The Blossoming of Ideals

“……”

“How was it?”

“My apologies, Lily, I’ve disappointed you~” Dandelion offered, a touch of remorse in her voice. “While sufficient, it still felt as if something crucial was missing.”

“No, no, Dandelion, you didn’t do anything wrong,” Saint Lily said, waving a hand dismissively. “After all, Magical Girls operate on a spiritual system; even with forced experience, true ‘enlightenment’ remains elusive~”

“But to put it another way, Dandelion, you’ve completed your accumulation. The moment you ‘awaken,’ you’ll instantly ‘blossom’ and awaken your Flower Domain. I wonder what kind of Flower Domain it will be? It must be beautiful~” Saint Lily smiled, her sincere eyes filled with blessing and expectation.

“……” Dandelion paused, then looked at Saint Lily. She smiled serenely, speaking softly as if she had already witnessed the truth. “Yes, as long as there is light, I believe it will be incredibly beautiful.”

“I can almost imagine it~” Saint Lily chuckled. As she spoke of Flower Domains, her thoughts drifted to White Rose’s domain, which felt less like a ‘Flower Domain’ and more like an ‘Ice Domain.’ A frown creased her brow.

Yet, in an instant, she shook her head. She understood the profound meaning of that frost and snow, knowing it was not something she could dispel.

However, longing is the emotion furthest from understanding. Without direct interaction or experience, relying solely on surface-level assumptions inevitably leads one astray. White Rose, without a doubt, was teetering on the edge of a precipice.

Saint Lily could extend a hand to pull her back, but she couldn’t do so indefinitely.

Especially now, in White Rose’s eyes, she was nothing more than an annoying busybody.

Still…

White Rose’s earlier apology brought Saint Lily a measure of relief; things weren’t entirely bleak after all.

Turning her gaze to Red Spider Lily, who was staring at something nearby, Saint Lily curiously clasped her hands behind her back and stealthily crept closer, as if intending to startle her. “Red Spider Lily~ What are you looking at?”

Red Spider Lily glanced at her, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. “You’re too close.”

She sighed again.

“I’m wondering what to do next.”

“There’s no need to gain experience points now, and there are people handling the incidents. I already want to go home~”

Red Spider Lily leaned against the wall, sighing, her expression shifting to one of utter lethargy.

“Uh…” Saint Lily didn’t know how to respond, or rather, how to comfort her, because she secretly agreed. After all, her own sister was waiting at home, and returning too late was never ideal.

“That’s right!” Saint Lily exclaimed, hitting her fist into her palm. She quickly opened her phone’s live stream, watching the surge of viewers. A familiar username, ‘Lily-nee’s Little Cutie,’ appeared, and a smile touched her lips. “Alright, everyone, I’m Saint Lily. As you can see, something happened earlier, but we’re safe now and have reunited with our companions. Please don’t worry.”

“Red Spider Lily won’t be explaining further. This is Dandelion, my companion. Our old friends might have met her. ‘Lucky Garden’ was founded by her and me. Dandelion has always been responsible for ‘Lucky Garden’s’ logistical support, so this is probably her first time meeting everyone on camera. It’s thanks to Dandelion that we can usually focus solely on combat without any other worries. She’s gentle, considerate, and a very reliable Magical Girl!”

“Hello everyone, I’m Dandelion.” Dandelion smiled and nodded in greeting as Saint Lily turned to her.

[Another new pretty lady!]

[So beautiful! A wife-type beauty!]

[Ma’am, your hairstyle is very dangerous~]

“And also, there’s one more thing I need to clarify. I am no longer responsible for logistical work, and I’ll take this opportunity to explain! I should say that, like Lily, I have already left ‘Lucky Garden.’ A related announcement will be posted on the ‘Lucky Garden’ forum soon.” Her voice was calm and gentle.

“Eh? Dandelion?” This sudden declaration shocked not only the viewers in the chat but also Saint Lily herself, who almost cut off the live stream.

“As for the reason, well, it’s related to our direction! The ‘Lucky Garden’ led by the new captain no longer aligns with our ideals. I hope we can all find peace and not disturb each other in the future,” Dandelion continued, unconcerned.

“Ah… haha~ Let’s, uh, change the topic!” Saint Lily laughed awkwardly.

****

Due to Dandelion’s ‘declaration of independence,’ Saint Lily’s live stream ended abruptly after she quickly updated everyone on the current situation and assured them that all was well.

She felt a little depressed by how things had unfolded.

“Miss Red Spider Lily, what do you think? Are you interested in joining our new special ability team?” Dandelion approached Red Spider Lily and spoke.

“Hmm…” Red Spider Lily pondered, then looked at Dandelion, sighed, and shook her head. “Life is already heavy enough. I want to be a free and easy vagrant. An organization, or anything of the sort, doesn’t align with my philosophy~”

“Is that so? What a pity~”

“You don’t look regretful at all~”

“I’m the type whose emotions fluctuate intensely internally, but show no trace on my face,” Dandelion smiled. “I truly am very regretful about your choice~”

“How very cool of you~” Red Spider Lily rolled her eyes. After a moment of thought, she looked at Dandelion. “Even if you establish a new special ability team, won’t the same situation arise?”

“Miss Red Spider Lily, what do you think a true Magical Girl should be like?”

“Hmm, gentle, just, kind, sugar, spice, and everything nice, plus the legendary Chemical X…”

“Wow~ Miss Red Spider Lily, you seem excessively old~” Dandelion interjected. “Could you actually be an old granny in reality? Magical Girl ‘senior’~”

“It’s not that exaggerated, little cutie, don’t you know that?” Red Spider Lily retorted with a smile.

“After all, this is the internet generation, but I can’t speak with such a nostalgic tone like Miss Red Spider Lily. But speaking of which, Miss Red Spider Lily, what was your original intention?”

“Original intention?”

“That is, why did you want to become a Magical Girl?”

“……” Red Spider Lily fell silent, pondering for a moment before saying with a laugh, “How should I put it? It seems to be because Magical Girl outfits are quite pretty.”

“Such a simple thought~”

“What about you, Dandelion?”

“I…” Dandelion paused. “Perhaps it was to witness the existence of a true Magical Girl.”

“That’s why I was so happy to meet Saint.”

The last sentence was spoken softly, almost a murmur. She looked at Saint Lily, who, though still a bit downcast, seemed to be pulling herself together, and offered a smile.

“My view on Magical Girls aligns with Miss Red Spider Lily’s. A true Magical Girl is a beautiful existence, one that can make people feel warmth and ignite hope, an existence that, no matter what it encounters, will never be defiled or twisted.”

Having reached this point in their conversation, Dandelion had no intention of continuing.

Red Spider Lily likely felt the same, as she walked past her. “I think you and I are still different. A Magical Girl is, after all, a girl—a human.”

“……” Dandelion merely watched, without a word.

Saint Lily looked at Red Spider Lily in front of her, watching as she extended a hand. “Ah~ Red Spider Lily, I’m fine~ Sorry, I just need a little more time to adjust~”

“Seeing you like this, I can’t just stand by.” Red Spider Lily smiled, taking her hand and helping her up. “Things have already turned out this way; we can only look forward, can’t we?”

“Besides, this is actually the best outcome. For a gentle person like you to get bruised and battered out of fear of others getting hurt is the last thing I want to see.”

“Red Spider Lily…”

“Hey, doll, give your old man a smile~” ( ▔•з•▔ )

“Pfft~ What was that~ Haha~ Red Spider Lily, you shouldn’t be like that~ Haha~” (/≧▽≦)/