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

Fearing that Helica would discover Baqi's whereabouts, Yuuki quickly snatched Helica's shoes, put them away, and then pulled Helica inside.

Wait a minute, there's a place to put the shoes, but Baqi's clothes and scarf are still hanging on the hanger.

Oh no!

Upon seeing Baqi's clothes, Yuuki Yuuki suddenly realized that she had done something incredibly stupid.

It's like a long dream. Wouldn't things be better if Baqi could quickly put on her clothes and walk out openly?

Even if Helica and Baki met under these circumstances, it wouldn't be that awkward, right?

As a result, he insisted on letting Baqi hide in the room. If Helica found Baqi's clothes, wouldn't that make things even more complicated?

Yuuki Yui maintained her facial expression, took the initiative to help Helica take off her white coat, draped it over her arm, and used her body to shield the hanger from view. With stiff movements, she used Helica's clothes to cover Baqi's clothes on the hanger.

Fortunately, Helica didn't notice Yuuki's nervous appearance. Instead, Yuuki's actions of helping her put away her shoes and hang up her clothes made Helica feel even better. From the moment she entered the room, Helica's upturned lips never left her mouth.

After passing through the entryway and hanging up the clothes, the next place you arrive at is, of course, the living room.

Herica's first words after sitting down made Yuuki Yukino start to lose her composure.

"What were you doing just now? Why did it take you so long to open the door after I knocked for so long? And why is your face so red?"

"Uh, well, I was sleeping in my room when I vaguely heard a knock on the door and got up." Yuuki Yuen cleared her throat, glancing awkwardly at her closed door.

I forget where I saw this study, but it said that when people know a place is haunted, they can't help but go there.

No, I can't let Helica feel strange.

Yuuki En thought to herself and looked away.

Helica didn't seem to notice the situation in her room either, and simply nodded knowingly: "Oh? Is that so? It seems I disturbed your sleep. I'm so sorry. But why are you going to bed so early?"

"Haha, that's because I didn't sleep well last night. I played on my phone until almost dawn after I got back yesterday." Even if what Yuuki Yuen said wasn't a lie, she would definitely still feel guilty.

"I see." Helica accepted Yuuki Yukino's explanation without even thinking. "But why is your face so red?"

"Feeling refreshed... oh no, it's because I got a little warm from sleeping." Yuuki Yuen answered without thinking, her mind wandering. Then she realized she might have said something strange and quickly corrected herself.

"Do you want to sleep a little longer? Or why don't you go and rest a bit more? I don't have anything to do tonight anyway, I'll just wait for you here." Helica said, standing up and walking straight towards Yuuki Yuki's bedroom.

Why does she want to come into my bedroom so much?

Putting aside whether Helica also had ulterior motives towards her, what would happen if Helica and Baki bumped into each other?

Without hesitation, Yuuki grabbed Helica's arm, then put her arm around Helica's waist and helped her sit back down, forcing a somewhat unnatural smile.

"No need, I'm fully awake now. I was a little hot from sleeping, so I'll just sit in the living room for a while and cool off."

"Oh, is that so? But I feel like you're a little uneasy. Are you feeling unwell?" Herica tilted her head, about to get up again, but Yuuki Yuuki stopped her first.

"Really? No, no, I just... oh right, I just woke up and I'm a little dizzy, it's nothing serious." Yuuki waved her hands repeatedly, holding onto Herika's arm tightly, and deliberately moved even closer to Herika.

Helica blushed slightly at Yuuki Yuuki's attentive care, as if Yuuki Yuuki's close-up strategy was very effective at disrupting Helica's thinking.

Press the attack! Press the attack! Let's talk about something else to distract Helica from everything else.

"By the way, speaking of which, Helica, what brings you here today?"

"Oh dear, well." Herica raised the arm that Yuuki Yuki wasn't holding and scratched her cheek, a gesture exactly the same as what Baki had done not long ago.

"It's like this, originally I discussed it with that white-haired guy... cough, Inuyama Tomoe and Nishio Reki, and we wanted you to have a good rest, so we agreed to give you a day to rest."

It turns out that even when not in front of Baqi, Helica would still call Baqi and Rei by their names properly, which really surprised Yuuki Yuuki.

That said, Helica's statement is exactly the same as Baki's.

Yuuki Yukino couldn't possibly doubt that Baqi had deceived her. What surprised her was that Herlica had so openly stated the truth, which was quite unlike Herlica's usual style.

Shouldn't Helica usually be a bit more arrogant?

By the way, Yuuki was very happy to know that Helica hadn't lied to her.

However, it seems that Herika and Baki reached some strange consensus on the matter of sneaking over when the other two wouldn't be looking for them.

No, it's not a strange consensus, it's just that we all thought of the same thing and then made the best choice to be alone with ourselves.

"Ah, I see. No wonder no one contacted me on my phone today. Thanks to you guys, I had a good rest." Yuuki Yui interjected appropriately, like a straight man in a comedy routine.

Yuki Yukino's interruption did not disrupt Helica's normal narration.

"Yes, that's right, but I felt it was too lonely to leave you alone at a time like this. So, I came to see you so you wouldn't be so lonely. Don't overthink it."

Arrogant and tsundere, textbook-perfect tsundere! So this is what was waiting for me all along.

Phew, as long as Helica doesn't sink into despair after her arrogance, that's good. A little bit of tsundere is actually quite cute.

"Ah... I see. Helica is so considerate of me. Thank you so much, Helica."

Upon hearing Yuuki Yukino's words, Helica's blush, which had been rising from Yuuki Yukino's embrace, seemed to deepen, and she muttered softly.

Actually, I also wanted to see you.

Herica's muttering was so soft, like a candy ball rolling around in her mouth, that Yuuki Yuuki couldn't hear what she said at all.

"What did you just say?" Yuuki asked.

"Nothing! Nothing at all! I just said I was afraid you'd be lonely! That's why I came to see you!" Herica blushed, and before she could finish her sentence, her voice softened. This sudden change was noticeable to Yuuki Yukino.

Beneath Helica's deliberately gentle exterior, a hint of unease, which she couldn't hide, crept out and grew stronger over time.

Yuuki Yukino was indeed worried that Helica would discover Inuyama Tomoe hiding in the room, but what worried her more was Helica's sudden display of emotion.

Of all the people who have been with Yuuki Yuuki all this way, Helica has definitely changed the most.

Helica's growth did come a little later and slower, but that was proof that she was making progress step by step.

Even though Helica can still be irritable at times, she has learned how to control her emotions, how to behave more restrained, and how to get along better with others without suppressing her personality.

In doing so, Helica may continue to suppress herself, which is common for everyone, but Helica is still clumsy and doesn't know how to release her suppressed emotions in a reasonable way, which is what Yuuki Eri is most worried about.

I was just thinking that Helica wouldn't sink, but how come she suddenly really did sink!

"Is that all? Is there nothing else?"

Herika stammered for a moment, and after a few seconds of contemplation, she confirmed Yuuki Yukino's guess, no longer hiding her slight sense of disappointment: "It's...not entirely..."

Just like when she's with children, Yuuki carefully and gently placed her hand on Helica's hand, asking coaxingly, "What else is there?"

"Yeah, oh my! Really!" Helica, unable to hide anything any longer after being bombarded with Yuuki's two concerned questions, exclaimed, "I know! I was just worried that it would be too cunning of me to sneak over here alone when everyone else was keeping their promises and not bothering you?"

Oh, so that's what it was about.

Helica, who seems carefree but is actually extremely sensitive, is indeed more perceptive about these kinds of things.

In fact, it wasn't just Helica; even a little sunshine like Baki had the same question when she came here.

No matter who asks, even if Nishio Reki comes over and asks Yuuki Yukino the same question, Yuuki Yukino's answer will not change.

"Of course not, I'm very happy that you came to see me."

"So, you don't mind that I did something so cunning?"

"Of course I don't mind. Helica came all this way to see me, how could I mind?"

Yuki Yukino only got halfway through her sentence, and that was all she could say.

She would never say something like, "Actually, Baqi did the same thing as you, so you don't need to worry."

After hearing Yuuki's words, Helica asked several more questions with some skepticism, such as "Are you really not bothered?" and "Is it really okay for me to do this?" Only after receiving Yuuki's affirmative answer did she show a slightly relieved expression, and her unease lessened considerably.

"Phew, that's great. I was really worried that you would hate me because of this."

"How could that be?" Yuuki Yuuki ruffled Helica's hair, just like when comforting a child.

Then Helica started again.

"really?"

"real."

"You're not lying to me, are you?"

No, there isn't.

"Not only now, but also before, you've never disliked me?"

"Really do not have."

"Really, no, from the beginning until now, it has never happened."

Despite being bombarded with questions by Helica, Yuuki Yuuki didn't feel annoyed at all.

Her childish, repetitive attempts to confirm things are not only proof of Helica's insecurity, but also part of her charm.

This is also proof that Helica cares about herself.

If I were to hate Helica, I would have hated her long ago when she suddenly barged into my house and strangled me with a belt.

In reality, an ordinary person would have given up the moment they first met Helica in the cafeteria, stood up for her, and were scolded instead. The rest of the story would never have happened.

"That's great!" Helica cheered when Yuuki Yuuki affirmed her like that, and hugged Yuuki Yuuki's arm. "I was actually really worried that Yuuki would hate me. I want to be a good girl in front of Yuuki."

Yuuki Yui patted Helica on the back: "Hasn't Helica always been a good girl? Hardworking, kind, and brave. Although she doesn't say it, she's always the first one to rush out."

“Even I know my place,” Helica said, trying to sound as light as possible, but unconsciously biting her lip, a fleeting sadness crossing her eyes.

"I'm selfish, I don't consider other people's feelings, and I always do things that no one wants to do. I'm clearly a bad kid, and I'm absolutely rotten."

No, no, no, don't be so down!

We were just saying how good it was that Helica wasn't arrogant, but now she's suddenly become depressed!

Before Yuuki could comfort her, Helica raised her head and buried her face between Yuuki's arms and shoulders, revealing only her eyes. She looked at Yuuki with the eyes of a child who wanted praise.

"However, during this time, have I gotten even the slightest bit better? Even just a little bit?"

Yuuki Yukino remembered Helica asking her this question, and more than once.

No matter how many times Helica asked, Yuuki Yuuki's answer remained the same.

Just as Yuuki Yukino opened her mouth to speak, Herika pressed her index finger against her lips.

"Shh..."

As Helica wished, Yuuki closed her open lips, feeling Helica's index finger lightly touch her lips before quickly moving away.

Behind the fingers was Helica's slightly provocative, mischievous smile, and the look in Yuuki's eyes that showed she hadn't completely fallen into despair, but rather that she herself had rekindled hope.