The 30-Year-Old Magical Girl - Chapter 32

“Ta-da~”

The moment Bai Mian opened the door…

A paper bag overflowing with desserts was thrust into her view.

Behind it…

Bathed in the warm afternoon sunlight…

Stood You Xi, wearing her signature bright, carefree smile.

“Since you told me to wait a little…”

“I went to buy some desserts.”

“We can eat them together later.”

“…Thank you.”

Bai Mian accepted the paper bag with one hand.

With the other…

She quietly took a pair of slippers from the shoe rack and placed them in front of her friend.

“So?”

“What have you been doing all alone at home?”

“Hasn’t it been boring?”

“It’s… been alright.”

“…Hang on.”

“Let me take a look.”

“…Eh?!”

Without warning…

You Xi reached out with both hands and gently pinched Bai Mian’s cheeks.

The unexpected attack made Bai Mian let out a tiny squeak.

“…You’re even wearing a little makeup.”

“Hmm…”

“You seem to be in much better spirits than I expected.”

“What a relief.”

Satisfied…

You Xi flashed a grin.

“X-Xiao Xi…”

A faint blush spread across Bai Mian’s cheeks.

She looked away shyly…

Then carefully freed her face from You Xi’s hands.

“…Hey.”

“Your face is really red.”

“You don’t have a fever, do you?”

“My uncle’s been running a fever these past few days.”

“So many people seem to be getting sick lately.”

“Maybe it’s the flu?”

“I’ve been staying at home…”

“So I don’t really know.”

“But…”

“I’m not sick.”

While speaking…

Bai Mian secretly stole another glance at You Xi.

Her heartbeat still hadn’t settled down after being touched.

Somewhere deep inside…

She quietly wished…

That You Xi would notice what she was feeling.

“Oh.”

“Good.”

“As long as it’s not a fever.”

You Xi nodded in relief.

Then she casually walked into Bai Mian’s room.

“…Xiao Xi.”

“Did you dye your hair?”

Following behind…

Bai Mian noticed several crimson streaks mixed into the short hair framing You Xi’s face.

“Yeah.”

“I dyed it a few days ago.”

“I’m not going to school anyway.”

“So I figured—why not?”

In reality…

She had dyed it to resemble her magical girl form.

A tiny…

Secret act of self-expression.

No one else knew.

“So?”

“Looks pretty cool, doesn’t it?”

“…Why was your suspension extended?”

Bai Mian asked instead.

“…Ugh.”

“Don’t ask about boring things.”

You Xi waved the question away.

The two girls sat down on the floor together.

“…I’ll boil some water.”

“Would black tea be alright?”

“Anything’s fine.”

After Bai Mian left the room…

You Xi looked around.

Honestly…

The room hadn’t changed at all.

It was still unbelievably simple.

Nothing about it resembled the bedroom of an ordinary high-school girl.

“…Seriously.”

“How do you even live in a place this empty?”

“I’m getting sleepy just looking at it.”

She yawned.

At that exact moment—

Beep! Beep!

The Magic Kingdom app suddenly sounded an alert from her phone.

“…!”

You Xi instantly sat upright.

She quickly pulled out her phone.

The notification log displayed only one message—

Magic particles matching the Nightmare Fiend detected.

“…Again?”

“Another false alarm?”

Frowning…

She instinctively scanned the room.

But Bai Mian’s bedroom was so clean and uncluttered…

That even an ant would struggle to hide.

If there were anywhere an Aberration could conceal itself…

It would only be—

The bookshelves.

Three large bookshelves stood against the wall.

Filled with tightly packed books of every color.

“…No way.”

“Why would the Nightmare Fiend be hiding in Xiao Mian’s room?”

“It has to be another system bug.”

That was what she told herself.

Yet…

Before she realized it…

Her body had already moved.

She stepped closer to the bookshelves.

Leaning forward…

She peered through the narrow gaps between the books.

“Xiao Xi!”

“…Wah!”

A sudden cry behind her made You Xi jump in fright.

She nearly dropped her phone.

Turning around…

She saw Bai Mian standing there.

Holding a tray filled with fruit and freshly brewed tea.

“…Xiao Mian.”

“What was that for?”

“You scared me half to death.”

“…S-Sorry.”

Bai Mian lowered her head.

Her face flushed bright red.

The moment she’d entered…

She’d seen You Xi searching the bookshelf.

Terrified that the hidden Dreamfiend would be discovered…

She had screamed without thinking.

…What would Xiao Xi think of me…

…If she discovered I’d been hiding a monster in my room?

“…I was just looking to see what books you had.”

By then…

The warning from the Magic Kingdom app had mysteriously disappeared again.

Convinced it had simply glitched…

You Xi relaxed.

She returned to her seat.

The two girls quietly enjoyed tea…

Fruit…

And desserts together.

After chatting for a while…

Bai Mian finally gathered the courage to ask,

“…Is it because of Mo Li…”

“That you aren’t going to school anymore?”

After all…

Everything had started because You Xi stood up for her.

If she could…

She wished she could bear all of the punishment herself.

“…Well…”

“A few other things happened afterward.”

“But…”

“They don’t have anything to do with you.”

“So don’t start blaming yourself again.”

“None of this is your fault.”

“…I understand.”

“But…”

“It all started because of me.”

“…Xiao Mian.”

You Xi suddenly reached across the table…

And gently held Bai Mian’s hand.

Her expression grew unusually serious.

“If you really think of me as your friend…”

“Then stop saying things like that.”

“…Honestly.”

“I’ve never regretted what I did.”

“Not even once.”

“But…”

“If my actions only make you feel guilty…”

“If they become another burden for you…”

“Then that’s the one thing…”

“I absolutely can’t accept.”

“…Xiao Xi…”

“I’m sorry.”

“I won’t say it again.”

Bai Mian lowered her head in shame.

Her friend had endured so much for her.

Yet all she’d done…

Was drown in her own sadness.

Never once considering how You Xi felt.

That realization filled her with guilt.

…How can I ever repay her?

A surge of emotion welled up inside her.

“…Xiao Xi.”

She slowly lifted her head.

Their eyes met.

For the first time…

You Xi saw a determination in Bai Mian’s gaze she’d never seen before.

She froze.

The slice of apple she’d been holding slipped from her fingers…

Falling silently onto the floor.

Before You Xi could react…

Bai Mian gently withdrew her hand…

Then leaned closer.

“…X-Xiao Mian?”

The distance between them rapidly disappeared.

Close enough…

To see themselves reflected in each other’s eyes.

Close enough…

To feel each other’s warm breath.

“…W-What’s wrong?”

Now…

It was You Xi’s turn to blush.

Bai Mian quietly took You Xi’s hand…

And placed it over her own chest.

Right above her racing heart.

“…You said…”

“If I truly consider you my friend…”

“I shouldn’t blame myself anymore.”

“…Y-Yeah.”

Still dazed…

You Xi nodded.

“…Then…”

“I have the same request.”

Bai Mian looked straight into her eyes.

“If you truly think of me as your friend…”

“Then don’t carry everything by yourself.”

“If there’s anything I can do…”

“You have to tell me.”

“Promise?”

“…”

Silence lingered for several seconds.

Finally…

You Xi nodded.

“…Okay.”

“I promise.”

“…Thank you.”

“…That’s what friends are for.”

A gentle smile appeared on Bai Mian’s face.

She rarely smiled.

Her expression was usually clouded by sadness.

Because of that…

This small smile felt unimaginably precious.

But…

At that very moment…

A shadow quietly crossed You Xi’s heart.

…I’m sorry, Xiao Mian.

I can’t keep that promise.

She apologized silently.

Before coming here…

She had struggled over whether to ask Bai Mian to testify against Mo Li.

But the moment she’d seen her friend…

She had abandoned the idea.

Bai Mian looked cleaner.

Healthier.

She had even put on a little makeup.

Little by little…

She was finally beginning to step out of the darkness left by the bullying.

So how could You Xi…

Drag her back into that nightmare?

How could she force Bai Mian to relive all that pain…

Just for her own sake?

She couldn’t.

…I’ll deal with everything myself.

Looking at her friend’s precious smile…

You Xi silently made her decision.

Then…

When all of this is over…

We’ll go back to school together.

Just like we used to.