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

Nishio Reki's absent-mindedness had been going on for a while; she had been showing signs of urgency even before Kuroba's reincarnation appeared.

The words and events of those around him seemed to slip through his mind, and he couldn't remember any of them. Things that were easy to understand in normal times now seemed as complicated as gibberish.

It wasn't that Nishio Reki deliberately created a low-pressure zone; this kind of anxiety, which arises from being overly concerned about other people's feelings, cannot be easily influenced by subjective consciousness.

There are only two remedies that can cure Nishio Reki's current anxiety, and Nishio Reki knows this perfectly well.

Or perhaps it's like a gentle stream, allowing time to slowly soothe the waves of anxiety in Nishio Ryū's heart, restoring tranquility to his soul.

But in doing so, one must endure, get used to, and eventually forget about it over a long period of time.

However, it's hard for Nishio Reki not to be moved every time he sees Yuuki Yukino.

If this method doesn't work, the remaining method is to act swiftly and decisively, like a strong medicine, to immediately determine the outcome of this matter.

If it works, everything will be as if the clouds have parted, and Nishio Reki's inner anxiety will heal itself.

If that doesn't work, even the childhood friendship between the two won't be preserved; it will only break down completely, turning them into strangers and plunging them into the abyss that Nishio Reki doesn't want to see.

Once you embark on that path, it's either advance or retreat.

But instead of suffering and enduring, wasting your energy on unknown emotions, it's better to be direct.

As Nishio Reki thought this, he clenched his fist.

"Yuki." Nishio Reki moved closer and called out Yuki's name as she turned her gaze back to the mountains and forests.

"Hmm?" Yuuki Yuuki let out a soft exclamation, seemingly sensing the seriousness in Nishio Reki's tone.

Nishio Reki took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and then slowly exhaled.

Although it was only temporary, Nishio Reki seemed to have calmed down a lot.

"I have something I want to tell you."

This is rather difficult to explain.

While working on the outline, I suddenly realized that the problem was much more serious than I had imagined.

So they've been working on the storyline.

Bad news: I've been working on it for several hours, and although it's starting to look promising, I can only post a single update tonight.

Even worse news: it wasn't fixed, and it deviates significantly from the outline.

Although, although it's possible to force an explanation or contradict the text, it's not a good idea!

Let the bowl rest for a bit, lie in bed and try to fix the bug.

Chapter 167 Ghosts

After the New Year, the girls' winter vacation also came to an end.

The girls, back at school, were still immersed in the afterglow of the past New Year, whispering among themselves about their experiences over the past few days.

The most discussed topic was the sudden attack on Kuroba Laisei on New Year's Day, which was repelled by the magical girls working together.

"You know what? I went to the shrine very early that day! And I even saw magical girls. Wow, four of them! The way they worked together was amazing!"

"I've heard about it. Those magical girls are amazing! Just watching their amazing figures in the videos is so captivating. I really want to meet them! Do you think there might be magical girls around us?"

"There should be, right? But I think magical girls should hide their identities. Rashly trying to find out their identities will only bring them trouble. Maybe those evil magical girls will even try to recruit them!"

"That's true, but it's really great! I really want to make friends with those cool magical girls!"

The girls, who knew nothing about magical girls, spared no effort in praising them, and longed for those magical girls who brought justice and dreams and protected the peace of the entire Moonsea City.

Is it really that exciting to become friends with a magical girl?

Have they deified magical girls?

Or... has he already gotten what they wanted, and his burgeoning greed makes him unwilling to stop there, so he wants to get more?

For example... the love of a magical girl?

Nishio Reki shook his head vigorously and walked into the classroom.

As soon as she entered the classroom, Yuuki Yuki noticed her and immediately stood up, waving at Nishio Reki. Only after Nishio Reki got closer did she greet him in a normal voice.

"Xiao Li! Good morning! Did you sleep well last night?"

Nishio Reki rubbed his sleepy eyes with the back of his hand, then turned his hand over to cover his mouth and let out a long yawn.

"It's alright. I watched the concert video for a long time last night, and it was really exciting. Let's go see it together if we have the chance."

"Okay, okay, it's settled then." Yuuki Yukina sat down excitedly, then noticed the dark circles under Nishio Ryū's eyes: "Ryū, have you been staying up too late? You need to get some rest!"

"Okay, I'll be careful, Xiaoyuan, don't worry."

Nishio Reki said, half-coquettishly and half-reluctantly.

Everything looks perfect, doesn't it?

After Nishio Reki made up his mind and confessed his feelings to Yuuki Yuuki, it's great that the two of them can still communicate so naturally and intimately, right?

That means Yuuki Yukino has already accepted his feelings, right?

Yes, that's how it should be.

But that was based on the premise that Nishio Ryoma mustered up the courage to say what he wanted to say to Yuuki Enishi.

However, at the last moment, Nishio Reki retreated into his shell like a snail whose antennae had been touched.

……

"Yuan." Nishio Reki swallowed hard, the simple action making her throat hurt. "I have something to tell you."

"what?"

Yuuki En initially answered casually, but then noticed Nishio Reki's serious expression, which didn't seem like he was joking or talking about something trivial; his entire face was stiff and tense.

"Uh, Xiao Li, why do you look so scary? What are you trying to say?"

When Yuuki Yukino spoke, her cheeks flushed inexplicably, as if she had already foreseen what Nishio Reki was about to say.

"I...I..." Nishio Reki stammered a few times, as if his vocal cords had been cut off, and he could no longer make a sound, stopping abruptly before getting to the main topic.

Keep going! Once you take this step, all your troubles and worries will come to an end.

Hadn't I already made up my mind?

Move around, open your mouth, make a sound!

Don't be so disappointing!

But what if Xiaoyuan refuses?

What if Xiaoyuan is unable to respond to her feelings, or even finds them troublesome?

Xiao Yuan had previously thought that she had ulterior motives towards Tian Lei Helika. She thought that someone who could say such things so casually must have no feelings for her at all.

If it were me, I would never be able to make a joke like that with Yuuki Yukino.

No, no, no.

You absolutely must not say it out loud.

Absolutely, we must maintain the current relationship between the two of us.

"Xiao Li, say something!"

Yuuki Yukino was getting impatient and stomped her two-pronged wooden clogs on the ground.

"I……"

Having already given up, it was impossible to muster the courage again. Apart from repeating himself awkwardly and mechanically, Nishio Reki couldn't say anything else.

Nishio Reki was still wavering, but Yuuki Yuki, unable to bear Nishio Reki's procrastination, grabbed Nishio Reki's hand, just as she had grabbed Tenrai Herika's hands not long ago.

But Nishio Reki's feelings at this moment were completely different from those of Tenrai Herika at that time.

Yuuki Yukino held her own hand; she should feel happy.

But for someone who is already wavering at this moment, it's like adding fuel to the fire.

Yuuki Yukino shook Nishio Reki's hand again, like a child pouting at a family member.

"Tell me already! Stop keeping me in suspense! Is there anything you can't tell me, Xiao Li? We've been friends since we were little, and you've always been there for me!"

Yuki Yukino is right about something.

I and Yuuki Yuuki are childhood friends.

This is the only advantage I have.

This is the only thing I must protect, no matter what.

"I wanted to ask, did Xiaoyuan discover something?" Nishio Reki swallowed again.

Strangely enough, Nishio Reki spoke with remarkable fluency at this moment.

Yuuki Yukina's hand, which was shaking Nishio Reki's, stopped in mid-air. She then let go with a snap, gently tapping her cheek with her finger and gazing at the sky as if deep in thought.

"Hmm? What do you mean by 'Little Li'?"

"That strange noise coming from the woods just now, or maybe it was some kind of magical girl?"

"No, Xiao Li, just say what you want to say, don't keep me in suspense."

"I don't have anything particularly to say. There's just one thing I don't understand. Inuyama Tomoe clearly told us that the student council president, Kuroba Laisei, was ambushed, but today that magical girl with jet-black wings has reappeared. I'm thinking..."

What are you thinking about?

"Did Inuyama Tomoe see things wrong? Or was that black-winged magical girl not actually Kuroba Reisei, and the person who attacked me not Seishin? Or... or was Inuyama Tomoe threatened into lying? There are... well, there are many possibilities, aren't there?"

"I also think there are many possibilities, but I still want to believe Inuyama-san. She has no reason to lie to me."

"Shouldn't it take much time to stop Inuyama Tomoe and ask her a few simple questions? Mizuno Yu is also hinting at this to you."

"I have a feeling, Kotori. It's just a feeling, but I think what Inuyama-kun said is right. That person is Kuroba Reisei. It's just that Inuyama-kun might have run away before finishing reading. Maybe Kuroba Reisei is even stronger than Seishine?"

"That being said, Xiaoyuan, I still believe..."

After changing the subject, Nishio Reki's narration became increasingly fluent, and his thoughts became clearer than ever before. He rattled off a series of reliable and credible guesses, taking the topic further and further away from what he originally intended to say.

Although it's only temporary.

Although her mind was still in a tangled mess.