Since my Useless Working Sister and Other Troublemakers Became Magical Girls, I have no Choice but to Support Them. - Chapter 1-27: Self-Introductions and Tonight's Dinner

Chapter 1-27: Self-Introductions and Tonight’s Dinner

“Um, Haruka-san, why are you in a wheelchair?”

Tsumugi asked cautiously. She’s considerate enough to anticipate that it might be something Haruka doesn’t want to talk about. But for Haruka, that kind of consideration is unnecessary.

“There was an explosion accident. About six months ago, I think.”

“I-is that so?”

Tsumugi glanced at Haruka’s legs, then quickly looked away, snapping back to herself.

“I’m sorry! That was rude of me.”

“Why can’t she have that consideration on me?” muttered Rafio softly, but his voice was drowned out by Haruka’s.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. You’re curious, right? Want to touch it?”

“C-can I really!?”

“Of course!”

“Excuse me then.”

Tsumugi reached out hesitantly and touched the rounded end of Haruka’s left leg where it was missing from a certain point.

“Wow…”

She gently stroked it.

“Wow…”

She stroked it again.

“…It’s kind of normal. Just regular skin.”

“Right? It’s just a normal leg, except the end is missing! Now, tell me about yourself.”

Yes, Haruka is just an ordinary girl. Just one who happens to use a wheelchair. And is a magical girl.

Prompted by Haruka, Tsumugi began her own self-introduction.

“Y-yes! I’m Tsumugi Mitsugu! I’m in fifth grade! I live next door!”

I know Tsumugi well. Even before she was born, her parents were our neighbors, and we’ve always greeted each other often.

Both of her parents are busy, so Tsumugi spends a lot of time alone at home. Sometimes, she comes over to our house to play because she feels lonely.

And lastly, there’s Rafio.

“I’m Rafio. I came from another world.”

He explained about the other world, magical girls, and their enemies. And that there is one more girl who can become a magical girl.

If you listen calmly, it sounds like an absurd story about beings from another world coming to destroy Earth, and magical girls fighting back.

Tsumugi, who only knows about magical girls from the news, hasn’t seen Aina and the others transform. The only proof she has is Rafio, an unfamiliar creature, changing his form. It’s hard to know how much of this story she can believe.

“So that’s how it is! You’ve had it tough, Rafio! You came all alone from another world for our sake!”

Tsumugi held Rafio’s hand, her eyes slightly teary with emotion. She fully believed the story.

“It’s okay now! I’ll become a magical girl too! Let’s protect the world together!”

“No. I refuse. We’ll find someone else to be a magical girl.”

“Geez, Rafio, you’re not being honest! I’ll do it!”

“No. I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Hehe, looking forward to working with you, Rafio. Hey, why don’t you live with us? I’ll cuddle you every day!”

“For you, cuddling was an act of goodwill!? And listen to what I’m saying!”

“Rafio! Cuddle time!”

“Whoa! Let go!”

Even though he’s currently in his boy form, it looks like she still sees his fluffiness and hugged him tightly.

“No way! I absolutely don’t want to be involved with her!”

“Hey! How do you become a magical girl?”

“A person with the right aptitude holds this and shouts the words that come to mind.”

“Yuuma, don’t give that to her! Absolutely don’t give it to her!”

The blue gem that Rafio handed me earlier. Rafio understood that if it fell into Tsumugi’s hands, it would be the end.

It’s clear that Tsumugi has the right aptitude.

Well, Rafio is an important friend too. I want to respect his wishes. So I decided to change the subject.

“Tsumugi, do you want to stay for dinner?”

“Yes! Thank you for having me!”

“Hey, Yuuma! Why can’t you think of sending her home quickly?”

“Rafio, prepare dinner.”

“What!? Rafio is going to cook for me!? Yay!”

“I’ll cook, so let go of me!”

Rafio detached himself from Tsumugi and hurried to the kitchen.

“What about you, Haruka?”

“Hmm. Since you’re offering, I think I’ll join. By the way, Tsumugi-chan, you often have dinner at Yuuma’s house?”

“Yeah. Both my parents are busy with work, so I often eat alone. Yuuma cooks for me!”

“Wow, Yuuma can cook?”

“Not at all!”

Aina quickly interrupted.

“Yuuma can’t cook at all! If you get instant curry or frozen food, consider it a feast!”

“Instant food!?”

“There was a time he even suggested shaved ice as a side dish!”

“Shaved ice!? Can that even be a side dish!?”

“Of course not. And actually, it wasn’t even shaved ice. It was just ice chips collected from the bottom of the freezer tray.”

“I thought I’d clean it up and have them eat it.”

“And the syrup was just sugar water.”

“You don’t need to buy syrup; it’s easy to make.”

“Please buy it! Since you can’t make it, at least buy it! And stop suggesting shaved ice as a side dish!”

“So Yuuma isn’t good at cooking. Or doing any household chores? I knew your parents had passed away, but I wondered how you were managing.”

“Just look around!”

Haruka and Aina glanced around the slightly messy house, a bit exasperated.

“Yuuma can’t do any housework. So I’m always struggling.”

“You’re even worse at it, sis.”

“But I work! I work every day!”

Though she tries to slack off whenever possible and isn’t really good at her job either. Stop puffing out your chest, it’s embarrassing.