Coming Clean

Everything was ready for the Cultural Festival entrance.

The stage, the script, the special effects to cover for him, Knight's status as a special guest—every piece was in place.

"The Greek god of connections."

That was what his classmates called him now. It might not be long before they went back to "Miss Yang," but their shock was clear enough.

Of course, Yang Chen's explanation was that rescuing someone in the park had earned Knight's admiration.

Besides, Magical Girls attended all kinds of events as part of their job, so Knight had accepted his invitation.

Everything was set.

But Yang Chen felt there was one thing left to do.

That "big reveal" at the Cultural Festival was for Qianqian.

Whether it was a prank, a surprise, or a shock, their relationship made it all right for him to come clean that way.

But her parents were different.

That couple had carried him home from the edge of the ruins and raised him one meal at a time...

They didn't deserve to be the butt of a prank.

They deserved a sincere confession, face to face.

So, the day before the Cultural Festival, Yang Chen made his decision:

He would tell them first.

No special effects, no stage. He would sit in their living room like an ordinary child who had done something wrong and finally found the courage to admit it.

After school the next day.

"Chen Qianqian." At the school gate, Celestial Star, dressed in everyday clothes, pushed up her glasses, her expression all business. "The Association needs you to come in. A few items in your ability data need to be checked."

"Huh? Right now?" Qianqian checked her phone. "But I promised I'd go home and help my mom cook..."

"It won't take long. An hour or two." Celestial Star kept a straight face. "The review is important. It affects your file rating."

"Oh... okay."

Qianqian left with Celestial Star.

After a few steps, she suddenly looked back at Yang Chen, who was still standing there.

Yang Chen waved, smiling with perfect innocence.

"...Weird," she muttered, then thought no more of it.

The Chen Family home, living room.

"Xiao Chen, you're back?" Su Wan poked her head out of the kitchen in an apron. "Where's Qianqian? Didn't she come with you?"

"The Association called her in." Yang Chen set down his schoolbag. "Where's Uncle?"

"Watering the flowers on the balcony." Su Wan dried her hands. "Have a seat. Dinner's almost—"

"Auntie."

Yang Chen stopped her.

"Could you ask Uncle to come in too?"

He stood in the middle of the living room, arms at his sides, fingertips slightly tense.

"There's something very important I need to tell you both."

Su Wan froze.

This child had grown up in her home. She knew what every one of his expressions meant better than anyone—and she had seen the one on his face now only once before.

Seven years ago, on the rainy night his parents were buried.

Her smile slowly faded. "...Chen Zhou! Leave the flowers and come here!"

Three minutes later, the three of them—almost a family in every sense—sat together on the sofa.

The mood was as solemn as a memorial service.

"Xiao Chen," Chen Zhou said gently, setting down his teacup. "Go ahead."

Yang Chen took a deep breath.

"Uncle, Auntie. I should warn you: what I'm about to say might sound a little... unbelievable."

"But please believe me. Every word is true."

The couple exchanged a glance.

Su Wan quietly gripped Chen Zhou's sleeve.

"Tell us. We're listening."

"Okay." Yang Chen nodded.

Then points of light began to gather around him.

Before the stunned couple's eyes, Yang Chen's form gradually changed.

At last, Magical Girl Love stood in their living room.

The sudden transformation left Chen Zhou and Su Wan staring, unable to believe what they had seen.

"Xiao Chen... you..."

Chen Zhou opened and closed his mouth, plainly trying to speak, but no words came out.

"Yes... I'm Magical Girl Love..."

"I know it's complicated to explain, but what I've just shown you is everything I've been hiding."

Love knew the couple had long sensed that something was on her mind.

They might have wanted to ask what she was keeping to herself, but out of respect for her, they never had.

The transformation ended.

Yang Chen stood in the living room again.

But after this transformation, his hair was longer.

The changes to his face and figure were even more obvious.

"I'm sorry, Uncle, Auntie. I've kept this from you all this time."

"Because becoming a Magical Girl comes at a price for me, since I'm a boy..."

"What?!"

Su Wan let out a sharp cry.

She rushed to Yang Chen, pulled him close, and looked him up and down several times.

"What price? You foolish child! How could you do something that might cost you your life?"

"I... I..."

Su Wan's eyes filled with tears. She raised a hand as if to smack him, but couldn't bring herself to do it.

Realizing she had misunderstood, Yang Chen hurried to explain.

"Wait, Auntie! It's not life-threatening! Every time I transform, I gradually become more like a girl!"

"Become a girl...?"

Su Wan froze at his words.

"No wonder..."

No wonder Yang Chen had grown prettier and prettier over the past year, looking less and less like a boy.

Su Wan had thought he might have developed some little quirk from bottling up too much. She had never imagined this was the truth.

"Yes. That's what I've been hiding from you... because the change is so strange..."

"I didn't know how to face you once I became a girl completely."

Yang Chen's voice sank.

"I was afraid that if you knew, you wouldn't know how to see me."

The living room stayed quiet for a long time.

Then Chen Zhou stood up.

He walked over to Yang Chen and gently rested a hand on his head.

"Silly child."

The fifty-year-old man, whose legs gave him trouble, had reddened eyes and a voice rough as sandpaper.

"The day you came to our home at seven, I told you: no matter what, you're our child..."

"So you recognized us at the factory... The other times you showed up, you never made as big a scene as you did that day... Ha! You were getting revenge for us!"

Su Wan could hold back no longer. She came over and pulled Yang Chen into her arms.

"Silly child... such a silly child..." She cried as she patted his back. "What were you afraid of? There's nothing to fear. You're our child, no matter what you become..."

Held in her arms, Yang Chen felt his nose sting.

The weight that had hung over him for half a year finally fell away with a thud.

Celestial Star had been right.

Qianqian had been right too.

—No matter what you become, the love of the people who care about you won't change.

After the tears and hugs, the mood gradually eased.

Su Wan washed her face. When she came back, her eyes were still red, but she was already bustling about, wanting to make another dish for Yang Chen.

Except—

Yang Chen gradually noticed something odd.

The way Su Wan looked at him had become a little... strange.

It wasn't distaste or sadness.

It was a measuring, pondering, thoughtful look, with little sidelong glances that kept drifting his way—

A strange look.

"Auntie?" Her staring made Yang Chen's scalp prickle. "What is it?"

"Nothing, nothing." Su Wan waved a hand and went back to sorting vegetables.

Two minutes passed.

"Say, Xiao Chen."

"Hmm?"

"Auntie's just asking," Su Wan said without looking up, as casually as if she were asking what they should have for dinner. "If you really do become a girl someday..."

"Will you still like girls?"

"Cough, cough, cough—!"

Yang Chen sprayed out his mouthful of soup.

"Honey!!" Chen Zhou's blood pressure shot up. "What kind of question is that?!"

"What's wrong with asking?" Su Wan said indignantly. "I care about the child's future! I had a perfectly good son-in-law lined up... Now things are like this. Shouldn't I have a little time to prepare myself?!"

"Even so, you can't—"

Smack!

Su Wan brought her chopsticks down hard on the table.

"Can't what?"

Chen Zhou: "..."

"No, Auntie, it's not—I—" Yang Chen flushed to his ears, stumbling over his words. "We, she, no, it's not what you think—"

"Oh, Auntie understands. I understand completely." Su Wan smiled and patted his hand. "Young people get embarrassed. You don't have to say anything."

"Anyway—"

She paused, then grew serious. Looking Yang Chen in the eye, she said softly,

"Xiao Chen, no matter what you become, boy or girl,"

"There will always be a place for you at my table."

Yang Chen's eyes grew hot again.

"Oh, right." Later in the conversation, Chen Zhou suddenly remembered something. "What about Qianqian? Does she know?"

The air in the living room went still for a moment.

"Uh..." Yang Chen scratched his head. "Not yet."

"I'm going to tell her at the Cultural Festival tomorrow."

"The Cultural Festival?" Su Wan blinked. "How?"

"Well, I'm playing Madoka in our class play, and there's a transformation scene in the script. I'm planning to do it for real—"

Yang Chen briefly explained the plan.

The living room fell into another strange silence.

"..." Chen Zhou rubbed his forehead. "You child. Even at a time like this, you're still thinking of pulling one over on her."

"How is that pulling one over on her?" Yang Chen protested. "I'm making the moment special!"

"Can Auntie come watch?" Su Wan suddenly raised her hand, eyes shining alarmingly bright.

"Honey!!"