A Girl Who Doesn’t Believe in Humans

Chapter 3: Lunch

The ringing of the class bell drowned out the strange noises made by Qing Yue, and the crowd around Ashu quickly dispersed. After a moment, the teacher entered the classroom, and the students quickly quieted down. Qing Yue also put away the breakfast she hadn’t finished yet.

Thump, thump, thump. The teacher knocked three times on the blackboard, prompting the students who were still leaning on their desks to lift their heads. Then, in a calm tone, the teacher began explaining the content of the Chinese textbook on the platform. The students below remained drowsy.

This peaceful scene was similar to Qing Yue’s past life. Most of the content in high school couldn’t challenge Qing Yue since she had already studied in another world. So, in the eyes of teachers and classmates, she was always an outstanding student, both in conduct and academics. However, due to differences in the cultural geography of the two worlds, she might lag a bit in humanities subjects.

Nevertheless, she had no intention of paying attention in class, as her purpose for coming to school was not to study. She propped up her textbook to shield herself, looking out the window, and the teacher seemed oblivious to her distraction.

A sky with blue skies and white clouds, just like in Qing Yue’s previous life.

Outside the campus, adults were presumably rushing on their commutes, dragging their bodies just awakened from sleep, living busy and mundane lives day after day, as Qing Yue imagined.

In this world where demons roamed, the maintenance of order was still astonishingly similar to another world. It was truly incredible.

Was it because of the hardworking magical girls, or was it a conspiracy hidden among the underground demons?

In the game of her past life, there were few descriptions of parts unrelated to magical girls. Those things were like a background that nobody cared about. But suddenly, on some day, this background called “daily life” would be ruthlessly torn apart, revealing the inevitable apocalypse.

She saw that ending in the game, a convergence point that all branches would lead to.

This world would be destroyed—by demons and by magical girls.

The ending was destined, predetermined from the birth of humanity in this world.

So, how long could these days like this be maintained?

Qing Yue didn’t know the deadline, but she knew that the deadline would eventually come.

So, what could she do… Could she prevent this ending?

White clouds drifted aimlessly in the blue sky.

…

…

Time passed quickly in her trance, and it was soon lunch break.

An unavoidable issue during lunch break was lunch. Students had two ways to solve lunch—bringing a lunchbox or going to the school cafeteria.

Most students brought lunchboxes, prepared by their families, to share with friends during lunch break.

As a lone person, Qing Yue naturally had no friends and, likewise, no lunchbox. So, she had to choose the almost deserted school cafeteria.

The cafeteria’s business was poor, but there were reasons for it. Firstly, the dishes here were known for being unpalatable, although reasonably priced. Secondly, in the prevailing atmosphere at school, people who ate at the cafeteria were generally considered “friendless,” especially among girls. After all, those girls in their small circles would gather together during lunch, sharing lunchboxes and comparing whose lunch was more abundant and delicious. If you went to the cafeteria alone, it was challenging to fit into their circles.

However, Qing Yue didn’t care about these things. The mentioned aspects were not disadvantages for her because she neither cared about taste nor wanted to make friends.

Holding a tray, she casually chose some commonly ordered dishes.

The auntie serving food in the cafeteria was already familiar with her and considerately served her a bit more, as the cafeteria’s food generally couldn’t sell out. Qing Yue nodded slightly to thank the auntie.

In the spacious cafeteria, there were only a few stray cats, most likely, like her, loners.

She found a nearby seat and sat down, preparing to start her lunch.

At this moment, another tray appeared with a “slap” right in front of her, and a girl with black short hair and a tomboyish style sat down across from her. She was smiling broadly at Qing Yue.

Although there were plenty of empty seats around, she insisted on sitting across from Qing Yue, indicating that she specifically came for her. However, Qing Yue continued to eat silently, not bothering to look at her, just saying softly, “Someone is already sitting there.”

“Lies?! How could a loner like you have friends!” The girl didn’t believe it at all, apparently well aware of Qing Yue’s social situation.

“I meant it as a polite way of refusing,” Qing Yue straightforwardly expressed her intention.

But the girl across from her didn’t mind at all, continuing to sit there as if saying, “What can you do about it?”

“The cafeteria isn’t your family’s property.”

“Tsk.” Qing Yue clicked her tongue, choosing to ignore her.

“You clicked your tongue just now?! That’s too much! We are friends, after all!” The girl put on an appearance of being very angry.

Qing Yue continued to eat.

“If you don’t respond, it means you’ve accepted our friendship! Hehe,” the girl grinned triumphantly.

Qing Yue wouldn’t admit that they were friends. She didn’t need friends, but she did recognize the girl across from her. Moreover, she knew the girl’s true identity—Han Quan, a classmate from the next class and also the magical girl Azure.

During a certain battle when Azure ended her transformation, Qing Yue saw her. To be more precise, during a time when Snow Qing was peeking into the battle, Azure saw her seeing her. It’s a bit convoluted, but that’s how it happened.

However, at that time, Qing Yue was still in human form, so Azure only regarded her as a fortunate ordinary onlooker.

Initially, Han Quan just warned her not to reveal Azure’s identity. However, from some time onward, for reasons unknown to Qing Yue, Han Quan occasionally came to her for life discussions, seemingly treating her as her own confidante.

Even though Qing Yue mostly ignored her.

By the way, Han Quan was also a loner at school.

“Wow! Why do you eat the same thing every day?” Han Quan complained about Qing Yue’s food.

“Because it’s cheap.” Qing Yue answered indifferently.

“Can you eat something that doesn’t taste bad? And this! Isn’t this the infamous cafeteria’s Dark Cuisine—Hell Rice Stir-Fry?” Han Quan pointed at a dish on Qing Yue’s tray, which, as the name suggests, was just rice.

“Not at all.” Qing Yue replied simply.

However, Han Quan didn’t dare to touch Qing Yue’s food anymore and began to bury herself in her own lunch. While she was eating, she was quite casual, splattering rice everywhere, but her speed was impressive. In just a few seconds, she had cleaned up her lunch.

If Qing Yue, like a machine, slowly ate the unpalatable food, Han Quan was swallowing her food before even tasting it.

“Gulu gulu—Whew… Hiccup!” Han Quan casually picked up Qing Yue’s water cup and took a big gulp, making sure to get everything into her stomach.

“That’s my water.”

Qing Yue reminded with a cold tone.

Han Quan chose to play dumb.

“You’re really slow at eating…”

She played with her hair, looking bored, even though her short hair didn’t need much fussing. Then, she changed the subject, trying to shift the conversation.

“Um, I have something serious to tell you.”

She didn’t continue, waiting for Qing Yue to take over the conversation.

But Qing Yue ignored her.

“It’s about magical girls. Aren’t you curious at all?”

“Not curious.”

She liked to confide in Qing Yue, the “ordinary person,” about her troubles as a magical girl. Perhaps because she didn’t have many other friends at school.

“Tsk.”

Han Quan clicked her tongue, then, regardless of whether Qing Yue wanted to listen or not, she started talking.

“I’m really annoyed lately, always running into that annoying purple guy.”

Qing Yue almost sprayed out her water; this was the second time today.

“That guy always shows up at the last minute, stealing the spotlight. It makes everyone think that Four-Leaf Clover isn’t strong enough and has to rely on external help. Dammit! This also caused Azure’s support rate within Four-Leaf Clover to drop a lot!”

Han Quan, with a look of indignation, pulled out her phone and continuously checked the Magical Girl Ranking on it.

This was an official ranking of the popularity of magical girls. Everyone could vote for their favorite magical girl. Since a magical girl’s strength was linked to her popularity, some treated it as a ranking of magical girl combat power.

“Why don’t you discuss this with other Four-Leaf Clovers? Like Cherry, for example. You should have a good relationship with them, right?”

Qing Yue concealed her inner embarrassment.

Four-Leaf Clover referred to the magical girl group consisting of Cherry, Azure, Apricot, and Jade. This kind of idol group formation was quite common among magical girls.

“I can’t discuss this kind of thing with Cherry and the others… They’re not at this school, and they have their new friends and busy lives. I can’t bother them with everything… And… And…”

Han Quan hesitated in her speech.

The four members of Four-Leaf Clover were classmates in junior high, forming close friendships. However, when it came time for high school, Han Quan accidentally messed up the exams. As a result, the other three friends went to the originally agreed-upon school, and only Han Quan, who didn’t perform well, ended up in the current mediocre high school.

By the way, the original Qing Yue had quite average academic performance, and at the time of the high school entrance exam, the current Qing Yue had not yet crossed over.

“And what?” Qing Yue showed no sympathy for the unspoken grievances.

“And, and how can I say such things to them? A magical girl’s support rate is her combat power. Do I have to tell them—now Azure’s support rate has hit rock bottom within Four-Leaf Clover, is she only dragging everyone down?!”

Han Quan’s tone was a bit excited, but she suppressed her voice in public since they were still in the semi-debut stage.

“All of this is the fault of that purple guy. Doesn’t she know that ‘stealing monsters’ is a big taboo among magical girls? Those monsters were originally something we could handle on our own, but she attracts everyone’s attention at the last moment. If it weren’t for her, Azure’s support rate wouldn’t be this low!”

Qing Yue felt that this blame was a bit unjust, but “no stealing monsters” was indeed an unspoken rule among magical girls. After all, no magical girl wanted her spotlight to be stolen.

But well, Snow Qing was an underground magical girl, and she didn’t need to abide by the “rules” of debut magical girls.

“If you want to gain support, why not just officially debut?”

Qing Yue suggested, indifferent to the troubles of others.

“If you formally debut, it’s true, but…”

Han Quan hesitated a bit, showing that she had considered the matter of formal debut.

“…Cherry and the others don’t want to formally debut. How can I do it alone…”

Han Quan seemed quite conflicted.

At first, Qing Yue thought she had a carefree personality, but unexpectedly, this person cared about others’ opinions more than she let on.

“Why not just leave them and go solo?”

Qing Yue continued to suggest nonchalantly.

She didn’t think there was anything wrong with being alone. In fact, being alone reduced the risk of betrayal.

“How can I do that?! I, I…”

From Han Quan’s dodging gaze, it was apparent that her inner thoughts weren’t as resolute as she claimed.

“Why not?”

Qing Yue continued to mercilessly press her for an answer.

“This, this, how can I ever—”

Han Quan finally got angry. She slapped her empty tray on the metal table with a “clap” and then, as if trying to avoid Qing Yue’s questioning, ran away.

Watching Han Quan flee, Qing Yue continued to enjoy her tasteless lunch in peace.