Is This How You Use a Self-Destruct Switch?!-Chapter 6 : Stop Crying!

"Thank you~ Amber! I'll treat you to ice cream next time we meet, okay?"
The sweet voice pierced Tsuan's heart like a steel needle and stirred wildly within it.
Those clear, transparent red eyes reflected the lively, cute magical girl on the TV, and beside her ear once again rang the gentle consolation from when they were alone together a few hours ago.
-If... if you're willing, you could try... holding my hand. Maybe... I might be able to help!
If I had held that hand at that time, would it not have...
-Sorry, I need to deal with the monster first... see you next time?
The moment the memory of that graceful figure stepping on the window and flying away without looking back overlapped with the magical girl in her sight, various emotions tangled together and were ultimately all hidden deep in Tsuan's heart.
"Anyway, as long as Luna is safe..."
Everything else is secondary... mm.
The black-haired girl reached out to tie her long hair into a ponytail, took one last look at Luna's smile on the TV, then picked up the garbage bag, closed the security door, and walked out of her residence.
Clang.
The thin garbage bag was torn by the sharp can edges, and the sound of several iron cans falling to the ground and rolling around urged Tsuan to quickly clean up—if she didn't want to cause trouble for others.
Why... is it like this?
The girl bent down to pick up an empty can and then threw it into the trash bin.
I clearly became a... companion in Magical Girl Luna's words, clearly rescued Luna from danger. Aren't both of these things very happy?
Eyes the color of tomatoes stared at the iron can continuously colliding with the inner wall of the trash bin until it could no longer make any sound, then she withdrew her gaze and searched for the next can that had rolled around.
Why... did it turn out this way?
Tsuan felt some inexplicable moisture at the corners of her eyes, but all she could do was raise her fingers to gradually wipe away the increasing tears.
The second can was thrown into the trash bin by her. After a few crisp sounds, it lost its last bit of voice, just like losing all traces of having existed.
Why am I still like this even though I clearly became a magical girl?
The question that Tsuan hadn't had time to think about due to Luna's urgent situation surfaced in her mind.
I don't have dazzling magic, nor do I have a familiar to accompany me, I don't even have a proper magical outfit. All of these, I can grit my teeth and accept...
Because Luna is safe, and that was my original goal, wasn't it?
She bent down to pick up the last bit of garbage she had scattered.
"But why..."
Why... after I became a magical girl...
Tsuan choked up as she covered the trash bin lid.
Can still no one see me?
Warm tears wet her eyelashes and blurred her vision, also making her ignore the silver-haired girl not far away who was looking at her and seemed to be thinking about something.
Anyway... even if she wasn't crying, she would still ignore that gaze.
After all, that gaze would definitely pass through her and focus somewhere behind her, wouldn't it?
Tsuan felt the gaze passing through her from behind and couldn't help swallowing. She quickly walked away, wanting to escape that gaze that proved 'she wouldn't be seen by anyone.'
She could not care about such things, except when she was in a bad mood.
The silver-haired girl's complexion was somewhat pale, but the nameplate on her chest, which had been wiped abnormally clean and tidy, even with some pathological brightness, was engraved with a few shallow characters.
The first line read: Forest Moon Girls' Academy Student Council President
The second line was her name: Enoki Reiko
Although she shared the same name as that publicly known human executive of the Dark Moon Society, although she had the same build as that executive, and they both had identical shoulder-length silver hair.
But because she always wore a mask when engaging in organizational activities, no one would associate her with the monster organization.
How miraculous.
Reiko shook her head, deleting and tearing up the scene that had unconsciously flashed before her eyes again.
Although Luna had helped her clean up all the... mm... tomato juice that had 'extraordinary' meaning for her, Reiko still threw away her clothes and changed into a new outfit.
If it weren't for the fact that there was only one nameplate...
She wanted to take out tissues again to wipe the bright white nameplate on her chest, but worried whether this action would seem abnormal to others and gave up the idea.
Reiko forcibly endured the discomfort and her disgust for that rookie magical girl, taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling.
"Now, time to handle some proper business."
That girl.
She watched Tsuan walking faster and faster and decisively lifted her foot to chase after her.
That girl... actually...
Some seriousness and earnestness appeared in her purple eyes, as if she were an investigator who had discovered some criminal evidence and was preparing to arrest the perpetrator.
She actually threw out garbage at night!
"You can only throw out garbage before 8 AM every day! Doesn't this guy even understand such basic things?"
Although Reiko was an executive of the monster organization, she was also an excellent student council president, so naturally maintained a zero-tolerance attitude toward such violations.
Unfortunately, after experiencing what had just happened... her thighs were still somewhat numb, unable to run and chase, so she could only walk quickly behind Tsuan, gradually shortening the distance between them...
Her plump, full leg flesh stretched the thin black stockings, and the taut stocking surface showed Reiko's effort.
But Tsuan walked faster and faster. When Reiko discovered she was about to be left behind by the figure ahead, she finally couldn't stand it anymore and loudly commanded Tsuan.
"Hey! Stop right there!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Tsuan's steps paused in front of a shop window, her attention drawn to the magical girl merchandise dolls neatly arranged on the shelves.
As for that "stop"?
It had long been filtered out of Tsuan's world. Her eyes were now full of the small, cute magical girl dolls in the window that looked fluffy and would definitely be warm to hold.
Want to buy one.
The most simple and pure desire made her think about going in to make a purchase, but the small remaining balance on her bank card made her helplessly swallow.
She carefully looked at the shop owner behind the counter who was squinting and smiling, somewhat pitifully fantasizing...
If the shop owner could see her and know she was also one of the magical girls protecting the city, would she... would she give her that small doll? Or at least give her a smile, a "thank you for your hard work"?
Somewhat childish thoughts appeared in her mind, then were personally rejected by herself.
Even Luna couldn't see her, so what could the shop owner do?
Her warm fingertips touched the window, gently tapping in front of Luna's doll. The white mist left on the window from her body temperature blurred the doll's features and also blurred Tsuan's vision.
The heavy button in her pocket constantly emphasized its presence, making Tsuan unable to resist taking it out.
She looked at the smooth, bright button in her palm and couldn't help recalling the long numbness and cold of approaching death.
Disgust surged like a tide, urging her to throw this unlucky button to the ground and stomp on it several times to vent her anger, but reason also consoled her to stay calm at this moment.
After all, no matter how terrible this button was...
This was also the only medium connecting her, Nakana Tsuan, with magical girls.
As long as this button was still there, she was still a magical girl... still a companion in Luna's words, still... had a chance for Luna to help her...
'But... would Luna pay for me?'
The answer was of course yes, but only if she could find Luna.
A tear fell down her cheek and dripped onto the button, making the dark red surface reflect weak light.
This feeling was even more unacceptable to Tsuan than the numbness that had quickly spread from her chest to her limbs after pressing the button not long ago.
She had given up one of her lives but couldn't even get a small doll.
Her sacrifice was unknown to anyone, and she had nowhere to pour out her grievances...
Tsuan lowered her head and stared at the figurine of her 'companion' in the window, not noticing that Reiko had been standing beside her for a long time.
"Hey! Are you listening to me?"
The silver-haired girl had chased after her breathlessly, only to find that Tsuan was completely ignoring her without any politeness.
Even a well-mannered student council president couldn't help but have some violent thoughts, but ultimately endured under the crystal tears at the corners of Tsuan's eyes.
Magical girl dolls?
She somewhat disdainfully glanced at the plush toys placed in the window and defined Tsuan in her mind.
As expected, someone who watches magical girls will eventually become stupid.
However, in order to communicate with this fool... to make her stop throwing garbage at night in the future...
She walked into the shop and casually picked up a cartoon Luna doll that Tsuan wanted...
She looked at the somewhat silly smile on the doll's face... casually picked up another identical one and went to pay.
Then when walking out of the shop, she hid the extra one in her backpack, confirmed that Tsuan still hadn't left, and returned to her side.
At the same time, something fluffy brushed against Tsuan's shoulder.
Tsuan still had tears in the corners of her eyes and instinctively thought she was blocking someone else's way again, so she quickly moved two steps in another direction.
But that thing patted her shoulder again.
She dodged again to make way, but Reiko chased after her once more.
"What exactly are you doing...?"
"Here."
The silver-haired girl stuffed the doll in her hand into the arms of Tsuan, who had turned around, then observed Tsuan's expression—mainly observing her eyes.
The clear, transparent red pupils were filled with obvious bewilderment and suspicion, but the thick sadness from just now seemed to disappear without a trace in an instant.
It seems she really likes this kind of doll and was immediately cheered up.
Reiko nodded with satisfaction and began preparing to lecture about garbage collection methods and the principle of not ignoring others in interpersonal relationships.
But Tsuan had no intention of listening. She first pinched her arm to confirm she really wasn't dreaming, then quickly hid the suicide button back in her pocket, looked around to confirm there really was no one else around her, then stood there at a loss.
She can see me?!
Tsuan didn't believe it and extended her free arm that didn't need to hold the doll, waving it up and down in front of Reiko.
And through her gradually tilting head to express confusion, she confirmed that guess.
"I'm not a deity who grants your wishes."
Reiko's reminder made Tsuan nod vigorously.
"Then you must be a magical girl!"
After all, the last person who could sense her presence was Magical Girl Luna... so it made perfect sense for Tsuan to think this was a magical girl she didn't know who hadn't transformed yet.
Moreover, no one would dislike magical girls! Even if she wasn't a magical girl, saying this was praising her for being as beautiful, cute, and just as magical girls!
In any case...
"What are you talking about?! I'm not a magical girl!"
Reiko realized she had responded somewhat inappropriately, coughed twice, then awkwardly made eye contact with Tsuan.
"Sorry... may I ask, can you see me?"
Reiko's mouth twitched slightly.
"Watching magical girls until you open your mouth talking about magical girls and close your mouth fantasizing about having invisibility magic... magical girls really are harmful."
Although she wanted to say this and then advise Tsuan to study properly, after all, their relationship wasn't good enough to casually say such things.
"Of course I can see you."
Reiko casually answered, not thinking about what effect this sentence would have.
Of course I can see you.
Of course... I can see... you...
Feeling the sudden soft warmth rushing into her arms, Reiko widened her eyes and instinctively wanted to push her away, but the hasty wetness and heat on her shoulder made her forcibly endure.
The fingers placed on Tsuan's shoulder, ready to push her away forcefully, also gradually relaxed, and after a while, stroked Tsuan's head gently to comfort her.
"Have you cried enough?"
Tsuan's trembling shoulders gave the answer: not enough.
Reiko, who had originally only planned to lecture this guy about paying attention to garbage disposal times, looked at the occasional glances from passersby around them. To avoid this guy continuing to cry endlessly, she had to first pull her into the shop to find a corner to discuss other matters.
The good news was that the shop owner kindly let Tsuan, who had lingered in front of her shop window for quite a while, and her enthusiastic 'friend' use her break room.
The bad news was that this guy was still crying and had been continuing for at least five minutes with no sign of weakening at all.
"I say... can you let go of me first?"
Reiko's somewhat helpless voice passed through the black hair and entered Tsuan's ears, awakening the girl whose heart was full of joy that 'she was seen.'
"Sor... sorry..."
Tsuan apologized while choking up, making Reiko, who had just wanted to scold her for wetting her clothes, sigh with an unpleasant expression.
The feeling of her shoulder being completely soaked by tears wasn't pleasant, whether psychologically or physically.
I'll throw away these clothes when I get home.
After Reiko made up her mind, she reached out to poke Tsuan's cheek.
"So why exactly are you crying... don't, stop crying! Can't I just not ask?!"