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

For example, the rather unusual reaction when seeing the sacred sound on the train.

There's no use thinking about it now; all I can do now is trust that Nishio Reki will perfectly keep my secret.

On the other side, Nishio Reki, who was being pulled away by Helica to quickly separate from the main group, never imagined that Helica would say such a thing in such a calm tone.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to confess my feelings to Yuuki Yuuki."

Chapter Fifty-Four: Childhood

School trips are wonderful!

Nishio Reki never imagined he would have such a wonderful experience.

Walking on unfamiliar streets, looking up at different scenery, with the person I care about most standing beside me.

Even if that person isn't alone with others.

Nishio Reki constantly questions himself:

Does all the effort I've put in really deserve this kind of life?

Is it really okay to just do nothing?

She didn't know, or perhaps Nishio Reki himself was unwilling to delve into the answer to this question.

"Are you listening to me?" Tenrai Herika curled up her arms and nudged Nishio Reki's side with her elbow, forcibly dragging Nishio Reki back to reality from her complicated imagination.

Yes, right now, Nishio Reki and Tenrai Herika are walking alone on the street.

"Sorry, I spaced out for a moment," Nishio Reki apologized softly.

Tenrai Herika suddenly and very willfully dragged herself out by her own arm, an unusual act that left Nishio Reki completely baffled.

But it's best not to resist Helica's Heavenly Thunder.

"Honestly, listen to me properly, why are you so distracted?"

Helica complained naturally, yet carefully controlled her emotions, as if she had something important to tell her.

Inuyama Baki specifically mentioned that Herika's purpose was likely to monitor Yuuki Yukino and determine her identity through close contact during this school trip.

Nishio Reki herself was skeptical of what Tomoe said, and even now, she still thought that Yuuki En was being overly anxious.

"I'm a little surprised that you would ask me to come out alone. I thought you would ask Yuuki Yuki instead."

As Nishio Reki spoke, he turned to look at Helica.

Throughout the day, she naturally approached Helica and observed her.

Nishio Reki was observing Helica's purpose.

She hasn't found the answer yet, but it's true that Helica is always paying attention to Yuuki Yuki's actions, and it's certainly possible that Helica has become suspicious of Yuuki Yuki.

The most difficult person to deal with among this group of magical girls is that eccentric Mizuno Yu. If Mizuno Yu discovered the clues, it would indeed be reasonable for Helica to be entrusted with this kind of task.

If Helica wanted to observe Yuuki Yuki, the one who should have forcibly dragged her away was Yuuki Yuki, not herself.

"If I want to get Yuuki Yuki to come out, she has to agree first." Helica sighed, spreading her palms with self-awareness, her words full of helplessness.

This can hardly be considered an answer.

Nishio Reki adjusted his gaze in the blink of an eye: "I don't think Yuuki Yukino will refuse."

“Yes, I think so too. It’s Inuyama Tomoe who would refuse.” Herica spoke naturally, neither awkwardly nor forcefully.

It was also an equal exchange, or rather, it was somewhat like negotiating with Nishio Reki.

Nishio Reki didn't understand yet, but it wouldn't be wrong to continue talking about Helica.

"Indeed, Inuyama Tomoe is also giving me a bit of a headache."

Instead of continuing the conversation about Inuyama Hita, which she had brought up, Herlica started a new topic.

"You really are a magical girl, aren't you?"

Within Yuuki Yuuki's entire group, she and Herika were the only two magical girls Herika knew of.

If he was summoned because of the magical girl, that would be understandable.

However, the two of them didn't actually have many topics to discuss about magical girls.

As Nishio Reki naturally took his steps, he also took another step toward believing the assumptions made by Yuuki Eri.

“That’s right, didn’t we meet before? On the day of the festival.” Nishio Reki showed no change in expression, simply acknowledging Helica’s words as if they were nothing more than normal.

"But you're not like a magical girl. Where were you during all those battles?" Helica's eyes flashed with distrust.

“I also have things I need to do.” Speaking of riddles is Nishio Reki’s forte, and even Helica can’t get any meaningful information out of him.

Some things cannot be said, and some things can be concealed by using riddles to hide one's inner thoughts.

Although he's annoying and cunning, that's just how Nishio Reki lives.

However, there are also times when one accidentally lets something slip.

"Is it that big crisis you mentioned again?" Helica asked.

“Yes. It’s rather complicated to explain in detail,” Nishio Reki replied.

“Oh…” Herika responded with a long, drawn-out sound, as if she was carefully choosing her words.

Is that all there is to it?

Nishio Reki also felt something was off.

"Then what do I need to do?"

"Make ourselves stronger until we are able to face the crisis together."

The two continued walking, crossed the road, and turned into an area where many students wearing Yuehai Middle School uniforms were gathered.

“You are the one who came back from the future,” Helica pondered before speaking again, “What will happen if you fail?”

“It’s terrible. Many people will get hurt. It’s a scene you absolutely don’t want to see.” Nishio Reki glanced around again and explained to Helica.

"Ah."

This didn't seem like she was inquiring about Yuuki Yuuki, nor did it seem like she was inquiring about magical girls. Herica's questions were very scattered, without even a main point of focus.

It was like an awkward conversation where people just asked whatever came to mind.

It wasn't just a coincidence; Nishio Reki was certain that Helica was using a hastily put-together topic to awkwardly chat and cover up the questions she truly wanted to know.

They had just changed the subject away from Inuyama Tomoe, and then never mentioned a single word related to Yuuki Yuuki.

Helica is easy to understand; not only Yuuki Yukina thinks so, but Nishio Reki can also understand her to some extent.

"Is there anything you want to know? If it's something I can answer, I'll definitely tell you." Nishio Reki felt he couldn't just passively wait for Helica to speak.

Helica didn't speak, but her surprised look seemed to say it all.

That's why I say Helica is actually very easy to understand.

"Don't look at me like that. You called me out alone because you must have something to ask me, right?"

"What I want to ask you is about magical girls," Helica said vaguely, as if several syllables were swallowed, and it took a while to understand what she was saying.

A few seconds later, Helica herself felt that those scattered, casual conversation topics were unreliable, and he hissed as she took a few breaths of cold air between her teeth.

“Nishio, classmate Yilin Yiqi Temple Wu (Sijiu Ba, you and Yuuki Yuki are childhood friends, right?)”

Just as Nishio Reki had guessed, Helica's focus was indeed on Yuuki Yukino.

"Yes, I've known her since I was very young."

Nishio Reki never intended to hide this matter; on the contrary, he was quite proud of it.

Of course, she had no intention of showing off to anyone.

Nishio Reki just felt that it was really great that he and Yuuki Yuuki had known each other for so long.

"I see." Herica's response left everyone speechless; perhaps Herica didn't even want Nishio Riku to answer that question.

A few more footsteps sounded, and Helica asked a new question.

"So how did you and Yuuki Yukino meet?"

How did I meet Yuuki Yuuki?

Nishio Reki was slightly taken aback.

If they want to investigate Yuuki Yukino's identity, they shouldn't need to investigate themselves.

Helica might be suspecting that she was hiding Yuuki Eri's identity because of their childhood friendship.

No, Helica knew that this person's personality didn't seem like the type to do such roundabout things.

"Are you curious about this?" Just to be on the safe side, Nishio Reki asked one more question.

"A little." Helica reached into her bangs and pinched her earlobe.

It certainly doesn't seem like she would ask because she suspects Yuuki Yuuki. If that were the case, Helica should be more composed, instead of wavering like she is now.

It would be better to work with Helica now.

Those precious memories, which he cherished like the back of his hand, were something Nishio Reki didn't mind sharing. After a brief moment of thought, Nishio Reki began his story.

There were no dramatic events or major conflicts between her and Yuuki Yuuki; their relationship was just ordinary and simple, a bond that solidified over time.

"When we were little, we both lived near the shopping street. Back then, it was the old shopping street, which was half destroyed by a battle between magical girls before it was rebuilt."

As Nishio Reki recounted the story, a nostalgic light shone in his eyes.

Even though she was in an unfamiliar city, in the afterglow of the setting sun, she seemed to see again the courtyard of her childhood, bathed in the sunset, where little girls ran and chased each other on the brick and cement ground.

"I met Yuuki Yukino around that time. Actually, I met many people around that time, but the one I'm closest to and the only one I've maintained that relationship with to this day is Yuuki Yukino."

Helica nodded gently as Nishio Reki spoke, listening quietly to his unhurried narration.

"After we met, we played together, caught bugs, played house, watched cartoons, and collected pretty little stones. In short, we did a lot of things together. Among these people, Yuuki Yuki and I were attracted to each other and naturally became best friends."

"That's wonderful," Helica exclaimed.

“We live very close to each other and have a good relationship, so we communicate more and more, which is normal. We also entered the same primary school and happened to be assigned to the same class—although the class assignments are based on residential areas, we were bound to be grouped together.”

Nishio Reki continued speaking.

"Later, as you know, the shopping district was destroyed because of the magical girl."