When he was a child, no one asked him if he was happy today, no one asked him what gift he wanted, no one asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.
For him, all of these things were unreal. So, when he learned that someone else was asked such questions, he felt no resentment, no jealousy, and did not give any inappropriate response.
Just like his mother. She had divorced his father before he could even remember. So, when people deliberately teased him with questions like, “Where’s your mom?” he would just honestly answer, “I don’t know.”
He really didn’t know.
What was a mother like? Looking at the happiness that belonged to others, he could probably understand.
Mizuho was now preparing to leave.
Raven had already teleported away. Mizuho sat in the driver’s seat, hands on the steering wheel, looking at the night outside the windshield.
Sachiko stood outside the car door, one hand in the pocket of her housecoat, the other holding the cigarette she hadn’t finished smoking. The night wind blew over, scattering the smoke and ruffling her hair a bit.
“Mizuho,” Sachiko spoke up.
Mizuho turned her head to look at Sachiko.
Sachiko didn’t speak immediately. Instead, she slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. The smoke turned into a pale gray mist under the car lights, dispersing between the two of them.
“That Raven guy, he’s somewhat stuck in the past,” Sachiko said, crushing the cigarette out on the car door. “When the previous Magical Girl left him, he felt he wasn’t good enough, felt he couldn’t keep that child. So, this time, when he met Yuan Qing, he went all out. He trained him desperately, pushed him desperately, desperately wanted to make him stronger, desperately wanted to prove he wouldn’t fail a second time.”
“Mhm,” Mizuho looked back at the windshield ahead. “I understand.”
“Go on back. There’s work tomorrow. No time for idle thoughts.”
“Mhm.”
Sachiko casually tossed the cigarette butt. It bounced twice on the ground, sparking a few embers before quickly going out.
Sachiko grinned. “Heheh… I love you.”
Mizuho didn’t turn around. She just gave Sachiko a peace sign with her fingers, then started the engine, turned on the headlights, and drove off.
Yuan Qing was still running.
He didn’t know how long he had been running, or how far. The feeling in his legs had gone numb, and his breathing had finally become ragged, but he didn’t stop.
He ran past a streetlamp, his shadow stretching long.
Past two, three, four lamps…
The streets grew quieter and quieter. Shops had long since closed, only the convenience store lights were still on, with people occasionally going in and out.
He ran past a small bridge. The lights from both banks reflected on the river’s surface, the points of light swaying in the water, swallowing the reflections.
He ran past a park. No one was on the benches. The swings swayed gently in the night breeze, emitting faint creaking sounds.
He ran past a hospital. White light shone from the building’s windows, one after another, like watching something.
Many, many.
He ran through the last intersection, into an unfamiliar street.
The streetlamps were dimmer here. The buildings on both sides were older, with peeling paint revealing the concrete underneath.
It was late at night. Not a single light was on here.
He finally slowed to a stop. Sweat dripped from his forehead, falling onto the asphalt road, glinting faintly under the streetlight.
“Hah…”
He closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and let out a long sigh.
Unfamiliar street, unfamiliar buildings, unfamiliar streetlights. He didn’t know where he was.
He had run for a long time, from evening until deep night. He really could run.
Was he chasing something? But there was nothing ahead for him to chase.
Was he running away from something? But after running this long, he still had to go home.
“Really, what am I doing…”
Sundae. Right, that’s it. Sakuma Seidai.
She said before she wanted to challenge Miss Yonai. Well, just wait then. Waiting was fine too.
Sweat trickled down Yuan Qing’s cheek. The night wind blew over, feeling chilly.
He stood for a while, then turned and began walking back the way he came.
No more running. He’d walk back.
“Hum hum~ hum hum~”
It was still “Hotaru no Hikari.” Yuan Qing hummed it as he walked home. Even after running so long, his pace was still brisk.
“Hum hum~ hum hum~”
Unlocking the door. First, the jingling of keys, then the sound of the old hinges. He pushed the door open and went inside.
The room was pitch black. Only the light from outside the window filtered in, casting a few grayish-white rectangles on the floor.
He didn’t turn on the light.
He changed his shoes, took off his tracksuit, and draped it over the back of a chair.
On the windowsill, Raven lay there, head tucked into its wing, motionless.
He still needed to shower. He’d be quiet, so as not to disturb Raven’s sleep.
He closed the bathroom door as softly as possible. The sound of water soon started, muffled through the door.
“Hum hum~ hum hum~”
Raven heard all of this. It was actually awake, just not moving.
The water stopped.
Yuan Qing dried off, changed into clean clothes, and pulled open the bathroom door. Steam billowed out, dispersing into the dark room.
He walked to the bed and lay down. The mattress creaked, sounding especially loud in the quiet night.
On the windowsill, Raven remained motionless.
Yuan Qing looked at the ceiling for a while.
“You’re awake,” Yuan Qing suddenly said.
Raven was silent for a moment. “…Awake.”
The room was quiet for a while. Not too long, not too short.
The light from outside the window filtered in, painting gray-white rectangles on the floor, their edges blurred as if scattered by the night wind.
Yuan Qing and Raven stayed like that in the dark. One lying down, one lying prone.
“The Magical Girl I contracted with before…” Raven’s words pierced the calm, but then it turned its head as if seeking Yuan Qing’s opinion. “…Want to hear about it?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good,” Raven turned its head back. “Otherwise, it’d be pretty awkward.”
“…”
Raven paused before speaking. “…She… how to put it… she was… strong. Yes, that’s right. She… was the first Magical Girl. Yes, I was the first Familiar.”
Raven fell silent again, waiting for Yuan Qing’s response.
“…Go on.”
“Back then, there was no Association, no livestreams, no fans. In short, it was before Magical Girls became entertainment. Our only reason for fighting was to defeat Monsters and protect civilians.”
Raven’s voice was very soft, so soft as if afraid of disturbing something.
“Was she strong?”
“Very strong. Arguably the strongest. During our partnership, her will changed my power, allowing our collaboration to blossom with many new possibilities. I’ve already mentioned that,” Raven said. “And those possibilities have been passed on to you through me.”
“…”
Raven seemed a bit downcast, or perhaps just sleepy. “When she told me she was retiring due to injury and asked me to form a new contract with Mizuho… honestly, I agreed for some reason back then. Our parting was very hasty. No grand farewell banquet like other Magical Girls had. No hearty laughter or crying. No, there was nothing.”
“Do you regret it?”
“Yes.” Raven buried its head.
That’s why I don’t want to regret it with you too…
Raven didn’t speak anymore. Yuan Qing closed his eyes. The darkness swallowed the quiet.