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

After that, everything proceeded smoothly. Nishio Reki navigated between various factions like walking a tightrope, portraying herself as a strategist.

He formed a cooperation with the arrogant Black Feather Reincarnation and used his power to intimidate the other party so that they would not dare to make any rash moves for a short period of time.

But Nishio Reki didn't have any real pressure; she was just putting on an act. Just thinking about what Kuroba had done in her past life and what she would do next made Nishio Reki feel physically uncomfortable, even though she was sitting right across from her.

How scary, how scary, how scary!

The battles between magical girls are terrifying, dealing with corrupted magical girls is terrifying, everything is terrifying!

She was just an ordinary girl, unlike ordinary magical girls who could receive the blessings of the primordial, or like fallen magical girls who received the protection of the primordial darkness.

But she couldn't stop; she had a lot to deal with, and even with her stomach churning, she had to keep going.

To prevent Hong Moli from being ambushed by Sheng Shiyin, and to create an environment where Xiaoyuan and Hong Moli can communicate normally.

Inform Xiaoyuan of the future, and based on the clues from her memories, on the day the festival arrives, sacrifice a magical girl in exchange for Xiaoyuan gaining a solid ally.

Despite the danger, everything I did was proceeding according to the route I remembered. I think I did a pretty good job, right?

I long to see Xiaoyuan again, to talk to her again, and to return to the carefree days when we were all together.

Try a little harder, persevere a little longer, and maybe everything will be resolved in the end.

What's next?

Yes, that's right... First, secretly help Xiaoyuan to deal with the problematic Saintess, then join forces with the magical girls to defeat Kuroba Laisei, who caused a ruckus at the festival, and finally solve Saintess's problem...

This problem is another blank left by Nishio Calendar, and to this day, there is still no solution.

Either defeat Shengqi at the cost of Xiaoyuan, and then let Xiaoyuan, swallowed by darkness, destroy everything, or watch helplessly as Xiaoyuan is defeated by the enemy...

There isn't a standard answer!

Think quickly, think about what that other version of yourself would do, think about whether there is another blind spot that you haven't noticed.

Following in the footsteps of his memory, Nishio Reki moved forward step by step.

Although doing so would make Nishio Reki increasingly unlike herself, she had no other path forward.

Distracting thoughts are like falling dust, which will inevitably accumulate over time, obscuring Nishio Reki's once fiercely beating heart and making the girl's nerves increasingly numb.

When he looked back at the path he had traveled, Nishio Reki realized that he had come a very, very long way, so far that there was almost no possibility of turning back.

I can't believe I've already accomplished so many incredible things!

Let's go even further then!

Every time, Nishio Reki would think like this, and keep moving forward, keep pushing himself forward.

She is not a magical girl, so there is no possibility of her falling into darkness, and therefore she cannot obtain the liberation called falling into darkness.

Before she reached that end, or before she collapsed, Nishio Reki thought she had to keep going like this forever.

Until he made a trivial mistake, causing all his previous efforts to collapse.

Until the pink-haired girl he had been longing for and was willing to give everything for appeared in front of him, reaching out her hand to him as he wandered aimlessly in the pitch-black cave, rescuing him from the endless quagmire.

From that moment on, Nishio Reki was no longer alone as he basked in the sunlight once again.

Ah, it's Xiaoyuan, she found me.

Nishio Reki is happy.

But now that I'm back to the life I've always dreamed of, what should I do next? Is it really okay for me to just enjoy this ordinary life?

Nishio Reki is confused.

If I were to express my feelings, wouldn't it just be like when I was jealous of Inuyama Tomoe, causing trouble for Yui? In that case, wouldn't it be better to keep my feelings to myself?

The Nishio calendar is contradictory.

Everyone else seemed to be able to express their feelings to Xiaoyuan without hesitation. Even Tianlei Helika, who wasn't good at expressing her emotions, had decided to confess her feelings to Xiaoyuan.

Anyone can enjoy Yu Xiaoyuan's kindness without feeling guilty, so why can't I?

No, I can't do it myself. I have more important things to do. I can't let my feelings interfere with my original plans, and I can't let my feelings become a hindrance to Xiaoyuan.

Nishio Reki is insecure.

However, that feeling was already becoming too much to bear.

Nishio Reki was also eager to try.

As spring approaches, Nishio Reki's heart begins to sprout after the cold winter, giving rise to feelings she believes shouldn't exist, yet she can't bear to stifle them.

This feeling, which she believed should not exist, drifted along in the shadow of the other two girls who were frantically expressing their feelings for Yuuki Enishi.

Let's work at the coffee shop together, okay?

Forming a band together and performing would be great!

A dating contest held to please Xiaoyuan, okay.

This way or that way, whatever it is, it's all good.

No matter what kind of grievances I suffer, I can handle them all by myself.

All I need to do is return to the darkness and become that unnoticed shadow.

While everyone is performing on stage, all I need to do is applaud from below the stage.

While everyone else visits with the intention of getting close to Yuuki Yuuki, all you need to do is bring your earring and that unique memory.

Everyone had experienced their Valentine's Day date with Xiaoyuan, and in order to resolve the new problems that arose, their date simply ended there.

That's what Nishio Reki thought.

However, she was not a shadow, and she could never become a shadow in her entire life.

She is human, a living, breathing human being, who wants to laugh and play with everyone, and dreams of bringing happiness back to the world.

When he's angry, he throws a tantrum; when he's sad, he cries; when he's happy, he laughs. Nishio Reki is a human being with emotions too.

The girl who willingly placed herself in darkness, believing she should become a shadow, has seen the bright sunlight, experienced countless moments of excitement, and stopped herself from reaching out countless times. Finally, she understands her own feelings.

Why?

Why should everyone be allowed to arbitrarily cause trouble for Xiaoyuan?

Why do you, who have already gained so much, so casually crave more?

Why should I, who has always cooperated with Xiaoyuan and always thought of Xiaoyuan, have to choose to restrain myself because of my pride?

Why, even when I feel so wronged and angry, am I still thinking about Xiaoyuan, wondering if she would be disappointed in me if she saw me throwing a tantrum?

The girl, who had been following in her past footsteps, lost her way.

Chapter 154 Is it really necessary to be so sad?

"Even I! Just like you, I love Xiaoyuan, and I long for Xiaoyuan's embrace!"

Nishio Reki cried out, tears streaming down her face without her noticing.

Seeing Nishio Reki's tears, Inuyama Tomoe suddenly understood something.

Oh, I see.

So that's what Nishio Reki meant by this feeling.

Inuyama Tomoe had just realized something, and it seemed she realized it a little too late.

The first time she met Nishio Reki, he was that mysterious figure carrying a pure white coffin, telling her that he could give her the power to break through her current situation.

Later, her impression of Nishio Reki remained that he was a despicable guy who had taken advantage of her, and someone she had to take revenge on.

Back when they still referred to Nishio Reki as a "mysterious man," they saw him as the absolute mastermind. If their experiences were written into a book, and Kuroba Rebirth were the ultimate enemy, then Nishio Reki would be the mastermind.

Although at that time Ba Qi did not know Xiao Li's name or identity.

But one day, this mastermind was suddenly exonerated, became a member of the main characters' group, and her true identity was revealed—she was the childhood friend of the person she liked.

It was because Nishio Reki and Yuuki Yuuki were childhood friends, and everything Nishio Reki did was for Yuuki Yuuki, that Tomoe temporarily put aside her thoughts of revenge and had no choice but to live with Nishio Reki.

However, Nishio Reki is still very mysterious, possessing a lot of information that cannot be spoken. His house contains an unknown mysterious coffin, and he hunts humanoid monsters in the dark. He can even hold off Genken Mashiro by himself.

As Inuyama Tomoe gets to know Nishio Reki better, his impression of her gradually improves, but the fact that she used him is still a knot in Tomoe's heart.

Baqi often wondered if Nishio Reki knew that he would develop different feelings for Yuuki Yukino because of that series of events, and that's why he chose her?

The thought that her feelings for Xiaoyuan might be something someone else had deliberately created made Baqi very unhappy.

However, as time went by, Baqi came to terms with it, though Nishio Reki's impression of her remained largely unchanged.

As the mystery is revealed, Baqi learns that Nishio Reki was actually entrusted with power by a girl who traveled back in time, and that the girl who committed those not unforgivable crimes against her has disappeared.

The problem lies here: in Baqi's mind, Nishio Reki has always been a powerful, mysterious, all-knowing, and almost omnipotent being.

At the same time, Nishio Reki's presence is not very strong. He likes to cooperate with others and is very gentle to others, but perhaps because he has been corrupted by Eri, he is still somewhat cunning.

However, no one considered Nishio Reki's own feelings; everyone believed that Nishio Reki, who possessed the memories, should act accordingly.

She "should" be powerful, she "should" be omnipotent, she "should" know everything.

Ultimately, Nishio Reki is just an ordinary girl, an ordinary girl who can't even do something as simple as taking an exam.

What Nishio Reki felt was loneliness, a loneliness that felt out of place even when surrounded by people, right?

And her statement, "No one cares about Xiaoyuan's feelings," wasn't just referring to Xiaoyuan.

At least Baqi can immediately grasp a lot of the meaning, but summarizing it only takes one sentence.

Nobody cares about Nishio Reki's feelings.

Helica Tenrai is awkward, but Nishio Reki is no less so.

They want to quietly contribute to others, and they also hope that others will see their efforts, but they don't want to take credit for themselves.

Therefore, she could only use the phrase "no one cares about Xiaoyuan's feelings" to convey the feeling that no one had truly considered her own feelings.

Perhaps Nishio Reki herself didn't realize this, or perhaps she really thought she was feeling wronged because no one had considered Yuuki Eri.

But Inuyama Tomoe's intuition is never wrong; this time it definitely won't be.

As she pondered this, Baqi raised her eyelids and glanced at Nishio Reki.

This gesture wasn't very polite, but it was harmless given their competitive relationship.

What Nishio Reki needs is not comfort, certainly not his own safety. If he shows any pity or sympathy, it will have the opposite effect.