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

"What do you mean by 'I don't understand coffee but I'll work hard'? That makes Xiaoyuan sound like she lacks confidence! Besides, doesn't that imply that Xiaoyuan is applying for a coffee shop job but isn't prepared at all? It makes people think that Xiaoyuan doesn't value this job!"

"Sigh!" Yuuki Yuki had lost count of how many times Baqi had sighed in just a few minutes.

"If I were that store manager, I wouldn't let someone like Xiaoyuan pass!"

It's good to speak frankly, but Baqi's blunt criticism of her problems left Yuuki Yukino unsure whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.

You know, I just twisted my ankle because I failed the job interview and was about to take the first step into a new life. Although I'm not too sad, I'm still a little depressed.

Baqi wasn't the type to let things slide after finding fault; she didn't hold back in comforting Yuuki Yuki.

"Forget it, we have other jobs. Just because this coffee shop isn't suitable for Xiaoyuan doesn't mean other places won't work, right? Let's look for some more."

As Baqi gently stroked Yuuki Eri's hair, as if she were coaxing a child to be happy, she softened her tone.

"If that doesn't work, Xiaoyuan can come to my house every day and cook for me. Her salary won't be less than that of a coffee shop employee. No, I don't mean to boss Xiaoyuan around! It's just that Xiaoyuan wants to do something and can be with me all day... right, right, right, right?"

Seeing Baqi's hurried explanation, the few dark clouds in Yuuki Enishi's heart, which hadn't been particularly upset to begin with, were instantly dispelled.

However, Yuuki Yukino was still somewhat resentful and complained to Baqi:

“I know I have a problem! I’m not that upset, but there’s one thing I just can’t figure out. The manager of that coffee shop said he could hire me, but then he changed his mind when he heard my name. What’s wrong with my name?”

Baqi didn't take Yuki Yuki's words to heart. The ending was already predetermined, and there was no point in thinking about the twists and turns. In the end, it would just be a waste of her time and energy.

"Xiaoyuan, why are you thinking so much? If someone wants to reject you, they can find any reason to do so. They could fire you just because you stepped into the office with your left foot first. Just don't overthink it!"

Even though Baqi said that, Yuuki Yuuki still couldn't forget the subtle change in the other person's eyes the moment she said her name.

But what Baqi said is also true, it's best not to think too much about it.

"That's true."

> Research ^ house⊙/ball......

The coffee shop after Yuuki Yuki left.

The shop manager tilted his head back and poured the remaining coffee in his cup into his mouth as if he were drinking beer.

"call."

Swallowing the bitter liquid in his throat, the shop manager slammed his hand down on the coffee cup handle, then softened his grip just before the cup hit the tray.

The clinking sound of the porcelain cups did not cause any damage, and not a single drop of coffee was spilled.

The shop manager, having released his grip on the cup handle, sighed again, still tilting his head back, and wiped the coffee stains from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

After staring at the ceiling for a long time, the store manager straightened up, sat up straight, and took out his phone from the drawer under the workbench.

From the list of recent calls displayed on the screen, the store manager clicked on the most recent call record, and the call was automatically dialed.

After pressing the speakerphone button, a busy signal came from the speaker for a long time, but no one answered.

The store manager leaned back in the chair behind the bar, lowered the hand holding the phone, and used his elbow to shield half of his vision, looking at the white light on the ceiling through his shirt.

Just as her finger was fumbling for the circular hang-up button, a different sound came out.

"Hello? Nana? Why are you calling me at this hour?"

Minato's expression shifted from confusion to displeasure. She slammed her phone down on the solid wood bar counter with a thud, stood up, and slammed both hands onto the counter. Yuuki Yuki's unfinished coffee rippled due to the vibration of the counter, almost spilling over.

"Yuki Tamaki, what do you mean?"

"What do I mean? What happened to me? Wait, Nana, I'm still working overtime. Is there some misunderstanding?" The voice on the other end of the phone was full of doubt, mixed with a hint of fatigue.

"I already said I don't want to remember, I don't want to remember. You can't get the answer out of me, so you're asking your good little sister to ask me, right?" Minato Nana slammed her fist on the table again in agitation.

"What?" The voice on the other end of the phone was even more confused: "What have you been saying all along? What does this have to do with my sister?"

"What am I talking about?" Minato Nana couldn't help but laugh out loud. "How about I tell you what you're thinking?"

“I don’t know what happened on your end, or what you were thinking, but you suddenly contacted me saying your sister had a nightmare, and after so long you suddenly started contacting me.”

"You're using your sister's situation as an excuse to ask me about Chestnut. Don't you know how Chestnut and I get along?! Don't you know my opinion of Chestnut?! What does your sister having nightmares have to do with my relationship with Chestnut?"

"If you want to know what I'm doing all these years, what were you doing all those years ago? What were you doing when we were running a shop together? Why are you suddenly bringing these things up now?"

"You know I don't want to recall those things, yet you still let your sister apply for a job at my shop? What does our business have to do with her? What's the point of all this? Are you putting on a soap opera?"

"I was thinking she had the same hair color as you and looked a lot like you. So she was waiting for me here? Right?"

Minato Nana continued speaking in one breath until she was out of breath before she stopped.

"Nana, wait a minute." Yuuki Tamaki's voice was even more confused: "Putting everything else aside, what does it mean that Yui is going to work at your shop?"

"Wait, you don't know?" Minato Nana suddenly became insecure.

"What should I know?" Tamaki Yuki countered.

Even after a long time, Minato Nana could roughly tell whether Yuuki Tamaki's tone was genuine or feigned.

After a few seconds of silence, the excitement that had filled Nana Minato when she made the call vanished.

"sorry!!!"

……

The ringing of the cell phone woke up Inuyama Tomoe from her deep sleep.

Baqi peeked out from under the covers, looking at Yuuki Yukino's profile as she answered the phone in the moonlight, listening to her halting reply.

The call lasted a long time, but less than half a minute later, Yuuki Yuen hung up and put her phone face down under her pillow.

"Xiao Yuan, who is it? Why are you calling so late?" Ba Qi, still half asleep, wrapped her arms around Yuki Yuki's waist, pulled her back into bed, and snuggled against Yuki Yuki.

"It's the manager of the coffee shop I went to tonight." Yuuki blinked, looking at the ceiling reflected in the moonlight, showing no sign of sleepiness.

"She said I should go to work at the store tomorrow?"

Chapter Five: Everyone Has Their Own New Life

"Dear students, almost half of this semester has already passed."

On the podium, the homeroom teacher stood behind the lectern, stroking each student's head with an equal gaze.

"In the past half semester, there was that unforgettable school trip."

The homeroom teacher continued speaking, like a pebble thrown into still water, immediately eliciting a lively discussion from the audience.

"We were still talking about the school trip. The hotel we stayed in collapsed, and the school even rented a car overnight to take us back to Yuehai City. We weren't relaxed at all! We were all on edge, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, it's just that everyone's alright. If even one person had an accident, things would definitely be different. It's been so long, why bring this up again?"

Even after some time has passed, the impact of that school trip still lingers.

However, the degree to which people are affected varies.

Most people are just still shaken by the experience; years later, it will be something they can brag about and something to talk about when they meet again.

As for some people, they may have taken different paths as a result.

For the homeroom teacher on the podium, the school trip was merely a prelude to what was to come.

"As you all know, our activities are not limited to school trips. On Christmas Eve, the school will also hold a Christmas party. Performing at the Christmas party is also a stage for you to showcase your talents."

"But isn't there still some time? It's only October now, isn't it?" a student muttered to himself in the corner of the classroom.

"I always felt that she had ulterior motives for saying these things," someone nearby whispered in agreement.

"Although it's still early, if any of you are interested in performing, you can sign up with the student council. The student council will make the final arrangements. We hope that you will have wonderful memories of this last Christmas party at Yuehai Middle School."

These whispered conversations went completely unnoticed by the homeroom teacher, who continued talking behind the lectern.

Then, the homeroom teacher changed the subject: "But!"

"However! Students, studying is your main task at school. No matter what you have been doing for the past half semester, before the midterm exams next week, put your mind back on studying."

The whispers in the classroom began to change again after the homeroom teacher spoke.

"I knew it! They were waiting for us here!"

"Midterm exams? Is it that sudden?"

"If you don't do well on the test, will you have to stay after school for tutoring?"

"The exams are finally here. I wonder who will get the top score this time?"

The homeroom teacher let the discussion in the class ferment, and just before it was about to boil over, he tapped the blackboard.

"By the way, the final exams are after the Christmas party, so even if you passed the midterms, you absolutely cannot relax. Okay, get out of class dismissed."

"babble--"

The whole class uttered a long, unison sound of dissatisfaction.

……

Walking on the playground leading to the cafeteria, Baqi was also talking about the topics her homeroom teacher had mentioned before get out of class ended.

"Xiaoyuan! You should be fine with your midterms, right?"

"No problem, who do you think I am?" Yuuki Yuen waved her hand.

It's just middle school material, so it's no problem for Yuuki Enishi.

If they can't even learn this kind of content, Yuuki Yuuki really should just quit and start over.

Of course, it's a bit difficult to learn as well as the child prodigy Baqi.

When it comes to talent, comparing yourself to others is incredibly frustrating.

"Huh? Really? You don't need me to tutor Xiaoyuan anymore?" Baqi asked with some doubt.

"No need, tutoring is too bad for your health."

As soon as Yuuki Yuki finished speaking, she was punched hard by Baqi.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

What did I say?

Yuuki Yukino continued to feign innocence, which earned her another punch from Tomoe.

Knowing when to stop, Baqi quickly changed the subject before Yuuki Yuki could react.

"Hmph, never mind. Anyway, how's Xiaoyuan's job at the coffee shop going? What does she do?"

When Baqi asked about working at the coffee shop, Yuuki Yukino naturally had a lot to say.