"It's not the kind of liking one has for a friend, it's the kind of liking one has for the opposite sex."
"Hmm, I know that, too."
"So, do you know that I've actually had a crush on you since my second year of junior high?"
"But you know, I'm already thirty-five now, no longer the young and beautiful girl of that time. I've grown old and turned into such a disgusting monster, you wouldn't like me anymore, would you?"
Sniffling slightly, Hong Siyu forced a somewhat unsightly smile: "I can only muster the courage to confess under these circumstances, and even then, it's such a troubling confession. Pretend you didn't hear it and don't reply, okay?"
"You don't have to pretend to be An Ya anymore, you are not her," Emerald Sparrow said softly.
Hong Siyu paused for a moment, looking at Emerald Sparrow's face, and fell silent.
"You could feel it, huh?" she closed her eyes weakly, "I thought you were really as dense as a log."
"Thank you, for helping me to clarify some things." Emerald Sparrow gently let go of Hong Siyu's hand.
"What, realized that you could actually move on?"
"I guess not, after all, for an old woman like me..."
"That's not it, either." Emerald Sparrow's somewhat ethereal voice interrupted Hong Siyu.
This made Hong Siyu feel as if she had realized something and opened her eyes once more. She looked earnestly at Emerald Sparrow, carefully observing every detail of the other party, only to feel that the Magical Girl she should be familiar with seemed different.
She breathed slightly harshly, her voice beginning to tremble: "What exactly have you done?"
Emerald Sparrow didn't explain anything, just silently put away the scissors and stood up from the ground.
Then, Hong Siyu saw the scene behind Emerald Sparrow.
Countless blue Magic Silk threads extended from behind Emerald Sparrow, each connected to the Remnant Beasts on the ceiling. The glowing blue threads wove into a huge web, the rushing magic power shuttling back and forth on the threads, forming a sea of light, and like a pair of wings, unfolded from behind the girl.
The tips of the wings connected to the Remnant Beasts, which were once human, and calmed the restless beasts down, making them peaceful and serene as if they had fallen into beautiful dreams, sleeping in the quiet.
Hong Siyu found it hard to put the dazzling and gorgeous sight into words.
But she began to feel an inexplicable sadness.
Because she knew this was not something Emerald Sparrow ought to be able to do now.
"Don't be so tense; I haven't used that move yet."
As if seeing through Hong Siyu's thoughts, Emerald Sparrow calmly said: "I've simply had an epiphany."
"I used to unilaterally, and even arrogantly, believe that I was the hero who saved everything, and in the stories, after saving the world, the heroes could retire and live a peaceful and happy life with their loved ones."
"But the real world is not like the stories, and I am no hero. I'm just a normal person who was fortunate to have gained power, and happened to save some people during the battles."
"I've failed as a husband and as a father. I didn't protect my lover and wife well enough, and if this continues, I won't be able to protect my daughter either. If it really comes to that, all of my efforts will be in vain."
"So, at least while I can still fight, I can be a Magical Girl who does her duty, right?"
She looked at Hong Siyu, the smile on her face so bright: "A Magical Girl is supposed to bring hope, miracles, and salvation. Whenever a Magical Girl arrives, darkness, despair, and pain should be dispelled and destroyed."
"Let me be that existence. As long as I'm able to fight, I will make sure that all evil within my sight has nowhere to hide, and I will bring hope to you all."
"So, sorry, although I do not dislike you, I cannot let go of the past and have chosen the future. I'm probably destined not to be your person."
Hong Siyu knew that Emerald Sparrow had made a certain choice.
It was not simply a personal choice in terms of emotions, but rather a more significant one, with profound implications. Once such a choice was made, it was like a machine that had started, its operation irreversible, unstoppable.
She spoke weakly, trying to get up to dissuade, but then she realized she didn't have the strength. She was too weak now; she couldn't even stand up.
"Get a good rest, sleep for a while."
Emerald Sparrow spoke softly to her, and then, the silk threads behind her surged, stirring up gusts of air in the autumn night, as if Cui Niao had flapped its wings.
In the ruins of the shattered Abnormal Strategy Bureau, the remaining steel skeleton was like a giant cage, but the cage had lost its lock. The Cui Niao inside the cage now spread its wings, looked up at the sky, sang out loud, ready to fly towards the distance once more.
——"When you awake, it will be daylight."