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

"Tianlei is a bit shy, so there are some things he's embarrassed to say to everyone, so he pulled me aside alone..."

……

"I like you!"

Looking at the rising sun behind Yuuki Yuuki, and at Yuuki Yuuki's rosy cheeks bathed in sunlight, Tenrai Herika blurted out.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the snow on the branches of the trees on both sides of the mountain path fell with a soft rustling sound, disappearing into the pure white expanse where no one was walking. Even the sound of the falling snow was instantly swallowed up by the joyful cheers of the people.

Along with it, Helica's abrupt confession, which couldn't be more abrupt, was also swallowed up.

Others might have ignored it, but the pink-haired girl's slightly widened, bright eyes proved that she had clearly heard every word that Helica Tenryu said.

A gentle breeze rustled through the branches, making it seem as if only the two of them remained in the world.

"Huh?"

Yuuki Yukino was stunned for a moment, and then her cheeks visibly turned redder, as if they had been ignited by the rising sun.

Finally, Yuuki Yuki had no choice but to cover her face with her hands, barely managing to hide her shy expression.

Helica, the Thunder Goddess, was stunned when she uttered those words.

When did I start speaking without thinking?

No, I haven't been thinking much when I talk.

But now is different. Now is the time to discuss serious matters. How could I not be able to say such silly things at this time!

Helica, who had just realized what was happening, desperately tried to explain, her hands flailing wildly in the air, creating afterimages.

"No, that's not it, that's not what I meant..."

"Uh, um, um," Yuuki Yui's hands, which were covering her cheeks, were folded together and placed in front of her lips to cover her mouth, seemingly also silencing the gasp that should not have been heard from her.

"I... I mean, I really like you, it's just... it's just..."

Herlica stammered, but her brain was racing, using every single one of her brain cells to explain things to Yuuki Yuuki—no, to argue her point.

"What...is it..." Yuuki Yui's unclear voice slipped out from between her fingers as she asked in a muffled voice.

"Whether it's you or everyone else, I like it all... I really like this exciting yet heartwarming life."

Helica read it with a serious expression, then slowly lowered her head.

"That's right, we all work together to defeat the evil, corrupted magical girl and to protect the peace of Moonsea City; sometimes we even go out together to experience things that I could never experience or even imagine on my own, which I really enjoy."

"I also hope that the life I love can continue, and that I can always be with everyone I love. Anyway! I'm so happy to have met you all! But... I can't say it like you all do."

Herlica looked down at her toes, which were awkwardly curled up in pure white cotton socks on her wooden clogs.

Saying such embarrassing lines is actually something that Helica had wanted to say to everyone at the dinner table, but had been too embarrassed to say. This embarrassment made Helica wish she could smash the ground open and crawl underground to hide alone.

"What? You startled me!"

Yuuki Yukino immediately beamed with joy, then let out a long sigh of relief and removed her hands from her face.

"I know that Tianlei is always shy and often says one thing but means another. But Tianlei is actually more hardworking, kinder, and cares about everyone more than anyone else."

As Yuuki Yukari spoke, she slightly lowered her chin, and, wearing two-pronged wooden clogs, moved against the flow of people step by step toward Tenrai Herika.

Next, Yuuki Yukari, who had come to stand in front of Tenrai Herika, stretched out her hands and grasped Herika's slender hands, which were a size smaller than hers, in her palms.

"Tianlei, you are the best magical girl in my heart."

"Eh..."

Feeling the softness and coolness of the girl's hand on the back of her hand, and the gradually rising temperature, Helica's cheeks also began to burn.

"We will definitely be able to continue together. No matter what enemies we encounter or what hardships we face in the future, I believe we will overcome them together."

Yuuki Yukino smiled, pulled Tenrai Herika's hands together, and held them tightly on the outside, placing them on her chest.

"So, Tianlei, please don't set such an ominous-sounding flag."

Yuuki Yukino's eyes flickered, but they only reflected Tenrai Herika.

There were times when Tenrai Herika and Yuuki Yuuki had taken things further together, but no matter which time, none of them stirred her heart like this.

My heart is beating so fast, it feels like it's going to jump out of my chest.

Honestly, Yuuki Yukino, although she can be cunning and unserious at times, deep down she's always this kind of gentle, almost overly kind-hearted person.

Although she's a kind-hearted person, she also wants to eliminate some incorrect prejudices between magical girls and corrupted magical girls.

When encountering an enemy, they will go all out. Even when they find an enemy who is beyond redemption, they will never be swayed by compassion and will decisively eliminate any hidden threats.

Even in her dreams, she wouldn't want her companions' hands to be soiled by the corrupted magical girl, and would take the initiative to bear everything.

Whether it's Kuroba's reincarnation in reality or the other fallen magical girls in this nightmare, it's Yuuki Yui who voluntarily takes on that responsibility.

Wow, just thinking about Yuuki Yuuki giving people advice with an overflowing saintly heart while simultaneously beating them to the point of being unable to get up again using the most brutal methods is kind of scary.

"Pfft, pfft haha."

Thinking of Yuuki Yukino's strange yet very characteristic appearance, Herika couldn't help but laugh.

"Why are you laughing all of a sudden?" Yuuki Yuuki pouted, and the blush that had faded returned to her face. She seemed a little embarrassed that her words had made Herika laugh.

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Herica pulled her hand away from Yuuki Yuuki's grasp and wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes.

"Really nothing?"

"It's true, I already said it's true."

From afar, Sakura Hanako's voice called out, "Senpai! Over here!"

"Sakura's calling us, let's go first." Yuuki took Helica's hand, which she hadn't pulled away from, and jumped up and down a little: "Coming, coming!"

Helica pursed her lips: "Okay, let's go!"

……

"Maybe it's because I'm not only a magical girl like her, but I also know Xiao Li, so I'm kind of like the mascot of this magical girl team? And I'm the most talkative and beautiful girl, so that's why Tian Lei specifically came to me to say all this?"

Yuuki Yukina scratched her hair and gave Nishio Reki, who was asking her a question, a blank smile.

"Hmm...really? It feels so suspicious!" Nishio Reki pondered for a moment. Her intuition told her that things didn't seem so simple, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong.

"Really, I haven't had much contact with Tianlei, and I'm not particularly charming. How could Tianlei suddenly confess to me? She's just too nervous! Isn't that always the case?"

Yuuki waved her hand at Nishio Reki, as if to dispel Nishio Reki's wariness.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Yuuki Yui continued, "Besides, I feel that Tenrai-san and Inuyama-san are getting closer."

As Yuuki Yuki spoke, she turned her head as if to prove to Nishio Reki what she was saying.

However, she did not find Helica, the Thunder God, in the crowd.

Inuyama Tomoe disappeared without a trace.

"Wait, where are Tenrai and Inuyama?"

……

While Nishio Reki was whispering to Yuuki Yuuki.

Herika was in a really good mood. The things she had done before, like discussing the difficulty of the nightmare with Baki and the impulsive confession she made after seeing Yuki under the sunrise, were now trivial matters to her.

In her haste, she spoke her true feelings and received a response from Yuuki Yuki, who even held her hand and gave her a good encouragement.

It's a bit of a shame that we couldn't awaken Yuuki Yuki, but there's no need to rush. We can find another opportunity next time.

Just as Helika was happily thinking about it, she was rudely interrupted as she followed the crowd to join the worship.

Inuyama Tomoe tugged hard at Tenrai Herika's clothes, causing her to stumble and nearly tear off the sash around her waist.

"Where have you been? You and Xiaoyuan have been out for so long, it's been so hard to call you," Baqi whispered in Helika's ear.

"What I do is none of your business!" Helica, who had been treated gently by Yuuki Yuki, was now somewhat smug. She snorted boastfully, wanting to see how jealous and anxious Baki would get when she continued to question her.

However, Baki's reaction did not satisfy Helica.

At least Baqi didn't respond to her at all.

"I don't care what you were doing, something's happened here! Come with me."

Baki snorted and was about to pull on Helica's sleeve again.

"What could possibly happen? I'm the one in big trouble! Just like you did before, I blurted out something I shouldn't have, but luckily I reacted quickly and managed to cover it up, and Yuuki Yui didn't suspect anything."

Helica let out an even louder snort.

But Baki's words forced Helica, the Thunder Goddess, to take them seriously.

"Just now, I saw Kuroba reincarnated."

Chapter 163 Silver White

"I just saw Kuroba's reincarnation."

The surrounding area was filled with the sounds of people talking, all looking forward to the New Year. However, every word uttered by Inuyama Tomoe, who was mixed in with the crowd, was so clear that Tenrai Herika could not possibly have misheard it.

Herlica subconsciously scanned the surrounding crowd, but did not find the figure that Inuyama Tomoe had mentioned.

It's unrealistic to spot someone in a crowded place at a glance. Now, Helica can't even see Yuuki Yuki's back, let alone Kuroba Reise, which Inuyama Tomoe mentioned.

"Hey?! What nonsense are you spouting? Didn't you tell me yourself that you blew her up like fireworks?"

Helica's tone didn't sound like a question at all; she just couldn't believe that what Baki said was true.

A cold wind howled past Helica's ears, making her cheeks sting as if they were being cut by a blade.

But the only answer to Helica's question was rumors.

Inuyama Tomoe stared at Tenrai Herika with a solemn expression, without saying a word.

"Are you serious?"

Seeing Inuyama Baki's serious expression, Helica couldn't help but ask another question.

She knew perfectly well that all she wanted was for Baqi to give her a positive answer.

Even though Inuyama Tomoe had personally told her that Kuroba Reincarnation was no longer there, and had personally eliminated the troublesome Kuroba Reincarnation, she confidently told her spirit that she had "seen Kuroba Reincarnation."

If she wasn't 100% certain, Inuyama Tomoe wouldn't have been so nervous as to pull her away, and Herika didn't need to be so sure at all.

Immediately, Helica couldn't help but slap her forehead.