Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

Upon hearing this, Ilya tilted her head.

"Really? You really care about returning things to their rightful owners. But that can easily give people the impression that 'I'm special'..."

"Because I'm special, that's why I was sent back. Is that the feeling you're trying to convey, Illyasviel?"

"I didn't expect you, Ivia, to be able to comment so calmly. You're just like a con artist in a TV drama who remains calm even after their scam has been exposed..."

Ilya nodded thoughtfully, and then set off on her journey with Ivia to return the letter.

"The fourth seat in the first group of Class 1, Grade 4".

"The fifth seat in the first group of Class 1, Grade 4".

"The tenth seat in the third group of Class 2, Grade 5".

"Class 1, Grade 6..."

……

From the ticket gate at the entrance of the animal park, walk into the pedestrian crossing and follow the signs along the bustling crowd. You will then see a wonderful facility behind the bushes, which is the live-action theater of the magical girl Bushido Musashi that Ilya has been longing for.

It was located at dusk, at the other end of a green forest, with a black and white rectangular television playing a DVD of Magical Girl Bushido Musashi.

"Oh, are you two here to see the Musashi event? I'm so sorry, it just ended."

At the theater entrance, the female ticket seller's glasses gleamed with a sense of helplessness.

"But it's only 55 now, the website says 5 o'clock, there should still be five minutes..."

Ilya waved her hand breathlessly, as if the ticket she had just handed over was still in her hand.

"Because not many people came to watch, and it was too hot to wear clothes, I finished a few minutes early to go eat. I'm sorry."

The ticket seller waved her hand. "However, there are only two magic wands left as a special gift. You can take them home. Thank you both for your continued support of Musashi. Tell me your names and I'll engrave them on them for you. They're souvenirs, you know?"

“Ilya and Ivia… and thank you.”

Afterwards, the ticket seller handed the two remaining magic wands to the two of them and left the now-closed theater, leaving only the TV above still playing the magical girl DVD.

"If you had said so earlier, you might have made it in time."

"...There's nothing we can do about it, we can only say it's fate."

Ilya muttered something, as if she were looking for an excuse.

"However, I don't know if I'll have the chance to come see Musashi again next time, and even if I do, there's no guarantee I'll have tickets... Hmm~"

Even though the ticket seller said she could take it home, Ilya, standing at the theater entrance, still opened the plastic packaging, humming a rather subtle tune. Perhaps she was a little sad that she hadn't been able to see Musashi, but the thought of having a bonus magic wand made it all worthwhile.

"Look, this is a special bonus for Musashi! It lights up and has sound effects too. Isn't that amazing!"

The girl looked happy, waving the magic wand she had just received, but the next second she coughed and forced an indifferent expression.

"Of course, I'm not saying I really like it, I'm just saying that once you get it, you shouldn't waste it, that's all."

The reason she's like this now is probably because, after her excitement faded, Ilya realized that she's already in fourth grade, and next month she'll be in fifth grade. She felt it was embarrassing to show others that she still liked watching magical girls and playing with magic wands.

At the same time, on a seat not far away, Liselle, one of Illya's maids, who had been wondering why Illya hadn't come to see the show, inadvertently looked up and saw the two people outside the theater.

"Oh? So you already had an appointment, but you're so late you won't be able to see anything..."

Lizzie muttered as she ate her ice cream.

Ilya really wanted to see this offline event; she'd heard about it so many times she was sick of it. So, although she didn't ask directly, she still bought two tickets with her own money, secretly putting one in Ilya's bag as a surprise.

I just didn't expect to arrive so late, and I certainly didn't expect to be with a boy.

This also puzzled Liselette. If she hadn't secretly given Ilya the ticket, would she not have come with the child?

Or there's an even more terrifying possibility: Ilya actually had some savings, but after spending it on this boy, she had no money left...

Regardless, Lyselle picked up the camera and began secretly filming while telling those around her that a new event had started at the theater.

……

at the same time.

"It's not that impressive, because I have it too."

Ivia waved her magic wand and said these words, which startled Ilya because they sounded childish and didn't quite fit Ivia's usual demeanor. But somehow, Ilya felt like arguing back.

"Of course it's amazing. If I hadn't brought you, Ivia, you wouldn't have been able to get this bonus."

Ilya confidently pointed her magic wand at Ivia, "Enough talk, let me show you what Musashi's transformation is like. It's super cool."

After saying that, Ilya immediately started spinning her magic wand like a magical girl on a TV that was still playing a DVD, and then accidentally threw it behind her.

"One more time, I'm very skilled at this at home, it was just an accident..."

Ivia could understand her feelings; after all, it's like wanting to perform but accidentally messing it up.

So Ilya ran to retrieve the magic wand. Perhaps out of resentment, she insisted on performing in front of Ivia, but this time it ended the same way—she accidentally flung it away again.

"This, this isn't...that. It was an accident, an accident..."

"Let me do it."

"Hey, Ivia, you watch it too—"

Since Ivia couldn't bear to see her first meeting of the Dragon Flower Assembly go like this, she picked up the magic wand that had fallen to the ground and began to spin it continuously in her hand.

"Bravo……"

"I haven't seen it before, but I'll learn it after watching it once."

"Bravo……"

Sincere exclamations of praise echoed in the slightly lonely air. Ivia looked at the magic wand in her hand, then glanced at Ilya, whose eyes were sparkling with admiration. She coughed first, then thought that the current situation was a bit strange, and decided to end it quickly.

Therefore, his expression softened when he looked at Ilya, becoming slightly more ordinary.

"Pure and flawless, none can surpass her; noble and elegant, none can rival her."

Just like the narration before a magical girl's appearance, or the entrance speech of a butler before the appearance of a certain type of young lady magical girl, Ivia spoke these words and appropriately picked up her magic wand and pointed it at Ilya.

"Quiet, quiet."

As if to follow orders, the people who had gathered around actually quieted down.

"No one can raise their head in front of this petite noblewoman."

The Ed playing on the TV was like music faintly heard at night, a serenade.

"The person residing here is more dazzling than colorless, the white magical girl."

"Bravo……"

Ilya had a lot to say, but when it came out of her mouth, only these few ordinary words came out.

"Illyasviel, could you please use a different interjection?"

"Can……"

Ilya scratched her face, then tilted her head and said, "But it's really, really, really amazing..."

From a reasonable standpoint, her words are completely devoid of judgment; they belong only to those caught up in a certain emotion, and are simpler than anything else.

"..."

After a long silence, a dazed Ilya took a few steps forward, picked up the magic wand from the ground, and prepared to toss it up again.

"Pure, pure and flawless..."

But she stopped there, not only because of the crowd that had gathered around them, drawn by their actions, but also because she felt that those words... were way too embarrassing to say! How could she possibly say them in front of so many people! It was just too... too shameful...

Therefore, the girl, her face flushed with embarrassment, put away her magic wand and lowered her head.

"...Thank you for playing such a childish game with me. I'll take responsibility if it makes your illness worse..."

The girl's mind raced, desperately searching for the right words to try and calm the burning, itchy feeling in her body.

"And from now on, you can just call me Ilya..."

So, with her back to Ivia, Ilya walked home with steps that seemed like she was running away, but after only two or three steps, Ivia's voice came from behind her.

"This is definitely right for you."

This made Ilya turn around, and there she was, staring straight at Ivia, with a gentle smile on her face for the first time in Ilya's memory, her azure eyes looking directly at her.

"Moreover, Ilya, you are my first encounter."

In that instant, Ilya felt her blood freeze, as if the world before her was overflowing with many colors, and the world was being constantly stained, which made her run even faster.

……

Not long after, at the Einzbern family's door, Sera, who had heard the door open, came over. When she saw Ilya, who was covered in sweat and looked exhausted, she looked puzzled.

"Ilya, what's wrong?"

"Great, great, Sera! Because I participated in the activities at the animal park, I even received a special gift from Musashi—"

Still half-asleep, Ilya wanted to show Sera the magic wand she had received, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the word 'Ivy' on it... This startled Ilya so much that she jumped up and ran straight to her room.

"What's wrong, Ilya? Has something bad happened...?"

Sera touched her face, looking worriedly at the girl's retreating figure as she ran back upstairs without saying a word. But before she could be puzzled for long, she heard the door open again.

“I’m back, Sera.”

"It's Liselette! Didn't you say you were taking Ilya to the zoo?"

"more or less."

"So? Is there anything strange about it there?"

Upon hearing this, Lizzie briefly recalled the scene at the time.

"Aren't they very strange children?"

That's how people answered Lyselette's questions back then, so she's just answering Sera the same way now.

"Do not."

Lizzie shook her head.

"That's great, it looks interesting."

……

At that moment, in Ilya's room, the girl rushed in, locked the door, and then pounced on the bed, spreading her legs out.

Oh no, I'm doomed! How could I have taken the wrong one? Am I really that forgetful...?

Ilya glanced up slightly at the magic wand engraved with the name 'Ivia' in her hand. She felt like the sky had fallen countless times. What would she say if Sera and her brother found out? Wait, she could say she accidentally typed the wrong number…

No, that's not right. The most urgent thing right now is to get back, isn't it? We should just exchange them immediately, right, that's exactly it.

Ilya made up her mind, and then lay down again.

No, no, he has to come to my door. I didn't do it on purpose. In fact, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have taken the wrong thing. Anyway, it's all Ivia's fault! I'm innocent!

By the way, what did he mean by "first meeting"... first, first, first... could it be—

After thinking of a very likely conjecture, Ilya's face turned even redder. She buried her face in the pillow for a long time and did not lift her head even though her whole body was very hot.

"First meeting," does that mean first love...?

Chapter 389 Rubies and the Final Offering Ceremony.

The willows sway in the warm breeze that heralds the arrival of spring.

The slender leaves touched the wall of the teaching building.

As Ilya was having lunch with her friends, she turned around and saw the sun shining brightly in the azure sky.

I'll be going into fifth grade soon! I heard from Teacher Dahe that because of the heavy snow at the beginning of the year, we only have three days off this time. It used to be at least a week...

"By the way, I've been feeling lately that you and Ivia have a really good relationship."

"……Um?"

It was just a normal exchange between classmates...

“Indeed, I feel the same way. During breaks, Ilya talks to Ivia about something, and they turn around and talk as soon as get out of class is over.”

"meet……"