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

The red thread, which seemed capable of cutting through anything, now felt so gentle against my skin, like silk, like a bed, like a young girl's soft caress.

A red ribbon wrapped around Nishio Reki's wrist, just like the bracelet Yuuki Yuki had given her, securing the girl's hands, which were raised high above her head.

Nishio Reki gazed at the red hues that seemed to cascade down the mountaintop like tassels. Through the narrow gaps, he could still see the dim starry sky.

Yuuki Yukino's face was backlit by the moonlight, making it appear so blurry. Despite being so close, Nishio Reki couldn't discern whether it was sunny or cloudy.

"What are you hesitating about?" Nishio Reki chuckled, as if what was about to happen had nothing to do with her.

“No, it’s nothing.” Yuuki Yuen shook her head and slowly extended her hand toward Nishio Reki.

Yuuki Yuuki's palm fell so slowly, as if centuries had passed, yet it still hadn't reached its destination.

Nishio Reki spoke softly, as if whispering in a pillow: "Yuki, your hands are shaking."

Yuuki Yukino blushed instantly, like a naive young girl: "You don't need to tell me, I know..."

"Heh." Looking at Yuuki Yukino's adorable appearance, Nishio Reki couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Then Yuuki Yukino's expression became even more shy.

Under Yuuki Yuki's slightly reproachful gaze, Nishio Reki concealed his vision by closing his eyes.

When the girl opened her eyes again, she was looking at the distant sky, which was now mostly obscured.

Indeed, it's so far away.

The post-rain breeze stirred the red curtains, making Nishio Reki feel a chill.

But the girl's body temperature was burning hot, like a small stove in the slightly chilly weather, making her feel warm and comfortable.

"Xiao Yuan, is this the first time we've interacted like this in this kind of environment?"

Nishio Reki watched clearly as Yuuki Yukino's canine teeth disappeared into her lower lip, followed by a long silence.

The buttons at the collar were silently undone, and the rain-soaked clothes were lifted slightly in the girl's hands, just as Yuuki Yuki always did.

Then came the second one; the damp skin beneath the open collar seemed even colder in the night air.

But it only lasted for a moment. The girl, who was leaning down, transmitted the sensation through her soft lips and her own cold collarbone.

Like a kitten's gentle, affectionate nibble, like the awkwardness of their first time taking things a step further.

After a slight pain as the canine tooth sank into the skin, everything came to an abrupt end.

"Xiaoyuan, are you nervous?"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

"It's okay, just do it the same way as every time."

"I already told you, don't say another word!"

Nishio Reki slightly raised his head, looking at the girl who was lying in front of him, her voice already choked with sobs.

"Xiao Yuan..."

Nishio Reki had just opened his mouth when Yuuki Yuuki stopped him.

"You're not allowed to speak!"

Yuuki blinked hard, desperately trying to hide her embarrassing state, but she still couldn't stop the hot, glistening tears from the corners of her eyes from streaming down her cheeks.

"Please, Xiao Li, don't speak..."

The girl, head bowed, shrugged slightly, her pleading tone mirroring the one she used when she clutched her wet sleeves and tried to pull herself inside.

Last time, Nishio Reki ignored the girl's pleas.

This time, she won't.

Nishio Reki raised his head even higher and pecked at the forehead of the girl who was sobbing and rubbing her eye sockets with her clenched fists.

"Huh?" Yuuki Yuen opened her mouth slightly, looking at Nishio Reki in astonishment at his bizarre action.

After the peck, he lay back down on the bed covered with red thread, pursing his lips and suppressing the urge to smile that he didn't know why. He then tilted his head back and pressed himself against Yuuki Yuki.

This time, her target was the girl's most vulnerable spot.

Although her hands could not fully embrace the girl she cherished most, that fleeting touch was enough for her.

His cheeks were cupped in the girl's hands, his heartbeat pounded even harder in the silence, and his mouth was filled with the salty taste of Yuuki Yuki, the salty taste of the tears that kept rolling down the girl's face.

Yuuki En was clumsy; Nishio Reki had never seen Yuuki En so clumsy before.

Yuki Yukino was also very gentle, and Nishio Reki had never seen Yuki Yukino show such gentleness before.

No, actually Yuuki Yukino has always been gentle, but this time... she's even gentler.

Seemingly afraid of hurting himself, Nishio Reki could only feel delicate care in that tight embrace.

In this cold night after the rain, I no longer felt cold; the heat in my body was rising continuously, accumulating wave after wave, and being released again and again.

I felt a mix of fear, despair, reluctance, and satisfaction.

Everything seemed so natural, except for the other person and the tears that occasionally rolled down the girl's skin.

Everything seemed to be going so smoothly, except for the sudden and unexpected end.

"Xiao Yuan." Nishio Reki tilted his head, looking through the few strands of black hair on his face covered with sweat at the girl who had suddenly stopped moving, and exhaled a sweet breath in a slightly hoarse voice.

The words, seemingly full of expectation, and the expression, seemingly full of longing, actually carry a completely different meaning: "Don't hesitate anymore, okay?"

Despite being the defeated party and the one who should be punished, Nishio Reki seems to be in a more proactive position, constantly guiding Yuuki Eri and leading her down a path of no return.

Yuuki Yukino's eyes flashed with tears again. Suddenly, she clenched her fist and slammed it onto the soft ground interwoven with red lines, but it made almost no sound.

"I don't understand..."

Yuuki Yui lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, her hands tightly gripping the bed sheet woven with red thread.

thump.

Following the force of that punch, Yuuki Yukina fell to the ground and buried her face in Nishio Reki's chest. Nishio Reki could feel Yuuki Yukina's lips teasing his stomach as she spoke in a muffled voice.

"I really don't understand at all."

As Yuuki Yukari spoke, she tilted her head and pressed her ear against Nishio Reki's chest, listening to the steady heartbeat within her.

"Why? I don't understand Xiaoli's heart at all."

Nishio Reki wanted to hug the girl on his body, but his hands, which were unable to move freely, prevented him from doing so. This last safety measure only made him feel extremely cumbersome.

“Because…” Nishio Reki thought for a moment, “Because I want to be closer to Kaname, right?”

"But haven't we always been very close?" Yuuki Yuen murmured.

“No, that’s not enough. I’m very greedy. I want to get closer, even closer. Closer than anyone else, to become someone unique to Xiaoyuan.” Nishio Reki thought for a moment and then replied.

"Korechika is already unique to me." Yuuki Yukari's voice was even more muffled.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Nishio Reki’s voice was somewhat relaxed, yet trembling slightly: “I’m very greedy.”

After a moment of silence, Nishio Reki sighed softly and looked up at the distant sky.

The sky remains unchanged; even though so much has happened tonight, tomorrow will be another sunny day after the rain.

But I must remain in this darkness forever.

Nishio Reki swallowed hard, his throat bobbing, and his gaze, fixed on the distant horizon, hardened. His eyes finally landed on Yuuki Yukino, who was both far away and yet so close.

"I like Xiaoyuan."

"Yes, I know." Yuuki Yui lowered her head, her voice low and hoarse.

“I love everything about Yuuki.” Nishio Reki said again, his heartbeat calm and his words clear, as if to respond to Yuuki Yuuki’s earlier doubts and to convey his feelings to her in the simplest way.

"Yes, I know." Yuuki Yukino's head remained lowered.

"That's why I hope I can become really, really amazing, so amazing that I can be with Xiaoyuan, and walk with Xiaoyuan for a long, long time, until the very end."

"Yes! I know!"

Yuuki Yukino lowered her head even further, burying it completely against Nishio Reki's chest, and muttered in a barely audible voice.

"If you want to walk with me, it's okay even if Xiao Li doesn't have to change anything."

Nishio Reki's gentle expression gradually turned into astonishment, and then, uncontrollably, something scalding hot seemed to burst from his eyes.

I have always lived in the shackles I have imposed on myself.

In fact, from the very beginning, what I thought was incredibly distant was actually within my grasp.

I really am a complete idiot.

However, it seems I realized this too late.

However, perhaps I realized it wasn't too late.

With trembling lips, Nishio Reki uttered the words he had always wanted to say but never dared to.

"Would you be willing to stay with me and guide me to where I am meant to be?"

"It's come to this...it's come to this point...why are you still saying such things!"

Yuuki Yukina's fist landed on Nishio Reki's body, but it didn't hurt at all; instead, it felt like Yuuki was being affectionate with him.

Nishio Reki pursed his lips slightly: "So, are you willing?"

"Of course!" Yuuki Yuuki's fist landed again, but this time it seemed even lighter.

Tears streaming down her face, Yuuki Yukino tightly hugged the girl beside her, who looked at her with expectant and excited eyes, her own eyes also filled with tears: "If you liked me, you should have told me sooner! You idiot!"

The girl's emotions were like the ever-changing sky, and they completely collapsed the moment she felt Yuuki Yukino's warmth.

The girls, embracing and weeping, no longer suppressed their long-suppressed emotions; all their feelings poured out like a flood.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment, yet it flowed irresistibly, propelling the world forward.

The girls finally stopped crying and reluctantly parted ways.

“Xiaoyuan, then we…” Nishio Reki awkwardly confirmed, having no experience whatsoever, whether it was confessing her feelings or actually dating.

"Mm." Yuuki Yukino's face flushed slightly as she nodded.

"Alright, Xiaoyuan, we still have important things to do, don't we?"

Nishio Reki's expression gradually brightened, and his still-dry eyes moistened again. As if afraid that the other party would see, he quickly used Yuuki Emi's shoulder to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes.