After returning to the back alley of the BBQ restaurant, Yuan Qing leaned against the wall to steady himself.
“The weightlessness from teleporting is a bit uncomfortable…”
Raven patted his face with its wing. “Stop complaining! Your popularity skyrocketed the moment you made that expressionless heart gesture! Mizuho was thrilled.”
“I only care if my BBQ got cold.” After recovering, Yuan Qing walked toward the restaurant.
The meat had cooled slightly, but the rich aroma of the sauce remained—a small consolation.
Eventually, Yuan Qing and Raven split the takeout BBQ before he curled back up in bed. The faint glow of his phone screen illuminated his weary face.
He had just put the phone down when a notification sounded, forcing him to grumble as he opened it again.
“What is it now…”
It was a message from Mizuho.
Mizuho: “The final payment has been processed. By the way, those movements during the battle just now… did you come up with them yourself?”
Yuan Qing glanced at the string of numbers that made his heart race.
Yuan Qing: “I just moved around. As long as we win, right?”
Mizuho: “But I have to perform those same actions to play ‘Miss Raven.’ Try not to make them so broad next time.”
Yuan Qing: “Understood.”
He put down the phone, and the silence of the rental apartment returned, broken only by the occasional sound of a passing car and his gradually steadying breath.
“Hey.”
Raven suddenly hopped onto Yuan Qing’s knee.
“What?” Yuan Qing shifted weakly. “I’m going to sleep… no more BBQ until tomorrow.”
“Eating BBQ all the time isn’t healthy,” Raven said, sounding unusually serious. “I’m talking about the battle today.”
“Oh…” Yuan Qing muttered, seemingly trying to find the words. “What, are you complaining that my moves weren’t cool or pretty enough? I’ll remember to make up some flashy move names next time.”
He had no intention of giving Raven a serious answer, but Raven was clearly in a serious mood.
“No, it’s not that,” Raven said, leaning in until its face was almost touching Yuan Qing’s. “Do you understand what the combat intuition you showed today means? Even the most experienced Magical Girls don’t necessarily end a fight that quickly.”
“I know. You said I’m a genius.” Yuan Qing poked a hand out from under the covers and gave a tired peace sign.
“Exactly! That’s exactly it!” Raven paced back and forth on the quilt over Yuan Qing’s chest, making him feel a bit stifled. “Don’t you feel your whole soul trembling from the heat of your own talent? Give me an honest answer!”
“…”
Yuan Qing kept his eyes closed, looking as if he had fallen asleep.
“Hey! I’m praising you! Give me some kind of reaction!” Raven pecked hard at one of his pajama buttons.
“Ow…” Yuan Qing pushed Raven aside with a hint of annoyance. “I don’t feel any trembling at all. I just want to sleep.”
Raven wasn’t discouraged. Instead, it became even more excited, spreading its wings as it continued its argument.
“Listen, Yuan Qing! While I’m Mizuho’s Familiar in a sense, honestly, she only has that desire to ‘shine.’ She doesn’t have the bones of a fighter. You’re different!” Raven hopped onto the bedside table, looking down at Yuan Qing. “If you’re willing to train! Even if you only set aside one hour a day! I can teach you how to truly fly! You won’t just be that idol’s shadow; you’ll become a true legend! You’ll be the Magical Girl world’s—”
“Excuse me…” Yuan Qing raised a hand, interrupting Raven’s grand blueprint.
“What? Are you interested? Want to know when we start training?” Raven asked expectantly.
“No,” Yuan Qing rolled over, burying his face in the quilt. His voice came out muffled. “Can you be quiet? You’re really loud.”
“…”
The air froze for several seconds.
“YOU IDIOT! YOU FOOL!” Raven roared in frustration. “Don’t you have any dreams? Don’t you have any ambition to stand at the top? Your talent is weeping!”
“Ugh… so noisy…” Yuan Qing pulled the quilt over his ears. “My dream is to wake up naturally every day and receive money without having to work… My life right now is almost there, and as long as I don’t have to train, it’s pretty perfect… Goodnight.”
Raven’s feathers puffed out in anger.
“Fine! Then drop dead with your pathetic slacker dreams!” It flew grumpily to the clothes rack and tucked its head into its wings. “If you ever mess up in front of the camera, I’ll peck you bald!”
“Yeah… okay…”
Yuan Qing rolled over.
***
Meanwhile, in Mine Mizuho’s apartment.
Mizuho stood before a full-length mirror, repeatedly mimicking Yuan Qing’s movements from the battle.
“The wrist needs to turn a bit faster… No, that’s not elegant enough…”
Raven’s clone sat on the dressing table, tilting its head as it watched her. “You’ve been practicing for thirty minutes. Aren’t you tired?”
“Of course I’m tired.” Mizuho lowered her arms and stretched her aching neck. “But the next time I make a public appearance, I have to be able to move exactly like him.”
The clone shook its feathers. “You don’t have to take it so seriously. The fans won’t notice.”
“They will notice,” Mizuho said, walking back to the mirror to try again. “At the very least, I’ll know. I’m still a long way off from being ‘Miss Raven.'”
Just as she finished speaking, the doorbell rang.
Mizuho and the clone froze at the same time.
“Who is it at this hour?” the clone whispered.
Mizuho made a silencing gesture and tiptoed to the door, peering through the peephole.
Standing outside was a girl in a pink-and-white dress who looked like she hadn’t reached adulthood yet. It was Sakuma Seidai, the one who had been secretly watching the battle earlier.
In her non-combat state, she had shed her Magical Girl uniform, looking simple and cute.
Mizuho pushed down her anxiety and opened the door.
“Hello. Can I help you?” she asked, maintaining a poised smile.
“Good evening, Miss Mine—or should I say, ‘Miss Raven’?” Seidai bowed slightly. “My name is Sakuma Seidai. I’m a Magical Girl.”
Mizuho kept her polite smile. “Is there a reason you’re visiting me so late?”
Seidai looked up. “I asked the Magical Girl organization for your address. I saw your battle tonight. The way you defeated that monster was very special.”
“Special?” Alarm bells rang in Mizuho’s mind, but she didn’t let it show. “I was just fighting in my own way.”
Seidai shook her head. “Not that kind of special. It’s… how do I put it… considering you’re a newcomer, you’re just very talented.”
“…”
Mizuho didn’t respond.
Seidai continued, “I’m not questioning anything. It’s just… as someone who has been a Magical Girl for years, I’m still constantly learning how to fight…”
“So, you want me to guide you?” Mizuho asked.
“Yes!” Seidai bowed deeply.
Mizuho was silent for a few seconds before she gave a thin smile. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
“I understand. I’m sorry for bothering you.” Seidai bowed again.
“It’s not that I don’t want to teach you,” Mizuho added. “It’s just that even I can’t quite explain how I fight.”
This, at least, was the truth.
“That must be what they call true talent. I’m so envious.” Seidai took an invitation card from her pocket. “In that case, at least let me deliver this invitation from the Magical Girl organization. Please come to the location written on the card on the morning of November 8 to attend the Magical Girl Tea Party.”