A New Mentor and Lingering Doubts

Upon returning to school the following day, Chloe found her thoughts involuntarily drifting back to the previous day’s events the moment she caught sight of Night Moon. Having blacked out, she remained oblivious to what transpired next and, crucially, whether Night Moon had discerned anything amiss. Consequently, she averted her gaze, reluctant to meet Night Moon’s eyes.

To Chloe’s bewilderment, Night Moon also refrained from striking up a conversation. Observing this, Chloe subtly cast a sidelong glance at her. She noticed Night Moon’s ears were flushed, and her eyes appeared to be consciously evading Chloe’s, giving her the distinct impression of someone burdened by a guilty conscience.

No way! Could she have discovered what happened yesterday and now doesn’t know how to act around me?

Meanwhile, Night Moon’s thoughts were, in fact, occupied by an entirely different matter.

Ever since she had inadvertently stumbled upon that peculiar book in Chloe’s home, Night Moon found her mind constantly returning to it. Her thoughts were frequently interrupted by vivid recollections of the book’s illustrations and the suggestive passages detailing how to bring a girl pleasure. Moreover, fueled by her baseless conjectures regarding the relationship between Chloe and Tia, Night Moon’s perception of Chloe had undergone a significant transformation.

Chloe’s seemingly guileless demeanor consistently exuded an air of melancholy. Her soft, mellifluous voice was so captivating that listeners often found themselves utterly entranced. What proved even more intriguing was Chloe’s apparent unconsciousness of these very qualities, as she frequently oscillated between moments of profound maturity and endearing innocence. This duality sparked a profound curiosity, making one wonder what expression she might wear if ever compelled into an undesirable situation.

It was as though her very essence was inherently designed to be teased, and when juxtaposed with Senior Tia’s cool, detached persona, vivid images of the two of them in intimate moments sprang readily to Night Moon’s mind.

Is this… shipping a couple?

While Night Moon typically eschewed such fandoms, her perspective had undeniably begun to shift. Yet, this particular “ship” proved rather unsettling, largely because Night Moon herself harbored a burgeoning desire to partake in the very dynamic she observed. To suddenly discover that her deskmate possessed such an intoxicating allure, only to realize that Chloe was already claimed by another, was a realization that gnawed at her.

Chloe nervously fiddled with her small hands, her gaze flickering with unease. Eventually, summoning her courage, she turned to Night Moon and inquired, “When exactly did you leave yesterday?”

Night Moon exerted a conscious effort to channel her magical energy, seeking to quell the tumult within her heart. After clearing her throat, she responded, “I returned home right after using the restroom yesterday. Senior Tia mentioned you were taking a nap at the time, so I decided not to disturb you.”

A profound sigh of relief escaped Chloe’s lips.

Thankfully, she didn’t discover anything. Otherwise, I would have been compelled to request a seat change and effectively erase Night Moon from my life.

“Oh, that reminds me, I’ve recently been assigned a new mission,” Night Moon interjected, deftly steering the conversation in a more serious direction.

“What kind of mission? Is it related to some school department matter?”

“No, it’s a mission assigned to me as a Magical Girl. The organization wants me to mentor a probationary Magical Girl… You must believe I’m a Magical Girl by now, right? After all, Senior Tia is also an incredibly formidable Magical Girl.”

“Oh, yes, Senior Tia did mention the Magical Girl situation to me. It’s quite unbelievable, isn’t it? To think that things from anime could actually exist in reality, and monsters are truly terrifying…” Chloe fabricated a lie. Maintaining her feigned indifference any longer would have seemed too contrived. Instead, she opted to portray herself as an “informed ordinary person,” hoping to leverage this pretense to glean further information from Night Moon.

“There’s absolutely nothing to fear,” Night Moon declared, proudly patting her modest chest, her eyes gleaming with unwavering confidence. “I am a Fourth-tier Magical Girl, meaning virtually no monster poses a significant threat to me. As long as you remain by my side, you’ll be perfectly safe.”

“Oh, really? Senior Tia mentioned she’s a Seventh-tier Magical Girl,” Chloe remarked, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she playfully posed a comparative question to Night Moon. “Between her and you, who’s actually more powerful?”

Someone like Night Moon would undoubtedly struggle to admit that anyone else surpassed her in strength.

Observing Night Moon’s hesitant, sputtering expression, Chloe let out a soft giggle, then waved a dismissive hand. “Alright, alright, just tell me who this Magical Girl you’re supposed to mentor is. Though, honestly, telling me probably won’t mean much, as I’m highly unlikely to know them.”

“No, you most certainly know them, otherwise I wouldn’t be specifically bringing this up with you…” Night Moon glanced around, her voice dropping to a mysterious whisper. “Truth be told, I’m not particularly keen on mentoring this newcomer.”

“Who could it be? Someone even you are reluctant to take under your wing.”

“Sera.”

Chloe’s mouth fell open in astonishment, her eyes widening incredulously.

“Are you referring to that young lady, Sera?”

“The very one.”

Chloe’s brow furrowed, a distinct frown marring her features.

“Can someone like Sera truly be qualified as a Magical Girl? Your organization’s selection criteria can’t be particularly stringent, then.”

Night Moon offered a helpless shrug. “That’s precisely why I’m so unwilling to mentor her. It’s likely her family’s influence is so immense that even the organization is compelled to make concessions. Otherwise, by any normal standard, someone who habitually bullies classmates like her would never possess the qualifications to be selected. Even if we’re currently short-staffed, it shouldn’t necessitate such a drastic lowering of standards.”

By the time Night Moon reached the end of her grievances, her expression had become visibly strained, her teeth practically gritted in frustration. However, her gaze swiftly shifted, fixing on Chloe with an eager intensity. Taking Chloe’s hands in hers, she proposed, “Why don’t you become a Magical Girl as well? My judgment is rarely mistaken; you are truly well-suited for it! Furthermore, if you were to be selected, I could even apply to be your mentor, thereby sparing me the task of guiding that nuisance, Sera.”

“Uh… I don’t think that’s for me… I truly don’t believe I possess such noble qualities yet.” Chloe gently, albeit reluctantly, disengaged her hands from Night Moon’s grasp.

“Are you truly certain?” Night Moon’s expression noticeably deflated after the refusal. “How could Chloe, someone so highly regarded by Senior Tia, possibly lack the qualifications to be a Magical Girl? Senior Tia is, after all, an exemplary figure for everyone to emulate. With you spending every day by her side, you must undoubtedly have absorbed a great deal through osmosis, surely making you no less capable than anyone else.”

Chloe, however, maintained her refusal, shaking her head once more.

“Perhaps I simply don’t possess such lofty ideals. To embrace saving others as my life’s purpose still feels far too grand and overwhelming for me.”

While this was merely a convenient excuse, Chloe herself acknowledged that it contained a kernel of truth. As for Tia being a role model for other Magical Girls… Chloe’s silent counsel would be to merely emulate her fighting prowess and steer clear of adopting any other traits, lest they wander down a perilous path.

This was a lesson etched in blood. If all Magical Girls were to emulate Tia’s monstrous demeanor, they might as well rename themselves Witches! At that point, the world would likely teeter on the precipice of ruin, with powerful Magical Girls unleashing terrifying tentacles to wreak havoc across every street. Such a spectacle would truly be unbearable to behold!

Speaking of which, do witches even exist in this world? To my knowledge, monsters didn’t seem to possess high intelligence, which felt somewhat incongruous with the philosophy of balance.

“Very well, should you ever change your mind, you can inform me at any time. I’ll certainly ensure you have a strong connection; my sister, after all, is part of the organization’s leadership.” Night Moon placed a hand on Chloe’s shoulder, her eyes alight with fervent expectation.

“Heh heh… I truly appreciate your kind intentions… but it might be best not to harbor too many expectations for me.”

Just then, a familiar, yet distinctly unwelcome voice cut through the air, heralding the arrival of an uninvited guest.

“Tsk! I truly never imagined that you would turn out to be my mentor.”