Lianying’s home, Chunhui Community, wasn’t that far from Binhai Park. But the time spent going back and forth, plus the delay waiting for the bus, meant that by the time Wuhua got on the return vehicle, dusk had fallen and the sun was setting.
Wrapped up in the joy and excitement of transforming into a Magical Girl for the first time, completing her first mission, and eliminating an Anomaly, Wuhua seemed to have forgotten something important. But physical exhaustion left her no room to think about it.
.
“Well done, Wuhua. You have more talent than I imagined.” Ruibi’s tone from inside the pocket was flat, yet filled with generous praise.
“At this rate, you’ll become an excellent Magical Girl soon. Even better than the one who lives with you…”
“Meow meow, I can’t pretend I didn’t hear that, meow. It’s true, Wuhua’s talent is obvious to everyone, but my Contractor and Xiao Ying and Xiao Lan are definitely stronger.” Miao Ke retorted, as if protecting his own.
“Surpass Big Sister Lianying? I think I’m fine with being behind her, hehe.” Wuhua smiled, then turned her gaze out the window at the city dyed orange.
With the autumn season’s help, it gave a relaxing, leisurely feeling. Especially on the way back after being busy.
“At this hour, Big Sister Lianying should be done with school too. Maybe she’s made something delicious at home and is waiting for me.” Wuhua, whose stomach was about to growl, could only think of tasting a good meal.
“…Meow?!” Just then, Miao Ke inside the pocket suddenly stiffened, its doll-like soft body going rigid as if shocked.
“What’s wrong, Miao Ke?” Wuhua asked in confusion. Ruibi also shot a puzzled and somewhat disdainful look.
“You—if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve forgotten, meow.” With that, Miao Ke poked its head out of the pocket. “Wuhua, you’d better hurry home, meow. If I’m not guessing wrong, meow.”
Leaving behind such baffling words, Miao Ke vanished in a flash of light before Wuhua’s eyes.
“It left.” Ruibi said nonchalantly.
“Maybe something urgent came up.” Wuhua shrugged just as casually, then propped her head on her hand. She started thinking about Lianying—
“You can go play downstairs, but you absolutely cannot leave the neighborhood.”
The scene from when they parted in the afternoon suddenly flashed through her mind. Along with the repeated warnings Lianying had given her.
Then she realized what important thing she had forgotten.
“Wait. No way…”
Clutching an ominous premonition, in an atmosphere of tension and unease, Wuhua felt for the first time how heavy the steps toward home were.
…
…
About ten minutes later.
‘Please don’t be home, please don’t be home, please don’t be home!’
Standing at the door with her head down and hands clasped, Wuhua prayed and prepared herself mentally.
“Hm? Isn’t that Wuhua? What are you doing standing here?”
Just then, a voice came from behind. It was Qinglan, who lived next door and had just returned.
“Ah, Big Sister Qinglan. Hello.” Wuhua greeted politely.
“Hello there. Did you go out without your keys? Ah, no—if it’s Lianying, she should have been home half an hour ago.” Qinglan said casually.
Little did she know, those words already chilled Wuhua’s heart.
Qinglan looked at Wuhua, then at Lianying’s front door. She thought for a moment, then nodded in sudden understanding.
“…You’re being punished by standing in the corner, aren’t you?” As she spoke, Qinglan’s face showed a mix of pity for Wuhua and a hint of amusement.
Having grown up as playmates and friends, witnessing how the other punished a child inevitably made her feelings complicated.
“Lianying is really something—she’s only been here a few days and she’s already treating you like this. Let me put in a good word for you.” Qinglan was about to ring the doorbell, but Wuhua stopped her.
“…I’m not being punished yet. But it’s probably close.” Twisting her fingers in guilt, Wuhua told Qinglan the whole story.
Of course, she left out the Magical Girl part. She only said she’d gone to the park.
“I see. Looks like I came too early.” Qinglan smiled, crouched down, and gently stroked Wuhua’s head. “It’s okay. As long as you explain the situation properly to that girl, she’ll definitely forgive you.”
“R-Really?!” As if grasping at a lifeline, Wuhua’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Qinglan.
“Mmm… if worst comes to worst, you can come hang out in my room.” As if coaxing a kid, Qinglan felt a bit guilty and looked away, unable to meet Wuhua’s eyes.
“Boo, hoo. Big Sister Qinglan, you liar!!!”
Meanwhile, inside Lianying’s room, the soundproofing wasn’t as good as expected, and the two voices came through clearly, word for word.
“Haah, what are those two even doing? Honestly.”
Lianying couldn’t help but sigh.
.
.
.
click. The front door opened. Wuhua’s figure slipped through the gap, and she carefully closed the door behind her.
Like a thief sneaking in, she tiptoed toward Lianying’s room, hoping no one would see her.
“…Ahem.” But none of this escaped the eyes of Lianying, who was sitting on the living room sofa with her arms crossed.
Startled by the cough, Wuhua froze and turned stiffly. When she noticed Lianying, she put on a surprised expression.
“Ah, ah. Isn’t this Big Sister Lianying? Welcome back.” Wuhua forced a smile and obediently walked up to Lianying.
At that moment, she put more effort into acting like a child than she ever had during this whole disguise.
“Those are words only someone who’s been at home is supposed to say. You don’t say ‘welcome back’ to someone who just got home.” Lianying looked at her, puffing her cheeks in anger.
‘S-Scary! Is this really the same Lianying who always smiled at me and took care of me?’
To anyone else, this might have been a perfectly normal reaction. Neither excessive nor cold.
But this was that Lianying. When she didn’t address her as “Xiao Hua~” in the opening, the problem was already huge!
“I-I’m sorry…”
Deeply aware of the gravity of the situation, Wuhua bowed her head and apologized without thinking. It looked pathetic, but she knew she was in the wrong.
A tense, sticky silence briefly filled the room. Of course, only for a moment.
“Hmph, I accept your apology.” Unlike her tough front, Lianying forgave Wuhua without hesitation.
“But before that, you need to explain to me properly. Where did you go and what did you do?”
Perhaps because of the age gap and their different roles now, when Lianying asked this, it really felt to Wuhua like a mother or an older sister.
Even setting aside the fact that she was a high school student.
“Well—” Wuhua could only repeat the explanation she’d given Qinglan.
.
“Binhai Park, huh.” Lianying nodded thoughtfully.
A seven-year-old child riding the bus alone out of boredom to a park not too far from home, playing there, then returning obediently in the evening.
Logically and emotionally, it barely counted as a reasonable and defensible story. Lianying didn’t doubt it or object. However—
“I specifically told you not to leave the neighborhood.” Lianying said, slowly standing up.
“But on second thought, letting a little kid endure boredom and loneliness at home is also my responsibility.” She gently pulled Wuhua into a hug and rubbed her cheek against the small body.
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re not hurt. I was thinking about giving you a small punishment, but I’ll let it slide this time.” Lianying smiled and slowly released Wuhua.
“T-This time only?” Wuhua keenly caught the unspoken second half.
“Of course. If Xiao Hua makes a mistake next time, as your mother… I mean, I’ll get angry too, and teach you a lesson.” Lianying gave her a small warning.
“Now, Xiao Hua, go watch some TV. Dinner will be ready soon.” Her usual warmth and care returned. In a better mood, Lianying headed toward the kitchen.
“Phew. Dodged that bullet.” Relieved both mentally and physically, Wuhua turned on the TV without thinking—
“Huh? This news…” When she noticed what was playing on the screen and tried to mute it, it was already too late.
.
“This afternoon, at Binhai Park in Haizhu City, an Anomaly attack occurred. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Many witnesses claim they saw a Magical Girl in a black-and-white dress. The specific details on-site await professional investigation and analysis. This station will continue to follow up—”