14 – 5. I, will be the rival -4
I knew I couldn’t leave a good impression. After all, I’m a villain who makes strange noises and swings tentacles around.
Even I think there’s a rather unpleasant aspect about me. But I thought the things I said while executing were cool, but…
Hearing such a blunt comment was a bit heartbreaking.
“Do you feel that disgusted?”
“Yes. Thinking about seducing women with tentacles like that, it’s the worst.”
“…It is bad.”
After that, Noah continued her verbal assault with cold, hard facts. Even though I knew it was all acting, it was rough to hear.
Noah’s encounter with Kraken seemed the worst. She was heated to the point where I wondered if she had ever been so angry.Feeling bewildered.
“Sigh…”
“You must have disliked it a lot.”
“That’s what I’m saying. I can’t believe you had me write even this.”
As he shook the notebook, my gaze followed. Soon, Noah’s story began once again.
+++++
Feeling powerless is a dreadful emotion.
Noah, who was currently lying on the floor, felt this powerlessness horribly.
How long had it been since she’d felt this emotion? Probably, it was the first time since she saw her father lying in the sickbed, unable to move.
“Haah…”
“Miss Noah, would you like some water?”
“It’s okay. MewMew, take a rest. You’ve been busy lately.”
“Mew…call me if you need anything.”
MewMew spread its wings and flew out the window. It probably perched itself on a tree to watch the surroundings.
Her body was sagging.
She didn’t want to move.
As she wondered why she felt this way, what surfaced was a strange encounter with a villain.
“…Kraken.”
Fittingly named after the legendary monster, he had various tentacles.
He was a challenging opponent. He attacked and defended skillfully, and his mouth was even more playful. She could have died right then and there.
“…I almost died.”
Her body trembled at the realization.
It was already a month since she became a magic girl. Noah realized again.
How dangerous the job she was doing was.
She was somewhat prepared. It was commonplace for injuries to happen, and she endured pain because of that many times.
However, it was the first time she nearly died.
“Haa…”
Noah sighed and tossed in her bed. Worries flooded her mind.
What would happen to her father if she died? He didn’t have much money. Would the country help?
Well, those kind of worries. Her heart felt suffocated. She wanted to run away from the increasingly heavy reality.
Then, a voice echoed in Noah’s mind.
‘Running away may be shameful, but it helps, right?’
It was an embarrassing memory. It was the first time she cried in front of someone. But she clearly remembered Mr. Shinhyun’s words.
“…I’ll run away.”
Right. No matter how cold reality is, shouldn’t she at least be able to dream?
With that thought, Noah sat at the desk with a notebook and a pen.
Noah opened a video site and watched a video.
In the video, the protagonist was diagnosed with a terminal illness and created a ‘bucket list’ of things he wanted to do.
In the short video, he enjoyed doing things he wanted to do with his friends, and the video ended with him smiling happily.
“Wow…”
She exclaimed in admiration.
The actual enjoyment at the end of life.
‘Let’s try it too.’
Her death isn’t decided yet, but she’s been doing a job where she could die at any moment.
Yes, it would be less regretful to do what she wants before she dies.
“Let’s see…”
Noah rewound the video and started writing her own list. One by one, she listed things.
Once the blank paper was almost fully scribbled on, Noah nodded her head. She grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.
The first thing she wanted to do.
[Watch a favorite show]
The screen of the seemingly junk-picked TV vibrated.
It was a bit uncomfortable to look at, but it was better than not having it.
“Oh, they’re showing this.”
The TV was broadcasting Noah’s favorite program. She blankly watched the TV.
“Huh?”
It wasn’t very enjoyable. Well, it’s okay, but… it’s a bit too much to consider it as a wish before dying.
“Sigh…”
Had she done something wrong?
In the middle of rewinding and re-watching the video, Noah suddenly realized something.
‘This guy is having a lot of fun watching.’
The man in the video was laughing out loud with his friends.
On the other hand, Noah in reality was just slumping and staring blankly.
Was she enjoying it now?
“No.”
Noah pondered for a moment.
Soon, she discovered a huge difference between her own list and the list in the video.
[Watch a fun show with friends.]
[Watch a fun show.][Watching the show.]
She had no one to share it with.
It was then that Noah realized.
She had no family or friends left to share this with.
And another thing.
The reason the protagonist in the video could smile was not because they were doing what they wanted to do. It was because they had someone to enjoy things with.
“Ugh…”
Her mother passed away, and her father is hospitalized. She never had many friends…no, in fact, she only had one.
And even with her, the contact has been cut off…
“…”
Noah, why are you like this? What about your parents?
“…No parents.”
Uh… what about friends?
“Neither friends.”
Sigh.
Noah lay down on the blanket.
“There’s nothing here.”
She laughed bitterly.
Noah, what kind of life have you lived?
“I just lived.”
The person she opened up to was her father and her childhood friend with whom she has now lost touch. And at best, QQ.
…Recently, one person was added.
‘Should I think about doing what I want with that man…’
Noah began to write down a list while thinking of the man’s face. It was strange.
“Why…why is this going so well…”
The pen started moving swiftly, unlike before.
[Making and eating something delicious together.]
[Going to an amusement park together.]
[Chatting in pajamas.]
[Holding hands together.]
[Lying side by side and sleeping together.]
Something was getting weird. No, before that.
This seems like a teenager’s dream of writing down her desires.
“Ugh…”
Despite her trembling hand, Noah continued to write.
When the girl’s desire finally peaked.
[To kiss like the protagonist in a romance novel.]
“Ah!”
Noah crossed off the list. She couldn’t stand it anymore. Her heart was pounding and her cheeks were blushing.
“Pull yourself together, Noah.”
Noah smacked her cheek.
“The other party is just a perverted old man.”
Just unusually kind, comforting to be around, and the kind you’d want to depend on.
“Pull yourself together!”
It’s not going to work.
She feels like she’s going crazy if she continues like this.
Noah flipped the page and quickly wrote down a list.
[Eating something delicious with a close friend.]
“…Phew.”
This should do it.
Noah gathered the ingredients and headed to the convenience store. She was creating a fuss alone, and before she knew it, it was dawn. Soon, it would be time for the man to finish work.
‘Dining with a close friend. Yes. What’s so strange about dining with a close friend?’
He’s just a close friend. Noah reassured herself.
Having finished her flashback, Noah looked at the man. The man had an intriguing facial expression.
“Just you know. Something I’d like to do before I die?”
“Yeah? It would be nice to have something like that.”
“With the dangerous things you do, it wouldn’t hurt to have something like that.”
Of course, she’s not going to tell him everything.
+++++
Noah then said those words and stood up from her seat.
“Well, we’re done talking. Now I have dishes to clean. You finish the rest and pass me the plate.”
“Yes.”
As Noah began the cleanup. While I sat at the table eating the remaining rolled omelet. Then, a thunk sound was heard.
When I turned my head, Noah’s notebook had fallen open.
Her list neatly folded out and revealed.
It seems like the things she had canceled. Scratches were drawn all over the list, and I couldn’t help but see a few lists in between.
Amusement park, pajama party, holding hands? Sleeping together?
‘It’s like a lover.’
The climax was the end.
Kissing like the protagonist in a romance novel.
‘She’s certainly a girl.’
Wanting to have thoughts that only dreamy girls would have and writing them as things she wants to do.
Well, at that age, they would hope for something like a prince on a white horse.
Just as I was about to pick up the notebook.
“Sir! You can’t look!”
Noah rushed in and snatched the notebook from me.
The look in her eyes turned fierce.
“…You saw it, didn’t you?”
“Well, unintentionally.”
“Oh no…!”
Noah, who had taken a few steps back, had her face turn as red as a strawberry. Her eyes wereRays of light were shooting down. From then on, the only thing she could do was cover her face with a notebook and feel embarrassed.
‘…Isn’t it interesting?’
Noah’s reaction was refreshing.
Up till now, she only displayed three types of reactions.
Either she’d stay cool, cry heavily, or laugh strangely.
Since this was her first time looking embarrassed, I couldn’t help but feel mischief swell up within me.
Perhaps, I wanted to help her relax, even just a bit.
“Noah~”
I gathered myself and reached out to Noah. My face was full of smile.
Looking at me approach, she stepped back timidly.
From noble mtl dot com
“Your smile is scary, Mister.”
“Come on. Anyway, you can easily stop me.”
“That may be true, but…”
Noah was cornered, ending up in a cul-de-sac.
“Noah.”
“What is it?”
I asked her, trying to show her my biggest smile.
“You have a last wish.”
“Yes.”
“…Did you write that because you wanted to kiss someone?”
