Chapter 48: The Rooftop’s Secret and a Meteor’s Wish

Uh…

Xiao Xi followed Mia, trembling slightly, constantly glancing left and right. ‘Where is she taking me? Why are we heading straight for the rooftop?’

He regretted not making a run for it the moment he was outside the restroom. He should have sprinted, immediately, without a single glance back!

‘Damn it, why do I always half-ass my escapes?’

‘So… where exactly are we going?’ Xiao Xi tugged at Mia’s clothes from behind. To his surprise, she didn’t stop, instead turning her head to declare confidently, “Just follow me! There’s something amazing to see!”

Hmm…

For someone with Mia’s chuunibyou tendencies, what ‘amazing thing’ could possibly be on a rooftop? Or rather… what amazing thing *could* one even see from a rooftop?

Generally, normal people only do five things on a rooftop: eat, enjoy the breeze, work, gaze at the brightest star in the night sky and wonder if they can hear it clearly—cough, cough—and then there’s *that other thing*.

…

Apparently, even that last thing isn’t something normal people would do on a rooftop. At the very least, you’d need to be on Makoto’s level to pull that off.

So… what was Mia planning? Was she going to unleash a Grand Meteor spell for him to witness? Cough, cough… he was getting a bit too carried away. She couldn’t do that, could she? Surely not?

As Xiao Xi’s mind wandered, Mia had already pulled him to the rooftop door. She opened it, stepping into a part of the school Xiao Xi had rarely set foot in during his high school career. As he followed, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if he were a senior on the verge of graduation, ready to look down at the school from above for one last farewell.

But for Xiao Xi, such thoughts were far too premature; his high school days stretched long ahead. Nevertheless, seizing a rare moment of leisure, Xiao Xi leaned against the railing and gazed down.

The teaching building was truly so high!

Suddenly, he felt an urge to shout, “Ah—” dragging out the sound for as long as possible. Cough, cough, but he decided against it. Even though the school was empty late at night, it wouldn’t be good to disturb something unseen.

Cough, cough…

That thought was actually a little scary!

“So, what exactly did you want to show me?” Xiao Xi turned around, only to see Mia leap onto a small platform in three quick bounds. She then turned, pointing at Xiao Xi.

“White, pure, a sacred source of magic like a gardenia! Witness the miracle!”

She shouted her embarrassing chuunibyou lines, and then…

A blazing white light suddenly erupted from behind her, piercing through the clouds and soaring towards the sky. The white radiance devoured the darkness, instantly illuminating the rooftop. Xiao Xi was momentarily blinded by the sudden flash of white light, instinctively closing his eyes.

This… what was this?

His mind went blank, just like the white light he’d just seen. What exactly had he witnessed?

Uh…

Wait!

He snapped his eyes open, and what he saw… this!

Under Mia’s feet was a massive floodlight, and all the white light was emanating from it!

This…

Was this the legendary mysterious light on the campus rooftop at night?

“You… you did this?” Xiao Xi asked, utterly speechless. Mia nodded proudly, declaring, “That’s right! This is the source of magic that I, the Flame Witch, rely upon: the Holy Light Pillar!”

“You… you should save the school some electricity! Don’t mess around! What if you startle a plane flying at night?”

Xiao Xi yelled indignantly. Mia scratched her head. “Hm?”

“This is a source of magic! It won’t use the school’s electricity!”

She gazed at the wires on the ground, then lifted her head and spoke to Xiao Xi without batting an eye or changing her expression.

Hmm…

Fine, whatever.

Xiao Xi squatted down and silently unplugged the power cord. The floodlight immediately went out, perfectly obeying the laws of physics. Hmm…

Mia stood on the small platform, then quietly jumped down, explaining with a hint of embarrassment, “My magic was a bit low today.”

“It was the *electricity* that was low, alright!”

Xiao Xi turned his head away, speechless. He might as well just enjoy the breeze. What kind of witch was she? It was all just a sham.

“So, if you’re responsible for the light pillar on the rooftop, what about those ghost incidents? Were those your doing too? And the ‘Flame Judgment’ thing… tsk, tsk, you just made all that up to scare people, didn’t you?”

Xiao Xi, bored, sought confirmation from Mia. Mia thought for a moment, then shook her head, saying, “No! I wouldn’t do such things. The ghost incidents have nothing to do with me. Besides, there are tons of campus legends about ghosts, alright?”

“Hmm… you’re right about that. Every now and then, some haunted campus legend pops up. Tsk, tsk, Mia, you’re quite good at psychology, aren’t you?”

Xiao Xi chuckled. Thinking about it, Mia was quite clever. She would make vague, easily fulfilled predictions, like those about ghosts. Then, if some unlucky soul got startled by a rustle in the wind one day, the prophecy would come true.

Tsk, tsk~

Foolish superstitions!

However…

The fact that the ghosts weren’t Mia’s doing was truly unexpected. What could it be, then?

And…

What exactly did that eerie ‘Flame Judgment’ mean? Even the name sounded so chuunibyou…

Xiao Xi looked up, not engaging Mia in conversation. He gazed at the dazzling starry sky, and for a moment, he actually felt a hint of melancholy.

Campus legends were truly an interesting concept. They spread among students in small groups, gradually forming a shared memory. Perhaps they only lasted for a few months, or even a few weeks, but they certainly provided interesting topics for many students’ after-school discussions.

If…

If Xiao Xi’s school didn’t have a silly person like Mia, it would be a lot less fun, wouldn’t it?

So… what was the school like before Mia arrived?

No, no, don’t assume people like Mia are rare. In fact, there have always been many people who create campus legends. They might not be as chuunibyou or as bold as Mia, but they definitely share her rich imagination and sensitive way of thinking, willing to believe that things we cannot perceive exist in this world.

Perhaps?

Hmm…

“Xiao Xi, I’m telling you, a meteor is about to appear~ Get ready to make a wish!” Mia suddenly announced from beside him. ‘What? You say a meteor will appear and it will? Who would believe that?’

Tch—

Ugh…

Xiao Xi still looked up. His eyes suddenly flickered, because… because in the vast night sky, a meteor suddenly streaked across the heavens.

Ah…

His lips trembled uncontrollably. This…

That Mia…

He turned in surprise to look at Mia, only to see her with her head bowed, eyes devoutly closed, seemingly making a wish.

She…

How did she know?

Xiao Xi’s mind was filled with questions until Mia opened her eyes, her fiery red pupils meeting his gaze. She, she smiled…

It was as if she had just claimed a victory.

“You… what did you wish for?”

The stunned Xiao Xi unconsciously posed the question.