About Becoming a Magical Girl

By then, a prettily dressed girl had appeared beside her brother and was walking with him.

Yukina's heart suddenly tightened for no reason.

"Big bro..."

She opened her mouth to call out to them, but the words caught in her throat when she suddenly realized that her presence would be rather inappropriate.

She did not even know how to begin, and the words at her lips were swallowed back down.

Her brother, who would never come to an event venue no matter how she invited him, had actually shown up here? Was it because of that girl? Who was she? His girlfriend?

Countless guesses rose in her mind.

The two of them said something, then the girl took the initiative to link arms with her brother and led him away to the side.

Using the crowd as cover, Yukina quietly watched them leave.

Sure enough, it had been wise not to suddenly jump out and announce her presence. This was not a situation where she should appear.

That older girl... she was so beautiful, and somehow looked familiar.

She was probably his girlfriend... That intimate gesture left no room for misunderstanding.

Her brother was undoubtedly an outstanding person. There was nothing strange about him having a girlfriend. But precisely because of that... she felt this loneliness, just as expected.

After seeing it with her own eyes, the truth pressed against Yukina's heart like a block of ice.

Without thinking, she instinctively followed them, but the path ahead was an employees-only passage. Yukina had no access pass, so naturally, she lost them.

Only after stopping did Yukina realize she had wandered quite far away.

"Entry time is approaching. Please have your tickets ready..."

The crowd suddenly began to stir. Yukina knew that admission was about to begin.

15, Uzuki Saori

Elsewhere, in the preparation room.

The cool air from the air conditioner mingled with a faint fruity scent.

Efnir stood before the mirror and removed her wig, raven-black hair cascading over her snow-white shoulders.

She unwound the chest binding, changed out of her casual jacket into a sky-blue dress, and let out a breath. Her shoulders slumped, and even the corners of her eyes took on a lazy air.

Efnir sat down in a chair and stretched her arms.

"Phew... This really is much more comfortable. Nami, can you help me?"

"Oh-ho, I'm here! What does Efnir need me to do?"

"This."

Efnir straightened up as Shinomiyami Nami smoothed out her skirt, fastened the buttons, and tied a bow.

"Ah, come to think of it, why didn't we save a commemorative poster specifically for Yukina today?"

"She already has this one."

As Efnir combed her hair, she loosely swept her fishtail braid back and gathered it into a side ponytail. She looked herself over from side to side and sighed.

"Having to change clothes every day is exhausting."

"What's this? Has our cute Senior Efnir suddenly come to her senses and decided she doesn't want to be 'big brother' anymore?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Efnir tilted her head back and shot Shinomiyami Nami a glare.

"I just think this is more relaxing, that's all. It has nothing to do with anything else."

When disguised as "Yanase Naoto," Efnir had to constantly pay attention to her facial expressions, demeanor, posture, and movements, deliberately displaying the "tough" side befitting the identity of an "older brother."

That level of disguise was not particularly difficult for Efnir, but naturally, keeping herself so tense all the time was tiring.

So whenever she was Efnir and could relax completely, she always felt comfortable from the bottom of her heart.

"Is that so?"

Shinomiyami Nami tilted her head noncommittally, her gaze falling on Efnir's milk-white neck.

It had to be said that Efnir was truly beautiful.

"By the way, Nami, has the Commander contacted you in the past few days?"

"Yes... no?"

"...? So has he or hasn't he?"

"No..."

"Is that so."

Efnir took out her phone, her fingers as slender and smooth as scallion stalks as they moved across the screen.

She frowned slightly.

"There haven't been any large-scale Corruption disasters in the city these past few days. Mm... While that's good news, I have a bad feeling about it... Don't you think the behavior patterns of those Erosion Entities that attacked five days ago were a little strange? It's been bothering me..."

"Mm... The relevant investigation has already begun, but the Internal Affairs Department only sent us a notice today, and they were complaining to us about it."

Answering absentmindedly, Shinomiyami Nami let her gaze slide from Efnir's neck beneath her collar.

The graceful curves held her eyes firmly in place.

It was hard to imagine that something so prominent could be pressed down so tightly by such inconspicuous chest bindings. If one did not pay close attention, there was normally nothing to see at all.

"Come to think of it, I'm curious about something."

"What?"

Efnir raised her head and met Shinomiyami Nami's eyes.

Nishizaki Yuki exaggeratedly lifted a hand to support her own chest, curling her fingers suggestively with a teasing look.

"Doesn't it hurt, binding them like that?"

"...? None of your business!"

"Hehe..."

Shinomiyami Nami laughed without a care, and Efnir shot her a fierce glare.

"Besides! Was I even talking to you about that??"

Knock, knock—

Just then, a sudden knock sounded at the door, echoing through the room.

"I'll get it!"

As though she had found a lifeline, Shinomiyami Nami quickly fled toward the door. When it opened, Efnir looked outside as well and saw the visitor, surprise flickering in her eyes.

"Saori?"

Uzuki Saori, agent codename Lily, was one of the younger agents who had fought alongside them five days ago. She had been injured in battle and had only barely recovered enough mobility to move around; she was still recuperating.

Like Efnir's younger sister Shiomi Yukina, she was a student at Youcheng Girls' Academy and a second-year. She was Shiina Rin's schoolmate, though they were in different classes. Shiina Rin was also the agent Furan. In the eyes of others, their relationship was extraordinary, close enough to inspire envy.

As agents, Saori and Rin had joined the Orderkeepers at the same time and often acted together. They had more experience as agents than Fifina and were exceptionally capable, lovable juniors.

In the past, they would always attend Efnir's performances—sometimes in the audience, sometimes backstage, and sometimes even appearing onstage as guests.

But today, Uzuki Saori stood alone outside the door, holding a small bag of something with both hands.

She looked utterly alone.

Efnir pressed her lips together, hesitation surfacing in her eyes.

Shiina Rin had been injured and infected by Corruption. She was still receiving treatment in isolation, so naturally, she could not come here.

It reminded Efnir of Fifina and Fengling Shiyin. Back then, Fengling Shiyin had been Efnir's fan, liking her passionately yet shyly, and she had come to every performance.

Even after becoming an agent, she had remained the same.

But this time, she was absent.

Nami ushered Saori inside, and Saori greeted Shinomiyami Nami and Efnir.

"Senior Efnir! Good morning. And good morning, Sister Siyejian."

Shinomiyami Nami waved. "Good morning, Saori~"

"Good morning, Saori."

Efnir brushed aside the thoughts in her mind and smiled brightly at the girl.

"Since Saori is here, you two chat. I'll go get something; there's still a lot to prepare."

Shinomiyami Nami glanced back at Efnir, stuck out her tongue, and ran off.

"Sister Siyejian..."

Saori seemed somewhat confused by the situation.

"Did I... interrupt you two?"

"No, it wasn't your fault, Saori. Well... never mind that. Please, sit down."

Efnir sighed helplessly and handed Saori a bottle of orange juice.

"There isn't really anything here to serve you. Sorry about that."

"No, no! I really like this kind of drink!"

Saori waved her hands with a smile, seemingly showing no sign of anything unusual.

Three days ago, Saori had been devastated by Shiina Rin's injury and had collapsed outside Shiina Rin's hospital room, sobbing her heart out.

Just as Yukina was the most important person to Efnir, Saori and Shiina Rin, both orphaned by Corruption disasters and raised in the same welfare home, were the most important people in each other's lives. They had always supported each other until now. Shiina Rin's severe injury must have been the most unbearable pain for Saori.

The memory of that moment flashed before Efnir's eyes, sending ripples through her gaze.

16, Request

"Eh? Is that so..."

Efnir opened the drink for Saori, though she did not drink any herself.

Efnir had actually long passed the age of being enthusiastic about drinks, so she did not really understand young people's tastes. These beverages were here solely because her younger sister liked them—thinking that maybe my little sister won't like the venue's bottled water, she had asked Shinomiyami Nami to replace all the drinks at the event venue with this kind.

Or was this kind of drink simply popular at Youcheng Girls' Academy?

Efnir glanced at the orange-colored drink in her hand and set it on the table.

"Didn't Saori's club have a weekend activity today?"

Efnir asked.

If they spent every day in high-intensity battles and training, even if their bodies could endure it, their minds would collapse first. So some adjustment through everyday life was essential—this was advice from their attending physician, Nishizaki Yuki. Thus, every agent had their own life. Efnir chose to continue living as "Yanase Naoto," while for Uzuki Saori and Shiina Rin, school life was the choice they shared.

They said it let them experience the lives of other people their age.

"It's not like that sort of thing happens all the time. Though... I did rush over here a little..."

Uzuki Saori tilted her head and smiled softly.

"But... being able to see Senior Efnir is more exciting than anything else."

"Is that so? I'm glad."

Efnir looked away.

In any case, she was not very good at handling other people's praise.

"By the way, how is Rin doing now?"