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

"I don't know much about my sister either, but I know that Tamaki is a very amazing person, even though she's not in the band anymore." Yuuki Yuuki smiled gently, feeling a little proud as her sister was being praised.

“If we continue in a band, it might just turn into a cycle of drinking, singing, and womanizing!” Helica joked.

"That's prejudice, isn't it?" Baqi also seized the opportunity to join the conversation.

“Let’s drink.” Nishio Reki swirled the glass in front of her, the clear orange liquid swirling within. Through the glass, she took in the girls’ cheerful conversation: “I really hope we graduate soon so we can sit together and drink together.”

"I'll be so lonely when my seniors graduate!" Sakura Hanako said earnestly.

"However, we are indeed graduating soon." Even with Mizuno Yu's calm demeanor, she couldn't help but sigh about the unknown future: "In another six months, we will be leaving Tsukikkai Middle School."

“Indeed.” Yuuki Yui couldn’t help but feel sad, silently pouring herself a glass of iced orange juice: “This is our last winter break. After the New Year, we’ll have to prepare for the start of school again. So much has happened this winter break.”

That's right, this is everyone's last winter break. Thinking about this, Helica felt a little sad.

But since this was a dream, Helica was more eager for everyone to return to their real winter break, so she loudly changed the subject, dispelling the gloomy atmosphere:

"Hey! Why think so much! We're all still together, aren't we? Come on, come on! Cheers! Cheers!"

"It's clearly orange juice, but he drinks it with the air of drinking alcohol. No wonder he's Senior Thunder."

"Tch, if you talk bad about me again, I won't come back to see you after graduation!"

"Don't bully Sakura like that. Even after you graduate, we will come back to see you often."

"And Inuyama-kun, although we don't go to the same school, now that we've become friends, our friendship won't fade with distance or time. I think Kotori feels the same way, right?"

"Xiaoyuan is right. Even if we go to different places in the future, we will always remember this New Year."

"Yes, thank you all. Thank you for inviting us. I hope our friendship will last a long time."

"Hey! You've been holding your glass for so long! Aren't you going to drink? Cheers!"

"cheers!"

……

Near the large shrine, girls who had already changed into their New Year's kimonos were already waiting there.

Not long after the gathering at Yuki Eri's house, everyone began to change into the kimonos they had prepared for the New Year's shrine visit.

It was still dark when she went out, not a suitable time to leave at all. If it were any other day at this time, a girl appearing on the street would definitely be suspected, and might even be arrested and questioned.

But today is the first day of the new year, and it's completely different from the deserted streets of the past.

The streets under the streetlights were anything but deserted; on the contrary, they were much more lively than usual, filled with tourists immersed in the joy of the New Year.

After all, it's the first day of the new year, and no one would want to miss out on this once-a-year celebration.

People were preparing to wait early for the sunrise and to visit the shrine. Long queues had already formed in front of the shrine, and some people were even celebrating the New Year on the street before heading towards the shrine to begin their hours-long wait.

"Wow, there are so many people? I thought we had already come out quite early."

Yuuki Yukino covered her mouth with both hands, breathing hot air into her frozen red fingers, while staring wide-eyed at the people coming and going around her.

When they arrived at the shrine, the procession had already stretched beyond the torii gate.

Yuuki Yukino was also wearing a kimono today, but it was completely different in style from the yukata that Helica knew she wore on the day of the festival.

On the day of the summer festival, Yuuki Yuki's yukata style was more alluring, perhaps because Yuuki Yuki had fallen into darkness, giving people this impression.

Although it looked a bit sinister, and the yukata was given to Yuuki Yuki by Nishio Reki, Helica had to admit that Yuuki Yuki was also very beautiful back then.

But today's Yuuki Yuuki has a more innocent style, like a pink cherry blossom bud waiting to bloom in spring.

Her long pink hair was styled into a side bun at the back of her head, with the rest of her hair braided into a plait next to the bun. A silver hairpin was inserted under the bun, showing that she had taken great care in her appearance.

Although the girl's face was still the same, the pink and white snow cherry blossom patterned yukata, which was completely different from her style after her fall from grace, matched Yuuki Yukino's hairstyle today much better.

Cute! In short, extremely cute!

When Herika, Baqi, and Rei saw Yuuki Yuuki at her house, having just changed into a kimono, they all had the same thought.

Yuuki Yukino is the perfect clothes hanger; she looks good in any style.

Although Yuuki Yuuki's kimono wasn't purple today, some people had already pre-ordered the purple one.

Sakura Hanako, with her purplish-pink hair, pushed up her glasses and stood smiling not far from Yuuki Yuki. Although the outfit suited Sakura Hanako well, it also made her look more like a little eggplant.

"After all, it's the New Year, Yuuki-senpai."

Mizuno Yu's style was just like her usual self; the ice-blue kimono accentuated her most enviable figure among magical girls, making her look even more like an unapproachable iceberg.

If Tenrai Herika hadn't seen Mizuno Yuu planning to tie several ropes under her kimono, she probably would have felt better about Mizuno Yuu's outfit, right?

This was the first time Tenrai Herika had seen Sakura Hanako and Mizuno Yuu in kimonos. For some reason, she suddenly thought of the two people who had fallen into a deep sleep in reality, and her nose suddenly felt a little sore.

She secretly made up her mind that she would make Yumehara Sumireko pay the price she deserved.

And, we must make our current happiness a reality.

With the entire Nijisanji group, plus Yuuki Yuki and that group of girls who, despite being corrupted magical girls, aren't bad at heart, everyone is spending the upcoming New Year together here.

Each and every one of them should be like a dream, and the happiness in the dream should become a real, existing happiness.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Baqi nudged Tianlei Helica with her elbow.

"It's nothing, don't touch me." Helica pouted, stepped back a little, and then glanced at Baki's kimono: "You white-haired mad dog look quite convincing in a kimono, not bad."

"Tch, if you want to praise me, just say so. Why be so awkward?" Ba Qi snorted. "See, you're not as cute as me."

"Are you sick? I knew I shouldn't have praised you!" Helica snapped at Baqi like a hedgehog with its feathers standing on end, then turned away with a cold snort, ignoring Baqi and walking towards Yuuki Yuki's side.

On the other side where Yuuki Yuuki was, Nishio Reki was comforting her. Yuuki wasn't particularly agitated, but she was somewhat disappointed because of the long queue.

"Xiaoyuan, it's okay. What's important isn't being the first to pay respects, but rather spending the New Year together, isn't it?"

"Hmm, that makes sense." Yuuki Yui pouted and waited restlessly with her hands tucked in.

The only one who isn't a magical girl or wearing a kimono, Nishio Reki, took on the full-time logistics duties today.

At first, Sakura Hanako and Mizuno Yu helped each other put on their kimonos, and Nishio Reki helped Yuuki Yuuki change into hers, so only Baqi and Herika were left.

This seemed like the best choice, but it was also the worst. The two of them glared at each other angrily, and in their sulking, they messed up each other's clothes. In the end, it was Nishio Reki who helped them tidy up.

If possible, they would prefer that Yuki Yuki help, but Nishio Reki volunteered to take on this important task, citing that Yuki Yuki, who had already changed into a kimono, would be more difficult to do.

After everyone left, Nishio Reki followed behind the girls, carrying their important belongings in a black crossbody bag, which was essentially a logistical storage area.

Yuuki Yukino had mentioned to Nishio Reki more than once that she wanted to see Reki's kimono, but Nishio Reki stubbornly insisted that someone had to take care of these miscellaneous tasks.

Tenrai Herika herself had heard such conversations several times, and there were probably even more when Yuuki Yuki and Nishio Reki were alone, but in the end, no one could persuade Nishio Reki.

Helica was able to understand some of Nishio Reki's ideas.

Not a magical girl, at least not in this dream, Nishio Reki doesn't think of herself as a magical girl. She should think that she should do everything in her power to help magical girls.

Even though others don't need Nishio Reki to put in so much effort, he feels inadequate if he doesn't do anything.

Ah, you lowly fellow.

Herlica couldn't help but think of Nishio Reki during everyone's school trip in Nijiha City, when he clearly liked Yuuki Yuuki but said he would support her confession.

If Nishio Reki likes Yuuki Yuuki, he must have liked her a long time ago, right?

Rather, if Nishio Reki didn't like Yuuki Yuuki, he wouldn't have reincarnated so many times for her sake.

Just by listening to Nishio Reki's account, Helica knew that Nishio Reki had probably experienced hell more than three or five times.

Saying it's in the double digits might be an understatement; aside from Nishio Reki herself, probably no one knows exactly how many times she's experienced it.

He's sacrificed so much for Yuuki Eri, yet he's still so humble. Is this guy really okay?

Oh well, it doesn't matter. It's not a big deal if Nishio Reki is a little humble...

Wait a minute, it's not a big deal, is it?

What everyone hopes for—a harmonious world where nothing might happen—is unlikely to occur.

That's not true at all!

"Stupid dog...!"

Helica was trying her best to control her voice, but she still managed to call out softly.

Herricka's shout was loud enough for everyone around to hear. As she shouted, the magical girls, along with some passersby who were relatively close to Herricka, all turned their gazes toward the direction where Herika was.

Oh no, I overreacted.

As Helica was pondering how to resolve the current predicament, Inuyama Baki reacted first.

"Hmm? Are there any dogs there?"

Inuyama Baki turned her head and looked around, as if she were really looking for the puppy that Tenrai Herika had mentioned.

Herlica's words were vague and unrelated, and since no one knew the real name of Bagi's wand, they naturally wouldn't suspect Bagi.

With Baqi's interruption, the others' thoughts were also diverted by her, and they all looked around, wondering if some small dog had attacked Helica and angered her.

However, in the crowded streets, even if there really was a small dog, it would have disappeared without a trace. Such a trivial matter did not attract anyone's attention at all. Most people just turned their heads to look and then went about their own business.

While pretending to look around as if searching for a puppy, Inuyama Baki intentionally or unintentionally moved closer to Tenrai Herika and kicked her in the butt.

"You short, blond guy, are you out of your mind? What are you yelling about in the street? You made me pretend to be crazy with you!"

Baqi whispered a threatening rebuke in Helica's ear, then looked around to make sure no one was paying attention. Then, as if kicking a shuttlecock, she hooked her toe and kicked Helica in the buttocks again.

Then, Baqi waved to the others to indicate that nothing had happened, preventing the magical girls who were concerned about Helica from crowding over.

In the past, if Helica had been kicked twice by Baqi, she would have definitely pounced on Baqi like a demon and started fighting with her.

Seeing that Helica didn't react at all, Baqi also felt that this matter must be of great importance.

If someone is unconsciously calling her by her nickname, it must be something serious. Baqi could only be thankful that this guy wasn't calling her by her full name, otherwise it might not have been so easy to pretend to be stupid and get away with it.

"What's wrong?" Ba Qi asked in a low voice.

"I think I know now, what exactly happened... Something's happened, something really bad."

Herlica's lips moved, her pupils trembled, and she pressed her body even closer to Baki.

"This is that black-haired, lowly idiot Nishio Reki's nightmare!"

"What are you talking about?" Inuyama Tomoe was taken aback at first, frowning slightly, before realizing what Helica was talking about: "How do you know? What evidence do you have?"

"Do you need any more evidence? This is a world where nothing has happened. Yuuki Yui hasn't fallen into darkness, you weren't seduced by her to become a corrupted magical girl, and she didn't suddenly disappear. None of that is true!"

Herika chattered like an anxious yellow parrot, piling all the arguments she knew onto Inuyama Baqi, leaving Baqi dizzy and confused.