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

"We are the red-clad path to victory!! Thank you everyone!!"

The audience erupted in applause and cheers.

Such enthusiastic applause had rang out countless times since they took the stage, but each time it was more fervent and captivating than the last.

Some things are destined to have regrets, such as their song not being performed smoothly until the end as planned.

Some regrets can make imperfections surpass perfection, such as their song not being performed smoothly until the end as planned.

Having come this far, Helica is already very satisfied.

It turns out that standing on the stage feels much better than I imagined.

Perhaps it's because there are people who can stand by him?

If she could, Helica really wanted to enjoy the applause a little longer and stay on stage a little longer.

But that's impossible, isn't it?

That's probably impossible... right?

"Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore!"

It's unclear who started the commotion first, but the commotion seemed contagious, gradually spreading to the surrounding area. Within seconds, the shouts grew louder and louder, eventually turning into a unified cheer from the entire audience.

"Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore!"

Helica couldn't help but shiver.

Don't do that! You're just imagining that you can enjoy the stage a little longer and feel the applause a little longer, but you don't actually want to do it!

As the saying goes, this world is just a giant makeshift troupe. Even if I really wanted to sing another song, Rainbow... but the members of Rainbow Band can only play and sing these three songs!

We can't just sing the same songs we've sung before, can we?

"Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore!"

Helica looked at Riko Serizawa backstage with pleading eyes, but Riko Serizawa proudly gave her a thumbs up and whispered towards the stage:

"I've already consulted the president, and he said the biggest purpose of the Christmas party is to make everyone happy and have fun. Since everyone's request is so high, let's play one more song without worry! No problem!"

Helica was going crazy.

That's not what I meant at all! I wasn't asking for your permission!

I'm stepping down! Understand? Step down!

The audience below the stage had no idea what the band members were struggling with, standing there on stage, neither performing nor leaving, after their performance.

Oh, I see. Maybe the demand isn't high enough. Let's put in more effort!

"Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore!"

“There’s nothing we can do.” Yuuki sighed, glancing at the audience out of the corner of her eye. The Christmas decorations hanging above the stage and the huge banner that read “Moonsea Middle School Christmas Party” gestured to the other girls around her who were holding musical instruments.

Of course, the main target is Helica, who hasn't made up her mind yet. If she, as the lead singer, doesn't start, all the other people's ideas will be in vain.

Previously, everyone acted on their own initiative because they were helping Helica out, but the situation is different now.

Herlica nodded toward the banner on the stage, then tilted her head, as if to tell Yuuki that she had seen it and understood what Yuuki meant, and needed to confirm it.

Yuuki nodded vigorously, affirming Helica's idea.

"Really? Are we going to come? Here? Just that?" Helica asked softly.

Yuuki nodded even more forcefully, confirming Herika's suspicions.

Okay, then that's the only way.

Helica straightened herself and faced the audience below the stage.

Upon seeing Helica, the audience below the stage immediately erupted in another round of cheers, ready to resume their performance.

"Now, next, next, please enjoy!"

Herlica felt her brain trembling as she spoke. The humiliation she felt now was nothing compared to being hung up in the street and whipped like a top by Yuuki Yuki, whose identity she didn't even know.

What to do? To meet everyone's expectations, let's bite the bullet and go for it!

"Please enjoy! A Christmas carol!"

The cheers and applause from the audience stopped for a moment, and quiet whispers rose from the corners.

Someone propped themselves up on the leg of the person next to them and asked in a low voice, "Christmas carol? Which Christmas carol is that?"

"Is it the one we know best? I think so?" the person who was touched replied, half-knowingly.

"Encore... is this the song?"

"Perhaps they also have some unique adaptations."

The scene was completely silent.

Why aren't they singing?

Then silence returned.

"Shouldn't we make some preparations?"

The silence seemed to last for several seconds.

"Did I see that bassist's legs trembling?" Some people with good eyesight even spotted the bespectacled bassist standing in the corner.

Of course she was trembling; Sakura Hanako on stage was completely numb.

How did you suddenly come up with the idea of ​​playing Christmas carols?

I can still play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but Christmas carols seem a bit difficult for me.

Since I'm a bassist, no one should notice if I slack off, right?

Silence wasn't a solution, so Sakura Hanako turned her head tremblingly: "Lin-san, could you please give me a prelude?"

"Ah, oh..." Lin Jiezi, whose name was called on stage again, stammered a few times and gently tapped the drumstick above her head.

Then the violin began to play again, followed by the guitar releasing its original tone, and then the tinkling of the keyboard joined in.

Everyone played well, except for being completely out of sync.

Helica would tap the keyboard slightly, and the keyboard would try to match the violin slightly, perfectly balancing the rhythms.

Not to mention the two basses that were completely out of rhythm and the drum kit that was beating something very intensely.

What a disaster this performance was!

Never mind! Let's sing! Singing will do the trick!

"Jingle... jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..."

How embarrassing! Why is no one singing with me?

During the interlude, Helica covered the microphone fiercely and shouted something in a low voice.

"Hey...you guys sing too! Don't let me be the only one embarrassed!"

The girls looked at each other, then reluctantly began a chaotic, unrestrained chorus.

"Run, sled, like the wind!"

"We've crossed Tsukimihara!"

"PADORU! PADORU!"

……

"It's a complete disaster! It's utterly a disaster! What kind of singing is this?! What kind of singing is this?!"

Listening to Helica's wailing, you can tell just how desperate she is right now.

Sakura Hanako, supporting Helica's shoulder, offered a weak and feeble consolation: "Isn't it all good? Everyone seemed to enjoy the last song, right?"

“Yeah, the atmosphere in the audience was really great. Everyone was cheering and singing along,” Nishio Reki also weakly tried to persuade Helica.

Herlica screamed and slammed her fist on the table. If there hadn't been so many people around, Yuuki Yuuki wondered if she would have rolled around on the floor like the day she accidentally ate a chocolate-covered liquor.

"Isn't it because they thought we were acting like that on purpose?! Damn it! If I had known, I shouldn't have listened to their encore. I should have just left the stage and none of this would have happened. Now look what's happened! We're doomed to lose! We're definitely going to lose!"

"Well, maybe not?" Baqi also joined the ranks of those trying to appease them.

“You have no right to say that!” Helica glared at Baqi with a cute but fierce look.

On stage, one of the few people who could control the situation, Inuyama Haki, seeing everyone singing and dancing wildly, immediately joined in the revelry and loudly called on the audience to join in. It can be said that in the end, Haki was the biggest culprit in this performance that was both successful and unsuccessful.

"Isn't this all for fun? Besides, aren't you happy?" Baqi scratched her head and stepped back a little to avoid her sharp edge. It would be really ungrateful to cause trouble for Helica when she was having a good time.

"I'm not happy!" Helica yelled!

"Really?"

"It's not that I'm unhappy... Actually, I'm quite happy. I have a lot to say to everyone, thank you all, and a summary, etc.! If it weren't for that Christmas song!" Herica pounded the door several more times, her resentful gaze making Yuuki Yukino shudder.

Although it was Yuuki Yuki who suggested the Christmas song, it was ultimately Yuki herself who agreed. If we were to assign blame, aside from the few people who didn't really have any good chemistry, Yuki, Inuyama Tomoe, and herself would all be held accountable.

Forget it! What's done is done!

Now that things have come to this, what should we do...?

I was supposed to meet with Sakuragawa Nana and the others, exchange a few trash words, and then wait for the results to be announced.

Originally, Helica would have finished with the last song and then moved on with great momentum, but then the Christmas song came along.

I'll say it again! That awful Christmas carol!

Before Helica could even look for Sakuragawa Nana, the door to the lounge was pushed open by Sakuragawa Nana.

Nana Sakuragawa, who wasn't carrying Kotoka, was wearing the same Chizukikai Middle School uniform as the other girls and strode towards the table and chairs where the group of people were gathered.

Several pairs of eyes were fixed on Sakuragawa Nana, wondering what she was planning to do with her aggressive demeanor.

Helica watched with growing vigilance as Sakuragawa Nana approached, then abruptly sat up straight in her chair.

What are you going to do?

However, Sakuragawa Nana's attention did not linger on Helica at all. Instead, she bypassed Tenrai Helica and went straight to Inuyama Tomoe.

"This has nothing to do with you now."

Sakura Nana said coldly, then pointed her finger at Inuyama Baki.