CXnovel Chapter 162 The Fox's Performance Begins
Chapter 162 The Fox's Performance Begins
That concludes today's lesson. get out of class dismissed.
It was nearing evening, time for get out of class to end.
Hua Ling quickly tidied up her textbooks and notebooks, stretched, and let out a long breath.
Phew... Today's classes are over. The girl thought to herself.
I had another nightmare last night.
The same nightmare as always, waking up from the dream in fright as always, and even hugging the tail-shaped pillow as always when I woke up.
Since deciding not to be a magical girl, Karin felt as if she had unloaded a huge psychological burden, which made her feel much better.
Hua Ling recalled yesterday, that nightmarish day:
Yesterday, as a magical girl, I was entangled by the shadows of the stars and almost hurt Sister Tianqing.
This is absolutely intolerable.
Sister Tianqing is someone I swore to protect absolutely. No matter what happens, Sister Tianqing is the only one I absolutely cannot get hurt.
But what did I do yesterday?
The thought of Hellcat protecting the golden fox behind her sent chills down Karin's spine, filling her with inexplicable fear.
If Bai Ling and Xiao Yue hadn't stopped her from firing in time, Sister Tian Qing would probably already be...
"..."
The girl trembled silently twice, lowered her head, and looked at the thick notebook on the table.
The cover features the Iris Guardian Star logo, a sample of merchandise sent to them by the Hero Association. The title page also features a small fox with squinting eyes, drawn by Tianqing herself.
"What exactly have you been protecting, iris?"
Hua Ling gently ran her fingers over the logo on the cover, sighed, put it into her backpack, and got up to leave.
The weather was somewhat gloomy, the sun was nowhere to be seen, and the campus of the College of Arts and Sciences also appeared rather dim.
The girl strolled along the somewhat dimly lit path, letting her thoughts drift away.
"If I don't become a magical girl, will my sister Tenmei be sad?" Karin wondered.
Surely it would be. It seems I truly bear a heavy burden of sin.
The girl sighed softly and looked up at the gradually darkening sky.
It's like the harbinger of rain, making people uneasy.
Just as Hua Ling was about to quicken her pace, a golden figure in the distance suddenly caught the girl's attention.
It was a golden fox standing in front of a plum blossom, carefully sniffing it.
With her fluffy ears drooping and her tail swaying from side to side, she was immersed in the fragrant aroma of the plum blossoms.
"Sister Tianqing...?" Hualing murmured.
Hearing someone calling its name, the golden fox immediately pricked up its ears and looked over, waving excitedly.
"Hualing, good afternoon!" The golden fox hopped up to her and greeted her.
Hua Ling nervously clutched the hem of her clothes.
"Hmm... Good afternoon, Sister Tianqing. How are you feeling? Are you feeling better?"
"I'm completely fine now, it was just motion sickness. The doctor said I just need to drink more water," Su Tianqing said with a smile.
"But Karin, did you get a good rest after that last night? Did you stay up late?"
Hua Ling paused for a moment, then shook her head helplessly.
"I didn't stay up all night. I went to sleep right after you left, Tianqing, and I slept... pretty well."
The girl told a lie.
Hua Ling knew that her sleep quality last night was terrible, but she didn't dare to tell the truth because it would worry Tian Qing.
The golden fox smiled slightly.
"That's good. If giving up certain things makes you feel better, I understand."
"Sister Tianqing..."
Hua Ling opened her mouth slightly, but didn't know how to answer.
...So that's what Sister Tianqing was thinking.
She thinks she felt immense pressure because of magical girls, which is why she had that willful thought yesterday...?
But ultimately, the reason she became a magical girl was quite willful, even naive, and she hadn't considered the series of events that would follow...
The girl fell into deep thought again, and without realizing it, she placed the golden fox in front of her down.
Su Tianqing didn't rush to interrupt Hua Ling's thoughts, but observed her with great interest.
As expected, Hua Ling is currently caught in a vortex of doubt and self-doubt, seemingly taking all the blame for what happened yesterday upon herself. Her initial guess was slightly different, but it was nothing serious.
The plan has officially begun!
"Little Flower Bell."
Su Tianqing called out softly, bringing Hua Ling back from her thoughts.
"Ah...ah! Sorry, Sister Tianqing, I just started spacing out without realizing it!"
"It's okay. I came to check on you, Karin. I'll be relieved to see that you can go to school normally."
"...I'm sorry to have worried you, Sister Tianqing."
Su Tianqing smiled slightly, pretending to be indifferent, and continued:
"If you feel tired, Karin, why don't you take a good rest for a while?"
"Bai Ling has already told me that the Guardian Star will not be taken back. As long as you, Hana Rin, are willing, you can become active again as an Iris at any time."
"But until you, Karin, cheer up... enjoy this vacation to the fullest."
What a sunny, kind, and understanding golden fox!
Even though he was the one who almost hurt her, Sister Tianqing didn't care about his actions yesterday at all, and instead comforted him so gently...
A strong sense of guilt arose in Hua Ling's heart.
Even the guilt couldn't dispel the hesitation and unease in my heart.
I no longer have the courage and belief to transform into an iris.
"I'm so scared, Sister Tianqing."
Hua Ling murmured.
"I'm afraid that when I transform again, I'll hurt others... I'm scared, scared that I'll drag you into this again, Sister Tianqing..."
"I understand, Karin-chan."
"So, I'll take care of the rest."
Su Tianqing responded at the opportune moment.
"What happens next? Sister Tianqing, what are you...?"
"Hyacinth and Nightingale, they're still in Heart Moon Fox's hands."
The golden-haired fox looked at the distant, overcast sky and said seriously.
"...Xiaofeng and Muyao, they are my friends, and also the people I, as the magical girl Dandelion, must protect."
"Including Karin, as long as I am Magical Girl Dandelion, I will always protect you. No matter what happens, I will always support you."
After speaking, Su Tianqing turned to look at the stunned girl beside her and gave a charming smile.
"So go ahead and do what you want to do, Karin. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up!"
Karin realized something.
Sister Tianqing, does she intend to go find Xinyuehu alone?
Is this weak, support-type fox really going to fight against the Heart Moon Fox who can summon the Star Witch?
"That's too dangerous!"
Hua Ling tried to dissuade him.
"Sister Tianqing, listen to me, Xinyuehu is far stronger than you think. If you go alone... you'll definitely be overpowered by her..."
"But isn't that what magical girls are supposed to do?"
"!!..."
Fox's words seemed to pierce Hua Ling's heart, leaving the girl stunned on the spot.
"Magical girls are born to protect."
"Sister, I still remember that night when Mu Yao transformed into the magical girl Nightingale to protect me, and when Xiao Feng transformed into a hyacinth to stop the Cheshire Rabbit."
"And that day on the Ferris wheel, the scene where you transformed into an iris to stop that big monster, Karin, made my heart flutter."
The golden-haired fox chuckled and said,
"I'm the older sister, I'm the one who should be protecting you, but instead I'm being protected by you. This isn't what an older sister should do."
"Until I met Xiaoyue, she gave me the chance to become the magical girl Dandelion, and I agreed without hesitation."
"I want to protect you all, I want to protect everyone."
"No matter where you are, or whether you will remain magical girls in the future, I will always be your strongest support."
"Sister Tianqing...I..."
Hua Ling hesitated, but was silenced by the smiling fox in front of her.
"No need to say anything more, Karin-chan."
"You've done a great job by bravely admitting that you're afraid."
"So leave the rest to me, I'll definitely get them both safely!"
"Don't underestimate me, I still have some secret weapons I haven't used yet."
The golden fox confidently held up its fox-shaped steel plate, but it didn't look convincing at all.
"...Oh dear, it's already this late. I should go back now, or Xiaoyu will worry."
"Goodbye, Hana-rin~ You get some rest, I'll bring back good news!"
After saying that, the golden fox waved and ran away, quickly disappearing at the end of the path.
The girl stared blankly in the direction where the golden fox had disappeared, then looked up blankly at the dark and gloomy sky.
...It's going to rain today.