Taking Heat Haze Out for Air!

(Sun Yao)

"You can't get here until the afternoon? Why?"

The next morning, while I was having breakfast, Yezi told me this "bad news."

"I had other things to do this morning, sorry."

"... What should I do then?"

Without Yezi, I'm worried I'll get stage fright at the press conference.

"Miss Yin Lu will come to pick you up soon. Don't forget you're a magical girl; you'll always have a more reliable contact person than me."

But all I want is for Yezi to stay by my side...

Saying it aloud would be a bit ambiguous, so I can only keep it to myself.

"Can you tell me what you're going to do during the day?"

Yezi scratched her cheek and stammered, "If I had to say, I have a friend who's come from afar and I need to host him/her."

Friends from afar?

I asked, "Is it some kind of online friend meetup?"

"Hmm? Yes, that's right, that's it."

"... So, is this netizen male or female?"

Why are you getting nervous?

I didn't mean anything by it; I was just curious.

After all, I've never heard Yezi mention anything about online friends, so it's understandable that she wants to know more details, right?

But Yezi shook her head and put her hand on my shoulder.

"Ceruno, these so-called online friends are like opening a blind box before you meet them in person... Even if someone claims to be a reliable middle-aged man online, he might be a minor girl in real life, and vice versa. Do you understand?"

Although I understand what he means, but...

"Is it really that outrageous?"

"Reality is just that absurd, but someone as handsome as me wouldn't be afraid to meet someone in person no matter what."

Even though I knew he was trying to ease the tension, I couldn't help but retort, "Yezi, you can be quite arrogant sometimes."

"I'll head out now. Remember to clean up the dishes after you finish eating. I promise I'll be there before the press conference starts."

"Okay then," I replied somewhat reluctantly.

Yezi patted my head and then went out to meet his mysterious online friend. Golden looked up from the sofa, then lay back down to continue sleeping.

But... netizens?

I haven't completely cut off my online social life, but I don't have any friends I'm close enough to meet in person.

Ultimately, "Sun Yao" is already socially dead. If fellow magical girl fans met, they might just tear me apart.

"... well."

I sighed, put the dishes in the kitchen sink, and had just rolled up my sleeves when my phone rang at the most inopportune moment.

I wiped my hands, took out the phone, and saw that it was Miss Luer calling.

"Ceruno, we're downstairs! When can you come down?"

You can see the time on your phone.

It's only eight o'clock.

"So early? Isn't the press conference at 1 PM?"

"There's still a lot to do when you get there: rehearsals, makeup, script readings. Do you really have the ability to sit down and answer reporters' questions?"

The answer was "No."

I might not even be able to speak fluently.

"So Past early to familiarize yourself with the environment; everything has been arranged for you."

Rehearsal? Does this mean I'm supposed to sing a song at the press conference?

Although her voice wasn't unpleasant and she sang in tune, she wasn't a professional singer after all, and her singing always lacked a certain power, or perhaps that's what Sirius was referring to as confidence.

That's something I lack too.

"Goldie, you'd better take good care of the house, okay?"

"Woof!"

I rubbed the belly of the Golden and went downstairs.

A black luxury sedan was parked on the side of the road in front of the apartment. The rear window was rolled down, and Miss Sirius, wearing sunglasses, waved to me from inside the car.

There was another person sitting next to her.

"Xiao Yi?"

The girl with the bob haircut, though I only met her once, was still very memorable as the previous generation's Morning Star.

His young face showed a hint of maturity.

"Hey. Why do you only call me Yi-chan?"

Sirius put on a stern face and looked displeased, so I quickly said, "Ah! Good morning, Miss Sirius."

"Ceruno- chan, have you been training extra hard this week?"

"Some."

"Really? Let me see your belly~"

She suddenly reached out and tried to lift my clothes.

"Huh? Eh! What are you doing?"

"Why is your stomach still so soft? Have you been exercising at all?"

"How can we expect to see results in just a few days?"

Moreover, my body type doesn't seem to have visible abs or build muscle easily.

Miss Luer asked, "Miss Sirius, where are we going now? To the press conference venue?"

"No, let's go to a treatment facility first."

"Ah?"

I was a little confused, but Sirius replied, "I brought Heat Haze- chan out. I saw her practically growing mushrooms in the hospital room, so today's a good opportunity to let her come to Ceruno- chan's press conference. It'll be a good way for her to get some fresh air. The same goes for Ichi-chan..."

Sirius said, pulling the little one beside him into his arms and showering him with affection.

"Has Xiao Yi moved to Skyreach City yet?"

Xiao Yi nodded in agreement. Sirius replied, "Her experience and knowledge could make her an excellent tactician, but... Spica believes she should receive an education first, so she's enrolled in junior high school."

"Puff--"

Miss Luer, who was driving, couldn't help but laugh.

This is a good ending for Xiao Yi.

However, the retired hero going to junior high school... has a bit of a school-based overpowered protagonist feel to it, even though her Star Crystal has been passed on to Miluno and she can no longer transform.

"However, is it alright to take Heat Haze out of the treatment facility? Her cast is still on, isn't it?"

"It'll be soon, I expect to be hospitalized for a month... Think about how long you've been a magical girl."

Today is August 2nd.

I've been a magical girl for almost half a month now.

So, is Ms. Heat Haze finally able to be discharged from the hospital?

The treatment facility was as heavily guarded as ever, but I didn't go in this time. Miss Luer went up alone and then used a wheelchair to push Heat Haze, the "plaster-bandaged Monster," down.

"Wow, that's really tragic~"

As Heat Haze was pushed out of the elevator, Sirius in the car wore a gloating smile.

This was clearly the first time she had ever seen such Heat Haze.

"Does Miss Sirius also know Miss Heat Haze?"

"Of course you didn't know, did you? That girl is also a magical girl who ran away from Hawaii..."

"I know."

"Oh? She even told you something like this? She trusts you quite a bit."

Sirius continued, "Many Star Crystal fall into Hawaii, which is why it's a popular area for magical girls. However, it's not a region prone to wormholes, so magical girls who can't endure it leave Hawaii and go to big cities with frequent wormholes to make a living."

"Why do you talk about magical girls like they're down-on-their-luck mercenaries?"

"Because they are indeed quite similar."

The car door opened, Heat Haze, with a sour face, sat in the passenger seat with Miss Luer's help.

"What does Ceruno holding a press conference have to do with me?"

"Heat Haze, Miss Sirius thinks you're feeling stifled at the treatment facility."

"She didn't mean any good; she just wanted to see me make a fool of myself. She'd be happy to see me in such a sorry state."

"That's right~"

She actually admitted it? Miss Sirius actually admitted it!

Miss Luer, back in the driver's seat, quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Alright, everyone, cheer up! Today is Ceruno's big day as she officially becomes an idol."

"... That's the part I understand the least."

Heat Haze pointed at me in the rearview mirror with her only movable right hand and questioned me.

"Why... why is this guy planning to debut as an idol?!"