Chapter 8: Magical Girl Sisters!

“I’m not gay.”

Lin Feng muttered to himself, then stole another glance at Dongfang Cheng’s upper body.

He felt his reasoning was solid: anyone would stare if their best friend’s body inexplicably shrank.

Cheng’s muscles, once straining his shirts, looked “slimmer” lately.

Less defined, collarbone more prominent.

Lin Feng shook his head—probably overthinking.

Dongfang Cheng wasn’t magical, nor an experiment from the Human Body Modification Department.

Why would he shrink for no reason?

Must be nerves from that Black Magical Girl’s scare the other night.

As Lin Feng pulled on his gym pants, his phone buzzed.

The screen lit up briefly, flashing an encrypted message only he could decode—an urgent notice from the organization.

His heart tightened.

He casually dimmed the screen.

“Hey, uh, I just remembered I left something in the classroom.

Gotta grab it.

Cheng, cover for me with the PE teacher.”

“Hm.”

Dongfang Cheng didn’t look up, just grunted, tied his shoelaces, and left the changing room.

Watching his friend’s back fade, Lin Feng exhaled, found a corner, and opened the encrypted message.

The dismissal bell rang.

For Dongfang Cheng, lonely hours loomed again.

He and Lin Feng packed their bags, ready to head to the train station as usual, but were stopped at the school building’s entrance.

“Dongfang, Lin Feng, wait up!”

It was Class President Huangyu Tong, jogging over with her bright smile.

“President? What’s up?”

Lin Feng looked surprised.

“Here’s the thing,” Huangyu Tong clasped her hands, striking a (>人<) pose.

“Taogong’s still in the hospital, right?

I put together her missed class notes.

Could you guys drop them off for her?”

“Us?”

Lin Feng’s eyelid twitched.

“Yaoyao and I have a student council meeting soon, and Qiluoluo… uh, she’s off to horseback riding lessons.

She asked me to get you two to deliver these to Taogong.

Please, she’s probably bored stiff in the hospital.

Visit, chat with her a bit!”

Xingye Qiluoluo’s idea?

Dongfang Cheng raised a brow.

He wasn’t fond of that heiress—or any rich folks, except Gouda.

But since he saved Taogong, a visit wasn’t a big deal.

Huangyu Tong, elected president by a landslide, juggled class duties, student council, and even made notes for a junior high kid.

No wonder she was so popular.

Lin Feng, meanwhile, looked reluctant.

“Hospital?

But I wanted to get home early to fix my…”

He nearly said “armor,” catching himself.

“…new computer.”

He didn’t want to waste time visiting an enemy magical girl.

His precious armor needed repairs and repainting, plus analysis of Little Black’s fist mark.

Before he could muster a better excuse, Dongfang Cheng took the notes from Huangyu Tong.

“Let’s go, it’s on the way.”

“On the way where?

First General Hospital’s the opposite direction from your place!”

Lin Feng tried to protest.

“Move.”

Dongfang Cheng didn’t give him a chance, hooking his shoulder and half-dragging him toward the station.

“Hey, Cheng, why so eager?

No touchy-feely between bros!”

Lin Feng’s wails faded into the lengthening shadows of sunset.

Duhuang City was massive—so big you couldn’t circle its walls in a sports car in half a day.

So, most residents took the train.

Duhuang City First General Hospital, VIP ward.

Following Huangyu Tong’s directions, they found Taogong Qi’s room.

With permission, they pushed the door open.

The room was cozy, with pink bunny plushies by the bed and fresh lilies.

Taogong Qi, in blue-and-white hospital pajamas, leaned against the headboard, her leg in a high cast.

She looked less lively than usual, more fragile.

Beside the bed sat a woman in a wheelchair, in her early twenties, with beautiful pink hair like Taogong’s.

Her delicate features carried a warm smile.

Despite her immobile legs, her posture was upright.

Seeing them, Taogong Qi froze, then blushed, half-hiding her face in the blanket like a hamster.

“It’s Senior Dongfang and Senior Lin… good afternoon,” she mumbled, cheeks pink, barely peeking out.

“Hello, I’m Qi’s sister, Taogong An.”

The woman in the wheelchair smiled, far more composed than her sister.

“Thank you for visiting her.”

Dongfang Cheng shook her hand briefly.

For some reason, Taogong An gave off an indescribable vibe that put him on edge—like lying on a frozen river in winter, unsure when the ice might crack.

Lin Feng, in the third second of seeing her, pulled up her data from his mental database.

Taogong An, former Pink Magical Girl, near S-class.

Crippled by a Dragon-level Ouroboros cadre, Mingjia, with permanent damage to her magic core and leg nerves.

Two Pink Magical Girls as sisters?

Could magical girl powers be hereditary?

Was the Human Body Modification Department’s talk of turning captured magical girls into breeding stock actually true?

He couldn’t ask, of course, and settled for a polite handshake.

They handed Taogong Qi the notes from Huangyu Tong, exchanging brief pleasantries about her injury and recovery.

Taogong Qi answered softly before retreating into her blanket.

Most of the talking came from Taogong An, smiling warmly.

Soon, likely due to medication, Taogong Qi yawned, eyes drooping.

As she dozed off, Dongfang Cheng and Lin Feng took their leave from Taogong An.

The room fell quiet again.

Taogong An wheeled to her sister’s bedside, gazing at her peaceful sleeping face and the leg wrapped in bandages and a cast.

The octopus monster nearly tore her leg bones apart.

Unlike her own permanent disability, recovery to normal function was possible, but even with daily healing magic from that Year 3 girl, it’d take at least two weeks.

“Miracles and magic come at a cost, don’t they, Little Qi?”

Taogong An gently stroked her sister’s cheek.

Her beautiful pink eyes held a numb yet timeless sorrow.