A Visit to the Sick

(Sun Yao)

The city lights were too bright. So close to the dark vault of night, yet not a single star could be seen.

"Hey, we're here, Miss Ceruno."

"Whoa!"

It was only when Miss Luer reminded me that I realized the rotor above had stopped, and I hurriedly jumped out of the Association's helicopter.

Beneath my feet was a rooftop helipad, while the building itself belonged to a "treatment facility."

This was the Association's specialist hospital for magical girls. Magical girls injured in battle received the best treatment and care here.

Although I hadn't even lost a hair, I'd still asked Miss Luer to bring me here in one of the Association's special helicopters stationed at the scene, all so I could see Miss Heat Haze.

"Crossing most of the city in just five minutes? The Association's helicopters are absurdly fast, aren't they?"

We had also arrived at the Sky Branch quickly during the day, but the atmosphere and my mood at the time hadn't allowed me to make that kind of complaint.

"Is this your first time seeing one, Miss Ceruno? The Association's jet helicopter can switch between jet and helicopter modes. Otherwise, how do you think I made it to the scene after arranging that call between you and Miss Heat Haze?"

Though she wore a formal black suit, Miss Luer skipped along as she walked, completely lacking in dignity. Her high heels clicked rhythmically against the black tiles.

"What were you doing at the scene earlier, Miss Luer?"

"Hehe, it's supposed to be confidential, but you did well today, so I'll reveal a little... The Association actually arranged a reliable bodyguard for you. I won't tell you who she is, but I think you can probably guess. I went to make contact with her."

I froze for a moment, then realized who she meant.

"Huh?! D-Don't tell me... Miss Miluno?!"

Among the magical girls in D3 District, aside from me, only Miluno remained.

"I never said that. You can take your time guessing~"

The way Miss Luer put it was practically an admission.

I'd fought an entire battle under Miluno's watch?

I wonder how she'll judge me...

"Come on, Miss Ceruno, walk faster. It's already late, and staying up too late isn't good for patients."

As the older sister, Miss Luer was more lively than her younger sister, Miss Yin Wei. At least, she was easier for me to get along with.

But I didn't dislike Miss Yin Wei. She was simply too serious, and being around her made me tired.

"Miss Heat Haze must have called you here because she wants to understand your magic in greater depth, so she can make contingency plans for your future battles."

Miss Luer swiped her Association employee card and led me into the tightly guarded facility from the rooftop. Only after we entered the elevator did she continue, "What about you? Didn't you come here with other plans?"

She seemed to have guessed, but I still answered, "Yes. I want to tell Miss Heat Haze my true identity."

"You made up your mind so quickly?"

"Better a short pain than a long one. If I don't make things clear, I'll never feel at ease."

"Oho~"

Miss Luer smiled at me meaningfully. She pressed the elevator button, then changed the subject.

"Come to think of it, Miss Ceruno, do you know why the Association chose you as Miss Heat Haze's replacement? My sister probably didn't tell you, did she?"

"No. Wasn't it because of my father's identity?"

"You really lack confidence, don't you?"

Miss Luer shook her head.

"In this afternoon's battle, even with your life in danger, you still analyzed Magma's ability mechanism. It's impressive that you could keep thinking through fear. You have the qualities of a warrior, and the Association just happened to possess a Star Crystal compatible with you... As for you becoming a magical girl, however, Chairman Sun has never stated his position. He neither supported nor opposed it."

At the mention of my father, an unpleasant prickle rose in my chest. I interrupted Miss Luer.

"I know. I disappeared from his eyes long ago."

It would have been fine if Father still hated me.

But in his heart, he didn't even feel hatred toward me.

I was merely a burden who needed regular transfers of money, and even that was handled by his assistant.

"Ceruno."

When I looked up, Miss Luer had already stepped into the elevator and was holding the door open for me with her arm.

"I don't know what happened between you and your father, but the Chairman Sun I know isn't someone indifferent to family!"

Unlike an ordinary hospital, a magical girl treatment facility could not possibly have many patients. The ascending elevator held only Miss Luer and me.

Looking at the mirrored wall in the elevator, looking at the unfamiliar figure reflected there, I hesitated before speaking.

"...Then what kind of person do you think my father is, Miss Luer?"

"Chairman Sun? He's a great man."

She actually called him great...

That was an exceptionally high evaluation.

"As an international organization, the Association has managed to escape the political quagmires of various countries, support magical girls around the world from a position of neutrality, and maintain sufficient funds for operations. Your father's efforts are behind all of that. He has put in efforts you can scarcely imagine to help magical girls. But no one is perfect... I think he was simply too busy, so he neglected to care for you."

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.

"No, you may have misunderstood too. Although my relationship with my father is distant, I've never resented him. Father simply can't forgive me."

"I'm sorry. Did you do something that hurt him?"

Sigh. Did people usually ask for the details at times like this?

I scratched my cheek and answered, "...Something like that. It was similar to what happened this time."

Fortunately, the elevator reached its floor at just the right moment. It stopped, and the doors opened.

"Take me to see Miss Heat Haze first."

"Huh? Is it some past event you can't talk about?"

Miss Luer was cheerful, but she seemed rather bad at reading the room.

"It's family business I don't really want to mention."

"Sorry, sorry. Then follow me. All the rooms here are private suites, and they're huge too!"

Most magical girls operated in secret. At most, they registered their identities with the Association, but no one in their real lives knew who they were. Magical girls also kept each other's identities confidential, so no two magical girls would be assigned to the same hospital room. Patients were given ample privacy.

Ding-dong—

Outside Miss Heat Haze's room, Luer pressed the doorbell.

"The door isn't locked! Do you think I can still get out of bed and open it for you in my current state? Come in already!"

Miss Heat Haze's noisy voice came through the intercom on the door.

The room's facilities were really advanced. I almost wanted to stay here myself.

"Then excuse us."

Miss Luer greeted her casually, and I followed with, "Excuse me, Miss Heat Haze."

"Don't be so polite. Ceruno, right? You did pretty well in your debut battle, but you exposed a lot of problems too. I have plenty of questions about your abilities. If you don't mind the time, don't go home tonight."

She spoke bluntly and without restraint, but she lacked the gunpowder-barrel temperament she'd had during the day. Bandages and casts covered her body. Her battle with Magma had left her with internal injuries and fractures all over.

That made me feel even more guilty.

"Um, there are also some things I want to tell you..."

I gave Miss Luer a meaningful look.

But she merely blinked back at me, staring blankly.

I wanted to ask her to leave first, but she completely failed to understand what I meant.

This person was nothing like considerate. Was she really suited to be a magical girl liaison?

"Miss Luer, could you let Miss Heat Haze and me speak alone?"

"...Huh? Oh! You two take your time. I'll wait outside. If you need anything, just call me!"

Only then did she understand. She pushed open the door and left.

Heat Haze asked, "What is it that Luer can't hear?"

"Miss Heat Haze, I'd like to ask for your forgiveness."

"Huh? Why are you apologizing to me?"

"Because of my true identity..."

I pulled the Star Crystal out from my chest.