Chapter 255

The president of the Cangyue Society looked bewildered and confused.

"So what?"

After that, Haihara looked at the broken mirror in the office.

Her reflection appeared in the shards of the mirror.

The face inside wasn't hers, but a woman with gray hair and purple eyes, as dazzling and radiant as a star or Silver Moon.

However, the face in the mirror then turned back into Haihara's.

The president of the Cangyue Society in the mirror is forever a blurry black shadow, having lost his original face, like a wandering soul that can never find peace.

After that, Haihara turned her head and looked at Cangyue Sogetsu's current appearance again.

"But in reality, you are nothing right now."

President Cangyue's gaze froze for a moment, and confusion appeared on his unpleasant expression.

What is this woman trying to say...?

At first, she couldn't understand what the woman was saying.

Looking at her, Haihara said calmly:

"You are just a restless, lingering ghost who can never find peace. Even if you live on in the human world with someone else's face, you can never become your true self again."

Haihara spoke coldly, with a hint of pity in her voice.

With each word she spoke, President Cangyue's expression twisted more. At first, she couldn't understand, but eventually she lost her composure and glared at Haihara with an angry expression.

But all she received was a cold, dismissive response.

"No wonder, you're just a mere stray dog that Al White beat to a pulp."

Yes.

They are not the same.

Haihara doesn't feel that she's still the Witch she used to be.

Although that person has many qualities that make her envious and resentful, it doesn't mean that Haihara wants to go back to the past and become her again.

She accepts everything she has and doesn't want to let go of anything.

If she is no longer herself, then even if she possesses everything she desires, it will be meaningless.

However, the woman in front of him had been living with other people's faces all along, and had long forgotten what she was supposed to be like.

After hearing Haihara's words, Cangyue Shaku remained unsettled for a long time. Finally, she raised her head and said coldly and angrily—

"Lilith... you betrayed R'lyeh just like me, and you met a miserable and defeated fate just like me. What's the difference between you and me? Stop being so self-righteous!"

"What do you know? Think carefully, what have you done?"

"Do you really think the Magic girls of R'lyeh will stand by your side? What gives you the right to lecture me from your superior position?"

Seeing her furious expression, Haihara didn't react in any particular way.

She merely raised her chin slightly, her gaze shifting for a moment.

How should I put it? It's been such a long time. The last time they met was a very, very long time ago, and now they've only been together for less than twenty minutes.

President Cangyue's words now are perhaps the heartfelt words that have been suppressed for many years.

But she just shook her head.

"You seem to have made a mistake?"

She said it very calmly.

The air suddenly became much quieter.

With the outcome no longer in doubt, Haihara reached out her hand, and correspondingly, the light in the office was gradually swallowed by black mist, and everything became blurry and dark.

And the face of President Cangyue was being gradually eroded and buried by this darkness.

"My actions have nothing to do with stance, justice or evil, or past entanglements."

Her reasoning was simple.

Haihara gazed at President Cangyue, and without realizing it, a smile crept onto her face—the same smile that always made one feel looked down upon and belittled. And this was the final sight a woman could see through her eyes.

"It's simply because... what you did made me very unhappy, that's all."

The next moment, the entire office was completely shrouded in darkness, silent and without light.

Chapter Fifty-Eight: The End of the Birthday

When they arrived at the park, Haihara stopped the car, and the three of them got out and walked for a while.

The heavy snow at night was beautiful.

Although Haihara also likes rain, the scenery tonight is really beautiful. Pure white snowflakes are falling from the black sky, and they are especially clear under the streetlights.

The morning's riots were nothing new to the residents of Maple Plain City, and in fact, the museum's final activities seemed rather disappointing. Anyway, we'd already bought souvenirs, so we might as well go somewhere else for a while.

And so, Haihara and Kuroki Yuka accompanied Ms. Suzuki for almost the entire afternoon, going to beauty salons for treatments, watching movies, and even planning to go to a hot spring, though neither Haihara nor Kuroki Yuka really wanted to go to a public bath.

Ms. Suzuki, of course, expressed her understanding and respect.

Next time, it would be nice to invite Haihara to soak in a private hot spring.

Honestly, I'm exhausted today. Heaven knows why Ms. Suzuki has so much energy. This makes Haihara a little worried. If she really were dating Ms. Suzuki, would her stamina be able to handle it?

Even Kuroki Yuka, a high school girl, looked like she was about to collapse from exhaustion.

Hmm, this kid isn't very good.

Before they knew it, they had reached the bridge. A convenience store in the distance was lit up. Upon seeing the store, Kuroki Yuka suddenly raised her head, which had been tucked into her collar.

"Um, I'd like to go to the convenience store to buy something. Is there anything I can buy with you?"

She pointed towards the convenience store.

Surprisingly, the park was deserted at night, even though it would have been a great spot to view the snow.

Haihara found it unusual for Kuroki Yuka to say such a thing, but then she saw Ms. Suzuki Haihara money out of her wallet and hand it to Kuroki Yuka.

"Just buy a can of alcohol for Aunt and Haihara."

Kuroki Yuka took the money, initially expressionless, but then she raised her head slightly, her black pupils blinking.

After a while, Haihara reminded her, "Minors aren't allowed to buy alcohol."

This startled Suzuki for a moment, then she smiled awkwardly, gently clasped her hands together, and looked apologetic.

"Sorry, Yu Ke, it would be better if you just bought some coffee."

After that, Kuroki Yuka went to a convenience store in the distance to buy something, leaving Haihara and Suzuki standing on the snow-covered bridge.

The weather is such that the river doesn't seem to be frozen yet, and the water flows exceptionally still and cold at night.

Suzuki watched the girl's departing figure, her mouth slightly open, but she didn't say anything, seemingly lost in thought. Then, she smiled and said to Haihara standing beside her:

"Haihara."

This woman always speaks in a very gentle tone.

It's not the kind of gentleness that makes you feel weak and helpless, but rather a mature and reliable feeling.

Haihara felt like she was only a year younger than him.

I don't know if others think this way, but when Haihara encounters someone like this, she always wonders what it would have been like if they had spent their youth together.

"Being a good adult is harder than you think. You tell me, as her Aunt, I've been a terrible one, haven't I?"

Suzuki's tone sounded somewhat regretful and wistful.

Today's experience, along with what happened before, made Suzuki feel that she had done a terrible job as the other person's Aunt.

Haihara tilted her head slightly.

"Hmm, that's about it."

She responded calmly.

Although she liked Ms. Suzuki very much, it was true that the other woman seemed like a terrible adult.

Whether it's that Kuroki Yuka has been staying home alone for so long without going to school, or that Kuroki Yuka hasn't even considered how to go to the museum today, frankly speaking, she's an unreliable adult.

Besides, Ms. Suzuki is a teacher.

They had both seen many terrible parents, and while they found it outrageous, they often thought about how they didn't want to become like that.

However, in reality, it's still a very difficult thing to do.

"Perhaps someone like me isn't really suited to having children."

Ms. Suzuki brought up the topic, she continued to stroke her chin, deep in thought.

Haihara nodded earnestly beside her.

"Perhaps that's true."

However, it's not just Ms. Suzuki who's such a terrible adult.

She'd seen far worse parents.

Needless to say, Ai Kirishima Ai's parents, Takanashi's mother, and the idol's parents were also terrible, and Kuroki Yuka's own parents were undoubtedly awful as well.

Sometimes, Haihara wonders if she's like that too.

Everyone acted like spoiled children.

Once a person has a child, they should realize that they are no longer a child and should take on responsibilities like an adult.

However, it seems that neither ordinary people in this world, nor even the Magic girls of R'lyeh, can understand this principle.

Even immortal Magic girls like Al White and Belial are as willful as children.

Suzuki rubbed his hands, which were a little stiff from the cold, and then muttered:

"Next, I need to work hard to get her to go to school. Even if there are painful things I don't want to face, if I just run away in a dark room, I won't get anything done..."

She encouraged herself, saying things that sounded somewhat inspiring.

Seeing her like this, Haihara was reminded of things from the past.

In the past, she seemed to escape by staying alone in the office.

At that time, Ms. Suzuki would often come into her office, which was originally meant for her alone.

Did Ms. Suzuki think that way back then?

"Suzuki."

Haihara called Suzuki's name softly.

Suzuki turned his head curiously and saw Haihara handing him a small box.

It was beautifully packaged.

"Today's gift."

Suzuki happily accepted the gift box. Although he wanted to open it right away, he first looked up at Haihara.

Then, she saw a rare gentle smile on Haihara's face, especially since Haihara was dressed up beautifully today, looking dazzling in the snow.

The wind whistled past my ears.

Snowflakes landed on her black hair, melting imperceptibly and dampening her strands, while her pale skin took on a faint blush.

Haihara, of course, also saw Ms. Suzuki's smile. At first, at this moment, she suddenly wanted to say something like thank you to express her gratitude for Ms. Suzuki's presence by her side during that time.

But she opened her mouth, and seeing Ms. Suzuki's expression, finally said:

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

The winter moonlight shone on Suzuki, Haihara saw her blinking, confused yet curious eyes under the lamplight, but then, her expression quickly returned to the one Haihara knew.

Although she didn't know what the gift was, she gently squeezed the gift box, seemingly a little embarrassed.

Me too.

I also had a lot of fun drinking with Haihara.