Regarding the fact that my best friend is a magical girl

"They're already thinking about this kind of thing before the third round is even over?"

"The third and fourth wheels are lotus-shaped, so of course we need to be prepared for that."

"Ye Zi, you seem to be quite interested in the battle situation here."

"During my internship, I kept looking for information about this online."

It's partly true and partly false, but I did learn a lot about Halley, not online, but through real-life interactions.

Cerno tightened her grip around my neck and whispered in my ear, "So what do you think of Miss Halley? Does she have any weaknesses?"

Halley's words...

"She's absolutely perfect, flawless. From a professional standpoint, she's better than you in every way. The only thing that could be considered a flaw is that her magic can't create any entertainment value. All she can show is the wings and tail on her back... but that just makes her look like a succubus."

A top-tier traditional idol with strong overall strength, like a boss that doesn't have any fancy mechanics and relies purely on level and stats to crush players.

Seruno didn't have time to level up; she was challenged by such a powerful boss while wearing only beginner's gear. If the game were designed this way, the player would definitely be doomed. But reality always presents other possibilities.

Seruno said, "Then let's continue from the perspective of magical effects. Since this is Miss Halley's 'heel,' I'll try to make some big news."

Is the strategy to deal with me the same one: to create another dreamlike bubble paradise?

“But that’s probably not enough. The audience has already seen your bubbles, and they won’t be surprised by the same performance twice… You have to show your true talent.”

"But I've already given it my all, haven't I?"

"No, there's still room for improvement."

I lifted her thigh slightly and said, "There's no way to improve vocal or dance skills, but there's something you can improve in one night."

"What is it?"

"Confidence. Think about Halley's stage presence. As long as you can overwhelm your opponent with your aura, even if your actual skills are slightly inferior, you can still gain the support of the live audience."

Actually, I've never understood what "aura" or "typhoon" means.

I'm just singing on stage, and the audience looks at me with such admiration... I really don't know how that happens.

But after hearing it many times, I can still describe it, and I know that it is related to the idol's inner and outer qualities.

Fortunately, Seruno understood the concept. She sighed, "...You know perfectly well that what I lack most is confidence."

"No, no, Seruno."

While waiting for a taxi by the roadside, I said, "I could see confidence in your performance these past two days. You're not as bad as you say. You've found and liberated another self within you, your feminine self, which is also the self you aspire to be... Therefore, she possesses a strong sense of confidence."

Putting aside her adorable voice, I haven't seen a trace of insecurity in Serino's performances these past two days; she confidently and openly showcased herself.

This is good enough, but it can be better.

"Then how can I improve?" Seruno asked, hugging me.

"Practice, you need to adapt to 'that self'."

Seruno paused after hearing what I said.

"...How do we do this?"

“From now on, let’s get along with ‘that self’.”

When I said that, I was only thinking that it might be useful.

But they never thought about what they would face.

------

"We're back."

Aunt Yuehan's short, gray-haired head popped out from the corridor connecting the two houses. "Oh my? Little Yezi is back?!"

Serino jumped out from behind me, removing her disguise of her hair color, and then rushed to her mother, hugging and kissing her affectionately, saying, "Mommy~ I'm back too! Didn't you miss me?"

"Yao, Yao'er?"

"No, no! You can't call me that name now. I'm Serino! The world's number one idol... the top disciple!"

Aunt Yuehan's confusion debuff piled up layer by layer, and after it reached its maximum, she looked at me with an "ovo" expression, trying to find an answer to the strange phenomenon before her eyes.

I scratched my head.

"Let's call it special training, to make her more confident."

As a result, she received a suspicious look from Aunt Yuehan.

"Are you sure this method will make her more confident?"

Serino twirled around, lifting her skirt, and said with her hands on her chest, "Of course! Mom~ I'm so cute that the whole world will fall for me! The crown of the Supernova Idol Festival belongs to me!"

"Um, Seruno... actually, we have guests at home."

Ok?

Not only me, but Seruno's movements also stiffened noticeably, it seems she still retained a trace of shame.

Who's here?

Two guests were sitting on A Yao's sofa.

A black-haired girl with a tuft of white hair on her forehead, and a blonde girl who always wears headphones.

Antarctic Star and Freya.

Golden, now back to being a dog, is lying horizontally on Antarctic Star's lap... She's not wearing a tuxedo; her casual clothes are a black miniskirt and striking yellow pantyhose.

This penguin girl's outfit always only has three colors.

Black, white, and yellow.

Just like penguins.

Miss Freya was dressed as always, her ever-present guitar leaning against the sofa, her phone in hand, ready to join the conversation at any moment.

Seruno stepped forward and squeezed between the two.

"Hey? What are you doing here so late at night?"

While being held by Seruno, Antarctic Star explained expressionlessly, "Freya wrote a song for you, and she wanted to give it to you as soon as possible, so I brought her here."

"A new song?"

Seruno looked in the other direction.

[As agreed beforehand]

Freya tapped on her phone.

I only composed the music; it was Nanjixing who wrote the lyrics for you.

Chapter Sixty-Five: Rapid Advance

(Albinocotyledon)

"Thank you so much! Let's find a place to eat after the idol festival!"

"Although I would love to accept your invitation, we will be leaving Changkong City after tomorrow's final."

To the somewhat disappointed reply from the South Star, Seruno said, "Oh! There's always another chance. I'll come find you in the North Pole next time!"

"I live in the Antarctic Circle."

"..."

Awkwardly yet joyfully bidding farewell to Antarctic Star and Freya, Seruno turned around, tossing the USB drive containing the original soundtrack and sheet music between her fingers.

"Ye Zi, do you think this song 'Wings of Bubbles' will help me win the Idol Festival?"

Just now, with Freya playing the piano, Antarctic Star sang it as a demonstration.

The lively musical style doesn't quite match the usual expressionless tone of the song, but the song itself is indeed very beautiful and healing.

Most importantly... this song suits Seruno's current style perfectly.

This was indeed the decisive song that Miss Freya had tailored for her.

"I think it's possible, but you need to figure out how to pass the third round first... I gave you the test paper in advance, so you should have found the answers, right?"

Of course!

Seruno pointed in the direction of my house with her thumb.

"Let's go back to the room, I'll let you listen to this properly!"

That posture... it looked like she wanted to wrestle with me.

"Wang!"

The Golden Ship sat up from the sofa and then transformed into human form.

Seruno has already explained the matter of the Golden Ship to me, so all I need to do now is feign surprise.

"I also need to go!"

She had just gotten up when Aunt Yuehan pressed her back down.

"No, Ah Huang wants to sleep with me tonight too."

"Why? I want to sleep with Master Ye too!"

"Because you are a girl now."

"I can turn back into a dog."

Golden tilted its head, puzzled, and asked, "Besides, isn't Seruno a girl too?"

"That's true, but Seruno is different."

Without explaining what was different, Aunt Yuehan waved her hand at us, signaling us to go back... Did she not mind at all that her daughter and I stayed overnight?

"Let's go, Leaf."

Seruno pulled me away.

A corridor was built between the two houses, which has indeed made things much more convenient.

In just a few steps, I returned from Ayao's living room to my own bedroom. Seruno turned on the computer and entered a password that only we knew.