I Became a Magical Girl In a Harem Manga

"Ugh... my head hurts."

"Team leader, did you drink a lot yesterday? You look awful."

"Yeah, I feel like I’m going to throw up. I feel like I'm dying."

As soon as I woke up, I felt like I had been hit in the head with a hammer. I drank too much last night, and I had to deal with an intense hangover I hadn’t felt in a while.

When I got to work, holding my forehead, Park Oh-Jin handed me a hangover cure.

"We don’t have company dinners often, so I wasn’t sure this would be useful, but I’m glad I stocked up in the fridge."

"Oh... thanks. Nice thinking."

I downed the hangover cure in one shot and closed my eyes again.

If I could, I’d transform into a magical girl to ease this pain, but I held back because of what the section chief once told me.

"Hye-Rim, it might be easier to work as a magical girl, but try to refrain from transforming in the office."

Well, yeah. I shouldn’t just transform into a magical girl in the office because of a hangover.

"Hey, So-Young, can you get me an ice cream? I need to have something to suck on."

"Here you go."

Lee So-Young handed me a popsicle, and I bit into it. Just as I was suffering from the headache and the heartburn, Team Leader 1 came into the office.

I thought she was here to greet me, but she signaled to someone else.

"…Seo-Eun, come here for a moment."

"Oh, yes."

At the team leader’s call, Yoo Seo-Eun quietly got up and followed her outside.

The team leader is calling Yoo Seo-Eun? I thought they’ve gotten close recently. They seem comfortable enough to have private conversations.

As I thought, 'Well, that’s good for them,' Shin Yu-Sung, who was sitting in front of me, started to frown.

"Ah... Why do I feel like I know exactly what’s going on?"

What’s he rambling about this time?

Shin Yu-Sung’s nonsense was nothing new, so I decided to ignore it.

More importantly, I needed this cursed hangover to pass.

I really feel like I’m going to die...

***

"Seo-Eun, were you serious about what you said yesterday?"

Yu Mi-Young asked Yoo Seo-Eun with a serious expression.

"Yes. Yesterday, Hye-Rim was drinking with a woman I didn’t know, and they went home together."

"And that woman is the one Hye-Rim seems to like, right?"

"It’s not certain, but it seems that way. I mean..."

"Why, did something else happen?"

Yu Ha-Yeon hesitated briefly but then slowly began to speak.

"My personal guess is... maybe they did something more than just drink together."

"...What?!"

The shocking news made Yu Mi-Young scream.

"Wh-what do you mean by that? Are you saying they...?"

"...I don't think they crossed the line completely, but I suspect they might have been affectionate. That woman told me something yesterday."

[Hye-Rim’s skin is so smooth and soft.]

Hearing what Alice had said, Yu Mi-Young’s face went pale, as if her soul had left her body.

"No, no... this can’t be."

Thud.

Yu Mi-Young collapsed onto a nearby chair, her legs giving out. Her eyes were already unfocused, wandering in shock.

"H-Hye-Rim... our pure Hye-Rim has fallen for some strange woman."

"...Please, calm down. It's still just speculation, and nothing’s confirmed yet, right?"

Yoo Seo-Eun wanted to object to the idea that Shin Hye-Rim was "pure," but seeing how shocked Yu Mi-Young was, she focused on calming her down instead.

"Isn’t it strange when you think about it? Why would that woman say something like that so openly to me?"

"Well... maybe it was a warning not to go after Hye-Rim?"

"That's what’s odd. She wouldn't need to be so defensive if they were already dating or if she had won Hye-Rim’s heart. She would've just said they were officially together."

"Hmm... that’s true. Now that you mention it, it does seem strange."

Yu Mi-Young’s panicked thoughts began to return to normal.

"If they really did what we’re imagining, she wouldn’t need to show off. It sounds more like she’s desperate, trying not to lose Hye-Rim."

"Exactly. She’s probably just trying to make us misunderstand by saying things to stir our imaginations. Maybe all they did was hold hands."

Looking back, there were strange parts that Yoo Seo-Eun had overlooked the night before in her shock. But now, with a cooler head, she realized it didn’t add up.

Those weren’t the words or actions of someone who was actually Hye-Rim’s girlfriend.

"That person is probably just another one of us who has a crush on Hye-Rim, but she’s being more aggressive than we are."

"Yeah, I think so too. If they were really dating, Hye-Rim would’ve told us in advance. She’s not the type to lie."

"Right, honesty is one of Hye-Rim’s best qualities!"

Yu Mi-Young had fully recovered, her usual bright demeanor returning.

"Still, that woman is so sneaky. She probably got Hye-Rim drunk on purpose to try something funny."

"I thought the same. Hye-Rim was really drunk, but that woman didn’t seem affected at all."

"...She’s like a real fox, huh?"

Sighing, Yu Mi-Young frowned.

"But Ha-Yeon, do you know who that woman was?"

"No. I’ve seen some of Hye-Rim’s close friends before, but I met her for the first time yesterday. She was really cute, like an idol."

"An idol-like face, but aggressive and possessive. Sounds like a tough rival."

Thud.

With a determined look, Yu Mi-Young grabbed Yoo Seo-Eun’s hand.

"Seo-Eun, let’s not fight each other."

"Uh... what?"

"There are too many people after Hye-Rim. We need to form an alliance! Let’s stick together as colleagues and pool our strength!"

"Well, I’m just a temp... but okay. I was thinking the same thing."

Yoo Seo-Eun had shared the news with Yu Mi-Young, trusting her to be on the same side.

Yoo Seo-Eun knew all too well how many rivals were vying for Shin Hye-Rim’s attention. Even her next-door neighbor, Jung Ha-Yeon, had moved in specifically to be near Hye-Rim.

At this point, the best strategy was to increase allies, not enemies.

"By the way, I should ask Hye-Rim what her relationship with that woman is."

"Wait, are you going to ask Hye-Rim directly?"

"Yeah. Why not? I’m just curious."

"I mean, I guess... but still..."

Yoo Seo-Eun couldn’t bring herself to ask Shin Hye-Rim directly either.

It wasn’t because of any complicated reason. She was just scared.

After all, what if—by any chance—her worst fears were true? That made it hard to even speak.

"Alright! I’ll go ask Hye-Rim right now."

Yu Mi-Young, with a resolute expression, marched toward Team 5’s office.

***

"Ah, Team Leader 1, what’s going on...?"

Not long after the team leader called Yoo Seo-Eun outside, she came over to me.

"Hehe... Hey, Hye-Rim. You don’t look so good. Did you drink too much last night?"

"Yeah... I feel like I’m going to die. Ugh... my head is pounding again."

"Geez, you should’ve paced yourself. Want me to rub your back?"

"Yes, please."

Team Leader 1 started rubbing my back slowly.

She moved in circles, tapping my back occasionally, making me feel a little better.@@novelbin@@

"Hey, Hye-Rim, I have something I’m curious about."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Well, um, it’s just that..."

She seemed hesitant to ask, which made me wonder what she was so cautious about. Just as I was about to look up at her—

"I’ll go get some coffee! Everyone wants coffee, right? Americano helps with hangovers, so I’ll get you one too, team leader!"

Suddenly, Shin Yu-Sung jumped up and ran out of the office.

"I’ll get some new ice cream...!"

Lee So-Young followed him, claiming she’d get more ice cream, even though we still had plenty in the fridge.

"Haha, I’ll just take a call real quick."

As if on cue, Park Oh-Jin grabbed his phone and walked out.

I noticed there wasn’t an incoming call. Did they have something to talk about amongst themselves?

"...I swear, the Team 5 members are too sharp."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Oh, it's nothing! Ahem. Anyway, Hye-Rim. I happened to see you on my way home yesterday."

"Yes."

"And I saw you meeting with an incredibly beautiful person. I don’t know if I should ask this, but who was that? Are you two friends?"

"Oh, you saw that?"

It seems Team Leader 1 had passed by and seen me meeting Alice, who was in disguise yesterday.

Hmm, how should I respond to this? Since Alice went out of her way to disguise herself, should I keep it a secret? Or, since Manager Gak-Beom and the team leader are trustworthy, should I just tell them?

As I was pondering over how to answer, I finally opened my mouth.

"Actually, that person is..."

Suddenly, the sound of a siren echoed throughout the entire Association building. It's an emergency dispatch alarm.

Looks like a villain has shown up. Well, I don’t mind going out to catch villains, but… there’s a problem.

"Ugh, I really don’t feel like moving right now."

Just sitting still makes my head pound like crazy, and now I have to go and catch a villain? It’s enough to drive me insane.

"Sigh, no choice. Team Leader, let’s get ready to move out."

"...Right."

Team Leader 1 nodded shortly as if something still felt off.

"Damn villains."

I totally agreed with the team leader’s muttered complaint.

Couldn't they at least cause trouble after my hangover passes?

this is basically the confession in the fireworks trope