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

What are we supposed to do?

Yuuki Yukino immediately felt uneasy.

Could it be that Helica has had another episode? Is she preparing to do something forceful to assert her status?

Aside from that, Yuuki Yuki really couldn't think of anything Herika could possibly want to do that would make her stand silently at the bathroom door waiting for her.

Just as Yuuki was thinking, Helica moved.

Herlica's expression remained frozen, showing no signs of softening; instead, it grew even more serious. Her undeniable aura caused Yuuki to instinctively take a few steps back, forced back into the bathroom by Herlica.

Given this atmosphere, is Helica really going to do something foolish at an inopportune time?

Even if we were to do it, we'd have to pick a time!

“That, it’s Yuuki… Yuki.” Herriad expressions suddenly collapsed like a building made of blocks.

At least Yuuki Yuuki wasn't too worried about Helica having a relapse. Helica, who had deliberately deflated, certainly wouldn't pose a threat to the point of pinning her against a wall and then doing that or that.

“Fate.” This time, Helica called her by her own name.

Even though Helica's momentum had weakened considerably, Yuuki Yuuki still dared not let her guard down.

Among the magical girls, Helica is the one that Yuuki Yuuki can least control. Even though she understands Helica's personality very well, she still can't guess whether Helica will suddenly have a brain fart or get angry for some reason.

Yuuki Yukino could only stammer twice, "Is...is there something you need?"

Herlica lowered her head, seemingly saying something, but even in the incredibly quiet bathroom, Yuuki Yuuki couldn't hear her clearly.

"What?" Yuuki Yuen's lips twitched slightly. Although she wasn't afraid of trouble, she could already smell the trouble coming.

Herika opened her mouth again, but apart from letting Yuuki Yuuki hear that she was indeed making some sounds, she couldn't convey any information.

"What?" Still not quite hearing clearly, Yuuki Yuuki raised her voice a little, as if that would make Helica's voice louder as well.

As it turned out, Yuuki Yuuki actually did it, and now she could hear Helica's voice.

"That's right. I think everyone in Nijisanji is very important to me, and I don't want to lose Nijisanji or anyone in it."

Herlica kept her head down, her golden hair hanging down like a curtain around her face, making it impossible for Yuuki to see what kind of expression Herlica had when she suddenly started talking about such things.

As Helica spoke, her voice changed back, gradually lowering until Yuuki Yuuki could barely hear her.

However, Yuki was still able to barely make out what Helica was saying.

"You are one of the important people I mentioned."

At this moment, Yuuki Yuen felt that whether she spoke or remained silent, she seemed so out of place.

After weighing the pros and cons, she decided it was better not to interrupt Helica.

Although Yuuki Yukino still doesn't understand why Helica suddenly said these things to her, it would be a loss if she urged her too hastily and prevented Helica from saying what she wanted to say.

But Yuuki Yukino waited for half a minute. In the quiet bathroom, this time felt much longer, much longer, to the point that Yuuki Yukino became a little anxious.

Fortunately, before Yuuki Yuki's patience completely ran out, Helica mustered the courage to act.

"What I did to you before was rushing to your house and the store where you worked, in front of the store manager or not, and doing a lot of strange, excessive, and unusual things that I wouldn't normally do."

Herlica's words were so disorganized that it took some effort to piece them together before one could understand that she was referring to the incident two days after Halloween, when she rushed over and forcefully pushed him like a greasy, domineering CEO.

"That's right, that's right..." Helica became even more incoherent, and apart from some interjections, she could no longer provide any useful information.

“I’m listening,” Yuuki Yuuki said softly, seemingly trying to encourage Helica.

She knew she needed to do it, and Helica needed her to do it too.

Although Yuuki Yukino didn't know where this thought came from, she just knew it.

Yuuki Yukino's words seemed to give Helica a shot of adrenaline, calming her down considerably from her anxiety.

“It’s just…” This was Helica’s last interjection. The rest of her statement flowed smoothly, as if she were a completely different person.

"Everyone's analysis is correct. First it was Sakura Hanako, then your companions, and now it's Mizuno Yu's turn. If I had to say who would be the next person to be attacked by Yumehara Sumireko, I think it would be me."

Yuuki Yuki couldn't refute or comfort Herika; what Helica needed wasn't comfort, but to be listened to.

"So I feel that if I don't say some things now, I may never have the chance to say them in the future."

Helica sighed, her tone a mixture of laughter and relief.

What is it that I'm at peace with?

They should be mentally prepared for the possibility that they will be the next target and fall into a deep sleep like the others before them.

In Yuuki Yuki's eyes, Herika seemed to know that she could not overcome that obstacle no matter what.

But Yuuki Yui didn't know that after Helica deliberately concealed what she was truly afraid of, she had almost given up on waking up from her nightmares.

It was stupid, but Helica felt she had done plenty of stupid things already, so one more wouldn't make a difference.

After a soft laugh, Helica breathed a sigh of relief, as if a huge weight had finally been lifted from her heart.

"So, I think I should apologize to you, a very formal one, but I don't know how to apologize. I'm not good at these kinds of things!"

Helica raised her head and tucked the strands of hair that had fallen across her forehead and her temples behind her ears with both hands.

So all I can say is, I'm sorry.

"Whether it's confessing my feelings to you or doing some really bad things to you, it must have been very troubling for you, right? So, I'm sorry."

That ominous premonition was like a dark cloud, as if it were about to swallow Yuuki whole, causing Yuuki to involuntarily furrow her brows.

"I don't feel bothered."

Yuuki Yukari truly understands Tenrai Herika very well, and she knows that Tenrai Herika is capable of anything when she acts impulsively.

Helica Tianlei was arrogant and timid. After her arrogance, she would definitely feel lost and regretful.

But Herika's genuine honesty now is completely out of step with her usual personality, and this abnormality brings Yuuki Yuuki a strong sense of crisis.

Helica moved a little closer, looked up at Yuuki Yuuki who wasn't much taller than her, and said, "You're lying, you're just troubled."

"Really, no." Anything Yuuki Yuen said now felt dry and unconvincing to herself.

She herself didn't think she could convince herself, let alone Helica.

"Okay, okay, I just didn't want to keep my feelings bottled up before I could wake up again, so I wanted to apologize to you without any regrets. That's it, I'm sorry."

This is the third time he has apologized to Helica.

"Don't think too much, Helica. If something happens to anyone, let's all fall into a deep sleep together and meet again in another world where we never wake up."

"Is this supposed to be comforting?" Helica chuckled, still somewhat awkward despite wanting to show her all.

“No, this is also my honest opinion.” Yuuki Yui softened her tone: “To be honest, many of the things you’ve done are indeed very troubling, but I won’t hold any prejudice against you because of them.”

"Oh……"

"Furthermore, I did hide something from you before, concealing my identity and doing many excessive things to you under the guise of a corrupted magical girl, so I don't need your apology. We're even now."

"Well, we're even now?" Helica's tone still held a hint of amusement. "But the number of times you've bullied me is far more serious than what I've done to you. Can't we even things out?"

"So what do you think we should do? Do you want me to reject your previous apology and then settle our scores?"

Yuki Yuki's words were clearly a joke, but they made Herika really panic. It's unclear why Herika's emotions changed so quickly; one second she was completely at ease, and the next she was frantically taking a half step back, waving her hands frantically.

"No, no, just like this, just like this is fine!"

Although Helica had seemingly driven herself into the bathroom in a very dangerous situation, she genuinely came to apologize.

Moreover, the conversations between the two were ultimately meaningless.

Conversations and actions don't need to be so purposeful. Listening to music, watching cartoons, or just daydreaming can also be very meaningful in improving your mood.

It is undeniable that these pointless conversations improved Helica's mood considerably.

But this made Yuuki Yukino's mood even worse.

She didn't want to see Helica, because she was facing a crisis, give up on herself and say these things to her.

But in the face of crisis, no amount of comforting words will make a difference.

There was only one thing she had to do: rush into someone's dream, grab the clone or the original Yumehara Sumireko hiding in the dream, and then end her slumber completely.

It is precisely because this matter is truly difficult that Yuuki Yuki is unable to provide any guarantees.

"What are you thinking about? Are you thinking about me?" Helica leaned forward again.

"Yes." Yuuki Yui said honestly, "I was thinking about you."

Helica, who was hit hard a second time by Yuuki Yuki for no reason, became even more agitated and reverted to her previous somewhat neurotic state.

"Hey? What are you doing! I was just saying it casually! How did you agree to that?!"

"I can't guarantee it, but if you are attacked, I will do everything in my power to rescue you."

"What?!" Helica stomped her foot, her slippers making a few dull thuds on the tiles. "Sometimes you're quite clever, but sometimes, how can you say something so tactless? What do you mean you can't guarantee anything? Even if you're just lying to me, wouldn't that be better?"

Yuuki opened her mouth, but before she could answer, Herika continued speaking, not giving Yuuki a chance to speak.

"Whatever! That's just how you are. When you told me back then, 'Ahem, I don't plan to date, and I won't be with anyone in the future,' you were just as lacking in emotional intelligence!"

Herlica mimicked the way Yuuki Yuuki, whose identity had already been exposed, spoke to her in the hotel room in Rainbow Leaf City, and couldn't help but laugh out loud again.

"Forget it, forget it, forget it!"

Yuuki Yuuki was slightly stunned by Helica's series of criticisms, as if she had become the same person who was extremely insensitive to emotions again.

That's not the case. Yuuki Yukino has always been incredibly oblivious to matters of the heart, and that has never changed.

"Forget it!" Helica, who had already said "forget it" countless times, took another half step back and opened her arms wide: "Come and give me a hug?"

Seeing Yuuki Yukino still standing there in a daze, Helica pushed her rather meager chest forward: "Give me a hug!"

Yuuki Yuuki seemed to be in a dream. Although she was thinking, she couldn't keep up with Herika's series of actions and words, which seemed to be in a state of extreme excitement.

Helica is just putting on a brave face right now, isn't she?

She's forcing herself to stay awake so as not to have any regrets, and she's forcing herself to act like she doesn't care, but she must be terrified that she might also fall into a deep sleep.

Yes, Herika, who was excited, proud, and apologetic at the same time, was no different from Herika who forcefully wrapped the belt around her neck.

At least she was thinking of herself more; she pretended to be like this so as not to worry him.

Without saying a word, Yuuki Gen gently stretched out her arms and put them around Helica's shoulders, making sure the top of Helica's hair was pressed against the tip of her nose.

It smelled of some facial cleanser, some of the scent of shampoo, and some of Herika's natural scents.