The magical girl became a doctor.
Amidst Inie’s watchful gaze, Honoo approached Akatsuki’s house, hesitating slightly before pressing the intercom button.
She — to Honoo, Akatsuki was someone she could call a dear friend, yet also what one might call a troublesome companion.
Because their parents got along well, they became playmates since they were young.
Both had strong personalities, and many times they would get into scuffles and end up scolded by their parents, but that was when a turning point came for the two of them.
On their way back from school, they encountered a monster.
Usually, such an encounter between an ordinary person and a monster should not happen, but this was due to the meddling of a mischievous fairy.
That fairy, though severely scolded and punished lightly, was nothing the two of them cared about at that time.
Only magic girls can battle monsters; as young children, they could only run away.
However, because of the fairy, if they tried to run far enough, invisible barriers would appear, preventing them from escaping.
Most likely anyone would cry and give up, but due to their strong-willed nature, they actually charged towards the monster.
As a result, both awakened as magic girls, narrowly escaping peril.
Various problems followed, but the two continued their activities together as magic girls.
Although they often got lectured by their seniors and guardians, despite those issues, they gradually calmed down after Inie laid into them.
They grew up together, laughed and cried together, or so they thought.
But in the world of magic girls, death is always around the corner.
They painfully realized this truth.
Unfortunately, bad luck struck.
Trapped within the barrier, they were ambushed by a monster, with the senior magic girl who was supposed to be their main force unconscious, leaving them to fight the monster alone.
If it were any other day, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but protecting a fallen senior while fighting was just too difficult for the two of them.
A monster pounced on Honoo, who stumbled, making her think it was over, but Akatsuki rushed to help.
Thanks to this, Honoo was saved, but in turn, Akatsuki had her arm torn off.
After they barely managed to defeat the monster and returned to the Magic Bureau for treatment, even greater tragedy struck them.
“The injury can be closed, but there isn’t enough time left now in the Magic Bureau… I can’t regenerate the lost limb.”
Treating severe injuries is very difficult; curing one limb means she can’t do anything else for a whole day.
It wasn’t that Jeanne and Inie were strange; ordinary magic girls couldn’t handle such injuries.
In the first place, few magic girls could use recovery magic, and given the current state where the number of victims keeps increasing due to witches, even weaker magic girls can’t afford to use recovery magic.
They tried approaching their seniors, but received nothing but lowered heads.
There simply wasn’t enough room.
Anyone would want to help if they could.
Akatsuki accepted it with resignation, forcing a weak smile, but Honoo couldn’t bear it.
She ran around desperately trying to find a solution, but all the magic girls capable of using recovery magic in the Magic Bureau were already fully occupied, and she couldn’t contact stray magic girls as she had no connections.
Even though Akatsuki’s parents didn’t blame Honoo, it only made Honoo feel more guilty.
At that moment, an email arrived at Honoo’s mailbox.
It invited her to a welcome-back dinner party with Inie, asking if she wanted to join.
Honoo hadn’t forgotten about Inie, but she assumed it would be futile to ask for help.
Honoo found Inie’s clouded eyes unsettling, which further deterred her.
Yet, stuck with no options, Honoo replied with a plea to Marin to attend.
Even though Marin and the others hadn’t changed much since the academy was sealed off, Marin seemed to carry a new aura.
The quiet and mature Inie hadn’t changed, still as her usual self.
Desiring to ask for help right away, Honoo held back her urge, waiting until the gathering ended to avoid breaking the atmosphere.
Despite trying to act normally during the meal, inside she was preoccupied with thoughts of Akatsuki.
Finally, when it was time to disperse, Honoo, enduring Marin’s pressure, stopped Inie to detain her.
Previously, she had tangled often with Akatsuki but rarely talked, mainly because Marina always sent them packing.
Even if Honoo tried her best to remain strong, looking at Inie made her falter.
However, she endured her discomfort for Akatsuki’s sake.
“I need you to help me save Akatsuki,” Honoo said.
Inie tilted her head and then asked Honoo what had happened.
Honoo explained everything, awaiting Inie’s response.
Moments passed in silence, and Honoo began to feel that it was hopeless.
When a reply finally came:
“It’s not going well, but let’s heal her. Just keep it secret.”
The response wasn’t exactly encouraging, but Inie had promised.
If Honoo was the kind of reckless magic girl she once was before being defeated, Inie wouldn’t have considered helping.
However, she saw that Honoo was at least somewhat active, so it wasn’t out of the question for her to help.
Arriving outside Akatsuki’s house, things progressed to where they were.
[Excuse me, did you call?]
“Please come in.”
“Come on in. It’s late, but why did you come?”
Akatsuki’s mother responded to the intercom.
[Um, I have something important to discuss with you… It won’t take long.]
“That’s fine…”
Her words stung Honoo deeply, but it didn’t matter. Inie would heal Akatsuki.
She went upstairs and knocked on Akatsuki’s door.
Despite knocking, she received no answer, yet, like a habit, honoo persisted.
“Why are you here so late?”
[Let me explain… but don’t be angry…]
Akatsuki, lying on the bed, looked at hono with her missing arm, unsure how to proceed.
[Maybe you’re here to boast about today’s dinner? It’s typical of you.]
Akatsuki smiled casually, unchanging from usual.
[Actually, I want to talk about Inie… She can use recovery magic, right?]
“…You haven’t given up yet? Even without an arm, it’s not like I’ll die, and it’s my own mistake anyway. Don’t worry about it.”
Akatsuki wasn’t greatly pessimistic about losing her arm. Losing it was due to protecting Honoo, a decision made by Akatsuki herself.
Though shocked when told her arm couldn’t be fixed, she didn’t ponder too much about it now.
On the contrary, she found it puzzling and troubling that Honoo, worried about her sin, acted overly humble and cautious.
“But if you don’t do something, you won’t be able to act as a magic girl anymore! Is that okay?”
When Honoo yelled, Akatsuki scratched his head and looked away.
Akatsuki was silent, but he was planning to quit the next day and go visit the branch office.
He couldn’t fight effectively anymore with just one arm, so continuing as a magic girl wasn’t feasible.
His parents were already aware of the situation, and the process at the Magic Bureau was the last step.
But knowing Honoo would surely get angry, Akatsuki looked away, unable to decide what to do.
Seeing his reaction, Inie appeared suddenly between Akatsuki and Honoo.
She turned her head left and right, surveying the scene, then faced Akatsuki.
Both were startled by Inie’s sudden appearance and froze.
This was Inie’s first time seeing Akatsuki without transforming.
Despite being in bed with a missing arm, Akatsuki was recognized.
“Well, it’s been a while. It’s good to see you’re doing well despite the loss.”
“…Good to hear. Sorry to bother you, but there’s no need to fix my arm. I don’t have the money to pay.”
Unlike regular treatment, magic healing costs money.
Fixing a missing limb, aside from Jeanne’s voluntary work, requires sums most ordinary people cannot afford.
Especially now, even with money, there are no magic girls capable of healing.
If word spread that Inie had healed someone, it might cause new problems.
While Akatsuki wasn’t thinking this deeply, he knew the reality: he lacked the funds.
“I can manage the cost,” Akatsuki said, prompting Inie to internally tilt her head and consult a demon.
Initially, Inie hadn’t planned to demand payment, yet hearing the recent news satisfied her understanding.
Honoo had briefly mentioned needing help, but Inie only paid attention to the request itself.
“On this matter, since you’ve asked, I’ll help… How shall we proceed?”
Inie looked between the two.
Their opinions diverged, and they both foresaw complaints if handled improperly, so they felt it necessary to confirm.
“Help her” “Don’t worry”
Despite their pride showing, to Inie, this was merely a hassle.
Sighing, Inie watched the argument between the two.
Previously at the academy, the arguments often ended with someone conceding or continuing until one collapsed in a simulation.
“Settle down now. Though there will be no charge, your peace of mind wouldn’t be satisfied with just that, so let me treat it as a favor. In return, you only need listen to my request later. Akatsuki, wouldn’t having an arm be better than none?”
Honoo puffed up with pride, and Akatsuki grumbled in disappointment.
“What favor do you plan?”
“Yes, I don’t intend to make unreasonable demands. Are you fine with that, Honoo?”
“Not a problem. If it heals our wrists, I’m willing to do anything.”
Inie stated confidently and retrieved a staff, casting a healing spell.
In a flash, Akatsuki’s wrist was restored, and Akatsuki moved it to check the sensation.
Witnessing this, Honoo thanked Inie.
“By the way, please keep this a secret. And apologies but I stepped in with my shoes on, so if you could clean up…”
Honoo bowed slightly, then her figure faded away.
For Akatsuki, whose arm was long deemed beyond hope, it was too good to be true.
Partly sour due to how he was told, he understood the benefits.
“…Anyway, thanks.”
Since Inie helped and left swiftly, an indescribable tension formed between the two.
“Don’t worry. Having a debt with Inie is fine, we can repay each other.”
“You’re right.”
They laughed softly, dispelling the previous hostile vibes.
“Tell your parents, we don’t want to make Inie an enemy.”
“If you pushed it on me, you need to help clarify.”
After their commotion caught their parents’ notice, they entered the room.
Seeing dirt stains near the center but noticing Akatsuki’s repaired arm, they were astonished.
From there chaos ensued, though neither mentioned Inie’s help.
Many knew the two were close friends, leading to whispers suggesting Inie healed them through connections.
A rare magic girl who can cure such injuries and stay free is almost nonexistent; however, rumors fly fast and soon vanished.
The witch’s strategy loomed closer, the day impending.
