Chapter 48: Something Is Happening

Before going to sleep, Kexin checked her suitcase once again. There wasn’t much she needed to bring—the training base provided enough supplies—but it had become a habit. Otherwise, she’d lie awake worrying she had forgotten something.

The next morning, Kexin woke up right on time. Instinctively, she grabbed her phone, and almost simultaneously, the alarm she had set the night before went off—but she turned it off immediately.

“Haah—”

Yawning, she slowly got out of bed.

Her mind gradually cleared as she became more awake. The room was still pitch black; the sun hadn’t yet risen over the horizon. But if she listened carefully, she could hear the city beginning to stir. She walked to the window, drew back the curtains, and saw occasional cars passing on the road nearby.

While Kexin was getting ready, the other participants in the training also woke up, even those who normally slept in.

Kexin changed into casual clothes—a baseball jacket on top and shorts below. She preferred long pants, or at least capris, so that the hems would cover her knees, but her wardrobe didn’t have anything like that. Most of her clothes had been sent over by her mother, and she had never been much concerned about buying her own clothes. She had mostly worn school uniforms and left the choice of outfits at home to her parents.

Selecting her outfit took her a while, and she also grabbed a hat. Even though her pink hair was widely accepted at Shingetsu Academy, it still stood out on the street.

When Kexin came downstairs with her suitcase, she saw that everyone else had arrived in the living room on time.

“Good morning!”

Qi Si was the first to notice Kexin. She put down her phone and took a half step toward her, her eyes scanning her from head to toe.

“Morning.”

Kexin felt Qi Si wanted to say something, but she didn’t, holding back her words. Kexin found herself a little impressed by her restraint.

Passing by Qi Si, Kexin went to the water dispenser just as Bai Xihan, who lived on the floor below, walked in. As the most experienced member present, Bai Xihan naturally took on the role of team leader. She looked around at everyone; Nekozaki and Hiiragi were still on the sofa, the former resting her head on the latter’s lap, seemingly trying to get a bit more sleep.

Qi Si quietly crept up behind Kexin, wrapping her arms tightly around her and leaning close to her hair, taking a deep inhalation.

“Morning boost, Kexin—pink hair energy, so invigorating.”

“What’s pink hair energy?”

Kexin wasn’t surprised by Qi Si’s playful antics; she did this with everyone. But this new term caught her off guard.

“Who knows? Probably some rare resource in this world.”

“As long as it’s pink hair, it works?”

“Yes.” As soon as she said it, Qi Si realized she’d misspoken, but it was too late—Kexin swiftly elbowed her in the side.

“Stop messing around. We have work to do.”

Bai Xihan caught Kexin’s eye and, seeing her nod slightly, clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention:

“Looks like everyone’s ready. Let’s go. Agent Guan said breakfast is waiting at the station, so we can head straight there.”

She opened a ride-hailing app and ordered two cars. There were five of them participating in this training; most of the other magical girls from Mutsuzou stayed at home. Qi Si, who didn’t return home often, was somewhat unusual.

“I’m hungry now,” Nekozaki mumbled, resting her cheek on Hiiragi’s leg.

“I brought some snacks in my bag. Eat on the way.”

“Thanks, acting captain!”

Nekozaki’s eyes practically lit up at the mention of food, bouncing in front of Bai Xihan.

The two cars arrived almost simultaneously. Bai Xihan took Nekozaki and Hiiragi in the first car, since they were one team.

“By the way, did you want to say something earlier?”

On the way, Kexin suddenly remembered Qi Si’s scrutinizing glance and hesitant expression.

“Say something?”

“No?”

“Nothing? Are you sure? I think you misunderstood.”

“But I just thought of something,” Qi Si said, pulling out a small, coin-sized device and placing it on the car’s fold-out table. After a short pulse of magic energy, the road noise disappeared.

“Isn’t that equipment from the Special Investigation Bureau?”

Kexin had seen Agent Guan use it. Once activated, no one could eavesdrop on the conversation—not just standard wiretaps. Using it now meant the topic was serious.

“Yes, we’re agents too. Using it is normal.”

Kexin didn’t argue, just listened.

“You’re not even going to comment?”

“Not the right time.”

“Ah, Kexin, sometimes you’re as boring as your fashion sense.”

“My fashion sense?” Kexin glanced at herself but didn’t see anything wrong.

“So… never mind. Let’s get to business. I heard about something strange from a friend.”

Qi Si opened her PAD and marked a location on the map.

“Do you know where this is?”

“Whoa—Chifeng City?”

Kexin had heard Agent Guan mention it before. The city had recently seen a sudden spike in paranormal activity. Being small, it didn’t have enough agents or magical girls, so outside help had been sent. Among the people sent from Mutsuzou was Kexin’s senior, Gu Yanhang, with whom Kexin got along well.

“Yes,” Qi Si continued, marking several more points on the map.

“Do you notice anything?”

“These points are near Mutsuzou?”

Drawing a line between Chifeng City and Mutsuzou City, the points all lay along it, not more than ten kilometers off. Kexin didn’t know what it meant.

“These places are the last known locations of recently reported missing people. Since the local police didn’t notice anything strange, they didn’t immediately report it to the Special Investigation Bureau.”

Qi Si didn’t reveal the source of her information, since it was already holiday season and many were on vacation.

According to her friend, the missing were mostly tourists driving themselves. Their cars were later found severely damaged. Local police assumed it was a gang of criminals, struggling to solve the case.

“So… you mean some paranormal entity escaped from Chifeng and is heading straight for Mutsuzou?”

Kexin made the most plausible guess based on the information. If true, the missing victims likely wouldn’t even have left behind bodies.

“Possible. Given our mission this time, I feel something big is happening. We must be extra careful.”

The device turned off, and normal sound returned. Qi Si’s serious expression softened:

“Kexin, when we have time, we should go shopping. I’ll help you pick some clothes.”

“Can I refuse?”

Seeing Qi Si’s determined look, Kexin knew she couldn’t avoid it.

“Looks like not.”