After fleeing from outside Yang Xia’s classroom, Qian Ling was still pondering what had just happened.
Generally speaking, the more someone noticed the commotion she caused, the weaker the effect of her stealth magic became, but her being discovered just now definitely wasn’t because of that.
Beyond that, the effect was also weaker on those who possessed magic power. If it were a Magical Girl, it was indeed difficult to guarantee that stealth magic would remain effective at such a close distance.
But it still shouldn’t be right… according to the original timeline, Ai Mei should still be just an ordinary high school girl.
Could she have become a Magical Girl early for some reason?
Thinking of this, she decided to check with Yang Xia later to confirm.
Because of perception-blocking magic, even if a Magical Girl publicly transformed in a classroom, ordinary people wouldn’t notice. However, the effect of such magic was also weaker on those who possessed magic power.
If she really had become a Magical Girl, it would be impossible for Yang Xia, who was in the same classroom, not to notice anything.
But before that, she still had to secretly investigate the reason why Yang Xia wasn’t going to the aquarium.
Having experienced her previous failure, she was even more cautious while sneaking around.
On rooftops, the eaves of the corridors, and behind bushes.
Even with her stealth magic active, she tried her best to circle back near Yang Xia’s classroom from these inconspicuous spots.
***
First, during the break between classes, Yang Xia came out to the corridor to chat with her friends.
One side of the corridor was a balcony. At this moment, Qian Ling was using Iron Thorns to suspend herself behind a pillar on the balcony.
There were two girls talking to Yang Xia—one with short hair and the other with a hair bun.
To find out if they really had plans, the most direct way was to ask one of them, so Qian Ling hid nearby and waited for an opportunity.
While they were still chatting, Qian Ling already had an idea of how to proceed.
In short, she would replicate what she had done at Yang Mo’s school.
She would lie and say she was a relative of Yang Xia’s who was about to transfer schools, then casually fish for some information.
She quickly tapped her phone screen with one hand, asking Yang Mo on a messaging app which one of them was easier to fool.
But as they were talking, a voice that was lively yet a bit flamboyant suddenly joined the conversation.
Hearing this voice, Qian Ling’s typing hand stopped.
Because the owner of the voice was the protagonist of the original work, Ai Mei. Based on her previous reaction, Qian Ling’s stealth magic was ineffective against her.
It wasn’t strange for Ai Mei to be here. She and Yang Xia belonged to the same social circle, though before becoming Magical Girls, they were the ones least familiar with each other within that group.
With her arrival, the girl with the hair bun started a new topic.
“Ai Mei, did you go see the movie we recommended yesterday?”
“I did, I did!”
Ai Mei answered in her usual lively tone.
The girl with the hair bun asked again, “How was it? The movie was pretty good, right?”
“Yang Xia saw it a few days ago and said it was good too,” the short-haired girl added.
Yang Xia agreed, “Yeah, the part where the protagonist cries his eyes out at the end almost made even me shed tears.”
Hearing this, Qian Ling immediately knew which movie they were talking about.
“Furious Sea Fireworks 3″… No need to be surprised. If a movie like that couldn’t even fool “average” teenagers, it wouldn’t have a reason to exist.
She told herself this internally.
Of course, Qian Ling didn’t categorize herself as “average,” but rather as a “high-class” and “discerning” teenager.
She placed the crook of her thumb and index finger against her chin, striking a smug pose, and almost forgot to listen to the rest of the conversation because of it.
After realizing this, she shook her head to return to a calm state.
Coincidentally, Ai Mei was just about to share her thoughts on the movie.
Despite having three friends who liked the movie right in front of her, Ai Mei remarked ruthlessly, “Is that so? But I fell asleep halfway through~”
The other three let out sounds of disbelief in unison.
“Eh? Why?”
“Was it not to your taste?”
“Huh?”
Ai Mei rested her head in her hands behind her neck, explaining calmly, “The camera was shaking all over the place from the start. It made my head feel all dizzy and heavy, so I just drifted off.”
Qian Ling peeked at the scene and found Yang Xia’s reaction particularly wonderful.
Her eyes were wide and her mouth was slightly agape, wearing a complete look of not knowing what to do. She was so embarrassed that she couldn’t help but scratch her cheek twice with her index finger.
After all, she had just said the movie “almost made her shed tears,” only to have Ai Mei sharply critique it immediately after.
Why was the relationship between these two so mediocre before they became Magical Girls? Qian Ling could more or less figure it out from this scene.
The reactions of the short-haired girl and the girl with the bun were completely different from Yang Xia’s. Although they were surprised by Ai Mei’s evaluation, they didn’t seem to care at all.
The short-haired girl stepped forward and playfully patted Ai Mei’s shoulder. “Ai Mei~ You sleep in class all day, haven’t you had enough?”
The girl with the hair bun also said with a smile, “Is falling asleep really the movie’s fault? Or is it because you’re used to sleeping in crowded, noisy places like this?”
“Ah.”
Ai Mei tilted her head up slightly, as if a lightbulb were flashing above her head, and told the two girls, “Now that you mention it, that’s true. Thanks for the reminder.”
“So that really was it!” Her words made the short-haired girl burst into laughter.
“Hehe~”
Ai Mei pressed her palms together near her ear, tilted her head, and closed one eye, striking a “sleeping soundly” pose.
Everyone present laughed out loud, though Yang Xia’s laugh seemed a bit forced.
“Aha… hahaha.”
Even Qian Ling, who was eavesdropping from the side, felt a hint of pity for her situation.
Reading the room for your friends every day. You sure have it rough, Yang Xia.
Just as she was thinking this, the school bell rang.
The students all rushed back into the classroom. Qian Ling failed to find an opportunity to talk to Yang Xia’s friends during this break.
However, she stood by the back door of the classroom and glanced at the schedule posted near the podium, discovering that the next period after this one was PE.
At that time, the students gathered in the classroom would scatter across the field, making it much easier to speak with one of Yang Xia’s friends alone.
However, after class ended, things went much more smoothly than Qian Ling had imagined.
“I’m going to the restroom, you guys head to the field first!”
After saying that, the short-haired girl left the group alone.
At the same time, Qian Ling received a message from Yang Mo, saying that this girl’s personality was a bit more carefree and blunt than the others.
So, she deactivated her stealth magic and used disguise magic to transform into the school uniform. She waited quietly at the corner of the school building for the moment of their “chance encounter.”