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

Yes, I have.

Moreover, Nishio Reki had no reason to lie about this answer; Yuuki Yuuki could indeed be with Helica.

Not to mention being together, Yuuki Yuuki became the leader of the corrupted magical girls in Tsukimi City, and she locked Helica in the basement and did all sorts of play with her.

Conversely, Yuuki Enishi also fell into Helica's hands, but Helica always handled it cleanly and efficiently; she didn't have the same perverse sense of humor as Yuuki Enishi, who let herself be.

"Really?" Helica asked, somewhat skeptical, as she confirmed Nishio Reki's statement.

“Really.” Nishio Reki said it with absolute certainty, leaving Helica with no room for criticism.

"But don't ask how you succeeded in the past. Your relationship depends on your own efforts. I can only say... you are not without hope."

Nishio Reki added another sentence.

"I see." Helica didn't press the matter further.

But she raised an even more troublesome question.

Helica was genuinely curious about questions that could put her mind at ease.

"Then tell me, have you ever seen Yuuki Yukino transform into a magical girl?"

Chapter 87 How can we go out and have fun without taking a group photo?

Herica's earlier statement, specifically the question about whether she and Yuuki Yuuki had possibly dated, was, in Nishio Reki's view, a decoy, a pretext to deliver a fatal blow when he was off guard.

But that was never a pretense; Helica would never use her feelings as a bargaining chip, absolutely never.

When she asked Nishio Reki about this, she was genuinely curious, wondering if it was possible for her to be with Yuuki Yuuki.

Hearing the affirmative answer, Helica felt incredibly relieved.

As long as the probability is not zero, there is still hope.

But this doesn't mean Helica's focus isn't on what comes next.

Have you ever seen Yuuki Yukino transform into a magical girl?

This is Helica's key point.

It would be impossible for Nishio Reki not to feel flustered when he heard those words.

Could it be that Helica is starting to doubt herself?

Although Nishio Reki is not worried about being suspected.

In terms of her identity, she has a clear conscience, and that alone is enough to refute most of Helica's accusations.

In terms of strength, Helica is not strong enough yet to cause her any trouble.

However, Yuuki Yukino was not entirely innocent, and Nishio Reki could not allow Helica to spread the flames of suspicion to Yuuki Yukino.

Herica's question proves that she already harbors doubts about Yuuki Yuuki.

"Why are you suddenly asking about this? What happened?"

Instead of answering Helica's question, Nishio Reki began to ask Helica questions.

To ensure the smooth running of the city, she couldn't answer any of Helica's questions, whether they were lies or facts. If she did answer, Helica would have even more questions to ask her to verify.

Yuuki Yukino might be exposed, and this is not something that one person can control.

However, Nishio Reki could only guarantee that even if Yuuki Yuki's identity was exposed, it wouldn't be because she revealed it herself; that was all she could do for Yuuki Yuki.

"Answer me first," Helica pressed on, eager to get an answer from Nishio Reki.

Remaining silent is also a form of response.

"You've met Huan-jie before, and you've heard her talk about some things from the past, right?"

Nishio Reki still couldn't give a positive answer, but she knew what she had to do to dispel Herika's doubts.

"You think that once Xiaoyuan becomes a magical girl, you two can naturally be together, right?"

Helica was speechless for a moment.

She guessed that Nishio Reki had misunderstood her meaning, thinking that her question was a continuation of the previous one, and that she was exploring how to be with Yuuki Yuuki.

But Helica didn't think that way; she just wanted to know if Yuuki Yuuki had any chance of becoming a magical girl.

“I didn’t think that way.” Helica hesitated, pondering how to explain it to Nishio Reki.

No matter what, Nishio Reki is Yuuki Yuki's childhood friend. Yuuki Yuki, who grew up with him since childhood, and himself, who just reached an agreement yesterday but then broke the rules, it's obvious who is more important.

He couldn't possibly tell Nishio Reki, "I suspect Yuuki Yukino is connected to the corrupted magical girl."

Even if it were true, Nishio Reki might not tell him the truth.

Helica began to have second thoughts.

“I’m just a little curious.” Helica said, as if putting a period to the topic, giving a reason that would never be accepted.

You finally managed to ask, and now you're just backing down like this?

This won't put my mind at ease.

Things that need to be faced will eventually have to be faced, just like my own relationship that ended halfway through.

Helica rallied her spirits and offered an explanation that was completely different from her previous perfunctory response.

"Because Yuuki Yuuki has a power that others don't have, although it's unstable, she can recognize the identities of magical girls, so I'm wondering if Yuuki Yuuki has the talent to become a magical girl."

She was hoping that Nishio Reki would say that "no".

Even if Nishio Reki was deceiving herself, Herika would feel much more at ease once Nishio told her.

"Have."

Reki Nishio answered.

This answer made Helica's heart skip a beat.

"It's not just Yui; every girl has the potential to become a magical girl. Anyone can become a magical girl as long as their wish is granted."

Nishio Reki continued.

Although she still didn't directly answer Helica's question, the conversation had already begun to shift from whether Yuuki Yuki was a magical girl to the concept of magical girls themselves, guided by her.

"Would you like Yuuki Yukino to be a magical girl?"

"I do not know."

A hint of confusion flashed in Helica's eyes; she clearly didn't have a clear answer to this question.

When she first met Yuuki Yuki, as her feelings for her gradually grew stronger, she had fantasized countless times about fighting alongside her.

But now, she is afraid of the potential danger and uncertainty that it might bring.

Nishio Reki looked at Helica quietly, a hint of worry in his eyes.

She knew that Herlica's concerns were not unfounded; on the contrary, Herlica's worries were real, and the reality was exactly what Herlica did not want to see.

But she also knew that there were some things that Herika had to discover and face herself, and Yuuki Yuuki couldn't keep this secret hidden forever.

“Herika,” Nishio Reki whispered Herika’s name. “Becoming a magical girl is not an easy thing. We are all well aware of the responsibilities and risks involved.”

"Correct."

Helica agreed; she knew that what Nishio Reki said was true.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

Nishio Reki has not answered her question yet, but her attitude has already shown a clear inclination.

Whether Helica continues to doubt or misunderstands Nishio Reki's meaning is beyond Nishio Reki's control.

At least for now, Helica isn't going to keep asking about that topic.

As we continued along the mountain road, the surrounding scenery gradually became more and more inviting.

The sky was still overcast, and the closer we got to the mountaintop, the closer that gloomy ceiling became, and the scenery at the foot of the mountain became increasingly blurry.

Until you step onto the last step, leaving everything behind.

The autumn wind was bleak, and fallen leaves were everywhere. Stepping on a carpet of red leaves, Helica looked up at the empty, gray sky.

"Isn't it beautiful? It was definitely the right decision to come hiking, wasn't it!"

Baqi's excited voice came from behind. This girl, who also had her own personality and her own troubles, was optimistically accepting every new thing and discovering the beauty that made her happy.

Herlica turned around in confusion, looking at Yuuki Yuuki who was pulling her along and taking pictures everywhere with her phone. She looked like a happy little dog, or like Inuyama Tomoe, who was full of curiosity about everything.

"Yes, indeed... I, I think so too, it's beautiful... Haa, haa, I can't take it anymore, I'm going to die, I can't hold on any longer!"

The person stuttering wasn't Lin Jiezi, but Yuki Emi, who was panting heavily with her legs weak and her legs trembling. She was leaning on her knees, looking utterly hopeless.

"N-N-Is it okay? Yuki-kun, I-I brought water."

On the contrary, Lin Jiezi, although still looking timid, was only slightly out of breath and took out a bottle of drinking water from her backpack and put it in her arms.

Why are they able to get along so well with Yuuki Yuuki?

Why does it seem like I'm all alone in this low-pressure zone, making me feel out of place with everyone else?

Behind Inuyama Baki, the flow of people rushing to the top of the mountain, and behind them, the autumn of Momiji Mountain, with fiery red leaves burning across the entire hillside, the scent of soil and leaf veins awakening Helica on the breeze.

She was so focused on what was above her that she forgot what was under her feet, what was around her, and the path she had walked.

She also forgot that the scenery around her was the real purpose of her trip.

Even for a fleeting second, Helica felt that the image of the excited silver-haired girl holding her phone against the backdrop of red leaves on the mountain overlapped with that of the arrogant girl in the red military uniform.

But now Helica's attention is no longer on them.

"Hey! Want to take a picture together? It's rare for us all to get together and have fun! Let's keep it as a souvenir!"

Through the camera, Baki noticed Helica watching her, snapped her fingers, and waved to Helica.

Despite how much they didn't get along, she was still so welcoming.

It's like the red leaves covering the mountains.

Perhaps this is where the difference lies?

It's obvious at a glance who's better, the one climbing the mountain with a long face and the one climbing with constant enthusiasm.

Torn between her conflicted identity as Yuuki En and the desire to enjoy her school trip, Tenrai Herika chose to escape.