Magical Girls Exposed!

Yu Muqiu shook her head slightly. Looking in the direction Xiao Bai had vanished, she murmured, "Xiao Bai got hurt because of me..."

If it had been before, Chen Xiaoxia would probably have said things like, "This isn't your fault," or, "It's not like you meant for her to get hurt."

But because she had fought alongside Xiao Bai and knew that Xiao Bai had been injured protecting Yu Muqiu, Chen Xiaoxia could not say anything after hearing those words.

She knew Xiao Bai had saved Yu Muqiu.

Neither she nor Yu Muqiu could deny that.

And precisely because of that, the two of them truly began reflecting on what Xiao Bai had told them at the very beginning.

Being a magical girl really was not an easy job. One careless moment, and they could get hurt.

They could even die.

"O-Okay... don't think about it too much..."

Chen Xiaoxia wanted to comfort Yu Muqiu, but at that moment, Yu Muqiu's phone rang.

The instant she saw the caller ID, Yu Muqiu's forehead broke out in a cold sweat.

Incoming call—Brother Fang Ming!]

(It's so over!)

(The phone's unreachable, and she can't be found. Her cousin is probably about to explode.)

(Xiao Bai getting hurt really had a huge impact on Xiao Qiu.)

(Xiao Bai threatened Xiao Qiu like that before, and Xiao Qiu barely reacted, but this time...)

The comments drifting across the sky made Fang Ming unable to suppress a laugh.

The comments had guessed one thing correctly. To stop Xiao Bai from contacting him, Fang Ming had deliberately pretended to be furious and scolded Yu Muqiu and Chen Xiaoxia.

In fact, if Yu Muqiu and Chen Xiaoxia had not merely been Fang Ming's "distant cousin" and "his cousin's friend," they would not have received a scolding. They would have gotten a bamboo switch across the backside.

But after this incident, Yu Muqiu truly began taking the profession of magical girl seriously.

That made Fang Ming feel that his little act had been worth it.

"Mmm..."

While Fang Ming and Youyou were still watching the story on the Sky Screen, Song Niandong slowly woke up on the bed.

She sat up and rubbed her eyes, her hair exploding into a messy tangle. When she looked at Fang Ming, a trace of confusion still flickered in her eyes.

"Good morning... though it's already late morning."

Fang Ming greeted Song Niandong, who had just woken up.

Only then did Song Niandong fully wake up and remember exactly what she had done last night.

'The Protagonist's' Unique Confused Phase

Song Niandong looked at Fang Ming.

Then she looked at Black Rabbit beside him. She remained silent for about two seconds before silently burrowing back beneath the covers.

Fang Ming: "?"

"Ah, she probably remembered what she did yesterday, got embarrassed, and hid under the blanket."

Having spent some time with Song Niandong, Black Rabbit Youyou, who understood her fairly well, smiled as she explained it to Fang Ming.

Fang Ming laughed, but he neither comforted Song Niandong nor urged her to come out. Instead, he asked the Song Niandong still beneath the covers:

"They're showing Episode Nine in the sky right now. Are you sure you don't want to watch?"

"..."

The blanket, now shaped into "a lump," wriggled on the bed.

In the end, a messy little head poked out from beneath it. Song Niandong still had little expression on her face, but her flushed cheeks revealed the unrest deep in her heart.

Of course, her face might also have turned red from being stuffy under the covers.

But regardless, Song Niandong still climbed out of bed and raised her head toward Episode Nine playing in the sky.

During Fang Ming's conversation with Song Niandong, the scene on the Sky Screen had already changed.

Yu Muqiu and Chen Xiaoxia, having been scolded by "Fang Ming," were currently shut in their room to reflect on their mistakes.

And they really were "reflecting."

["...Was Xiao Bai right?"

After who knew how long of a silence, Yu Muqiu suddenly asked Chen Xiaoxia, who was doing her summer homework.

"Huh?"

Chen Xiaoxia, who had been writing furiously, raised her head in confusion and looked at Yu Muqiu, who sat on the bed hugging her knees.

Yu Muqiu continued:

"If we hadn't become magical girls, Xiao Bai wouldn't have gotten hurt, would she..."

"...Don't tell me you spent the entire afternoon silent because you were thinking about that?"

Chen Xiaoxia looked at Yu Muqiu with a strange expression.

Yu Muqiu lifted her head. Their eyes met, and in the end, Yu Muqiu nodded. "Yeah."

"'Yeah'? You're saying 'yeah'!? It was just one setback! And didn't we win? Besides, if you hadn't become a magical girl, neither you nor I would even be standing here right now!"

Chen Xiaoxia was right.

If they had not become magical girls, then aside from Xiao Chun, Chen Xiaoxia and Yu Muqiu definitely would not have survived inside the Demons' barrier.

It was not that they had to become magical girls. They had no choice but to become magical girls.

"I guess so..."

Yu Muqiu seemed persuaded by Xiaoxia's words. She raised her head and gave Chen Xiaoxia a strained smile before lowering it again.

Chen Xiaoxia slapped her forehead. As Yu Muqiu's friend of many years, she knew at a glance that Yu Muqiu had gotten herself stuck in a mental rut.

Yu Muqiu was good in every way. She was cute, kind, generous, and gentle toward others. Simply sitting there, she shone upon everyone like a little sun.

But sometimes, once she got stuck in a dead end, not even eight oxen could pull her out of it.

Yet Chen Xiaoxia did not know how to persuade her right now either.

After all, Xiao Bai getting hurt was a fact, and this was also Yu Muqiu's first time seeing blood.

But then again, apart from Yu Muqiu's first and second battles, once Xiao Chun joined the team in their third battle, even if they were injured, they could recover through Xiao Chun's Healing magic.

Xiao Chun simply was not there this time. If she had been, and had quickly healed Xiao Bai's wounds, Yu Muqiu might not have blamed herself so much.

"Tch. I wonder what Xiao Chun's doing."

Putting down her fountain pen, Chen Xiaoxia looked out the window at the setting sun.

After nearly drowning, Xiao Chun had been taken away by her family. She should be grounded at home just like them, right?

Sigh, she wondered if they would be able to see her again before school started. If Xiao Chun were here, Xiao Qiu should recover quickly.

Just as Chen Xiaoxia thought that, someone knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Come in, Brother Fang Ming!"

Chen Xiaoxia called toward the door.

Since there were now two girls in the house, Fang Ming knocked before entering their room every time. Only after receiving a response would he open the door and come in.

And every evening, Fang Ming would cut up some fruit and bring it to the girls. Chen Xiaoxia had thought today would be no different.

But when the door opened, the person outside startled both Xiao Qiu and Xiaoxia.

"Sorry, but Brother Fang Ming had something to do and went out. He's not home."

Murong Xiaochun, who should have been at home, had somehow appeared at Fang Ming's house.

Holding a fruit platter, she smiled at the two girls in the room.

Seeing Xiao Chun, Xiaoxia cried out in delight, "Xiao Chun!"

Then she rushed over to Xiao Chun in three quick strides and hugged her tightly.

"Hey! Easy! I'm holding something! Whoa, it's going to fall, it's going to fall—!"

After a round of commotion, the three of them sat on the carpet with the fruit platter between them and began talking about what had happened recently.

Xiao Qiu picked up a slice of watermelon and ate it as she asked Xiao Chun, "Why did Xiao Chun come over? Uncle and Auntie let you out?"

"Mmm... well, they haven't been home these past few days, so... I flew over here~"

Xiao Chun smiled sheepishly.

Originally, Xiao Chun did not have much money. Even if her parents were not home, she could not have come alone to Rock City to visit Xiao Qiu and Xiaoxia. But she was a magical girl, after all.

"Tsk, tsk, Xiao Chun, you've gone bad too." Chen Xiaoxia sat cross-legged with her arms folded, wearing an expression that said, You've grown up, as she told Xiao Chun:

"You actually figured out how to sneak out without anyone teaching you. As your master, I'm deeply gratified... ow!"

Before Chen Xiaoxia could finish, Xiao Chun chopped her forehead with the edge of her hand.

"I only came because I was worried about you two!"

At that, Xiao Chun looked at Yu Muqiu. "Xiao Qiu, I heard from Nino that you ran into a Composite Demon again?"

"Yeah..."

"And Xiao Bai got hurt saving you?"

"...Yeah."

This time, Xiao Qiu was silent for a while before nodding.

Xiao Chun immediately understood.

She did not continue the subject. After a moment, she suddenly smiled and asked Xiao Qiu:

"Do you want to go out and clear your head?"

"Huh?" Xiao Qiu looked at her with slightly widened eyes and said hesitantly:

"But Brother Fang Ming grounded us..."

"It's fine. We just need to sneak out." Xiao Chun pointed toward the window, then said to Xiaoxia, "But one person has to stay home. Otherwise, Brother Fang Ming will notice. So... Xiaoxia, I'm counting on you."

"?" Chen Xiaoxia stared at the two of them in disbelief. "You're going out to clear your heads, but you're leaving me here alone to deal with Brother Fang Ming?!"

"Don't worry, we'll be back soon."

Xiao Chun smiled and patted Chen Xiaoxia's shoulder.

Chen Xiaoxia looked heartbroken as she stared at Xiao Chun. "Xiao Chun, you've changed! The good little girl from before is actually taking Xiao Qiu out to sneak around...! No, I'm coming too!"

"I'll treat you to ice cream later."

"Then have a safe trip~"

For the sake of one ice cream, Chen Xiaoxia decisively entrusted Xiao Qiu to Xiao Chun, leaving Yu Muqiu rather torn between laughter and tears.

With a flash of light, Xiao Chun had already transformed into a magical girl. Then she lightly jumped to the window, opened it, and said to Yu Muqiu:

"Let's go. I happen to know a place with a nice view."

As she spoke, she held out her hand to Yu Muqiu.

Yu Muqiu hesitated for a moment before transforming into a magical girl as well. She reached out and took Xiao Chun's hand.]

'Companions, Huh...'

(Xiao Chun has gone bad!)

(Pfft, this is entirely Xiaoxia's fault!)

(Yeah, this style of just sneaking out whenever she wants is exactly like Xiaoxia in Episode Two. Case closed—Xiaoxia led Xiao Chun astray!)

([Chen Xiaoxia]: Hey! Don't slander me! I did not lead Xiao Chun astray, okay!)

(LMAO, the real person showed up again.)

The story on the Sky Screen was rather calm, but that was normal.