Regarding the fact that my best friend is a magical girl

After all, they're at that age where they're full of youthful vigor, so it's not hard to understand. But it's a bit too much of a formality for them to hide from me when I come in.

It's rare to see him make a fool of himself, so I decided to play a trick on him!

"Ye Zi, what are you looking at?"

"It's nothing, but couldn't you at least knock before coming in?"

"I knocked, but you just didn't hear it... Were you watching some porn? You have resources but don't share them with me, you really don't consider me a brother!"

Leaning against the back of his chair, I placed my hands on his shoulders.

"You're thinking the wrong thing. I wasn't looking at that kind of thing; I was just researching."

"What information can't I show it to?"

He brushed my hand away and stood up.

"Let's go out for dinner first, and I'll tell you when I've thought it through."

"No, I need to know now."

I tried to open the minimized window, but Yezi grabbed my wrist and tried to pull me out.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said.

But I'm a magical girl now, how could he possibly pull me? As long as I don't want to move... Huh?

Was I dragged out by an "ordinary person"?

This is clearly unreasonable.

Could Ye Zi really be UI-31?

Chapter Fourteen: Investigating Ye Zi

(Sun Yao)

"That's how it is. My parents have to go on a business trip abroad for a while and they're leaving tonight."

That's what Aunt Rinki said, something about suddenly going abroad for class...

"I'm used to this kind of thing. You guys have never spent this much time with me since I was a kid, have you?"

"Sorry! You should just get along well with Ayao... no, with Seruno!"

"Really, you should just give up on that idea."

Ye Zi waved her hand in denial.

He then asked, "Since you've told us about 'that kind of job,' can't you tell us where we'll be going and what we'll be doing?"

Uncle Mo Mu was responsible for investigating various illegal and inhumane research and experiments, which is why he traveled back and forth between research institutes all over the world.

However, these tasks are all classified, and it seems inappropriate for Ye Zi to inquire about them in this way...

“Well, a senior researcher from the association headquarters has ‘defected’ to a third-party organization in Geneva with basic data on wormhole technology. We need to bring him back to the European headquarters… This is a very serious technology leak.”

Huh? Aunt Rinki actually answered that question!

"Do you really need to handle things like catching traitors? Isn't that incredibly dangerous...?"

It's understandable that Yezi would worry if her own parents were to handle such a matter.

"Don't worry, we're just going to receive it. I think the magical girls from the local association have already started making their move, right?"

"Huh? Let magical girls attack a third-party research institute?"

"Arrest! Arrest! The power gap between magical girls and ordinary people is so great that they can incapacitate the other party without killing them. Moreover, only by capturing them alive can we extract the mastermind behind them, otherwise the clues will be lost."

...It sounds like there are many things involved behind the scenes. The adult world is crueler than we think. Hopefully, I won't get involved in this kind of struggle in the future.

"Well, let's not talk about work while we're eating, Seruno."

I was suddenly called out by my aunt.

"Huh? Hmm."

Huh? Aunt Rinki doesn't call me Ayao anymore...

I feel like my original self is about to disappear.

"Didn't I say I'd help you investigate? Because of this mess, I can't handle your father's matter for the time being. But like I said before, stay calm for now, and whatever you do, don't go to confront the Chairman. It would be terrible if you alerted him, understand?"

"I understand."

Ultimately, I didn't have the guts to confront my dad alone.

"Go check on Xiao Yangyan more often. If anything happens, you can contact Sirius. Even if you can't trust the whole association, she will definitely help you. I promise."

"Yes, I also believe in Miss Sirius..."

But, is Miss Spica not suitable?

"Hehe, we've almost finished eating. Yunzhi and I have to catch our flight tonight, so we won't disturb you two any longer."

They were speaking like in-laws visiting a young couple's home. Even though they were using Kagerou as a shield, Aunt Rinki hadn't given up on trying to match me up with Yoko...

As they saw each other off at the entrance, Ye Zi said, "Be careful on the road."

"Oh! Don't worry! Mom is very strong!"

Uncle Yunzhi didn't say much, but he patted Yezi on the back of the head. Although they were only able to see each other once in a long while, their relationship made me envious...

"Sai! Lu! No!"

I felt three hard slaps on my back; it was Aunt Rinki.

"Stand tall and proud! You're a magical girl now! You have the ability to make your old man look at you with new eyes, to make him realize how wrong it was to ignore you, and to make him regret it!"

"……Um."

"Yunzhi, let's go~"

The two left with their luggage on their backs.

Auntie is always so energetic. If someone as radiant as her could be chosen by the Star Crystal, she would surely become an incredibly powerful magical girl, right?

"Come in, you idiot, the air conditioning's all gone."

"oh oh."

I went back inside after Ye Zi tapped me on the head.

Back in the living room, he began clearing the table of dishes. Although he minded the minimized window on his computer, he also wanted to investigate Ye Zi's identity.

"leaf."

I went to the kitchen.

The Golden Ship followed.

"Hmm? Planning to help with the dishes? That's rare!"

"No, I didn't come here to finish washing up..."

"Even after becoming a magical girl, you haven't become any more diligent. Speaking of which, have you been doing the physical training that Sirius arranged for you?"

"I can do it! Answer a few questions for me first... I hope you can answer me honestly."

When I said that, he turned off the tap and then wiped his wet hands on his apron.

"Alright, alright, then let's ask here?"

His tone carried a doting affection that he himself was unaware of.

"First question, Yezi, what is your relationship with UI-31?"

"what?"

"The werewolf monster that appeared on the island, the one Miss Spica called a special individual—you two have never appeared together! Actually… you are that werewolf!"

No, not at all.

"Then why did you dislike magical girls before...?"

Before I could finish speaking, Yezi pressed her not-quite-dry hands against my forehead.

"Let me correct you again. I'm not against magical girls. What I dislike is the association that turns magical girls into idols and commodities! You feel the same way, right? Today's magical girls have failed to inherit the spirit of their predecessors. They're not only opportunistic and irresponsible, but they also always act superior. Isn't it because other magical girls are no good that you like Milno... No, that's not right. What you really admire isn't Milno, but the one who saved you from the monster, right?"

"……Um."

I've told Yezi about my childhood experiences many times, so he remembers them very clearly.

The magical girl who saved me when I got separated from my mother.

"She was clearly my savior, but I didn't know her identity, and I couldn't even remember what she looked like."

"You're just one of the countless people she saved. All the magical girls in that war were heroes; she won't care..."

"Perhaps that's how it is for her, but for me, it's that she extended my life."

Lowering her hand, Ye Zi asked again, "If she stood in front of you again, would you still be able to recognize her?"

"Yes...right?"

So, what did that back view look like again?

"I have absolutely no recollection of it! You idiot!"

Then a leaf tapped my forehead.

That doesn't seem right.

I was the one investigating Ye Zi's identity, so why was I being scolded instead?

"There's nothing we can do about it, it all happened more than ten years ago!"

"Tell me the truth, you just want to know what I was doing just now, right?"

"...Huh? Hmm."

Although the first question is the key point.

But I agreed just because Yezi asked me.

So, are you going to tell me?