Regarding the fact that my best friend is a magical girl

Virgo led the captured female monster this way, removing the silk scarf covering her face at the same time.

Her face looked extremely pale, as if she hadn't seen the sun in a long time.

"……Thanks for your hard work."

Only such a basic greeting.

"Miss Virgo, may I ask what kind of eccentric person this is?"

This is a clearly abnormal "female weirdo".

"She's a witch."

She glanced at the strange woman beside her, her face contorted in pain.

"She was once... a magical girl."

Chapter Twenty-Five: Hospitalization

(Albinocotyledon)

...Hmm.

He was hit on the head by that strange man's water bullet and lost consciousness.

The moment I regained consciousness, I understood what had happened.

But since I was able to wake up like this, it means that the strange person with some special characteristics has already been dealt with by other magical girls... such as Seruno.

"Uh--"

I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.

Although it was unfamiliar, it wasn't hard to guess where I was. This was a treatment facility under the association. I had just accompanied Yang Yan here yesterday, and I didn't expect to be barged in today.

I tried to get up, but found that I was wrapped in bandages and felt a sharp pain in my back that made me feel awake... There was no cast, and it all looked like flesh wounds.

Even after being hit by a finishing move of that magnitude, I only suffered superficial wounds. I'm probably tougher than I think.

Turning my head slightly, I saw the awkward little expression on the face of a certain idiot.

"Are you just going to stay here and wait for me to wake up?"

"Um……"

She sat on the edge of the bed like a schoolchild who had made a mistake, avoiding my gaze, and stammered as she spoke.

"Miss Miluno... I'm so sorry."

The first thing he said was an apology, and I didn't know how to respond. After a moment of silence, I could only manage to say, "I'm fine."

But my words only made her feel more guilty.

"Because of my carelessness, Miss Miluno suffered such a serious injury..."

"It's not your fault. Back then, nobody expected that weirdo would abandon his defenses and launch a sneak attack."

"That's because I dragged you down."

This is troublesome. This silly girl is stuck in a negative mood and can't get out. How should I comfort her?

knock --

knocking.

Seruno then composed herself and jogged to open the door.

"coming."

The person who came in was Lulu, who was the liaison officer.

He was wearing his signature black suit, but underneath he wore a red shirt.

She was still holding a plastic bag containing lunchboxes in her hand.

As soon as she entered, she greeted us: "Yo, you're awake? I never thought our invincible 'Moonlight Gale' would be brought here. Is it because there's no moon during the day?"

"...No, it's all my fault."

Although it was just a joke, Seruno slumped her head again, and Lulu quickly explained, "I wasn't criticizing you! Seruno, your personality is too pessimistic! Try to look at things more positively!"

"Um……"

Although he nodded, he didn't show any enthusiasm whatsoever.

It seems I'll have to give her some encouragement and psychological support in the future... Of course, that's on the condition that I change back first.

"Miss Miluno, are you feeling alright? You're recovering very quickly; you should be able to be discharged in two days."

When Lu'er said that, I shook my head.

"...No, I'll be leaving in a little while."

"Huh? So urgent?"

Seruno looked worried.

"I'll just go back and recuperate."

"You really don't trust the association at all."

I tried to sit up, supporting myself on the bed frame, but Serino, afraid that I would tear open my wound, ran back to my side to help me.

"I am an absolute believer in secrecy."

I looked down at the hospital gown I was wearing.

"You changed my clothes... Where's my battle armor?"

Seruno replied, "It was torn to shreds by the shrapnel from the barrage, and my back is full of holes, so Miss Spica took it to be repaired... Um, and your twin swords were also given to Miss Metal... Another magical girl who arrived earlier is re-polishing them."

I tried to move my body and replied, "Metal, I know, the 'Steel Dragon' of C4 area, but who is this Spica?"

Lulu introduced, "She is the director of the Association's Tactics Division, and was also known as the Virgo Magical Girl."

Tactics Division?

I couldn't help but put on a cold face.

"This important figure took my battle armor, just to repair it?"

"Um, they might also investigate and analyze something..."

Lu'er lowered her voice even more because she felt guilty.

"That's why I don't trust the association. You always say one thing and do another behind people's backs."

Damaged battle armor will automatically begin repair and even cleaning once it is retrieved from the Star Crystal, without requiring any third party to repair it. Virgo's motive is obvious. Even if it is retrieved, it must be carefully inspected, as there may be some tracking mechanisms left behind.

Lulu also hung her head and said in a low voice, "Miss Spica has instructed that if you can get out of bed and walk, I should take you to see her."

"How long have I been in a coma?"

Seruno glanced at the digital clock on the wall of the ward.

It was nearly 6 p.m.

"...about four hours, starting from the end of the battle."

Four hours is quite a long time.

I threw off the thin blanket and got out of bed. The pain in my back wasn't so hard to bear after I got used to it. As long as I didn't do anything strenuous, it should recover in the next couple of days—but going back to normal might be unbearably painful.

"How could the Tactical Division Chief, who is usually so busy, stay here for so long?"

Although Changkong City can be considered a big city, it is still quite a distance from the headquarters... How did she get here?

Lulu replied, "Besides having something to tell you, she also needs to settle things with that mermaid witch."

"……Um?"

That strange man didn't die?

------

"That...was also a magical girl?"

Inside the elevator as it ascends, listen to Seruno recount the astonishing truth.

"What exactly is going on? I've never heard of magical girls turning into monsters or witches."

"This involves a lot of secrets, and I can't explain it clearly. It would be better if Miss Virgo told you herself."

Seruno didn't seem to know much either; it looked like she was waiting for me to wake up so she could explain everything.

In addition...

"Serno, don't hold the tablet like that. Yangyan isn't dead yet."

The idiot was holding a tablet computer with both hands, and Yang Yan's video call was displayed on it. Holding it like that made it look like a black and white photograph.

The latter was lying paralyzed in her hospital bed, unable to even use a wheelchair, so this was the only way to give her a sense of participation.

Serino said "Oh," and held the tablet above her head...

The elevator doors opened.

Lulu explained, "This is the top floor of the treatment facility, but it belongs to the association's research department, so there are no doctors, only researchers."

"The research department, is it dedicated to studying magical girls?"

I frowned.

Just as I expected, the association planned to use the magical girls' power for something, and even placed them on the top floor of the medical facility. Were the magical girls receiving treatment downstairs just guinea pigs?

"Um, Miss Miluno's prejudice against the association is really..."

Miss Lulu looked embarrassed by my cornering, but another woman there offered an explanation.

"We study not only magical girls, but also those extraterrestrial invaders. The corpses of 'Lava' and 'Raiko' that you dealt with yesterday were also sent here for dissection and research. Every major city has such institutions. Only by thoroughly understanding their structure can we humans have the possibility of fighting back. Perhaps the methods and means are unacceptable to you, but our goal is ultimately the same."

The first impression was of a white woman, around forty years old, with black hair that was neither permed nor straightened, nor dyed, but carefully styled. She wore an oversized white lab coat and, despite her unhealthy, thin physique, her gaze was remarkably resolute.

She is Spica.

A legendary magical girl known as the "Master Strategist".