Through the Wormhole

(Sun Yao)

"Miss Heat Haze, ah~"

Sitting by the hospital bed, I peeled a segment of orange and held it towards Heat Haze's mouth.

"Ah~ wait! Don't feed me... It's quite sweet. And then? Did you two beat Sirius this time?"

We chatted for quite a while, using our time in Hawaii as a topic of conversation.

"We won! Miss Miluno pushed her limits to the limit, she was so fast I couldn't even see her. I don't even know what happened, she just smashed Miss Sirius into the beach. Our combination is really amazing! Even the witch who appeared later wasn't a match for Miluno... even though that was just a clone of the witch."

Heat Haze spat out two orange seeds.

"Your duel with the witch wasn't recorded in the Association's data, but your volleyball match with Sirius was streamed live across the entire internet. Your counterattack was beautiful. Although magic isn't very offensive, it has a variety of applications, showing that you fight with your brain... It's just that you're a bit silly most of the time. You need to be a little more clever."

"Hehehe!"

I was genuinely happy to receive Heat Haze's praise.

"And that part where you were a backup dancer for Sirius... Although your movements were a bit clumsy, you tried your best, and it was quite endearing. You're a fairly famous magical girl now, so you need to be careful about your appearance when you're out and about."

"I'm a little embarrassed to say that."

I really had to bite the bullet to dance; if I had a choice, I definitely wouldn't have dared to dance.

However, I don't regret my decision to become a top-tier idol...

Heat Haze smiled.

"If you could stay like this forever, I wouldn't have the heart to scold you."

We've come full circle back to this topic.

"... I need to think about that."

"Miluno didn't say anything, did she insist that you change back?"

Miss Miluno hasn't seen the real me yet, although she says she can accept it no matter what, but...

Rather than being disliked after changing back, is it better to stay in this state?

The ringing of my cell phone interrupted my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Who is it?" Heat Haze asked.

"... Miluno"

"Wow, she really is Cao Cao... Should we go out to answer it? Is it a private call?"

Her tone was playful.

"That shouldn't be necessary."

I swiped to answer the call; it was quiet on the other end.

"Ceruno."

"Yes, I'm listening."

"Although it's a bit sudden, do you have time to come to Chaiqing City? Sirius is here too, and we'd like to ask for your help."

"Chaiqing City? Now?"

"Now."

"I understand. I'll contact you again when I get to the station."

Since it was Miluno and Miss Sirius's request, I had no reason to refuse. Although I felt a little bad for Heat Haze, I'll end my visit here today.

"Are you leaving already? Going to Chaiqing City?"

She also guessed something from the few words they had just exchanged.

"Um."

I scratched my head sheepishly.

"Miluno seems to have something urgent and wants me to Past..."

Heat Haze then asked, "If you're in a hurry, would you like to try that?"

Which one?

"Wormhole."

Upon hearing that I was going to the Sky Branch, the liaison officer who was always available arrived quickly.

But this time it wasn't the meticulous Miss Yin Wei, but her somewhat absent-minded older sister... Miss Luer.

These two sisters have completely different personalities. Is it because the older sister is unreliable that the younger sister, Ms. Yin Wei, is so capable?

"Ceruno, are you thinking about something rude?"

"No, no... Miss SpiCa isn't here, can I still use the wormhole?"

"Of course! Every branch of the Association is equipped with Wormhole Generator, but only magical girls can use it... Oh, your magic can break this rule, so you volunteered to use the wormhole, and the researchers are all very happy!"

The towering, lotus-leaf-shaped branch building isn't far from the treatment facility; it's just a few minutes' drive away. The reason I'm looking for Ms. Yin Lu is that I need someone to guide me, otherwise I'll easily get lost in the branch.

"Is Dad at the branch office today?"

"I'm not Chairman Sun's secretary, how could I possibly know about such a thing?"

"Miss Anjie... Is Sister Luer familiar with her?"

"I'm not familiar with her. I'm just a low-level liaison officer. I don't have any influence with the higher-ups, let alone that secretary who looks so difficult to get along with... But she's clearly interested in your father. I think everyone in the Association knows that!"

It has the smell of corporate gossip.

"I can tell that too..."

Miss Anjie made no attempt to hide her feelings. If that sharp-tongued person really became my stepmother, it would be a real headache.

As the elevator ascended, Luer led me to the entrance of a laboratory. Through the transparent glass wall, I could see the Wormhole Generator inside. I had seen this thing in a popular science magazine. Although it looked like just an ordinary metal ring, once activated, it would form a deep, Veil inside that was exactly the same as the wormhole halo.

"I'm sorry, Ceruno, my clearance level only goes this far! For what happens next, just ask the people inside; they're ready to take you to Chaiqing City."

Luer stood at the lab door saying goodbye, as if taking a single step inside would result in a pay cut.

"Okay, thank you."

"Oh! What a good child!"

She reached out and touched my head, and then an alarm went off.

"Oh no!? I'm doomed! I'm going to get punished! I'm outta here!"

She turned and ran, her braid bobbing on one side...

The Association's rules and regulations are very strict.

"Yo, Ceruno."

A cheerful greeting came from behind me. I turned around and saw that it was someone I knew.

"Miss Metal? What are you doing here?"

"I sometimes come to the Association to work part-time. After all, metal manipulation magic is very useful in some ways, and it can be helpful in case of any accidents."

"I'd like to go to Chaiqing City, could you help me?"

She put her arm around my back and invited me into the laboratory.

"Don't be so reserved, we've already prepared the coordinates."

To house this enormous Wormhole Generator, the laboratory spanned two floors with high ceilings, and the surrounding array of incomprehensible equipment and devices created a truly spectacular sight.

I followed Metal to the front of the generator, where a male researcher in a white coat ran over.

"Miss Ceruno, could you try bringing this Past as well?"

As he spoke, he handed me a cage containing some kind of measuring equipment and a snow-white rabbit.

They look adorable, but these are laboratory rabbits.

I asked, "Is this a test to see if living, ordinary creatures can use my magic to pass through a wormhole?"

"Yes, if they're still alive, send them back; if they're dead, send the measuring instrument back."

The rabbits used in this experiment are really pitiful. I'm afraid quite a few rabbits had already been thrown into the wormhole before this.

Seeing that I was staring at the cage without answering, the male researcher continued, "We want to study to what extent your magic can reduce the pressure in the wormhole, which is also for Future applications."

"I see."

I nodded in agreement.

In any case, my magic will protect the little rabbit.