Even Hoshino Gen didn’t know that Ziteng Sayaka’s real weapon was never the gun, but rather her fists, which she had limited herself.
In recent years, Ziteng Sayaka hadn’t encountered a chance to display her full strength, because she didn’t need to.
The last time she had been too impatient and got ambushed by a King-level Beast, suffering severe injuries—that was entirely an accident.
If the combat environment hadn’t been a forest, and if the organization hadn’t demanded she retrieve the Beast’s energy core intact, Ziteng Sayaka would have already shown it what a true S-rank Magical Girl could do.
This situation was just right.
Super intelligence told her it was time to use super strength.
Though she couldn’t exactly go all out, this crisis at least allowed her to take off her gloves and throw a single ordinary punch.
That punch was devastating!
Compressed to the extreme, explosive flames burst from her fist, instantly filling the entire space before her.
A roaring fire dragon incinerated the seemingly thick and stubborn trees in an instant.
Even the road surface couldn’t withstand the heat, melting into flowing lava.
After the force of that punch swept through, nothing remained within nearly a hundred meters in front of Ziteng Sayaka—everything within sight was utterly gone.
The strange being that had been grinning moments ago had its smile frozen forever on its face, not even leaving a complete corpse.
Originally, that strange being was half magic plant. With her own restraints removed and an elemental advantage, it was impossible for him to survive this punch.
Turning to ash was more than normal.
“Senpai… you…”
Hoshino Hikari, who had been watching from behind, had her mouth hanging open in a perfect “O” shape, big enough to fit an egg.
She walked over to Ziteng Sayaka, feeling the residual heat and seeing the still-flowing liquefied road.
Her heart was shaken beyond words.
After fighting side by side for so long, this was the first time she had seen her captain use such a move.
It was absolutely epic.
“Captain, you had such a powerful move hidden all this time?”
Hoshino Hikari instantly became a fangirl, her eyes turning into sparkly stars.
Ziteng Sayaka put her gloves back on and patted Hoshino Hikari’s head.
With a hint of pride in her smile, she said, “Of course. If I weren’t that strong, how could I qualify as your captain?”
Hoshino Hikari’s face reddened a little.
No one outside her family had ever patted her head like that.
But if it was Senpai, that was different.
In her heart, Senpai was not only a guide and teacher but also like an older sister.
No wonder that guy Hoshino Gen had the bad habit of patting heads…
The feeling was nice.
‘Ziteng Sayaka thought.’
“Senpai, after finishing the mission, didn’t you go back to school? Why did you suddenly show up here?”
Hoshino Hikari asked.
Ziteng Sayaka said, “Lately, the news about a perverted murderer roaming around at night has been all over the place. After we parted, I suddenly got worried about you. Since your home isn’t far from school, I decided to follow you anyway.”
“Senpai—”
Hoshino Hikari was so moved she started to tear up.
She burrowed into Ziteng Sayaka’s arms and hugged her tightly.
“If you hadn’t shown up suddenly, I might have, I might have…”
Even now, it was still terrifying to think about.
Hoshino Hikari was actually quite strong and confident she could beat him, but she lacked real combat experience and hadn’t anticipated such a sinister trick as poison.
If Ziteng Sayaka hadn’t been extra cautious and decided to secretly escort Hoshino Hikari home, the Magical Girl League might have lost a promising talent.
Hoshino Hikari asked, “That person earlier… can he even be called human anymore? That monster was so terrifying. It looked human but had the abilities of a Magic Beast. What exactly was that?”
“That’s a very special and rare thing—a hybrid of a Magic Beast and a human. We call them Strange Beings.”
“Strange Beings?”
Hoshino Hikari heard this term for the first time.
Ziteng Sayaka nodded.
“Yes. Some are humans who have fallen and chosen to ally with Magic Beasts. Others are humans forcibly parasitized by Magic Beasts, leaving them no choice. Either way, they are half-human, half-Magic Beast.”
“Strange Beings are not only rare but also generally have very low intelligence, like walking corpses, and they are weak. So I didn’t introduce you to them before, and it almost cost you dearly. I’m sorry.”
Hoshino Hikari scratched her head and gave a reassuring smile.
“It’s not Senpai’s fault. Besides, Senpai saved me. You don’t need to apologize. I should be thanking you.”
“That vine Strange Being earlier was quite special even among Strange Beings. His body had fused with a magic plant. Though it’s harder than fusing with a Magic Beast, once the fusion succeeds, his intelligence is far higher than average.”
Hoshino Hikari understood something and nodded.
“I see. No wonder that guy was so sneaky.”
She had thought every Strange Being had that kind of strength.
That would have been too terrifying.
The two girls walked side by side, clinging to each other the whole way, and soon arrived near the Hoshino residence.
“Alright, I’ve escorted you home safely. My mission is complete, and I should go back.”
Ziteng Sayaka patted Hoshino Hikari’s head one last time, savoring the feeling.
“Senpai…”
She wanted to leave, but Hoshino Hikari wouldn’t let her go.
She held onto Ziteng Sayaka’s arm and wouldn’t let go, her eyes brimming with tears as if they would fall at any second.
“I’m still so scared. Senpai, can you stay with me for one more night?”
“Huh?”
Ziteng Sayaka was stunned.
In all her years as a Magical Girl, it was the first time a teammate had made such a request.
“My head still hurts a little. Every time I close my eyes, that vine Strange Being appears. If this continues, I definitely won’t be able to sleep tonight, and I’ll have nightmares.”
Hoshino Hikari pleaded pitifully.
“But if I stay with you tonight, how will I explain it to Hoshino tomorrow morning?”
Ziteng Sayaka hadn’t forgotten that this was also Hoshino Gen’s home.
The siblings’ bedrooms were separated by just one wall.
It would be easy to be discovered, right?
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already thought of a solution regarding my brother. Leave it to me.”
“What solution?”
“Don’t ask, Senpai. You’ll find out tomorrow morning. For now, just come with me to my room and rest.”
“Please, Senpai. I’m really scared. Just stay with me, just for tonight…”
Hoshino Hikari used the same coaxing skills she used on her brother, and in no time she persuaded the softhearted Ziteng Sayaka.
“Then… I’ll stay in your room for one night…”
Ziteng Sayaka couldn’t refuse, so she agreed.
But she still felt a little uneasy.
Would Hoshino be angry if she barged in like this?
Hoshino Hikari led her silently through the window into her own bedroom.
After pulling the thick curtains shut, she turned on her bedside lamp.
In the dim yellow light, Hoshino Hikari quickly stripped off her combat suit and changed into her pajamas.
Then she took a pair of pajamas a few sizes larger from the wardrobe and handed them to Ziteng Sayaka.
“Why do you have such a large pair of pajamas in your room?”
Ziteng Sayaka asked in a low voice, puzzled.
Hoshino Hikari replied, “Nothing. They’re my brother’s.”
Ziteng Sayaka: ?
That made it even stranger!
Why would a young girl have her brother’s pajamas?!
Seeing Senpai’s hesitation, Hoshino Hikari explained while helping her take off her clothes, “My brother likes to buy several of the same things. He bought this pajama set but never wore it. Don’t worry.”
“O… okay.”
After changing, Hoshino Hikari, without a second thought, burrowed into Ziteng Sayaka’s arms and hugged her, saying that only then could she sleep feeling safe.
Soon, she fell asleep.
Ziteng Sayaka, on the other hand, was left suffering.
Countless bizarre thoughts uncontrollably flooded her mind.
She felt like she had somehow been tricked into bed by her junior.
Could it be that she saved Hikari, and Hikari suddenly developed feelings for her?
How would she explain this to Hoshino when she saw him tomorrow?
If Hikari really did have a crush on her, wouldn’t that be even more troublesome?
How would Hoshino Gen react if he found out his sister liked girls?
Intimate interactions between girls were common; normally they wouldn’t lead to such wild thoughts.
But as a group, from the very beginning, Magical Girls had a tendency toward yuri tendencies.
Ziteng Sayaka had been confessed to by juniors several times over the years.
She was too experienced.
She had been unknowingly tricked into bed—wasn’t that a clear sign?
How could she refuse without breaking Hikari’s heart?
Should she tell Hoshino and ask him to help her figure out what to do?
At that moment, it felt like ten thousand questions surged into her mind, all demanding her attention.
Instinctively, she thought of turning to Hoshino Gen for help.
In the silent night, two girls slept in each other’s arms—one deeply asleep, the other in turmoil.