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

No, absolutely not.

Helica was absolutely right. It was I who didn't treat them with empathy and pushed them away.

There's no reason why I can't get along with other magical girls who have fallen into darkness.

However, for the sake of saving face, one stubbornly weaves all sorts of lies until the lies become so serious that one is unable to make amends.

Ah, seeing how pathetic I am, even they will leave me.

Sakura Nana slowly sat down, poured herself a glass of juice, and then drank the cold liquid in one gulp.

Sakura Nana could clearly feel how the sweet juice flowed down her throat and into her stomach.

"call……"

Sakuragawa Nana let out a long breath, then placed her hands on the table, stepped across the entire table, and bowed her head towards Tenrai Herika and her group, who were sitting far away from her.

"sorry."

Many people selectively ignored the conversation between Helica and Sakuragawa Nana.

As elders, Sakuragawa Aika and Shirogane Rei shouldn't keep making decisions for Nana; the younger generation should handle their own affairs.

Yuuki and the others didn't want to join in the fun. At most, they just lightly touched Helica's legs a few times to convey to Helica not to go too far, and that was enough.

But now that Sakuragawa Nana has apologized, they can no longer ignore it.

The sizzling sound of the charcoal volcano meat slices was the only sound in the room, which seemed to become even more pronounced amidst the somewhat noisy conversation outside the door.

Helica Tenrai only said a few words in anger. That's just how unlikable her personality is. She knows it herself. Besides, everyone supports her simply venting her anger and teaching Sakuragawa Nana a lesson.

But Sakuragawa Nana's sudden apology caught her off guard.

"Why should I apologize?" Helica's tone softened a little.

“Because… someone told me that I should apologize to the person I should apologize to,” Sakuragawa Nana replied, still in an apologetic pose, leaning over the table.

Several people glanced at Yuuki Yukino, making her feel uneasy. She glared at them fiercely and drove them away.

Everything on Yuuki Yukina's side was conducted in silence, and Sakuragawa Nana, unable to see the scene at the dining table, simply continued talking.

"We had an agreement that the loser should apologize to the winner. I'm sorry, I was too arrogant and said a lot of impolite things to you. Actually, your band's performance was really excellent. To be able to improve so much in such a short time is something that someone who just practices casually and has a sudden idea can't do. I sincerely apologize for my past remarks. Please forgive my ignorance and offense."

It's even more formal than I expected!

Yuuki Yuki thought that Sakuragawa Nana would show that unhappy expression as if someone owed her a lot of money, and would just say a few words like "I'm sorry," "I was wrong," or "You guys are pretty amazing" and that would be it.

If Helica loses, she will most likely apologize when Sakuragawa Nana makes her do so.

However, what Yuuki Yui didn't know was that if she hadn't given Sakuragawa Nana a good beating, and Helica hadn't openly criticized Sakuragawa Nana at the dinner table, things might really have turned out that way.

Helica was taken aback by this unexpected statement. Having almost never dealt with a problem so formally with anyone before, she was now at a loss for words.

But Helica reacted quickly; a bad temper and a bad brain are not the same thing. After thinking for a moment, Helica responded to Sakuragawa Nana's words.

"Ah, I was a bit harsh on you back then, but you insulted my most important friends, so of course I was angry, and there was no room for compromise on that. However, my handling of the situation was indeed a bit poor, so let's just say we're both in the same boat."

Helica actually gave Sakuragawa Nana another way out?

This was unexpected, but it's definitely the best solution.

Sakuragawa Nana's identity is not just that of someone they dislike; she is also the younger sister of Yuuki Yuki's older sister's friend—a relationship that is neither too close nor too distant. Moreover, since her older sister is sitting right here, the others certainly won't act too awkwardly.

Besides, Yuuki Yukino had already finished dealing with Sakuragawa Nana. According to Koumori, Yuuki Yukino's actions were not ordinary; they were entirely settling personal scores.

Since things have already come to this, everyone will naturally greet her with smiles and agree with Helica's words.

"Oh, not at all, I wasn't really that angry."

"This was a fair competition, and I benefited a lot from it. Everyone has moments when they lose their temper. Without these misunderstandings, I wouldn't have had this experience, so don't underestimate yourself."

"It's better to let this matter go. I've already received your apology."

Sakura Nana slowly raised her head, then bowed down once more.

Thank you for your understanding! I'm truly sorry!

Therefore, the personal conflict between Sakuragawa Nana and Helica, and the resulting band conflict, came to an end.

But Sakuragawa Nana's apology is not over yet.

Yuuki Yui didn't know if Sakuragawa Nana would suddenly realize her mistake as she had said, only to revert to her original form a few days later, but it was always good that she took the initiative to apologize.

"Sister, Sister Ling, I've been causing you trouble all this time."

Sakuragawa Nana turned to Shirogane Rei and Sakuragawa Aika, bending her waist even deeper, making one worry that she might fall straight off the chair.

Sakurakawa Aika wanted to say something, but after a long pause, she could only manage to utter her younger sister's name: "Nana, you..."

"Sister, I... I've been thinking about it. You never asked me to inherit your dream. It was all my own decision, and I even insisted on dragging Sister Ling along with me. This has really caused you a lot of trouble."

"I should have been at school age, but I took it upon myself to avoid school, avoid communication, and avoid talking to you. I just felt that forming a band, improving my skills, and completing performances would make me happy. But... actually... I never felt that forming a band was that fun. I just felt that I had to do it, that I had to do it, because I am Sakuragawa Aika's younger sister, because I have to fulfill my older sister's dream."

"I've always carried a dream that wasn't mine, presumptuously believing I was working hard, indulging in self-pity, and feeling angry because I thought others couldn't see my efforts. All of this was wrong. I... I overlooked something simpler and more genuine, so... I'm sorry..."

Aiko and Ryou exchanged a glance, neither of them knowing what to say.

After a long while, Aiko sighed softly.

"Cai Cai, I just hope you can do what you really want to do, what you should be doing at this age. If you can do that... your sister will be very satisfied."

Tianyin, who was standing to the side, was getting a little restless.

She was sitting here entirely because of Sakuragawa Nana, who had now become the biggest hot topic at the table, and had been the subject of numerous controversies. This was something a middle school student like her didn't know how to handle.

Unsure of how to proceed, Tianyin Audio chose to investigate further.

"What? What are you talking about, Cai Cai? What you just mentioned, that thing about avoiding school or something, aren't you the next student council president? And a top student with excellent grades? What's all this about?"

Isn't this question a little too direct?

Yuuki Yukina felt embarrassed for Sakuragawa Nana as she listened. If she had told a huge lie and been exposed, she would have wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.

But Sakuragawa Nana has already embarrassed herself enough today, so she doesn't care if she embarrasses herself a little more.

"Those are all lies."

Sakura Nana looked up, biting her lower lip as she spoke softly.

Tianyin's mouth dropped open: "Huh? You're lying? Why would you lie to us? I idolized you and wanted to get into Yuehai Middle School with you so you could teach me. How could this be a lie? Sigh."

Sakura Nana clenched her teeth even tighter, and her lower lip, which was being bitten, began to swell and become congested with blood due to the excessive force.

"Because... I'm vain, I don't want you to look down on me, I don't want you to think I don't go to school, and I especially don't want you to know that my grades are actually terrible. These things are shameful..."

"We didn't look down on you! You said you didn't want us to know and felt ashamed... Then go to school and study hard, right? Or, look at Sister Tianlei, her grades are very good, aren't they? Or you could learn from her, right? Lying to us won't improve your grades, don't you think?"

Tian Yinxiang meant no harm, and everyone knows that Tian Yinxiang meant no harm, but these sincere words and exclamations, though without malice, are more hurtful than the most vicious curses.

Yuki Yui really thinks Tensei should publish a book called "The Art of Speaking," it would definitely be a bestseller.

Sakura Nana was already feeling very depressed, and after being bombarded by Tian Yin's words, which were not meant to be malicious but were full of aggression, she couldn't help but start sobbing softly.

"I... I'm just really stupid! I'm afraid you'll hate me! Afraid you won't play with me! Afraid you won't form a band with me, afraid... my sister's dream won't come true, so I told this lie. You don't know me at all! I... I'm just as bad as you see me, rude, with terrible grades, always so self-righteous, and not honest with you at all..."

Every time Sakura Nana mentioned something, Tenshin nodded in agreement.

After Sakura Nana finished speaking—actually, she was sobbing uncontrollably and unable to continue—Ten-Sound added a sentence very seriously.

"Yeah, you really have lied to us a lot. You're pretty bad, aren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Sakuragawa Nana cried even louder: "So... so that's why I can't compare to them! They all trust each other! We... no, I betrayed your trust! So I deserve it!"

"Alright, alright, didn't you already tell us? Why are you crying?" Tianyin patted the back of Sakura Nana, who was crying so hard she couldn't straighten up, causing Sakura Nana to cough.

"But……"

"Alright! We can talk about it later." Tianyin said, shaking Sakura Nana's body vigorously, as if trying to shake Sakura Nana's brains evenly.

The conversation between Ten-Sound and Sakura Nana and her band lasted for a short while. Although Yuuki Yuki had no hope for Ten-Sound's way of speaking, perhaps because Sakura Nana was already used to it, she was actually coaxed by Ten-Sound.

Yuzuru kept a cold face, but still reached out and patted Sakuragawa Nana. In the end, the three members of the band were the ones who resolved the problem the most thoroughly.

"And... Miss Minato Nana..."

Finally, Sakuragawa Nana stood up, wiped her tears with a napkin on the table, and then turned to Minato Nana.

"What happened before... I was a bit offensive. But... my sister's injuries..."

"Alright, alright! Stop, pause for a second!"

Before Minato Nana could even speak, Sakuragawa Aika stood up from her seat first.

"Actually, my main purpose today is to explain to everyone how I injured my hand. Because of my question, this misunderstanding has grown bigger and bigger. Ryou, even you harbor resentment towards Nana because of this, right?"

Shirogane turned her head away in silence, which could be considered an admission of Sakuragawa Aiko's statement.

"Getting back to the main point, both Nana and Rei suspected that Minato Nana was a magical girl. I've also heard that magical girls' memories fade with age, but that's not true."

Sakura Aika said, shaking her head gently.

"There was actually another reason why my hand was injured."

Chapter 120 Open Your Heart, For the Stubbornness That's So Uninteresting

　The glasses of beer, brimming with golden hues, clinked together, their sounds like tinkling wind chimes.

Only a few green vegetables that hadn't been placed on the grill and a small platter of mushrooms remained on the table. They hadn't been touched for a long time, and the edges of the green leaves seemed to have wilted due to the high heat of the grill.

The beef on the charcoal grill had been roasted into a curled-up lump of charcoal, its beautiful marbling no longer as appealing as the pebbles on the roadside.

The petite girl swirled her beer glass, making the liquid inside ripple even more.

Passing through the rising steam and the liquid in the glass, the petite girl looked at the other person sitting opposite her, propping their chin up and swirling their glass as well.

That's why she came here today.

The girl saw sadness, along with a hint of inner turmoil and self-blame, in the other person's eyes.

All sorts of emotions tangled together like a ball of yarn, forming a messy grid that was impossible to unravel or sort out.

That person must have something on their mind that they haven't said yet.

This barbecue for three is unlikely to be as peaceful as it looks.

After a moment's hesitation, the girl spoke softly.

"Nana, is there something you want to say?"