Chapter 28:

Sick, sick, sick! (2)

MAGICAL GIRL TRANSMISSION

I've decided to keep last night's incident to myself, for now. I don't know what it means, so I don't want to worry my friends about something unknown when we've already got so much we need to deal with.

...No, I mean-- I-I'm not stupid. I know what's happening, but I don't want to worry my friends about something so severe as this.

I'm being a hypocrite about this, right? I'd just had that entire falling out with Micchan because she didn't want to have people shoulder the blame, yet here I am, keeping myself-

No, this is different. There's a difference between 'I lost my job and don't want to keep asking for financial help' and 'I'm turning into an anxiety-riddled sludge monster because I can't handle the trauma of my past haunting me', right?

...

Well, it's only two weeks away. I can hold out until then. Then... we kick Sonora's ass and I won't have to deal with this. It'll just become a funny thing to reflect on, over dinner.

Having training practically every other day is really kicking my ass, though. I'm a fit woman-- my mother teaches me self-defense and I work out when I can, but the sheer amount of boredom and monotony is overwhelming. It's probably necessary, but how much training will we even need? Will it be enough, even? I wasn't conscious when Fue-chan was dealing with Sonora, but I'd heard after the fact that she barely even reacted to a wind blast from her. How... did she get more powerful, exactly? Is it tied to her more demonic appearance?

...

Something else is irking me, though. Unrelated to everything going on with Sonora and my prospective turning-into-an-Anxi.

What is Chii-chan doing in her room all the time...?

She's allowed her privacy, of course, but after training she's always retreating there while the rest of us are hanging out. As a professional feelings-hider, I'm not going to lie and say that I'm not at least a little bit concerned. So, one day, I knock on her door.

"D-don't come in... I-I-I'm... uh... l-looking at porn?"

...

"Look, I just want to make sure nothing's going on. If you're actually... doing that, then I'll leave you be." I chuckle. "I just know that right now, we need to stick together as much as we can, Chii-chan. Be honest with me." The irony is not lost on me, don't worry.

After a bit of silence, I hear footsteps, followed by the slightest creak of the door.

"Y-you're... alone, yeah?" She whispers.

"The others are out shopping right now."

Chii-chan practically pulls me in like a cane pulling a bad performer off-stage.

At first, I don't even realize why Chii-chan's being so secretive, nothing seems out of the ordinary here. And then I see it-- beside the sewing machine... a kigurumi? An... alligator one.

"You've... been working on this for how long?" I look upon it with genuine surprise.

"Since, uh... t-the day after Sonora saved us."

"You've made a lot of progress for a bit over a week." I smile, impressed.

"Not enough... n-not... enough..." She sighs. She doesn't talk about it much, but she's actually frighteningly good at sewing. Our latest outfits were because of her, on that note. Yet, as a result of her proficiency, ...she often ends up finding herself in stressful situations such as this, crunching herself under deadlines be they self-imposed or otherwise. So I've heard, at least.

"Is this a commission?" I ask, already figuring I know the answer.

"No, I'm... I don't do commissions."

"You should, though."

"Maybe. It'd be nice to make my own money, actually..." She shakes her head, sighing. "But no. I-I'm... trying to make a Christmas present for Mizu-chan."

I figured as much. "You're... trying to make an entire Kigurumi between training sessions?"

"Among other things. I... well, I was going to make some stuff for you and Fue-chan, b-but it's already hard enough with these massive hands, so uh... I'm s-sorry, but you and Fue-chan are getting smaller presents this year."

"I'm already surprised you're even doing anything for Christmas."

"Why... wouldn't I?"

"I mean..." I shrug my shoulders. "We're pretty busy with our New Year's plans. It just slipped my mind that the season was even coming up."

Chii-chan lowers her head. "Well... Christmas was always my favorite holiday, so I've been really looking forward to spending it with you all. That, a-and..."

"And?"

"And... I think you all deserve a pick-me-up. After a-all that's gone on."

I look at her, confused. "Y-you're... the one who's gone through the worst, though! Your abusive mom tried to kill you, you've had all of your trauma unearthed against your will, you're... I mean... I don't want to say it, but..." I gesture vaguely to her body.

She laughs a bit. "No, I know... I know. But, I don't want to let that stop me f-from making you guys happy, you know? That's what I want to do. Make people happy."

...

"I... wow. That's..."

"Is that... bad?" She looks concerned.

"No, not at all. I'm just-- I'm just surprised how selfless you're being."

She shrugs. "It's in my nature, I guess."

"Well... good luck with it, Chii-chan. Your secret's safe with me." I smirk, giving a wave as I leave her back to her devices.

I'm honestly shocked that she's so dedicated like this. If I was in her spot-

kgckgaahh... cgkkkhagh...

...Well, maybe I am in her spot.

...

.....

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