Chapter 17: If I No Longer Hesitate at the Alley’s Entrance

In the most prosperous downtown area of Nancheng… just one street off, there was a dilapidated alley that was at least several decades old.

Five identical large trash cans were lined up at the entrance of the alley, surrounded by piles of misplaced trash bags, with flies buzzing freely above. This narrow, filthy space, usually avoided by the surrounding residents, was now packed with evacuating passersby.

Outside the alley, the deafening roar of an engine, like a demon crawling up from hell, frightened the baby in a mother’s arms into a loud cry.

“Is that a Nightmare? I’ve never seen one like this…”

“Aren’t Nightmares all black-smoked beasts?”

“There are other types! Our Nancheng’s most powerful magical girl, The Flower Arranger, once defeated a beheading ceiling fan!”

The passersby chattered and argued. Some felt that hiding here was just waiting for death and that it was better to go home quickly. They shouted and pushed randomly in the crowd, only quieting down after being slapped by a muscular man next to them.

“Magical girls, aren’t their actions usually very secretive? How did you see her defeat the Nightmare?”

The girl who had just claimed to have seen the magical girl dismantle the ceiling fan looked down and saw a little girl with blonde hair and green eyes, already squeezed off her feet by the crowd, with a rather helpless expression on her face.

Actually, Ren Huazhi could have pushed everyone around her away. At full strength, she was like a truck speeding down the street outside. But she couldn’t control the power of a magical girl in her true body and was afraid that a careless move would cause a stampede. As a result, she became as frail as she looked.

The girl pulled her hand out from the gaps between people, brought it to her mouth in a shushing gesture, and smiled slyly. “Since you’re cute, I’ll tell you a secret. The magical girls have an internal forum. I’m lurking in there, and when I see which subjugation The Flower Arranger has accepted, I hide on a nearby floor and take photos with a telephoto lens.”

“…How did you get in?”

“I don’t know, it seems like they accidentally sent the access account to my email when they were distributing them. Don’t report me, okay? Next time there’s news, I’ll call you to come and watch with me.”

‘Well, thank you very much,’ Ren Huazhi thought.

Magical girls generally have a beautifying effect after transformation, and their clothes are bright and beautiful. She had always worried that without a confidentiality clause, the others (especially the Potato Chip sisters) would be dazzled by the glamorous world and forget their duty to defeat Nightmares, turning to become idols instead.

It turned out that even without becoming idols, they would still have paparazzi.

And it was even The Flower Arranger’s paparazzi…

“Actually, I’m also a fan of The Flower Arranger,” Ren Huazhi said, “but she’s too secretive, I can’t find an opportunity.”

“Follow me, and you’ll get to see magical girls!”

The girl squeezed over and hugged Ren Huazhi, carving out a safe space for her in the corner.

She braced her hands on the wall above Ren Huazhi’s shoulders, as if pinning her against it, and leaned in to whisper in her ear. Her brown, slightly curly hair tickled Ren Huazhi.

“My name is Si Chenxue, from No. 13 Middle School. What about you?”

“…Ren Huazhi, Nancheng No. 1 High. But I barely go to school.” This realistic self-introduction was still a bit uncomfortable. Ren Huazhi lowered her head, which Si Chenxue interpreted as shyness.

“Does my little sister take online classes at home?”

“I just skip class.”

“I didn’t expect you to be more of a delinquent than me,” Si Chenxue smiled genuinely. “Then we’re accomplices. Guess which magical girl will come to defeat that Nightmare outside?”

“Will it be The Flower Arranger?”

Si Chenxue shook her head. “The Flower Arranger hasn’t been active for days. She’s usually the most dedicated. I don’t know if she’s had an accident. I hope she’s just taking a break for herself…”

“…”

Ren Huazhi remained noncommittal.

The Flower Arranger’s obituary was not posted on the forum. The grieving Meng Qiuxu had personally called and informed everyone one by one. On the day of the funeral, although the Potato Chip sisters were not kind with their words, discussing whether the body was cut horizontally or vertically, they still had their limits and did not spread the details of the scene around.

To the public who knew nothing about magical girls, someone was still eliminating Nightmares, and everything was as usual. But for those who cared about magical girls (even through gray means)…

They didn’t even know that the artificial flower had already withered.

Ren Huazhi, with her braided hair, hat, and glasses, was not recognized by her fan even at such a close distance. She had completely detached herself from the identity of The Flower Arranger.

Everything about The Flower Arranger had nothing to do with her anymore—

“Hey, what are you doing here too?”

A familiar voice came from across the human wall. Xu Panpan pushed her way through two shoulders.

“Brother Ren’s sister! By the way, what was your name again?”

“Ren Huazhi. The ‘zhi’ from ‘weaving’.”

“Your names are so similar. And who is this…” Xu Panpan looked at Si Chenxue, who was half a head taller than her, had dyed and permed hair, and heavy eye makeup, which made her subconsciously shrink her neck.

“A socialite? I-I’m not afraid of you! Don’t even think about bullying Brother Ren’s sister, I’ve got her back!”

Xu Panpan used her head to push against Si Chenxue’s arm, nudging her aside, and then protectively shielded Ren Huazhi.

‘I’ve never seen you have my back like this before,’ Ren Huazhi thought.

Si Chenxue looked at Xu Panpan, then at Ren Huazhi, and burst out laughing. “Alright, I’ll leave her to you then. Bye-bye, little golden furball.”

Without waiting for Xu Panpan’s response, she let go of the wall, allowing the crowd to carry her deeper into the alley.

“What’s a little golden furball? Is this what it’s like to be an extrovert? So scary…” Ren Huazhi muttered behind Xu Panpan.

Hearing her terrified voice, the question Xu Panpan had wanted to ask vanished. She asked instead, “Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m not…”

“The magical girl doesn’t seem to be here yet,” Xu Panpan said, watching the situation outside for Ren Huazhi. “I wonder if Brother Ren will come…”

“You believe he’s a Kamen Rider that much?”

“I believe it!”

“Alright then, let’s follow the crowd to evacuate now. He will appear and defeat that Nightmare truck.”

“Why—”

In the surging crowd, their eyes met for a moment.

Through the brown sunglasses, Xu Panpan saw something in those dark green eyes that sent a jolt through her body. She subconsciously let go, and in an instant, like Si Chenxue just now, she was swept into the torrent and carried towards the other exit of the alley.

“Sister Ren—!”

“I’ll follow, don’t worry!”

The human barrier completely concealed the small Ren Huazhi. She took a deep breath and pushed outwards with a little effort—against the tide of people, she moved step by step towards the Nightmare.

Jingzhe hadn’t arrived yet.

‘Is she really an unreliable young lady? No wonder Meng Qiuxu was worried and asked me to help look after her…’

She nimbly slipped into the gap between a utility pole, a trash can, an air conditioner outdoor unit, and the wall.

She took out the transformer that had been charging all the way and fastened it to her waist. The restored fastening straps automatically extended to fit her waist.

“Well then, let the hero’s story begin—”

“Trans—form.”