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

Is it a bit too much to ask for comfort because the other person misunderstood and thought the other person was not cooperating?

Or was this Yuuki Yukino's original idea?

But that's not what Helica wanted to hear.

"I wrote that punishment game."

Helica gritted her teeth and said this.

Yuuki Yukina showed a moment of surprise, then lowered her head, composing her expression flawlessly.

"Oh, I see. Then why did Helica..."

Yuuki Yukino only asked half the question before stopping, then nodded slowly with a smile that seemed to see through Helica's thoughts.

"I see."

Know what?

She clearly knows nothing.

Herlica wrote this note for a simple reason: she just wanted to experience what it felt like to be a couple with Yuuki Yuuki.

But as Helica threw her note into the prize pool, she began to feel regret.

She couldn't guarantee she'd draw the punishment game card, and she didn't want to see Yuuki Yukino flirting with other people.

When Helica saw herself as the one punished in the final round, or rather, the victor, she breathed a long sigh of relief, followed by an overwhelming surge of excitement.

Along with the excitement, there was also a deep sense of loss.

That's too cunning.

Is it right to indulge in unrealistic fantasies through such cunning means, even if it's just a game, even if no one cares?

It was only when Helica made mistakes time and time again that she was able to think about the matter more deeply at that time.

If I were to win Yuuki Yukino's heart in this way, would my feelings change when I confess to her tomorrow?

Helica didn't know, but there was one thing Helica was absolutely certain of.

If I actually did that, I would never be able to hold my head up high again.

So she gave up; she had to fight for it honestly and fairly.

I don't want a relationship that wasn't won honestly and fairly!

She wanted Yuuki Yui to know about this, but she didn't know where to begin.

Talking about what I like? Talking about my plans? Neither can convey my anxious feelings.

In the end, all the words I wanted to say were summed up in a single, pale sentence.

"No, that's not what I meant."

After a long silence following Yuuki Yuuki's "I understand," Helica's words seemed incredibly abrupt, making it difficult to connect what she was saying with the previous topic.

After a while, Herika still didn't hear a single question from Yuuki Yuuki, and had no way of knowing what Yuuki Yuuki was thinking at this moment.

Only the wind is getting colder.

“I talked to Nishio-kun before.”

Herlica buried her face between her knees, turned her head to the side and brought up what had happened not long ago, peeking at Yuuki Yukino's expression through the gap.

She saw Yuuki Yukino show a very curious expression for the first time.

It's only natural that Yuuki Yukino is curious.

Herlica's behavior today was very unusual, leaving Yuuki Yuuki completely baffled as to what Herlica was trying to do.

If we're talking about Helica's capriciousness, she's toned it down considerably, a stark contrast to her reckless behavior when she's out with Nijisanji.

If Helica is supposed to be well-behaved, then today she did a lot of things that were hard to understand, like her unusual behavior at the hot spring earlier, which made it hard for Yuuki not to be suspicious.

Yuuki Yuuki joined her group because she assumed Helica had doubts about her magical girl identity, but her experiences over the day didn't seem to confirm that.

To uncover the truth, we need to meticulously analyze every unusual motive of Helica.

This was what Yuuki Yuuki was curious about, but it wasn't the reason why she followed Helica out of the hotel room after discovering that Helica had quietly left.

Her reason for coming along was actually quite simple.

Helica is acting a little strange, so I'm a little worried, that's all.

"You talked to Li, and then what?" Yuuki Yuen asked casually.

Even if Helica talks about trivial things, Yuuki Yuuki will listen attentively.

Moreover, what happened between Herica and Rei is not a boring story; it may contain very important information.

This is information that Yuuki Yuuki would try her best to find out even if Helica didn't bring it up.

“I chatted with Nishio-san, and then I learned a lot about fate. Nishio-san told me a lot of things I didn’t know before.”

Herlica turned her head away from her, burying her mouth in her arms and staring at the ground in front of her.

What was his experience? Did he recount his own story?

Yuuki Yukina guessed that their conversation might be related to magical girls.

But what does this have to do with me?

As expected, she still can't escape the fact that she's a corrupted magical girl?

Because of her suspicions, she sought confirmation from Nishio Reki, who was not a corrupted magical girl. Therefore, the various abnormalities that followed were a test of herself after obtaining certain information.

So just how much does Helica know about herself?

Herlica had no idea what was going through Yuuki Yukino's mind; all Herlica did was continue to say what she wanted to say.

A gentle breeze rustled through the distant mountains, creating a unique background sound for Helica's narration.

Herika's words were still fragmented and incoherent, saying things that only made Yuuki Yukino more confused.

"I'm sorry... I only found out now that Yuan's family is because of magical girls... So Yuan's abilities might be from when she was little... No, I'm really sorry. I didn't consider Yuan's feelings before letting her stay by our side and putting her through so much danger."

These unprovoked apologies were like raindrops shattering on the ground, stringing together to form a curtain of rain that left Yuuki Yuki completely disoriented.

Yuuki Yukino panicked a little. If her identity were really exposed, she would definitely be flustered.

No, it's precisely because Yuuki Yukino is unsure whether the other party possesses any decisive evidence that she's in such a panic.

What is Helica saying? Why can't I understand a word of it?

It's the brain, stretched to its limit, stubbornly refusing to understand any irrelevant information it doesn't want to hear.

Ke Yuki absolutely cannot show any wavering in her heart, for even the slightest mistake could ruin the entire plan that has been laid out so far.

Yuuki took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes, not wanting Helica to see the wavering look in her eyes.

"anything else?"

“And…” Helica hesitated.

Furthermore, he asked Nishio Reki for help and confessed his plans to her.

And then there's my own unsettled feelings, and the emotions I've maintained until now.

And then there's that shameful jealousy and possessiveness.

Helica belatedly realized that she shouldn't have brought it up.

She just wanted to find a topic to continue the conversation with Yuuki Yukino, so she brought up Nishio Reki and mentioned that she knew about Yuuki Yukino's past.

But she didn't expect Yuuki Yukino to show such strong wavering.

Did I say something wrong again?

It's understandable to want to know about Yuuki Yuki, but asking her personally and having her recount her past is completely different from spying on her without her consent.

Helica felt it was wrong of her to pry into other people's past.

Did I mess something up again? It's Dad's fault.

"Helica, why do you want to go on this school trip with me?" Yuuki Yukina brought up the topic at just the right moment.

Helica, of course, had no idea that this was Yuuki Yukino testing her.

But Helica believes this is yet another instance of Yuuki Yuuki seeing through her.

Yuuki Yukino saw through her wavering and deliberately changed the subject to avoid making herself feel too embarrassed.

But this hit the nail on the head, making it even easier for Helica to feel embarrassed.

During the school trip, I should have had so much to say to Yuuki Yukino.

But now Helica can't think of anything.

But that's what she wanted to say.

Helica felt she had to say something.

Is it embarrassing?

Do you feel embarrassed to express your feelings?

Wouldn't it be better to say everything here?

Ultimately, Helica simply wanted to express her feelings.

The time and place are completely irrelevant.

How Yuuki Yukino views herself, and how much preparation she has made for it, is completely irrelevant.

All I wanted to do was convey this feeling.

At this point, Helica's impulse to change, which had led her to make countless mistakes, was once again completely uncontrollable.

Helica had no idea what consequences such an impulsive act would bring her, or what changes would occur in the future.

“Because there are some things I want to do,” Helica replied.

"What is it?" Yuuki Yui turned her head to look at Helica, who had already lifted her face from her knees.

"These are some things I feel I need to do, no, things I absolutely must do, because if I don't do them, I might always have regrets. But never mind, you can't understand even if I tell you."

"Does this concern me?"