Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Chapter 15: Choice

Xia Liang often wondered—was the life she lived every day truly the one she wanted?

Drifting aimlessly through school, laughing and joking with so-called "friends" who had less-than-stellar reputations, checking in at the latest "viral hotspots" after class… Then, going home alone, pretending to lead an exciting life on social media, filling her posts with praise for a world she didn’t really believe in.

Was she happy? Maybe.

She had learned how to do makeup, how to dress, how to be fashionable. She had made friends. She had become the center of attention for boys.

Shouldn’t that make her happy?

And yet, she often felt like the smile on her face didn’t belong to her. The more she smiled at others, the more she played the role of the carefree social butterfly, the deeper the emptiness inside her grew.

To fill that emptiness, she craved attention. She longed for validation.

Deep down, she knew—her "friends" didn’t actually like her.

They thought she overshadowed them. That standing next to her made them fade into the background. That she stole the attention they believed was rightfully theirs.

The reason was simple—Xia Liang refused to take part in their "side jobs."

No matter how much they hyped it up or encouraged her, she had never agreed. She felt that real friends shouldn’t be like that.

But over time, her resolve wavered.

If she agreed, would they finally accept her?

If she agreed, would she finally feel like she truly belonged?

Once the thought took root, her hesitation grew.

And today, when she once again received an invitation from her "friends" after school… she finally came to a decision.

Fine.

She agreed.

Following them to Electronics Street, heading toward their so-called "meeting place."

Let go of meaningless pride. Let go of unnecessary principles and fantasies.

She would chase something more tangible—something more real.

She thought she was ready. She thought she had made up her mind.

—Then she saw a cat.

A floating, pink cat.

Trailing behind a girl with a ponytail, dressed in the same school uniform as her, sneaking after her group like a spy.

What the hell was that?

Xia Liang had always been intensely curious, so she couldn’t help but focus on the bizarre sight.

More than that—when she saw that pink cat, it felt like something was calling to her.

A voice, somewhere deep inside, telling her she should go to it.

That if she did, she would find something important—something meant for her.

So, she stopped walking.

She had been in the middle of the group, so when she suddenly halted, the other girls immediately noticed.

"You okay?" one of them asked, puzzled.

Xia Liang hesitated, unsure whether to say it out loud.

To tell them she had just seen a flying, pink cat and wanted to go check it out.

She glanced at the girl leading the group—their usual queen bee—who also turned back to look at her. Her gaze was unreadable.

"I…"

Xia Liang started to speak, then made her choice.

"I just remembered something—I think I have to go home early today."

She smiled, adding a slightly apologetic expression as she waved at them.

"Have fun without me, okay?"

With that, she turned to leave.

"Xia Liang."

The girl in front stopped her.

She was still looking down at her phone, her long, manicured fingers tapping rapidly against the screen. She didn’t bother glancing up.

"If you leave now," she said, voice light but firm, "don’t bother coming back."

Xia Liang froze.

Slowly, she turned back to look at her. Then, she shifted her gaze to the other girls standing nearby.

Maybe she had hoped they would just laugh it off, act like usual, make some teasing remarks, and let her walk away.

But this time—they didn’t.

Instead, they all looked at her with that expression.

Not confusion. Not disappointment.

Something much colder.

She knew this look. She had seen it every day growing up. She would never mistake it.

Indifference.

Maybe she had never really belonged with them after all.

It wasn’t about forcing a smile or bending over backward to please them.

No matter what she did, they were never going to accept her.

And in the distance, that strange, inexplicable calling still pulsed in her mind, urging her forward.

The cracks she had tried so hard to ignore had deepened into an uncrossable chasm.

For the first time, Xia Liang dropped the fake smile she always wore.

She met their eyes seriously.

Then, she nodded.

"Okay."

No more words.

She turned away—and walked off without looking back.

She never expected that ten minutes later, that decision would land her on the rooftop of a high-rise building.

Kneeling on the ground, heart racing— while a girl named Veronica stood before her, saying things that sounded like pure delusion.

"A Magical Girl?"

Xia Liang had heard of them. She knew what they were.

They weren’t just characters in children’s cartoons, fighting for love and justice against evil.

They were real—the city’s protectors, battling against the Ravagers that occasionally appeared in the streets.

For many girls, being a Magical Girl was a dream.

Even knowing it meant facing danger, they still longed for the chance to wear dazzling outfits, to become someone extraordinary.

But to the average person, Magical Girls were distant and mysterious.

Normally, if someone randomly told Xia Liang they were a Magical Girl, she would think they were either a scammer or joking.

But not today.

Not after she had been pulled into the sky and flown to a rooftop.

Not after witnessing a literal mid-air costume change and glowing particles flickering around them.

Everything she had just seen made one thing clear—

This was real.

"Alright," she exhaled, still a little dazed. "What do you want with me?"

She had never even been on an airplane before. Now, her first flight experience was being dragged through the air by a stranger.

Her heart was still pounding.

But she was too shaken to argue—so she might as well go along with it.

Then, she heard something that made her even more stunned.

"Do you… want to become a Magical Girl?"

…Become a Magical Girl?

Her?

Xia Liang had never even considered the possibility.

She was just an ordinary girl—one who had never truly been noticed, never truly belonged.

Even in her nights of fantasy and longing, she had never dared to imagine herself as a Magical Girl.

It was too bright, too out of reach—something so dazzling it felt like it would burn if she got too close.

Veronica looked at her seriously.

"I need to be upfront with you," she said.

"Being a Magical Girl isn’t the fairytale people imagine. It’s dangerous, exhausting, and frustrating. The only real benefit is that—unlike ordinary people, who can only run when facing a Ravager—you’ll have the power to fight back."

"…Will my outfit be cute?" Xia Liang suddenly asked.

The question seemed silly, but her eyes shone.

Veronica was momentarily thrown off, but quickly recovered.

"A Magical Girl’s outfit is exactly as you’d expect," she confirmed.

"Can I tell people?"

"Not unless it’s an emergency."

"I’ll be fighting alongside you, though, right?"

"Until you’re strong enough, I’ll protect you," Veronica promised.

Xia Liang took it all in.

Then—

"Ugh, seriously?! Of all the people with potential, why her?!"

Lin Xiaolu, now dressed in a light blue dress with golden twin-tails, scowled.

"I do not want to be on a team with her!"

"Don’t be difficult, White Rose." Veronica shot her a look. "This girl might be a strong asset."

"But—!"

Lin Xiaolu pouted, looking to Veronica for support.

"She’s **way too shallow to be a Magical Girl—!"

"I’ll do it."

Xia Liang’s voice cut through the air.

She had already made her choice.

She turned to the city skyline, the wind tugging at her hair—

And smiled.

"I’m going to be a Magical Girl!"