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

Yes! Even if you wear clothes, it's absolutely impossible for it to pass censorship!

What? Why do I have to try on these clothes even though I absolutely can't go out and meet people?

Of course, it's because only you can be sexy towards yourself!

Please, even if you can't wear this outfit to meet people, seeing yourself looking awkward is super satisfying, okay?

She took a few nice selfies with her phone in the locked fitting room, pretended nothing had happened, took off the clothes and changed back into her original outfit, patted her burning cheeks, and then rushed out with an angry expression.

"There's no way I could wear this! I would never wear it!"

"Xiao Yuan, I think the little devil style suits you quite well."

"That's not a little devil at all! That's a succubus style! It's even more outrageous than Miyashita Mia's God Release!"

"Okay, here's a more conservative one."

As Nishio Reki spoke, he handed over the new clothes he had found while changing.

"Isn't this a bunny girl outfit?! It even looks semi-transparent!" Yuuki Yukina threw the outfit at Reki's face, just like Nishio Reki had thrown a towel at his face a long time ago.

“It’s different. It doesn’t have a rabbit tail or ears, and it’s also in the style of a little devil.” Nishio Reki held up the clothes that were slowly sliding down his face with both hands, insisting on explaining to Yuuki Yuuki.

"There's no difference!"

Yuuki Yukino began to doubt whether it was a good choice to use buying her costumes to bring out Nishio Reki in order to understand her.

After all that, Yuuki Yuki didn't understand Nishio Reki's inner thoughts; instead, she exposed Nishio Reki's quirks to herself.

If she had known this would happen, Yuuki Yuuki would have been better off just finding a simple Halloween costume.

For example, a pink-haired ghost wearing a blue kimono and holding a folding fan?

A pink-haired Ibaraki-doji dressed in Chinese kung fu attire or an expressionless shinire would also seem fitting.

But since Nishio Arata had already asked for help, she could only accompany him as he made a ruckus while she changed clothes.

To be honest, aside from those revealing or ambiguous clothes, it's quite fun to try out different styles of clothing. For example, that little British-style dress I wore before was very pretty.

There's still a long time before my evening shift starts, and I had a busy day yesterday, so shopping like this is a great way to relax.

Yuuki Yukino finally understood why girls love shopping so much.

After much effort, just as the sun was rising overhead, Yuuki Yukino finally bought the outfit she wanted and embarked on her journey home with Nishio Reki.

But another matter—what exactly Nishio Reki was struggling with—left Yuuki Yuki with no answers.

Nishio Reki has a strong sense of division, as if he is constantly switching between his childhood friend and the mysterious person who is supposed to protect him.

Of course, it doesn't mean she has a split personality, but Yuuki Yuki just feels that apart from that person being Nishio Reki and her willingness to make selfless sacrifices for him, her two completely different attitudes have absolutely nothing in common.

"Alright, Xiaoyuan, if it's over, then I'll head back too."

After seeing Yuki Yuki downstairs, Nishio Reki waved to her, preparing to watch her walk up the steps.

No, we can't just let it go like this.

I should move a little closer to get to the truth.

"Li, I have another question."

"Hmm, what's wrong, Xiaoyuan?"

"You..." Yuuki Yukina paused, "Do you like me?"

Chapter Twenty-Nine Conclusion

Humans are very emotional creatures.

This is especially true for magical girls.

Having a wish that one desperately wants to fulfill, and being fortunate enough to be blessed by the gods, possessing the ability to grant that wish—that's what a magical girl is.

As a magical girl, Reiya is no exception.

Since they are beings of emotion, they are prone to responding to things emotionally.

To put it simply, what truly touches a person is not necessarily a grand finale, nor a hopeless ending or the discarding of spirit objects.

More often than not, it's a seemingly insignificant little thing that happens suddenly in a split second that's more likely to touch the unexpected corners of our hearts.

Just like now, Yuuki Yukino has a very ordinary question.

"Li, do you like me?"

Yuuki Yui's hand was already on the stair railing, but she stopped after taking only two steps, her gaze fixed on the person she had called down the stairs.

The girl's whisper was like a pebble thrown into the water, sinking with a thud without causing any echo; it was also like a pause, freezing the moment between the two of them.

Apart from the gentle breeze that blew through the girl's long hair in the silence, making her instinctively shrink her neck.

Aside from the ripples it created in the girl's heart when it was cast.

Yuuki Yuki stood there, and with a tone she knew all too well and a gaze she had never shown before, she pierced the softest part of Nishio Reki's heart.

It was as if a soap bubble had been popped, or a heart full of love had been punctured, and emotions flowed out endlessly.

Nishio Reki was secretly mending the wound caused by Yuuki Yuki's words, trying not to let himself be overwhelmed by the beautiful yet bittersweet feelings flowing from his heart.

Only when her slightly open mouth became a little dry did she utter a seemingly calm reply.

"Xiao Yuan, what are you talking about? Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Actually, her mind was in complete turmoil.

Yuuki Yui lowered her eyes, lightly leaped down the stairs like a lively little bird, spreading her pink feathers, and pounced in front of Nishio Reki.

The girl's movements were a little too light, causing Li to unconsciously open his arms slightly, as if afraid she would fall to the ground and break a piece.

But Yuuki Yuki wasn't so fragile. She stopped steadily in front of Nishio Reki, slightly bending over and putting her hands behind her back.

Nishio Reki's hand, which had been hovering in mid-air, seemed unsure of what to do. He moved his lips slightly, then awkwardly withdrew his outstretched hands, lowering his head in embarrassment for his unconscious action.

She wanted to avoid Yuuki Yukino's gaze; that was her original intention.

But her gaze fell directly on the pink-haired figure who was slightly hunched over, raising his head from beneath her, seemingly anticipating her movements and waiting patiently.

Nishio Reki opened his mouth again, but couldn't utter a single syllable.

Her face had ripened without her even realizing it.

"Hate?"

Yuuki Yukino's soft, creamy voice added fuel to the fire of Nishio Reki's emotions, making them boil over.

"I don't dislike it." Nishio Reki turned his head to one side, covered his blushing face with his elbow, and answered in a muffled voice.

"like?"

The girl's voice was still light and airy, like a cloud, like cotton candy.

Interrogation? Of course not. In Nishio Reki's eyes, Yuuki Yuuki was asking him for an answer in a casual tone, as if she were asking what he planned to eat for dinner, but with a hint of hope in her voice.

Perhaps this description is not quite appropriate?

Nishio Reki has a more apt metaphor.

Actually, that wasn't a metaphor; it was something Nishio Reki personally experienced.

When they were very young, when they lived on the same street, little Yuuki Yuuki would stand on tiptoe under her window and shout her name, asking if she wanted to go out and play together.

That's the tone I used.

Nishio Reki could no longer answer Yuuki Eri with the same enthusiasm as before, but she was still able to give a positive answer.

"like."

Once again, Nishio Reki was overwhelmed by what he considered the most extravagant emotion, letting that emotion control him and make him act recklessly.

She envied Inuyama Tomoe, envying her ability to frankly express her feelings and to have Yuuki Yuki accompany her—no, to accompany Yuuki Yuki in doing many things she herself never dared to dream of.

She also envied Tenrai Herika, envying that even someone like her could muster the courage to tell Yuuki Yuuki that she liked him, and that Yuuki Yuuki could tolerate all her willfulness.

And what about herself? On one hand, she greedily wanted to possess Yuuki Yukino and did many excessive things to her; on the other hand, she was worried that her excessive actions might hurt Yuuki Yukino and make her hate her.

Even his own feelings could only be expressed under these circumstances.

Why did you do so many outrageous things when you could have just gone shopping for clothes together as a normal couple?

Will these outrageous actions earn Yuuki Enishi's disgust?

To me, Yuuki is like a rose—I want to pluck it, and I want to stay away from it.

That's why Nishio Reki wanted to abandon those feelings and keep himself and Yuuki Yuki within a safe zone.

All I need to do is protect Yuuki Yuki; simple, ordinary conversations between the two of us are enough.

But that burning passion always remained within him, and would be ignited by Yuuki Yuuki's unintentional teasing.

Nishio Reki secretly turned his eyes, hidden behind his arm, toward Yuuki Yukino, forcing himself to suppress the burning emotions raging within him.

"Xiao Yuan..."

"Well, I'm here."

Yuuki Yuki had straightened up again, waiting for Nishio Reki to begin his story.

"Well, my feelings, although I would say I like someone, are different from romantic feelings. Before, it was just... being able to reunite with Xiaoyuan, so I was just too excited."

This is what Nishio Reki said to Tenrai Helica. When he said it, he was screaming, denying, and refusing to say these words that went against his heart.

“We are childhood sweethearts, and no one can go beyond that kind of relationship, so it’s enough for Cheng and Xiaoyuan to maintain this kind of relationship.”

"So, I don't have any special feelings for Xiaoyuan. I'm already very satisfied that we can become friends again. So as long as Xiaoyuan can be happy, that's all that matters."

Since saying those words to Helica during the school trip, Nishio Reki's feelings have never changed.

All I need to do is witness, support, and cherish this feeling that I will never express again, until the end or a new beginning.

"That's a lie."

Yuuki Yukino stood with her hands behind her back in front of Nishio Reki, as if she had seen through everything.

"Xiao Li, you're still struggling with this."

Yuuki Yukina extended a finger, the tip of which sank into Nishio Reki's chest.

In that spot was Nishio Reki's heart, pounding violently.