Sakura Emma, ​​I'm going to control you fiercely!

despair--

On the rooftop, behind Hiro, came a sudden sound of footsteps.

Hiro looked back and realized that a familiar face had appeared on the rooftop sometime earlier.

Long, jet-black hair, a jet-black beret, jet-black eyes, a jet-black sailor uniform... and a jet-black long-barreled gun at hand.

She was a beautiful young woman whose appearance could be summed up by the word "pitch black," the black color only making her skin appear as soft and fair as moonlight.

It's like a Black Rock Shooter that's long since passed its prime.

Hiro glanced at "Black Rock Shooter" indifferently, then paid no more attention and looked back at the dimly lit city.

"Kurobe, what's wrong?"

The girl behind her came to Hiro's side and looked at the city with her.

"No need to be polite, just call me Nanoha Kaori."

A cool and aloof girl named "Kurobe Nanoka" glanced sideways at Hiro's profile.

To be precise, she was staring at Hero's left eye and the small flower growing on his left ear.

"Cinnabar. The aftereffects of full bloom... [Scattered Blossoms], how are you feeling?"

Hiro silently put away his pen and stretched.

Her sailor uniform revealed her glistening belly button as she moved vigorously.

"fine."

After she finished speaking, the two fell silent.

A gentle evening breeze drifted between them.

Full Bloom is the ultimate technique for magical girls: it can greatly enhance their all-around combat power in a short period of time.

But the price of gaining this temporary power is the permanent deprivation of human functions.

Sight, hearing, smell, taste, and even control of the limbs...

After it blooms in full glory, it might bleed the vision of one eye, or perhaps the hearing of another ear...

Instead, a vibrant little flower will grow on the part that was "scattered with flowers".

A magical girl can only unleash her full power once at most.

After 10 times, she will either become a witch due to the despair of losing all her senses, or die.

Nanoha Kaori thought of all this and glanced at Hiro's left ear and left eye, which had sprouted small flowers due to the [Scattering Flowers] technique.

She looked out at the city and casually brought up a topic.

"Have you heard? An incredible magical girl appeared in Banqiao District today."

Regardless of whether Hiro was listening or not, Nanoha Kaori continued speaking.

"She not only helped many magical girls, but also saved several newcomers."

She looked at Hiro. Noticing she was facing Hiro's left ear, Nanoha deliberately raised her voice.

"Among those newcomers, there happened to be two who were fully awakened. That magical girl who was always putting out fires saved those two newcomers from the ravages of being fully awakened..."

"so good."

Hiro rested his hand on the railing. "I really want to see her. She must be a very kind girl to have done such a right thing."

"Ah."

Naoya Kaori paused, pursed her lips, and then spoke again.

"Actually, I was thinking, if you had run into her in Shinjuku this morning... that way, you wouldn't have had to..."

"Alright, let's not bring up things that have already happened."

Hero glanced at his watch, put on the blindfold, and then his whole body shimmered with a black and red light.

As the light faded, Nikaido Hiro had transformed into a magical girl.

There was no goodbye. Hiro walked to the edge of the rooftop.

The direction leads directly to the music hall from which the "Liebestraum" melody is played.

Watching Hiro's retreating figure, Nanoha Kaori spoke up.

"How about I take on this mission?"

She took two steps closer to Hero.

"I haven't used full power yet. In case the wreckage this time is very strong, at least I'll have some insurance..."

"No need to say anything more. Don't you have a mission too? Besides..."

Hiro didn't turn around. He raised his hand and waved, as if to say hello.

"I'm very strong. See you later."

With a final farewell, Hero jumped off the rooftop.

"..."

Nanoha Kurobe bit her lip, her head still drooping, listless.

"...See you later."

despair--

Hiro landed in an open space on campus and slowly walked towards the music hall.

She raised her left arm, and after a flash of red and black light, a small shield resembling a clock appeared on her wrist.

Click, click—

He twisted the small shield, producing a winding sound. His own time accelerated abruptly, transforming him into a blur as he swiftly moved towards the interior of the music hall.

The emotional climax of "Liebestraum" seemed to be fast-forwarded. The well-structured and emotional piano music suddenly transformed into countless chaotic and dissonant notes.

Midway through the music, Hiro unconsciously took out his pen.

For the past two days, she has been pondering Emma's words: "The truth behind Snow's departure."

The more she thought about it, the less she understood whether what Emma said was true or false.

The piano's accents grew louder and louder, so much so that the trees outside the concert hall seemed about to sway.

Hero's emotions grew increasingly heavy with each emphasis.

Was Emma's ambiguous attitude also something she brought upon herself?

If what she said is true: Xue's death was not as simple as bullying...

Then wouldn't I have misunderstood Emma?

Did I misunderstand my former best friend?

Using the irresponsible excuse that "I wasn't there at the time, so I couldn't save Xue," he blamed everything on Emma...

All they wanted was to shamelessly insist that they were always right, so as to avoid being tainted by their own wrongdoing. They were even willing to harm their friends.

"I'm really... wrong."

despair--

Just a second before he was about to enter the concert hall, Hiro stopped abruptly.

She lingered on the words she had just spoken, rubbing her temples and sighing.

"This music... I'm starting to feel a bit hooked."

Nikaido Hiro always does only what is right.

She would never do anything wrong.

He took a few deep breaths, steeling his resolve. Hiro's gaze towards the concert hall grew increasingly solemn.

After a brief three-second pause, she enveloped herself in a mentally defensive echo before entering the concert hall.

The long, dark corridor seemed endless, like entering the intestines of a monster.

But the music was undoubtedly slowly approaching.

At the end of the corridor, a glimmer of light gradually appeared. Hiro quickened his pace again.

Finally, after passing through that radiant light—

Hiro saw it—a live symphony concert!

On the magnificent golden stage of the venue, countless skeletons dressed in suits but with no human faces played their instruments.

The audience seats were also filled with black figures of various shapes and sizes.

The pitch-black staff and distorted notes flowed through the air, shattering inch by inch with the frenzied performance, turning into black embers.

"..."

Hiro silently gripped the round shield on his wrist, ensuring he could use his abilities at any time.

She slowly walked towards the stage of the venue.

As they walked further, Hiro saw a unique figure on the stage.

She is the absolute protagonist playing the grand piano, and also the central figure that the entire concert needs to highlight.

The protagonist's uniqueness lies in the fact that only she and her surroundings are in perfect condition.

Other areas, including the stage and audience seating, have undoubtedly become areas of ruins.

It's like another kind of "she is the only one who is sober while everyone else is drunk".

"How could this be..."

Hero stared wide-eyed at the golden figure and emerald green dress.

She slowly uttered the name:

"Hannah Tohno...?"

At this moment, all music except for the piano stopped.

Boom—!

The floor of the stands collapsed with a deafening roar, transforming into a massive chasm leading to the abyss.

The image of Hanna Tono playing the piano had disappeared without her noticing.

A mournful violin melody, like the wailing of ghosts, drifted out from the bottomless crevice.

As Hiro remained on guard, a colossal creature slowly emerged.

The moment his enormous body appeared, the entire hall felt cramped.

It is as tall as a five-story building, and its body is pieced together from countless broken musical instruments.

His deformed left arm supports an equally enormous violin, while his right arm grips a rapier as a bow.

The wreckage looked down upon Hero from its elevated position.

He rested the violin on his shoulder, with the bow slightly close to the strings.

Hero's hand gripped the round shield, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

"It seems... we're in for a tough fight."

Book 1: Chapter 37 A Night Talk with Emma

"Ugh... I'm so tired..."

As night fell, Emma lay on her single bed in her room, staring drowsily at the ceiling light.

After going to karaoke with the magical girl seniors, it was already late at night.

This was the first time Emma had come home after 10 p.m., and naturally, she couldn't escape being scolded by her family.

"But... I'm so happy today."

Even though she was tired, Emma still had a smile on her face.

Tonight is the first time in several years that Emma has gone out with her friends.