Susan looked at the girl sitting slumped against the rocks by the beach and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After turning off the engine, she got out of the car, closed the door, and habitually took out a lollipop. After unwrapping it, she popped it into her mouth.

This habit was something Peony had instilled in her.

When you’re in a bad mood or very happy, a cigarette is quite satisfying.

Peony said.

But since they were Magical Girls, smoking wasn’t allowed; it’s better to have a lollipop instead.

The taste of Alps is still the same as when I was a kid.

Holding down her hair blown up by the sea breeze, Susan shouted, "Hey, what are you still doing here?"

Peony, next to the rocks, shivered a bit and looked up.

Then immediately turned and ran towards the sea!

Susan rubbed her neck, feeling a bit of a headache, and bit the lollipop to pieces.

"Stop right there!"

When she started running, Peony ran even faster, "The Heart Image Remains is already gone, why are you still hanging around here not going back! If you delay any longer, the Disaster Strategy Bureau will dismiss you!"

"Leave me alone!"

"Stop right there!"

While running, Peony tripped over something unknown and immediately fell, rolling several times in the seawater.

Susan hurried over and pinned Peony, who was trying to get up, "Enough is enough!"

"I told you not to bother me!"

"So now you know it’s annoying? Weren’t you always annoying me like this before?"

Susan sat on top of Peony, pressing down on her friend, "I’ve been looking for you for days, how could I not care? I know you hate work, but I’ll apply for a vacation for you when we get back. If you don’t go back, you’ll really be out of a job."

"Then let it be gone."

Peony covered her face with her arm, "Anyway, I don’t want to work at the Disaster Strategy Bureau anymore."

The waves crashed over the two of them, and Susan took a deep breath. "So why? Just because you’re afraid of getting tired, you even quit your teaching job, and now you don’t want the Disaster Strategy Bureau job, how will you live?"

"It’s none of your business..."

"Did you lose Shiyu An?"

The sudden question made Peony freeze.

The arm covering her face moved, and she let out a tearful "mm."

"I knew it." Susan released Peony, first tying up her own blonde hair, then taking off her shoes—having water-soaked shoes was uncomfortable. She also took off her wet socks and stuffed them into her shoes.

"This time, quite a few Magical Girls from the headquarters also went missing, and they’re still searching everywhere. After all, Heart Image Remains belongs to the Full Bloom Magical Girl."

"I know."

"If you know, then why are you hiding here alone? Wouldn’t it be faster to tell everyone and search together?"

"I did ask! I asked!" Peony’s tone was agitated, and she sounded more tearful. "All the Magical Girls from the headquarters who went inside said they didn’t see An Shiyu. She never went in!"

"Even before anything happened with the Heart Image Remains, I lost her! At that time, I should’ve taken her to the headquarters. It’s all my fault..."

Susan stared blankly at Peony, who was slumped in the seawater.

So, she could cry after all.

From their very first meeting as teammates, Susan had not liked this guy who was always so offbeat and hated work.

Clearly, they were almost adults, yet she wasn’t serious about the Magical Girl duties and just talked nonsense.

The first time Susan was defeated by a Disaster Beast, she also lay on the rubble-covered ground, using her arm to cover her face.

Back then, Peony squatted beside her with a cheeky smile, joking that thirty seconds was already quite impressive.

Then she stuffed a lollipop in her mouth as a post-battle reward.

They sat in the ruins, watching the repair vehicles go back and forth, under the clear sky. Peony kept talking about where the good food was on which street, wanting to dye her hair blonde like Susan’s, thinking as teammates it would match better...

Even on the day they lost their transformation powers, Peony was still smiling, not talking about those matters, instead taking her out for good food, getting their nails done...

So, you can cry too.

Casually, Susan stuffed another lollipop into Peony’s mouth, carrying her shoes. She looked at the distant sea, "It has nothing to do with you."

After all, it was the Cyan Cloud Sect’s order that brought Shiyu An here, and it was Susan who arranged it.

It was all to allow Shiyu An to help the people of Cyan Cloud Sect enter the Heart Image Remains.

"How can it not relate to me!" Peony cried out, losing control. "If back then I had gone with you, you wouldn’t have fallen into the Witch Association’s trap and lost your powers as a Magical Girl!"

Susan froze for a moment, then sat down in the seawater, holding her shoes. "You’re still hung up on that? How long ago was that?"

"You were always more suited to being a Magical Girl than I was. I never fit the role. If it were me who lost transformation abilities back then, it would’ve been better. If it were you, Susan, things wouldn’t have turned out this way, and Shiyu An wouldn’t be lost..."

"There you go, talking nonsense again. You became a Magical Girl before I did, and you’re much older than me, Auntie Peony."

"Who’s Auntie Peony!" She habitually retorted, then lowered her head. "Fine, Auntie it is... since I’m so useless anyway."

"Wow, you even accept that, huh? Guess you’re truly feeling down." Susan shrugged. "But whatever self-blame you want to indulge in, I don’t care. This is the same carefree person who always had no worries. A little bit of depression does you some good."