Chapter 51: Magical Girl Dandelion

“Huang Xi!”

“Huang Xi!”

“Huang Xi!!!”

“Waaaaaah!”

Huang Xi opened her eyes and saw Mu Yurou’s worried face.

“I was so scared. I’m glad you’re okay.”

Mu Yurou let out a sigh of relief, but still didn’t let go of Huang Xi from her embrace.

“What happened? Where’s that monster?”

Huang Xi was still shaken, clinging tightly to Mu Yurou’s arms.

“It’s okay now, it’s okay. The Magical Girl defeated it.”

Mu Yurou gently stroked Huang Xi’s head, like comforting a frightened child.

“Uu~ I was so scared, I almost died~”

Huang Xi sobbed, sounding like a scared little kitten.

She buried her face into Mu Yurou’s chest.

Mu Yurou felt her chest growing damp from some kind of liquid.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry, it’s all right, it’s all right.”

“Uu, Xiao Rou~”

After calming down a bit, Huang Xi lifted her face.

Mu Yurou saw her eyes were already red from crying, like a little tabby cat.

“Are you all right?”

Mu Yurou took out her handkerchief and wiped Huang Xi’s tears.

“I-I’m fine.”

“Why did you come back to find me?”

“I heard there was a magical beast attack near you, so I rushed back. By the time I got here, the Magical Girl had already defeated the beast. She was holding the unconscious you and set you down on the road. Then I stayed with you until you woke up.”

Mu Yurou wiped away Huang Xi’s tears, though her eyes still remained red.

“That was too dangerous! Why did you come back for me?!”

“Oh my god, thank goodness for the Magical Girl. If not—”

“You’re my friend. I was worried about you, so I came.”

Friend…

Huang Xi’s cheeks turned red.

“Anyway, don’t do something so dangerous for me next time. It’s too risky, really!”

“But…thank you for coming to find me…”

Huang Xi’s face turned red all the way to her ears, like a roasted sweet potato.

“It’s okay.”

Mu Yurou smoothed out Huang Xi’s messy hair.

At that moment, the people from the Magic Association finally arrived.

A woman in a suit, looking sharp and capable, got out of the car.

Zhang Xia walked up to them.

“This little blonde girl is the only victim of this incident. The Magic Association needs to conduct a full examination.”

Two medical staff appeared at Zhang Xia’s side, lifting a stretcher.

“Even though there are no external injuries, I think it’s better to check anyway.”

Mu Yurou said as she helped Huang Xi onto the stretcher.

Just as Mu Yurou was about to leave, Huang Xi grabbed her wrist.

“Won’t you stay with me~”

Huang Xi’s voice was like a wronged little kitten.

Mu Yurou gently removed Huang Xi’s hand.

“I have some things to do. It’s okay, let’s meet again tomorrow.”

Before leaving, she patted Huang Xi’s head.

Watching Huang Xi being lifted onto the car, Mu Yurou finally walked over to Zhang Xia.

“Well done, Lily of the Valley.”

Zhang Xia’s voice was full of praise.

“Thank you for the compliment, Aunt Zhang~ Eheh.”

Mu Yurou scratched the back of her head.

“I think you’ve earned the right and responsibility to become a full-fledged Magical Girl.”

“Eh, really!?”

“Of course. Congratulations on becoming an official Magical Girl, Mu Yurou.”

“Yes! I’ll do my best!”

***

Night clouds covered the moon, making the already dark night even blacker.

But inside the Magic Association’s dining hall, the lights still shone brightly.

“Congratulations to Lily of the Valley-chan on becoming a Magical Girl!”

Poppy raised her glass.

“Ahahaha, thank you, Sister Meiren.”

Mu Yurou’s cheeks were flushed red. She wasn’t supposed to drink alcohol.

“All right, all right, cheers.”

“Cheers!”

The crisp clink of glasses rang out.

A bottle of Cocktail went down, and warmth spread through her body.

“Drink less…”

Wuwangwo sat next to Poppy.

She pushed her glasses up and stopped Poppy from pouring another glass.

“Just one more sip… We should celebrate for Little Lily of the Valley~”

“Hic~”

Poppy hiccupped, making the whole room burst into laughter—except for one person.

“Enough, no more drinking! Little Lily of the Valley, you can’t drink either! I remember you’re underage!”

Wuwangwo grabbed both of their bottles at once.

“It’s fine, it’s fine… Cocktail is low in alcohol. Besides, what’s there to fear for us Magical Girls when it comes to a little drink~”

“You idiot, don’t teach bad habits to children.”

Wuwangwo smacked Poppy on the head, making her shriek.

“Oww~ Why did you hit me? I like you so much, Little Wuwangwo~ Yet you hit me…”

Poppy collapsed onto Wuwangwo.

“Stop acting drunk…”

Though she said that, a faint blush rose on Wuwangwo’s face.

She didn’t push Poppy away, letting her squirm all over her.

Poppy’s fiery red hair tickled Wuwangwo’s neck, and finally, she pushed the drunken girl away.

“You two seniors are really close~”

Mu Yurou said with a smile.

***

The party ended.

Mu Yurou returned to her slightly chilly home.

It would be nice if sister could move back.

She thought so.

She washed up briefly, then lay on her bed.

For some reason—maybe because of the alcohol—she remembered Poppy and Wuwangwo’s close interaction that day.

Their relationship is so good. I wish I had someone to be that close with, too…

She thought of Huang Xi.

Mu Yurou quickly shook her head.

If I make the wrong move, we can’t even be friends anymore.

It’s better to leave things as they are.

As she felt her eyelids grow heavy, Mu Yurou sank into deep sleep.

***

Months passed.

Mu Yurou gradually became a skilled Magical Girl.

“Hey, what’s with you these past few days?”

Mu Yurou looked at Huang Xi, who was giggling to herself across the table.

“Nothing, nothing. Just thought of something happy.”

“Something happy? All right…”

Huang Xi glanced at the time and hurriedly stood up.

“Eh, are you leaving?”

“Yes, yes, I have something to do today, so I’ll head out early. Bye-bye~”

Huang Xi ran off excitedly, leaving Mu Yurou alone in the Coffee Shop.

“Well~okay~”

Mu Yurou also got up to leave.

She still had to stop by the Magic Association today.

They said a new member would be joining the team.

Mu Yurou didn’t expect to have a junior so soon.

She left the coffee shop and walked toward the Magic Association.

***

Inside the Magic Association’s Training Room, Mu Yurou and the others waited for the new member.

Just then, Zhang Xia walked in, her voice heavy and resolute.

“Today, we welcome another new child. Please welcome Magical Girl Dandelion!”

Applause filled the room.

Behind Zhang Xia, a blonde figure nervously stepped forward.

“E-everyone, hello. I’m Dandelion.”