Chapter 2: The withering of irises

A pure white ceiling, like a blooming flower.
Bai Yao opened her eyes, and a big face suddenly appeared in front of her.
“Yao Yao, you’re finally awake!”
Long Shu shouted at the top of her lungs, her excitement spraying saliva all over Bai Yao’s face.
“Idiot! Watch your spit!”
Huang Ran pulled Long Shu back, her right hand fingers together, delivering a chop to Long Shu’s head.
“Ouch! Always hitting people, I’m just worried about Yao Yao, okay?”
“Worried? Is this how you show worry? Yelling so loud you nearly sent Yao Yao to her grave.”
Bai Yao’s mouth twitched, watching the two bicker beside her, thinking they didn’t need to put it like that.
She was just slightly startled by Long Shu’s sudden rush, not exactly on the verge of being sent away.
Long Shu clutched her head, her cheeks puffed up, looking very indignant.
Huang Ran held Bai Yao’s hand, her face full of concern.
“Yao Yao, how’s your body feeling?”
“Well, I feel pretty good now.”
Aside from some physical exhaustion, there were no other issues.
Looking at the surroundings and the sharp smell of disinfectant.
Bai Yao immediately realized she was in a hospital.
A soft, slippery white ferret jumped onto the bed, sitting in front of Bai Yao with its head tilted.
“Bai Yao, it’s so great that you’re okay.”
“Xiao Bai, have you all handled the aftermath?”
Bai Yao didn’t focus on her condition but asked the magical creature called Xiao Bai about the aftermath.
“Don’t worry, it’s all taken care of, but this incident had a big impact.”
“Do I need to make a public apology?”
“Well… not exactly, it’s just…”
Xiao Bai glanced at Huang Ran and Long Shu, then back at Bai Yao.
It struggled to find the words.
Huang Ran picked up Xiao Bai, placed it in Long Shu’s arms, and took Bai Yao’s hand, looking into her eyes.
“Yao Yao, I’m about to tell you something very important. No matter what you hear next, don’t be upset, okay?”
“Okay.”
From Xiao Bai’s hesitation, Bai Yao knew this incident had a major impact.
Facing the Greedy Witch and not dealing with the pollution entity right away led to buildings collapsing and countless casualties.
Perhaps her career as a magical girl was over.
“Yao Yao, because of this incident, the death toll reached twenty thousand, and the public is extremely upset.”
“To calm the public, the authorities plan to have you take full responsibility, and you may no longer be able to operate as a magical girl.”
Bai Yao listened to Huang Ran’s words calmly, as she had expected.
Her magical girl career was over.
She didn’t handle the pollution entity in time, indirectly causing massive casualties.
The impact was significant, both socially and to the authorities.
Only by stripping Bai Yao of her magical girl status could the public’s anger be appeased.
“By the way, before I passed out, I sent a woman flying. Has that been dealt with?”
“Bai Yao, don’t worry, we investigated, and it was the work of a Tarot Society member.”
Xiao Bai jumped back onto the bed, quickly telling her what they found out while she was unconscious.
“That massive pollution entity that suddenly appeared was also the work of a Tarot Society member, both incidents caused by the same person.”
“But because Tarot Society members are hard to track, we only know this much.”
Bai Yao let out a long breath, relieved it wasn’t her who accidentally killed someone.
So it seemed announcing her exit as a magical girl would resolve the matter.
Still, Bai Yao felt a pang of regret; she had been a magical girl for two and a half years.
She had been through countless events, big and small, and had thought about retiring someday.
But she never imagined “retirement” would mean being fired.
Bai Yao gave a weak smile.
“Bai Yao, don’t worry about your future livelihood. This incident wasn’t primarily your fault.”
“Even though the authorities are making you take the blame to appease the public, I’ve already applied for early retirement on your behalf, with triple the retirement pension.”
Seeing Bai Yao’s weak smile, Xiao Bai worried she’d be crushed by this and never recover.
“Yao Yao, don’t be sad, it’s triple the pension!” Long Shu shoved three fingers in Bai Yao’s face.
A normal retiring magical girl gets a ten-million pension; triple that is thirty million.
“Don’t get so close, you’ll poke Yao Yao’s eye, and I’ll hold you responsible.” Huang Ran pulled Long Shu’s arm away.
“Tch, as if you’re the only one who cares about Yao Yao, like I’d hurt her.” Long Shu retorted sarcastically.
“Alright, you two are always bickering. Now that I won’t be around, you can’t keep fighting like this.”
“For Yao Yao’s sake, I won’t argue with you, bleh~”
Long Shu hugged Bai Yao’s arm, sticking out her tongue.
Huang Ran took a deep breath, helplessly pursing her lips.
The three of them and one magical creature.
In that small hospital room, they talked a lot—about when they first met, their battles together, and their individual dreams.
Time passed to the afternoon, and Bai Yao returned her transformation item.
Surrounded by everyone, she completed the discharge procedures.
The three stood at the hospital entrance, two of them bidding farewell to Bai Yao.
“Yao Yao, we’ll come hang out with you when we’re not busy.”
“Okay, you’re welcome anytime.”
The three parted in two directions: Bai Yao went home, while the others headed to the authorities to handle the announcement about Iris losing her magical girl status.
Bai Yao turned, watching their figures gradually disappear, a ray of golden sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves.
Bai Yao raised her arm to shield her eyes from the slightly dazzling light, as their figures vanished completely.
“Phew~”
From now on, she’d live an ordinary, quiet life.
Walking through bustling streets and alleys, Bai Yao reached a quieter cobblestone path where a coffee shop stood nearby.
Fragrant flowers lined both sides of the entrance, with vine-like decorations extending outward.
At first glance, it gave off a fresh, inviting vibe.
Click, click.
The sound of high heels on cobblestone came from behind, along with a lazy female voice.
“Miss Iris, what a coincidence, you like coffee too?”
Bai Yao spun around, the woman’s face nearly touching hers.
She would never forget that face!
The Greedy Witch!
How did she know I’m Iris?!
“…” Bai Yao stepped back.
“Shh~ Don’t speak yet, I know you have many questions.”
The Greedy Witch placed her index finger on Bai Yao’s lips, stepping closer to whisper in her ear.
Her warm breath tickled Bai Yao’s ear.
A strange fragrance slowly reached Bai Yao’s nose.
The Greedy Witch’s finger slid gently from Bai Yao’s lips along her cheek, finally pinching her earlobe, rubbing it slightly.
Right now, Bai Yao was powerless, not daring to make any rash moves.
Why the Greedy Witch suddenly appeared here, she didn’t know.
Staying still might be the best response for now.
“Want to know why I’m here? Buy me a coffee, and I’ll tell you.”