Turbulence at the Flip Park (3)

The aimless escape continued.

In the brief pause between sprints, You Xi glanced back—had they finally shaken off Giant Arm?

She slowed to a stop, scanning their surroundings.

They were in a pedestrian plaza. Aside from them, only a few scattered tourists remained—each just as exhausted, each having narrowly escaped their own brush with death.

A sense of fragile relief hung in the air.

One man studied a map, searching for shelters. Another leaned on his knees, catching his breath.

You Xi led the little girl to a signpost and stared at the park’s miniature map.

But it was no use. She was hopelessly directionally challenged. Even with a bright arrow marking their current location, she had no idea where to go next.

“Um… excuse me, could you—”

She turned toward a calm-looking middle-aged man with glasses, about to ask for help.

Before she could finish, a black figure lunged from a nearby flowerbed—tackling the man to the ground. They wrestled wildly, locked in sudden violence.

No one reacted in time.

Then—from every corner of the square—more shadows emerged. Crawling out of alleys, sliding from under benches, pouring from behind pillars like cockroaches born from darkness.

They screeched like monkeys, leaping toward the fleeing crowd.

Legion Men.

You Xi recognized them instantly—their black bodysuits, human-sized frames.

Individually, they were the weakest tier of aberrations. Not even a trained adult would struggle against one. But their strength lay in numbers, coordination, and eerie intelligence. They used weapons, vehicles, tactics—like soldiers. And no matter how many fell, more always came. Like locusts, they swarmed wherever chaos bloomed.

“Run!”

She barely got the word out before panic returned.

Clutching the girl’s hand, You Xi bolted toward the only path not yet flooded with black figures.

Behind them—not aberrations, but the screams of people: shouts, wails, the clash of chaos.

Thud!
Someone had fallen.

Crash!
Glass shattered—probably a storefront.

You Xi didn’t look back.

Each sound struck her heart like a hammer.

Guilt? Fear? She didn’t know. Tears welled up, blurring her vision.

If only I could transform again…

For a moment, she imagined gripping her soul gem once more.

But fantasy couldn’t become reality.

All she held was this child’s small, trembling hand.

The girl’s fear pulsed through her fingertips.

At least… at least I have to protect her.

With that thought, You Xi tightened her grip.

“S-Sister… I can’t run anymore…”

After dozens of seconds, the girl gasped, voice breaking.

“Y-you go ahead… leave me…”

So selfless. So sensible.

But You Xi refused.

Running blindly wasn’t working. Better to hide—wait for the Special Ops or magical girls to arrive.

She scanned the area—then spotted a store tucked slightly off the main path.

“Come on!”

She pulled the girl inside.

It was a merchandise shop, abandoned mid-evacuation. A half-paid basket sat on the counter—proof of how sudden everything had been.

You Xi grabbed a model sword hanging on the wall—a heavy replica, likely made of light alloy—and dragged the girl beneath the cashier’s desk.

Crawling into that semi-enclosed space felt like crawling out of hell into sanctuary.

The monsters’ shrieks. The people’s cries. All cut off.

The terror and guilt swirling in her mind faded—replaced by a fragile peace.

She crouched, hugging the metal sword tightly, exhaling the longest breath of her life.

Even if useless, holding something solid in this nightmare brought comfort.

“W-wah…”

But beside her, the girl began sobbing softly.

“Mama… where are you?”

“It’s okay. Everything will be fine,” You Xi whispered, reaching out to stroke the girl’s head—just as her own mother once did when she was scared.

“When will the monsters go away? I want to go home…”

“Don’t worry. The Special Operations Bureau is definitely on their way. Once they arrive, they’ll defeat these things fast. Then we can go home.”

“But until then, we stay hidden. Don’t move. Understand?”

“Yes… I understand, Onee-san.” The girl nodded, eyes wide but trusting.

Silence settled. The shop was so quiet they could hear each other breathe.

“…Will the magical girls come too?” the girl suddenly asked.

At those four words, You Xi’s chest tightened. The guilt she’d begun to suppress flared back to life.

Why do I feel guilty? I’m not a magical girl anymore. Just another civilian who needs saving.

She tried to reason with herself. But the lie rang hollow.

This wasn’t just guilt—it was shame. The exhaustion of someone who ran away from responsibility.

“Of course they’ll come. I mean… it’s their job, right?” she said flatly, eager to end the topic.

“Then… will Raging Flame come?” The girl’s eyes sparkled with hope.

At that name, You Xi flinched violently.

That innocent gaze—like a blade twisting into her heart.

“…She won’t come.”

Her voice was cold. Her knuckles whitened around the sword’s hilt.

“Why not?” the girl asked, confused.

“She’s retired.”

“Retired? What does that mean?”

“It means… she quit.”

“Quit?! Why?!” the girl gasped.

“Who knows? Maybe she got bored. Or her parents said no. Something like that,” You Xi said, forcing a casual tone.

“That can’t be!”

The girl’s disbelief stung. As if such petty reasons could ever justify abandoning people in need.

“Hehe… just internet rumors,” You Xi laughed weakly.

“Actually… there’s another possibility.”

Her voice dropped.

“Maybe she was just a coward. A coward who couldn’t face the people she hurt. So instead of fixing things… she ran. Pretended she couldn’t transform anymore. Left all the mess for others to clean up.”

“And now she’s probably relieved. No more fighting. No more hard choices. Just peace.”

She buried her face in her arms.

“I am the magical girl—Raging Flame!”

The memory of the girl shouting that line on stage—so proud, so radiant—made her vision blur completely.

“…What a pity. You dressed up as such a pathetic magical girl.”

Why… why do I hate myself so much?

Through silent tears, You Xi realized for the first time: being loved, being looked up to—it could be painful.

“Sister… why are you crying?”

Small, cool fingers gently wiped a tear from her cheek.

“I don’t really understand what you’re saying,” the girl admitted, shaking her head.

Of course not. You Xi’s words were a confession meant only for herself.

“At Sunshine Mall, I saw a big red monster with foam dripping from its mouth. I was so scared… but Raging Flame appeared and beat it. At that moment, I thought… that red sister was so cool.”

Her eyes shone with pure admiration.

“That monster was weak. Nothing special,” You Xi muttered.

“You shouldn’t say that!” The girl pouted, suddenly fierce. “Magical girls work so hard to defeat monsters. It’s not easy!”

“You don’t get it.”

“I do. Because… I am Magical Girl Raging Flame.”

The girl froze—eyes wide, mouth open, unable to speak.

Go ahead. Look at me. See what your idol really is.

A coward who runs. Who yells at kids. Who fails everyone.

Disappointment is inevitable. So better to give up now.

With that bitter thought, You Xi closed her eyes.

She couldn’t bear to see the girl’s crushed expression—the collapse of faith. This tiny act of avoidance… was the last kindness she could offer.

“Really? I knew it!”

But the girl’s voice wasn’t disappointed.

It was… joyful.

“I knew you’d come back. If I’m in danger again, you’ll save me—just like last time.”

“That’s impossible,” You Xi sighed. “I can’t transform anymore. Raging Flame is gone.”

“But that makes you even stronger!” the girl insisted. “Even without magic, you’re still protecting me!”

“Thank you, Sister. I knew it—you’re the best, bravest magical girl of all.”

Best. Bravest.

You Xi stared, stunned.

Me?

Was she worthy of such praise?

Excitement overpowered fear. The girl began chattering, lost in happy fantasy—

—when You Xi suddenly clamped a hand over her mouth and pressed a finger to her lips.

Shhh.

Silence returned.

Both held their breath, listening.

First—footsteps. Chaotic, uneven.

Then—a guttural “gugu” from outside. Monkey-like.

Scritch. Scritch.

The glass door creaked open.

The girl’s eyes widened in terror, pleading silently.

You Xi wrapped an arm around her, shielding her, while the other hand gripped the model sword so tight her fingers trembled.

Gugugugu…

The shadow approached. Its distorted silhouette stretched across the tiles—right to their feet.

You Xi’s heart hammered like it would burst. Blood surged to her fingertips, numbing them.

The Legion Man paused at the counter. Sniffed. Looked around.

Then, with a disappointed growl, it turned and walked away.

The footsteps faded.

Breath returned. Time resumed.

A single drop of sweat slid slowly from You Xi’s hairline—

—when her phone suddenly rang.

BRRRRING!

Her entire body went cold.

In one swift motion, she silenced it—by touch alone.

GUGUGU?!

A predator’s cry—triumphant, hungry.

Too late.

You Xi bit her lip in silent fury.

Slowly, she pulled her hand from her pocket—leaving behind the phone, its screen glowing with one unread call:

Missed Call — Mo Li