Chapter 5: The Weight of a Magical Girl’s Mission

“Son! Are you alright?”

He Yao awoke the following day.

Opening his eyes, he immediately saw his mother, and after a brief explanation, he understood the situation.

“I’m fine.” He instinctively reached up to touch his head, still recalling the searing pain when the tennis racket struck him, and the sticky sensation of blood trickling down his body.

His gaze fell upon his mother. This woman, always seen as a formidable career woman, now had swollen, red eyes. She had clearly not slept well, and faint tear tracks still clung to the corners of her eyes.

A pang of soreness pricked at He Yao’s own eyes.

Yet, he wouldn’t cry.

“Speaking of which, Mom, how is that girl… doing?”

He Yao’s mother, Su Gu, shook her head. “Mom doesn’t know. I only heard that Magical Girl Emerald treated you first… that girl seems to have been taken away. Mom hasn’t had a chance to ask about the specifics yet.”

“Emerald?”

He Yao’s lips twitched slightly. Who would have thought that his own classmate, the leader of his row’s study group, was none other than Magical Girl Emerald?

This Magical Girl had been active for about a year, her debut coinciding with the first few months of school last year.

However, it was difficult to say for sure. Perhaps Emerald had been able to transform even earlier, but had simply not engaged in Magical Girl activities until then.

From the looks of it, that ‘Giant Infant’ had probably been dealt with by Emerald as well.

His desperate struggle hadn’t been in vain.

Just then, the ward door opened, and a nurse in a white uniform entered. After checking He Yao’s condition, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “The power of Magical Girl Emerald is truly remarkable! She’s one of the rare Magical Girls with healing abilities. I’ll call the doctor to examine you shortly, but if there are no issues, you’ll practically be able to leave the hospital.”

After completing her checks, she added, “He Yao, your classmate is here. They said they’re representing the school and class to visit you.”

“Son, are you hungry? Mom will get you something.”

“Mom, don’t forget to get something for yourself too.”

Su Gu tidied her appearance, then walked out.

As soon as she exited, Liu Xingyue stepped in.

“Classmate He, everyone has heard about your heroic actions. Someone might even present you with a Heroic Citizen’s medal later. I’m here on behalf of our classmates and Teacher to visit you.”

She carried a fruit basket in her hand.

Placing the fruit basket on the cabinet beside the hospital bed, Liu Xingyue took a seat in the chair Su Gu had just occupied. “Classmate He, you truly are full of surprises. I never imagined you would do something like that.”

He Yao glanced around, confirming he was in a private ward, his mother was getting food, the nurse had left, and the doctor hadn’t arrived yet. It was just him and Liu Xingyue in the room.

“Right! And I never imagined my classmate was a Magical Girl.”

The air suddenly grew silent.

It wasn’t that He Yao hadn’t considered keeping it a secret, but he wasn’t a fool. Logically, if someone were to visit on behalf of the class, it should have been Ye Liuyun, the class monitor, not Liu Xingyue.

Unless she had volunteered.

If she had volunteered, it meant she had some understanding of the situation, or at least, she intended to probe him. After all, for someone like him, a gloomy shut-in, to suddenly rush out and act like a hero…

It couldn’t simply be a moment of impulsive passion, a sudden infatuation with Magical Girl Emerald, and a desire to play the hero, could it?

“You really did see.”

“‘…Your words are quite difficult for me to accept, Classmate Liu. What’s the difference between what you did and Detective Conan openly tranquilizing Kogoro Mouri in front of everyone? Saying you did it openly is even an understatement. Though everyone was running away at the time, it’s hard not to notice your classmate rushing against the tide, isn’t it?”

Liu Xingyue’s face showed a hint of helplessness. “That Giant Infant was incredibly strong. Negative energy, once it erupts and condenses, only grows more potent, and the monstrous fiend becomes increasingly powerful. If I could, I would have wanted to find a secluded spot to hide and then transform, but there was no choice at that moment.”

He had heard of that theory before.

He Yao nodded. “Do you want me to keep it a secret?”

“If possible, I hope you can help me keep it confidential.”

Truth be told, He Yao desperately wanted to utter that classic line, but he wasn’t the sunny, handsome type. He couldn’t casually make such a suggestive joke to a girl, despite the thought always lingering in his mind.

So, he didn’t say, ‘You wouldn’t want others to know you’re a Magical Girl.’ Instead, he simply nodded. “I’ll help you keep it a secret.”

Liu Xingyue showed no change in expression. She merely stated seriously, “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I heard you treated me… What about that other girl?”

“Her leg was broken by you, and the intense pain jolted her free from that negative energy. I seized the opportunity to knock her unconscious. She’s currently in a deep sleep, induced by sedatives—sleep is an excellent way to alleviate negative energy,” she explained. “However, there are still many troubles ahead… A specialized psychological counselor will be assigned to address her mental issues.”

Liu Xingyue continued to explain the situation. “If it’s convenient, they might even ask our Teacher Lin to go. Aren’t you quite familiar with him? You often go to the physics lab to find him.”

“If it’s Teacher Lin, then I can rest assured. I can probably understand how that girl feels, being forced to do things she doesn’t want to, feeling like everyone is a liar—Teacher Lin will definitely be able to help her.”

The fact that Lin Han had provided He Yao with psychological counseling wasn’t actually a secret among the students in their class. After all, if anyone else had psychological issues, they would also seek out Teacher Lin for a talk.

This era placed great importance on mental health.

“While objectively speaking, you did help me, Classmate He, I hope that if such a situation arises again, you will not intervene.”

He Yao was stunned for a moment. “I only acted because it looked like you couldn’t handle it. What kind of mindset do you think I had when I did that? Did you want me to watch a classmate get killed by a monstrous fiend?”

“Yes.”

Liu Xingyue’s answer froze He Yao in place.

She continued, “If you encounter such a situation again, even if you witness me fall in battle, or if it’s not me but other Magical Girls falling in battle, please, absolutely do not intervene. If you want a reason… fighting monstrous fiends and strange beings is the responsibility of Magical Girls. It is our mission. Magical Girls exist precisely for this purpose.

If the very people we are meant to protect are injured or even face life-threatening danger because they protected us… then, Classmate He, that would be the cruelest thing for a Magical Girls. Because you would be stripping away the very meaning of a Magical Girl’s existence. Magical Girls do not need to be protected.”

Truth be told, it was the first time He Yao had spoken so much with Liu Xingyue, the beautiful girl in his class, but her perspective struck him as absurd.

Did Magical Girls truly carry such a profound mission?

No… perhaps they did.

At least for now, He Yao lacked the confidence to refute Liu Xingyue.

His gaze lingered on Liu Xingyue.

He felt as if he saw a blurred shadow behind her.

“Do you wish to become a Magical Girl?”

That was the voice, perhaps from a dream or an illusion, that had posed the question to him.

His throat moved, just as he was about to speak.

“Son! I bought you wontons! The hospital only has clear broth wontons, no spicy ones… they might be a bit bland, but eat something to fill your stomach for now. When the doctor comes, Mom will ask about your condition and see if we should order takeout.”

Su Gu walked in, carrying two containers of wontons, and then noticed the girl sitting in the chair.

Liu Xingyue stood up, smiling at Su Gu. “Auntie, I’m Classmate He’s classmate, Liu Xingyue. I’m here representing our classmates, Teacher, and school to visit Classmate He. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, I’m He Yao’s mother, Su Gu. Thank you for your concern. Have you had breakfast? I just happened to buy two portions of wontons.”

“Auntie Su, I was only invited to come over for a short visit. I should be heading back to class now. I won’t disturb you any further.”

She stood up and left.

As she reached the ward door, she glanced back at He Yao one last time before finally departing.

‘She truly is a difficult woman to deal with,’ He Yao thought.

“That girl in your class is quite pretty, isn’t she? Liu Xingyue, you said? She’s not your class monitor, is she? I remember your class monitor is a handsome young man; last time I attended your parent-teacher conference, your teacher specifically had him hand out the report cards.”

“Hmm… she’s the leader of our row’s study group,” He Yao confirmed. “Speaking of which, Mom, did you see my monthly exam results from last month? Second in the entire class!”

Su Gu looked surprised. “Second in the class? Excellent! Mom will transfer the money to you shortly, the agreed-upon amount.”

“No problem!”

This was a remnant of some past arrangements; their family wasn’t short on money, and He Yao earned his pocket money through his “grades.”

Since her son could achieve such results, what was the harm in giving him a bit more money?

Before long, the doctor arrived and examined He Yao again, confirming that he could be discharged.

However, Su Gu still requested an extra day off from school.

She wanted He Yao to rest at home.

“Mom has to go to the company today, and your dad is still abroad. Should I hire a part-time helper to look after you?”

“No need. I’ll be fine at home by myself. I know how to order takeout if I get hungry.”

Su Gu opened her mouth, intending to say that takeout wasn’t healthy… but ultimately, she didn’t voice it. She simply said, “Alright then, I’ll head to the company now. If you have any problems, make sure to tell us immediately.”

“Okay.”

After Su Gu left, He Yao lay on the bed.

He slowly raised his right hand.

A dark energy mass appeared in his palm.

‘The… meaning of a Magical Girl’s existence?’ he wondered.

The black energy mass vanished.

He lowered his hand.

And pulled the covers over himself.