As the elevator doors opened, Li Yu and Bai Baihe walked out together.
Yes, it was the cutest height difference. After all, Li Yu's official setting was 1.66 meters, but this was her height with her magical attire. However, Li Yu had not materialized her magical attire.
"Today's training is about idols," Director Bai said with a smile.
"Oh, what does that have to do with me?"
"Who knows?"
Director Bai led Li Yu into the training room and saw three girls, one of whom was Li Yu's younger sister, Shi Yu.
"What's my sister's codename?" Li Yu quietly asked Director Bai.
"Jing Lian Hua. You know who your sister likes, right? Your sister's magic is Mirror Magic, so the Royal Court gave her the codename Jing Lian Hua."
"By the way, do you want to consider instructing your sister in combat?" Director Bai asked.
"I'll pass. No one can learn my fighting style."
"True. After all, you're the berserker Li Yu. I've never seen such a strange Magical Girl. Others use various staves and spellbooks, but you're different; you prefer close combat."
"Chanting is too much trouble. Isn't it better to just cut them down directly?"
---
"Ahem, my darlings, today is dance training. This is your senior here."
"Hello, Director Bai. Hello, Senior," the three girls said in unison.
"You're debuting in half a month, you know. How are your preparations coming along?"
Yes, compared to the past, it was now a time of peace. The debut of a Magical Girl was not like that of an ordinary idol. Magical Girls were born idols; their every move could convey love and hope to people.
"Sister Bai, we're very well prepared."
"Then let's see it. We happen to have a senior here, who is also one of the most outstanding in idol history."
Director Bai looked at Li Yu.
Her face, hidden by the hood, was completely red, but Li Yu still spoke in a very calm voice.
"My idol career only lasted a little over a month. I'm not a very impressive person."
"Eh? Wasn't it because little Li Yu chose to give up her idol career immediately after being promoted to Star Class in just a little over a month?"
Li Yu couldn't hold back anymore. She stealthily gave Director Bai a punch with her small hand and said,
"Let them begin."
"Did you hear that? Senior is already eager to see your performance. You must do your best!"
Li Yu watched the girls dance energetically, and her thoughts were also stirred. She thought of the past, when she used to push herself relentlessly to become stronger. What Director Bai said about her being a legendary idol was true. Magical Girls were idealists; people's support could make a Magical Girl's power even greater.
As the girls' performance ended, Li Yu's thoughts were also interrupted.
Director Bai smiled and said to Li Yu,
"How was it? Do you see your shadow in your sister?"
"I don't want her to walk this path too. It's enough for one of us to suffer."
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about that. As a senior, don't you have anything you want to teach your juniors?"
Sigh, little Li Yu is still the same as before.
"I have nothing to teach them. I'm not a qualified senior. By the way, where's their dance instructor?"
"Oh, the instructor took leave."
Actually, Director Bai had secretly sent a message telling the instructor not to come.
"You'd better be telling the truth."
"Hehe~ Little Li Yu~ You know~ I, your older sister, don't have many dreams. I just want to see you perform on stage again. You wouldn't be unwilling to grant your sister this small wish, would you~"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible. I absolutely cannot be an idol instructor."
Li Yu crossed her arms into an X shape and shook her head frantically, almost causing her hood to fall off.
However, Director Bai ignored Li Yu's protest and said to the three Magical Girls,
"My darlings! Do you want to see Senior's performance?"
"Yes!"
The three little ones said in unison.
Director Bai held Li Yu's hands and said,
"Little Li Yu, don't resist. The minority obeys the majority. This is public opinion."
Li Yu's small face was as red as a ripe apple. She lowered her head and whispered,
"If you keep... I... I'll... blow up on you!"
In the end, Li Yu couldn't withstand the persistent coaxing of Director Bai and the three little ones.
"No dancing, only playing an instrument. That's my bottom line."
"Alright, alright! What about the magical attire?"
"..."
Following a distortion of space, Li Yu's trench coat covered a strapless white dress. The front hem of the dress covered her upper thighs, while the back hem was shaped like a fishtail, floating in the air. White stockings encased her incomparably beautiful legs. One long and one short white high-heeled boot, and a single blue leg ring were the only adornments on her legs. Beneath the black trench coat's hood, one could vaguely see the girl's exquisite face, along with a headpiece made of two blue and white gradient feathers.
"Do you have a flute?"
"Yes."
Li Yu picked up the flute, pondered for a moment, and then began to play.
A slow flute melody drifted through the air. (Eutopia, everyone can search for it on Bilibili, it's really beautiful.)
"A cold pond reflects the crane's shadow, a frigid moon buries the flower's soul."
"Naked I come, naked I go, without a care. Where can I find a straw cape and bamboo hat, a single journey scroll? Let my straw sandals and broken bowl follow fate."
"A page full of absurd words, a handful of bitter tears."
"All say the author is foolish, but who understands the taste within?"
A non-existent utopia—was this not what Li Yu pursued?
Even with her hood on, Director Bai noticed a fleeting tear in Li Yu's eye. However, Director Bai quickly adjusted her mood and, wanting to lighten the current atmosphere, said,
"Don't think so much. It's all in the past, isn't it?"
Li Yu put away the flute.
"Thank you."
Director Bai sighed helplessly. It seemed little Li Yu still hadn't moved on. And how could she herself be any different? If she had moved on, why would she continue working at the Bureau? Watching comrades she spent day and night with die in front of her—no one could accept that... And who didn't yearn for that non-existent utopia?
"I'm going back. I can't be out in public for too long right now."
"Okay, I understand. I'll see you out."
Li Yu turned and walked towards the elevator. Director Bai turned back to the three little ones and said,
"Keep up the training. You must do your best for your debut stage!"
Then Director Bai followed Li Yu into the elevator.
"Won't you stay a little longer?"
"No, the longer I stay, the easier it is to be discovered. Just watching her is enough."
---
Back to the three little ones.
"Little Jing, aren't you the biggest fan of Magical Girls? Do you know that senior?"
Zhu Hong said to Shi Yu.
"It's hard to tell. Senior was always covered by her coat."
"Senior's music was so beautiful. Just listening to it, I could imagine such wonderful things."
Who exactly was this senior? Why did I feel a sense of familiarity from her...? Shi Yu walked out of the Bureau building, hailed a taxi, and prepared to go home. In the car, Shi Yu kept thinking about that senior. Indeed, compared to an unattainable idol, a senior right beside her was more captivating.
The taxi driver's "We're here, little sister" interrupted Shi Yu's reverie.
The sound of a key turning in the lock echoed.
"You're back?"
"Mm."
The usual exchange, a daily routine between siblings.
Shi Yu remembered what the spirit had told her when she first formed the contract.
"Aren't you going to tell your brother that you're a Magical Girl?"
"How can I tell him? Brother is just an ordinary person."
Ever since their parents passed away, all the burdens fell on her brother's shoulders. Day after day, year after year, her brother left early and returned late. She knew her brother was working hard, striving for this broken family, until three years ago, when she saw her brother stop trying. She watched him grow increasingly despondent. She knew her brother was suffocated by the pressure. She didn't know how to get along with him. Her brother used to be mischievous, but ever since their parents passed away, he gradually became quiet and withdrawn. So she also wanted to try to do something for this family. She found a contracted spirit, who told her she had great talent and asked if she wanted to become a Magical Girl.
Magical Girls were her idols. During the days her brother wasn't around, watching these glamorous Magical Girls brought her considerable comfort. She longed to become a Magical Girl, not just because of a dream, but also because becoming a Magical Girl would allow her to share the family's burden... Shikong looked at his dazed sister, waving his hands in front of her eyes.
"Hello? Are you still there?"
Shi Yu snapped back to reality, swatting away the hand waving in front of her eyes.
"I'm going back to my room first."
Shi Yu turned, about to enter her room.
"There's food in the fridge. Do you want to eat? I can heat it up."
"No, I ate outside."
Click, the door closed.
Outside the door was the brother; inside the door was the sister. Both had secrets they couldn't tell each other.
---
The night passed uneventfully.
When Shikong woke up, he was startled by a deafening alarm.
【Warning! An unknown species of Disaster Beast has been detected invading Nanhai City! Citizens, please proceed to the air-raid shelters in an orderly fashion! Repeat, citizens, please proceed to the air-raid shelters in an orderly fashion!】
Shikong picked up his phone, looked at the frontline reports, and immediately recognized the species of Disaster Beast from the screen.
The Prank Beast usually disguised itself as a Monster Class, but its true strength was that of a City-Hating Class disguised beast.
Shikong frowned.
"This is bad."