“Match over!”
“The winners are Xiaofeng and Xiaoyu!”
Golden Fox blew her whistle, and Nan Xiaofeng excitedly high-fived her older sister in celebration.
On the other side of the net, Li Kexin and her teammate both lay on the sand, as if they had lost their souls.
“Although it was a match with no suspense, everyone seems quite happy,” Su Tianqing remarked.
Then she was simultaneously looked at by Hua Ling and the other three sitting nearby.
“…Do you think those two over there are happy?”
Lin Muyao, wearing a student swimsuit, said to Hua Ling, who had a sun-protective jacket over her swimsuit.
Hua Ling gave an awkward laugh and didn't dare to respond.
If she said happy, Tianqing Jie and Jia Yu Jie were indeed very happy, but the two opponents didn't look very happy no matter how you looked at them.
There was no suspense in this match. When Nan Xiaofeng and Nan Jiayu stood together, everyone felt that this beach volleyball game was only left to watch their wonderful coordination.
As for the score? No one cared.
“This is too hard to play! Foul! Foul!” Ye Yuxia, who was lying on the sand, suddenly jumped up and said to the Nan sisters across the net,
“Referee! Can you split one of them over? Send Kexin to the other side?”
“Hey! I was trying my best to defend just now!” Li Kexin yelled back, but still lay motionless on the sand.
Everyone burst into laughter.
…
Leaving the beach volleyball area, the tired group invited each other to a seaside beverage shop to buy some snacks and drinks.
Cat Girl led her younger sister to order, while Su Tianqing stayed by the table to occupy seats, looking at the slightly fatigued girl across the table.
——Ye Yuxia, the true form of the Magic Girl Violet, excels at suppressing firepower, just like Mai Sui, and has almost zero close-combat ability.
She had ordinary black hair and a rather quiet demeanor. Her swimsuit was a bold two-piece that highlighted her figure, and her youthful, vibrant maidenly body was indeed worth showing off.
She had just played two games of beach volleyball and was now so tired that she just wanted to sit on a chair and relax.
It had to be said that Ye Yuxia’s volleyball skills were quite good; she played well, and her spiking movements showed that she had been very serious about her volleyball lessons.
But unfortunately, her opponents, Nan Xiaofeng and Nan Jiayu, were absolute physical Monsters. Even without considering their talents as Magic Girls, Cat Girl's physical prowess and agility made her an insurmountable mountain.
Although Ben Hu also wanted to separate the Nan Xiaofeng sisters, with the intention of having fun, keeping them on the same team was actually more enjoyable.
“Miss Yuxia, this is our first time meeting, isn’t it?” Su Tianqing smiled and greeted her.
“Hello, Miss Tianqing.”
Ye Yuxia returned a polite smile and greeting to the very likable Golden Fox in front of her.
Su Tianqing continued:
“I heard about you from Kexin. Have you two become friends now?”
“Hmm… I guess so,” the girl answered honestly.
“I also didn’t expect that Kexin actually became Mai Sui with the desire to make friends.”
“Yes, after all, everyone’s original intention for becoming a Magic Girl is different. Have some of this; it’s said to help restore energy.”
Su Tianqing pushed the can of energy drink that Nan Xiaofeng hadn't had a chance to open to Ye Yuxia across the table.
“…Thank you.”
The girl didn't stand on ceremony, probably feeling thirsty. She opened the can and chugged it down in a few gulps, drinking heartily.
Su Tianqing only learned today that the relationship between Mai Sui and Violet had warmed up, which was also a good thing, perhaps allowing Violet to regain her morale.
As for why it could allow Violet to regain her morale…
【Quest: Mai Sui’s Burden】
【Make the Maisui Squad reconcile】
【Additional Condition: Help Violet regain her morale, bonus reward 200 divine code stone】
This was a new quest Ben Hu had just found in the secret codex through her familiar.
This quest left Ben Hu a bit puzzled, especially the additional condition at the end, which couldn't help but remind her of Iris's reclusive state back then.
At that time, Iris had fallen into a reclusive mode due to losing her teammates, and Ben Hu had put in a lot of effort to bring her back. Ben Hu didn't want it to happen again to Violet.
Could it be that Magic Girls all have more or less some mental trauma? Why do they become reclusive after Ben Hu troubles them a little?
Look at Nan Xiaofeng; that kid has been beaten by Cat Girl for several months and has only been down a few times. Why do others question life after being defeated twice?
It must be because their Magic Girl careers have been too smooth, Su Tianqing thought to herself.
At times like this, Ben Hu needs to appear as a caring older sister!
Just approach them as Dandelion and have a heart-to-heart talk, and any problem will be solved!
“Miss Yuxia, when did you start becoming a Magic Girl?” Su Tianqing asked directly.
“…………”
Silence.
Ye Yuxia didn't expect Golden Fox to casually bring up such a topic.
But considering that she was the true form of Magic Girl Dandelion, it was reasonable for her to ask this during a casual chat at their first meeting.
“Probably five years ago. I first transformed into Violet at that time, and I’ve been active ever since,” Ye Yuxia replied softly.
“That’s quite a long time ago,” Su Tianqing said with some surprise.
Ben Hu really hadn't expected Violet to be a Magic Girl with five years of experience.
But upon closer thought, Ye Yuxia, as Violet, was almost contemporaneous with Mai Sui. After Mai Sui left, she took over as the captain of the Sui City squad, which showed that Violet and Edelweiss trusted her greatly.
And she didn't look as depressed as Hua Ling did back then. Why would the secret codex give a quest for her to regain her morale?
“Yes, it’s already been five years,” Ye Yuxia sighed.
“Five years ago, I met Gray Cloud. He said I had a lot of talent and asked if I was willing to become a Magic Girl.”
What a cliché line, is this a common tactic among Observers? Su Tianqing thought to herself.
“At that time, I thought Magic Girls were very cool and could protect others, so I agreed without hesitation.”
“It’s just that later… I gradually lost myself in the feeling of being active as Violet, and the last time I faced Xin Yuehu, I even led my companions into danger…”
“I’m very scared.”
At this, Ye Yuxia lowered her head, clenching her right hand into a fist, as if suppressing some kind of fear.
“Scared? Why be scared? Is it because you’re afraid you’re not doing well enough?” Su Tianqing pressed.
“There’s that thought, but more than that, I’m actually afraid that I’m dragging down Violet and Edelweiss.”
“Mai Sui has been reborn. She has grown fully in Rong City, and she is actively realizing her original intention as a Magic Girl.”
“But what about me?”
“I clearly wanted to protect the residents of Sui City, clearly wanted to protect them from Monsters, but I can’t even protect my companions, and I even harmed innocent people by damaging public facilities…”
Looking at her pained and self-reproaching expression, Su Tianqing smiled slightly and said:
“I see, so you feel scared because you’ve gone against your original intention.”
“Since you’re so worried about what your companions think of you… why don’t you go ask them yourself?”
After speaking, Su Tianqing smiled and turned her head, looking at Nan Xiaofeng and the others walking towards them, and waved at them.
Go ask them herself?
Ye Yuxia stared blankly at the people walking towards her, silently composing the dazed look on her face, but Su Tianqing’s words kept replaying in her mind.
So… talk to my teammates…?