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

At the end of the movie, the girls left the zombie-infested school and drove a small truck loaded with rescued supplies toward a wider world. Then, the credits for the actors began to scroll in the center of the television screen.

Minato Nana put down her phone, glanced at the cast list on TV, and asked, "Herrika Tenrai, are you settling in well here?"

Helica relaxed her body, which was covered in a thin layer of sweat, and turned her head to reply, "It's fine."

“If you feel uncomfortable or depressed here and want to move to another place, that’s fine too,” Minato Nana continued, but then added, “I don’t mean to kick you out. You can stay as long as you want. It certainly won’t be as comfortable as when you’re at home, but treat this place as your home.”

Helica nodded slightly: "Yes, I know. I'm quite comfortable here."

Minato Nana thought for a while, seemingly wanting to say something else, but Herika noticed that she changed the subject before saying those words.

"You can use the bathroom and kitchen as you like. The spare key is in the entryway. You can go out for a walk during the day if you want. If you can't find it, just go to the shop. Do whatever makes you comfortable, don't be too reserved."

Herica herself felt that she was acting a little reserved, and she certainly couldn't be as casual as she used to be in front of Minato Nana.

At least the old me would never have cried in front of Minato Nana.

Helica Tenrai then thought of the time she cried while murmuring Yuuki Yukino's name in bed, realizing that Minato Nana must have overheard what she was saying.

Why don't we take this opportunity to tell Minato Nana about my experiences?

The reason why Tenrai Herika didn't say anything yesterday was mostly because she was embarrassed and didn't want to tell Minato Nana about her failure.

Failure can be a topic of jokes after success, because no matter how miserable the failure, it cannot overshadow the halo of success. But discussing one's failures before success has arrived is no different from a monkey constantly tearing open its wounds.

Helica had many thoughts in her mind, but when it came to speaking, she simply replied politely, even somewhat reservedly, as Minato Nana had described: "I understand."

Just like yesterday, Tenrai Herika took a shower and washed the underwear that Minato Nana had left for her. She found a shady place to hang it up to dry, afraid that it wouldn't be appropriate for Minato Nana to see her underwear. She then changed into her old underwear, put on the shirt that Minato Nana had given her, and went into her room, closing the door behind her.

Rehelica had no idea when Minato Nana washed up or how long she watched TV. When the next day arrived, Rehelica got up early and used the broom and mop that Minato Nana had in her house to clean all the places except Minato Nana's room.

The cleaning noise woke up Nana Minato. Helica was halfway through cleaning when she saw Nana Minato yawning as she walked out of the room.

Helica quickly stopped cleaning, leaning on the mop handle with one hand and standing still: "Excuse me, Miss Minato, I didn't mean to disturb you."

Minato yawned several more times, rubbing her sleepy eyes and looking at Tenrai Herika with a somewhat surprised expression.

Helica Tenrai could understand why Minato Nana was looking at her like that. Her previous image was definitely not that of someone who would do housework, much less someone who would go to someone else's house to do housework.

Perhaps because Minato Nana had just woken up, her reaction time was a little longer than usual. After hesitating for a few seconds, Minato Nana finally spoke: "It's okay, you don't need to clean it, just leave it there."

"It's okay, I'm almost done cleaning." Helica glanced at the living room, which only had a third of its area left to mop, and started cleaning again.

This time, Minato Nana didn't stop her. Instead, she put on her slippers, sat down on the sofa, and started fiddling with her phone.

After Helica finished her work, Minato Nana had already ordered the breakfast that the two of them had prepared for that morning on her phone, and a short while later, the breakfast was delivered.

During the meal, the two chatted briefly about whether they slept well the night before. Seeing that Helica didn't seem very interested, Minato Nana started watching the comedy show she hadn't finished the night before.

After finishing her meal, Minato Nana lay on the sofa at home for a while before changing her clothes and getting ready to go out to open her shop.

Helica Tenrai was thinking of offering to help Minato Nana. She had been taken in for a day and two nights, and had been provided with not only lodging but also delicious food. She felt a little bad if she didn't do anything.

Helica also helped with the housework, but that was just housework, and Helica felt it wasn't enough.

But the only way I could give in return was to work part-time at a coffee shop or to pay for Nana's care.

As for payment, Herika didn't have much money on her, and it was all in small amounts. Even if she took it out to pay Nana, Nana might not—or rather, she definitely wouldn't accept it.

As for the coffee shop job, if it were any other type of work that could help Minato Nana, then Herika would have done it. But if she went to work there, she might run into other members of Nijisanji, and Herika really didn't know how to face them.

In fact, Helica knew that she had done something wrong in what happened yesterday. Because she had suffered a great blow and didn't know where to go, she went straight back to school and went to the Rainbow Club's activity room.

But once inside, he didn't know what to say. He was also provoked by Inuyama Tomoe's provocation, which caused him to have an emotional breakdown and be unable to say anything. That's why he turned and ran away with almost nothing to say.

Even though Helica felt some regret after leaving the room, after overhearing the conversation inside, she realized that the others still cared about her, and she was even more unsure how to face her companions.

So he didn't say he wanted to help with the work until Nana left.

Today, Herika did the same thing as yesterday: listlessly scrolling through her phone, letting her family know she was safe, seeing what others had said to her, and then sitting down at the table to work on the entrance exam questions on her phone with Nana's paper and pen. She repeated this process over and over again.

It wasn't until it was completely dark outside that Minato Nana returned with today's dinner. They ate dinner, watched TV, chatted casually for a bit, took a shower, went back to their room to sleep, and nothing changed.

Even the rainy night outside the window is the same.

The only difference is that Nana prepared hamburgers and fried chicken for dinner tonight, and the movie they watched was also more artistic, telling the daily story of a group of girls running a coffee shop in a wooden town.

After Helica spent her third night at Minato Nana's house, the rain outside finally stopped.

Tenrai Herika didn't go to help Minato Nana today, but instead just sat there in a daze, just like the past few days.

Today, the other members of Rainbow Society also sent a message to Helica. After Helica returned to Moonsea City, she was nowhere to be seen for two or three days. Given her previous unsettling mental state, it's no wonder that the others were worried about her.

However, this also shows that others don't know that they are living in Minato Nana's house, at least Minato Nana hasn't told anyone about it.

Helica closed the chat interface, then lay on the bed staring blankly at the empty ceiling.

The wind blowing in from the window was no longer as bone-chillingly cold as it had been a few days ago. The birdsong mixed in with the whistles seemed even louder than before I left. Even from my high-rise apartment, I could faintly hear the cacophony of voices in the city.

Even though I've been away for a while, this city is still the same as I know it. It seems like nothing has changed, yet it also seems to be slowly moving forward.

Helica reached for her phone from beside her pillow once again, and the number of read messages in the chat box on the phone screen remained unchanged.

It might increase every day, with a few more messages from other people asking about one's current situation the next day.

But if you don't respond, you'll never be able to move forward.

Yuuki Yukino is doing what she has to do, and everyone else is also doing their best for the unknown future. If you can't move forward when everyone else is moving forward, you will eventually be left behind and unable to keep up with the pace of others.

Helica swallowed hard, reached for the input box, and typed a line of small text.

I'm fine, don't worry.

Herlica's finger hovered over the send button, far less decisively than when she typed other words.

But when Helica pressed the send button, she was even more determined than before.

……

After several days of heavy rain, the weather in Yuehai City finally cleared up, and more and more pedestrians appeared.

The coffee shop, now without Yuki Yuki, has become busy again. Perhaps because Minato Nana secretly wanted to reserve that spot for Yuki Yuki, she hasn't hired any new staff.

Before evening fell, the shop door was gently pushed open, and Teraly Herika, dressed in the same clothes as when she opened the shop a few days ago, slowly walked in.

The only difference is that Helica's clothes are now completely clean, and she is no longer as disheveled as she was a few days ago.

Herlica walked into the store, looked around, and then went to the counter.

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

Minato Nana raised her eyes and glanced at Herika. The small backpack Herika had brought when she came to her house was now slung over her shoulder, but it didn't seem to be filled with much stuff.

Minako Nana looked away and pointed behind the counter: "Put on an apron, wash the cups in the sink, write down any orders, remember the table number, and bring the coffee over when it's ready."

Herlica quickly went behind the counter and changed into the apron that Yuuki Yuki had worn. There was no trace of Yuuki Yuki's scent on it anymore, only the rich aroma of coffee remained.

But the jumbled thoughts only flashed through Helica's mind for a moment. She dismissed them and busied herself around the counter.

Time flies. It had just rained, and summer was approaching. There were quite a few customers enjoying life during this season. By the time Helica had a moment to relax, the clock on the wall was pointing to the time when the shop was about to close.

"Alright, wash these cups clean, then tidy up and get ready to call it a day," Minato Nana said, her gaze sweeping over the cups and plates Herlica was carrying to the sink behind the counter.

It didn't take Herika long to wash the cups. After finishing quickly, she turned the cups upside down on the drying rack, then took off her apron and waited behind the counter.

After Minato Nana had changed her clothes, Herika picked up her backpack and the two of them left the store together.

After Minato Nana finished managing the shop, Herika turned to Minato Nana and bowed deeply to her, conveying both gratitude and farewell.

"Miss Minato, thank you so much for taking care of me these past two days."

"It's nothing, just a small favor." Minato Nana waved her hand. "I want to eat barbecue, want to come with me?"

Helica opened her mouth, but finally gave a faint smile: "Okay, sure."

……

Inside a barbecue restaurant.

The sizzling meat slices, glistening with fat, sizzled over the charcoal fire, filling the air with their aroma. Minako, sleeves rolled up, leaned back in the sofa of the partitioned private room, a beer in one hand, gulping it down, showing no signs of the maturity expected of her age.

In comparison, Helica, sitting opposite him, appeared much more composed. She was currently holding a small piece of better-roasted meat to her mouth, blowing on it gently with her palm.

"Whew!" Minato Nana let out a satisfying sigh, almost smashing her beer mug onto the solid table, the golden liquid inside rippling.

Minato Nana released her glass, then covered her mouth with her hand and burped: "Herrika Tenrai, how have you been doing these past few days staying with me?"

"Well, it's alright." Herica replied with a smile. "Actually, I've calmed down quite a bit these past few days at Miss Minato's house. If it weren't for Miss Minato, I probably wouldn't have been able to calm down so quickly."

"It's been two or three days, and you've only just calmed down?" Minato Nana was slightly drunk and started to speak incoherently.

But Helica didn't care about any of that. After all, Minato Nana was the one who took her in, so she nodded and said, "Yeah, I've only just calmed down."

"Hi—" Minato Nana exclaimed, seemingly confused.

“Miss Minato, actually…” Helica raised her head slightly, and then saw Minato Nana looking at her with curious eyes.

Helica hesitated for a moment, then stuffed a piece of meat from the grill into her mouth.

Seeing that Helica was no longer speaking, Minato Nana didn't press the matter and picked up a skewer of chicken and put it in her mouth.

Even though Helica hadn't drunk a drop of alcohol, the faint smell of alcohol mixed with the aroma of grilled meat suggested she was a little tipsy.

After some time, Helica finally spoke again, fueled by a drunkenness that shouldn't actually be there.

"Actually, I went to see Yuuki Yukino before."

After saying those words, Helica inexplicably felt much more at ease in her chest, and there was no longer any feeling of something blocking her throat.

Minato Nana didn't show any surprise. Herika ran into the store in the rain, crying and calling out Yuuki Yukina's name. It would be abnormal if she couldn't guess what was going on.

Helica didn't waver at all because of Nana's reaction. She lowered her eyes and continued speaking:

"After Yuuki Yui left Tsukimi City, a few of us magical girls went to find the person who caused that disaster that shocked Tsukimi City that day, hoping to find out from her if she knew anything about Yuuki Yui."

Helica neither mentioned Mashiro Urouge's name nor went into the details, but gave a general overview that Nana Minato could understand.

Even if Helica explained everything in detail, it wouldn't be the main point. It would only affect what Helica really wanted to say, and Minato Nana might not even understand it.

After finishing her story, Tenrai Herika sighed softly, then picked up a piece of grilled meat and put it to her mouth: "After hearing all this, I couldn't stay calm. Yuuki Yuuki is trying to destroy herself, and the others here aren't even looking for her. It makes me feel like they don't care about her at all, so I got a little angry and went to find her by myself."

"But Yuehai City is so big, and Yuki Yuki might not be in Yuehai City. I have no idea where to look for her, so I can only wander around in the dark."

As Helica spoke, she put down her chopsticks along with the piece of grilled meat she was holding, then scooted back against the sofa. "In the beginning, although it was only a few days, I just wandered around the cities around Moonsea City. I knew that doing so was like looking for a needle in a haystack; it was impossible to find anything."

"But I don't know what to do. We searched all the places Yuuki Yu might have gone a month ago. The culprit also mentioned that Yuuki Yu wasn't in Yuehai City. If we want to find Yuuki Yu, we can only look in the other cities."

"I chose a direction and wandered around the cities surrounding Moonsea City, trying to detect if there was any magic in the air that could bind cities. Of course, that was impossible. A city is so big, how could I possibly sense it? Actually, I had a feeling that maybe I was just competing with myself and that I would never find it this way."