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

"Speaking of which, what were Tenrai and Nishio whispering about? Also, what was Tenrai planning to do when he first pulled Nishio away? Has he finished doing it now?"

"hiss."

Helica gasped.

What was I just talking to Nishio Reki about? I pulled Nishio Reki away because I wanted to cause her trouble, but we ended up talking about Yuuki Yuki's past, and I couldn't help but tell Nishio Reki about my plan to confess to Yuuki Yuki.

It might sound like she was desperately trying anything, but Helica felt that getting help from Yuuki Yuki's childhood friend wasn't such a bad thing after all.

But what should I say if Yuuki Yukino asks me that?

Should I say it? It's impossible to just say it directly, is it?

"This is a little secret between us, right?" This time it was Nishio Korechi's turn to come to Helica's rescue.

“Yes, yes!” Helica stared at her slightly flushed cheeks and nodded.

It seems their conversation had nothing to do with the identity of a magical girl.

That said, what was with Helica's inexplicable blush?

Could it be that Helica has fallen in love with someone else, no, abandoned her knotted wings, and returned to the embrace of the original protagonist?

Never mind, as long as my identity isn't exposed, it's not a problem.

For the next period of time, nothing really went wrong.

Because when Yuuki was pulled into the alley, Baqi was protecting Lin Jiezi the whole time, at least in Helica's eyes, so Helica's attitude towards Baqi changed somewhat.

Although Yuuki Yuki didn't know that Helica had temporarily put aside her duties because she decided to confess her feelings, she was still unaware of Helica's true intentions.

Then came the biggest crisis of Yuuki Yuuki's career.

"Yuuki Yuuki! What are you standing there for? It's our group's turn to go to the hot springs!"

Chapter Sixty-Two: Take it off without worry!

As expected, it eventually came to this.

Yuuki Yui had long anticipated this; as long as she participated in the school trip, such a day would inevitably come.

Mizuno Yuu once failed to see the black demonic pattern in the eyes of the lava lantern in the misty hot spring, which shows that she was not necessarily going to be discovered.

However, Mizuno Yu's experience is not very relevant to our understanding.

Mizuno Yu's strange thought process and focus were beyond Yuuki Yu's comprehension. She was the kind of person who couldn't even tell that Lava Mountain Lantern was a corrupted magical girl when the two of them were sitting at the next table eating at a buffet.

Yuki wasn't completely unprepared. During the meal, she secretly sent her plan to Baqi via her phone. How far Baqi could go was up to fate.

"Yuki Yuuki! What are you standing there for! Hurry up! It's time for the hot springs!"

Herlica urged anxiously, wishing she could reach out and drag Yuuki Yuuki from the hotel room on the second floor all the way to the fitting room leading to the hot spring.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming right now."

There's no escape, let's fight to the death.

The view inside the changing room can only be described as magnificent.

Although the fleeting glimpses of half-hidden scenery in the fitting room before PE class could easily make one's heart skip a beat, the scene before one's eyes is far more exciting than what's happening now.

Young girls in the prime of their youth either chase and play around wrapped in bath towels, or turn their backs to tie their long hair with hair ties, leaving behind suggestive curves, or more frankly display their bodies.

If Yuuki En, who would have felt ashamed to see her own body a few months earlier, had seen this scene, she probably would have fainted from a nosebleed.

But she is not the same person she used to be. Even when faced with such provocation, she can remain as still as a mountain. Yes, as still as a mountain.

"Yuki Yuuki, why is your face so red? You look a bit hesitant."

Herica's voice rang in his ears, startling Yuuki Yuuki so much that he gasped and retreated several meters to the side.

"W-What's wrong?"

Herika was startled by Yuuki's strong reaction, and she couldn't bring herself to ask Yuuki why she wasn't changing her clothes.

"I...I'm a little...not used to it." Yuuki Yuen blushed and awkwardly reached behind her head to untie the hair tie that held her hair together.

Her long, loose pink hair, now free, slightly obscured the girl's face. She raised her hand, covering her shy expression with the back of her hand, and turned her face to one side.

so cute!

Not only Tenrai Herika, but Inuyama Tomoe and Nishio Reki also silently sighed in their hearts.

Yuuki Yukino is usually very natural, either nervously worrying about this or that, or showing a slightly cunning expression while getting along well with everyone. Yuuki Yukino's shy expression is simply an extremely luxurious delicacy.

This expression is exactly the kind of hesitant, coy look that two people would show before engaging in more intimate interaction.

In other words, this is an expression exclusive to lovers!

Is Yuuki Yukino really shy?

That's right! She is indeed very shy!

He was worried that Helica would discover the Dark Mark, but more than that, he felt a little awkward about having to be completely honest with the people he had been spending every day with.

No, how should I put it? This was the first time Yuuki Yukino had ever witnessed such a shocking scene, so she was also affected by this strange atmosphere, in a negative sense, of course.

Whether in the school locker room or when she went to the beach, Yuuki Yui always changed into her new clothes early and put them underneath her. When she went to the locker room, she just took off her clothes and stuffed them into the locker. At her speed, it never took her more than a minute.

Therefore, she had no idea that the atmosphere in the dressing room was actually so embarrassing.

Why do I feel so shy? Haven't Baqi and I already been completely honest with each other and done all sorts of things together?

If I had known this would happen, I would have stayed in my room even at the risk of being suspected by Helica.

After all, although everyone is looking forward to the hot springs tonight, it's not a mandatory activity.

"What are you looking at...?"

Yuuki noticed that the eyes of several people in her group were all looking at her, and she was so embarrassed that she felt like steam was rising from her head, and she stammered.

"Ah, no, it's nothing." Helica, who was stunned, also turned her head: "It's just that, I didn't know you could show such a shy side."

"W-What do you mean, 'me too'..." Yuuki Yuuki's eyes widened in disbelief, filled with shock.

Helica shouldn't have answered Yuuki Yukino's question, otherwise it would have only made Yuuki Yukino more shy.

But Helica just didn't want to miss any opportunity to talk to Yuuki Yuuki.

Although what she said was almost identical to what she had just said: "I'm just a little surprised, I didn't know you could make that kind of expression."

Has anyone else seen this scene?

Thinking about it this way, Helica felt a tiny bit jealous.

"You know I'm a bit afraid of being exposed... well, the headmistress of St. Yuu Academy, whom I met on the train, also mentioned it..."

Yuuki Yui was reciting the prepared statement, but her current awkwardness and shyness made the statement even more credible.

"It was the same at school. I felt shy about exposing my body, so I would wear my gym uniform underneath beforehand. It was the same when I went to the beach... I just really didn't like it and felt very shy..."

"Also, when Tianlei and Helica asked me to replenish my mana... I was too shy, so I was a bit rough, so... in the end I couldn't take off my clothes..."

"But at a hot spring inn, if I don't do this... wouldn't I seem a bit out of place...? But I'd really be shy... so..."

"what……"

Herlica gave a short reply. Yuuki's adorable reaction, so different from her usual self, made Herlica's heart flutter. She hesitated for a long time, unsure of how to respond.

What a great opportunity! What a great opportunity!

With Helica speechless, it was the perfect opportunity for him to carry out his plan.

Yuuki Yukino was genuinely embarrassed, but this explanation wasn't.

Plan A: Make a big deal out of the accidental "exposure" mentioned by Shengshiyin on the train, then express that you don't want to expose your body to others, and then let the other accomplices cheer you on and decide the direction of the conversation, and finally run back to your room as an outsider.

Although it was a bit of a shame that I couldn't enjoy the hot springs with everyone, it was nothing compared to revealing my identity.

Of course, there are dangers involved. The fact that she deserted at the last minute rather than having planned it beforehand does increase her credibility, but whether Helica will believe her story or whether it will arouse more suspicion is unknown to Yuuki Yuki.

But with such a great atmosphere, if I don't bring it up when I'm genuinely feeling shy, I won't be able to pretend to be the same person again once my shyness has passed.

While answering Helica's question, Yuuki gave a subtle signal with her eyes to Baqi, who was standing behind her and watching her.

Don't look at my shy expression! Didn't you get enough of looking at me while I was replenishing mana?

After being glared at fiercely by Yuuki Yuki, Baqi wasn't so stupid as to not realize anything. She immediately took a few steps forward and, as planned, showed a concerned expression.

Is Xiaoyuan shy?

"A little."

That's right, that's it. Then, if you're really too shy, you shouldn't go in.

Anyway, Baqi had seen her own body quite a bit.

"Then why don't you go back to your room and take a shower yourself? There's a bathtub with hot spring water in the room, right?" Baqi said, reciting the lines she had already prepared.

"This isn't really appropriate, is it? Everyone's having a great time on this hot spring trip, and I'm the only one here." Yuuki Yukari and Baqi had already secretly rehearsed their lines on their phones, so all she had to do now was maintain her shy expression and have a normal conversation.

"It's really not a good idea, but I'll respect Xiaoyuan's opinion. Of course, I'll still be worried! Otherwise, how about we ask what other people think?" As she spoke, Baqi gestured for Lin Jiezi and Nishio Li to come over, as they hadn't yet started undressing.

"Xiaoyuan seems a little shy, but she came to the hot spring so as not to spoil the happy atmosphere of everyone's school trip. Should we let Xiaoyuan cooperate or not force her to come with us?"

Baqi's words were extremely biased, almost openly threatening to make Yuuki Eri go back to her room to take a bath by herself.

This is also part of Yuki Yuki's plan. Nishio Reki knows the whole story of the Black Demon Mark, so it's obvious what he will choose after hearing these words. Hayashi Keiko has always maintained a neutral attitude, so it won't be difficult to persuade her.

This is what Helica has always been doing at Nijisanji: majority rule and then set things up.

"If Xiaoyuan is really shy, it would be nice for her to go back and soak in the hot spring by herself. Otherwise, it would be too tense for everyone to take turns using the hot spring bathtub in the room. Although the atmosphere would be a little different, if we force Xiaoyuan like this, she won't enjoy this hot spring trip, right? She has already done so much for us as the group leader."

After a moment of contemplation (oddly enough), Nishio Reki immediately made a very reasonable judgment and took a stand in agreeing to let Yuuki Eri return.

"I...I don't know, I'm listening to...Yuki-kun."

Just as Yuuki En had guessed, Lin Jiezi wouldn't express any opinion on the matter at all.

Yuuki Yukino herself was wavering and neutral, while Inuyama Tomoe and Nishio Reki had more or less agreed to let her go back to her room and use the hot spring bathtub herself, so that left only Helica.

At this point, Yuuki Yuki felt that the outcome was already decided.

However, it's still necessary to ask politely.

"Tianlei, what do you think would be better?"

"Yuki Yuuki, would you like to soak in the hot spring with everyone?"