School Days and Lingering Shadows

“But she’s gone too far; she wouldn’t let me pee this time, and I dread to imagine what she’ll do next!” A shiver ran down Chloe’s spine.

“Just think about it! If Tia chooses to bully you like this from now on, wouldn’t that be better than getting beaten black and blue every so often? Would you prefer a beating, or merely a simple humiliation?”

“I certainly don’t want another beating; she never knows her own strength.” Chloe seemed to come to a realization, sniffing and wiping away her tears with a small hand.

“Exactly! Now, go forth and do your best! A brighter tomorrow awaits you!” With those words, Papertreat’s eyes lost their sparkle, reverting to their previous lifeless, dull state.

After a quick rinse, Chloe returned to the room, mop in hand, and began to clean the soiled floor under Tia’s ever-present, smiling gaze.

“Such a good girl~ But Chloe, if you don’t hurry, you’ll be late for school.”

School? Oh no! I got so caught up in her games that I completely forgot about school! The leave I had taken to visit Doctor Blanca had only extended until yesterday; failing to return today would count as truancy.

After swiftly mopping the floor, Chloe was just about to slip into a fresh white dress when Tia’s voice halted her.

“What now?” Given Tia’s penchant for mischief, Chloe constantly worried if she harbored yet another bizarre game she wished to enact.

Noticing the wary glint in Chloe’s eyes, Tia suddenly felt like a peculiar uncle with a criminal record, mentally branded as ‘dangerous’ by a child. With an unreadable expression, she patted Chloe’s bare shoulder, prompting the girl to immediately recoil in trepidation.

“Why are you so scared of me? I’m merely reminding you to wear underwear.”

Upon hearing this, Chloe’s mood instantly soured. Placing her hands on her hips, she grumbled, “You were the one who made me stop wearing underwear! I’ve grown accustomed to it, and now you’re going back on your word.” While she might complain, reality dictated she still had to comply. Chloe obediently rummaged through the wardrobe, casually selecting a pair of blue and white striped panties and a white camisole before heading into the bathroom.

“Nya nya nya~ No peeking!” Chloe poked her head out from the crack in the door, playfully stuck out her tongue at Tia, and then shut the door.

What an odd child. Despite having seen everything there was to see, she still made such a superficial gesture. Regarding Chloe’s self-esteem, Tia did not see herself as the one who had stripped her of her dignity. Chloe could have resisted, but she had chosen to bow her head and curry favor. That, Tia mused, was entirely Chloe’s own predicament.

Tia did intend to treat Chloe better in the future, not from the perspective of a ‘family member,’ but rather as a transition from abusing her pet to cherishing it. The very identity of ‘pet’ was, in itself, the ultimate punishment for Chloe, obviating the need for excessive physical pain.

Once everything was prepared, the two left the house and made their way back to school.

“Remember to come home early after class.”

“Mm…”

To an outsider, it might have appeared as a warm exchange, yet Chloe perceived a distinct pressure, as if Tia’s words of concern were not genuine affection but a veiled command, failure to obey which would undoubtedly incur punishment. Still, even this strained dynamic was preferable to their initial interactions. Tia was considerably ‘gentler’ than before, marginally closer to normalcy.

The moment she stepped back into the classroom, the familiar scent of printed books once again filled her nostrils. Some students returned with breakfast, the aroma of steamed buns and soy milk mingling in the air, while the chatter and commotion of classmates offered a comforting sense of normalcy. It might have sounded laughable, but Chloe found herself experiencing a profound sense of peace and comfort upon returning to school. The world of magic was far too troublesome; slacking off at school felt infinitely more comfortable.

After all, true happiness lies in simplicity.

The inevitable pestering from her lively deskmate was, naturally, unavoidable.

“Little Chloe, why are you always taking leave? You haven’t caught some serious illness, have you? Wuwuwu, I’ll make sure one of my comrades plays a mournful tune at your funeral.”

“Making such an ominous joke? You’re an idiot, aren’t you?”

“Hehe~” Night Moon scratched her head, a silly grin spreading across her face.

“Let me guess, what exactly has Little Chloe been up to?” Once again, she put her ‘dog nose’ to good use, extending her nose to sniff intently at Chloe’s face.

“Hmm… Little Chloe, you haven’t fallen in love, have you?” After a prolonged sniff, Night Moon suddenly arrived at an astonishing conclusion.

Some surrounding classmates, having overheard this startling revelation, promptly turned their heads, eager to eavesdrop.

“Why would you think that?” Chloe asked, genuinely perplexed. Could one truly discern a romance by mere observation?

Night Moon instantly transformed into a seasoned detective, her luminous green eyes glowing with an almost sagacious light as she enumerated her reasons. “First! Your hairstyle has changed, and the execution is clearly far more skillful than anything you’ve done yourself; it’s definitely not your own handiwork. Second, you carry the distinct scent of another person, and it’s quite potent, almost rivaling your own natural fragrance. And finally…”

Night Moon leaned closer to Chloe, a knowing smile playing on her lips, and whispered in her ear: “Why are you wearing underwear now? Could it be a mandatory request from your partner? So possessive, wouldn’t you say~”

Upon hearing this, Chloe’s face flushed crimson as she retorted in a soft, indignant voice, “Can’t it just be because of my sister?”

“Chloe has a sister?”

“Ah… I was referring to Senior Tia.”

As a result, Night Moon’s gaze grew even more peculiar.

“Calling Senior Tia ‘sister’ is quite an intimate gesture, isn’t it?”

Why does that sound a little jealous? Is it just my imagination?

“What’s wrong with that? Is there a problem calling someone older than me ‘sister’?”

“No problem, of course not. It’s just that I never imagined someone as powerful and cool as Senior Magic Sword would possess such a tender side—helping a ‘little sister’ with her hairstyle, insisting she wear underwear, and so on.”

“If it’s her… it’s going to be tough competition…” Night Moon murmured.

“What are you saying, Night Moon? I didn’t quite catch that.”

“Nothing at all. Let’s not dwell on that. I have some good news to share with you.” Night Moon abruptly terminated the topic.

“What good news? Is it related to magical girls?”

“Yes! Sera no longer wishes to continue after that incident, and the Watchtower has already accepted her resignation.”

“That’s not surprising at all, given how she only bullies the weak and fears the strong.”

“Moreover, she’s reined herself in significantly; she no longer dares to bring her little cronies to bully others. She’s likely terrified of another Xiaolan emerging, hehe.”

A successful case of an eye for an eye, indeed. Yet, Night Moon didn’t seem particularly pleased. Was she still grieving over Xiaolan’s fate?

“Sera escaped completely unscathed, but Xiaolan had no way of returning. Damn Sera, damn witch…” Night Moon’s eyes turned sinister, glinting with the intensity of a true wolf.

Chloe gazed at Xiaolan’s former seat, now utterly vacant. A pang of sadness suddenly struck Chloe. In the world of magic, a person’s very existence could be so easily erased. Many who became monsters, witches, or magical girls abandoned their original identities, transforming into entirely different beings. After she herself became a magical girl, her former self seemed to vanish from the world as if she had never existed. Would such a fate befall her once more?