Since my Useless Working Sister and Other Troublemakers Became Magical Girls, I have no Choice but to Support Them. - Chapter 1-22: Magical Girl Shiny Liner

Chapter 1-22: Magical Girl Shiny Liner

In the bag that fit in my palm, there were two small gems: one yellow and one blue.

Was I supposed to decide whether Haruka should transform or not? That kind of thing…

“Haruka, over here.”

“Hey, Yuuma. Is that…”

“Yeah, it’s kind of those typical pet partners who fights alongside the magical girl.”

Since it called my name, there was no more hiding it. But instead of handing Haruka the gem, I pushed her wheelchair and opted for evacuating to a safer distance.

I checked my phone. There was a message from Aina saying she’d get here as soon as possible. It seemed she was still at work.

“Yuuma, make me a magical girl. Otherwise, we can’t defeat that monster, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“And tell me one more thing. If I transform into a magical girl, will I gain the strength to run on one leg?”

“More than that. Your lost leg will apparently grow back.”

Haruka’s eyes widened as she looked up at me.

I didn’t want to lie, so I honestly relayed the information from Rafio. I knew Haruka would be fixated on transforming because of it.

“Yuuma, let me transform! You can do it, right?”

“I can. But it’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

The image of one girl came to my mind.

The day Aina first transformed, I had saved a girl with an injured leg.

When I saw that girl, I thought of Haruka. What if that injury had been more severe?

“The enemies seriously try to kill humans. They torture magical girls before killing them to harvest fear. What if you die, Haruka? What if you lose your remaining leg? That’s what scares me.”

“That’s not something for you to worry about, Yuuma!”

“!?”

I took a step back, startled by Haruka’s sudden shout.

“It’s my concern! Sure, it’s scary, I get it! But the choice between the hope of running on my own legs again and the fear of injury, that’s mine to make!”

Haruka pushed her wheelchair closer to me as I backed away.

“Everyone says I’m still energetic even in a wheelchair. Yeah, I am. Even I find it amazing. But I hate that they think I have no worries!”

Haruka approached me again in her wheelchair, facing me at close range.

The sounds of Rafio fighting or evading the Fiery Eater seemed strangely distant.

“People think I don’t mind my injury or the wheelchair, and that might be true. But if I can run on my own legs, of course I’d want to! Fighting for that? Fine! I’ll accept that level of danger!”

Haruka slowly extended her hand.

“Sorry for yelling. It must’ve surprised you. I understand your feelings, Yuuma. I’d do the same if my sister wanted to fight. But—”

Haruka’s resolve was clear. It resonated with me.

“I want to become a magical girl by my own choice. There might be days of regret. But I won’t blame you for it.”

“I don’t care about that.”

“Haha, yeah. That’s just like you, Yuuma. And one more thing, I want to keep going to school with you. Riding the bus together every morning with you.”

“I’ll keep doing that with you.”

“If those monsters destroy our normal life, I won’t forgive it. If monsters appear around me, I’ll defeat them. I’ll protect my mornings. So, make me a magical girl.”

Her outstretched hand trembled. I understood Haruka’s determination. She was serious.

“Alright. Which do you want, yellow or blue?”

“Huh? Color? Either… oh, yellow like the track team uniform would be nice.”

“Then, hold it tight and shout the words that come to mind. That should transform you. …Good luck.”

I handed her the yellow gem, explaining how it worked. Haruka nodded firmly and moved her wheelchair toward the Fear-Eater.

Rafio managed to dodge the Fear-Eater that tried to grab him. The Fear-Eater crashed into a shelf of clothes behind him, causing a spectacular collapse.

“Yuuma! This one is fast!”

“Seems like it! But I was on the track team!”

“Oh!”

“You’re the one who’s been causing trouble in Yuuma’s bag lately, right? Leave it to me now!”

From her wheelchair, Haruka gave Rafio a thumbs-up.

So, she knew about Rafio. Considering all the noise and movements, that was natural. Haruka had been considerate in her own way.

Haruka stood up, staring directly at the Fiery Eater.

She balanced on one leg with a beautiful stance.

Yes. Haruka could stand on her own and, if she could stand, she could run. The power of a magical girl was just an aid.

“Dash! Shiny Liner!”

Like with Aina, Haruka’s body was enveloped in light. When she reappeared, her body had completely transformed.

Her outfit, unlike Saber’s pink, was primarily yellow.

The skirt was short, like Saber’s. Her original right leg wore a knee-high sock.

The left leg, the one that had been amputated, was covered by a thigh-high sock that glowed brightly under the store’s lights.

A metal ring was at the transition from the sock to her flesh, holding the yellow gem used for transformation.

Unlike Saber, her belly wasn’t exposed, but her chest was slightly open, showing a bit of cleavage.

What was inside that sock? Flesh and blood, or light?

It didn’t matter. It was unmistakably Haruka’s own leg.

“The swift bullet that dispels the darkness! Magical Girl Shiny Liner!”

Haruka, now Shiny Liner, proudly proclaimed her name.