Emerald Sparrow indeed remembered.
At that time, the words that Asou Haruka had said after that abrupt and extreme hand-kissing ceremony.
At this very moment, Asou Haruka repeated once more, "That wasn't about making fun of you, nor was it a whimsical role-playing, but my sincere heart."
"If you need the power to take the initiative, need these things to protect your goals, then, is my power not enough?"
"I can help you resolve your dangers; I can help you remove your obstacles; I can help you avenge your enemies; whatever you want, my power can be used for you."
"You don't need to worry about this power not being in your own hands, if you feel it's necessary, I can stay at Fangting for the next year, waiting until you can heal your injuries in a safer way. As for the Dean, it's nothing more than me throwing her a fake note, and working some extra shifts for the next couple of years."
"I just don't want you to always be taking such risks, disregarding your life as if reaching your goal is all that matters, even if it means death... No, sister, it's not like that."
"Your child will be sad, your team members will be sad, Hong Siyu will be sad, and I will also be sad."
"Be a bit more careful with your life, cherish yourself a little more, that is my only request. Don't do such foolish things like you did during the great beast disaster, or like the time you saved Hong Siyu before; there's no need for that now."
She looked up, her face showing a rare bitter smile, "Or is it that my power isn't enough? Do you feel my power is not sufficient, or that I'm not up to it?"
"Ah, Yuan Xiang! Why are you suddenly saying these things alone, when I obviously think the same!"
At one side, Hong Siyu hastily spoke up, "Senior! I am here too, and now I am Fangting's Magical Girl, I will always be here, forever! It's okay to rely on me more! Ah, although I indeed neglected my duties for too long and was promoted too late, maybe my power isn't very impressive..."
"...That's not it." Emerald Sparrow softly replied. "It's not that I don't want to rely on your power."
"Then why is it? Do you not trust my power?" Asou Haruka continued to question, "Is my current power still not enough to make you feel safe? After all, even An Ya who was so strong died, are we still not enough, is that it?"
Emerald Sparrow shook her head, "It's because of my personal reasons."
"Your personal reasons?"
"My heart doesn't allow it, my sincerity doesn't allow it, just like you, Asou, because of An Ya's incident, don't want to see companions fall into danger again."
Emerald Sparrow looked at her seriously, "I also do not want, when watching companions fall into danger, to be powerless myself."
"I will never let An Ya's tragedy happen again, not even the slightest possibility, I will never condone it. Only in this way can I live up to my conscience, and alleviate the torment in my heart."
Her voice was resolute, "Continuing to hide behind my companions and be protected by others, the emptiness and pain in my heart have already been suffocating me, so I... can't continue ."
Looking at Emerald Sparrow's expression, Asou Haruka's tense face gradually softened, eventually turning to resignation.
For some reason, she subconsciously glanced in the direction of Hong Siyu, then realized that at this moment they shared an astonishingly similar demeanor.
Perhaps, even their thoughts were the same?
She sighed so, yet it was unclear whether she was surrendering to the Emerald Sparrow in front of her, or to something else.