Chapter 35: Heart

“Checkmate.”

Jiang Lingwei raised her hand, trapping Wen Yaquan’s king. A smug grin spread across her face. “Heh, still as strong as ever.”

“Tch.”

Wen Yaquan swept the chess pieces away, pouting. “I’m rusty. Haven’t touched this since watching videos of pawns crossing the river. Old Lin’s a terrible player too. Give me time to practice, and we’ll settle this!”

Jiang Lingwei’s grin turned Dio-level smug. “Too weak, too weak! Jiang Lingwei, chess master, outsmarts your Koizumi Star with ‘skill’ and ‘wit’ after all these years.”

“Hah! Your ‘strategy’ was distracting me with chatter. Wasted my 150,000 ebony chess pieces.”

Why the sudden chess match?

Because Jiang Lingwei hit a dead end—emotionally and practically.

She wasn’t the scholarly type. If a problem couldn’t be solved, dwelling was pointless.

Back then, she’d rally the team post-failure, focusing on the next step rather than wallowing. Now, she’d rather plan ahead than fret over lost memories or her broken magic core.

Wen Yaquan was similar. Despite her… extreme ideas, she was a reliable researcher, cautious but not obsessive, avoiding the baldness of lab workaholics.

Money helped, too.

With checks done and Jiang Lingwei confirmed “basically human”—problematic only for magical girls—what else was there? Play chess.

“The vast horizon is my love~”

Wen Yaquan’s phone rang mid-game prep. She switched to business mode, sitting upright. “Hello? Who’s this?”

“…”

“Okay, tell the front desk to store it in the warehouse. I’ll be there soon.”

Hanging up, she stood. “Come on, my order’s here. Let’s hit the commercial street shop. Perfect chance to test something.”

“What?” Jiang Lingwei followed, puzzled, toward the steel gate.

“Heh.” Wen Yaquan shed her white coat, hanging it up with a sly grin. “How long you can stay transformed without effort.”

“Huh?”

Opening the door, Wen Yaquan added, “About those weak demons… I haven’t noticed, since I don’t fight. I’ll dig into it and update you.”

“Mm.” Jiang Lingwei nodded, trailing her. Just before leaving, after hesitating, she grabbed Wen Yaquan’s arm.

“What’s up?” Wen Yaquan turned, seeing Jiang Lingwei’s stiff smile, feeling uneasy.

“It’s sudden, but I need to say something before we go.”

“…”

“Can I?”

“…Go ahead.”

Jiang Lingwei met Wen Yaquan’s uneasy brown eyes, speaking softly, “Sister Koizumi, keep doing what you want. You know more than me. But some things can’t be solved with a researcher’s ‘heart.’”

(!!!)

In that moment, Wen Yaquan saw a ninja girl—kunai in left hand, cross sickle in right, eyes above a black mask watching her with concern.

Yunxia.

Her sickle, [Destruction], stayed with her, but the kunai, [Ming], was lost.

She saw the old fairy on a cushion, setting aside potato chips, shaking his head.

(This idiot… she figured it out? My experiment… that’s why I didn’t take it…)

“I get it.” Wen Yaquan’s voice turned dry, timid.

She seemed to shrink before Jiang Lingwei, pierced by her light. Lowering her head, she whispered, “Little… Little Aurora… Do you still trust me?”

“What’re you saying?” Jiang Lingwei’s hand touched her head, warm and familiar.

As Wen Yaquan looked up, the woman before her merged with that girl, smiling. “No need to say it. Just do what you want.”

“Magic or not, we’re…”

“Battle partners.”

“Punish all darkness and evil!”

“Magical Girl [Aurora], reporting in!”

After a vibrant cry and a two-second transformation flash, pink and white light faded, revealing the pink magical girl… in a small café top-floor room.

Clap clap clap.

Wen Yaquan applauded. “You’re at home in this form. Welcome back, Little Aurora.”

“Ugh, my fault…” Jiang Lingwei blocked Wen Yaquan’s playful hand. “What’s next?”

“Ever seen poster girl stuff?”

“Some.” Jiang Lingwei nodded. “I’ve watched most mascot videos and training sessions. No big issue.”

“I just don’t know my focus. Café poster girls have themes and personalities—I’d need to maintain one.”

Though working for Wen Yaquan, Jiang Lingwei wouldn’t coast on old ties. She’d prepped last week—expression management, scenario planning, the works.

Even if Wen Yaquan didn’t care about money, Jiang Lingwei cared about her attitude.

“Then—Jiangjiang~” Wen Yaquan pulled clothes from a box. “No time like now. Try these on today~”

“Huh?” Jiang Lingwei gaped. “For real?”

“Of course! I haven’t seen it, so I can’t train you. It’s on you.”

Wen Yaquan stood, hands on hips, brimming with confidence.

“What?!”

Meanwhile, two girls with schoolbags strolled toward the commercial street.

It was a ten-minute walk from school, a Friday after-school hotspot for shopping, eating, and script-killing games.

“You want to meet your mom’s new hire? No wonder you dragged me for coffee,” Jiang Yao said, adjusting her strap.

“Your mom’s a big shot. Tons of employees. Why care about this one?”

“It’s different.” Lin Yu shook her head. “I’m here to watch Mom. She’s been on this poster girl plan. Says the girl’s a good friend, but Mom’s unreliable. If she scares her off, it’s over. I saw it last time.”

“The one you mentioned? Looks our age, but your mom calls her a friend?”

“Yup.”

“…The one you dreamed about? Weird, you’ve never dreamed of me.”

“Who says I haven’t?” Lin Yu shook her head, banishing a bizarre dream of Jiang Yao as a magical girl knight. “Anyway, dream or not, I’m helping Mom.”

“Fine.” Jiang Yao nodded, thinking.

“What’s up?” Lin Yu asked, curious at her quick shift.

“Wondering if you’ll treat me to matcha or chocolate cake.”

“Hmph. 💢”

“Look, I haven’t met this person,” Jiang Yao said, seeing Lin Yu’s pout. “I’ll help you observe, okay?”

“…Let’s go.” Lin Yu quickened her pace.

After a moment, she asked, “Which cake do you like?”