Regarding the fact that my best friend is a magical girl

"Three bottles of mineral water and one bottle of cola."

"The total is forty-five yuan."

Things at the tourist attractions were indeed outrageously expensive. I carried my ice-cold drink back to the lakeside, only to find Miss Miluno already sitting on the lawn under the shade of a tree.

So you really couldn't take it anymore?

"Miss Miluno, water."

"Thank you."

"Hehe~"

She looked up at me as she took the water.

"Like this is fine, you look great when you smile."

"Is that so? Actually, I don't quite understand how to get along with others."

I sat down next to her, waiting for the Coke in my hand to cool down.

"Not good at getting along with people? Don't you have any friends or anything like that?"

"I still have friends!"

There are people I can proudly say this to.

No matter what I become, I still have leaves... although now all that's left are leaves.

Miss Miluno downed half a bottle of water and then asked, "What kind of person is that friend?"

"Hehe, his name is Bai Ziye, I usually call him Yezi. He is my most important friend."

The things she was too embarrassed to say in front of Ye Zi, she could easily say to Miss Miluno.

"Because of some changes in my family, my father didn't care about me much when I was young, leaving me to fend for myself. Just when I was about to give up on myself, Yezi came into my life and pulled me out of the abyss..."

Amidst surging emotions, I caught a glimpse of Miss Miluno scratching her cheek shyly.

"Ahem, it seems you also have an unfortunate past."

"It's all my own fault."

A bitter smile couldn't be forced; thinking about the past inevitably brought a sense of melancholy.

Miss Miluno, however, placed her hand on my shoulder.

"The purpose of taking a break is to vent emotions, not to dig up the dirt of the past. Lifting your head and looking at the scenery can also soothe those negative feelings."

So gentle.

But the weather is too hot, and all I feel is restlessness.

However, I cannot show any inappropriate expression in front of Miss Miluno.

"Thank you, Miss Miluno."

"Is it appropriate to easily express gratitude after apologizing? Whether it's an apology or a thank you, if it's too casual, it loses its original meaning."

"...Okay, I understand."

Miss Miluno gave me a rare, faint smile in response to my answer.

She's so beautiful, more captivating than the scenery on the mountain.

"Since you're out sightseeing, aren't you going to take a picture and send it to your friends?"

Chapter Thirty-Three: Soaring Through the Land

(Albinocotyledon)

Inducing Seruno to send a message to "Bai Ziye" was part of the plan, which is why I left my phone with Yin Wei. The key to today's trip is to establish a firm and unshakable concept in Seruno's mind.

Miluno is Miluno;

Albinocotyledons are albinocotyledons.

This is very important. Although it was Yin Wei who made the suggestion, I wholeheartedly agree with it.

But I never expected that this idiot would say such embarrassing things to me. If I hadn't been mentally strong, I probably would have been exposed on the spot.

"Miss Miluno!"

Serino took out her phone but then cautiously asked, "Could we take a picture together?"

I can understand the desire to take a photo with an idol, but she was too reserved. She's usually quite relaxed at home, even a bit too open... For example, last night after taking a shower, she wandered around the room in just a tank top and underwear, and even sat cross-legged on the bed, making me unsure where to look.

"Miss Miluno?"

"It's just a group photo, of course it's no problem."

A little distracted, I continued, "Since we're not going boating, let's go to the lakeside and take a picture as a souvenir."

"Okay, I'll do whatever Miss Miluno says."

That's what we say, but Changyue Lake is just a scenic spot near our home. We can take a bus here anytime, so there doesn't seem to be any need to linger here.

Stepping out of the shade, I could still feel a significant temperature difference, and because I had drunk water, I sweated even more.

Seruno, who had just pulled out her phone, suddenly let out a short scream.

"Ah! I didn't bring my selfie stick!"

"It's okay, just hold it up and shoot normally."

"But that means we have to be really close to be in the same frame... Ugh!"

I put my arm around Serino's shoulder and pulled her closer to me. The silly girl's expression was kind of cute in its panic, like a frightened roe deer staring at you silently with its mouth agape.

"Now we can take the picture."

"Miss Miluno is being too..."

"too?"

"It's so hot!"

It does get quite hot when they're pressed together like this.

"Then hurry up and take the picture."

"Awaaaaaah!!"

Squinting, I pressed the shutter button on my phone screen, capturing even Serino's awkward expression in the frame.

"Wow! This won't do, we have to delete it!"

"puff……"

Her flustered appearance made me lose my composure, and a smile crept onto my face.

My laughter quieted Seruno down.

She just stared at me, as if lost in thought.

Someone stammered, "I...I think Miss Miluno has a very beautiful smile!"

She spoke as if she had used all her strength to say it. After she finished speaking, she started to blush and pant. If it were the original Sun Yao, she would definitely look disgusting, like an overly excited idol fan at a fan meeting.

However, she is Seruno now, so she only comes across as cute.

"I think this photo is good, so I'll send it to your best friend."

I said this, pointing to that silly photo.

"Huh?"

"Don't you want to?"

“Um, since it’s Miss Miluno’s idea, then I…”

She was facing away from the sun, operating her phone in her own shadow, seemingly genuinely intending to send me that photo.

She seems to agree with almost everything I say.

Is the identity of "Miluno" really that useful?

"It's too hot, let's go to the mountain pass first."

"Yes, I'll listen to Miss Miluno."

There are several paths leading up the mountain, each leading to the summit. Although the lake is called Changyue Lake, the mountain is indeed shaped like a crescent moon, embracing this calm freshwater lake.

The path up the mountain wasn't steep, and the vegetation was lush. The towering trees provided shade and fresh air, which, while not as cold as air conditioning, was still quite comfortable.

Oh, and there's a babbling brook with crystal-clear water.

"Part of the water in Changyue Lake comes from mountain springs."

Seruno stood in front of the information sign at the entrance to the mountain path.

"There's also a legend written here: Lake Nagatsuki was created by an ancient magical girl who used magic to eliminate a monster!"

I could believe it if you said it was created by a meteorite, since the shape does resemble a huge crater, but to say it was created by an ancient magical girl is a bit far-fetched.

"This legend is illogical. The Star Crystal only appeared twelve years ago. There couldn't have been magical girls in ancient times. If they really existed, how could there be no record of them in history?"

"Miss Miluno is so serious. This so-called legend is clearly just a story tinged with romance."

I sighed, "Sigh, these days everything has to be associated with magical girls. Although that's the general trend, I still think it's too abnormal."

"Oh! I think so too! Those magical girls who do commercials don't look like magical girls at all!"

Serono really dares to say that, considering that the person who is best at getting advertising deals is currently number one.

She jogged a couple of steps to catch up with me and asked, "How did Miss Miluno encounter her own Star Crystal?"

"meet?"

"Oh right? You haven't registered with the association, so you can't be a qualified candidate found by the association, can you?"

Unlike the magical girls affiliated with the association, most "wild magical girls" are chosen directly by the Star Crystal. It is said that they obtain the crystal in various ways, such as it suddenly appearing in their pockets or being hit on the head by the Star Crystal on the balcony.

But I...

"My crystal was inherited from another magical girl."