Eating Hotpot and Singing Songs

"Field Team A here. Wetland Park has been completely cleared!"

"Field Team B received. Traffic control is underway around the perimeter. Evacuate immediately. Over."

By evening, the entrance to Rongcheng Wetland Park had been cordoned off by layer upon layer of Hero Association barricades.

Hyacinth and Iris sat in a temporary command tent beside the communications vehicle, watching blurry footage play on the screen before them.

"Heartmoon Fox posted an update at noon, claiming she'd prepared a 'little gift' for you at Wetland Park."

"I did know about that."

"But no one expected her to actually summon a monster in Wetland Park. And she hasn't shown herself this time, so be extra careful."

"Mm, we'll be careful." Hyacinth nodded.

The monster alert had gone out an hour ago.

The two of them had been on their way home from school when they received the news and rushed over immediately.

Yet the monster had not attacked. Instead, it had quietly waited for the Hero Association to evacuate the park's visitors, and even now, there had been no movement.

"What does the monster look like? Any eyewitness reports?"

"Yes. Several visitors captured footage of it appearing, but only its rough outline can be made out."

The footage switched.

A colossal monster, as large as a small hill, appeared on-screen. The person filming screamed and fled, and the image quickly blurred.

Though brief, it was enough to make out its shape.

It was smaller than the giant monster at the amusement park, but still larger than every monster she had faced before.

That fit the traits of monsters summoned by Heartmoon Fox—enormous bodies and tremendous strength.

It might even be hiding some strange abilities.

"We need to take it down quickly. Where is it now?" Hyacinth stood as she spoke.

"At the lotus pond in the center of Wetland Park. It should still be there. Please, both of you, be very careful."

"Don't worry. Leave it to us."

Hyacinth spoke with confidence.

Iris said nothing, but she followed Hyacinth's lead and stood up, leaving the tent to head into the increasingly dusky wetland park.

As they advanced deeper into the park, Hyacinth quietly observed the silent companion at her side.

Hua Ling was usually quiet, but today she was far too quiet.

She had been this withdrawn in class during the day as well. Her absentmindedness had grown worse by the day, which was worrying.

What exactly had happened to Hua Ling? Nan Xiaofeng was completely at a loss too.

Could it be that she wasn't quite used to being a magical girl?

"Hey, Iris."

"..."

"Iris!"

"...Huh? Ah! Wh-what is it?"

Hyacinth raised her voice a few notches, finally pulling Iris back from her daze.

"There's been something really wrong with you lately! Very, very wrong!"

"Um... sorry..."

Iris did not dare argue and silently lowered her head.

—Hua Ling knew perfectly well that she had been in terrible condition.

She zoned out in class, then sat at her desk in a daze after class, listless and drained.

And there was that song, as though it had been sung just for her.

Thinking of it made Iris feel inexplicably downcast.

What on earth was she thinking?

"Ugh... it's all Heartmoon Fox's fault!"

Hyacinth stomped her foot hard, choosing to vent all her anger on Heartmoon Fox.

It was all that devious fox's fault!

If she hadn't kept targeting Hua Ling, Iris would not have become like this!

"Don't be mad, Hyacinth... I'm sorry... it's all my fault..." Iris said timidly.

"I'm not blaming you, but if you're in such bad shape, fighting a monster is going to be dangerous!"

Hyacinth's tone grew sterner.

"Pull yourself together! We have to take this monster down cleanly today!"

"...Mm!"

Iris nodded firmly, took a deep breath, and her gaze became more resolute.

Hyacinth was right. She could not keep going like this.

After getting through the immediate crisis, she had to find a way to adjust her mental state.

But who could she talk to?

Xiaofeng had little advice to offer, Bailing, as a stargazer, could not give any normal advice, and she was not familiar enough with the Hero Association liaison staff yet.

That left her with very few options.

—What about Sister Tianqing?

For no apparent reason, that name surfaced in Hua Ling's mind.

Su Tianqing, Little Fish's friend—the adorable little golden-furred fox.

Her words were what had strengthened Hua Ling's resolve to become a magical girl and protect everyone. Perhaps Sister Tianqing could offer her some advice.

With that thought, Hua Ling tightened her grip on the white wand in her hand and gave a small nod.

She would contact her tonight.

But for now... she had to deal with the monster in front of them first!

The two of them looked toward the disgusting mud-covered monster in the lotus pond.

"Monster spotted!"

Hyacinth shouted as her greatsword appeared in her hand, held horizontally in front of Iris.

"Iris, support me with firepower!"

"I'm going in!!"

.

.

Meanwhile, in Rongcheng's commercial district.

"Whew! So spicy, so spicy, so spicy!"

Inside a Haidilao hotpot restaurant, the golden-furred Fox Fox stuck out her tongue with tears in her eyes as she accepted a cup of lemon water from Nan Jiayu, who was struggling not to laugh.

"Gulp gulp gulp—"

"Pah! ...Waaah, I survived..."

"...Pfft, hahaha."

Seeing the little fox across the table clutching her lemon water with a look of utter relief, Nan Jiayu finally could not hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

"Little Fish, what are you laughing at?!"

Tears brought on by the spice still glistened in Su Tianqing's eyes as Fox Fox cried out.

"Tianqing, aren't you from Rongcheng?"

"Of course I'm from Rongcheng... but even locals can be unable to eat spicy food." Fox Fox pouted indignantly.

Then she reached her chopsticks into the tomato broth, picked up a piece of fish tofu, dipped it in sauce, and put it into her mouth. Her expression quickly turned blissful.

"Mmmmmm~"

Nan Jiayu smiled softly, then picked up two slices of meat from the spicy broth and savored them.

She had had quite a fun day.

Remembering their shopping trip that afternoon, Nan Jiayu could not help smiling.

They had tried on plenty of winter and spring clothes at a clothing store and bought several suitable outfits and pairs of shoes. Then they happened to find a movie they wanted to watch, so the two of them bought tickets and slipped into the theater to enjoy a blockbuster.

It was already five by the time they came out of the movie, and only then did they hurry over to the hotpot restaurant for a feast.

That was when she discovered the pitiful little fox who could not eat spicy food.

"It's actually nice to go out like this once in a while." Nan Jiayu swallowed her mouthful of meat and spoke.

The little fox was currently gnawing at a slice of overcooked meat. Hearing her, she looked up and blinked.

"That's why you shouldn't stay cooped up in the library every day, Little Fish. Go out, have fun, relax a little—it'll help with your studies too."

Su Tianqing grinned.

"Mm... I suppose you're right..."

Nan Jiayu gave an awkward, bitter laugh and continued eating heartily.

Their attention was suddenly drawn to the television in the restaurant.

"An urgent report from the Rongcheng Hero Association."

"The monster that appeared in Wetland Park has begun attacking the surrounding area. Magical Girls Hyacinth and Iris have gone to engage it. Citizens nearby, please proceed to the nearest shelter as soon as possible."

"Our station will continue following the situation at the scene. Next, our reporter on the front lines..."

"Wetland Park?"

Nan Jiayu chewed on her meat as she watched the live broadcast from the scene, feeling a faint sense of confusion.

Hadn't Heartmoon Fox been summoning monsters a little too frequently lately...?