Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl

Chapter 104: After the Rain, the Sky Clears

By the time they stepped out of the arcade, it was already close to noon.

The rain had weakened considerably, but it hadn’t stopped.

A heavy layer of clouds shrouded the sky, casting a muted gray haze over everything. The streets were sparsely populated, with only a few umbrellas drifting through the misty rain. The air was thick with dampness, carrying the scent of wet pavement and dust, leaving a lingering chill.

Raindrops dripped steadily from the roadside trees, the leaves rustling softly in the breeze, whispering secrets to no one. The shop signs along the street were streaked with water trails, their neon lights glowing faintly through the mist, casting an almost dreamlike ambiance over the scene.

Two umbrellas—one tall, one short—moved side by side down the street.

Underneath them, Veronica and Xia Liang walked in silence.

Eventually, it was Veronica who broke it.

Xia Liang replied with a chuckle.

Veronica sighed.

Back in the arcade, when those delinquents had shown up—former “friends” who had once nearly set Xia Liang up—Veronica’s first instinct had been to call the police.

Magical girls weren’t law enforcement. They had no obligation to deal with regular troublemakers. But reporting a crime? That was something anyone could do.

Even if those delinquents were just minors, Fangting City had a dedicated youth guidance team responsible for disciplining and monitoring young offenders.

But Xia Liang hadn’t wanted that.

Instead, she had kept throwing Veronica subtle signals, silently pleading for her not to be too harsh.

So, Veronica had relented.

In the end, she had only forced them to apologize. The slap and the warning? Those had been done outside of Xia Liang’s sight—because Veronica simply couldn’t stand to let them off completely.

She hadn’t asked for Xia Liang’s reasons at the time. But now, she needed an explanation.

Xia Liang said playfully.

But when she met Veronica’s steady, serious gaze, her smile slowly faded.

For a moment, only the sound of their boots tapping against rain-slick pavement filled the silence.

Then, quietly, she admitted,

Veronica remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

Xia Liang’s voice was soft, but her words carried weight.

she let out a small, self-deprecating laugh.

Raindrops slid off their umbrellas, splattering onto the concrete curb.

Veronica spoke evenly.

Xia Liang’s tone turned firm.

Her grip on the umbrella tightened slightly.

Xia Liang’s voice trailed into the rhythm of the falling rain, her thoughts woven into the downpour.

Veronica closed her eyes briefly before exhaling.

Veronica’s voice was calm but firm.

Their footsteps came to a stop at an intersection.

A red traffic light stood at the crosswalk, halting their path.

Xia Liang suddenly turned toward Veronica with a bright smile.

she teased.

Veronica scoffed lightly.

Xia Liang leaned in slightly, closing the space between them.

Veronica’s eyelids lowered slightly.

she shot back dryly.

Xia Liang chuckled—then suddenly tilted her head toward the sky.

Following her gaze, Veronica looked up.

Through the gap where their umbrellas framed the sky, the clouds had begun to part. A sliver of sunlight peeked through, casting a soft glow over the once-dim street.

Xia Liang closed her umbrella and turned to Veronica with a grin.