Raising magical girls, and leave them with eternal regret?!

“……”

After a while.

Liu Meng and WuYue, who had been deep in thought, finally raised their heads at the same time. Their gazes met Bai Yu, who looked somewhat uneasy, and YouYu beside her. Their expressions were complicated.

“…So that’s how it is.”

After a brief silence, Liu Meng shook her head slightly, murmuring with a sigh.

Then, she exhaled and looked at Bai Yu. Her tone was noticeably gentler than before as she spoke:

“Bai Yu… I haven’t experienced anything exactly like what you went through… but I do understand how you must have felt at the time.”

“In situations like that… it’s common to lose control or become emotionally distressed.”

“……Being able to listen to YouYu and change yourself… I’d say that’s a good outcome.”

“So… I’m sorry. I misunderstood you both earlier because I didn’t fully grasp the situation.”

“This won’t happen again.”

After saying this, Liu Meng fell silent. She picked up her glass of water, took a sip, then leaned back in her chair, her gaze shifting toward WuYue from the corner of her eye.

Because now, it was WuYue’s turn to speak.

“……”

“…How did I not realize this sooner?”

Unlike Liu Meng, WuYue was filled with guilt and shame—shame that, after seeing YouYu again, she had “accidentally” forgotten about another equally important friend.

She should have considered this long ago—the logic behind Bai Yu’s actions.

Back when YouYu disappeared, it wasn’t just her who fell into a slump—Bai Yu did too.

At first, Bai Yu didn’t show any signs of distress, but as time passed, her unease and fear gradually became apparent.

It wasn’t until later—though for reasons unknown—that she managed to alleviate some of those emotions, though they never truly disappeared.

She shouldn’t have let her guard down. She should have kept paying attention.

But… the moment she saw YouYu again, she forgot. She forgot something just as important.

How shameful…

As these thoughts ran through her mind, WuYue let out a sigh and said:

“Ah… Well, Bai Yu, how should I put this… I feel like I owe you an apology… in every possible way.”

“…Anyway, like Liu Meng, I’ll apologize to you here!”

“Next time—”

Her expression suddenly turned serious as she met Bai Yu’s gaze, her voice firm:

“I won’t let this happen again. And what happened just now—I won’t let that happen either.”

“Uh…”

“Well… that’s good to hear.”

Hearing WuYue’s words, Bai Yu was momentarily taken aback before replying somewhat awkwardly.

And as soon as she did, the atmosphere fell silent once again.

This time, it was because all three of them turned their gazes toward YouYu.

After all, everything that had happened this morning had started because of him.

So, naturally, he should be the one to conclude it.

“Uh… Do you all have to stare at me like that?”

“Or… is there something you want me to say?”

“Hmm, we just want to hear your thoughts, YouYu.”

WuYue replied.

“……”

Feeling their gazes and realizing they had already reconciled, YouYu figured it was about time to “get to the main topic.” With a sigh, he said:

“My thoughts are—”

“I’m hungry.”

“……”

“I see.”

Hearing YouYu’s response, Liu Meng blinked, then let out a soft, exasperated yet gentle smile.

She then pushed a bowl of noodles in front of him—its clear broth and simple appearance belied the rich and delicious aroma.

“Then, YouYu, you should—”

“Ah, wait! Hold on a second!”

Before Liu Meng could finish, WuYue quickly reacted. Not willing to back down, she immediately stood up and pushed her own dish forward—the result of her long practice in cooking.

“YouYu! Eat this! It’s been a while since you last had it… but I promise, the taste is just as good as ever! Maybe eating it will even bring back some memories!”

“……”

Liu Meng frowned slightly, displeased at being interrupted. Seeing WuYue’s urgency, she furrowed her brows even more and said:

“Do you really have to be this impatient, WuYue? Shouldn’t YouYu be the one to decide what he wants to eat? Why are you pressuring him like this?”

“And… I already told you, eating something heavy first thing in the morning isn’t good for the body…”

“That’s just you trying to train his palate to match your preferences! I already told you, it’s fine!”

WuYue quickly countered.

And so… the atmosphere, which had only just settled, once again became lively over this “small dispute.”

“……”

YouYu could only sigh.

Though, honestly, this was probably something that would happen often in the future…

But at least, not everything was bad.

“YouYu…”

As WuYue and Liu Meng bickered, Bai Yu quietly leaned closer and whispered in his ear:

“Next time… I’ll prepare breakfast for you my own way.”

“There won’t be… a situation like this again.”

A small promise.

A good thing, perhaps—assuming WuYue and Liu Meng didn’t come barging in again.

“I’ll look forward to it, then.”

With that, YouYu exhaled and, as if unbothered by anything, simply lowered his head and started eating. The sound of his chopsticks against the bowl quickly drew WuYue and Liu Meng’s attention.

Seeing him eat, the two of them exchanged a glance, then tacitly stopped their argument. After a brief pause, they each began eating their own breakfast as well.

After all, they didn’t want to disrupt YouYu because of their quarrel… even though, technically, they already had.

And so, with their bickering finally coming to a halt, the morning passed in rare, peaceful silence.

…

Not too long, but not too short, it took them about ten minutes to finish breakfast.

Wiping his mouth, YouYu glanced at the three of them, who had also finished eating. Remembering the plan he had arranged, he thought for a moment before speaking:

“So, everyone, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the Negative Beasts, the magical girls, and those so-called evil cadres.”

YouYu got straight to the point.