Chapter 20: A Night of Vigilance

As previously mentioned.

I decided to sleep in Hayato’s room.

Of course, I slept on the floor, setting up a makeshift bed.

After all, I couldn’t let the owner of the bedroom suffer.

We’re not children anymore, our bodies have grown, and a single bed would be too cramped.

I found a mattress and blankets from the guest room, and Aunt Chinatsu gave me a puzzled look.

I had a slightly strained excuse ready.

There was a luxurious display screen in Hayato’s bedroom, and I said I needed to use it all night to play games.

Saying that might make me seem a bit self-indulgent.

But I couldn’t think of any other good reason.

Fortunately, after I told Aunt Chinatsu that I needed to move the blankets to Hayato’s room, she didn’t ask any further questions.

Well, what could two boys possibly do in the same room, after all?

I’ve heard that if girls are close, they often sleep in the same room, even if there are two available.

If boys aren’t forced to do so, it would seem very unusual.

But all of this is for Hayato’s safety.

To keep Hayato from worrying too much, I didn’t plan to tell him that he might be targeted by the weirdo group.

I would protect Hayato.

That’s the meaning of becoming a magical girl. Perhaps… one of the reasons.

For this, the elegant bracelet that doesn’t suit my identity must now be worn on my wrist at all times.

Even when bathing, no less.

Not to mention in my dreams.

Truthfully, it’s a bit uncomfortable. But I’ve heard that some people never take off their watches, no matter the situation.

Like some gladiators who never easily remove their masks.

That’s how I understand it.

The bathroom was filled with steam, and the hot water cascading over my body slightly relaxed my tense muscles.

I sat on a small stool next to the bathtub, using the showerhead to rinse off, my wet hair hanging down.

In front of me was a mirror.

My figure was slender, and my skin was fair, with a refined bone structure.

Without the old-fashioned black-framed glasses, I looked delicate.

I resembled my mother more than my father, both in appearance and personality.

The person who influenced me the most was also my mother.

My father was like an endless sea, always able to tolerate my and my mother’s mischief.

He seemed somewhat scholarly with his glasses.

My mother told me that during high school, my father had a dashing, charming image as he pursued her.

Unfortunately, those photos have long since disappeared.

The ruined family album, from the time they were in college until just after I was born.

I could still recall my mother’s image by looking in the mirror.

But for my missing father, I deliberately avoided looking at the photos.

I was afraid that one day, I would hear news of his death somewhere.

And after all this time, he had already been legally declared dead.

For me, the Watanabe household is the only place I can call home.

“…”

After cleaning my body, I submerged myself in the bathtub.

The hot water enveloped me up to my chin.

At that moment, it felt as if I was in my mother’s embrace.

Warm and comforting.

My thoughts were a whirlwind.

Once events involve Hayato, I act instinctively.

At this moment, Little Black Cat Lingling’s words, and the messages White Stone sent through the communication app, spontaneously came together in my mind.

In the afternoon, a C-level weirdo named Mist appeared on the shopping street.

He spread mist through the cuffs of his sleeves.

In the mist, people not only lose consciousness but may also experience hallucinations, causing chaos.

According to White Stone, when she arrived at the scene, he was standing on the roof, looking down at the chaotic crowd below as if admiring his handiwork.

At the same time, he was laughing maniacally.

Until Magical Girl Sakura Tsui’s arrow pierced his chest.

He instantly turned into a swirl of black mist, escaping and deepening the chaos wherever he went.

The once bustling commercial street, filled with tourists, was now strewn with plastic bags, saliva, and watermelon juice flying everywhere.

Cornered, he grabbed a young boy who was kissing a promotional board as a hostage.

At that moment, Mist’s mind seemed to be unraveling.

Without the ability to engage in direct combat, and no companions to assist, he trembled as he gripped the knife hilt.

His pupils were strangely dilated, with bloodshot whites.

The fundamental desire of these weirdos is destruction, but this seemed abnormal.

C-level weirdos can maintain some semblance of sanity, but their actions become increasingly bizarre due to their intense destructive urges.

Even in moments of calm, one could sense that this individual was out of place with his surroundings.

His voice sounded strained:

“You! You! Do you know him, right? If you don’t want him to die, then leave here now… now!”

White Stone, or Sakura Tsui, had never met the boy before.

But upon closer inspection, his build and features bore a slight resemblance to Hayato.

If two B-level weirdos had taken a regular person hostage, like Umbra and Nightmare, one might have to be wary.

But Mist, whose abilities were not suited for combat and who had slow escape speeds, was undoubtedly putting up a desperate fight.

After the incident was resolved, despite it being only a guess, the question could not be ignored—

Why did he choose a boy who slightly resembled Hayato as a hostage?

Why did he say Sakura Tsui knew the boy?

Optimistically, it could be that Mist, in his panic, fabricated a bargaining chip.

But would it really be that coincidental?

When it comes to Hayato, I simply cannot relax. Any gamble with probability is irresponsible.

“Ren, you didn’t bring your pajamas.”

Suddenly, Hayato’s voice echoed from outside the bathroom.

I startled and sat up, splashing water everywhere.

I definitely didn’t remember going to the balcony to get clothes.

There were three sets of pajamas, and with the good weather, I had put them all in the washing machine.

But I had been so preoccupied with Hayato’s matters that I forgot about it.

I didn’t have the habit of bringing my phone into the bathroom, and the house was quite large.

If Hayato hadn’t noticed, I might have ended up stuck in the bathroom, all alone and miserable.

“Wait a moment, I’ll open the door outside.”

I stood up from the bathtub, preparing to open the bathroom door.

But in that instant, I heard a click.

Had I forgotten to lock it?

Usually, when someone is using the bathroom, they remember to do this to avoid awkward situations.

Hayato and I stared at each other.

The small black cat, visible only to me, was also behind Hayato, wagging its tail.

Fortunately, because the floor was slippery, my movements weren’t too exaggerated, so the parts that shouldn’t be exposed were still covered.

This was still a rating-appropriate scenario.

Especially Little Black Cat Lingling, whose voice sounded like a child’s.

If something like that really happened, I might never be able to show my face again.

“Little Ren.”

He greeted me.

No, this wasn’t the time for greetings.

No one greets others in such a place.

Mythical creatures should really study human life knowledge better.

Despite my request for Lingling to keep an eye on Hayato when I wasn’t around,

Hayato awkwardly averted his gaze, placing the clothes in the basket.

“Thank you, you’ve been a great help.”

I said to Hayato.

Strange, Hayato’s tense emotions spread again.

Had he been staring at my face because it wasn’t clean?

Wait, let me check the mirror again.

After closing the door, Hayato said from outside:

“Next time, Ren, remember to lock the door. I accidentally bumped into it, and it opened.”

“Oh… oh…”

I hesitantly responded to Hayato.

That shouldn’t be the case.

Locking the door as a reflexive action, I had no memory of it.

But if it was that familiar, it wouldn’t have happened.

Or was the lock already worn out?

Anyway, my body was starting to feel chilly, and I wasn’t really in the mood to soak anymore.

After drying off, I put on the pajamas Hayato brought and returned to the bedroom.

Now it was Hayato’s turn to take a bath. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to lurk around at this time.

But before that, I grabbed Little Black Cat by the scruff of the neck.

“Stay outside the bathroom, don’t go in, okay?”

Lingling tilted his head, confusion in his cat eyes.

Was he being intentionally cute?

“Little Ren, why? The others always bathed with me before.”

“…”

I was momentarily speechless, then remembered a question I had overlooked.

Domestic animals don’t need to consider gender, but mythical creatures aren’t pets.

“Lingling, are you male or female?”

The childlike voice made it hard to tell.

“By human standards for classifying animals, I am female.”

“Mythical creatures were originally born from the World Tree, but after encountering so many forms of life, some differences emerged.”

“Mythical creatures responsible for magical girl contracts, if they have differences, then all that I have encountered so far have been female.”

Of course.

If magical girls have exceptions, it can become very troublesome.

So, I repeatedly reminded Lingling not to follow Hayato into the bathroom.

Intelligent life forms probably all have curiosity, or the desire to know why.

I could only evade the question and somehow get by.

And even if I had clearly explained it, would the mythical creature understand human ethics?

With such questions in mind, I turned on the game console and played a round of Street Fighter online.

The display effect was no match for Hayato’s room.

Good, the air conditioner temperature should be just right, time to go to Hayato’s room.

I turned off the fan and unplugged the charging cable from the phone.

I glanced at the trending topics, and a keyword caught my eye—

Ah… I completely forgot, Magical Girl Lux.

I lay on the bed in Hayato’s room, reflecting on the day’s events.

The encounter with Mist and the mysterious messages from White Stone left me unsettled.

There was something off about the whole situation, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Hayato was in danger.

As a magical girl, my duty was to protect him, no matter what.

I adjusted the bracelet on my wrist, a reminder of my responsibilities and the power I held.

The room was quiet, and the only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioner.

I closed my eyes, letting the day’s tension slowly melt away.

Tomorrow would be a new day, and with it, new challenges to face.

But for now, I allowed myself a moment of peace, knowing that Hayato was safe and sound, just a wall away.

The bathroom door opened, and Hayato emerged, his hair still damp from the shower.

He looked at me with a mix of curiosity and concern, as if trying to read my thoughts.

“Ren, you okay?” he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak just yet.

The weight of the day’s events still hung heavy in my mind, but I pushed it aside, focusing on the present.

Hayato sat on the edge of the bed, his shoulders slumped slightly as if carrying an unseen burden.

“You know, sometimes I wonder if this is all worth it,” he said, his gaze distant.

“What do you mean?” I asked, propping myself up on one elbow to look at him.

“All of this—protecting me, putting yourself in danger. Is it really necessary?”

His question caught me off guard, and I took a moment to consider my response.

“Hayato, you’re my friend. Of course, it’s necessary.”

I reached out and gently squeezed his shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles.

“Besides, I chose this path. It’s my duty and my honor to be your guardian.”

Hayato sighed, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“You’re too kind, Ren. I don’t deserve someone like you.”

“Nonsense,” I said firmly. “You deserve the best, and I’m doing my best to give it to you.”

He chuckled, the sound light and free, and for a moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift from his shoulders.

“You’re right,” he said, his eyes meeting mine. “I’m lucky to have you.”

I smiled back, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the air conditioner.

In that moment, everything felt right, and I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together.

The next morning, the sun filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room.

I stirred, my body aching from the discomfort of sleeping on the floor.

Hayato was already up, his back to me as he stood by the window, looking out at the world below.

“Morning, Ren,” he said without turning around, his voice steady and calm.

“Morning,” I replied, stretching and sitting up.

He turned to face me, his expression unreadable.

“Ren, about last night…” he began, his voice trailing off.

“It’s okay, Hayato,” I interrupted, not wanting to dwell on the awkwardness of the previous evening.

“Let’s just focus on today, alright?”

He nodded, a small smile returning to his face.

“You’re right. Today is a new day.”

We shared a moment of understanding, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

The challenges of the past would not define us, and we would face whatever came our way with courage and determination.

Together, we would navigate the complexities of our world, supporting each other every step of the way.

The day passed in a blur of activity, with school and various errands keeping us busy.

As the sun began to set, we found ourselves back in Hayato’s room, the weight of the day’s events settling over us like a heavy cloak.

Hayato sat on the bed, his head in his hands, a picture of exhaustion and despair.

I approached him cautiously, not wanting to intrude on his thoughts.

“Hayato, are you okay?” I asked softly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

He looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and uncertainty.

“Ren, I’m scared,” he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.

“Scared of what?” I asked, my heart aching for him.

“Scared of losing you, of everything falling apart,” he said, his words tinged with desperation.

I sat down beside him, pulling him into a comforting embrace.

“Hayato, you’re not alone. I’m here, and I’ll always be here for you.”

He leaned into me, his body shaking with silent sobs.

I held him tightly, wishing I could take away all his pain and fear.

In that moment, I realized just how much he meant to me, and I vowed to protect him no matter what.

No matter what challenges lay ahead, I would be his shield, his support, his everything.

As the night deepened, we lay side by side, the only sound the soft rhythm of our breathing.

The world outside faded away, leaving only the two of us in our own little sanctuary.

Hayato’s hand found mine in the darkness, his fingers entwining with my own.

I squeezed back, a silent promise of my unwavering support.

In the quiet of the night, I knew that no matter what tomorrow might bring, we would face it together.

With Hayato by my side, I felt invincible, ready to take on whatever the world threw at us.

The days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, but our bond only grew stronger.

We faced countless trials and tribulations, but through it all, we remained steadfast in our commitment to each other.

Hayato’s laughter became my favorite sound, and his smile, my greatest joy.

I knew that as long as we had each other, we could overcome anything.

And so, we continued on our journey, hand in hand, ready to face whatever the future held.

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