Chapter 347: Always Ask Whether You Want To First

Vivi froze.

Plans never keep pace with change... Was it because there would be fewer slots next year than this year, so she had given up on repeating the year and decided to go all out this year?

This tide really wasn’t affecting only her.

But in the next moment, looking at the top student before her, who had completely abandoned her dignity for money, Vivi couldn’t help cursing:

“If you want money, go earn it yourself! You spend all day putting on that high-achiever act, and now you’re just going around calling random people ‘Mom’ like it’s nothing. Aren’t you ashamed?”

Hiyuki took a deep breath and replied with utter seriousness, “I’ve been earning money all along.”

“I’ve also been working under the table, putting up everything I possibly can.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a golden flash of data exchange suddenly flickered in her eyes.

Ding.

A message immediately appeared on Vivi’s round glasses.

She opened it without thinking, and her pupils promptly contracted.

It was a long list of collateral records:

【Hteng Group low-interest student aid: Total debt: XX credit points】

【Black Thorn Gang high-interest loan: Total debt: XX credit points】

【Full-body organ collateral details -】

【Left eye: Mortgaged to Vision Tech, XX credit points cashed out】

【Right eye: Mortgaged to Vision Tech, XX credit points cashed out】

【Heart: Mortgaged to Lifeline Medical, XX credit points cashed out】

【Both kidneys: Mortgaged to Lifeline Medical, XX credit points cashed out】

【...】

The densely packed collateral records showed that nearly every organ in Hiyuki’s body had been priced and pawned off for good.

It was almost exactly the same as Vivi’s loan.

The only real difference was that Hiyuki’s organs were worth more. Vivi’s had been weaker when she first put them up as collateral, so they’d fetched less. Other than that, there was no difference.

“I have no way back.”

Hiyuki sat on the floor, staring seriously at Vivi. “The competition next year will only get fiercer, and my chances will be even slimmer.”

“I was planning to keep selling my blood, but the private tutor at the training camp told me recently that I can’t sell blood anymore. Even if I take supplements and replenish it, I still can’t.”

“If my physical condition declines, my magic intensity will decline too. Then I’d really be losing more than I gained.”

“Now my moms are selling their blood and mortgaging their organs for me.”

“...”

Watching Vivi remain silent, she said in a low voice, “You don’t need to worry about how determined I am. I’ll stake everything.”

“I have to become a magical girl. Otherwise, I’ll never be able to pay off my debts. You can invest in me without worry.”

“...”

Vivi took a deep breath. She seemed to want to say something, but didn’t know what.

She had always thought that someone like Hiyuki, who consistently ranked near the top in both practical combat and theory, must be a rich kid propped up by mountains of resources, or some lofty genius who never had to worry about making ends meet.

Compared with Vivi, perhaps she really was.

But Vivi suddenly felt that there wasn’t much difference between Hiyuki and her.

Because compared with those above them, even so-called geniuses, even top students ranked near the top of their class or even their grade, still had to struggle in the mud like stray dogs.

Anyone who tried to walk the path to becoming a magical girl, anyone who wanted to rewrite their fate, was bound to end up this way amid this sudden tide.

Every girl in Neon City trying to become a magical girl was walking a tightrope. One misstep, and she’d be doomed beyond redemption.

“So why do you think I have money?”

Vivi finally spoke. Frowning, she looked into the other girl’s pale blue eyes. “Couldn’t I have gone completely crazy, taken out another loan, and spent it all?”

Still kneeling on the floor, Hiyuki met her gaze. She paused, then answered seriously, “Because your eyes are bright. You don’t seem to be under much pressure. If anything, you’ve found [hope].”

“...”

Vivi stared blankly.

“But I could tell from what you said yesterday that you won’t give up on becoming a magical girl, right?”

“So you haven’t given up on becoming one, and you’re not backed into a corner. You’ve just found the confidence and security to keep going.”

This time, Vivi froze for a full half minute.

“I’m sorry.”

She took a deep breath. The complicated emotions in her eyes gradually faded, and she shook her head without hesitation.

“I don’t know what you saw, but I don’t have any money to lend you right now. Even if I did, I’d use all of it on myself.”

“And you’re right. I want to become a magical girl, and I won’t give up either. We’re competitors.”

She forced down the struggle in her eyes and said coldly, “So you came to the wrong person.”

Vivi wasn’t overflowing with sympathy, but she had some. After all, she was an orphan who’d been saved by someone else’s casual act of kindness.

If helping was within her means, then perhaps she really would have done it.

But... not this time.

Hiyuki had read her correctly. She had found hope, but the name of that hope wasn’t [having money]. It was [Theresa].

She couldn’t give her what she wanted, and she didn’t want to.

Besides, Theresa wasn’t something she could decide to give away or keep. She was a living, breathing person.

At this decisive rejection, the light in Hiyuki’s eyes dimmed for an instant.

There was even a flicker of [jealousy].

But she quickly forced that disappointment back down.

She’d long since grown used to setting aside her pride to fight for that distant, uncertain dream.

“It’s okay.”

The yellow-haired girl got to her feet and dusted off her knees. Her pretty face still wore an ingratiating, obsequious smile.

“Mom, as long as you understand my predicament, that’s enough.”

“If you change your mind later, or have some money to spare, you’ll still be my mom. I’ll be here anytime.”

“I won’t bother you anymore.”

With that, she stood up and left the classroom.

“...”

Vivi stared at the classroom door as it closed again.

Even though she knew perfectly well that Hiyuki had chosen this path herself, and couldn’t blame anyone else...

Still...

Something just didn’t feel right.

Why was that?

They had no grudge against each other. Hiyuki hadn’t helped her when she’d been struggling in the mud, and this had nothing to do with her at all.

And yet Vivi couldn’t shake that uneasy feeling.

Vivi stood there quietly for a while. “Theresa... do you think I did something wrong?”

“You really don’t have any money. You weren’t lying.”

The pink-haired girl’s figure appeared silently by the window. Her orange-yellow eyes reflected the sight outside, filled with skyscrapers and neon advertisements. Calmly, she said, “And I told you before, when you start hesitating, it means you already have your answer.”

The white-haired girl blinked and walked over to Lin Guang. Together, they looked toward the distant tower, bathed in sunlight beneath the open sky.

She asked softly, “...But what can I do?”

“Never ask whether you can. Ask whether you want to first.”

Lin Guang replied calmly, “Because the shackles in your heart are always stronger than the ones on your body.”

“If you want to become a magical girl, then you have to see yourself clearly.”

Vivi listened, still a little confused, and committed those words to memory.

Suddenly, the class bell rang, jolting her out of it.

“Ah! I’ve gotta go, I’ve gotta go!!”