Even if you're a corrupted magical girl, you still have to try to redeem yourself.

Everyone in Nijisanji, including Helica herself, knew that Stitch was just a poor excuse for organizing this seaside trip.

After communicating more deeply with Helica, Yuuki Yukari was able to understand Helica's thoughts better. This child, who was not good at expressing herself, was creating a place for herself in this childish way.

If Yuuki Yuuki were to break through this thin veil of secrecy and proactively reveal Helica's true thoughts, Helica would undoubtedly agree while simultaneously increasing her favorability towards her.

Oh right, my nickname has changed from "Book Girl" to "Tentacle Girl".

Yuuki Yukino's initiative in inviting others to the beach was definitely not simply because she wanted to play. Of course, she was happy to enjoy the beach, but she still had a mission to complete.

In short, on this sunny morning, the four members of Nijisanji finally arrived at the beach.

After getting off the bus that took them to the beach, we walked into the beach park and were greeted by a beach packed with people.

Lin Jiezi, who had probably stayed up late the night before, had extremely dark circles under her eyes, and her eyes were spinning like mosquito coils. Her legs went weak and she collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"You're in such a hurry, Lin! You haven't changed into your swimsuit yet, or you'll get sand on your clothes." Helica bent down to help Lin Jiezi up after she fell, and reached out to brush the sand off her clothes.

"Ah...ah..." Lin Jiezi, who was being helped up by Herica's petite body, let out a strange cry that was incomprehensible to humans.

"Lin, what are you saying? I can't hear you." Helica brought her ear close to Lin Jiezi's mouth, frowning slightly as she listened intently to what Lin Jiezi was saying.

"Ugh, ugh, there are so many people, people, people!" Lin Jiezi Xiang was convulsing as if she had been electrocuted, her whole body tense up, as if she would vomit her soul out if she stayed any longer.

"It's okay, you'll get used to it." Helica grasped Lin Jiezi's hand, squeezing it tightly as if to encourage her. "Was it because you were so excited about going to the beach today that you didn't sleep well? Lin's dark circles are so heavy. I was really excited last night too."

"No, no, no, there are so many people, so many people, I'm suffocating, ugh!" Lin Jiezi was stiffly supported by Helica as she was pulled toward the sea, or rather, she was being dragged along.

Social anxiety is indeed like that; you'll turn to ashes and die as soon as you're in a crowded place.

Thankfully, Helica is there to look after this socially awkward person's thoughts; otherwise, this task would definitely have fallen to Yuuki Yuuki. Taking care of Hayashi Kagami doesn't necessarily earn her favorability, which feels like a huge loss.

No, Mizuno Yu would definitely shout that this is a trial and that you have to overcome this trial to become stronger.

Wait a minute? Who's taking care of Lin Jiezi?

Yuuki Yui rubbed her eyes in disbelief. Helica was walking beside her with a gentle smile she had never seen before, supporting Hayashi Keiko and matching her unsteady steps.

Yuuki Yukino gasped; what she saw was indeed Helica.

Herika also felt Yuuki Yuuki's gaze and turned her face towards her.

"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" Helica smiled innocently, her eyes crinkling.

How can Helica be so gentle? Has she gone mad?

"No, it's nothing, it's nothing." Yuuki Yuen shook her head.

"Honestly, why are you staring at me like that? It's making me nervous too."

Recalling the incredibly chaotic dream she had in the middle of the night, Yuuki pinched her thigh under her denim shorts. The fresh pain reminded her that the Helica she saw was the real Helica.

Oh no, Helica isn't being arrogant anymore, the world is going to be destroyed.

Yuuki Yui secretly nudged Mizuno Yuu and pointed at Helica with her finger hidden between the two of them.

Mizuno Yu is so understanding, she should be able to understand what I mean, right?

Mizuno Yu gave Yuuki Yuuki a determined look.

Good, she understands.

"Tenrai, Yuuki said she wants to help take care of Lin."

"That's not how it is!" Yuuki Yuuki blurted out.

"Oh my, Yuan is so kind, she actually offered to help her companion... Wait, did Yuan just say something?" Helica cast another clear glance at her.

My persona should be that of a gentle girl with a slightly cunning side; yes, I can't do anything that would ruin that persona.

"Haha, no, I just thought it was too tiring for Tian Lei to be alone." Yuuki Yu let out a dry laugh, waited a few seconds for Helica, who was supporting Lin Jiezi, to catch up with her, and then took Lin Jiezi's arm that was closest to her and put it on her shoulder.

Why use the prying motion? Lin was so nervous that all her muscles were stiff and she couldn't move at all without the prying motion.

With her arms outstretched and each of the two men carrying one of her arms, Lin Jiezi kept repeating things like "So many people, so scary," as she was carried forward at an angle as if she were a giant cross.

Hmm, she looks more like a witch about to be judged.

There were quite a few people on the beach, and many people cast curious glances, but no one would find it strange to do anything on this beach.

The group quickly found a spot to use as a temporary base. After planting the cross-shaped Lin Jiezi directly into the sand, Helica wiped her sweat, clasped her hands together, and revealed a smile as bright as the sun: "Let's choose this place? This location feels great. I have a feeling we'll have an unforgettable and happy time."

Very good, Lin Jiezi has successfully transformed from a witch about to be judged into a scarecrow.

"I'll get everything ready here first, you guys go change into your swimsuits."

Just like when she was going to swimming lessons at school, afraid that someone might accidentally see her black magic pattern, Yuuki Yukari had already put on her swimsuit before leaving home, and then put on a beach jacket and denim shorts before setting off.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Yuan~"

Helica carried her backpack in one hand and pulled Lin Jiezi, who had gotten stuck in the sand, out with the other and hoisted her onto her shoulder.

"Well, hard work."

Mizuno Yu also thanked her sincerely and followed in Helica's footsteps.

Having gotten used to seeing Helica carrying a warhammer, it doesn't feel out of place at all that she's carrying someone now.

Never mind, I'll just finish the work at hand first.

After all, coming to the seaside was the first step in the plan devised by Yuuki Yuki and Tomoe.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Summer, the Sea, and the Chainsaw

Although coming to the beach is an essential part of Yuuki Yukino's plan, she doesn't actually have to come to the beach. As long as she doesn't stay with Tomoe and can ensure that she spends the whole day in public places, that's enough.

Earlier, when discussing the actions to be carried out today with Baqi.

“Last time, when Xiaoyuan tricked Hong away, she used the information gap to make Hong believe that the four of you were magical girls. It also made me discover something good.” Baqi said, pointing with her chopsticks to the nearly empty plate:

"Red can't determine whether someone is a magical girl just by making direct contact. It might be an ability that she only has after transforming, or it might require a more complicated method to find out this information, or Red might not have this ability at all."

"For example, the yellow-haired dwarf and the blue-haired stoic had contact with Hong on the day they were at the Moon Sea Tower, but Xiao Yuan didn't recognize them directly on the day she bought a swimsuit in the shopping street, which is why Xiao Yuan's trip went so smoothly that day."

Yuuki Yui nodded in agreement: "Indeed, if Koumori could tell at a glance whether the other party was a magical girl or not, then my actions that day would have been exposed immediately."

"That was then. Now, Hong has likely realized that she was tricked that day, so she will definitely try to harm Xiaoyuan again in the coming days. Xiaoyuan, you must ensure your safety."

Sun umbrellas, picnic mats, beach chairs, swimming rings—basically anything related to the sea can be rented from stalls near the beach.

These are the things Yuuki Yuen needs to do when everyone else changes into their swimsuits. Overall, it's not complicated. You can solve the problem by spending a little money near the stall, and there will be a kind shop assistant to help you carry your things over.

She didn't need to lift a finger to move things; all Yuuki Eri had to do was set up the parasol, lay out the picnic mat, and arrange the beach chairs – simple tasks.

The work itself wasn't stressful; what Yuuki En was really worried about was whether Koumori would take this opportunity to launch a surprise attack.

Yuuki Yui chose to come to the beach today with this in mind. Her last meeting with Koumori was in the shopping mall area. Even with the mall's surveillance cameras, there are blind spots. It wouldn't be difficult for Koumori to find an opportunity to transform without anyone noticing.

But the situation is completely different on the open beach. Finding a momentary opportunity to transform in such a place is much more difficult than in a shopping street. Therefore, transforming in public will definitely attract witnesses.

I don't know who set the rule, but magical girls should try to avoid transforming in front of ordinary people, and it seems that everyone is following it well.

If you can't transform in public, it's not impossible to secretly transform somewhere and then come over for a surprise attack.

Yuuki Yukino had also considered this point. The moment of transformation is like lighting a match in a pitch-black room; it can be detected regardless of whether the magical girl has transformed or not.

Therefore, bringing Mizuno Yu and Helica along was to add an extra layer of insurance for her safety. If the two of them sensed the fluctuation of magic, they would definitely react accordingly.

During the previous study session, when Baqi kidnapped her right in front of them, Yuuki Yukino, who was the planner, felt nothing at all.

However, Helica and Mizuno Yu felt guilty that they, as magical girls, couldn't even protect their friends when they were in danger. Therefore, Yuuki Yuuki was certain that if she were in danger, the two of them would do everything in their power to protect her.

The decision to bring them along was actually quite risky. If Yuuki Yukino really clashed with Koumori, and Koumori wanted to expose her identity in front of the other members of the Rainbow Society, then Yuuki Yukino would be unable to defend herself.

The decision to bring Mizuno Yu and the others over might backfire.

However, if Koumori really launches a surprise attack when no one is paying attention, Yuuki Eri will face even greater risks.

Faced with the dilemma of being defeated and turning into a ball of fluff, versus the possibility of having her identity exposed, Yuuki Enishi had no choice but to choose the lesser of two evils.

While not foolproof, these are methods to ensure one's safety to the greatest extent possible.

"Yuan, we're back!"

It didn't take long for them to change into their swimsuits. Yuuki Yuki had just been lying on the beach chair fiddling with her phone when the energetic Helica dragged the exhausted Lin Jiezi, who looked like a lump of mud, all the way to the parasol. Lin Jiezi's feet left a long trail in the sand.

Lin Jiezi's listless appearance made Yuki En begin to wonder if it was a mistake to bring her over.

But since they finally get to go out and have some fun, all four members of Nijisanji have to be together.

Besides, there are still many mysteries surrounding Lin Jiezi. Whenever Yuuki En has a question that she can't figure out, it's always a good idea to suspect Lin Jiezi first.

Upon seeing the prepared parasol, Herika tossed aside Lin Jiezi, whom she had been dragging, and clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling as if stars were about to leap from them.

"All of this is because you alone made such cold doubts (<Wow, did you die? That's amazing!)"

Yuki En clearly heard Lin Jiezi burp when she was thrown. This rough method was indeed Helica's usual style, but what was going on with Helica's abnormal behavior?

Previously, when chatting in the group, I couldn't discern Herica's tone of voice; I only felt that Herica's way of speaking was a bit strange. Now, seeing Herica in person, the shock she brings to Yuuki Enishi is earth-shattering.

Helica, please be normal, I'm scared.

"It's nothing serious," Yuuki Yui said, scratching her head.

"The swimsuit suits you so well!" Herica noticed Yuuki Yuuki's all-black swimsuit again and complimented her with a bright smile.

Yuuki Yui nervously examined her swimsuit again, making sure she wasn't showing anything inappropriate: "Thank you for the compliment. Tenrai's is cute too."

Since she couldn't wear the school swimsuit and couldn't show her belly, the variety of swimsuits available was very limited. She also had to make sure the swimsuit wasn't too seductive, otherwise who knew if Baqi would get excited and start touching her while swimming? So Yuuki Enishi simply bought a pure black swimsuit that looked most like a sports bra.

Yes, that's right. She even had to be careful when buying swimsuits, lest Baki turn into a raging, lewd wolf.

As a result, this solid-color, form-fitting swimsuit, because it's so normal, creates a unique sense of contrast.

Just like Lin Jiezi wearing glasses and a striped swimsuit, her gloomy appearance and socially awkward personality create a charming contrast with this bold swimsuit.

But before appreciating Lin Jiezi's charm, let's help Lin Jiezi up, who was thrown to the ground by Helica and is still trembling!

Playing at the beach certainly fits Yuuki Yukino's stereotypical image of her companions.

First, when Lin Jiezi was lying on the inflatable float, a passerby accidentally knocked her into the water. She then sank peacefully without struggling at all. It took a lot of effort to pull Lin Jiezi out and rescue her.

Then Mizuno Yu buried herself in the sand, up to her waist. This wouldn't have been a problem if Mizuno Yu hadn't been buried upside down.

The most unusual person was Helica. She was like a little angel all day long, obediently following the pace of everyone else, and even took the initiative to buy shaved ice and juice.

When a beach volleyball from another tourist hit Helica right in the face, knocking her to the ground, Yuuki Yuki, seeing Helica's trembling shoulders, thought that Helica was finally about to lose her temper as she always did.

Helica composed herself, flashed a bright smile, and said, "Be careful when playing beach volleyball," before casually tossing the volleyball back.