Two People (3)

“I knew I’d find you here.”

Mo Li bit through the casing of the sausage and pulled out the meat inside.

“What do you want?”

You Xi eyed her warily, noting Mo Li’s playful, grinning expression.

Feeling they were sitting too close, You Xi shifted slightly away—only for Mo Li to obliviously scoot right back up beside her.

“Why haven’t you been replying to my messages?”

Mo Li pulled out her phone, showing the magical girl communication app.

【Huang Xing】had sent over fifty messages to 【Raging Flame】—all left unread.

“It’s fine if you ignore me normally, but what if there’s an emergency mission? Being your teammate is seriously the worst luck,” Mo Li complained.

Hearing this, You Xi blinked in surprise. Hasn’t Lao Lin told her yet?

With that thought, she asked:

“Oh? Didn’t Lao Lin tell you?”

“Lao Lin? I haven’t seen them in days. Senior Tidal just called once, saying she’s busy lately and told me not to go on missions—just wait for her to come back…”

“And you’ve been completely unreachable. It’s like… I’ve been abandoned by everyone,” Mo Li said, frustration clear in her voice.

After letting her vent, You Xi finally spoke.

“That’s because… I quit.”

“Quit? What do you mean, quit?” Mo Li’s voice rose sharply.

“Exactly what it sounds like,” You Xi said quietly. “I’m not a magical girl anymore.”

“What?!”

Mo Li shot to her feet in shock. The sausage she’d just taken hadn’t even been bitten—now it tumbled from her hand, rolling in circles across the rooftop.

“W-why did you quit? Was it because of Bai Mian?” she pressed, struggling to keep her voice steady.

“No. I just can’t transform anymore. I’m no longer capable.”

“But at the mall—that was just a fluke, right?”

“It wasn’t a fluke. I haven’t been able to since. Maybe I never had real talent to begin with. Before, I was just lucky.”

“You’re lying!” Mo Li glared at You Xi.

“You’re scared—scared of facing Bai Mian again, of being hated. That’s why you can’t transform, isn’t it?” she challenged.

“……”

You Xi didn’t answer. She pulled her knees to her chest, burying her face in silence.

“Can you… just let me be alone for a while?”

“……”

Mo Li wanted to say more—words of encouragement, comfort, even scolding.

But seeing You Xi like this—broken, hollow—it all felt meaningless.

The emotions churning inside her were like thunder trapped under a rainy sky. A storm raged within, yet not a single sound could escape.

Quietly, Mo Li sat back down, stealing a glance at You Xi beside her.

Why did her pain, her sorrow, leave such a dull ache in my chest? Even the weather, which had felt so bright moments ago, now seemed gray and heavy.

This feeling… was new.

Mo Li placed a hand over her heart, feeling its restless beat.

Then, as if surrendering to this strange, weighty emotion, she slowly raised her hand and reached toward You Xi’s head—

“You’re right.”

Suddenly, You Xi spoke.

Startled, Mo Li yanked her hand back like a thief caught mid-act.

“I always treated her as my best friend… but in truth, I kept ignoring how she felt,” You Xi murmured.

“But I think you’ve done great. Standing up for a friend takes real courage,” Mo Li said honestly.

“And no, I’m not saying punching me was great!” she quickly added.

“Thank you… but it’s not enough.”

You Xi shook her head.

“The truth is… I broke my promise.”

“I betrayed Bai Mian. I didn’t tell her the truth about what I was doing. She was already guilty—and I made her feel even worse. If I’d just talked to her back then… none of this would’ve happened.”

“And I call myself her best friend? I didn’t even realize how strong-willed she really is.” You Xi let out a bitter laugh.

“But it’s not too late, right? Huang Xing and Senior Tidal asked Teacher Li—apparently, if we catch Bai Mian, they can still perform the separation,” Mo Li said.

“Yes, Senior told me that too. But—”

Here, You Xi instinctively placed her hand over where her soul gem used to be.

“…I’ll leave that to you and Senior. Thank you. And… could you please give Senior my regards?”

“No way,” Mo Li snapped.

“If you want to say it, say it yourself!”

“But… I don’t think I have the face to see her anymore.”

“What are you afraid of? I can tell—you know, Senior always acts cold, but she cares about you way more than she does about me.”

Mo Li huffed, a flicker of jealousy in her voice.

“…Sometimes I just don’t get it. What’s so great about you, anyway? Why would anyone like someone like you?”

It was both a complaint and a confession—delivered in a hesitant tone, eyes darting sideways.

Even just a little… she hoped You Xi might sense the hidden meaning beneath her words.

But You Xi remained lost in memory, oblivious to the storm inside Mo Li.

“That’s exactly why I feel I can’t face her. I broke my promise again… It’s just… so pathetic.”

“Again… another broken promise.”

Promises, promises… What’s with all this?

Aren’t these things just throwaway lines? Does anyone actually take them seriously?

And yet—You Xi remembered every small vow she’d ever made. With Bai Mian. With Senior Tidal.

So… what about ours?

That day they first met as magical girls—didn’t they challenge each other to see who’d become the better fighter?

In that moment, a fierce surge of jealousy erupted in Mo Li’s chest—so sudden, so dark, even she was startled by it.

“Then—”
“Then what?”
“What about me?”

Mo Li asked softly—voice trembling, almost pleading.

“…Me?” You Xi tilted her head, genuinely confused.

Should she be angry? Mo Li didn’t know.

But in that instant, the look in You Xi’s eyes—honest, searching, utterly sincere—was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing any spark of resentment.

It was as if the emotion had boomeranged back, stabbing her own heart instead.

It hurt.

Before she could understand why it hurt, tears spilled silently down her cheeks.

“You…”
“You idiot!”

She shoved the stack of Bai Mian’s manuscript into You Xi’s arms. Without waiting for a reaction, Mo Li scrambled to her feet, sobbing as she fled across the rooftop—disappearing through the stairwell door.