This is a translation of projectMDHM‘s “petite amie magique ~Madoka and Homura’s Exam Week~”.
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【Announcement】 『Dear visitors, we would like to inform you…』
Just then, an announcement sounded from the building’s speakers.
【Announcement】 『The penguin show will begin shortly on the first floor of the west building at the penguin pool. We hope you’ll come see it.』
【Homura】 「Oh no, seems like we were a bit too leisurely. Madoka, is your foot all right?」
【Madoka】 「Eh? Y-yeah…」
【Homura】 「It would be bad if you got injured. No need to push yourself.」
With that, she scoops me up into her arms.
【Madoka】 「E-eeh!?」
This is the so-called a bridal carry.
【Homura】 「I’ll make haste.」
She starts to run like the wind.
【Visitor A】 「Uwah, they’re fast! What’s going on?」
【Visitor B】 「Is it some sort of emergency?」
【Visitor C】 「Wow, that girl’s amazing. Even though she’s so slim, she’s carrying the other girl with ease.」
【Visitor D?】 「A bridal carry… There it is!」
We weave through groups of visitors with great speed, heedless of the dumbfounded people around us.
Or rather….
【Madoka】 「H-Homura-chan! We’re attracting so much attention! We’re standing out too muuuch!!」
【Homura】 「…? Ah, you’re right. Running causes trouble for everyone else.」
She slows her sprint into a power walk. However, we’re still much quicker compared to everyone else.
【Madoka】 「H-Homura-chan! It’s really weird that you’re looking so calm and power walking while carrying meeee!」
【Homura】 「…? Ah, you’re right. Since I’m on a date with you…」
She broke into a smile and started skipping. Needless to say, her pace remained brisk.
【Madoka】 「H-Homura-chan! Wai-…! Your bounc-… shaking-…! Oeh……」
And that’s how we were able to get good seats….
【Homura】 「Phew, it’s good that we made it in time. We can’t be late for a show that you’ve been looking forward to.」
【Madoka】 「Y-yeah, I’m glad…. Th-thanks!」
I hear the whispering of people around us.
【Visitor E】 「Hey, aren’t those kids the ones who did the bridal carry and power walked earlier?」
【Visitor F】 「Now that I have a better look at them, they’re both pretty cute…」
【Visitor G】 「Mama, there’s the super fast onee-chan.」
… We’ve become the talk of the town.
【Madoka】 (Th-this is embarrassing…)
【Homura】 「?」
Homura-chan shows no concern in the midst of all this. Is this the power of insensitivity…!?
The penguin show began.
On the other side of the acrylic glass, the caretaker desperately calls out to the penguins to perform tricks, but most of the penguins ignore him and move as they pleased despite the offered treats.
【Madoka】 「Wehihi, that’s so funny!」
【Homura】 「Penguins are adorable creatures, but they aren’t attached to people.」
【Madoka】 「Penguins have all sorts of personalities; some are gentle and sociable, while others are aggressive and not friendly at all.」
【Homura】 「They indeed aren’t just some pretty show animal.」
In the tank, penguins flap their wings as they skillfully swim.
【Homura】 「The way they swim seems like they’re soaring through the sky.」
【Madoka】 「They’re so cute. I’d like to get a stuffed toy of them.」
【Homura】 「Do you think about keeping penguins?」
【Madoka】 「Hmm, not really…. Besides, I think penguins would rather live freely in nature than in aquariums…」
【Homura】 「I agree…. But, I think aquarium life is neither miserable nor pointless.」
【Homura】 「Aquariums don’t take in sea creatures just to put them on display.」
【Homura】 「Besides being fun theme parks, aquariums serve as museums where you can learn about the ecology of aquatic life, as well as research institutions.」
【Madoka】 「Research institutions?」
【Homura】 「For example, if there were marine organisms on the verge of extinction…. What could you do to save them if you knew nothing about how they live or behave?」
【Madoka】 「Oh…」
【Homura】 「Much of what we know about marine life is thanks to aquarium breeding and research programs.」
【Madoka】 「I see, and then that helps us protect the sea creatures. Still, I feel a little sorry for them…」
【Homura】 「Of course, it’s the aquarium’s moral duty to provide a suitable environment for the creatures to thrive.」
【Madoka】 「It seems hard for humans to live with other creatures…」
【Homura】 「There’s many things to consider. Organisms live according to their own rules. What matters is knowing how to coexist.」
Both adults and children cheer at penguins’ lovely and humorous actions.
Homura-chan is also enjoying the show… or rather, she’s amused by the penguins’ unruliness.
Aletheia 