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

"You don't know the answer either?" Thunder Helica asked.

“No, I know the answer.” Yuuki Yui shook her head again: “Magical girls are the embodiment of wishes. They give us the power to fulfill our wishes. But even without this power, people will still try their best to fulfill their wishes. People’s wishes will gradually fade away or become more profound over time. This will not change with the appearance or disappearance of magical girls.”

As Yuuki Yuen spoke, she held the ball of light in her hand between her fingers and looked through it at the sun that was gradually setting in the west.

"In my opinion, the best outcome is to leave everything unchanged."

"At least, I will try harder to achieve my current goals."

The orbs of light between the girls dissipated into the afterglow, like fireflies.

……

Several months later, in an izakaya (Japanese pub).

"Xiao Yuan! Didn't you say before that you'd try harder for your current goal? But you haven't tried at all!"

While vigorously patting Yuuki Eri's back, Inuyama Baki poured a large mouthful of watermelon juice into her mouth, her hearty manner making one suspect that she was drinking real beer instead of juice.

The same time, the same place, the same celebration banquet, to celebrate Yuki Yuki's successful admission to Higashino University.

"Never mind whether I tried or not, just tell me whether I passed the exam or not." Yuuki Yuuki glanced at the members of the Rose Garden who were happily drinking, and whispered to Baqi.

It's true that Yuuki Yuuki didn't work that hard in the end, but it's also true that her grades were ridiculously high.

The reason, I suppose, is that the entrance exam papers for Higashino University actually existed long ago, but they were kept secret and only needed to be taken out on the day of the exam.

And given that Yuuki Enishi, who returned from a possible future, had very coincidentally taken that entrance exam paper, it would be abnormal if she failed.

However, this is only a privilege enjoyed by these magical girls. Most people can only feel a non-existent memory flash through their minds, and then it is completely forgotten as if they had a dream.

Yuuki Yui was initially a little nervous, but that nervousness vanished the moment she entered the exam room and saw that familiar exam paper. From then on, Yuuki Yui was so relaxed that it made people wonder if she had been possessed by another version of herself from another timeline.

In short, checking grades, notifying her sister, the celebration banquet—all of this was probably no different from what they had experienced.

If we're talking about the differences, it's probably that Yuuki Yuki still has the power of a magical girl, and that Tsukimi City has gained a new piece of gossip about the pink demon twins.

“However, I’m a little curious, why is Yuuki-senpai wearing a turtleneck sweater even though it’s so hot?” Sakura Hanako suddenly asked.

This question suddenly silenced the previously noisy girls.

"I'd also like to know, don't you feel hot wearing a long skirt in this weather?" A voice rang out from behind the girls in the silence.

Amidst the puzzled looks of the crowd, the owner of the voice—Laminari Lantern, dressed in a staff uniform—blinked, then seemed to suddenly remember something: "Oh right, your beer, chicken skewers, and complimentary seaweed salad, please enjoy your meal."

Speaking of the Lava Mountain Lantern, this guy has once again refreshed the girls' understanding of what a monster is.

After that battle, Laughing Mountain Lantern dusted himself off and got up as if nothing had happened, then ran to the arcade to play pachinko.

She is no longer a magical girl, but the reason is unknown. However, she still retains all of her memories of being a magical girl.

When others asked her why she was like this, Lava Mountain Lantern simply said, "Maybe it's because I'm strong enough."

Back to the present, as Lodoka was speaking, she placed what she was holding on the table, then her expression became even more serious: "So, Yuuki Yukina, aren't you hot?"

Countless eyes quickly shifted from the body of the magma lamp to Yuuki Eri, whose face was rapidly burning with heat.

Looking at the others whose expressions were also slightly strange, the girls immediately guessed the situation pretty well.

“Before, Nishio Reki disturbed Yuuki Yuuki’s sleep, so I went to keep an eye on her.” Tenrai Herika, who had previously remained the most composed about Nishio Reki’s behavior, was the first to lose her temper.

"The short, blond guy went, so of course I have to go see him too!" Inuyama Baqi couldn't help but stammer. Then she drank several large gulps of juice, picked up the meat skewers that Lava Mountain Lantern had brought and stuffed them into her mouth, covering her mouth completely.

Nishio Reki turned his head away abruptly, his face showing an expression that said, "It has nothing to do with me."

After a few seconds of silence, the room was immediately filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

"Yin...yinpa..."

"As expected of Senior Yuki, he easily accomplished something we wouldn't even dare to dream of."

Take care of yourself.

"Ran! As expected of your sister, she's so popular!"

……

"You lot! You lot! You're so embarrassing! So embarrassing!"

On her way home, Yuuki Yukino couldn't help but complain to the three people who were with her.

Lin Jiezi originally planned to go home with Yuki Yui, but she was taken away by Mizuno Yui and Sakura Hanako under the pretext of not disturbing their private space.

Private space is more like it, but what the hell is a space for four people?!

So why did the atmosphere become so awkward when it was supposed to be my own victory celebration, a happy day?

Yuuki Yuen kept complaining, both verbally and internally, completely unaware that Baqi, who was walking beside her, had stopped.

Yuuki, who hadn't stopped in time, bumped into Baqi's shoulder and staggered slightly, but fortunately they weren't walking fast, so they didn't fall down.

Before Yuuki Yui could even complain, her words were swallowed back down.

Because she saw someone, sitting on a bench by the roadside, someone who shouldn't be there, and someone she absolutely didn't want to see.

Just like the possibility she had once experienced, Mashiro Gorgen sat there, as if she had been waiting for their arrival.

"Ghostly Mashiro, what are you doing here?" Nishio Reki coldly rebuked, using half of his body to shield Yuuki Yukino, who no longer needed his protection, behind him.

Inuyama Tomoe and Tenrai Herika also took a step towards Yuuki Yuuki, completely blocking her view.

"I have something I want to give you."

As she spoke, Mashiro Gorgen stood up just as they remembered, and took out the wallet they had seen before from her bosom.

If things unfold as she remembers, she will soon retrieve the red thread that Yuuki En gave her and tell the girls the truth that this world is an illusion.

However, all that Mashiro took out of his wallet was a stack of small cards.

"Hmm?" Inuyama Tomoe let out a soft exclamation, but still remained vigilant.

Genki Mashiro had already put away her wallet, and then respectfully handed over the card with both hands.

"Mi and I are getting married next month, you are all welcome to come."

"Huh?" The shortest of them all, but standing at the front, Tianlei Helica, gaped in disbelief. She reached out her hand and took the stack of cards, looked at them from both sides, and then gave one to each of the people in her group.

Yuuki Yukino examined the invitation card in her hand. Apart from the time, place, people, and the colorful but indeed very beautiful decorations on the wedding invitation, there was really nothing else.

Even without investigation, it's obvious that this is just an invitation and has nothing to do with magical girls.

"You..." Yuuki Yuuki drawled in confusion, "Why did you invite us?"

"Because it's more lively with more people," Genken Mashiro replied immediately.

“Uh…” Baqi stammered twice: “So… actually… we’re not really friends, are we?”

"Because it's more lively with more people," Genken Mashiro quickly replied, but her gaze shifted to the side.

"But... even though we don't have any relationship now, but... weren't we enemies before?" Nishio Reki clutched the small invitation card, unsure of what to say.

"because……"

"Don't say it's more lively with more people! What kind of trick are you playing!" Helica wanted to crumple the invitation in her hand into a ball, but that would not be appropriate, though her tone had become fierce.

“Because…” Gen Ken Mashiro’s gaze shifted to the other side: “Mi said that if the guests don’t fill the entire wedding venue, she won’t marry me.”

Baqi nudged Yuki Emi's waist with her elbow and whispered in a voice that all four of them could hear.

"Could it be... that this very intelligent guy is actually an emotional idiot?"

……

After saying goodbye to Mashiro Urouge and agreeing to attend her wedding at her repeated requests, the girls continued walking along the moonlit path.

"That guy is getting married, that's great—" Baqi held her head and took big steps with each stride.

Normally, Baqi would definitely say something strange, or even trick Yuuki Emi into signing some kind of marriage application, just like before.

But not today. She just made that remark and then fell silent.

After Baqi fell silent, even the usually noisy Helica only quietly echoed her.

"Yes."

Then, only the girls' shadows remained, stretching longer and longer in the moonlight.

As we walked, time seemed to stand still.

The familiar building appeared before the girls' eyes. It was Yuuki Yukino's home, the beginning of everything, and the place where Yuuki Yukino would eventually return to.

"Well then, let's leave you here."

Yuuki Yukino waved goodbye to everyone.

Touching the familiar railing, I took out the slightly cold key, turned the heavy door, and the light once again illuminated the pitch-black room.

The convenience boxes from everyone's breakfast delivery were still lying on the coffee table, their slippers were scattered haphazardly by the door, and their blankets, which they hadn't had time to make, were rolled up at the head of the bed.

Yuuki Yukino kicked off her shoes, piled her turtleneck and long skirt on the headboard, and pounced onto the bed.

It's a mess, but it feels so comfortable.

I feel like so many things have happened in the past year or so.

Yuuki Yukino stared at the ceiling, her mind wandering.

In that case, wouldn't you say you've taken another step towards the life you envision?

Yuuki Yukina thought and thought, and slowly closed her eyes.

boom.

Just before Yuuki Yuki drifted off to sleep, a loud bang startled her awake.

Yuuki Yukino groggily got up, and then saw that the window of her room was being slowly and strangely opened.

Yuuki Enishi picked up the blanket and covered herself, then carefully walked to the window.

The last time she heard a similar loud noise, it seemed to be from another Xiao Li.

Before Yuuki could stick her head out of the window, a head popped right in through the window.

The blonde girl made a V-sign with her hand and quickly slipped inside.

This is high-level management! High-level management!

Seeing the sudden intrusion of the Heavenly Thunder Helica, Yuuki Yukino was on the verge of tears.