Is This How You Use a Self-Destruct Switch?!-Chapter 25 : Senior?!

A few strands of flying hair ends, carrying a hint of coolness, gently swept across Reiko's outstretched wrist and cheek, leaving a slightly tickling sensation.
Tsuan dodged Reiko's outstretched palm, and the atmosphere that had just eased froze again.
Reiko's hand stiffened in mid-air, the surprised expression on her face from discovering Tsuan was here also slightly stagnated.
She looked at Tsuan's profile in bewilderment—the other stubbornly hugged her arms, her spine straight as a rod, her gaze firmly nailed to the wall opposite, as if for her... the floral patterns on Amber's wallpaper were more attractive than Reiko.
Megumi immediately keenly caught this eerie atmosphere and the... sharper low pressure emanating from Tsuan than when facing Yoko's questioning earlier.
But... she didn't understand what had happened, so she could only urge Amber to go get some snacks first.
Tsuan's fingers hidden in her arms gripped her uniform skirt hem tightly, her nails almost leaving marks on it.
Reiko's comment meant to ease the atmosphere—'So it was you who stepped on my foot'—completely ignited Tsuan's resentment toward her.
Her knuckles were slightly white from the force. Noticing this and fearing she might hurt herself, Reiko reached out to hold her hand, but was slapped away.
Tsuan's crimson eyes were filled with undisguised anger. She opened her mouth, seeming to want to question... but didn't know how to begin.
With Amber and Megumi-chan both here, she... could only speak in her heart, with her eyes, with her slightly heaving chest expressing the suppression and grievance in her heart.
You were the one who pulled me from that world where no one cared, dragged me into this warm and happy world!
You were the one who let me taste for the first time what it meant to be truly "seen" and cared about!
You were also the one... who personally said: you can come to me for anything!
But what was the result?
I couldn't find you at all! Even if that was fine...
Megumi gently held Tsuan's sweaty palm, trying to get her to relax... but it was useless.
The anger in Tsuan's eyes intensified.
She just didn't understand why Amber just didn't go to school for one day, and Reiko could visit to look for Amber?
She just didn't understand why she had already... gone over thirty hours without any contact with Reiko, yet she wouldn't even ask a single question on Line?
She just didn't understand why, after doing so many things with Reiko that only good friends could do together...
In Reiko's heart, she was still inferior to Amber who had stepped on her foot at the convenience store?!
And then, and then now... now using that... that attitude of treating cats and dogs, reaching out her hand as if nothing happened... wanting to pat my head?!
Reiko... what do you take me for? A pet that needs comforting?!
She stared at Reiko's eyes, her slender shoulders trembling slightly with anger, almost writing "I'm very angry" directly on her face...
Grievance, sourness... and a hint of anger at being looked down upon, wrapped around her heart like vines, making her unable to breathe, let alone accept that hand carrying "strange" warmth falling on her head.
Tsuan bit her lower lip hard, tasting a faint metallic flavor, barely suppressing the sourness surging in her throat and the impulse to question.
She wanted an answer, but didn't want to ask... this kind of question that would make her seem somewhat strange.
So in the end, she could only look away under Reiko's shocked gaze.
Only a suffocating... pin-drop silence remained in the room.
Reiko's suspended hand finally, with a trace of barely perceptible stiffness, slowly...
Fell on Tsuan's trembling shoulder.
Then, with force
Pulled her into her embrace.
"Sorry, Tsuan-chan... that, I'm really sorry."
Her voice, which had been somewhat stern when questioning Amber about skipping school, became soft and gentle, exactly the same as the tone Tsuan was most familiar with.
After initial stiffness and symbolic struggle, Tsuan's body rapidly softened as if her bones had been removed.
She no longer tried to struggle, but instead like a small animal seeking shelter, buried her face deeper into Reiko's neck which carried a familiar fragrance, leaving only a fluffy little head, her shoulders trembling slightly, as if silently urging Reiko.
Continue apologizing... I'm listening...
But Reiko had no idea why she was angry, so she could only... gently hold her and comfort her. After all, at times like this, it was better to say nothing than risk making things worse by saying the wrong thing.
Initiative often belongs to whoever can't hold their composure first, whoever speaks first... loses it.
Reiko could certainly hold her composure—as student council president, what she was best at was waiting for the other party to show their weakness first. But Tsuan couldn't do it.
Why did Reiko suddenly stop talking?
Why didn't she continue... apologizing?
Silence wrapped around Tsuan's heart like invisible threads, inch by inch. She began anxiously twisting her fingers, and all those grievances that had seemed so justified moments ago now turned into bubbles of self-doubt.
"...Reiko?"
She finally couldn't hold back, tugging at Reiko's sleeve with some trepidation, her voice as quiet as a mosquito.
Am, am I... being too willful?
The force in her fingertips betrayed her inner panic, as if afraid the other party would truly get angry and ignore her the next second.
Reiko was completely unaware that just one embrace... had already returned Tsuan from her bristling state to normal. She was secretly celebrating the change in topic and began imperceptibly collecting intelligence.
"I'm here, don't worry."
She comfortingly squeezed Tsuan's palm, then changed the subject.
"But... didn't Tsuan-chan take leave today? Why are you at Amber-san's house?"
Her fingertips lightly tapped Tsuan's soft hand, her tone
Gentle yet carrying unavoidable inquiry.
"If you're not feeling well, it's better to rest at your own home."
Take leave...?
Tsuan's mouth corners slightly drooped. This light word just erased the abnormality of her disappearing for over thirty hours.
Although it was indeed convenient, not needing much explanation... it also made her somewhat unable to accept it.
"I guess... nothing's uncomfortable."
She responded vaguely, her fingertips unconsciously scratching the fabric of Reiko's uniform.
Megumi timely joined the conversation, beginning to explain why Tsuan was here—and this explanation inevitably involved...
"Mm... I understand."
Reiko took the hot coffee Amber handed her, and immediately gasped from being burned after just one sip.
"So... hiss... you all... ha..."
She awkwardly stuck out her tongue, her dignified image as student council president instantly crumbling.
Fortunately, Tsuan quickly scooped up some ice cream and handed it over, making Reiko reflexively take the spoon in her mouth. The cool, sweet sensation made her squint, her tongue unconsciously licking the cream from her lips—this action made Tsuan's ear tips slightly red.
"Encountered a magical girl who loves pranks."
Reiko finally regained her speaking ability, her fingertips lightly tapping the cup rim.
"And she single-handedly made your school dismiss early?"
Amber and Megumi nodded in sync, while that magical girl... was currently sitting awkwardly beside Reiko.
If it were before, Reiko would definitely scoff at this explanation.
Because there were only two magical girls here, Luna and Amber, and neither was the type to play pranks.
On this point, as an executive miss of the Dark Moon Society, she absolutely trusted both of their characters.
But before was before, now was now.
Her fingers holding the teacup were trembling slightly, because that prank-loving magical girl had already personally visited her once.
And in a way she would never forget for the rest of her life.
"Can you tell me exactly what happened? Megumi-san, and Amber-san... this... involves many things."
She needed to know all information related to that magical girl, after all... in her eyes, this involved Tsuan's only living relative in this world.
Moreover, for the Dark Moon Society, this was also very important intelligence that must be taken seriously.
"Ahaha, about this..."
Megumi glanced at Tsuan beside her who was pretending to be absent-minded, suddenly not knowing how to begin explaining.
Fortunately, Amber was still here.
"She just suddenly appeared, then suddenly disappeared!"
Amber put down the ice cream she had eaten half of, raising both hands to gesture in front of Reiko, seeming to recreate the scenes she and Megumi had cleaned up that morning.
Just suddenly appeared then suddenly disappeared?
Really was... her 'combat style'...
"Then, after she disappeared, did she leave anything behind?"
Reiko suddenly grabbed Amber's shoulders, leaning forward slightly, quickly glancing sideways at Tsuan to confirm she seemed to be absent-mindedly playing with her skirt... only then daring to shake Amber forcefully.
She lowered her voice, yet it carried an unbearable pain of terrible memories.
"So after she disappeared... did she leave anything behind?"
Reiko's gaze sharpened, as if wanting to penetrate Amber and face her inner heart directly.
"Like... that red! Sticky! Stuff that makes everything around a complete mess... that won't wash off?!"
Her previous subtle disdain for Amber's truancy had now been completely replaced by intense sympathy and lingering concern.
After all, only having personally experienced that hellish scene could one understand what an absolutely outrageous crime scene it was!
This incredibly precise description instantly lit up Amber's golden eyes, making her nod vigorously in response.
"Yes! President, yes!"
She immediately waved her arms excitedly, her voice rising several octaves, completely forgetting that Tsuan, the 'culprit,' was sitting right beside them.
After all, for her, being able to hold back and not reveal her and Megumi's magical girl identities in front of Reiko was already exceptional performance!
"Megumi-chan and I! We two were responsible for cleaning up that red... jam? Or something else? Anyway, that red, sticky stuff she left behind! It was everywhere! Couldn't wipe it clean! We were exhausted!"
Reiko's gaze swept over the awkwardly smiling Megumi beside them, her tone full of sincere emotion and relief.
"You two really... worked hard..."
Good thing, good thing they only cleaned up, didn't witness that... just imagining that scene made Reiko shudder involuntarily.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress that nightmare-like memory, then slowly exhaled...
Then, opening her eyes, those beautiful purple pupils burned with raging fury, her voice suddenly rising, carrying the seriousness of a student council president reading... a disciplinary notice.
"That bastard magical girl! Simply lawless! Wanton and reckless! Trampling public safety and others' feelings underfoot! This kind of terrible behavior..."
The more Reiko spoke, the angrier she became, her fair cheeks flushing red with anger.
"Should really be arrested by police! Thrown in prison! To reflect for a lifetime!"
Her resounding judgment echoed in the room.
However, during this righteous accusation, Tsuan sitting nearby had an expression that seemed covered by an invisible layer of frost, cooling down bit by bit... bit by bit.
Initially, she just lowered her head slightly, her fingertips unconsciously twisting Megumi's clothing corner, trying hard to maintain a calm facade of 'this has nothing to do with me.'
But as Reiko's accusations against the 'terrible magical girl' became more and more specific, that forced smile at the corners of her mouth completely disappeared.
"Reiko really hates her."
Tsuan finally slowly raised her head.
That small face that always carried a hint of shyness or grievance now had no expression. Those beautiful crimson eyes no longer held the previous dependence and grievance—they had vanished without a trace.
She quietly looked at Reiko who was passionately denouncing herself, her gaze as indifferent as if looking at a stranger.
The air seemed to freeze in the aftermath of Reiko's angry words and Tsuan's cold stare.
Megumi keenly caught this plummeting atmospheric pressure, instantly breaking out in cold sweat. She hastily nudged the still-indignant Amber with her elbow, frantically signaling with her eyes.
Only then did Amber belatedly follow Megumi's gaze to Tsuan, then... was startled by the unprecedented, completely cold calm expression on her face, instantly falling silent.
Reiko also finally noticed the strange atmosphere. She followed Megumi and Amber's gazes, looking at Tsuan with confusion...
"Of course I hate her."
Reiko's tone was righteous, completely not feeling she had said anything wrong.
"After all, she did that kind of thing at Tsuan-chan's school?"
Tsuan was stunned, then felt a soft, warm caress on the top of her head.
"I don't want her doing that kind of thing to scare Tsuan-chan... of course I don't want to scare Megumi-san and Amber-san either... so I'm very angry, you know?"
Reiko's finger gently tapped at the corner of Tsuan's mouth.
"Even if she's a magical girl, she should be punished for doing wrong things. We can't like her regardless of right and wrong just because she's a magical girl..."
The student council president, thinking Tsuan was only angry because she was criticizing a magical girl, gently brushed aside the black hair covering Tsuan's forehead, then carefully planted a light kiss there.
"Mm! I understand~"
Tsuan's bright smile warmed everyone present, and Reiko was incredibly grateful she had taken leave today... otherwise...
If Tsuan had seen the same thing as me...
No, that's not allowed!
That kind of thing, absolutely not allowed no matter what!
Meanwhile...
The Movie Monster finally understood the meaningful look in Azure Star's eyes when she left, and the cold implications behind that warning...
However, everything... was too late.
Riiip—!
A teeth-grinding sound like a tomato being brutally torn directly pierced through her carefully constructed screen world.
A gleaming long blade suddenly stabbed through the mirror-smooth movie screen. The sharp blade tip brutally tore open a hideous gash against the bizarre imagery background!
"Have you run enough?"
She had been chased like this for who knows how long. Every time she ran into a new movie, this magical girl would immediately follow, using that sword to brutally hack open an opening!
"I haven't done anything bad at all! Why... why do you have to hunt me like this?!"
The Movie Monster fled in panic through the bizarre movie scene fragments while screaming in despair with a crying voice.
She just wanted to quietly help a director polish a script, immersing herself in the world of light and shadow she loved. She completely didn't understand where this catastrophe came from.
But she dared not stop to question, because...
"Why ask so much... just die obediently, wouldn't that be fine?"
The magical girl's cold voice without a trace of emotion penetrated spatial barriers like the Grim Reaper!
It was precisely this pure killing intent, unmixed with any emotion, that made her not dare stop for even a second!
"Ah ya, I'm scared to death!"
The Movie Monster, completely overwhelmed by fear and despair, finally exhausted all her magical power at some broken ruins that looked like they came from a black and white old movie.
She suddenly stopped, both hands clutching her head as she crouched down, letting out a breakdown wail:
"Please! I beg you! Magical Girl Azure Star! Save me!"
Just as she gave up resistance and closed her eyes waiting for death—
Clang!
A dull sound of a sharp weapon hitting the wall appeared above her head like heavenly music.
The expected severe pain didn't come. The Movie Monster carefully opened her tearful eyes with lingering fear...
Only to see a familiar figure radiating pink light, standing firmly in front of her like the strongest barrier!
Azure Star's signature heart staff was now being held in front of her to provide a protective shield, firmly blocking that long blade about to strike down.
"Senior..."
She looked at the confusion in the black-haired girl's eyes and carefully reminded her.
"You can't randomly attack monsters... at least, at least only after they do evil!"
Good thing Amber didn't answer my call... otherwise if I had come late...
The consequences would be unthinkable!
The magical girl 'senior' who had originally just wanted to rob some money tilted her head.
"Then listen well."
Her tone like a death-demanding ghost made the Movie Monster tremble all over.
"If I see you dare cause trouble..."
Before she could finish, Azure Star pushed her aside.
"Senior! Really, why do you have to be like this!"