Later that evening.
On the back hill of Huatianli Community, many residents gathered in this wasteland, enjoying the fun brought by firecrackers and fireworks.
Su Tianqing was no exception.
After protecting her tail, ears, and hair, Su Tianqing dared to enter the fireworks display area, where she met Aurora, who had been waiting there for a long time.
“Wow, it’s lighting up,” Aurora said, squatting by the roadside and carefully holding a burning sparkler.
“How about it? Isn’t it pretty?”
“It’s really pretty.”
Aurora showed considerable curiosity and delight for the small, inexpensive sparkler in her hand.
“It’s both cheap and fun, this is a very popular product,” Su Tianqing said.
“I used to play with these a lot when I was little.”
Nan Jiayu also chimed in, holding a sparkler in her hand as well.
“It’s just like the Magic Girls’ magic sparks…”
Looking at the burnt-out sparkler in her hand, Aurora whispered softly.
“Now that you mention it, it does look a bit similar.”
The sparkler in Su Tianqing’s own hand also happened to go out, and she took the opportunity to say,
“Well then, it’s time for us to play with something more interesting!”
With that, the Golden Fox turned to look at the two figures not far away who were busy with something.
With pink rabbit ears and a gray wolf tail, it was Xia Taotao and Fei Yelan, who had been invited over.
The heavy-duty fireworks they transported on their electric scooter instantly became the center of attention.
It was a super-sized firework, one meter square, with a few words written on its colorful paper shell:
“【Magic Missile MK·XII Type】!”
After piling some stones around the firework to secure it, Xia Taotao straightened up and said to the Cat Girl, Fox Fox, and Aurora, who were walking over,
“A full five hundred shots, over a dozen different flower patterns, super cool!”
“Tao Tao, where did you buy this? This is too cool!”
Su Tianqing said in surprise.
Many places in Rong City prohibit setting off fireworks, only allowing hand-held fireworks like some firecrackers and sparklers, so such large-scale fireworks are rarely seen.
The one who replied was Fei Yelan, the Gray Wolf, who was pulling out the fuse:
“When we came over, there was a small truck selling goods on the road. We bought some small items, and then the Hero Association’s patrol car drove over.”
“Eh…?”
“The boss then drove his small car wildly through the city. After shaking off the Hero Association, he sold this large item to us at a discount.”
“…How did buying fireworks turn into GTA for you two?” Nan Jiayu muttered softly.
Anyone who didn’t know would think they were buying North American tea leaves and South American agricultural products, Su Tianqing thought.
“Never mind! Anyway, let’s see if this thing is powerful enough!”
The Pink-haired Rabbit Girl said excitedly, completely reversing her previous social anxiety.
When she walked in with this large item just now, she was the center of attention, almost turning into a socially anxious cyber-psychopath. Fortunately, Fei Yelan drew the crowd’s gaze, which saved her from having a breakdown on the spot.
At this moment, everyone was curious about what kind of fireworks this display would unleash, and even Nan Xiaofeng and her two companions, who were playing with pop-pops nearby, came over.
“Tianqing Jie! Jiayu Jie!” Nan Xiaofeng waved hello.
“Wow, this firework is so big, did you buy it? That’s amazing!” Lin Muyao walked over and said in astonishment.
“It really is amazing…”
Hua Ling also looked very surprised, but one could also see her anticipation.
“It’s about to be lit, everyone stand back!”
Fei Yelan, who had completely pulled out the fuse, said, gesturing for the onlookers to move away.
The fuse burned.
Aurora covered her ears, Nan Xiaofeng and Nan Jiayu, the sisters, stood at the very front with anticipation, and Su Tianqing hid behind the Cat Girl, peeking out.
“Whoosh—”
“Boom!”
The gunpowder exploded, launching a shining firework missile high into the sky, where it burst into a sky full of light and fire.
“Oh oh oh!” “This is so beautiful!” “Quick, take a picture, this is super awesome!”
The onlookers cheered, and residents in nearby homes also gathered at their windows to look out, watching the fireworks explode in sequence in the sky.
There were no stars tonight, but the man-made starry sky was even more dazzling and brilliant than the actual stars.
Su Tianqing pulled the Cat Girl beside her and ran far away, looking up at the night sky illuminated by the fireworks from the best angle.
“I didn’t expect it to be this beautiful,” Nan Jiayu exclaimed.
“Yeah, Tao Tao and Ye Lan brought some really interesting fireworks,” Su Tianqing replied with a smile.
The fireworks exploded in the sky, creating dazzling light and fire, forming a kaleidoscope of changing scenes that made people feel a bit dizzy and lost in the moment, as if watching a spectacular magic show.
Some novice Magic Girls’ performances might not even compare to this firework display.
“Xiaoyu,” Su Tianqing suddenly said softly.
“Hmm?”
“You know, this is my first time coming to a fireworks display site to set off fireworks, and it’s my first time coming with someone else.”
“Is that so… Ah, that means…”
The Cat Girl turned to look at the Golden Fox beside her, meeting her emerald fox eyes.
Nan Jiayu was slightly startled, Su Tianqing grinned, stepped aside, and clung to the Cat Girl’s side, her fox tail wrapping around her.
“That’s right, Xiaoyu, you’re the first person to watch fireworks with me.”
Nan Jiayu didn’t know how to respond.
She had only caught glimpses of Tianqing’s past through her fragmented words.
“Speaking of which, Xiaoyu, you’ve played so many interesting things with me,” Su Tianqing said with a smile, not minding these things.
“My first time making friends, my first time bringing friends home, my first time traveling far, my first time climbing a mountain, my first time seeing the sea.”
“And watching movies, watching the sunrise, eating barbecue on the street late at night, and cycling fast on deserted streets at night.”
“And many, many more… We’ve experienced so many interesting things together.”
“…And there are still many unseen things waiting for us.”
At this point, Su Tianqing looked up at the fireworks exploding again.
It was like gazing at a sky full of stars.
“…Xiaoyu, can you promise me one thing?”
“From now on, we’re going to experience many, many interesting things together, go to many places, and see all those things we’ve never seen before.”
“Okay, I promise you,” Nan Jiayu said softly, without the slightest hesitation.
The Golden Fox pressed even closer.
“I knew Xiaoyu would agree!~”
“Let’s go to the Hero Association’s annual meeting tomorrow! Let’s call Aurora and Tao Tao, and maybe we can even get some interesting merchandise.”
“And—”
Before she could finish her sentence.
Countless firecrackers exploded simultaneously, and dense fireworks bloomed over Rong City.
The second hand passed the last second of another year, bringing the hour hand to the first mark of the new year.
The light and fire illuminated the excited face of the Golden-haired Fox Girl, and also brought a relieved smile to Nan Jiayu’s face after a brief moment of bewilderment.
“…Xiaoyu, you’re the first person I’ve spent New Year’s with.”
“From now on, we’ll also spend every New Year together, until…”
Before she could finish, the Cat Girl’s tail reached out in front of the Fox Girl, interrupting her.
“You’re not allowed to say the rest,” Nan Jiayu said with a smile.
“Mmm-hmm~ Then Xiaoyu, you have to keep your word~”
The Golden Fox smiled happily, and the Cat Girl and Fox Fox clung to each other amidst the splendid fireworks, their long shadows cast behind them.