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

“Since our older sister is working, we felt it was necessary for us to come and check on things, so we came right before she closed down,” Hyakki Chihiro added humorously.

"Oh, you guys are pretty impressive. You came so soon after things calmed down here." Baqi nodded thoughtfully.

"Yuki and her sister's outfits are really beautiful, and the coffee here is also very well made. This trip was definitely worth it." Hong Moli responded to Baqi with praise.

Yuuki deliberately led the group to a corner to prevent them from mentioning magical girls during their conversation, which could be overheard by the gossipy Minato Nana.

This was just a precautionary measure; in reality, the conversations among the group were far less serious than those with magical girls.

They mostly discussed how tough the job of student council president at St. Yuu Academy was, how the mess left by Kuroba Laisei was finally cleaned up, and how Seishion hadn't made any moves lately.

It's not that it has nothing to do with magical girls, but the connection is negligible. It sounds more like ordinary girls discussing fun things at school.

"Sigh, I really don't know why they made someone like Sheng Shiyin the head of the academy. She's not suitable at all. Before she enrolled, if she hadn't happened to be in the same class as me, I probably wouldn't have known that she even existed for a long time."

"I agree. The student council in Kuroba's reincarnation was a mess, causing so much trouble for Mari. They should all atone with their deaths."

"Don't say such terrible things. Although this job has caused me a lot of trouble, it has also given me a lot of experience. I have learned a lot of new things by serving as the acting student council president, and there are many calls for me to continue."

"Then why don't you continue? I also think this job suits you very well. Once you're not solely responsible for everything in the student council, it shouldn't be so tiring anymore, right?"

Hong Moli sighed, "Forget it, I don't have a good impression of that student council president's office, especially after thinking about the stupid things I did there before."

Being tricked by Kuroba Reincarnation into engaging in some kind of self-punishment is indeed a dark chapter in Koumori's life, and she completely understands Yuuki Eri's explanation.

Take her most idiotic act as an example: she was quite happy to play in the water during a torrential downpour, but she was just as ashamed afterward as she was happy at the time.

While they were chatting, it seemed that Riku and Minato Nana were also talking about something.

Yuuki Yuki certainly hoped that Reki could sit down and rest. Everyone had a pleasant conversation, but she wasn't the one who could solve this problem. Some of the problems between people still had to be resolved by themselves.

Yuuki Yui didn't know why she thought of Sakura Hanako again; it was probably because she saw Koumori and Hyakki Chiyu, who were also considered juniors.

In any case, Yuuki Yuki hoped that things would go smoothly for Sakura Hanako, and she was definitely responsible for the state of Nijisanji.

It's okay to care, but what's past is past.

Anyway, they're unlikely to ever appear in front of me again.

“By the way, there’s a small parade held at Moonsea Park every Halloween, right? It usually goes on until quite late. If we have time, would you like to go check it out?” Baqi suddenly suggested.

In Yuuki Yuen's understanding, these small parades are like small anime conventions without any special programs. People will put on their favorite costumes and spontaneously gather together. There are no particularly special activities; it's just a fun-filled event.

“I think it’s great!” Yuuki Yuen agreed. She was now thoroughly enjoying her last year of high school life and was happy to experience more different things.

If something goes wrong, it won't just be JK's last year, it will be the last year of her life.

Therefore, Yuuki Yuen needs to maintain a calm mindset.

Baqi originally thought that the proposal to hold the parade might be rejected by Yuki Yuki on the grounds that she was too tired from working, but it was not Yuki Yuki who was actually hesitant because of this issue.

Hong Moli's face darkened slightly, and even Bai Gui Qianyou, who usually didn't show any particular expression, didn't look too good. She even stopped eating the cookies that she was leading her to make.

"What's wrong? Hong, if you find it troublesome, then forget it." As soon as she noticed the other's troubled expression, Baqi quickly followed up.

Baqi was quite open-minded. If she invited Hong Moli and the others, she couldn't invite Nishio Reki along. Inviting Reki Koen would make her happy, so it was a choice between two options, and she didn't intend to force Hong Moli and the others to come together.

Of course, if Kou Mori were to come along, Baqi would feel even happier.

What Baqi was concerned about was that although Hong Moli looked troubled, she didn't seem to be refusing.

Baqi couldn't help but blurt out her question. Since they were both junior students and magical girl companions, being too polite would only delay things.

Normally, Hong Moli would have already started answering Baqi's question, but this time Hong Moli first frowned, and then looked at Bai Gui Qianyou sitting next to her with a troubled and pleading look.

Qianyou's aura faltered for a moment, and she nodded slightly—in Baqi's eyes, this was merely a lowering of her head, giving a not-so-definite answer.

"Some unpleasant things happened last Halloween."

Hong Moli spoke, but then fell silent, as if these matters were extremely difficult to discuss.

"What? Why are you two talking about riddles like that guy?" Having gotten no information, Baqi pressed on, "Did you two have a fight? Did you have a conflict?"

What Baqi said wasn't impossible; it's certainly not honorable to talk about arguing on a holiday, but Yuuki Enishi always felt there must be some deeper reason behind it.

"That's not how it is." Hong Moli sighed helplessly, as if all her worries had been left behind with that sigh.

She took a pumpkin cookie and placed it in her palm. The pumpkin cookie spun around on the girl's fingertip like a coin.

This is a little trick to relieve stress, and it's one of Mori's little habits.

The girls didn't rush to ask any more questions, waiting for Hong Moli's explanation.

"As you know, my wands and Qianyou's are more Halloween-themed." The cookie, which Hong Moli had been fiddling with for so long, was finally popped into her mouth.

"There must be a reason for this, because the day we fell into darkness was Halloween, and we did indeed participate in the parade."

Yuuki En has a preliminary understanding of the reasons for Koumori's fall from grace.

Speaking of this, we have to mention the omnipresent cyber ghost, Mashiro Urokin, whom even Yuuki Yuki still can't figure out.

On the eve of last Halloween, Mashiro Urouge began hunting down all sorts of magical girls, regardless of their identity or whether they had fallen into darkness; any magical girl would become Mashiro Urouge's target.

Because Koumori and Urouge Mashiro had met once before, Urouge Mashiro happened to find her. To make matters worse, Koumori and Hyakki Chiyu had already started dating at that time, so the two magical girls had no choice but to confront Urouge Mashiro.

In this situation, the two should have been captured by Mashiro Urouge, but on that day, Mashiro Urouge left after discovering that they had gained new powers and seeing the support of other magical girls.

What happened next was that after they fell into darkness, they came into contact with Kuroba Rebirth, and after that, it was all part of the story that Yuuki Yukino knew.

Given what happened last Halloween, it's no wonder they looked distressed.

"So... when my older sister asked, it's inevitable that I'd think of those things." Hyakki Chiyu brought the topic to a close.

It's inevitable that she'll develop psychological trauma. Even though Yuuki Eri is very strong now, she still feels a chill down her spine when she thinks about how powerless she felt when facing opponents who had just mastered True Name Release.

"Wait!" Just as they were having a good chat, Hong Moli suddenly seemed to remember something and slammed her fist down: "Speaking of last year's Halloween, I just remembered, do you remember me saying that it seemed like it was because of our corruption that Gen Urobuchi Mashiro left?"

"That's wrong, not at all. I just remembered that there was a magical girl who appeared back then."

"It's just that her later changes were so drastic that I didn't react immediately, but I've seen that magical girl before," Hong Moli said.

"That magical girl, the one who wore glasses when she went to the beach with Yuuki, she appeared in Tsukimi City a year ago."

Chapter Thirty-Five: Halloween Nights Gone By

Festivals are cultural customs and activities held regularly by people to celebrate, commemorate, or express their beliefs.

Hong Moli isn't used to holidays; for the past ten years or so, most holidays have had little to do with her.

Whether others were expressing their longing or immersed in grand celebrations, Hong Moli always felt out of place in that noisy world.

She was born for grades—grades in textbooks, grades in life, grades for the future—she only wanted to do better.

Yes, she wants to do better, whether it's within her power or beyond, she just wants to take all the "achievements" for herself.

Although this wish was forced upon her by her family, over time, Hong Moli accepted it and has been working towards it ever since.

Therefore, all sorts of holidays are obstacles in her way, things she doesn't need.

Despite this, Koumori did participate in some festival celebrations.

She had participated in New Year's shrine visits, Christmas parties, and the annual festivals in Moonsea City.

Moreover, most of the time, Koumori participated with the person she wanted to surpass, Hyakki Senyou.

The noise belongs to others, but the loneliness is your own.

Even when participating in lively events, she doesn't feel happy. Whether it's with people she dislikes or the atmosphere of the festival itself, Hong Moli doesn't like it.

On the day she graduated from junior high school, under a cherry blossom tree with petals falling, after receiving a gentle peck through the petals, Koumori realized that she had been deceiving her own heart all along.

Hong Moli doesn't actually dislike holidays. She occasionally pays attention to the dates of holidays and watches the people enjoying them from afar.

She would say she had no interest in holidays, just to find a reasonable excuse for not being able to participate in various holiday activities.

If you're not interested, then it's not a pity at all that you can't enjoy the holiday.

She doesn't dislike Hyakki Senyou either.

The truth is quite the opposite; her feelings for Hyakki Chiyuu surpassed those for anyone else.

Perhaps it's a bit late for childhood sweethearts to meet in elementary school, but for Hong Moli, that girl was present in most of her ten years of life.

From now on, she will become an indispensable part of Hong Moli's life.

Fortunately, she realized it not too late.

Fortunately, her feelings were reciprocated.

Okay, now Komuri needs to revise her views.

Hong Moli isn't used to celebrating holidays; for the past ten years or so, most holidays have had little to do with her.

But in the decades to come, she will have plenty of time to experience the joys of all kinds of festivals.

Two people together.

Although Koumori encountered some unpleasant things at the previous festival, it was a blessing in disguise. She was guided by an unknown force to become a magical girl, which gave her the opportunity to fight alongside Chiyu.

Even though magical girls don't often need to appear in battles, other magical girls usually resolve the issues before they even have a chance to act.

So they never encountered any danger.

Even now, Koumori's impression of the work of magical girls is limited to their need to defeat corrupted magical girls who wreak havoc in the city, nothing more.

For her, becoming a magical girl meant more about being able to communicate with Hyakki Chiyu without any barriers.

Time is constantly moving forward; it cannot stand still.

In this tense and busy life, several months passed quietly, and autumn arrived in the blink of an eye. It was Halloween night, the next holiday after she and Hyakki Chiyu officially started dating.

To celebrate Halloween, the largest open space in Yuehai Square is always cleared out, decorated with pumpkin lanterns and banners, and small stalls are set up to welcome people who have already dressed up in festive costumes and are looking forward to enjoying the holiday.

"Mari, how have you been doing at St. Yuu Academy these past few months?"

With a ghost-like headband on her head, Hyakki Chiyu held a soft, fluffy cotton candy that also looked like a ghost, which had just come from the shop next door, and asked Mari beside her.

Then, Qianyou took a big bite of the cotton candy and continued to look at it while wearing the outfit that Moli was wearing.

Today, Hong Moli wore a black cloak over her usual clothes. It was a minimal disguise, but it suited the occasion perfectly.

As the two walked, Qianyou kept looking at her, and this pure and emotional gaze made Moli's every step stiff.

Even if they start dating without saying anything, it may still take some time for Mari to get used to Chiyu's gaze.

In fact, she herself was the same way, always looking at Qian You with eyes that could never get enough of her, even if Qian You did nothing, she could watch her for a whole day.

Watching Hyakki Chiyu tear off the sugar strands of the cotton candy one small bite at a time, and then stick out her little tongue to lick the remaining sugar strands from the corners of her mouth, Hyakki Chiyu realized that she hadn't answered Chiyu's question earlier.