"Ah, sorry, Yukieda. Forgot to mention it the other day. That woman was *insatiable*—drained me dry, brain and all. Totally slipped my mind."

A gruff voice crackled through the terminal.

Remembering last time, Yukieda had already turned the volume to the lowest setting. She listened carefully—no strange sounds.

Mr. Kenji delivered crude jokes with deadpan seriousness. Yukieda flattered him warmly, voice dripping with envy:

"Mr. Kenji, you're amazing! I heard a new place opened behind Hakutsuru Electronics Street—the girls there are stunning."

"Really? Let’s check it out together next time."

"Ah… I can’t go out to play right now, Mr. Kenji."

"Right. Makes sense."

"Oh—by the way, Yukieda. Mai already filled you in about her situation, yeah?"

Yukieda paused, then replied firmly, "Mm. Mai told me everything."

"Good. Starting today, Mai’s your partner. She knows your background. If you have questions, ask her directly. Honestly… you two suit each other well."

Yukieda watched the terminal screen. The conversation between the two old men ended.

No goodbye—very Kenji.

*Don’t misunderstand.* Yukieda only visited such places for client business. Never for herself.

*What did "suit each other" mean?* Her height vs. Mai’s? White hair vs. black? Leg length? *Please don’t say chest…*

She stole a glance at Mai—still icy cold, like Yukieda owed her money.

*Definitely not the chest.*

Frustrated, Yukieda finally asked, "So… what about my daughter?"

"Simple. Create a Trojan horse program."

Yukieda stared with her clear golden eyes, waiting. But Mai fell silent.

"What should I do?"

"Wait."

Mai spoke so little it felt like every extra word might kill her.

...

Unlike Yukieda’s gentle demeanor, Mai remained utterly aloof. During breaks, classmates swarmed her with questions—she answered only what was asked, never initiating conversation. Even bold boys who asked about her period received only a freezing glare before fleeing.

After school.

Neither Mari nor Mai were at their seats.

Yukieda frowned. Mai was still a stranger—no need to wait. But Mari had promised to walk home together. Yukieda had just returned from the restroom… where was she? *Maybe she went too?* But Mari’s bag remained. *Wait a bit.* Minutes passed. Nothing.

Then she remembered—the afternoon she first met Mari. *Could she be on the rooftop again?*

Yukieda decided to check. If not there, she’d call.

Just as she turned—*ring ring!* Her terminal vibrated. Caller ID: Mari.

"Where are you, Mari?"

"Yukieda-chan!" Mari’s voice trembled with panic. *Smack!* Static crackled, then Kozue’s mocking tone cut through:

"Abandoned school building. If you don’t come… you know what happens." Faint sobbing and male laughter followed. *Beep-beep.* Call ended.

Yukieda took a slow breath, suppressing the fire in her chest. *Is Kozue insane? I could take them all down with one hand. Why keep provoking me?*

Inside the derelict building, broken desks and moldy textbooks littered the floor. Faint sunset light seeped through dusty windows. The quiet space—meant for ghosts and mice—was shattered by raucous laughter.

"No way. A girl can’t beat us."

"You watch too many movies."

Three flashy-dressed boys chatted dismissively. Bound, gagged, and blindfolded, Mari was forced to kneel as a "stool."

"Don’t underestimate her. She’s *strong*," Kozue replied coolly.

It was Kozue, Kocha, Komoku—and their boyfriends.

"Cameras ready?" a stranger asked. "Film us looking good."

"Using *that* stuff? Kozue, isn’t it expensive?"

The boys whispered. Mari, pinned under Kozue, writhed desperately. She’d seen it earlier: Kozue held a pink liquid and a painless syringe. *That thing… they call it "Miao Miao."* Years of doujinshi immersion told her exactly what it was.

*Please… let someone save me. But not Yukieda. If she gets hurt… how could I face her?*

"Stop squirming! Waiting for your *princess* to save you, ugly?" Kozue kicked her.

"Hey, she’s not ugly," Skull Jacket muttered, glancing at Mari’s flipped skirt, then his girlfriend’s hips. He sighed, turned to the window—and froze.

"A flash of white… sprinting inside!"

"She’s here!"

—

Guided by superhuman senses, Yukieda charged toward the noise, crunching over shattered glass. She burst into the room.

"So *this* is the transfer student?"

"Almost unfair, looking like that," the cigarette-dangling delinquent muttered, throat tight.

Before them stood a girl like a princess surveying castle ruins—simple uniform, clean presence, glowing softly in the dim room. Her light made their "stylish" outfits look like clown costumes.

"Release Mari!"

The princess’s face turned to frost. Golden eyes blazed with fury—yet she remained heartbreakingly cute.

Jealous, Kozue kicked her boyfriend. *His eyes are practically crawling under her skirt.*

The boys exchanged glances. A shared hunger flickered: *Stain this pure white paper. Trample her. Hear her scream.*

It was their plan. And they moved.

Yukieda’s gaze softened toward Mari’s muffled whimpers. *Don’t worry. I’m here.*

Skull Jacket lunged for a bear hug—

—but never touched her. A blur. His arm twisted behind his back. A sharp *crack*. He collapsed, howling.

*I barely tried,* Yukieda thought. *Could snap it… but they’re kids. A lesson is enough.*

*Hmph. Easy.*

The other two abandoned restraint, aiming for her stomach. *Avoiding her face? Saving it for later…*

Yukieda instinctively prepared to kick—but spotted broken furniture behind him. *If he flies back…* She halted mid-motion. Her balance wavered; he stumbled back.

The third boy seized the opening. Spat out his cigarette. Tackled her waist. Slammed her hard onto the floor.

Hair tangled. Uniform stained.

"Didn’t expect this foreigner to be so tough!" He straddled her, sneering. "Let’s see you get up now."

*If he could hold her.*

Horror dawned. Her strength was monstrous—and she’d held back.

"Help! Pin her! Inject the 'Miao Miao'!"

The other two pounced, weighing down her arms. Only her legs remained free. Torn white over-knee socks strained against restraint.

"Let go!"

Even pinned by three men, she trembled with rising power.

Kozue brandished the pink syringe. "Cost me a thousand credits! Perfect for you!"

Yukieda’s eyes locked on the needle.

*Mari spat out the gag—bit Kozue’s pant leg—kicked away.*

Trapped. No escape.

One thought crystallized:

*Should I transform into a Magical Girl… to escape?*