You call this a love game?

However, at that moment, the witch's body, which was on the verge of disintegration, suddenly turned into a cloud of black mist and slipped away from her.

"Huh?!" Sakura Kyoko exclaimed in surprise, then quickly swung her spear again. "Don't even think about running away!"

The black mist quickly drifted away into the distance, and Sakura Kyoko chased after it without saying a word.

Just as Bai Yu was about to offer a warning, the red figure had already rushed out of the barrier.

“This girl…” He shook his head helplessly and quickly followed.

Sakura Kyoko chased the black mist over hillsides and through forests, unknowingly reaching the border of Kazamino City.

The witch's remains suddenly accelerated and plunged into the neighboring city of Mitakihara, concealing themselves among the buildings.

"Stop!" Sakura Kyoko rushed in without thinking.

The scene before her suddenly changed; skyscrapers replaced the suburban landscape, and pedestrians hurried along the bustling streets. Sakura Kyoko then realized that she had run into an unfamiliar city and was momentarily bewildered.

"There!" She suddenly spotted the black mist disappearing into a department store and immediately gave chase.

Just as he rushed into the mall, a golden figure descended from the sky. With a 'bang,' the witch's remains were accurately hit and turned into black smoke and dissipated.

Sakura Kyoko stopped in her tracks and cautiously raised her spear.

As the smoke cleared, a blonde girl landed gracefully, her skirt unfurling like flower petals. The flintlock pistol in her hand was still emitting smoke, and her golden eyes held a scrutinizing gaze.

"You are......?"

The two spoke at the same time, then froze at the same time.

“I am Sakura Kyoko.” The red-haired girl broke the silence first. “I was the one who discovered that witch first.”

“Mami Tomoe.” The blonde girl nodded slightly. “But she has already escaped into my jurisdiction.”

The atmosphere was a little tense for a while.

Just then, Bai Yu finally arrived, holding three popsicles in his hand. He peeled one open and began to lick it with a look of pure bliss.

"Xingzi, you run too fast. Be careful not to fall into an ambush next time."

"Father!" Sakura Kyoko immediately ran to his side, "This man stole my witch!"

Mami Tomoe's eyes widened slightly when she saw Shiraha. "And who is this gentleman...?"

"My name is Bai Yu, and I am a priest. I am responsible for teaching this child some combat skills."

"A priest who teaches combat skills?" Mami Tomoe tilted her head slightly, her golden curls swaying gently with the movement.

She held the flintlock pistol in a vigilant stance, but the muzzle had drooped slightly. "This is truly... a unique combination."

Sakura Kyoko puffed out her chest defiantly, "Father is incredibly amazing! Much better than someone like you who steals kills!"

"Xingzi." Bai Yu gently pressed her shoulder and casually stuffed an ice pop into her mouth. "Be polite."

Sakura Kyoko was jolted by the cold and hurriedly caught the popsicle, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster.

She had been told to be wary of other magical girls, as they might steal her prey; the importance of the Grief Seed to magical girls was self-evident.

Now that she's so wary, this guy is pretending to be a good person. It's infuriating!

She took a big, angry bite, expressing her protest with her eyes.

This is clearly Shiraha's fault, because he only mentioned that Homura Akemi has the ability of reincarnation, but did not tell her the names of the other people, such as Mami Tomoe in front of him.

Seeing that Sakura Kyoko had calmed down, Shiraha turned to Tomoe Mami and gave her a gentle smile. "I'm sorry, this child was a bit reckless. Thank you for helping me earlier."

Mami Tomoe blinked, and the flintlock pistol vanished in a flash of golden light. She gave an elegant bow. "No, I should be apologizing. I didn't know that witch was the prey you were hunting."

"Prey...you make it sound like we're wild animals..." Sakura Kyoko muttered under her breath.

Bai Yu pretended not to hear and continued, "Since you killed her, then you can have this Seed of Lamentation. We can go and find other witches."

"Huh?" Mami Tomoe opened her mouth slightly in surprise. "How can this be? I only fired the last shot. I didn't put in much effort. Let's take back this Seed of Lamentation."

Mami Tomoe picked up the Lament Seed from the ground, walked over, and gestured for Shiraha to take it back.

Seeing the black Seed of Sorrow in the girl's palm, Bai Yu no longer refused and took it directly.

After all, this was indeed Sakura Kyoko's prey, and she had put in the most effort. If he were to give it up rashly, she would be upset. Just now, he was simply testing whether Tomoe Mami still remembered him.

However, it seems that the other party most likely doesn't remember the last simulation, otherwise they would have pounced on them long ago.

Bai Yu didn't care about those things; he was already used to it anyway.

He simply and generously extended his hand to shake hands with Mami Tomoe. "I didn't expect you to be so generous, Ms. Tomoe. However, we just happened to be here and are not very familiar with Mitakihara. Could you be our guide and show us the beauty of Mitakihara?"

Mami Tomoe's eyes lit up instantly. "Of course!"

She then suddenly realized she had overreacted and coughed lightly to cover it up, saying, "I mean... as a local magical girl, this is my duty."

Sakura Kyoko looked at the two of them suspiciously, feeling that the atmosphere was a bit strange. She finished her popsicle in a few bites and then accurately threw the stick into the trash can in the distance.

"Hey, Father, could she be plotting something against us? Why did she agree so quickly?"

"Xingzi!" Seeing the girl's undisguised words, Bai Yu couldn't help but facepalm. "How could Miss Ba be a bad person? Don't think too badly of her. But you! Didn't you say you were going to fight ten? How come you let her get away after only the first one?"

"I...I was careless..." Sakura Kyoko blushed and explained.

Then came a long list of things like "the defeated generals are still victories even with heavy casualties," and "it's all the fault of the K-headed monster."

Seeing such an interesting girl, Mami Tomoe couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Upon hearing the laughter of the 'enemy,' Sakura Kyoko immediately flashed her signature fangs and grinned at Tomoe Mami.

"Do not laugh!"

Mami Tomoe stopped laughing, but Shiraha laughed even louder.

"Ouch!" In a fit of rage, Sakura Kyoko bit Shiraha's arm.

"Hiss—are you a dog?" Bai Yu swung her arm, leaving two neat rows of teeth marks on it.

Sakura Kyoko proudly raised her chin, like a kitten that had won a fight.

Mami Tomoe watched the interaction between the two, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes. She coughed lightly, "Um... if you don't mind, would you like to come to my house for a cup of tea? I just baked a lemon cake."

"A cake?!" Sakura Kyoko's ears perked up immediately, but she quickly narrowed her eyes warily. "Wait, could it be poison?"

"Xingzi!" Bai Yu flicked her forehead. "Did you forget what I just said?"

"Ouch!" Sakura Kyoko clutched her forehead, pouting pitifully. "But Father himself said we should be wary of other magical girls..."

Mami Tomoe smiled slightly, and a golden light flashed in her hand, conjuring a cup of steaming black tea. The sweet aroma wafted into Kyoko Sakura's nostrils.

She took a sip in front of the two of them and said, "See, it's not poisoned."

Sakura Kyoko swallowed hard and made a gurgling sound to herself.

I ate breakfast as usual, but I worked very hard and the battle with the witch earlier had also taken a toll on my energy, so my stomach was empty.

She blushed and turned her head away, "Since you've invited me so sincerely..."

Ten minutes later, the three arrived at Mami Tomoe's apartment.

Mami Tomoe's apartment is spacious and bright, with potted plants filling the balcony, and there is plenty of room for three people.

As soon as Sakura Kyoko entered, her eyes widened. The table was filled with all kinds of desserts, from macarons to tiramisu.

Although she didn't recognize any of them, they looked absolutely delicious!

The air was filled with a sweet smell, and the entire living room was filled with the aroma of these desserts.

"You...you did all of this?" Sakura Kyoko's voice changed.

Mami Tomoe nodded proudly, "Everyone needs to find some entertainment."

And there's no need to worry about not being able to finish it. With Kewpie around, you can give the rest to it, or at the very least, take it downstairs and give it to the children playing in the park.

What kind of tea does Father Baiyu like to drink?

"Black tea is fine."

Bai Yu surveyed the cozy living room: an exquisite tea set cabinet, a sofa filled with dolls, and several landscape paintings hanging on the wall. His gaze lingered for a moment on the family photo on the wall, in which Mami Tomoe smiled brightly, standing between a couple.

Those were his family members from the last simulation, when he was Mami Tomoe's younger brother.

Mami Tomoe noticed his gaze, her eyes darkening. "That's... a photo from before the accident. My parents are no longer here."

Sakura Kyoko's hand, which was reaching for the dessert, suddenly stopped. She glanced at Shiraha and saw him looking out the window thoughtfully.

Seeing that Shiraha remained unmoved, Sakura Kyoko racked her brains trying to change the subject, "Um... your gun is cool, can you conjure up more?"

Mami Tomoe nodded. "Of course, but it's not very convenient here. I can show you next time we hunt together."

"Eat your dessert and stop talking nonsense." Bai Yu forked a piece of dessert from the table and stuffed it directly into Sakura Kyoko's mouth.

"Well!"

Sakura Kyoko tried hard to swallow the snack in her mouth, preventing the outer part from falling off.

The sweet cream instantly dispelled the sadness in the air. Mami was amused by her eating habits and got up to prepare tea utensils.

"Father," Sakura Kyoko whispered in Shiraha's ear, "that blond guy is amazing! His desserts are even better than the ones sold in convenience stores!"

Bai Yu looked at the cream on the girl's lips and helplessly pulled out a tissue. "Wipe your mouth. Look at the state you're in."

Mami Tomoe returned with a tea tray, skillfully pouring tea. Amidst the rising steam, she softly asked, "Did you just become a magical girl?"

“That’s right.” Bai Yu took the teacup. “I just made a wish contract yesterday, which is why I was so weak and let the witch get away.”

Just as Sakura Kyoko was about to protest, a cream puff was shoved into her mouth. She chewed it angrily, like an angry hamster.

"So how long do you plan to stay in Mitakihara?" Mami Tomoe's finger unconsciously traced circles on the rim of her cup.

Bai Yu took a sip of tea. "It depends. If all goes well, I might stay permanently."

"A permanent resident?!" Sakura Kyoko nearly choked on her cake. "How come I didn't know?"

"Didn't I tell you now?" Bai Yu calmly poured her a cup of black tea.

Mami's eyes lit up instantly. "Really? Then...would you like to stay here? There are plenty of empty rooms..."

Sakura Kyoko immediately raised her alarm bells, "No way! The priest is a man, how can he live with a woman!"

“I can help you find a place nearby,” Mami Tomoe quickly changed her mind. “The rent in Mitakihara is reasonable. If all else fails, I can pay for it myself.”

Bai Yu put down his teacup. "Thank you for your kindness, but I have some things to take care of before that."

Mami Tomoe couldn't hide her disappointment, but she still maintained an elegant smile. "I understand. So... can I come visit you guys during this time?"

"Of course," Bai Yu said with a smile. "It's a good opportunity for Xingzi to learn some combat skills from you. That girl is too reckless."

"Hey!" Sakura Kyoko slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly. "I've clearly improved a lot, okay?!"

Looking at the flustered girl, Mami Tomoe couldn't help but tease her, "Hmm, she seems like a good prospect."

Sakura Kyoko bared her fangs at Tomoe Mami again, bracing herself on the ground with her hands and feet, arching her back and breathing on Tomoe Mami, looking extremely displeased.

"Don't treat me like a child!"

"Hmm, little Xingzi, what do you think?" Bai Yu reached out and touched the girl's slightly frizzy hair, smoothing it down.

"Hmph! As long as it improves my strength, I don't care what happens." Sakura Kyoko snorted and turned her face away disdainfully, but she didn't refuse the offer.

She doesn't want to be able to eat this delicious dessert anytime!

Sure enough, this guy must have put something weird in there! Otherwise, why would she keep eating them nonstop, and why would her body feel slightly warm?

There's ice!

Chapter Ninety-Six: I Return from Reincarnation, Born to Save You

"While Miss Ba's pastry skills are indeed unparalleled, I think your black tea was steeped a little too long. Next time, you could pour it out a few seconds earlier for a more refreshing taste."

Mami Tomoe paused slightly, holding the cup of black tea, a look of surprise on her face.

"Huh? How come you...?"

She does have this habit; to make the tea flavor stronger, she always subconsciously steeps it for a few more seconds.

"Just a guess," Bai Yu said casually, raising his glass to her. "But it was still delicious, thank you for the treat."

"You're welcome. I'll try your method next time. I hope to see you again then, and I'll treat you to a cup of my brewed black tea."

Sakura Kyoko, who was standing nearby, saw all of this and suddenly felt a tightness in her chest.

The two had just met, yet their conversation was already going very well, like long-lost friends. Sakura Kyoko kept staring at their facial expressions, but couldn't discern anything amiss.