Whose youth romance story begins with a witch's trial?!

Thinking of this, Emma once again pulled Chang Rong out of the locked entertainment room and tried to find another quiet, reliable place where they wouldn't be disturbed.

If it's an incinerator, it should be fine, right? Anyway, whether the location is romantic or not doesn't matter anymore...!

With this realization, Emma dragged Chang Rong to the underground incinerator, only to find it already full.

"Waaah... I should have known better than to set that rule of burning clothes every day... Oh, Lord Changrong, Miss Emma?"

Meruru, who was lying in front of the incinerator muttering something, noticed the two people who had arrived. She was a little confused but happy and quickly greeted them.

"Meruru-chan? Wait, why is Meruru-chan here?"

Emma was shocked. Why could she even run into people in the boiler room?

"Ah... well, it seems the human government has suffered significant losses due to recent stock market volatility, so the clothing subsidy program is being withdrawn... I... I'm here to find any clothes that weren't burned; I'll have to hand-wash them from now on... Hmm, Miss Hannah is right..."

Meruru sighed helplessly as she dug for treasure in the incinerator. It was clear that every family had its own troubles, and even the biggest conspiracy was no exception.

"Is that so... Then I won't bother Meruru-chan any longer..."

Emma blinked, exchanged some perfunctory pleasantries, and then quickly dragged Chang Rong away again.

However, she suddenly realized that although the entire castle looked very large, she couldn't find a room that met her standards and that she could use to take advantage of Chang Rong.

“Oh, Emma! Romeo is here too. Are you also here to seek inner peace? Actually, after hearing Milia’s words last night, I’ve been pondering how this relationship should ultimately end—wait, Emma? Where is she?”

Upon arriving at the punishment room, they found that Hasumi Ryoa had inexplicably already been waiting there. Previously, she had come here alone to practice how to act like a dog, but now she used it as a meditation room. Since the 'magic that stripped her of her presence' was dismantled, this place had practically become Ryoa's second bedroom.

"Regarding this ritual, I think the quantity and props should be fine. Perhaps our steps or the 'state' are a little different—Emma, ​​you idiot rabbit?"

"Oh my... what an interesting combination! You guys aren't here in the library seeking physical pleasure, are you? I'd love to join in, but please, no loud noises in the library~?"

Upon arriving at the library, they found that Mag and Hiro Nikaido were discussing the details of the witch's resurrection ritual. The two were initially puzzled by the arrival of these two uninvited guests, but Mag quickly put on a confident expression and tried to seduce Chang Rong.

To prevent Chang Rong from being impulsively stabbed to death by Xi Luo or kidnapped by the wicked woman Marge, Emma could only frantically drag Chang Rong away first.

—Is there anywhere else...? Oh right, why not just go back to Chang Rongjun's bedroom!

Upon realizing this, Emma immediately dragged Chang Rong back to the Goblin Chamber. However, as soon as the two entered, they bumped into the little streamer Zedu Keke, who was burying her head in Chang Rong's pillow and wriggling around.

"Onii-chan's temperature and smell—meow!? Oh my Onii-chan—Emma-chan!?"

Zedu Coco, who was hugging a pillow, was so frightened by the sudden intrusion of the two that she immediately activated her Spinosaurus form.

"Coco-chan...! Chang Rong-jun's bedroom isn't a public restroom, don't just come in like that!!"

"Hmph, you're still a long way off, Coco! If it were Emma, ​​she could not only smell me, but also the scents of the other three girls and a bird!"

Emma, ​​furious at her failed plan, turned the tables and loudly rebuked Ze Du Coco for such unjust behavior, while Chang Rong snorted and said that when it came to smell, Coco Sauce was far inferior to Emma.

After interrogating the bewildered and innocent victim of the attack... who didn't seem so innocent after all, Emma had no choice but to take Chang Rong to the infirmary again.

"I... am suffering from an incurable disease due to a lack of inspiration, and just then, you stupid monster, arrived. I command you to give me a hug right now—you run so fast!"

As a result, there was already a stupid, useless person lying on the hospital bed in the infirmary. An'an, who was driven to a nervous breakdown by Tachibana Sherry's deadline, was sprawled on the bed. When she saw Chang Rong, her eyes finally flashed with a strange light, but it was immediately extinguished by Emma's act of dragging her away.

—Oh right, there's also a confessional!

Emma then dragged Chang Rong to the confessional room that he had personally requested be built, but the small room had already welcomed guests ahead of time.

Saeki Miria was huddled in the confessional, seemingly muttering about her sins. However, before Emma could ask her anything, when Miria noticed Chang Rong and Emma's arrival, the blonde bombshell blushed instantly and ran away in a panic, covering her face.

Judging from what happened between Milia and Chang Rong last night, even Milia was too shy to control herself when rationality returned to her mind after a night's rest, and could only hope to alleviate her chaotic thoughts a little through confession.

As a result, the person in question showed up halfway through her confession, and Milia had no choice but to run away in a panic.

Emma then thought of the kitchen, but was scolded by Chang Rong for not going into the kitchen to steal food, so she had to give up.

After going around in circles and changing rooms repeatedly, Emma brought Chang Rong to the courtroom.

"Hmm... Well, um—Chang Rongjun, since this is the courtroom...would you like to judge this 'witch' before you?

"[Coo coo coo... Oops, did I disturb you?]"

Just like several times before, except this time the one responsible for causing trouble wasn't even a prospective witch, but the warden who flew in with flapping wings.

"Warden...why are you here?" Emma asked weakly, her eyes languid as she looked at the cat head.

"【Coo coo coo... Because of the human government's budget cuts, the maintenance of the execution devices has become a problem. This bird is considering whether to sever the hydraulic lifting structure connecting the underground execution devices to the courtroom, and replace it with hanging swings from now on. This would not only save money, but also eliminate the need for regular maintenance. It seems like the best of both worlds, coo.】"

"[Lady Meruru used to be so impulsive, wasn't she? After watching a certain class trial, she suddenly had a brainstorm and decided that Witch Island should also have that kind of execution, without considering the cost and maintenance effort at all... And many execution devices just gather dust after being used once, their cost-effectiveness is unbelievably low... Now this can be considered a lesson for Lady Meruru's excessive Smith Commissioner behavior before... Ah, sorry, I'll come back another time.]"

The incessantly complaining warden noticed Emma's increasingly vacant gaze, so he quickly flapped his wings and left the courtroom on his own.

The once noisy, empty room finally quieted down again. However, this time Emma didn't continue her offensive. Instead, she sat down to the side, slumped her head, and sighed, looking utterly dejected and exhausted.

"Ugh... Seriously... I tried so hard to finally make up my mind, but the result is still the same as before. I'm such an idiot who can't do anything right..."

After being tormented like this, even the hungry, pink and white puppy eventually had its dark edges smoothed out.

Emma huddled in her chair, her voice low and subdued. She had lost all the strength and ability to eat the rabbit and had become incredibly docile.

"Don't say that about Emma."

After confirming that Emma wouldn't suddenly pounce on him like before, Chang Rong moved closer to the girl.

"It must be a matter of luck. Some people can win the SBR championship when they're lucky, while others will be particularly unlucky on some days," Chang Rong tried to comfort Emma and encourage her to think more positively.

"Although I don't know what example Chang Rongjun gave, it has nothing to do with luck, it must be my problem..."

Emma looked up at Chang Rong. At this moment, there was no longer any love in her eyes, nor any of the terrible emptiness of unfocused eyes. They were just pitiful, watery, light pink eyes.

“I’m sorry, Chang Rongjun… Actually, I know that what I want to do to you is wrong, but… but even so, I still want to desperately muster up the courage to do it.”

Emma curled up, hugging her legs, and whispered.

"Because...because I know that I'm just an ordinary, boring, and unremarkable idiot. Chang Rong-jun, you said that before too—woof!?"

"I never said that!" Chang Rong quickly interrupted Yingyu Emma, ​​while vigorously rubbing the pink-haired dog's head.

"Emma, ​​you're not just an ordinary, boring idiot. No, you should be said to be special compared to anyone else."

"...You don't need to comfort me."

“This isn’t just a consolation. If you don’t believe me—I have proof!” Chang Rong pointed at Sakura Emma, ​​her tone utterly certain.

"Evidence...? Does Chang Rongjun have... evidence?" Emma raised her head, her eyes flashing with confusion and expectation.

“That’s right! Emma, ​​you are the most special one, and the proof is—”

A. Your leg ring

B. Your lower abdomen

C. Your Magic

"—The evidence is your leg ring!"

"Waaaaah...!? Chang Rong-kun, you really like this accessory? If so... then I'll tighten it properly from now on. Also, do you need to tighten it in more places...? I can ask Meruru to provide some more..."

Emma Sakura blushed and gently stroked her leg ring, asking shyly in a low voice.

"No, no, no, that's not the evidence I'm referring to, but more leg rings are possible—no, no, that's not right, evidence, show me the evidence!"

Chang Rong's left and right hemispheres struggled with each other for a few seconds before she presented her evidence again.

"—The evidence is your belly!"

“…Huh?” Emma blinked, even more confused by the answer, and could only pose with her belly exposed so that Chang Rong could rub her lower abdomen.

"Emma, ​​you can eat so much, but your stomach doesn't swell at all! Isn't that what makes you special? And not only your stomach, Emma, ​​your chest is unbelievably flat too—"

"Hmm... So these are Chang Rongjun's last words? I understand."

Emma gave a poignant smile.

And so, humanity went extinct.

BADEND——

"It was just a joke...! Don't use magic to kill me over something like this!? But the evidence I'm going to give you is the [magic] you possess, Emma!"

"My magic... Witch Slayer magic? What is this... I don't like this so-called 'special' at all, and I especially dislike this kind of magic that can only hurt others..."

Emma buried her head deeper, her voice growing even more dejected. For Emma, ​​who couldn't bear to hurt anyone, the witch assassin's magic wasn't a cool ability, but rather a pure burden.

"No, no, no, although the Witch Slayer Magic itself is special, what truly makes you different, Emma, ​​is that [only you have obtained the Witch Slayer Magic].

"I've gained magic...?"

"Hmm, the [Demon Slayer] magic was personally taught to you by Xiaoxue. Why would she do that?"

"Because... I'm an idiot...?"

"Because Emma, ​​you are the gentlest, kindest, and most innocent—and also the strongest."

Chang Rong's tone became much more serious and earnest as he gently stroked Emma's hair as he answered.

"These are the qualities you, Emma, ​​possess that no one else can match. It is precisely because of these qualities that you received the demon-slaying magic entrusted to you by Xiaoxue, and that you came to this witch's island. In other words—"

Chang Rong looked at the girl in front of her and smiled at her.

"—It is because of your 'specialness' that we have come together like this, Emma. You are not ordinary, on the contrary, you are the most special existence."

"...Chang Rongjun really has a wicked heart."

After a brief silence following Chang Rong's words, Sakura Emma lifted her head from her knees, a blush rising on her fair face.

"Chang Rong-jun must have said those kinds of things to Hiro-chan, Coco-chan, Nanoha-chan, and Leia-chan too... But even so, I still really like them..."

The pink-haired girl looked up at the white-haired boy, blinked, and asked Chang Rong timidly and cautiously with an expression that looked like she was about to cry.

"Chang Rong-jun...am I really someone special to you?"

"Yes, of course it's true."

"So... Chang Rongjun, you won't neglect me, ignore me, or despise me from now on?"

"I won't"

"If that's the case... I believe Chang Rongjun."

A smile finally returned to the girl's face, and at the same time, the 'abnormal' dark and oppressive aura emanating from her vanished in that instant.

The girl gently hugged the boy in front of her, rubbing her fair and soft face against his body.

This isn't marking territory or leaving a scent to assert sovereignty; it's simply an instinctive rubbing against each other because of affection.

"Oh right, Emma—here's this. I made candy out of the leftover bits from making chocolate with Nanoha Kaori."