Chapter 515
"A little."
Takanashi pointed to Kirishima Ai's blank face.
Kirishima Ai subconsciously touched her face, feeling that she looked somewhat absent-minded. So she shook her head to try and cheer herself up.
Next, she began to listen carefully to what Takanashi and the others were talking about.
After discussing it, the School Festival had to continue no matter what. There was no point in worrying about what would happen tonight. The opportunity was too good to pass up, so they all decided to make the most of the day.
Because they didn't know what would happen to them in the future.
The rest of the day was unexpectedly happy and fun for Kirishima Ai.
In the morning, they finished their Magic girl cosplay and used Magic to change back into their school uniforms. They occasionally cooked meals at the themed cafe with their classmates, and in their free time, they strolled around the school with a few other Problem Child.
Upon closer inspection, Kaedehara High School is actually quite large, with many places to explore, and the activities organized by other classes are quite interesting.
Kirishima Ai, Sakaki Chika, Takanashi, Kuroki Yuka, and Cangyue Yuri each took some food and strolled around the school. Although they seemed too conspicuous to be seen together, many people came to take pictures or chat with them while they were wandering around the school.
During this time, Kirishima Ai discovered that Sakaki Chika and the others also showed many sides of themselves that she rarely saw before.
For example, Sakaki Chika.
Today, during the performances of the Literature Club and the Light Music Club, former idol Sakaki Chika also made a guest appearance.
Whether it's their stage performance or their effortless singing, they seem to be on a completely different level from the school students. Because they are so outstanding, many people think that this might be the best performance of this School Festival.
Thinking about it carefully, my deskmate is actually quite impressive?
While Takanashi is always the leader and captain when dealing with Monster incidents, when playing together, Takanashi is basically a docile follower, cooperating wherever she goes, quietly eating, and surprisingly gentle and considerate.
Kuroki Yuka is a person who is consistent inside and out, and he is no different from usual.
As for Cangyue Yuri, Kirishima Ai thought she was a calm and reliable person, and occasionally quite witty. She must have been very popular in R'lyeh?
They ate a lot, participated in many activities at the School Festival, and watched many shows.
Sometimes we laugh together, and sometimes we find an activity more boring than we expected.
None of them are particularly outgoing, so they didn't have any crazy fun together; they just had a pretty ordinary time.
Looking back on all of this at some point, Kirishima Ai suddenly felt something was off.
Everything today feels so unfamiliar.
It wasn't like this before.
What did it look like again?
It seems to be from junior high school, during a basketball game between classes. The other students in the class were cheering and supporting each other with enthusiasm and excitement, and they were also discussing something with great interest. If they won, everyone would be very happy.
At that time, she had no idea why she was happy, and it seemed like she was not part of the group of people. But seeing how happy they were, Kirishima Ai felt lonely and bitter.
The loneliness of youth seems to be something like this.
But now, it doesn't seem so painful anymore.
Unconsciously, she has everything she ever wanted before. Should she feel satisfied? Or does she still feel that something is not enough?
After most of the School Festival activities had ended, a few people strolled through the still lively campus. The sky was already darkening, and the light of the setting sun cast long shadows. Some of them walked a little further apart, while others walked closer together.
The School Festival is not over yet.
At night, students who wish to stay on campus can participate in a Bonfire Party, where they chat, eat, and even dance around a large and tall bonfire on campus.
Generally speaking, it seems like one would find a dance partner of the opposite sex, but if that's a concern, finding a partner of the same sex is also acceptable.
The girls then discussed among themselves who would dance with whom.
There are five people, and one person is extra.
"Ai, shall we go together?"
It seems only natural that Sakaki Chika and Kirishima Ai were deskmates and spent the most time together.
Upon hearing this, Takanashi pinched his chin and glanced at Kuroki Yuka:
"Then let's just pretend and join in the fun. Anyway, Cangyue is from outside the school, so she can just stand to the side. Or we can change partners halfway through. I'll ask Cangyue."
Okay.
Kuroki Yuka readily agreed.
Cangyue Yuri was just there to hang out with everyone, so she didn't have any objections.
Kirishima Ai also felt that this arrangement seemed perfect and there were no problems. After all, they weren't planning to form romantic relationships with anyone; they were just enjoying the atmosphere of the School Festival.
However, for some reason, Kirishima Ai unconsciously opened her mouth.
At first, no sound was made.
After that, she still spoke out:
"Don't worry about me... I don't really want to dance."
Kirishima Ai felt that her personality was indeed very annoying.
Everyone heard Kirishima Ai's words.
Over there, the Takanashi was still casually playing with its hair.
"I see, I understand. Then it'll be me and Chika, or Kuroki and Chika."
The girl with long, grey-gold hair didn't seem to see anything wrong and readily said she understood.
The others didn't find anything strange and continued chatting and laughing.
After wandering around a bit more, they'll head downstairs together to the school square, where someone is setting up a bonfire, which is definitely worth seeing.
Then it's time to wait for night to fall and enjoy the grandest and final event of the School Festival.
Another dusk has fallen, the sun is about to set, and I wonder if it will be a cold yet warm snowy night. Kirishima Ai neither likes nor dislikes this time of day, but she occasionally feels a sense of anticipation when she sees the sunset.
Just as she saw the beautiful sunset outside the window, Kirishima Ai said again:
"There's a place I'd like to visit. I'll go down there later. You guys go ahead?"
"Oh, okay, our class's playing area is over there, don't get lost later."
Okay, bye-bye.
Kirishima Ai left alone, while the other four, as agreed, went downstairs first to check on the construction of the bonfire.
A slender, beautiful young girl walked alone down the corridor, her figure the opposite of the other students coming downstairs, yet her shadows all pointed in the same direction. She didn't look at anyone else, heading towards a place she knew well.
Eventually, it gradually turned into a jog, and then back to walking.
The place was as quiet and sparsely populated as ever.
--- The Materials Room that is never visited and whose door is never locked.
It was also a place where she and Miss Lily could occasionally be alone.
Sometimes, Kirishima Ai had a premonition.
When she felt lonely and sad, and then thought that Miss Lily would appear, that angel would indeed appear.
But today, Kirishima Ai did not feel lonely.
On the contrary, I had a pretty good day.
That day, she had a strange premonition that Miss Lily wouldn't come, wouldn't be there today, and would never see that angel again.
It's as if she had resolved the troubles of youth and growing up, and therefore no longer needed to confide in anyone, thus growing up.
In fact, I don't seem to be able to think of any topics to talk about with Miss Lily this time either, since I've already confided everything I needed to confide in her last time.
But she still hoped to see that angel lady again.
However, when she enters her second year of high school, she may never have the chance to come to this school building again.
It seems there are many, many possibilities that are troubling her.
Lost in thought, Kirishima Ai opened the door.
The Materials Room was quiet and dimly lit, with no lights on and no smell of alcohol. Every piece of equipment was neatly arranged.
"Miss Lily?"
She called out.
"Miss Lily, are you there today? Are you drunk again?"
As expected, Kirishima Ai's calls went unanswered.
Realizing this, she took two more steps inside, and this time, after checking several corners of the Materials Room, she still didn't see anyone or any signs of anyone having been there.
Just like the ghosts I encountered before, they were all like a beautiful dream.
The girl raised her hand, blinked, her gaze wandering aimlessly, and casually wiped her cheek with her fingers.
Finally, she came to her senses.
"Oh, he's not here today."
Despite this, Kirishima Ai did not leave immediately. Instead, she casually found a corner to sit down, the afterglow of the setting sun illuminating the pale golden outline of her hair, as if she were slumbering with the setting sun as a pillow.
She leaned against the wall, hugging her legs and knees, playing with her nails as if she didn't know what to do.
Time flows on, ticking away, turning for whom, slowing down for whom?
Today, there are no drunken angels in the Materials Room, only unfortunate high school girls filled with youthful troubles, but who actually have nothing worth mentioning.
There's nothing that makes me sad.
Everything I wanted in the past, the wishes I made in the past, and the things I felt I lacked in the past, have now been fulfilled.
If I had to say something, it would only be a regret that I didn't get all of this sooner, so that I could have treated it more carefully and seriously, and an unease about whether it could continue to exist in the future.
Magic Girl, that's all for now.
The Takanashi back to R'lyeh.
Sakaki Chika and Kuroki Yuka be assigned to a different class than her.
There's unlikely to be another chance to meet Miss Lily.
As for Teacher Haihara, the teacher will gradually forget about this disobedient student.
The above is a pessimistic view.
But it might not be that bad.
Compared to when I first entered high school, when I didn't get along with my homeroom teacher at all and treated everyone like a hedgehog.
"I think I've made some friends, and I'm not lonely anymore."
"But even so, it doesn't seem like it will last forever; I don't know when I'll be all alone again."
"Have I changed since the beginning?"
Has it gotten even a little better?
She muttered to herself, asking the ghost lady who wasn't there, and also asking herself.
But this alone cannot provide the answer.
As the sun sank below the horizon and twilight painted the winter day, the cold, snowy night was melted by the bonfire in the square, and the students gathered noisily and joyfully at the celebration.
Today will clearly not be the last happy day of my life.
The melancholic girl named Kirishima Ai patted her face, satisfied, and cheered herself up for the final event of the night.
Volume Four Does This Count as a Magical Girl??: Chapter 36 Triggering a Hidden Event
Beneath the silent night sky, the firelight flickers and the crowds revel. It's a slightly chilly winter night, yet no one feels cold because of it.
Normally, the campus would be quiet and dimly lit at this time of night, but now it is brightly lit by bonfires, casting long shadows of high school boys and girls, creating a lively scene.
Tonight is the students' grandest celebration and gathering.
Several Magic girls, each holding a cup of cola, sat on the steps of the plaza not far from the large bonfire. Their faces were illuminated by the bright light of the fireworks, revealing different expressions.
Kirishima Ai is, of course, among them.
Her expression was indifferent as she gulped down her empty Coke. Her originally dark eyes were now reflected with a dim, golden light, though not particularly bright.