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

"Um…"

As Nishio Reki was poked in the cheek, she could only helplessly raise the corners of her mouth. Even though she couldn't see her own expression, she knew it must not look good.

"Honestly," Yuuki Yui complained, "Where did Kotori's genuine smile go?"

"Xiaoyuan, what exactly are you trying to say?" Nishio Reki was completely baffled.

"Do you remember? Not long ago, I hadn't become the corrupted magical girl I am now, and Xiao Li didn't have so many strange responsibilities. We just went to school together, came home together, fought together, and spent messy but very interesting times together."

Yuuki Yui turned her head and traced circles around Nishio Reki's lips with her finger, her nails scraping against the girl's slightly dry lips. The teasing gesture, coupled with the girl's sincere smile, made Nishio Reki unable to detect any frivolity in it.

Yuki Yukino is talking about the past of two people, and that's all she's talking about is the past of two people.

"Of course I remember." Nishio Riku shrank back, dodging Yuuki Yuki's fingers, and covered the lower half of his face like a child who had been annoyed.

Nishio Reki could never forget those were the last and happiest times of his life, before everything changed.

If possible, Nishio Reki really wants to go back to that time and experience again the peaceful daily life without having to worry.

But it's impossible now. The past cannot be turned back, and the girl, burdened with inexplicable troubles, cannot abandon everything and return to a carefree life.

"Back then, Xiao Li didn't have so many things hiding from me, and she didn't have so many worries like she does now," Yuuki Yuen said with emotion, her eyes seeming to shine even brighter under the lamplight.

"Xiao Li, do you remember? I told you about that band I liked, the one that's like a fairy tale?"

"Of course."

What Yuuki Yukino likes, Nishio Reki will never forget.

Little elves, strawberries, cartoons, and of course, the girl band that Yuuki Yukino is talking about now.

Yuki had told Nishio Reki about that band a long time ago, and Yuki even said that she learned to play the keyboard because of that band, although Nishio Reki didn't know when Yuki had ever learned to play the keyboard.

The band's motto is to bring smiles to the world. The lead singer is named Genjuro Shin, a lovely girl with wildly imaginative ideas who always manages to bring them to life.

There are two special members in the band: a member named Michelle who wears a pink bear costume, and a girl named Okusawa Misaki who hides under the costume.

Tsurumaki Kokoro is able to turn all her ideas into reality not only because her family possesses immense wealth—a wealth that seems to be the underlying logic of the entire girl band's worldview—and seemingly all-powerful cutting-edge technology, but also because of the companions who are by her side.

Among those companions, the big bear named Michelle, and Okuzawa Misaki hidden inside the Michelle mascot costume, are unique and indispensable.

On such an ordinary afternoon, Yuuki Yukino once said this to Nishio Reki.

If one day, could Xiaoli become my angel, my Michelle who belongs only to me?

These words first touched Nishio Reki's heart. Perhaps the change—or sublimation—of Nishio Reki's feelings for Yuuki Eri began on that ordinary afternoon.

It was only later that Nishio Reki began to gradually understand what kind of person Michel, or rather, the girl named Okuzawa Misaki under the Michel doll costume, was, as depicted by Yuuki Enishi.

Even if filling the world with smiles is an unrealistic fairy tale, she will still accompany Genjuro Kokoro to the very end.

Although she hates troublesome things, she is willing to try her best for Genmaki Kokoro.

Even though Shinjuku seems unaware that she is Michelle, it no longer matters.

As long as no one is watching, I will do everything I can for you.

Nishio Reki felt that he was one step closer to that unattainable image, and then another step closer.

"Xiao Li is doing her best as my Michelle."

Yuuki Yukina withdrew her fingers, her flowing gaze settling on Nishio Reki.

"However, Xiao Li is Xiao Li. She doesn't need to take off that thick mascot costume just to maintain the band's worldview."

Yuuki Yukina was saying "mascot costume," but to Nishio Ryū, those words sounded like a completely new term.

responsibility.

Helping Yuki, protecting Yuki, and making Yuki happy is not only Nishio Reki's wish, but also a responsibility entrusted to him by another part of himself.

Nishio Koyomi already carries too much on his shoulders, and he cannot easily let go of any of it.

Otherwise, what have all my efforts so far amounted to?

"But if we lose the mascot costume, can we still be called Michelle?" Nishio Reki's voice was very soft, so soft that it didn't seem like he was talking about a girl band.

She wasn't talking about a girl band, but about her own future.

But, just a but...

If only I could be a little more willful, a little more proactive, and get a little closer...

No, I can't think about that kind of thing. Compared to my feelings, Yuuki Eri is more important.

Nishio Reki pondered, wanting to retreat back into the darkness once more.

But Yuuki Yuki's burning gaze constantly reminded her that there was a second possibility, that she could reach it with just a reach.

But is that really what I want?

This will only cause Xiaoyuan more trouble...

Just like those disputes and competitions, they will eventually become heavy burdens, weighing down on Yuuki Yukino's shoulders.

and so……

"Xiao Li doesn't necessarily have to force herself to be my Michelle all the time."

Yuuki Yukino rested her chin on her hand, a faint smile on her face. In that instant, Nishio Reki felt that Yuuki Yukino had become the Yuuki Yukino he knew best again.

What does it mean to not be able to be Michelle?

Are all the efforts I've made quietly up to this point just going to be negated by a single, casual remark?

However, Nishio Reki didn't even have the courage to refute.

She could only watch as her hands trembled on the table. Anywhere else she might meet Yuuki Yuki's gaze was like blinding sunlight, making it impossible for Nishio Reki to look away.

A hand quietly rested on the back of Nishio Reki's hand, and strangely enough, Nishio Reki's trembling hand stopped.

Nishio Reki slowly raised his head, secretly glancing at Yuuki Yukina's face.

"Even Michelle has moments when she sheds her thick disguise. How can a bear who wants to bring smiles to the world suppress herself and be unable to show a genuine smile? In reality, we are just ourselves, we just live ordinary lives in our own world."

Yuuki Yukina's drooping eyelashes seemed to be sprinkled with starlight fragments, and her eyes revealed a faint sadness, yet somehow, Nishio Reki could not sense any negative emotions from her.

"Ordinary people like us can't do that well. We will fail and feel sad, but we will also feel happy for a little success and strive to achieve our seemingly unattainable dreams."

Yuuki Yukina got up from the table, pressed Nishio Reki's hand which was resting on the table, walked around the table which was now just a mess of cups and plates, and came to the girl's side.

"I've seen all of Xiaoli's hard work."

Immediately afterwards, Nishio Reki felt himself fall into an incredibly gentle embrace.

"But, hard work isn't just Xiaoli's privilege. It's only natural to want a response, and it's perfectly normal to make mistakes and cause trouble for others."

Nishio Reki could feel a hand gently resting on his back, around his shoulder, and finally landing on the top of the girl's head.

The hand gently stroked and caressed the top of the girl's hair.

"Xiao Li, you've already worked really hard so far."

Nishio Reki is not a person who likes to cry; crying usually doesn't solve any problems.

However, the soreness in my nose was something I couldn't resist no matter what.

In that embrace, Nishio Reki sobbed softly, burying his face in Yuuki Yuuki's chest.

All the grievances, all the dissatisfaction, all the darkness that Nishio Reki faced seemed to slowly fade away in this embrace.

With tears and the warmth of the girl's body, Nishio Reki's emotions were released uncontrollably.

Yuuki Yui did nothing but silently fire a shot with her whisper, which precisely struck Nishio Reki's heart, which had never stopped beating until now, igniting a dazzling firework in the darkness of his heart.

It was as if only here could Nishio Reki no longer be the girl burdened with heavy responsibilities, nor did she need to worry about a bleak future. She could simply be Nishio Reki as an individual, immersed in the embrace of her beloved.

It seems that only now is Nishio Reki able to express his entire being.

"Xiaoyuan... I just... I just want to hear this... I've tried so hard, I really tried, but I don't know what to do anymore."

"If you don't know what to do, why not just do nothing? The more you want to succeed, the more anxious you become, and the more likely you are to make mistakes, right?"

"But I've been going around in circles for so long. I haven't been able to help Xiaoyuan, and I haven't been able to meet the expectations of my other self. I also want to take a break for a while, to put everything aside for a while, but if I do that... Xiaoyuan will..."

"I hope everyone can have the best ending, just like Xiao Li hopes I can also have the best future."

Yuuki Yukina released Nishio Reki from her arms, gently placed her hands on Nishio Reki's shoulders, and looked into his eyes.

"You don't always need to act like you can do everything. You're just an ordinary girl with your own strengths and weaknesses, and that doesn't stop me from caring about you just the same. It's not the best ending for Xiaoli to burn out her future all by herself."

"But the truth is... I have... inherited Xiao Yuan, inherited someone else's..."

"But I'm right here in front of you, Xiao Li. We need to look to the future, but don't forget that we all live in the present. While preparing for the future, let's discard all those messy thoughts!"

"Losing means..."

"Give up! Give up everything! All that talk about doing it for me, about considering me, about caring about me, about thinking about the future—it's all useless except for adding to my worries. How can Xiao Li, who's worried about not doing enough and deliberately keeping her distance from me, be my Michelle?"

"But... is it really possible... for something like this?"

Of course.

As Yuuki Yukari spoke, she revealed a smile that somehow made Nishio Reki feel incredibly at ease.

"If the past you and I have become Xiaoli's shackles, then let me personally untie them."

A gentle touch, still warm from the body, landed on the girl's dazed lips.

Chapter 157 The Old Track

It was very hot, and even at night it was incredibly irritating. Just being outdoors felt like being baked and fermented in a low-temperature oven, but the blue-haired girl was still running on the track.

The girl was only a little over a meter tall, tiny compared to the enormous circular track, as if she could be swallowed up by the boundless darkness around her at any moment.

As the girl continued running, beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks like raindrops, leaving small water stains on the rubber track.

Her decent-quality sneakers showed considerable wear and tear, indicating frequent use; her white tank top, soaked with sweat, clung to her still-developing body, making her look like a drowning puppy.

The girl was the only one running on the entire track.

A young woman leaning against the huge iron fence beside the track yawned, lazily pressing her entire weight onto several iron bars. With the woman's swaying, the iron fence occasionally made a teeth-grinding sound.

"It's so late, haven't you finished working yet?"

A voice suddenly came from beside the woman's ear, startling her so much that she stood up straight in front of the iron fence.

The woman didn't need to search for the owner of the voice; the owner had already passed through the shadow of the streetlamp and come straight to her side.