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

This is one of the few times that a respected senior has addressed me by my full name.

Sakura Hanako knew perfectly well what it meant that the other person would call her by her name.

It is seriousness, it is anger, it is incomprehension, it is doubt.

In short, he sensed a greater distance from Helica's tone than before.

Sakura Hanako turned her head back to look at Tenrai Helika, who was staring at her intently with eyes that seemed to burn with resentment.

"Sakura Hanako, you tricked me?"

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Chapter 43 Yearning to Become an Ordinary Girl

The atmosphere at this coffee shop is nice.

Helica thought so even before she entered.

The staff's costumes, which could be seen from afar, and the decorations that matched the Halloween atmosphere, created a tranquil atmosphere despite the large number of customers. It was not like those noisy parties that would annoy people, but rather had an unspoken sense of peace.

If it weren't for Sakura Hanako wanting to talk to her about things she didn't want to discuss, Helica might have enjoyed this place more.

The outcome won't change. Although her struggle at the door about how to explain everything to them was exposed, Herika's resolve won't be easily altered.

Everyone knows she's the kind of person who's prone to obsessive thinking and getting stuck on things, and Helica hopes that this obsession will help her get through the current difficulties.

If you were to directly ask Helica whether she wanted to separate from everyone in Nijisanji, she would definitely say no.

But magical girls have an expiration date. One day in the future, she will no longer be a magical girl. Besides being a magical girl, Helica deserves more.

She could get into a good university based on her grades, find a good job, and meet someone she likes...

If I were to return to Nijisanji, I would definitely be held back by those unnecessary emotions and unable to take a step forward.

She definitely will; she knows herself very well.

That's why she had to harden her heart and cut ties with her past and everything about being a magical girl.

Reality, however, did not go as she wished.

The girl who had caused everything to fall apart stood behind the bar, casting an incredibly calm gaze at her.

It doesn't matter how Yuuki Yuki sees me; what matters is why Yuuki Yuki happened to be in this place at this particular time.

Sakura Hanako invites me to solve Nijisanji's problems, and coincidentally, Yuuki Yuki is also present.

This "coincidence" is just too much of a coincidence, isn't it?

Helica would never believe it was a coincidence.

All the turmoil of not knowing how to explain her thoughts turned into a raging fire. Helica clenched her fists involuntarily, but her tone was colder than Mizuno Yu's icy wall, and even more capable of isolating the two of them.

"Sakura Hanako, you tricked me?"

Herlica's tone was too calm and too cold, completely inconsistent with Herlica's personality.

To Sakura Hanako, these words were like the brief calm before an earthquake, making her feel like a bird soaring in the sky or a swarm of insects crawling on the ground, letting her know that unprecedented destruction would surely follow the calm.

Sakura Hanako quickly turned around, and the first thing she saw was Tenrai Herika with an unfriendly expression. She didn't dare to let her eyes linger on Herika for too long and quickly looked away.

She looked at her only savior, Mizuno Yu, with pleading eyes, hoping that Mizuno Yu would say something to clear up the misunderstanding between them.

Otherwise, it will only deepen the divide within Nijisanji.

Although Sakura Hanako believed that her plan was more likely to fail today, as long as Yuuki Yuki was here, the outcome was almost inevitable.

At least she didn't want the relationship to get worse.

When Sakura Hanako looked at Mizuno Yu, she also realized something that she had overlooked.

Sakura Hanako's father's seriousness and sharp memory reminded her of the cause of what had happened that day.

It wasn't about having a frank and open discussion with Helica about this matter, but rather about the fact that they chose this coffee shop as the location for their conversation.

That coupon was originally given to me by Mizuno Yu.

Was the person who created this situation the senior Mizuno?

Sakura Hanako had always thought that Mizuno Yuu always maintained a cool, indifferent expression, but today was the first time she felt that Mizuno Yuu, who showed such an unfathomable expression, was quite troublesome.

Whether Mizuno Yu was thinking, whether she was shocked, or whether she had any plans, Sakura Hanako had no idea.

But at this moment, Mizuno Yu, who was standing at noon, must have had her own judgment.

Mizuno Yu's conclusion was that she would not help Sakura Hanako.

"Gentlemen, do you need any assistance?"

At the center of the vortex, seemingly unaware of what was happening, Yuuki Yuen raised her voice slightly and asked the group of people standing in front of the bar, the air around them heavy as if it were about to freeze.

This was a good opportunity to speak, and Sakura Hanako reacted instantly, continuing Yuuki Yukino's words.

“It wasn’t me… I didn’t know she was here, Senior Tianlei, I’m not lying.”

Sakura Hanako, who herself was not in control of the situation, raised her hands, but before they could move freely in the air, they were put down again.

This was a good opportunity to explain, and she seized the chance to speak.

Sakura Hanako, who had no idea what had happened, was unable to explain the matter to Tenrai Helica no matter what she did.

Sakura Hanako felt a lump in her throat, and she was on the verge of crying.

She had been looking forward to this for so long, and it was her only chance to change the status quo, but it turned out like this. She was already trying her best to hold back her tears.

"Sigh." Helica, who had been looking at Sakura Hanako with a complicated expression for a long time, suddenly sighed deeply and said, without understanding why, "Never mind."

What does "forget it" mean?

For a short time, Sakura Hanako's brain seemed to rust, and she couldn't understand what Helica was trying to say.

But Helica's softened gaze was enough to show that her attitude towards herself had changed.

Sakura Hanako wasn't sure if it was her panic or the confusion and doubt on her face that helped her gain trust, but Senior Tenrai should already believe that this situation was not part of her plan.

Going down Helica's path is Hanako's best option right now.

"Yes, how about we go to another store instead of talking about this here?"

It's just a coupon; I don't necessarily need to use it. At worst, I can just leave the store and find somewhere else to talk.

No, Sakura Hanako had to escape in order to seize that already slim chance.

"No need, is it?" Helica raised an eyebrow, the raging flame in her eyes gradually dying out, but a wisp of ember remained, ready to be reignited at any moment.

“I think this place is fine. Let’s talk here, and then we’ll leave quickly,” Helica said, lowering her eyes.

Since Helica had already said that, Sakura Hanako didn't intend to stick to her own opinion—she couldn't bring herself to be stubborn.

Sakura Hanako looked to Mizuno Yu for help again. Mizuno Yu, just like before, did not say anything, and her brows were furrowed imperceptibly as if she was thinking about something.

Sakura Hanako had no choice but to do as Helica said.

Can I use this coupon today?

Sakura Hanako pulled out the coupon that Mizuno Yu had given her from her pocket. The coupon was a little wrinkled, but had been smoothed out countless times and was now neatly folded.

"Of course, please come in."

Yuuki Yui answered with a professional smile.

Whether Yuuki Yukino suddenly saw what was in her hand or whether she already knew the coupon was in her possession, Sakura Hanako couldn't figure it out.

The group was in a very good spot—perfect for a secret conversation. They were in a corner, with few other guests around, so no one would hear them if they spoke in hushed tones.

When discussing Nijisanji, Yuuki Yuuki is an unavoidable point, but unfortunately, she's right here. Even after taking her seat, Sakura Hanako couldn't say anything for a moment.

Helica, sitting opposite Sakura Hanako, was leaning back on the sofa with her arms crossed and her eyes closed, looking like she was waiting for Sakura Hanako to speak.

While Sakura Hanako was still struggling with her decision, someone else spoke up and broke the awkward silence between them.

Like a ray of sunshine forcefully breaking in, a light and cheerful voice rang out from beside them.

"Welcome! What would you like to order?"

Dressed in Little Red Riding Hood attire, Inuyama Baki held the coffee shop's menu in both hands, spread it out on the table at an angle, and then took a half step back to wait for the order to be recorded.

Sakura Hanako knew of Inuyama Tomoe's existence. She had seen Tomoe following behind Yuuki Yuuki on the day she went to find her, and she also knew Tomoe's true identity.

The dangerous, corrupted magical girl is no weaker than Yuuki Yuuki, and is currently dressed in festive attire as if nothing happened, waiting for her order.

Even knowing that Tomoe is a corrupted magical girl, Sakura Hanako is powerless to do anything about it.

First, she might not be able to defeat Inuyama Tomoe; second, even if she could defeat her, Yuuki Yukino wouldn't stand idly by.

Therefore, none of the corrupted magical girls whose true identities are currently known are within Sakura Hanako's reach.

The third reason is that Sakura Hanako came today to repair Helica's relationships with others, and now is not the time to do anything else.

If a disturbance were to break out here, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Sakura Hanako pretended to look at the menu while secretly glancing at her two companions out of the corner of her eye. The other two seemed to have much less of a reaction than she did.

"A glass of cold juice is a Jun Latte."

"A vanilla latte."

Helica Tenrai and Yu Mizuno had already ordered their food.

"Then I'll have an Americano."

If you can't handle a problem, just let it pass quickly.

"Is that all? Do you need any snacks?" Baqi quickly jotted down notes in her notebook before asking.

What should have been a basic greeting from a service staff member sounded incredibly annoying to Sakura Hanako.

No one answered the question; both seniors remained silent as if they hadn't heard it.

Holding the menu, Inuyama Tomoe stood beside her, waiting for a reply from her table. Sakura Hanako had no choice but to politely decline.

"No, thank you."

After ordering, an awkward silence fell among them.

Mizuno Yuu sat there obediently, Tenrai Herika leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes to rest, and Sakura Hanako felt like an idiot.

Sakura Hanako was actually looking forward to today, not because of Halloween, but because she finally had the opportunity to openly and honestly communicate her true feelings with Tenrai Herika.