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

Whether it was Yuuki Yukino's imagination or not, when Wakayama heard the words that she was leaving again, her expression seemed to become even more unpleasant.

But Yuuki Yuki was secretly praising Wakayama in her heart. At such a young age, it should be the time for children to be willful. There are many children who cry and make a fuss because they fight over candy, want to play the princess, or accidentally fall down. There are not many children who can control their emotions.

However, it was clear that Wakayama was in a bad mood and had become the low-pressure zone of the entire team. It wouldn't be surprising if she quit and Yuuki Eri abandoned the task. But probably to take care of the feelings of the other members, Wakayama continued to play the role.

Although her dejected appearance looked very awkward.

"Okay, then let's go, boss."

Even if she wanted to ask Wakayama about her situation alone, Yuuki Yuen couldn't leave the house. After reminding Sakura Hanako, who was right next to her, to help look after the children in her group, Yuuki Yuen took Wakayama's little hand and led her to a corner.

Yuuki Yuuki squatted down in front of Wakayama, making herself shorter than Wakayama who was in kindergarten, before asking the question.

"Ruoshan, are you a little unhappy?"

"I'm not unhappy." Ruoshan pouted, her expression clearly betraying her.

"Really? But Wakayama doesn't seem very energetic today." Yuuki Yukina smiled and reached out to rub Wakayama's cheek.

"No, I'm perfectly fine!" As if afraid that Yuuki would notice that she wasn't feeling well, Wakayama shouted at the top of her lungs, attracting the attention of many children.

Stared at by the other children, Wakayama seemed to gain even more confidence, puffing out his chest as if to say: Look, I'm full of energy.

She genuinely believed that such a childish trick could fool Yuuki Enishi.

Even though Yuuki Yuuki didn't have much experience dealing with children, she knew she couldn't expose the other person's lie.

However, when it comes to easy-to-understand children, Yuuki Yukari doesn't need to put in as much effort as she did with Genki Mashiro.

Ruoshan reacted very obviously to the comment that the "big sister" was leaving, so let's start from there.

Yuuki Yukina guessed that Wakayama was a bit precocious and knew that he would leave after accompanying them, which is why he felt sad.

How should I put it? This kind of thinking is like knowing that everyone will eventually die, so you feel that life has become boring. It's a normal but unnecessary worry.

Of course, children don't think that much, and Yuuki Yuki wouldn't force-feed them any platitudes like "You can't change the length of life, but you can broaden its width."

When communicating with children, you should be kind and reasonable, and appeal to their emotions.

"Does Wakayama still want to play with Yuuki-neechan?"

"Yes! I want to!" Ruoshan nodded vigorously, nodding his head like a chicken pecking at rice.

Seeing Wakayama's adorable reaction, Yuuki Yukino couldn't help but chuckle.

"Then let's go back and have some fun together, okay?"

"Okay...okay, but...but we won't be able to play together anymore." Ruoshan had just agreed when she became depressed again.

"How could that be? Sister will definitely continue to come and play with Xiaoruoshan more often in the future."

"No, no, that's not it. Yuuki-neechan can come and play with me, but, but, Yuuki-neechan won't be able to find me anymore."

Chapter Fifty-One: Appeasement

"From now on, Yuuki-neechan won't be able to play with me anymore. Yuuki-neechan won't be able to find me anymore."

Wakayama mumbled something in a wronged tone, repeating the same sentence over and over again before Yuuki could barely understand it.

This is not quite the same as the sadness that Yuuki En guessed, that "wonderful times always come to an end." Obviously, there is a deeper reason in Wakayama's case, which is the root cause of Wakayama's sense of loss.

“How could I not find Ruoshan? Ruoshan is right here! Even if Ruoshan is hiding, no matter where she hides, I will find her.” Yuuki Yui affectionately stroked Ruoshan’s head and whispered in her ear.

"No, sister is lying! Sister won't be able to find me anymore! I won't be here anymore." Wakayama shook his head like a rattle drum, desperately denying Yuuki Yukino's words.

"You won't be here anymore?" What does that mean? Yuuki Yukino couldn't understand what Wakayama meant by saying this for a moment.

However, this did not prevent the fact that the situation described by Wakayama was more serious than she had imagined. Yuuki Yukina had many interpretations of this statement, some of which made her suddenly feel a sinking feeling in her heart.

While there are countless possibilities for what Yuuki Yuuki might be, it's probably safer to ask Wakayama.

Yuuki En remained unfazed: "Why isn't Wakayama here?"

"Because I'm graduating from here, and I'm going to other places," Ruoshan answered honestly.

Thankfully, this is the most reasonable and reassuring explanation for Yuuki Eri.

However, this did not completely reassure Yuuki Yuki.

Yuuki Yukino continued, "Where is Wakayama going?"

This seemingly ordinary question seemed to strike a nerve with Wakayama, causing him to stammer and hesitate. Yuuki asked him several times before he finally answered.

"I'm going to Hanasaki Elementary School, so I won't be able to stay here anymore, and I won't be able to play with my sister anymore."

"Is this why Xiao Ruoshan is in a bad mood?"

“Yes, that’s right.” Ruoshan nodded: “I was playing with my sister when I suddenly realized that I wouldn’t be able to play with her anymore, and I felt really sad.”

Such childish yet realistic worries.

Although this is an orphanage, it is nominally a kindergarten, and no child can stay in the kindergarten indefinitely without going on to higher education.

When they reach primary school age, the children will be taken over by new welfare institutions, such as school dormitories, foster families, or even adopted.

When faced with a new environment, children may hesitate to move forward due to attachment to the past or fear of the unknown new life.

"Is it because of this that the other children are in a bad mood?" Yuuki Yuen then asked gently.

"I don't know, but I just can't bear to leave everyone, and I can't bear to leave Yuki-neechan. Every time Yuki-neechan comes to play with us, I'm very happy. During the time when she doesn't come, I'm very unhappy. I'm most unhappy when I can't play with her anymore."

Although Wakayama is precocious, he is still a child after all, and he inevitably speaks with a childish temper.

It doesn't seem like a difficult problem to deal with.

"Wakayama, don't you want to go to elementary school?" Yuuki Yui rubbed Wakayama's little head a few more times.

"No, primary school is good too, but I can't bear to leave everyone, so can't I go to primary school and kindergarten at the same time?" Ruoshan showed her conflicted side and asked a very childish question.

"Of course not, Xiao Ruoshan has grown up. When you grow up, you should go to new places, learn new things, and make new friends."

"I know what my sister is saying, but if I make new friends, does that mean I have to abandon my old friends?"

"How could that be? Old friends are important, and making new friends is also important. They don't conflict. You can't forget your sister just because you've made new friends."

"No, no! I won't forget my sister! But... the thought of not seeing my sister and my other friends again makes me so sad..."

"How could we not see each other? Xiao Ruoshan has gone to a new place, but Xiao Ruoshan can still meet everyone in the future. Not just in kindergarten, but also in the park, in the restaurant, in many, many places. Everyone has just gone to different places, but has not disappeared from Xiao Ruoshan's world."

"But we can't see each other every day anymore."

“It’s sad that we can’t see each other every day, but when we meet again, we can tell each other about the interesting things that have happened during this time, just like Xiao Ruoshan tells her sister every time she comes to visit.”

"That's true... but I just feel a little sad."

Feeling sad and reluctant is also proof of growth.

Wakayama pouted and fell into deep thought. This was the first time her little mind had encountered the kind of knowledge that Yuuki Yui had mentioned, and it might take her some time to digest it.

While Wakayama was processing his words, Yuuki Yui simply watched Wakayama quietly.

"I understand, but I still feel sad."

Wakayama's words were not much different from before, but Yuuki Yui knew that he had figured some things out during this time.

Understanding and not being sad are two completely different things. It's already quite impressive that Wakayama, at such a young age, has been able to understand these things that have been troubling her. By the same token, many people who are the same age as Yuuki Eri or even older may not be able to understand and may still be stuck in the past and unwilling to move on.

“Everyone who left before Xiaoruoshan must have felt sad, but aren’t they all moving forward?” Yuuki Yui still needed to say something comforting.

“That makes sense.” Ruoshan seemed to understand even better, and nodded slightly.

Yuuki Yukino then asked, "But did Kowaka leave alone?"

“No, some people are going with me, some aren’t, but those who are old enough have to go.” Wakayama answered in a somewhat incomprehensible way, telling Yuuki Yuen where everyone was going:

“I’m going to Hanasaki, Aoba is going to Hanasaki, Kitazawa is going to Hanasaki, Hachikuji isn’t going to Hanasaki, she’s going to Ginokawa Elementary School, and Mizuki is going to Ginokawa Elementary School too…”

Ruoshan did indeed recount everyone's whereabouts in great detail, but in reality, there were only about seven or eight people, and they were all assigned to three elementary schools in Yuehai City.

Without Yuuki needing to ask any questions, Wakayama told Yuuki everything on his own initiative.

For example, everyone's destination was decided a few days in advance. At that time, the children who were about to leave the orphanage would be taken to a room in turn, where there were many aunties, each representing a different school.

The aunties will introduce their schools, and then the children can choose for themselves; everyone chooses their own future school.

This approach sounds good too; it's a bit like a round of interviews. (It's like a simple interview, and not putting everyone together can also avoid the situation where everyone chooses the same school at once.)

Although Yuuki Yui felt that it wouldn't be a problem even if everyone chose the same school.

“Our kindergarten is like this every year. Once we reach the age, we are sent away to attend primary school, and that’s when we graduate.”

As Wakayama continued to explain, Yuuki Yukino was able to understand it.

This kindergarten has only one class, and there aren't many students in the class, so it adopts a teaching model similar to that of primary schools in mountainous areas, where everyone attends classes together. Yuki Eri knew this was not an ordinary kindergarten the day she learned it.

I have to say, this model is quite interesting.

Yuuki Yui also asked for some other information. Yes, she inquired; her investigation into the orphanage had already begun halfway through the conversation.

Naïve young children don't know how to hide their feelings and are very talkative, making them the perfect starting point.

Of course, Yuuki Yui's question wasn't so cold; she asked it while coaxing Wakayama, and her main goal was to make Wakayama happy.

For example, each of the nannies had a child accompanying them to their school this time, meaning that only three nannies came in total.

For example, Ruoshan came to this orphanage almost two years ago. In that year, almost no children were sent in. Even if there were any, it was in the spring, and by the time summer came, there were none at all.

This can be seen as a way of saying that she did not cause any major disasters in the battles after becoming a magical girl, which is a good thing, right?

If possible, Yuuki Yukino would certainly prefer that children like Wakayama never appear again, and that everyone have a happy family.

In order to achieve this goal, I must resolve these troubles in front of me as soon as possible, whether it is to extricate myself from my corruption or to solve the big problem of Gen Urouge Mashiro.

What concerned Yuuki Yuuki most was Wakayama's explanation of the mysterious dean.

"The headmistress was a kind old lady who was always very gentle with us and stayed by our side all the time. But later she got too old and retired. So the current teachers are now in charge of teaching us."

"What has happened in the last two years? Nothing special. Every day here is very ordinary. Sometimes the director will take us out to play, but most of the time we are here."

"When the principal retired... nothing special happened. I remember one day, the teacher told us that the principal had retired. I think it was before the summer night festival last year."

"A little more detail? In that case... someone must have come to see the principal, and after saying something, the principal disappeared."

I see, I see.

It seems that all the clues have been connected.

Next, all we need to do is confront the person involved.