In April, the spring sky was unusually gloomy, with sunlight scattering sparsely, intermingling with the shadows of trees overhead.
Perhaps due to the rare orange wind warning that hadn’t been seen in a decade, the streets were unusually deserted, with only willow catkins swirling through the air, desperately seeking any crevice to hide in.
But some people are naturally the center of attention, no matter where they go, never lacking an audience.
A mere passing glance from them could draw curious glances from others, and even their casual online comments seemed to have a unique charm.
“Alright, we’re almost there. Come out from behind,” Miti said, turning to look at the mouse-like figure using her as a shield.
She sighed helplessly.
Hearing Miti’s words, Su Mu cautiously peeked out, only relaxing when she saw no one around.
That brief stretch had been one of the most agonizing journeys of her life.
The brilliance of this outfit was that when she tried to hide from Lando and Miti by keeping her head down, it made her look like a prisoner being escorted.
And if she stood tall and proud… well, that would probably make her seem even less like a normal person.
It was so embarrassing that Su Mu even considered emulating a certain socially anxious girl with pink hair, blue eyes, and a D-cup, by covering herself with a ripe mango.
“Damn it, I should have worn a coat over this,” Su Mu muttered to herself, her voice barely audible.
But Lando caught it, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Could it be that this person was the type who acted recklessly online but was a socially anxious recluse in real life?
She shook her head, banishing the jumbled thoughts, and reached out to feel the waves of energy in the air.
Such a noisy windy day, but unfortunately, no monsters.
Her hands were itching for action.
“This is the Magic Girl Association in City B,” Su Mu looked up, her eyes slightly dazed by the slightly nostalgic old street scenery.
The rusty bicycles parked by the roadside, the mottled square stone bricks underfoot, and the swaying tree shadows in the wind—through it all, she could almost glimpse the shadows of the last century.
But the Western-style building in the center of her vision was jarringly out of place, almost shattering the old-time filter draped over the street.
“Looks like a café,” she commented.
“The first floor is a café, and all sorts of drinks and desserts are freely available to members,” Miti explained as she pushed open the clear glass door and nodded to the chestnut-haired woman behind the counter before leading Su Mu downstairs.
“Why choose this place?” Su Mu asked.
Miti shrugged slightly. “You’d have to ask the boss. We usually don’t stay long at the association; it’s mostly just a meeting point.”
It was far more casual than Su Mu had imagined.
After all, with only a handful of magic girls in a city, there was no need for a large, systematic management facility.
But given the status of magic girls in people’s hearts, the funding was probably substantial, likely spent on the exquisite decorations around her.
Turning the corner of the wooden staircase, she was greeted by a cozy, relaxed living room.
The thick carpet underfoot was incredibly soft, and the well-placed sofas and TV under the soft lighting seemed to beckon.
Just breathing the air here made one’s mind involuntarily relax, nothing like the tense, stern, high-tech atmosphere Su Mu had expected.
“So, the ‘boss’ you mentioned is——”
“Naito,” came the reply.
Now, at the mere mention of the word “rabbit,” Su Mu felt a chill run down her spine.
The absurd idea of transforming the association into a café was most likely that person’s doing.
“Where is she now?”
“You’ll meet her soon.”
Next to the living room was a long corridor, and Miti walked straight to the end, opening the door.
Su Mu looked inside curiously, her eyes gradually adjusting to the dimness of the room.
As she took a step forward, her foot bumped into something.
Looking down, she saw a red game console.
There were more than just one—various types of game consoles and discs were neatly piled in a corner like a small mountain.
But what caught her eye the most was the silver-haired girl sitting on an e-sports chair with her back to them.
She was wearing headphones, intently controlling the joystick in her hand, skillfully maneuvering the cave knight on the screen to dodge various traps.
Her hand movements were minimal, and the character’s trajectory was not exaggerated, yet she perfectly avoided all threats and landed smoothly at the finish line with exquisite precision.
As the game entered the scoring page, the girl took off her headphones and no longer paid attention to the screen.
There was no need to guess; it was an S rating for sure.
Before the door was pushed open, she had already sensed their arrival.
“Hey, you’re here,” she greeted.
“Yes, boss. Is there anything else? If not, I’ll be on my way,” Miti replied, seeming rather eager to leave.
It was unclear whether it was because she felt uneasy around the silver-haired girl or because she had other matters to attend to.
“Nothing more. Thanks for today, Miti,” the girl said.
Miti nodded and quickly disappeared through the doorway.
Lando, on the other hand, did not follow.
Instead, she looked hesitant, as if she wanted to say something.
“Lando, there are no monster incidents to deal with right now,” the girl said before Lando could speak, seemingly able to read her mind.
Lando’s face fell, and she made a small fist in the air, glancing at Su Mu one more time before leaving the room as well.
When the girl saw Su Mu’s attire, her eyes curved into a mischievous smile, clearly having anticipated this outcome.
“Irina, congratulations on making it here in one piece. How about a cup of coffee to celebrate? Or maybe some milk tea? I hear young girls like those sorts of things,” she said.
The silver-haired girl with a carefree expression was none other than the person behind the annoying Gray Rabbit Milk Candy ID.
Thinking about how her day had been orchestrated by this girl made Su Mu’s teeth itch with frustration.
“Forget about that. At least explain why you went through all this trouble to bring me here,” Su Mu said, feeling exhausted.
Although her body hadn’t been physically harmed, the emotional turmoil had been immense.
Experiencing the horror movie protagonist’s first-person perspective under Lando’s watch, being forced to transform into a magic girl and don this terrible outfit…
“Before we get to that, let me check you over first,” the girl said, picking up the cold coffee from the table and taking a sip.
She then snapped her fingers, and in the next moment, the door suddenly shut on its own, sending a chill of cold air towards Su Mu’s back and making her shiver involuntarily as she wrapped her arms around herself.
“Quick, take off your clothes,” the girl said with an aggressively suggestive tone, slowly approaching Su Mu, her mischievous hands gripping the air as if she were a villain cornering a helpless girl.
Surprisingly, when she stood up, she only reached Su Mu’s eyebrows, making her actions seem somewhat… cute?
However, in Su Mu’s eyes, already worn out from the day’s events, this seemingly harmless silver-haired girl was nothing short of a smiling demon.
“What are you planning to do?” Su Mu asked nervously.
“Hehe, of course, I want to see if you’re developing properly~”
It’s so over for her…. 😔