"Black Lily, you have a call from Kageyama," Felicia reported, and I answered. He greeted me with a smile. He seemed to be getting friendlier each day.

"Yo. Good job yesterday. The damage was a lot lower than expected. By the way, will you patrol our headquarters again? I am currently applying to schools in Eden. Being Shirayuki, they accepted it without any fuss. It was one of Shirayuki's schools. Will that be amendable to you? I thought you would like to meet with your friends there."

"No, I'm applying to be chosen for an expedition."

"An expedition? That journey to the dark lands? Why would you apply for such a dangerous thing?"

"There aren't enough anathema here," I replied. "I can't grow."

"I see. Big risk, big return, huh? But I must say, I do not condone such reckless behavior. If you die, our company will lose a great asset. Other companies already know we have a Black Magical Girl. Our name will be tarnished if you died. Moreover, I would lose a great niece."

"The decision is not up to you, Mr. Kageyama. It's hers," Felicia interjected.

"If you're looking for a job outside, I have something for you."

"What is it?"

"I'm evacuating my men from NewSoil. You'll have to go there and get all 1,500 of our employees and their families out. I've made arrangements. Shangri-La will take them."

"Why?"

"There's no guarantee what happened in New Mesa won't happen elsewhere. The researchers say that as long as the population is below 100,000, usurpation will be minimal. Minimal, my ass. Look at New Mesa. It only had 10,000 people and was flattened to the ground, Literally! By the way, good job saving that 7,700 people. Don't listen to the media. But damn, I'm just complaining here, I know you did your best. But damn, that city was worth trillions! All the Zenith equipment is priceless," Kageyama cursed. "It was all destroyed!"

"My condolences."

"No, I was just complaining. Don't take me to heart. I know that to be friendly with MGs, we must be genuine, not just focus on business benefits and compromises. It is what matters to our hearts, right? That's what I was trying to do now. By the way, I've sent the word out. They are now packing all our equipment. The evacuation won't be rushed like it was in New Mesa. Please help me. They could use some extra security on the road. The Magical Soldiers might not be enough."

"Yes, I'll go."

"Thank you. I will extend this invitation to Shining Arrow's team, too."

"Let me help you." A gentle voice came from behind. It was Serene Night.

"Huh? Oh, Magical Girl Serene Night."

"Mr. Kageyama, right? Greetings, My name is Serene Night, and I'd like to offer my help alongside Black Lily here."

"Oh, Serene Night. You will really help my niece? I thank you. Please take good care of her," Kageyama smiled.

"Shining has also agreed to join. Felicia has already informed them. When will we depart and how?"

"You will depart using four ferries and twenty amphibious Magitrucks, all Zenith-made according to Guardian Command. They have mana batteries, but since you all are Magical Girls, I assume operating them won't be a problem?"

"Yes, I can operate any Zenith-made vehicle if they have remote autonomous control. Worst comes to worst, we could charge them using our mana," Felicia interjected. If there were no issues, I suppose I should get my things ready.

"So, Mr. Kageyama, when do we depart?"

"It can be as early as tomorrow. Will you be staying in our condos, or would you prefer our hotel?"

"Condos, with an 's'?" Serene's eyes twitched

"Um… the main ones?" I answered with a question mark. I have no idea which ones are empty.

"Yes! I will do my best to distance you from your parents. They've brought a bit too much shame. Now that your father has been downsized, your mother… ahem… sorry, Miss Serene, please disregard what I just said."

"It's fine, I didn't hear anything. Please excuse me. I will send my contact to Felicia; you can reach me through my familiar, Sugar."

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"Very well…"

"Good night."

"Good night. Hmm… we have two teams, one D and one E. I wonder if I can lend them out to other companies…" Kageyama closed the call, muttering. He made it seem like a slip of the tongue, but I've never heard him make this kind of blunder before. He must be deliberately leaking information to me.

"Felicia, please inform the other teams if they are willing to assist other companies, as Kageyama mentioned. He might have jumped to conclusions. We aren't that close yet."

"Nyaa!" Felicia nodded.

I left Guardian Command and headed to my personal Seinjet. Edward flew me to our home. After transforming back to Yuri, we landed on a massive apartment complex where our family owned the top three floors. Beside the Seinjet landing pad was the oval swimming pool. As I descended from the Seinjet, Kageyama greeted me personally.

"Good evening, Yuri. I'm sorry, but we have some unruly guests arriving today…" Kageyama scratched his head. "You know who they are. Sorry, but you'll need to confront them directly."

My heart raced as if bound by a steel wire and tightened. My head grew hazy as I sat down on a luxurious sofa, which helped me relax, albeit slightly. Felicia quickly jumped to my side to inquire about my state.

"Yuri? What happened? Your vitals spiked there for a moment." She asked me telepathically

"Fel, I'm a Magical Girl, right?" I answered her telepathically with another question.

"Yes."

"Would you still take me as a Magical Girl even if I weren't a Shirayuki?"

"Of course. Your family does not define you."

"Even if it means making enemies of the Shirayuki?" I looked into her eyes, needing more than the usual assurances given to the press or on talk shows. I needed confirmation, a confirmation that I would still have a place to call home if I chose this path.

"... If the worst comes to worst, we could arrange for a new identity. Guardian Command will issue it."

"I see. So, you would 'kill' Yuri."

"We can't afford an open confrontation with major companies. A scandal involving a magical girl's parents would erode trust."

"I understand."

"However, I don't think it will come to that. Who is coming anyway?"

"Probably my parents…" Even with the cool air from the high-tech air conditioner, my hands were clammy with sweat. I clenched my teeth as I tried to calm my racing heart. Looking out the window, I saw only a reflection of a girl—a scared girl on the verge of tears.

"Astral shift." I transformed myself. The emotionless, white-haired maiden replaced the frightened girl, and my heart steadied instantly. She was no longer weak, scared, and crying. She was a magical girl, humanity's beacon of hope against the direst monsters. Her attire was like the awe of a dark night while her white hair brought the radiance of stars.

It wasn't long before a woman adorned with golden jewelry from her neck to her wrists, my mother, and a compliant man following her, my father, arrived at the apartment with Kageyama in tow. Kageyama, regal like a king, sat on the opposite sofa as he greeted his guests.

"So, why are you here? Jennifer, Osamu?" he said, resting his hands on the armrests.

"Yuri? You are Yuri, right?" the woman faced me uncertainly. Even though she should have recognized me, her expression was doubting. This was due to the recognition inhibition enchantment said to be part of every astral shift. It makes it harder for others to recognize me unless I reveal my identity directly.

"...Yes, Mother. May I know why you came to visit me so late? I have a job tomorrow. I am a magical girl now," I responded as politely as possible. Kageyama merely smirked from across the room.

"Oh, dear. It's wonderful that you've become a magical girl, moreover, a rare one at that. You see, the Shirayuki company has declined. The stocks are plummeting. So, I've made a new deal with Newstar Co. Jonathan's uncle said he will cater to all of our needs. However, Kageyama here said he wanted to keep you to himself, to enslave you. You don't need to follow Shirayuki anymore. He has proven himself unworthy. Come, dear, a bright future is ahead of us. You will obey your mother, right?"

Her words echoed in my head like a curse, 'You will obey your mother. You will be a proud Shirayuki. You will be our pride. You will obey your mother. You will obey your uncle. Your existence will be for the family, for us.' My heartbeat quickened, but I saw my reflection in the mirror. It wasn't me. It was a magical girl. The beacon of hope. The savior.

"No. I have to refuse," I replied, looking at her squarely.

"What?"

"I am a Magical Girl. I was contracted to save humanity."

"Then help your mother. You are my child, aren't you?"

I breathed a sigh. Courage surged from my heart, and I spoke firmly, "No. Even if Shirayuki were in decline and no longer needed me, I am a magical girl. I will go to Guardian Command."

Her face flushed with anger. "What! You are not my Yuri! Kageyama! Give me back my daughter! Is this some kind of scam? My Yuri is an obedient child!"

"Oh, you dare to scream at me? Well, if she is not your Yuri, then Magical Girl Black Lily is not your daughter, no? What will you say to Newstar Co. about that? Seeing them throw you out of their headquarters will be quite a sight," he chuckled, having anticipated this very scenario.

"She is not Black Lily! She's just a cosplayer! My daughter is the real Magical Girl!"

"Begone!" With a dismissive swipe of his hand, Kageyama signaled to several butlers who then escorted my mother out.

"I am so pathetic," I whispered to Felicia in my mind.

"I have no idea what's pathetic about you." She answered while tilting her head.

"Never mind."

"Now that woman has been removed, it's time to discuss business. Osamu, are you going to leave, or will you join our discussion?" Kageyama asked.

"I will have a seat, if you permit me." My body relaxed at once, and I transformed back into Yuri.

"I see. Magic is curious, isn't it? Despite having a similar face, it was hard to recognize you as Yuri in your Magical Girl form. I was unsure about your identity even when people told me you were Yuri until you transformed just now. How mysterious."

"Sorry."

"Don't say sorry to him. Let's talk business, Yuri. First, I must apologize. It's about your identity... Osamu leaked your identity as a Magical Girl to his colleagues. I've rounded them all up and had them sign NDA agreements." Kageyama sighed again, glancing sternly at Osamu, then turned toward Felicia. "Hey, cat! Will this be enough to appease you?"

"I am a cat, yes, but I have a name, Felicia. Regarding Yuri's identity, she has not expressed any desire to move against you. You could say she trusts your judgment. For now. That's why we will not do anything, yet."

"Yet?"

"If she wishes, she always has the option to move away from Shirayuki."

"That's one thing I can't allow. What do you want?"

"Ask Yuri. I am her familiar," Felicia responded.

"Kageyama-sama," my father interjected with a plea.

"Don't say 'sama.' We aren't in Japan anymore. Using such a term might invite fraudulent rumors that we are discriminatory."

"Mr. Kageyama, Yuri has achieved so much during the New Mesa evacuation. If we publicize her identity, our name as Shirayuki will be restored."

"I'm tempted, but our relationship with the Zenith and Yuri's status as a Magical Girl takes priority."

"Huh? What do you mean? Yuri is a Shirayuki. We must do everything for the family."

"Hah… Osamu, you need to think about this more carefully…" Kageyama sighed again. I simply tilted my head in response. "It means Yuri is more important than you. Or even me. If she opposes it, we won't do it."

"Eh, but…"

"That's final. Yuri. No, Black Lily, what do you want? I hope you understand and care about our situation. I have a feeling you don't hate us that much yet. But I know you have some dissatisfaction with us."

"I shall head to my room. I have to leave for NewSoil tomorrow, correct?" I evaded the question, trying to run into my room. What do I even want? I do not know.

"Yes, that's right. Good night. If you need any support, let me know. I still don't know exactly what you want."

"Good night." I went to the guest room and threw myself onto the bed. Tears started to flow from my eyes as I could no longer contain them. I sobbed silently on the bed. I opened a window in my vision. Kageyama and My father still talked in the room, albeit less formally when alone.

"Kageyama, what do you mean I shouldn't involve myself with Yuri? She is my daughter," I spied on them arguing through my magical eye, which I had placed in the living room as a habit by now.

I continued to eavesdrop silently.