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

Yuuki Yukino's gaze remained fixed on the small sign hanging on the shop door that read "Yenka Coffee Shop," completely ignoring Inuyama Tomoe.

Inuyama Tomoe was a little worried that Yuuki Yuuki wouldn't like her choice. Of course, she knew that Yuuki Yuuki always worked at a coffee shop, and that she should avoid places like coffee shops when choosing a date location. But sometimes, being unexpected can be effective.

Was I wrong to take her by surprise? Does Xiaoyuan really not like it?

"Well, if Xiaoyuan doesn't like it, we can go somewhere else. I have backup options..."

Baqi tentatively squeezed Yuki Emi's palm again.

Although she didn't actually have any alternative plans, not saying so would make her seem like a woman who didn't value dating at all.

Well, if that doesn't work, I'll take Xiaoyuan to play video games, claw machines, bowling, and shooting games...

"It's not that I dislike it, it's just that... well, it does bring back a lot of memories here." Yuuki Yukino brushed her long hair back and smiled at Tomoe. "Alright, shall we go in?"

Yuuki Yukino walked forward, but Baqi stopped in place.

"Ok?"

Yuuki Yukino turned her head to look at him in confusion.

Baqi was analyzing whether Yuuki Yuuki's tone was perfunctory or coercive. Although based on her understanding of Yuuki Yuuki, Yuuki Yuuki should not have had such emotions just now, but when it comes to feelings, you can never be too careful.

So, before Yuuki Enishi pulled her, she was still a step behind.

However, it only took Baqi a moment to regain her composure, and she immediately caught up with Yuuki Yuki and stood shoulder to shoulder with her again.

"It's nothing! I'm just a little happy!"

Around the corner not far away, Herika and Nishio Reki followed furtively, stealing glances at the reactions of the two people at the shop entrance.

"Why are those two pulling and tugging at each other? That wretched white-haired mad dog, why is she acting like she's playing hard to get! Honestly! If only I could hear what they were saying!"

Helica spoke angrily, as if she wanted to grind all her teeth to dust.

"Hmm, very suspicious. I've passed by this coffee shop a few times. The environment is elegant, and the decor is a bit like a small bar. It always feels like a good place to do bad things." Nishio Reki clenched his fist and pressed it to his lips, half talking to himself and half reminding Helica.

"Shall we go in and take a look?" Helica asked tentatively.

"Let's go!" At Nishio Reki's command, two fully armed girls—wearing sunglasses, masks, and hats—crossed the street and arrived at the entrance of the coffee shop.

"Don't be too conspicuous! Let's see where those two are sitting first. It wouldn't be good if they saw us!" Herlica tiptoed to the glass door, pulled her sunglasses down a little, and stared intently into the store.

Nishio Reki gave Helica a light kick in the butt, and pointed to several passersby who were watching her, in front of Helica who was furious and wanted to lash out but dared not make a sound.

"You're already quite conspicuous."

"What should we do then?"

“Go straight in. If Inuyama Tomoe wants to do something bad, she will definitely choose a secluded corner.”

How can you be so sure?

"Because I saw them sitting there when I was crossing the street."

"Why didn't you say so sooner! You made me so embarrassed!"

Without responding to Helica's words, Nishio Reki grabbed the doorknob and pulled it open, quickly dragging Helica to a seat where they could peek at Yuuki Yuki but wouldn't be easily spotted.

The shop assistant, looking wary but forced to wear a professional smile, approached them with the menu and spread out the hand-drawn design in front of them.

"Gentlemen, what would you like to drink?"

Herika and Li weren't there for drinks at all, but it wasn't an option to go without ordering anything, so they just ordered two coffees and sent the waiter away.

"Not as cute as Xiaoyuan." Nishio Reki commented as he watched the shop assistant's retreating figure.

"I agree."

"But thankfully it's an order-based service, otherwise if it were like Miss Cou's shop, Xiao Yuan would have found out about us."

"Nishio Reki! You didn't notice at all, did you!"

"I... I don't drink coffee, so everything's fine, isn't it? Shh... they're going to start talking again."

Yuuki Yui didn't notice the customers who walked into the store. For her, a date should be a matter of being fully present, and it seemed a bit impolite to keep looking around.

Despite it being a date of this kind, Yuuki Yukino will do her best to make the most of the time the three people have given her.

Moreover, this place can actually be considered the starting point and turning point of everything, right?

If I had rejected Inuyama Tomoe back then, or if I had chosen to treat her differently, things might have turned out completely differently.

Although Nishio Reki once said that this was her inevitable choice, a conclusion she reached after viewing countless timelines of memories, for Yuuki Yuuki, this was her one and only unique life.

She herself didn't think she had done anything particularly important to Baqi, but Baqi followed Yuki Yuki wholeheartedly because of the helping hand Yuki Yuki extended at that time, and until now, until that feeling has become even deeper.

At that time, Baqi probably didn't understand herself.

Upon closer reflection, Baqi's behavior actually had many flaws, but it's impossible to be perfect. She acts impulsively and tries to make up for the problems caused by her impulsiveness, which is typical of a girl her age.

"Xiaoyuan, what are you thinking about?"

With her hands supporting her cheeks, Inuyama Tomoe blinked as if her world consisted only of Yuuki Yuki.

"I'm thinking, it's really a strange feeling to revisit this place. It's as if nothing has changed, yet it also feels like a lot of things have changed." Yuuki Yuen looked at the interior decoration of the shop, which was exactly the same as it was six months ago, and couldn't help but sigh.

"For example, the clothes we wore? At that time, I hadn't even decided that I would wear the Moonsea Middle School uniform."

Baqi stuck out her tongue, opened her arms as if showing off her uniform to Yuuki Enishi, and then slowly lowered them like a bird with its wings folded.

Yuuki Yukina didn't mean it that way, and she knew that Baqi understood that this wasn't what she meant, but this misunderstanding that Baqi deliberately created made her feel no need to correct it; she could just smile knowingly.

"Do you think I might invite you to some more upscale place? Like a very expensive Western restaurant, a very exquisite jewelry store, or... some other place?" Baqi then cupped her face in her hands.

“No, not at all.” Yuuki Yuen shook her head. “Machi isn’t that kind of person, is she?”

Most of the time she speaks her mind and has a great time even at the arcade. Apart from her habit of deliberately drinking hot beverages after exercising and giving herself expensive liqueur-filled chocolates, Baqi doesn't have the airs of a rich young lady, which often makes Yuuki Yukina forget about it.

"Oh dear, I did think about taking you to a concert or something, but after thinking about it carefully, I think I'll pass." Baqi shook her head from side to side, like a sunflower.

Why did you give up?

"After thinking it over, I've realized that if I want to go on a date with Xiaoyuan, the most important thing isn't what we do or where we go, but having you by my side, right?"

"Tsk...greasy." Yuuki Yui curled her lip, but the smile in her eyes did not diminish.

"Is...is it true?" After Yuuki Yuki said that, Baqi lost her confidence and looked away for a few seconds.

"But it's okay, I've already received Baqi's kind intentions."

Nearby, two girls, who were lying behind the sofa, were secretly sticking their pointed heads out of the back of the chair like bamboo shoots, peeking in the direction of Yuuki Yuki and Tomoe.

"What are you saying?" Helica secretly nudged Nishio Reki from below. It was really difficult to accurately distinguish the voices of Yuuki Yuki and Tomoe, who were sitting not close to each other, amidst the instrumental music playing in the coffee shop.

“I don’t know, I can’t hear you.” Nishio Reki answered quickly, then pulled his head back in. “But it looks like they’re flirting.”

“Flirting?!” Helica repeated softly, as if she wanted to pop her eyeballs out of their sockets.

However, for some reason, Inuyama Tomoe raised his arm, which startled Herika, who quickly hid back.

"That's outrageous! That woman! She must be trying to get Xiaoyuan drunk! And then take her home to do it..."

Nishio Reki waved his hand in front of Helica several times: "Imagination is getting a little too wild, isn't it? Wake up, wake up, this joke is outdated."

"Then why are you still answering?" Helica shifted her position, continuing to sneakily prepare to spy.

"Okay, okay, I won't answer..." Nishio Reki also climbed onto the sofa and tried to peek out, just like Helica.

"Um..." A helpless voice came from the side, "What are you two doing?"

"It's nothing, go away, it's nothing." Helica, who was focused on her work, waved her hand as if she had chased away the students who were watching her earlier. Then, as if she realized that she was in a coffee shop, she coughed a few times awkwardly and reluctantly lowered her head.

Feeling stared at like that by the shop assistant, Nishio Reki blushed, climbed off the sofa, and turned around to sit back down.

The clerk seemed to want to say something, but in the end just sighed and placed the coffees for two on the table.

The girls suppressed their embarrassment, moved the coffees in front of them, and stiffly began to add the complimentary sugar.

Before leaving, the waitress couldn't help but remind me, "Sir, if possible, could you please not disturb the customers at other tables?"

The girls immediately nodded in unison, like chicks pecking at rice.

Yuuki Yuki, who was not far away, was still unaware of what strange things were happening here. She was wholeheartedly chatting with Baqi and reminiscing about their past.

Yuuki Yukino was prepared to be thoroughly tormented, but Baqi's decision to find a quiet place for the two of them to be alone was a great help.

I once saw a scene in an anime called Yuuki Yukino where the protagonist had to date two women at the same time. The protagonist had to switch back and forth between the two female leads. Fortunately, Yuuki Yukino didn't have to do that. Instead, she dated three women in turn, which was much better.

But being dragged around for hours, with one session ending right after another, it seems like I've only ever had that feeling when I was in college with a full schedule of classes.

Just as Baqi said, it's really nice to relax and revisit familiar places like this.

"I got so excited at the time that I stood up and kissed Xiaoyuan. Does Xiaoyuan remember this?"

"Ah, well... I do remember, I was quite startled. After all, it was my first time."

"I... wasn't this my first time too! I experienced so many firsts with Xiaoyuan, but the first time with the three bells was really memorable. I still remember it. It was right there."

As Baqi spoke, she raised her finger and pointed to a spot not far away. Immediately afterward, she saw a dark shadow flash by, and something disappeared, leaving Baqi puzzled.

"Huh? Doesn't it look like something crawled inside?"

"Hmm? Is there? Are they other guests?" Yuuki Yuu turned her head and looked over the sofa. The wide backrest severely limited her view, and she couldn't find anything special.

Not far away.

"Hey! Nishio Reki! You're being way too obvious! Didn't you see Inuyama Tomoe pointing this way?!"

Why are you criticizing me! Didn't you set your sights too high?

"I'm so small, how could it be me? Phew... I hope I wasn't discovered?"

"Looks like no, they've gone back to their seats. Let's wait and see, and act when the time is right. Understand?"

"Tsk, okay, okay, I'll listen to you."

Unlike here, the atmosphere around Inuyama Tomoe was more ambiguous yet reserved, which seemed even stronger.

Although it's unclear whether Yuuki Yuki was enjoying the date, Inuyama Tomoe was extremely satisfied.

In fact, Yuuki Yuuki felt the same way; today's date made her incredibly excited.

This feeling of attraction doesn't come from the quiet atmosphere of the café, the rich aroma, the melodious music, or the dim and romantic lighting.

The usually straightforward Inuyama Tomoe rarely showed the shyness she had when they first met, and this contrast was enough to make Yuuki Yukino's heart race.

"what……"