Is This How You Use a Self-Destruct Switch?!-Chapter 11 : Neighbor?

"The last time was a very long time ago..."
Tsuan's awkward laugh was interpreted by Reiko as... a 'forced smile' she was putting on to avoid worrying her new friend.
This also made Reiko realize that her own expression might not have been very kind, so she quickly grabbed Tsuan's wrist and pressed her down to sit properly on the sofa, while adjusting her somewhat dark expression to a smile like one would use to coax a small child.
"Does Tsuan remember specifically when the last time was?"
If there was a specific time... combined with bank information, they should be able to find that irresponsible guardian who had abandoned Tsuan and left!
When that time comes...
Reiko gently patted Tsuan's somewhat messy little head.
She must make them swear to never leave Tsuan on their own again!
"Mm... about three years ago? Though, it might have been more recent..."
Three years ago?
Left for three years... no, that's not right!
Three years ago was the last bank transfer... which means Tsuan's guardian had already left before then... this would also explain why Tsuan couldn't remember clearly who that person was.
But... after three years, would the bank records still be preserved?
Her palm once again unconsciously caressed Tsuan's wonderfully soft little head, sliding back and forth repeatedly, feeling the subtle tickling sensation of hair strands brushing against her skin.
Mm, first... like this...
"It's okay, it's okay~ Let's be good friends from now on, Tsuan~?"
Children lacking companionship need good friends the most, and as Forest Moon's student council president, she naturally had the duty to provide help to Tsuan who was in a difficult situation.
Moreover... Tsuan herself was already quite pitiful.
"Mm! So we're good friends starting from now~?"
Tsuan had no suspicion whatsoever, happily looking up to ask before resting her chin on Reiko's shoulder and nuzzling against her like a spoiled child.
She didn't know what good friends should do together; she was just mechanically copying what she had seen those close friends... do with each other on the street.
But this was already enough.
"Mm mm~ So Tsuan-chan~?"
Reiko still used the tone of coaxing a child.
"Can you tell me~ does Tsuan have enough pocket money to spend~?"
Tsuan felt somewhat embarrassed to answer this question, but couldn't refuse to answer either... after all, they were 'good friends' now, so she had no choice but to...
"If I only buy food and clothes, it can last for a very, very long time..."
When the last remittance arrived three years ago, the funds Tsuan had saved for a long time were completely sufficient for her to live until high school graduation.
But...
"Only buy food and clothes?"
Reiko's mouth corners slightly turned down, and her purple eyes carried a trace of obvious irritation.
"What about books, snacks, and... money spent on happiness? Doesn't Tsuan need any of these?"
Doesn't Tsuan need any of these?
Both of them knew the answer...
The girl who had stood outside the doll shop window crying and staring blankly had no right to deny it.
"So, how much money is left? Don't lie."
Reiko frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then looked at Tsuan who was still somewhat resistant to this question and added another sentence.
"If Tsuan doesn't tell me, I'll be very sad."
Mist rose in the clear red eyes, but Reiko had to know the answer to this question, so she could only force herself to ignore Tsuan's resistance.
Mm... next she would have to... threaten Tsuan using this friendship, saying if she didn't tell, they wouldn't be good friends anymore.
The executive miss who had dealt with many monsters naturally knew how to handle children who didn't want to talk, but... when the words reached her lips, they ultimately became softer sentences.
"If I'm sad, I might not like Tsuan anymore..."
The effect was still remarkably significant, at least successfully getting Tsuan to that number.
"..."
Reiko sighed and reached out to once again patiently wipe away the water droplets clinging to Tsuan's eyelashes.
"Really... I didn't lie to Reiko!"
Tsuan nervously gripped her friend's shoulders, trying to show that she hadn't lied. But this behavior appeared especially pitiful in Reiko's eyes.
Just a few hours... and you already like me this much?
Reiko didn't think she had that kind of magic power. Rather than believing it was because she was too likeable that caused Tsuan to become like this, causing Tsuan to value her so much...
Reiko preferred to think it was a problem with Tsuan, this little fool.
"Tsuan... do you usually have friends?"
She placed her arm on Tsuan's shoulder blade, once again pulling her into her embrace to gently comfort her.
"Not my kind of 'good friend,' just the kind who can... mm... know what Tsuan's name is, that kind of 'friend'?"
The student council president, who had already noticed that Tsuan's understanding of friendship had become quite distorted, chose to use this... relatively more ambiguous concept of friendship to search for people in daily life who might help Tsuan.
She didn't think there wouldn't be such people around Tsuan, after all...
As long as Tsuan was willing to ask for help, anyone on the street... would definitely help her...
A financially struggling girl living alone should receive extra care from neighbors by all logic, how could it be possible...
How could it be possible...
She watched Tsuan's head shake slightly to indicate refusal and widened her own beautiful glass-like eyes.
"Tsuan? You..."
Could it be that no one lives around here?
Reiko would rather believe that there wasn't a single person living around here than believe... that Tsuan wouldn't even have one person she could turn to for help.
But the reality was just that.
"There isn't anyone..."
Tsuan tried hard to mask the sadness in her voice with cheerfulness, but Reiko still easily detected her emotions.
"Everyone, whether it's... the old lady living across the way, or the drivers behind the crosswalk, the passersby I encounter on the street..."
Tsuan's resigned expression concealed some helplessness, but she quickly suppressed it in her heart.
"Everyone can't see me."
But...
What's the point of talking about all this now?
Thinking of her current situation, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn upward.
Becoming a magical girl, saving the senior she admired, and then... being able to be seen, and even...
She gently grasped Reiko's small hand that was placed in front of her.
"But Reiko appeared at this time too!"
The silver-haired girl, who was still trying to understand what "everyone can't see me" meant in such abstract terms, was pulled back to reality by the sudden warm, soft sensation in her palm.
Looking at the sincere smile on this fool's face before her, she smiled along with some helplessness and some fatigue.
"Alright, alright, then... should Tsuan rest for a bit?"
She reached out to poke Tsuan's cheek, thinking of a brilliant plan.
If Tsuan couldn't explain clearly...
She could go knock on doors and ask Tsuan's neighbors, couldn't she?