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

"That wasn't what I wanted! I just wanted to help them! I've already done my best! It's not all my fault!"

"Then tell me! Tell me again! Whose fault is this?"

"Now is not the time to discuss who is right and who is wrong!"

"So tell me, what should we do now?"

"Shouldn't we all be discussing how to stop Yuuki Yuuki?"

"Then tell us! What can we do?"

"I...I don't know! That's precisely why we need to discuss it together!"

Herlica grew increasingly anxious, but she did indeed bear a number of inexplicable responsibilities, and arguing with Koyuki wouldn't change anything; there was absolutely no point in arguing with this willful child.

But Koyuko wouldn't let it go, and I don't know what made her so angry today.

"Then let's discuss this! Why is no one saying anything! What can we possibly discuss if we don't say anything?!" Sumireko Yumehara was still waving her hands, loudly questioning everyone present.

Helica was merely suppressing her anger, but that didn't mean she wasn't angry at all.

The constant chatter around Koyuko finally pushed her to her breaking point, and she roared, "And what about you? What have you done now?!"

"I..." Koyuki was speechless for a moment after Helica's harsh words, then her big eyes glistened with tears, which instantly welled up and spilled over: "I didn't do anything either!"

"You!" Helica never expected that she would make Violet cry. She wanted to continue her verbal sparring, but she also knew that Violet's way of thinking was not much smarter than the children in the orphanage. She had nowhere to vent her anger.

Finally, Helica muttered to herself angrily, "If you can't do it, then... don't blame me."

"I... I don't want to blame you! I was just so anxious! You're not the only one who likes Yuuki Yukino!" Sumireko sobbed, wiping away her tears with her paws.

"Yuki Yuuki is a good person! She plays with me! And she won't let me disappear! I like Yuki Yuuki a lot too! Not just me... not just me... don't you all like Yuki Yuuki too! If not, why are you all working so hard!"

Chapter 287 Tomorrow

"Everyone...you all like Yuuki Yuuki just as much, right? Otherwise, why would you all work so hard?"

Sumireko Yumehara's tearful voice seemed to be a period, symbolizing the temporary end of tonight's farce.

Although what happened tonight was not a farce, it will not end there.

But after that, nobody said anything anymore.

Apart from Sumireko Yumehara's wailing, the bleak wind, and the distant growls of monsters, there was no other sound.

Afterwards, Sumireko Yumehara and Chiyu Hyakki exchanged glances, and then Sumireko Yumehara, who was crying loudly, was picked up from behind. Although Sumireko Yumehara was aggrieved, she did not struggle, but obediently let Koumori pick her up.

Holding Sumire Yumehara, Komari bowed slightly to the others, then left without a word, leading Sumire Yumehara and Chiyu Hyakki away.

After the two women left, Miya Miya and Rie Tsukimi left immediately afterward.

Rie Tsukimi said to Helica Tenrai, "We're planning to go home and visit," before disappearing into the endless night.

In the end, only three genuine magical girls remained standing in place.

The three looked at each other in silence, yet each seemed to want to say something.

Even Sakura Hanako would be speechless at this moment, perhaps because she couldn't say anything encouraging in such a heavy atmosphere.

Thus, in keeping with the unspoken understanding among magical girls, the three of them parted ways in this somewhat awkward atmosphere.

"I'll go talk to Nishio."

Before leaving, Mizuno Yu took the initiative to assume the responsibility of liaising with Nishio Reki.

Entering the portal is far too dangerous. Nishio Reki no longer possesses the powers of a magical girl, so she definitely cannot go with the others.

The spatial rift that Baqi tore open for the girls to leave was not near the portal. Even though Nishio Reki was holding the portal tightly, he could not find any trace of the girls. He must be anxiously waiting for news of the girls.

And so the long night continued, which could be considered a kind of conclusion for the girls.

After two busy days, the girls were finally able to take a short break, provided they could sleep peacefully through the long night that was drawing to a close.

……

The next day, strange monsters were still roaming the streets and alleys of Moonsea City, though their numbers were much fewer than the night before.

The city of Yuehai, having been cleansed by this unexpected disaster, now requires even more repairs. Collapsed walls, fallen signs and traffic light poles, and roads riddled with damage all disrupt people's daily lives.

The portal that opened in the sky hung over people's heads like the Sword of Damocles, making people tremble with fear just by walking on the street, and unable to concentrate on their daily routines.

The magical girls occasionally flying through the sky were also a factor in plunging the city into a temporary silence. To allow the residents of Moonsea City to walk the streets in peace, battles to eliminate the remaining monsters were inevitable.

Even those familiars who were ordered by Yuuki Yuuki not to attack ordinary people would retaliate against the magical girls, and Tsukimi City was destined to come to a standstill that day.

However, major companies and schools also announced in advance that, for people's safety, normal work was naturally postponed by one day.

Whether there are pedestrians on the street or whether a shop on the corner will operate normally depends entirely on one's courage and ideas.

For example, Nishio Reki is the type who would do that.

"Sister Huan, I'd like you to come with me."

As Nishio Reki knocked on the door of Yuuki Yuuki's house, he spoke to Yuuki Tamaki, who had faint dark circles under his eyes and clearly hadn't slept all night.

Yuki Tamaki was at home, as Hayashi Keko told Nishio Reki, during the time when the two of them were being escorted by Sakuragawa Nana to Minato Nana's coffee shop.

Nishio Reki was just trying her luck, after all, she had only heard from Hayashi Mustard that she and Yuuki Tamaki had just passed each other by, but since Yuuki Tamaki was home, that was perfect.

Looking at Nishio Reki, whose face was also ashen and who looked even more haggard than before, Yuuki Tamaki considered for a moment and then nodded.

Yuki Tamaki finished washing up quickly, and Nishio Reki didn't wait long in the room.

This is a good thing. At least Nishio Reki won't have to be reminded of painful memories and won't think too much about what happened between her, Yuuki Yuuki, and everyone else in this room.

After Yuuki Tamaki changed his clothes, the two set off together.

There are very few monsters roaming around the Yuuki family's residence; in fact, there are almost none.

Sakuragawa Nana had already cleared the area, and perhaps Yuuki En didn't add any more preparations to prevent her familiars from harming Hayashi Mustard.

However, this does not mean that there are no signs of damage in the vicinity, especially the closer the residence is to the main road and the further away from Yuuki Eni it is, the more obvious the damage will be.

"Did Xiaoyuan make all of these?" Yuuki Tamaki glanced at the vending machine that had turned into a pile of scrap metal by the roadside, then turned her gaze to the front of her and asked Nishio Reki, who was walking beside her.

Nishio Reki could detect a hint of weariness in Yuuki Tamaki's voice, something that Yuuki Yukino's older sister, who could almost bear everything, had almost never shown before.

In the Nishio Reki's eyes, Tamaki Yuuki was an almost omnipotent being. At a similar age to the current Yuuki En, he single-handedly shouldered the burden of his broken family and gave little Yuuki En a sheltered home.

Yuki Tamaki's past consists of only two parts: the band and Yuki Yuki.

Having given up her band for Yuuki Yuuki, when she learned that her younger sister had done such a thing, it was as if the last pillar in her heart had collapsed.

Nishio Reki couldn't accurately guess Yuuki Tamaki's thoughts, but after learning about Yuuki Tamaki's past experiences, it wasn't difficult to make a guess.

But none of those complex emotions were revealed in this young woman; all that remained was an endless weariness, which was her greatest weakness.

Nishio Reki remained silent for a long time, until the question had long since faded into the background, before softly answering, "Yes. That's right."

Yuuki Tamaki silently walked across another half block, then asked again.

"Is the place you're taking me related to Xiaoyuan?"

"I guess so," Nishio Reki replied vaguely.

After that, no one spoke again.

For the first time, Nishio Reki felt that the city under the sunlight was both so quiet and so noisy.

She actually hoped that Tamaki Yuuki would ask her more questions, so that she could take this opportunity to say what she wanted to say.

But Tamaki Yuuki wasn't going to give herself that chance. Her emotions were far too stable, and even if she was putting on a brave face, it was impossible for Nishio Reki to find an opening.

After crossing several blocks, the two finally stopped in front of a building.

Upon seeing a familiar scene, Tamaki Yuuki paused for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly.

Yuki Tamaki only recognized this place within the last six months, and he hadn't been here many times. However, the people living here were a little special, which is why Yuki Tamaki's memory of this place was particularly vivid.

"Arata, are you planning to bring me to Minato Nana's house?"

"Okay," Nishio Reki replied.

Tamaki Yuuki did have questions, but the answer was just ahead of him; he only needed to climb a few steps to find the key to unlock the secret.

With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, Tamaki Yuuki followed Nishio Koyomi, who had brought him here, to the familiar door, where his old comrade opened it for him.

Immediately afterward, a face that Yuuki Tamaki had somewhat forgotten, but would never completely forget, came into her view.

Chapter 288 Reunion

"Sorry to bother you."

As always, Nishio Reki bowed slightly to Minato Nana before stepping into the room.

This wasn't Yuuki Tamaki's first time visiting Minato Nana's house; she knew the layout perfectly. After nodding slightly to Minato Nana, she followed her into the living room.

Upon entering the living room, Tamaki Yuuki immediately noticed the girl in casual clothes sitting on the sofa.

This face looks familiar; it looks very familiar to Tamaki Yuuki.

The girl sitting on the sofa glanced at Yuuki Tamaki, then looked away somewhat uncomfortably, a reaction that made Yuuki Tamaki even more puzzled.

Perhaps she was shy, but the girl's behavior towards Yuuki Tamaki wasn't just ordinary shyness; it was as if she was afraid to see him.

At this point, Tamaki Yuuki had almost completely merged the girl with a certain figure from his own memories.

This girl looks so much like Hanzawa Kuriko.

However, because that was impossible, Tamaki Yuuki initially controlled himself from thinking in that direction.

She's no longer that impulsive little girl, and she's unlikely to suddenly get excited just because someone looks like another person; everything requires evidence.

But the girl's reaction, her reappearance at Minato Nana's house, and Nishio Reki bringing her there, this series of coincidences made Yuuki Tamaki's almost negligible idea a little more believable.

The eye contact between Yuuki Tamaki and Hanzawa Kuriko was clearly seen by the other two present, but Nishio Reki could not take the initiative to intervene between the two. This was a matter between their previous generation, and Nishio Reki should not casually interrupt or even interfere.

But for some reason, Minato Nana didn't say anything, which made Nishio Reki wonder if Minato Nana and Hanzawa Kuriko had discussed something before he arrived.

Indeed, Nishio Reki was invited by Minato Nana.

Last night, after everyone's attempt to reach the portal failed, Nishio Reki told Minato Nana and Hanzawa Kuriko the whole story, since Nishio Reki had no one else to confide in besides them.

The very next day, Nishio Reki was asked to bring Yuuki Tamaki here. Although Nishio Reki believed that if Minato Nana wanted to contact Yuuki Tamaki, she didn't need to go through him, since they were more familiar with each other than he was, he still agreed.

And so, it turned out like this.

Hanzawa Kuriko hesitated for a moment, but finally raised her face to look directly at Yuuki Tamaki's face, making sure her gaze met Yuuki Tamaki's.