“……So, what exactly is going on?”
Wuhua, still confused, asked Lin Sou, who was apologizing profusely beside her.
The two, having cleared up the misunderstanding, took the opportunity to rest and chat right there after the battle, discussing the situation that had just occurred.
“I’m Lin Sou. As you can see, I’m a member of the Emergency Response Team of the Magic Girl Management Bureau.”
Lin Sou introduced herself simply.
“I’m mainly responsible for handling special emergency situations that require magical girls.”
“From the Administration Bureau? A magical girl?”
Wuhua knew about them, but actually meeting one was still surprising.
‘So this is the Cooperation Faction that Mingji mentioned before.’
“Mm-hmm, and then—this is all my fault.”
Then, without a second thought, Lin Sou took the blame.
“I thought you were a Wayward Girl coming to snatch this thing, so I just struck first.”
“Wayward Girl? Do I look like them?”
Wuhua recalled the Hanna she had encountered earlier.
“Besides, you clearly recognized me.”
“Well… there’s no difference in appearance between Wayward Girls and magical girls.”
Lin Sou patiently explained.
“The reason I thought that was because the Administration Bureau has reported many cases of Wayward Girls collecting Wish Jades recently. That’s also why I was sent here to retrieve this one.”
As she spoke, Lin Sou handed Wuhua the object she called a “Wish Jade”—a sphere that constantly emitted a faint glow. It had a smooth texture similar to a gem.
“As for not recognizing you at first… that has to do with the White Mist you control, Mirror.”
Lin Sou added with a wry smile.
“With that around, I didn’t even realize you were a seven-year-old girl. Or rather, your way of speaking made me misunderstand a bit?”
.
“Ehh~ So that’s how it is. I’m really sorry, Sister Lin Sou.”
Wuhua quickly switched her demeanor, speaking in a way that better fit her image (or so she thought).
‘The Wayward Girls are collecting these things. The Administration Bureau wants to stop them.’
‘Lin Sou thought I was a Wayward Girl, so she decided to beat me up without a word.’
After a moment of thought, Wuhua sorted out the situation and nodded obediently.
“I see, I understand now. Looks like I got in the way of your work. Sorry.”
Out of politeness, she also responded with an apology.
“By the way, Sister Lin Sou. Have we met before? I don’t really remember.”
“No no, I should be the one apologizing. According to regulations, attacking a magical girl without authorization can result in a reprimand or even disciplinary action…”
Lin Sou touched her hair awkwardly.
“Besides, you’re the magical girl who performed exceptionally against the Anomaly on Twin Bridge a few days ago. I happened to read that report, so…”
“Th-That so? Hehe, that’s a bit embarrassing.”
Unexpectedly famous for this, Wuhua blushed and smiled.
“By the way, since you’re also a magical girl, Sister Lin Sou, is it okay to tell me your name?”
“Well… for us magical girls working for the adults in the Administration Bureau, our identities are actually semi-public.”
Lin Sou shrugged with a wry smile.
“But next time we meet, I’d appreciate it if you called me Cute Wind.”
As she spoke, Lin Sou looked up at the sky. The setting sun hung on the horizon, casting an orange afterglow.
“Alright. It’s getting late. I should be going now.”
Lin Sou pointed at the Wish Jade in Wuhua’s hand.
“Consider this Wish Jade my apology gift to you. Just as long as it doesn’t fall into the hands of the Wayward Girls.”
And so, after leaving a special gift and waving goodbye, the magical girl named Lin Sou vanished from Wuhua’s sight.
.
“Hmm. It’s best that the misunderstanding was cleared up and there was no further conflict.”
Seeing the other leave, Ruibi said slowly from beside her.
“And by sheer luck, we even successfully collected a Wish Jade.”
“That was really close, meow. If it had kept going, I would have gone to find Xiao Ying, meow.”
Miao Ke also popped out.
“Like last time, if Xiao Ying came, she’d handle it, meow.”
“Well, she is Sister Lianying after all.”
Wuhua agreed with that statement.
“…And one more question. What exactly is this thing? I went through all this trouble, even fighting someone, to barely get my hands on it.”
“As for that, let’s save the explanation for when we get back.”
…
…
Wuhua managed to get home before Lianying’s school let out. After handing the Wish Jade to Ruibi for safekeeping, she went to the entrance hall. Soon, familiar voices came from outside—
“S-Seeyou tomorrow, Qinglan. If I can even get up tomorrow.”
“…Don’t scare Wuhua when you go in looking like that.”
But today seemed a bit special.
‘Huh? What happened?’
While Wuhua was still confused, the door in front of her opened.
“W-Welcome back, Sister Lianying.”
Wuhua, having prepared in advance, rushed into Lianying’s arms.
“I’m home—Xiaohua.”
Lianying greeted weakly, forcing a strained smile on her face.
“Let’s just order takeout tonight. What do you want to eat?”
She crouched down to look Wuhua in the eye.
“Um, Sister Lianying? What’s wrong?”
Wuhua looked at her with concern. Her expression was more haggard and tired than usual.
She looked less like a student and more like an office worker returning home after a full day’s work.
“Aaaah wuwuwuwuwuwuwu…”
Perhaps she lost control of her emotions. Lianying let go of Wuhua and collapsed onto the floor of the entrance hall.
“Listen to me, Xiaohua~ Today the school organized a physical fitness test. We did several events all at once. An 800-meter run, sit-ups, standing long jump, and seated forward bend…”
Before she could finish, Lianying slowly closed her eyes, like a machine that had run out of power.
“No wonder she ended up like this.”
Wuhua, who could somewhat understand Lianying, realized she needed to do something.
Wuhua first helped put her bag aside and took out what should be a change of clothes.
Inside, the sweat-stained school uniform shirt was neatly folded. Even from a distance, she could smell the sour and sweet odor.
‘N-No way! Lianying is still here.’
After restraining herself from pressing her face against it, she quickly put it in the washing machine.
Next, Wuhua went to Lianying’s side and helped her take off her socks and shoes that had been stuffy all day.
‘N-No, this is a bit… hmm.’
Ignoring her strange thoughts, she neatly placed them on the proper spots on the shoe rack. Then.
“A-And this too. Please handle it, Xiaohua. I can’t move right now.”
Lianying suddenly reached inside her shirt, skillfully unclasped and took something out.
“Eh?”
When Wuhua dumbly reached out and held the thing in her hands to look closely…
“Th-This is!?”
It was Lianying’s pink bra, still warm from her body. Although the design was a cute patterned style, the size was a different story—
Wuhua’s small hands could barely hold it in her arms.
“Xiaohua, for this, you need to put it in the bra bag—the transparent one, okay?”
Lianying didn’t forget to instruct.
“…”
But Wuhua wasn’t listening. Her attention was elsewhere.
‘L-Lianying just took it off.’
Wuhua swallowed hard, her rationality teetering on the brink of collapse—
Even if she did something strange, Lianying wouldn’t suspect or dislike her. Being in such a special position made it hard for Wuhua to control herself.
But.
“…You’ll catch a cold sleeping here, Sister Lianying. Let’s sit over there first.”
Wuhua tried to help Lianying up from the floor.
Her concern and affection for this girl ultimately overcame her swelling desire. Even if only for a moment.
“Mm, mm.”
Without energy to think much, Lianying wobbled over to the sofa and sat down, staring blankly at the unopened TV.
“Here, Sister. Drink some water first. Take it slow.”
Wuhua handed the cup to Lianying, then turned on the TV to add some background noise to the silent room.
“Th-Thank you, Xiaohua. Actually, I’m not that…”
Lianying forced herself to say, barely squeezing out a sound.
“Mm. Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Perhaps she didn’t want Wuhua to take care of her, but she still thought, ‘It’s nice like this once in a while.’
“Aah. My shoulders are so sore. I feel like my bones are falling apart.”
As she said, Lianying used her fist to pound her stiff shoulders.
“…Sister Lianying.”
Seeing this, Wuhua, feeling sorry for her, had an idea.
“How about I give you a massage?”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.