I'm a magical girl in the future

Chapter 16: A Relaxing Friday and Buying Clothes

After listening to her older sister's "lecture," Shen Zixin quickly fled the house.

It's mid-September now, and the new semester for seniors has just begun. There aren't many classes to attend—including today, as I have no classes on Friday, so today is free time.

Normally, Shen Zixin would try to do some part-time work. But if possible, he would prefer to find a company that could issue an internship certificate.

However, at this moment, he couldn't muster the slightest motivation to face reality.

—How about we go to an internet cafe and play some games together?

Shen Zixin has quite a few friends she can be considered to have a good relationship with—such as her close friends from high school who have been friends since then, and some classmates in her major with whom she gets along.

Thinking of this, Shen Zixin took out her phone, intending to call her friends, when she saw an unread message from He Yuran that had been sent not long ago—

【Ah Xin, are you free today?】

The message was sent half an hour ago. At that time, I was receiving "relationship" advice from my older sister, so I naturally didn't have time to pay attention to my phone.

I'm free today, what's up?

A reply came back within seconds.

Can you go shopping with me?

Shopping...? Like most guys, Shen Zixin wasn't particularly enthusiastic about shopping. However, if it was He Yuran's invitation... it wasn't entirely out of the question.

No problem, where are you now?

I'll be waiting for you right at the school gate.

At the school gate… Shen Zixin put away her phone and headed towards the agreed-upon location. Her home wasn't far from the university; it would only take about 30 minutes to walk.

Walking down the street, Shen Zixin couldn't help but recall He Yuran, whom Noah had mentioned—

This childhood friend, who would become the "final mastermind," was still just an ordinary girl in his eyes at this moment. Even if problems arose in the future, he could at least see things more clearly through their daily interactions.

They grew up together and knew each other well. Therefore, even though Shi Nuoya said that He Yuran harbored dark thoughts, he still didn't believe her.

But what if something earth-shattering happens in the next ten years or so, causing He Yuran's personality to change drastically? And even if she becomes a villain... how could she possibly rule the world all by herself?

No matter how you look at it, it's just too unbelievable.

Just as Shen Zixin was lost in thought, he had already arrived at the school gate.

He Yuran leaned against the outer wall next to the university gate, looking down at her phone, and looked like she had been waiting for a long time.

"Yu Ran, I've arrived." Shen Zixin greeted her when she was a few steps away. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Ah, Xin, you're here." He Yuran heard the voice, looked up and saw him. "I just got here too. I thought Xin didn't have class today, so she should be free, and I thought I'd try asking."

"I don't really have any plans for today," Shen Zixin nodded. "So, where are you planning to go?"

"Hehe," He Yuran smiled, "It's pretty much the same as before, let's go to the bookstore first."

After that, they went to the largest bookstore in the city center, which was always their first stop when they went shopping.

He Yuran went to the section for suspense and mystery novels to see if there were any newly published books that suited her taste.

Shen Zixin stayed in the comics section because she could read comics for 'free' there.

Although bookstores certainly don't welcome this behavior, over time, too many people do it, and it does bring in a certain amount of customer traffic, so bookstores will turn a blind eye.

Next, they went to some jewelry stores that were popular among young people. He Yuran really liked the sparkly little trinkets, picking them up one by one to examine them closely.

Shen Zixin casually watched from the side, and when He Yuran asked for her opinion, she gave perfunctory answers such as "It's okay" or "It looks pretty good".

After visiting several more general stores and jewelry shops, they unknowingly found themselves on a relatively quiet pedestrian street.

Shen Zixin noticed that the shops on this street seemed to specialize in selling clothes—the shop windows displayed various styles of women's clothing.

There are cute Lolita dresses, as well as casual wear, everyday clothes, and some quirky outfits with bold and avant-garde designs that I can't even name.

"here it is……"

"Ah, I've gotten this way without even realizing it." He Yuran gave a meaningful look. "There seem to be a few highly-rated women's clothing stores up ahead. Shall we go in and take a look?"

Her gaze fell on a shop not far ahead, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Then go ahead."

Shen Zixin nodded. This wasn't the first time he had accompanied He Yuran to buy clothes. Usually, he would just sit idly on the sofa in the store playing on his phone, waiting for He Yuran to finish choosing.

If He Yuran changes her clothes and runs over to him excitedly, asking, "Ah Xin, what do you think of this?" he will readily agree and casually reply, "It looks good, it looks good."

"But Ah Xin, I have an idea," He Yu Ran suddenly leaned closer, lowering her voice, "How about we buy some clothes for 'Ling Bo' too?"

Shen Zixin looked at her with an expression that said, "Do you have some serious illness?"

What a joke... She meant to transform herself back into that silver-haired loli of about ten years old, and then walk into a women's clothing store and pick out clothes like a real girl?

What is she thinking?

"Please, A-Xin!"

He Yuran clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture, her large, watery eyes fixed on him. "This is the only request I'll ever make! Lingbo-chan is so cute, I really want to change her clothes!"

"...How many times have I made this 'only request in my life'?" Shen Zixin's lips twitched, her tone filled with helplessness.

In the end, Shen Zixin couldn't resist He Yuran's persistent pleading and reluctantly agreed.

So Shen Zixin found a secluded corner nearby, and after confirming that no one was paying attention to him, he closed his eyes and silently recited the transformation incantation—

Bloom, my heart's flower—

A dazzling white light flashed and disappeared in an instant. When she opened her eyes again, the world before her seemed to have risen several degrees. She looked down at her red and white Lolita dress and sighed helplessly.

——Ling Bo, see above.

"Hehehe, Ayanami-chan~"

As soon as Lingbo stepped out from the corner, He Yuran ran over with a lovesick look on her face, took Lingbo's hand, and led her into the women's clothing store in front of her.

So, for the next two hours, Lingbo was forced to act as a "human clothes hanger," letting He Yuran do as she pleased and try on one piece of clothing after another.

When He Yuran was choosing clothes, she considered that Lingbo's battle outfit was Lolita, so she chose more everyday clothes for Lingbo so that Lingbo wouldn't have to wear that overly conspicuous Lolita outfit in her daily life.

When they walked out of the store, He Yuran was carrying a bag of clothes in one hand and holding the hand of Lingbo, who looked utterly hopeless, in the other.

At this moment, Lingbo had changed into a white lace dress and had a delicate bow hair clip in her hair, making her look very adorable.

"Ugh...why are girls' clothes so expensive...?"

Lingbo was somewhat bothered by the price. Since the clothes were ultimately bought for Lingbo, even though He Yuran repeatedly insisted on paying, Lingbo insisted on bearing the expense herself.

"Boys' clothes aren't cheap either."

He Xinyi smiled and said, "It's just that you don't usually wear designer brands, and you don't pay much attention to these things. The clothes in this store are all from very famous brands, and the quality and design are very good."

"But these are just little girls' clothes... and only three sets are so expensive. Damn it, I've never bought clothes this expensive for my own body..."

Lingbo muttered to herself, "Besides, I won't need it even if I buy it..."

"Why wouldn't you need them?" He Yuran blinked. "You'll have many more opportunities to appear as 'Lingbo' in the future, right? Then you can change into these clothes~"

...Besides fighting the monsters, I wouldn't be turning into Ayanami for no reason, right? And I don't specifically change into these clothes when I'm fighting the monsters!

Lingbo silently complained in her heart.