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

The group of people before going to sleep already had the vibe of girls on a school trip.

They were either lying down or sitting, nestled beside their own blankets, holding their phones and doing their own things.

"Yuki!" Yuki Yuki suddenly called out.

"what?"

Yuuki looked up in confusion, only to be greeted by the flash of Baqi's phone.

"Wait! Why did you take a picture of that?!"

"Because it's so rare to see Yuuki wearing glasses, I couldn't resist taking a picture." Baqi waved her phone, pointing to the red-framed non-prescription glasses on Yuuki's nose.

"Delete it quickly!"

"do not want!"

"Delete it!"

"Absolutely not."

dong dong dong.

A knock suddenly sounded at the door, and Yuuki Eri's homeroom teacher walked in.

"It's time to go to bed. Don't stay up too late."

"it is good--"

In the darkened room, the moonlight, brighter than ever before, streamed through the semi-open balcony, casting a soft glow on the profiles of the girls lying together.

Apart from the moonlight, there was not a single glimmer of light left in the room, and no one took out their phone at that moment.

Not only was there no extra light, but there was also no extra sound at all. Apart from the rustling of clothes and bedding when they turned over, there was only the even breathing of the girls.

The hotel halfway up the mountain was so quiet that even the distant voices that broke the silence became part of the still night.

The person on one side turned over more frequently, and the breathing on the other side became heavier; all of this could be heard clearly.

"Can't sleep?" Yuuki Yuki, lying in the middle, tilted her head slightly and asked softly towards the side where the voice always came from.

On the left is Inuyama Tomoe, to the left front is Hayashi Mustard, and on the other side are Nishio Reki and Tenrai Herika. Yuuki En is like the most central position in the five rings, maintaining a position within reach of everyone.

“A little,” Helica’s voice came from above, muffled, as if her head was buried under a blanket. “Just a little.”

Inuyama Tomoe asked softly, "Are you the type who can't sleep when the lights are off?"

"Yes, so what?" Herika thought Baqi was going to pick a fight with her again, and raised her voice a few decibels.

“Actually, me too.” Baqi looked up at the ceiling reflecting her shadow, and put her arms behind her head. “I was a little harsh on you when we were playing before, I’m sorry.”

"Ah..." Helica's arrogance vanished instantly: "No, no, I also want to apologize to you. I was a bit fierce too. But, without light, it's really hard to fall asleep."

"I like all black; it makes me feel safer." Nishio Reki lay peacefully with his eyes closed.

“Me too…” Lin Jiezi chimed in.

"I don't mind, I can fall asleep whenever I'm sleepy." Yuuki Yui chimed in with her opinion, "Then... should we turn the lights on a bit?"

"No."

"Isn't it unnecessary to go through all that trouble?"

"Although I like all black, I don't object to it."

"No, no need."

What they heard was unanimous opposition.

"puff."

"Ha, we're actually in such good sync."

"Isn't this pretty good too?"

"Uh-huh……"

Then, the girls let out several soft laughs that could be heard far in the night.

After that, there was no sound.

The sound was gone, but the girls' heart-pounding emotions never stopped.

"Is Yuuki already asleep?" Baqi wondered, tilting her head to look in Yuuki's direction.

Half of her sleeping face was hidden by her pink hair, and her chest rose and fell slightly under her pajamas; everything looked so harmonious.

Xiao Yuan seems even more alluring now than before.

I really want to sneak up and give her a kiss.

But there are other people around, so we have to hold back, right?

Nishio Reki tried to turn over, then lowered his shoulders and returned to a lying position.

Xiaoyuan is right here within my reach. If I reach out like this, maybe I can hold Xiaoyuan's hand.

But once you've grasped it, what happens next?

I can no longer hold that hand without any burden as I used to.

Even if I held that hand, I would never be able to get close to her like this in the end.

Being able to lie side by side with Xiaoyuan again would be enough for me.

Perhaps Xiaoyuan doesn't need my existence in her future?

But if he were alone with Xiaoyuan, could he suppress the flutter in his heart?

With her eyes closed, unable to feel the intense gazes from both sides, all Yuuki Yuki could do was breathe evenly, using her somewhat heavy breathing to mask her inner panic.

This night was even harder to endure than I had imagined. No one could predict what someone might do to me during this night, and no one could guarantee who would do it to me.

The trio who might launch a night raid, and the secretive Lin Jiezi—whoever they are, is extremely dangerous.

Perhaps they are also struggling with this issue right now?

That's good; that way, they can keep each other in check.

Everyone had only one thought at that moment.

It's so great that we can all be together on a school trip instead of spending time alone.

Herlica turned her head away and gently bit her lower lip. Not lying next to Yuuki Yuuki, she couldn't turn her head to see Yuuki Yuuki's face.

However, there are some things I want to see.

I'm a little nervous.

Helica thought to herself, then, supporting herself on the mattress, sat up from the floor.

By the moonlight, Herika was finally able to see Yuuki Yuuki's sleeping face clearly.

Her slightly messy long hair, the curve peeking out from between the buttons of her pajamas, and her slightly upturned pink lips, all possessed a magical power that made it even harder to look away in the hazy moonlight.

This can't go on, Helica was absolutely certain of it.

If this continues, I might not be able to resist bending down and touching those lips that I may never be able to have.

What exactly did I do today?

She acts coquettishly, argues, and makes everyone unhappy.

Could someone like me really be so shameless as to tell Yuuki Enishi that I like her?

Helica developed a sense of self-doubt.

This self-doubt cannot continue.

Herlica slapped her cheeks hard, making a few crisp sounds that were clear in the night.

Others may have heard it, but no one opened their eyes.

That's perfect.

That's fine.

She had considered confessing her feelings; she genuinely wanted to confess.

Her planned confession was to take place the next day at Seiun Taisha Shrine, in front of the shimenawa (sacred rope) used for tying the knot.

She never imagined that the confession that was so important to her would be caused by an impulse she had always been ashamed of.

I had thought about it, and this confession came on this sleepless night.

Having no idea what her future held, Helica put on her coat, gently closed the door, and went out.

Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Moon is Bright and the Stars are Few

The weather is cold in autumn, as cold as the thorns of a rose vine, which will prick your fingertips if you touch them.

The autumn weather wasn't too cold; the refreshing night breeze carried the lingering scent of sunshine and the earthy fragrance of fallen leaves.

Perhaps it is because the night offers scenery that cannot be appreciated during the day, as mysterious and alluring as a rose in a garden, that people always have endless fantasies about the night.

Under the cover of night, the blonde girl navigated the winding corridors and entered the empty courtyard.

The night wasn't too late, but it was past the time for the teachers on duty to check, so she was able to pass through the closed rooms without any hindrance and arrive at this courtyard that was already asleep.

The courtyard was empty. Due to the school trip, there weren't many other guests, so there were fewer buses and private cars, leaving only empty seats.

The emptiness also means that the cold night wind can directly embrace the people in the courtyard without any obstruction.

The girl, wearing a coat that covered her delicate shoulders, felt a chill and pulled the coat closer to her neckline tighter.

Then, Helica rubbed her hands together, using her breath to warm her slightly tingling fingertips, which were frozen. She rubbed her fingertips and pads together to create warmth, while her toes, which were wearing plastic slippers, curled up and scraped against the soft soles.

But it was still so cold that she shivered from head to toe.

But this feeling wasn't bad either; at least it allowed her to escape the room that was heating up rapidly with her breathing and her heartbeat.

If Helica stayed in that room any longer, she didn't know what other outrageous things she might do.

She performed terribly today, and she firmly believes so.

She sought out the teacher with the determination that she wouldn't have any regrets during her final days in middle school.

To avoid future regrets, to follow my heart, everything boils down to expressing my feelings to Yuuki Yuuki.