Never Giving Up-That's My Courage!

But after hearing Xiaoxia finish speaking, Xiao Qiu hesitated and said:

"But... hitting people is wrong..."

"What are you talking about! This is self-defense!" Chen Xiaoxia, with her boyish manner, swung the "Village Stick" she had picked up from the roadside as she spoke, speaking righteously and sternly.

Xiao Qiu blinked and looked at Chen Xiaoxia.

Chen Xiaoxia stared at her for a long time, then stopped swinging the wooden stick, crossed her arms, tilted her head and thought for a while before saying to Xiao Qiu:

"Okay then! I'll protect you from now on! I promise no one will bully you!"

"Eh!? But... but..." Young Xiao Qiu wanted to refuse, but Chen Xiaoxia decisively interrupted her:

"There are no 'buts,' it's decided! Protecting citizens is the duty of the police!"

"... Huh?! Xiaoxia's a police officer? That's amazing!"

"Hmm, it definitely will be in the future!"

Xiao Qiu's eyes sparkled, and Xiaoxia stood proudly with her hands on her hips. The scene froze at that moment, then gradually faded into the distance.

That was Xiaoxia and Xiao Qiu's first encounter. Xiaoxia still vividly remembers the image of Xiao Qiu, who was so delicate and always behind Xiaoxia.

Bang!!

Robert's fist came down again. Xiaoxia barely managed to hold on with her longsword and block the blow, but the greatsword slipped from her hand due to the impact, flew a short distance away, and fell into the ground.

Her hands were trembling.

She could no longer hold onto her Magical Armament.

But the memories continue.

Like a slideshow of life, as soon as one scene ends, the next one immediately follows.

"Ugh... the exercises are so hard..."

As the final exams for the third year of junior high school approached, Xiao Qiu frowned and looked at the exercises in front of her with a tearful expression.

Xiaoxia then took out her own textbook and sighed, "There's really no other way. Come on! I'll tutor you!"

"Let's forget about it. It would interfere with your studies, Xiaoxia. There's still some time before the high school entrance exam, so I think..."

"Stop talking nonsense! Didn't we agree to go to the same high school? What if you underperform and don't get in?"

Xiaoxia slapped Yu Muqiu on the back.

The two of them had already agreed to attend the same high school, but Spring City No. 1 High School had a very high deviation score, and Yu Muqiu's grades were even worse.

Fortunately, Xiaoxia's academic performance is quite good; she is one of the top students in her class and is capable of tutoring Yu Muqiu.

Yu Muqiu didn't speak. She turned to look at Chen Xiaoxia, but seeing the other's serious expression, she turned back and began to climb the mountain of exercises in her hands.

At this point, saying anything is meaningless. The best way to repay Chen Xiaoxia to continue studying hard and strive to be in the same class as her.

The final result is clear: both of them were admitted to Spring City High School, not only in the same school but also in the same class.

Their friendship continues.

It wasn't just about being bullied; Xiaoxia also helped Xiao Qiu with her studies.

It has always been this way.

Over the years, Chen Xiaoxia's protection of Xiao Qiu has made her feel that it is her duty to protect Xiao Qiu, and that Xiao Qiu should be protected by her.

She was the 'big sister' standing in front of Xiao Qiu; she should be the one protecting Xiao Qiu.

But--

"Xiaoxia!!" Inside the Magic Barrier, Chen Xiaoxia, who was still an ordinary person, was almost injured by the Demons.

Chen Xiaoxia possesses the potential to become Magical Girls, which is why she is enveloped by the Nightmare Barrier and thus subjected to attacks from Demons.

At the critical moment, Yu Muqiu suddenly appeared and protected her.

That was the first time Chen Xiaoxia felt a wavering deep within her heart.

This good friend, whom she had always protected, suddenly found herself in a different position, and began to protect Chen Xiaoxia.

"Xiao Qiu... what's wrong with you...!?"

"It's a long story, anyway... I'm Magical Girls now."

"Magical Girls!?" Chen Xiaoxia exclaimed in shock.

Just as Xiao Qiu was about to explain, the calico cat next to Yu Muqiu suddenly spoke up, "Xiao Qiu! It's here!!"

The 'Instant Noodle Demon,' whose body was entirely made of instant noodles and who looked like a noodle cake that had come to life, swung its wet noodles at Xiao Qiu.

Xiao Qiu immediately picked up Chen Xiaoxia, and with a flash of light forming wings behind them, the two took off and flew into the sky.

"The cat... the cat talked! No... you can fly!?"

Chen Xiaoxia was no longer aware of what she should be surprised about, and Yu Muqiu Chen Xiaoxia n't have time to explain to her. After placing Xiaoxia in a safe area, he went forward again to fight the Demons.

But this time the Demons is much stronger, Yu Muqiu is no match for it.

It was at this moment that Nino anxiously sought help from Xiaoxia:

"Xiaoxia, why don't you become Magical Girls too!"

"Good!"

Without much hesitation, Xiaoxia agreed to the contract with Nino.

Chapter 121 Never admitting defeat is my courage!

(This looks like a scene from the second episode of the first season, right?)

(Yes, I remember! This is the episode where Xiaoxia first became Magical Girls!)

(But it's a bit different from the second episode of the first season; the perspective and the visuals have changed.)

(The first season was from Xiao Qiu's perspective, while this season is from Xiaoxia's perspective, which is why it has changed.)

(So from this perspective, this can't be considered a meaningless repetition of images.)

(How could it be meaningless! Even if it's just a simple memory, it's meaningful to Xiaoxia!)

The flashback displayed on the Sky Screen was from the second episode of the first season, when Xiaoxia first became Magical Girls.

Chen Xiaoxia became Magical Girls without even thinking about it.

Furthermore, the scene at the time was rather... humorous, Chen Xiaoxia agreed to Nino without even hesitating, which startled Nino.

Nino repeatedly confirmed with Chen Xiaoxia whether she was serious, but Chen Xiaoxia just kept shaking Nino until Nino was dizzy and disoriented before Nino finally signed the contract with her in Chen Xiaoxia.

What do you mean by "reversing the Heavenly Gang"?

Anyway, everyone enjoyed that episode at the time, but looking back now, it's clear that Chen Xiaoxia's thoughts haven't changed since then.

She wanted to protect Xiao Qiu.

I want to protect my best friend.

So no matter what the price of becoming Magical Girls is, no matter whether she has to fight Demons after becoming Magical Girls, Xiaoxia never hesitated.

Even Xiao Qiu has become Magical Girls, so what does she have to hesitate about?

Chen Xiaoxia became Magical Girls and, together with Xiao Qiu, defeated the Instant Noodle Demon.

Then, he successfully went with Xiao Qiu to collect Nightmare Seed.

During this time, Chen Xiaoxia continued to protect Xiao Qiu, and in every battle, Chen Xiaoxia was always the one who rushed to the front.

Although she was often rebuffed because of her recklessness, making her seem to suffer setbacks, Chen Xiaoxia herself was actually not seriously injured.

She possesses the will to persevere through setbacks and the courage to confront any difficulty head-on.

But...

The light of courage was overshadowed for the first time by an even stronger light when facing the Songstress Demon.

"... So dazzling, Xiao Qiu."

Xiaoxia recalled Yu Muqiu from that time, murmuring to herself.

At that time, Xiao Qiu was incredibly dazzling and Shine, powerfully dispelling the dark clouds that shrouded everyone and shattering the despair that was about to descend upon them.

It was from that moment that Xiaoxia knew she probably wouldn't be able to catch up with Xiao Qiu.

At first, Chen Xiaoxia was happy for Xiao Qiu, but she didn't think much of it.

Xiao Qiu's ability to activate her Shining Form and resolve the problem that the others couldn't handle is a good thing and something to celebrate.

Chen Xiaoxia wouldn't be jealous of Xiao Qiu; she would only feel happy for Xiao Qiu.

But it wasn't until Xiao Qiu activated her Shining Form for the second time and instantly killed the Pencil Monster Chen Xiaoxia Chen Xiaoxia troublesome that she finally realized what was going on.

This friend, who has always needed her protection, seems to no longer need her protection.

If she doesn't work harder, she might not even have the right to stand next to Yu Muqiu.

Jealous?

Not really.

But envy is certain, and there's even a strong sense of resentment.

Chen Xiaoxia didn't want to fall behind, and she didn't want to lose the right to be friends with Yu Muqiu, even though she knew Yu Muqiu wouldn't think that way. Kind-hearted Xiao Qiu would never think that way.

But Chen Xiaoxia herself couldn't get over this hurdle.

As Xiao Chun once said, Xiaoxia is too prone to overthinking, and she still is.

Therefore, in the dream scenario created specifically for her, Chen Xiaoxia easily fell into its trap.

Because everything in her dream was what she wanted most.

She wanted to continue protecting Xiao Qiu, to fight alongside Xiao Qiu, to activate her Shining Form, and to overpower the despicable Xiao Bai.

In this dream, all her wishes could come true.

But now--

"Robert!"

Robert's attack came again, and this time Xiaoxia could neither dodge nor defend against it. It seemed that this was the end of it.

--The dream is over, Chen Xiaoxia still needs to face the cruel reality that is right in front of her.

She didn't activate her Shining Form, she didn't become the captain of the Magical Girls, she didn't overpower Xiao Bai, she was still herself, the same person who hadn't changed at all.

Is this the end?

Are you going to give up?

"Is this all the courage you have, Chen Xiaoxia?!"

The hateful face of that black-clad man appeared before Chen Xiaoxia without her noticing.

This isn't the real Xiao Bai; it's just the Xiao Bai in Xiaoxia's mind.

Seeing Xiao Bai's face at the very end of his life was truly... disgusting.

Although that's what Chen Xiaoxia thought, it was precisely this sentence that ignited her fighting spirit.

Is this all the courage I have?

I can admit defeat to anyone else, but I cannot lose to you!

Courage...

Courage!

"... My courage is not just about this--!"

The intro to the ending theme started playing at some point.

But this is not the end; it's just an interlude, the 'background music' of Chen Xiaoxia's transformation!

And when this 'background music' started playing, everyone knew perfectly well.

This game is in the bag!

Sky Screen Xiaoxia stood up on the screen to the background music, with blue magical light rising from her body, Fang Ming couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He knew, of course Xiaoxia was the main character, so she would definitely be fine.