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

"Shh—" Saint Shion narrowed her eyes, peeking through the slits at the nuns in their habit who had somehow appeared beside her bench. She put a finger to her lips, interrupting their argument: "Nobody remembers. Everyone thinks this is just a normal festival. That's alright."

"There's nothing we can do about it; she's the student council president of St. Yu-Gi-Oh Academy now."

Chapter 86 Small Problems Before a Big Trouble

"Let's all go to the festival together this weekend!"

Even in this most restless season, nothing could dampen Helica's enthusiasm, which was as vibrant as her name.

Before Yuuki could even wash the dishes she had eaten that morning, Helica called her to the bustling downtown commercial street.

Of course, Mizuno Yu and Hayashi Kusako were also called out.

This was the first time the group had met since they visited Mizuno Yu in the hospital.

Yuuki had no idea exactly when Mizuno Yu was discharged from the hospital, and Mizuno Yu wasn't obligated to tell her about her discharge, so Yuuki didn't take it to heart.

However, judging from Mizuno Yu's energetic appearance, she should have fully recovered.

Yuuki Yu had wondered if Mizuno Yu would take this opportunity to introduce Sakura Hanako to her, but now it seems she was overthinking it.

Herika would invite everyone from Nijisanji to go out and have fun every few days during the holiday, so everyone was used to it.

While Yuuki Yuuki was undergoing intensive training, Helica actually quieted down for a while and didn't invite everyone out to play for quite some time.

Just as Yuuki Yuki was wondering if Helica had encountered some trouble, Helica, as always, noisily called everyone out again.

Mizuno Yuu looked very energetic, and Herika was also fine. The real problem was with Yuuki Yuuki herself.

If everything goes as usual, Yuuki Yuuki would certainly be very happy to spend this meaningful time with the other members of Nijisanji. Spending summer vacation with friends from school sounds so youthful and full of friendship, doesn't it?

However, the problem of Kuroba's reincarnation has not yet been resolved. With this unknown danger gradually approaching, every day less practice means a little less improvement. She can't say how much Yuuki Yuuki has become stronger during this period of special training, but she knows very well that this level of effort is definitely not enough.

Just thinking about countermeasures, conducting special training, and then resting and flirting with Baqi to replenish her mana has already taken up almost all of Yuuki En's time and energy.

Just because of the festival, she specially called everyone out. If she could, Yuuki Yuuki just wanted to go home as soon as possible.

But if I don't go, and I don't have a particularly suitable reason to appease Helica, she will definitely make a scene and force me to go out. She might even rush to my doorstep and drag me out.

Thinking about Inuyama Tomoe, who lived with her, and then about Herika's reaction when she saw this scene, Yuuki Yuuki didn't even dare to think about what would happen next.

"I'll just take a day off," Yuuki thought. "I'll rest for a bit, and I can also use this opportunity to get some information from them."

So the group met up on the commercial street.

"Hey! Hey! Did you hear me? How about we go to the festival together? Why isn't anyone saying anything?" Herica, who was dressed like a primary school boy as usual, stomped her foot, urging the others to respond.

Lin Jiezi, who was first glared at by Helica, was intimidated by her gaze and raised her hand to show her support for Helica.

"I, I, I think this, that, is very, very good."

Mizuno Yu chimed in with agreement: "I don't have anything else to do either, so spending this time together before the summer vacation ends sounds like a meaningful thing."

"And what about you? And what about you?" Helica turned to Yuuki Yuki excitedly, looking at her with an even more expectant expression than when she looked at the other two. But her overly excited expression disappeared without a trace when she saw Yuuki Yuki.

Her excitement vanished, replaced by an awkward expression: "Let me make this clear beforehand, this is a Nijisanji event, I'm not that excited about it."

Wow, she's getting cocky now, no wonder she's Heruka.

"I might have something to do on the day of the festival," Yuuki Yui said shyly, cupping her cheeks and squinting her eyes.

"What is it! How long will it take to finish?" Helica pressed on relentlessly.

"It's a personal matter, and I don't know exactly how long it will take." Since Yuuki Yuki has already said this much, Helica shouldn't keep pressing the issue, right?

Being asked by Helika to do other things is fine, but going to the festival is something Yuuki Yukino absolutely cannot agree to.

She hadn't told anyone this idea—no matter what happened that day, as long as either Hong Moli or Bai Gui Qian You was sacrificed, she should be safe and sound.

Yuuki En herself felt that her worst-case scenario was based on the sacrifice of others, and that such thinking was extremely dirty.

But if the worst-case scenario really happens, then Yuuki Yuki will have to consider how to clear her name in the future.

The mysterious man was right; he really could only think about himself.

Therefore, Yuuki Yuuki needs to ensure that she can transform without any psychological burden on the day of the festival. And going to the festival with Helica and the others is her biggest psychological burden.

Even if Helica and Mizuno Yu weren't there, there was still Hayashi Mustardo that day.

Rejected by Yuuki Yuuki, Helica's haughty and awkward demeanor turned into genuine disappointment. She pursed her lips, wanting to say something but unable to utter a word.

"But it's not absolute! Once I'm done with things here, I'll definitely come find everyone!" Yuuki Yui pulled back her words a bit, not wanting to be so absolute.

If Yuuki Yui finishes her work, the scene might become a mess, and then Helica and Mizuno Yui probably won't be in the mood to continue visiting the festival.

It's not even certain whether that festival will continue.

"Okay! You absolutely have to come! Do you hear me? You absolutely have to come!" Helica repeated several times, "Since we're going to the festival, a yukata is a must, right?"

A yukata is almost equivalent to a casual kimono worn only in summer, but it is not as complicated as a kimono and can be worn by one person.

On the night of the festival, girls dressed up cutely in yukatas, carrying lanterns or handbags, watching fireworks rise into the sky amidst the noise—it's quite romantic.

If I could, I really would like to wear Yuuki Yuki's costume at least once.

Wait a minute, we just had a swimsuit event a few days ago, and now we have to buy a yukata?

No wonder Helica's agreed meeting point was in the shopping street today.

But if you're buying a yukata, you have to try it on to see which one suits you best. To see which one suits you best, you have to try them on one by one, which means you have to change clothes, right?

A yukata is worn directly over underwear, and some people even go without underwear.

If you need to change clothes...

What should be done about the black demonic markings on my body?

The days of practice and thinking of countermeasures had made Yuuki Yukino's mind work very slowly, and it wasn't until this moment that she realized the seriousness of the situation.

Like last time when I bought a swimsuit, I should ask Hong Moli to come over and interrupt again. But no, it wouldn't be good if Kuroba Laisheng caught me. Otherwise, I could say that I already have a yukata and then sneak over to buy one? Or maybe I should ask Baqi to come and help me.

Helica seemed to have noticed Yuuki Yukino's hesitation about the matter and already had a corresponding plan.

Now, Helica has long since learned how to quickly motivate everyone. She first calls out Lin Jiezi, who is unlikely to refuse, and that way she can get half of the votes.

"Lin Jiezi! For the last festival of middle school, you should wear a new yukata, don't you think!"

“Yes, yes.” Lin Jiezi trembled and echoed Helica’s words.

Herlica's words completely blocked Yuuki Yukino's plan to say that she had a yukata.

If Yuuki Yukino were to say something like, "I recently bought a yukata myself," it would conflict with what she had to do on the day of the festival, and saying something like that would be digging her own grave.

Judging from Helica's eyes, she won't give up until she strips herself naked and puts on a yukata!

Yuuki took out her phone, pretended to check the time, and quickly sent a message to Baqi with her amazing hand speed, along with her location.

Just like when she was trapped in the family restaurant and had to help the other three with their homework: "Baqi, danger! Come save me!"

This time, Yuuki Yuuki was smarter and added a sentence to the end of the message: "Try not to transform, just find an opportunity to pull me away."

Only when she was urging everyone to cooperate with her would Helica drop all her arrogance and directly urge them: "So? Do you two agree? Let's go buy yukatas together!"

“I have no objection,” Mizuno Yu quickly agreed.

“But I might not have time that day…” Only Yuuki Yui was still persevering.

If he were to be dragged away before Ba Qi arrived, all his efforts would be in vain.

Mizuno Yu walked over considerately and lowered her voice to a volume that only Yuuki Emi and she could hear: "Are you having financial difficulties? If Yuuki-san has any concerns about this, I can help you. If Yuuki-san feels embarrassed, you can pay me back later."

After saying that, Mizuno Yu secretly made a hand gesture to Herika behind her back.

Hey! Don't think I didn't see this! When did you two become so close?

But Mizuno Yu is indeed like that. No matter how cold she may seem on the surface, her inner sensitivity and gentleness are unmatched by others.

She also maintained the stability of the group in her own unspoken way, keenly perceiving and trying her best to meet the thoughts of others.

For example, when Mizuno Yu rescued herself from Miyashita Mia, she shouted, "She's my friend!" This really brought tears to Yuuki Yuuki's eyes.

"Mizuno-san, I've already said it's not about money... it's..."

"I understand. You're shy and worried that Tianlei will treat you like he treats Lin, like a dress-up doll?"

What do you know? Is this about changing clothes? Trying on cute clothes makes me happy too!

No, it seems that it really is related to this.

What I was worried about was that the black magic pattern would be discovered, which was basically worrying that Helica would strip me naked.

Mizuno-kun, that's just how you are. You have a keen eye for other people's problems and proactively help them solve them in a reasonable way.

Please help me solve my problem a little.

"Yes, yes, I feel very shy changing clothes in front of other people, even when I went to the beach..."

Yuuki Yui wasn't sure if she was blushing, but she acted the most natural shyness she could muster, deliberately avoiding Helica's gaze and hiding her body behind Mizuno Yui.

"I see. You can leave it to me with confidence." Mizuno Yu nodded, looking quite assured.

That's great, she finally understands.

"I will tell you how to expose your body without caring about other people's opinions."

No one would want to learn this kind of thing!

Chapter 87 An Unexpected Encounter

"Mizuno-san, are there any other methods? Like... something that doesn't require exposing your body. I just don't want to take my clothes off, you know. Not everyone can overcome their sense of shame like Mizuno-san."

Yuuki Yukino, sweating profusely, smiled awkwardly.

Before Baqi arrives and rescues her, every second that Yuuki Yui delays is a victory. Therefore, even exchanging a few more trash talk with Mizuno Yu will tip the scales of victory in her favor.

"Besides, it's perfectly normal not to like exposing your body in front of others," Yuuki Yui added.

“Everyone is born naked, it’s your own thoughts that are vulgar! You’ve been ruined by these thoughts, that’s why you can’t accept exposing your body.” Mizuno Yu lowered her voice and spoke with great conviction.

Well, it's hard to refute; it sounds like it makes a lot of sense.

Wait a minute! What kind of twisted logic is this! It's like saying not wearing clothes is the right thing to do! If I don't follow Mizuno Yu's train of thought, I'll start to act strangely myself.

“No… this is indeed a bit…” Yuuki Yu hesitated, thinking about how to deal with Mizuno Yu next.

"Is there something on Yuuki-kun's body that he doesn't want others to see?" Mizuno asked.

Yuuki Yukino's entire body seemed to freeze in place.