick. I subconsciously came to see Akira-kun as a reliable person."
"Sajuna is also a very reliable person; after all, she's always taking care of Shinju, and Shinju really loves her older sister." Akira couldn't help but praise her.
Shinju truly loves her older sister, believing her older sister to be the epitome of beauty and cuteness, to the point where she's a bit confused about her own appearance.
After all, not everyone would describe the fullness of their chest as being fat.
It gave Akira a different kind of gap moe.
"Not at all." Sajuna mused, "Shinju has also helped me a lot, and most of the time, Shinju takes great care of me, doesn't she?"
"Were Sajuna's photos taken by Shinju?" Akira asked, knowing the answer.
"Mhm."
"And the account?"
"Shinju handles that too. Originally, I just planned to keep the photos for myself, but Shinju said I was just too cute. She wanted to share such a cute older sister with others, which is why she created the online account."
As Sajuna spoke, she covered her face, clearly finding it hard to maintain her composure as she praised her own cuteness through Shinju's words.
But being with Akira, her thoughts, already dulled by her cold, had no chance to process what she was saying due to her shyness.
She was practically given a truth serum, answering whatever was asked.
If Akira were to suddenly confess his feelings at that moment, it would likely be a huge surprise for him.
He might even win her over directly!
Akira nodded in agreement. "Sajuna is indeed very cute. Otherwise, I wouldn't have wanted to get to know Sajuna-chan."
"Is it because I'm cute that you wanted to get to know me?" Sajuna suddenly looked up and asked, then immediately lowered her head again.
"Of course. Seeing such a cute Sajuna-chan, shouldn't I, as a boy, be moved?"
"Then if I weren't so cute, would Akira-kun not want to be friends with me?" Sajuna asked the classic, old-fashioned question.
Akira thought for two seconds. Sajuna's slightly jealous look truly made him want to protect her, and also tease her a bit more.
"Well, of course." Akira nodded with an expression of agreement.
Sajuna's face showed an incredulous expression. Shouldn't he be coaxing a girl at this moment, saying something like, "Even if you weren't pretty, I would still have noticed you"?
Why was it such a 'heartless' answer based on looks?
"Demo ne (But), it's precisely because you, Sajuna, are so cute that I can't help but want to be friends with you."
"Sajuna just happens to have the looks that make my heart flutter, which makes my feelings so strong. If Sajuna wasn't pretty to begin with, then she wouldn't be the Sajuna I know now, not the Juju-sama sitting on the bed beside me, looking at me."
"Everything is just right." Akira looked at the bowl in his hand and slowly smiled.
To dislike someone might require many reasons, using various justifications to prove how annoying that person is. But to like someone, one reason is enough.
Perhaps she is beautiful, or perhaps her voice is pleasant, or the graceful way she helps others, or the refreshing breeze she brings when she passes by.
The sight of her is accompanied by the slowly rising morning sun, and bidding her farewell is the soft moonlight that spills down at night—these can all be reasons to like someone.
Liking someone has always been irrational.
It was as if the moment he saw Sajuna, he overlooked the countless people in the sea of humanity, leaving only her.
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