“Don’t, let me go~ I don’t want to be separated from Xiaohua, I don’t want to go to school!”
On a sunny morning with a gentle breeze, Lianying’s home always seemed especially lively. Especially on Mondays.
“Why can’t weekends be three days? Why can’t I take a day off today? Why do people have to go to school?”
Suffering from what seemed like post-vacation syndrome, Lianying stood at the entrance, tightly holding onto Wuhua, who had originally been seeing her off.
“…Come on, let go of Wuhua now. If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss the bus.” Qinglan grabbed her clothes and pulled her outside.
“Boo hoo, Xiaohua. If you get hungry, just order takeout. That phone account is linked to me—another bank card. Be careful at home alone; don’t wander too far. There are lots of games and toys in the box; play with them if you get bored. Don’t play with fire or electricity. Don’t open the door for strangers. Big sister will be back soon…”
Even after getting on the elevator, Lianying didn’t stop worrying and sighed as she gave Wuhua a thousand instructions.
“I-I get it, Lianying big sister. See you later.” Wuhua waved to her and watched the elevator doors close.
“Heh. Just like a kid who doesn’t want to go to kindergarten.” Wuhua let out a long breath and went back inside.
‘But she’s also like a mother, nagging me.’ Having somewhat gotten used to this contrast, Wuhua took out her phone and glanced through it.
-Good morning, Miss Wuhua. Did you sleep well yesterday (˵>ㅿ<˵)♡ Today is Monday, a school day.
-But my school usually lets out in the afternoon (=^â–½^=) Feel free to come visit me anytime.
-Oh. Let’s talk later, the school bus is here ( p′︵‵。) Goodbye, Miss Wuhua.
Qianhan, as always, was much more expressive with emojis in her texts than in person. After briefly replying to her, Wuhua thought.
“…All right. Time to handle my own matters.” These past few days, Wuhua had been running around nonstop dealing with Lianying and the Magical Girl incidents.
After thinking for a moment, she dialed a number that wasn’t in her contacts but she remembered by heart.
“Hello, Mingji. It’s Wuhua. Are you free right now?”
.
Half an hour later, in the CBD district of Haizhu City, opposite direction from Lianying’s home, where various office buildings stood, a seven-year-old girl took a taxi and arrived at the entrance of a certain company.
The sign at the front read, “Alice Media Co., Ltd.”
“Wait, wait a minute, little girl.” A security guard smoking outside noticed Wuhua as she approached the door. “This is a company, not a place for kids to play. Or are you here to look for your mom or dad?”
“…I work here. I’m an employee.” Despite Wuhua telling the truth, the guard’s confusion only deepened.
“She’s right. It’s been a week already without anyone noticing.” Just then, Mingji, who had been waiting, appeared from the side.
“Long time no see, Wuhua. Come on in.”
And so Wuhua followed behind Mingji, entering the elevator under the gaze of other employees who mistakenly assumed they were mother and daughter.
“This… when did this company start hiring child labor?” The security guard’s misunderstanding seemed even more severe.
.
.
“Hmm… I see. I’ve got a general picture of the situation. The plan is going more smoothly than expected.”
Inside the company’s meeting room, used for reception, interviews, and consultations, Mingji nodded after listening to Wuhua’s report on the past few days.
“I didn’t expect you to call this morning. That Lianying really thinks things through.”
“Yeah. I can feel that too.” Wuhua looked at the table in front of her, which was about the same height as she was.
“Lianying has accepted me as a true family member.”
“That’s indeed good news. It’ll be beneficial for our operations going forward. However—” Mingji put her hand on the table and smiled.
“Today I called you here not to talk about things that could be explained over the phone.”
“Before that, I have a question for you.” Wuhua raised a hand to stop her.
“How is my little sister Wuxi doing? I remember before the plan started, you assured me…”
“Oh, come on. It’s only been a few days. What do you take me for?” Mingji crossed her arms in dissatisfaction and pouted.
With her smooth black hair tied up behind her head, wearing a perfectly tailored office lady uniform, her delicate features transitioning from cute to mature, light makeup to look more energetic, a slim and well-proportioned figure—the result of daily exercise.
“I go visit her every other day, bringing things. Three times last week. At this rate, I’m starting to wonder if she’s actually my sister.”
“Then just treat her like that. Mm, as her big brother, I permit it.” Wuhua nodded, acting as if she had gotten the better end of the deal.
“Fine… Wuxi is 13 this year, right? In the current situation, you’re her little sister.” Mingji joked half-seriously.
“I wonder what kind of funny reaction she’ll have when she sees you like this.”
“Yeah, she’s ten years younger than me.” Wuhua’s face showed a complicated expression. “Becoming my own sister’s little sister. Truly unpredictable.”
“How is she doing? Did she ask about me? Is the medical expenses issue okay?” Wuhua fired off questions in rapid succession.
“The doctor says her condition is stabilizing and well-controlled. Maybe one day she can be discharged. As for the medical expenses, just as the company initially promised, we’ll cover everything. As for…”
Mingji sighed softly. “She misses you a lot. Every time I go, the first thing she asks about is you.”
“Don’t scare me like that.” Wuhua’s heart skipped a beat, thinking something was wrong. “It’s not like I’ll never get to see her. Once this mission is over…”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about.” Mingji interrupted, standing up and sitting in the seat next to Wuhua.
“What did you mean on the phone when you said you were the Magical Girl? You haven’t forgotten what I said, have you? If you awaken as a Magical Girl…”
“Then you can never turn back into a man or return to your original form, right?” Wuhua shrugged indifferently.
“If it’s for Lianying and Wuxi’s sake.”
.
.
“Save all Magical Girls, embody Salvation and Hope! …Transform!” A white light flashed in the meeting room.
When the light faded, a Magical Girl with silver-white twin tails and a Lolita dress appeared before Mingji’s eyes.
“…You actually became one, huh.” Forcing calm, Mingji barely managed to say the words right. “You agreed to a rabbit-like Fairy and awakened as a Magical Girl.”
Wuhua had already explained the whole sequence of events in detail before, but only now, seeing it with her own eyes, did Mingji have to believe the reality.
“Actually, even before you told me, I had already done it.” Wuhua shook her head helplessly.
“…Then what did you mean when you said it was for Lianying? I can understand raising money for your sister’s medical expenses and carrying out the company’s plan.” Mingji looked at her with confusion.
“Hmm… Mingji, think about it. What would have happened if I hadn’t awakened as a Magical Girl and just finished the mission here?” Wuhua asked in return.
“…You would have turned back to your original self, left Lianying’s side, and gone back to living the same life as before with your sister.” Mingji thought for a moment and answered.
“Exactly. I would have barged into Lianying’s life, become family in her heart, and then silently left without a word. Or maybe I’d smile and tell her—”
Wuhua used expressions and gestures to simulate and act out the situation as she explained to Mingji.
“Actually, all of this was the company’s conspiracy. I only chose to become your family to get information from you. Now we’re done; we have nothing to do with each other.”
“I know what it feels like to lose family. I couldn’t do something that cruel.”
“Besides, I really like my life and myself now. This is something I’ve never experienced before in the past—youth and happiness. Whether it’s being a seven-year-old girl, a high schooler’s family member, or a Magical Girl protecting the world.”