Episodes 09

Having Fun With Top Speed

This story takes place shortly before the struggle for Magical Candies in Magical Girl Raising Project.

Sakasagi Ayana was aged seven, in her first year of elementary school, and her current goal was to serve her Princess.
坂风绫名七岁，国小一年级，目前的使命为服侍公主殿下。

Her Princess was amazing, so she would not allow anyone to defy her. When her Princess said, “I’m tired of looking at your boring faces, let’s go look at the maples to refresh my eyes with something beautiful,” nobody dared to object. Besides, her Princess had already arranged the schedule for that day, bought large quantities of food, and excitedly asked, “Which ones are we bringing over?”
因为公主殿下非常了不起，所以绝对不允许任何人忤逆她。当公主殿下提出「每天瞪着你们这几张无趣的脸,我都看腻了，为了用美丽的事物保养我的眼睛，我们去赏枫吧」的意见时，绝对没有人有胆子敢反对。更别说公主殿下都已经安排好当天的行程，并买来大量的零食，一脸兴奋地说：「要带哪些去呢？」

While the Peaky Angels muttered, “Watching the maples is for aunties,” to Ayana, this was her first time doing so, and ultimately, it was something like an excursion. She looked forward to it very much. As she lifted her head to the night sky and prayed, “I hope tomorrow’s weather will be fine too,” her Magical Phone rang.
虽然两名天使在一旁碎碎念「赏枫叶根本就是大婶才会做的事情」，但对绫名来说，这是她第一次的体验，说穿了，就是类似远足吧。她非常期待。当她一边抬头望向夜空一边祈祷「希望明天也是个晴天」时,魔法终端设备的来电铃声响起。

Who could it be? She looked at the screen. It was from Tama.
会是谁呢？她望向萤幕，是球球打来的。

“What is it?”
「有事吗？」

“What is it… what happened to you, Swim-chan?”
「什么有事吗……你怎么了吗？小水姆。」

“What happened?”
「什么怎么了？」

“Where are you? Everyone’s here already.”
「你在哪里？大家都已经到齐了耶。」

She was not quite sure what Tama was saying.
她不是很明白球球到底在说什么。

“Didn’t Ruler say we were going to view the maples today?”
「露菈不是说过今天要去赏枫吗？」

“...That’s tomorrow, right?”
「……是明天吧？」

“Eh? It’s today, right? We’re supposed to meet at the Mt. Meisho gift shop.”
「咦？是今天吧？集合地点是位于明将山山麓的伴手礼店。」

She hurriedly turned off her phone. Could it be that she had made a grave oversight?
她赶紧挂掉电话。难道说，她出了相当严重的纰漏吗！

***

She did not like the phrase, “have fun when you’re young.”
她并不喜欢「年轻时花很多时间玩乐」这句话。

One should have fun when one was young. One should also have fun right now. As she grew older, whether she was 40 or 60 or even 80 years old, she wanted to have fun. She would not limit herself to only having fun in her youth.
年轻时玩乐，现在也要玩乐。随着年纪的增长，无论是四十岁或是六十岁，甚至是八十岁，她都要玩乐，绝对不会只停留在年轻时。

To Murota Tsubame, “having fun” was living in a way that allowed her to indulge her spirit, not simply one where she worked to keep warm and fed or just to live.
对室田燕而言，所谓的「玩乐」是指心灵拥有余韵，是一种既非只求温饱而工作,也非只为了生活而生活的「生活方式」。

Her husband Shouichi--who was employed in the municipal PR division--also hated those words, but for a different reason.
任职于市公所宣传课的丈夫升一也很讨厌这句话，但理由与燕不同。

“It’s just finding an excuse for yourself or being smug. Either they’re trying to say, ‘I had so much fun when I was young so I ended up like this now. If only I hadn’t spent so much time playing around, maybe I could have an easier life’, or they’re saying, “Because I spent so much time having fun when I was young, I’ve made it where I am now. I’m great, aren’t I?’ All those words mean is what happens when you slack off in the period of your life when you should be learning instead. I think you’re the only weirdo who wants to waste their entire life away.”
「简言之就是替自己找借口或自满。如果不是借口『因为年轻时花很多时间玩乐，自己才会沦落今日的下场。如果没有花那么多时间玩乐,也许现在能够生活得更轻松一点』，要不然就是自满于『因为年轻时花很多时间玩乐，自己才会有如今的成就。我很厉害吧』。这句话只能当作说明人生中最应该学习的时段,在无所事事中度过的结果会如何的前言而已。干劲十足地打算一辈子虚度光阴的怪人，也只有你了吧。」

When she shot back at her husband with the question, “Do you actually dare to sue that attitude to find find fault with others?” he simply snorted and answered--
当她反问丈夫「你在职场上也敢用这种找碴似的态度跟别人争论吗？」时，他只是嗤之以鼻地哼了一声——

“I’m telling the truth.”
「我说的可是事实。」

Tsubame had moved in next door to him during elementary, and her husband disliked her so much that even she knew about it, so why had she married him? She was also quite surprised at the fact that her stubborn, blockheaded husband would actually want to marry her. They should have hated each other from childhood. To Tsubame, he was the “friend’s elder brother who babbled too much”, while he, on the other hand, saw her as “the vicious little brat who’s leading my little sister astray.” For example, they would often exchange such gems as “Don’t buy snacks on the way back from school” and “Don’t think you can nag me just because you’re seven years older, you damn specky!” and the two of them had quarrelled more than once.
并如此回应。对于小学时搬到隔壁的燕，丈夫对她的反感明显到连她都知道的地步，为什么她还会跟这家伙结婚呢？不过，她也对这个死脑筋的木头丈夫竟然会娶自己为妻，感到不可思议。孩提时，明明两人都很讨厌彼此才对。对燕来说，他是「啰哩叭嗦的朋友的哥哥」，而站在对方的角度则视她为「带坏妹妹的邪恶小鬼」。举例来说，像是「学校放学后不准在路上乱买零食来吃」或「别以为大我七岁就可以自以为是地说教！眼镜仔！」之类，两人之间起冲突也不是一次两次的事情了。

However, things were different now. When she saw that self-satisfied husband of hers with that smug look on his face, all she felt was that he was so cute that she wanted to hug him tightly.
但是，现在情况却不一样。看到那个自以为是、一脸嗤之以鼻的丈夫，她只觉得可爱到令人忍不住想紧紧抱住他的地步。

“I guess I’m being taken advantage of because I’m in love…”
「只能说是『爱到深处无怨尤』……」

“Huh? What?”
「嚼？什么？」

“Nothing, nothing at all. Right, will you be coming back late tonight?”
「没事，什么都没有。对了，你今天也会晚归吗？」

“Yeah, I don’t really want to go drinking, but I can’t say no.”
「是啊，虽然不是很想去喝酒，但也无法拒绝。」

After all, drinking with reporters from the papers and magazines was part of his job, Shouichi said. The first time she had heard that, she had shouted, “City Hall is in bed with the media!” and he had calmly shot back, “What nonsense are you spouting, woman.”
毕竟与报社或杂志社的记者喝酒也是工作之一，升一如此说。第一次听到时，她曾经大吼「市公所与媒体勾结！」而他则是冷静万分地随口吐槽一句「你在胡说什么鬼东西啊」。

“Even if I don’t say it, you should understand, right? Now’s the important time--”
「就算我不说，你应该也很明白吧。现在可是关键时期——」

“What are you all doing now? Don’t tell me it’s some kind of national healing mascot competition or something? Speaking of which, our house’s mascot is something like that, right? Long and pointy and looks like a hedgehog.”

“I’m not talking about that, I’m talking about your body.”
「你们办了什么活动吗？还是说，你们举办了全国疗愈系吉祥物大赛之类的活动？话说回来，我们家的吉祥物就是那个吧。又长又尖，还长得一副猥琐的模样。」「我不是在说那个，我是在说你的身体。」

Shouichi turned his gaze to Tsubame’s belly, and smiled very faintly, in a way that only someone who knew him very well would recognize. Tsubame saw it and turned embarrassed for some reason, then pretended to cough.
升一将视线移向燕的肚子，露出一抹只有熟识的人才辨别得出来，非常轻微的浅笑。燕看了莫名地感到害羞起来，假意清咳了一下。

“I know that, you don’t have to say it. It’ll be okay as long as I behave myself, right?”
「那种事情，就算你不说我也知道。只要我安分一点就行了吧。」

“Yes, as long as you behave yourself.”
「没错，只要你安分一点就行了。」

“Ahhh, alright. I get it.”
「啊啊，好啦。就说我知道了啦。」

Hes husband looked like he wanted to keep saying something, but Tsubame gave him a goodbye kiss and then shoved him out the door.
对似乎还打算说些什么的丈夫印下一个道别的吻后，燕硬将他推出门外。

He really was worrying too much. He had not gone to dinner with his colleagues from the municipal office, but had come straight back to the workers’ lodgings to check on her. From that, it was easy to see how concerned he was. While his bosses teased him for being a newlywed husband, it would probably be difficult to escape such teasing.
他实在是操心过头了。他不直接从市公所前往聚餐，还特地回到公务员宿舍确认她的情况。由此不难看出他担忧的程度。虽然上司会调侃他是新婚燕尔，但这种行为要不被调侃也很难吧。

In addition, everyone was like that, not just her husband. Both her mother and the neighbors were all very concerned about the child in Tsubame’s belly. Even the owner of the restaurant where she worked part-time was no exception. Despite complaining about, “Why’d you choose to have a brat at a busy time like this”, he alway said, “I’ll make time for you, so don’t push yourself during this period. You mustn’t. Go and take a break whenever you want,” and he made her promise to take maternity leave when the delivery was near. This treatment was clearly too good for a part-timer.
而且，不只丈夫，每个人都是这样。不管是娘家的母亲，或是附近的邻居，都非常在意燕与肚子里的孩子。就连打工的熟食店的老店长也不例外，尽管他嘴上咒骂着「竟然在这么忙碌的时期怀上小鬼」，但实际上却老爱说「明白吗？我有帮你空出位置，现在这个时期可别勉强喔。绝对不可以喔。随时随地都可以去休息喔」，还要她答应接近临盆时放产假。她明明只是个打工的员工，待遇也太好了吧。

While everyone fussed over and protected Tsubame, she hardly had morning sickness and her belly was barely visible at a glance. She could still move around, yet she was treated like an invalid and made to stay still. Since it was her first pregnancy, it was not like she was completely unworried or or uneasy. Every time someone told her it would hurt or how miserable it would be, she would think, “I don’t want this” or “I’m scared”. However, having her movements so restricted made her want to defy her constraints.
虽然每个人都这样小心翼翼地呵护她，但燕几乎不会孕吐，从外观上也几乎看不出肚子。明明还能行动，却被当成重症病患，要她乖乖别动。由于是第一次生产，所以她也不是完全不会担忧或不安。每当听到别人说很痛、很难受时，她都会心生「我不要」或是「我好害怕」的念头。然而，被限制行动到这个地步，反而让她想要叛逆一下。

To Tsubame, the best way of “having fun” was Magical Girl Raising Project. It was more exciting than all the other kinds of entertainment she had indulged in to date. It was not because pressing buttons on a smartphone’s keyboard was more exciting than playing tag with patrol cars. It was the mysterious things Tsubame discovered through that social game which so enthralled her.
对于如此的燕而言，现在最棒的「玩乐」就是「魔法少女育成计画」。比起她截至目前为止的「玩乐」还要更加剌激。并不是因为按智慧型手机的键盘，比跟巡逻车玩你追我跑的游戏更有趣。而是透过那个社交游戏引发的神秘事物，令燕深陷其中无法自拔。

She sent her husband off, cleaned the house, did the laundry, and used the skills she had developed at the restaurant to make her husband’s lunchbox and her own lunch. Breakfast would be bread and milk, shredded cabbage and tomato slices, and a fried egg. This way, she would be free until tomorrow afternoon.
送走丈夫、打扫、洗衣、洗碗，并发挥在熟食店练就的一手好厨艺，先做好丈夫的便当以及自己的午餐。早上只要有面包与牛奶，配上高丽菜丝与番茄、煎荷包蛋就够了吧。这么一来，一直到明天中午为止，她都能够悠哉度过了。

What she took out was not the smartphone she normally used, but a Magical Phone, whose defining characteristic was its heart-shaped screen. Now, she was the Magical Girl Top Speed, and not the housewife Murota Tsubame. She hummed to herself as she pressed a button to transform. She was dressed in her pointy hat and her witch’s dress, which went with her black leather boots and her flying broomstick. Her hair was now shiny and blonde, plaited into two thick braids, while her skin was incredibly smooth and shiny. Her features were perfectly proportioned, but the most important thing was that she looked young.
她拿出来的并不是平常使用的智慧型手机，而是以心型萤幕为明显特征的魔法终端设备。从现在开始是魔法少女「最高速度」的时间，而非主妇室田燕。她一边哼着歌曲一边按下按键进行变身。宽帽檐、飞天扫帚、魔女连身洋装搭配黑色皮靴。充满光泽且色泽丰富的金发编成辫子，肌
肤则是光滑无比，五官亮丽，最重要的是相当年轻。

It had been eight months since Tsubame had become a Magical Girl via the urban legend that “players of Magical Girl Raising Project could become actual Magical Girls.” Upon becoming a Magical Girl, the first thing she thought was “since when could 19 year old housewives become Magical Girls?”
燕透过传说「玩家能够变成真正的魔法少女」的社交游戏「魔法少女育成计画」而成为魔法少女，是在距今八个月前左右的事情。成为魔法少女之初，她第一个疑虑即为「哪有十九岁的人妻在当魔法少女的啊」。

When she was in high school, she had been the leader of the biker gang "Empress", who were based in N-City’s Kitayado district, where they raced through the streets and caused a ruckus. In middle school, she had also… no, even in elementary school, she was always hanging around with people like that. She was what they called a sukeban, someone who lived a life without anime or manga. The main reason why she had come into contact with Magical Girl Raising Project in the first place was “because it’s free, right?” However, even that Tsubame knew that “Magical Girls are an elementary or middle school thing, you’ve got to give it up when you’re in high school.”
(TL Note: female schoolgirl delinquent)
身为以N市北宿为据点的「燕无礼楼（女帝）」的头目，在街上飚车或引起骚动，是在她就读高中时的事情。就读国中时也……不，念小学时混在一起的朋友都是差不多类型的人。她就是所谓的不良少女，一直以来过着与动画、漫画无缘的日子。她会接触「魔法少女育成计画」的主要理由，就是「因为免费嘛」。不过，即使是这样的燕，也具备「所谓的魔法少女是国小生或国中生的兴趣，再怎么样喜欢也只能勉强撑到高中为止」的知识。

When Tsubame had become a Magical Girl, the first thing she did to the mascot’s 3D projection was touch her palms together and make a request of it.
如同传闻般变身成魔法少女的燕，对自称是吉祥物的立体影像做的第一件事情就是双手合十拜托。

“I”m sorry, but could you find a younger girl for this?”
「不好意思，可以请你找年轻一点的女生吗？」

“That won’t be a problem at all ~pon. Just look in the mirror and you’ll see ~pon.”
「关于这一点完全不成问题的蹦。你只要照一下镜子就会明白了蹦。」

She looked at her face in the hand mirror, and then checked out her entire body in the bathroom’s full-length mirror, and then Tsubame raised her right thumb to the 3D projection and went, “Good job!”
用手镜确认自己的脸，接着再用盥洗室的立镜眺望全身后，燕竖起右手大姆指，对吉祥物的立体影像大喊：「干得好！」

After that, she got pregnant, and then she learned that after transforming, she would no longer be pregnant, but once she detransformed, her baby was perfectly fine. In other words, once she transformed, she could run and jump and do whatever and it would be fine. After verifying this with Fav, she secretly struck a victory pose. THis way, she could have all the fun she wanted as a Magical Girl.
在那之后，她怀孕了，并且得知变身后并不会承继「怀孕」的状态，但是解除变身后，小宝贝仍然平安无事。换句话说，一旦变身之后，即使是追赶跑跳碰也毫无影响，向法唯确认这一点无误之后，她暗自摆出了一个小小的胜利姿势。这么一来，自己就能够以「魔法少女」的身分尽情地玩乐了。

And so, the Magical Girl Top Speed was born. She mounted up on her broom and raced through the endless skies above Kitayado. Her flying broom controlled better than a bike and ti was faster than a car.
于是，魔法少女「最高速度」诞生了。跨上扫帚、驰骋于无穷无尽的北宿的天空。飞天扫帚比摩托车更加行动自如，也比汽车快速。

“Now then, let’s contact Ripple…”
「那么，先来联络一下莉普儿……」

Just as she was about to open her message inbox, she heard her ringtone.
当她正要打开简讯收件匣时，收到简讯的铃声响起。

She subconsciously wondered, had Ripple ever taken the initiative to contact her until now? She thought back through their shared history, but she could not recall a single such incident. The screen displayed an unknown number.
她下意识心想，截至目前为止莉普儿曾经主动联络自己吗？回想起两人邂逅以来的种种经历，但一次都没有。萤幕上显示出陌生的号码。

“Don’t tell me someone’s prank calling Magical Girls now… hello?”
「应该不会有人打恶作剧电话给魔法少女吧……喂喂？」

After a brief pause--
停顿了一会儿——

“I would like your help.”
「我想请你帮忙。」

--A voice hreached her ears. It was a young girl.
如此的声音传来。是个年轻女性。

“What? What’re you saying?”
「什么？你在说什么啊？」

“I would like your help to send me to Mt. Meisho.”
「我想请你帮忙，载我去明将山。」

“Who is this?”
「你是谁？」

“Swim Swim.”
「水姆水姆。」

Swim Swim. She had heard that name before. Apparently, Ruler had a Magical Girl like that under her.
水姆水姆。她听过这个名字。记得露菈的手下的确有这么一位魔法少女。

Since she was Ruler’s subordinate, she ought to be asking her leader Ruler for help. Yet, she had contacted Top Speed, who did not know her. This implied that this was something Ruler could not do, or something she did not want Ruler to learn about.
既然是露菈的手下，照理来说，需要帮忙时应该会求助于身为头目的露菈才对。对方却特地联络素不相识的最高速度，意味着这是露菈办不到的事情，抑或是不能被露菈知道的事情。

At times like these, it was best not to think too much. That was the way that Tsubame--and also Top Speed-- lived her life.
这种时候就别考虑太多。这就是燕，也就是最高速度的生活原则。

Helping other people was part of the rules for “having fun” in this game. In that case, she had to follow them all the way. Until now, she had not helped any other Magical Girls, so how many Candies would she receive for it? Surely it would be a lot.
帮助别人就是这个游戏的「玩乐」规则。既然如此，就得执行到底。到目前为止，她不曾帮助过任何一名魔法少女，不知道能够获得多少魔法糖果呢？想必一定不少吧。

“Leave it to me! I’ll head over to your location. Where are you, anyway?”
「包在我身上！我先过去找你吧。你在哪里？」

“Nishimonzenmachi… a building with a supermarket on the first floor.”
「西门前町……一楼有超商的大厦顶楼。」

“Ah… that place. Just a little ahead of the pedestrian crossing near the train station?”
「啊……那里啊。行人保护时相交叉处转向车站那边，再向前走一点的那里。」

“Yes, that’s the place.”
「对，就是那里。」

“Then I’ll fly over right now. Wait for me.”
「那我现在马上飞过去。你等我一下。」

She opened the window, mounted up on her broom and flew off, but after travelling about 50 meters, she suddenly thought, “We might be on the fifth floor, but leaving the window open probably isn’t good”, and so she turned around to close the window. Then, she realised, “It’s not good to leave it unlocked either, right? I heard some thieves will climb up the balcony and rob peoples’ houses when they’re not home,” and so she returned home once more, locked the windows, then left through the front door, locked that too, and then she took off again from the window of the staircase landing.
打开窗户、坐上扫帚后飞出去，并在飞行五十公尺后，她猛然想起「虽然是在五楼，但是就这样敞开窗户出门不太好吧」便急忙掉头，关好窗户。接着，她又想到「没有上锁似乎也不太好吧。听说也有小偷会沿着阳台跑到民宅里闯空门」再度返回家里，替窗户上锁后，从大门离去，并乖乖上锁，再从楼梯平台的窗户重新起飞。

Unlike how she could just charge into things as a sukeban, after becoming a housewife, who had to support the household, there were many more things she had to think about, and it was annoying.
不同于从前横冲直撞的不良少女时期，成为支撑一个家的家庭主妇后，必须注意的事情实在很多，令她深感困扰。

***

The person waiting for her on the roof of the building wore a white school swimsuit. Her skin was sleek, her hair was smooth and flowing, her face was pretty and prim, all of which were ironclad constants for Magical Girls, so Top Speed had been prepared to see all those. However, what took her by surprise was the other party’s sense of style.
在大楼顶楼等待的人，身上穿着一袭白色的学校泳装。举凡细致的肌肤、柔顺的秀发、清秀的五官等，如此种种条件是魔法少女的铁则，所以燕早在见面前就做好了心理准备。然而，令她惊讶的是对方的品味。

She looked to be a high school student in her second year, and she was very well developed. Her breasts and butt surpassed Top Speed’s in term of volume, presence and tightness. The fact that such a body was matched with a pure white school swimsuit made Top Speed whimper uncontrollably in her heart. It would seem she was trying to juxtapose completely mismatched elements to produce a unique flavor. One could use the words “stylish”, “charming”, “attention-grabbing”, “ornamental” and so on to describe that outfit.
外表年龄看起来是高中二年级左右，发育相当良好。胸部与屁股的分量、迫力，以及紧实感，无论是哪一项都胜过最高速度。而那副躯体配上纯白色学校泳装的品味，令最高速度忍不住在内心呻吟起来。看来对方是想透过完全不搭轧的元素，孕育出截然不同的风情吧。看来所谓的「潇洒有魅力」或「引人注目」、「摆好看的花瓶」等形容人的词，似乎也通用于服装打扮上。

Even so, Top Speed still had some firmly-held beliefs when it came to her costume.
尽管如此，最高速度也在服装打扮方面有所坚持。

She wore the coat which she had worn during her delinquent days, the one with “Who Cares What You Think” embroidered on the back, wore an o-mamori charm for traffic safety and an easy childbirth on her neck, and remodelled her magic broom into something worthy of a biker gangster, which looked really badass. This punk-ish sense of style seemed to silently say, “Don’t lump me in with those broom-riding witches you see everywhere, dumbass!” Magical Girl Raising Project allowed for a great degree of customization.
她将过去不良少女时代穿的绣有「意见无效」字样的特攻服改成魔法少女风格后披在身上，并将祈求交通安全与安产的护身符挂在脖子上，还将魔法扫帚改装成飚车族味道十足的模样，看起来相当拉风。如此充满叛逆意识的时尚品味，仿佛在沉默地主张「别把我跟那种随处可见的『骑着扫帚的魔女』混为一谈，呆子！」。「魔法少女育成计画」在代理人的制作上，拥有相当大的可变动范围。

Perhaps this is the first time I’ve met a Magical Girl with tastes like mine, and as she thought that, her excitement grew, and then she descended and stepped off her broom.
也许这是第一次遇到与自己拥有类似时尚品味的魔法少女也不一定，一想到这里，她带着稍微高涨的亢奋情绪，一边降低高度并走下扫帚。

“Hey! Nice to meet you, I’m Top Speed. Let’s get along, shall we?”
「喔哈！初次见面，俺是最高速度。请多指教喽！」

“Swim Swim.”
「水姆水姆。」

“Ohhh, that’s a pretty cool name. Oh yeah, I heard you mention it just now. Tell me, then; why’d you drag me all the way out here? You wanted me to send you to some mountain, right?”
「喔喔，这名字挺酷的嘛。不过，我刚才已经听你说过了。说吧。你今天把我找出来有何贵干？你刚才似乎是要我载你去山上？」

Swim Swim nodded, and then began to explain.
水姆水姆用力点头后，开始娓娓道来。

This was a maple-watching trip organized by Ruler. She did not know if she had made a mistake or if there was a miscommunication, but she had gotten the time wrong. Swim Swim had been looking forward to the maple-watching trip very much, so she was eager to participate. However, if she only set out now, she would not be able to make it in time, and she was not sure if she could meet up with everyone. Also, she could not disobey her Princess, or Ruler’s orders.
这是露菈主办的赏枫之旅。不知道是自己误会，还是联络上出了差错，竟然搞错了日期。因为水姆水姆一直都很期待赏枫之旅，所以想要去参加活动。但是，现在才出发前往山上，可能会赶不上，而且也不确定是否能顺利跟大家会合。还有，绝对不可以违背公主殿下，也就是露菈的命令。

I see. So that’s why you asked me for help.”
「原来如此啊。所以你才会来拜托俺呀。」

“Ruler once said, use whatever you can use.”
「露菈说过，能够利用的东西就要尽量利用。」

“Hahahahaha! Who the hell says that to people they want to use. How about it, let’s be friends!”
「哈哈哈哈哈！哪有人会当着利用对象的面说这种话啊。喏！跟我交个朋友吧！」

“Ruler once said, even if a superior-subordinate relationships exist, pointless things like friendships are not necessary.”
「露菈说过，即使存在着手下与头目之间的关系，但不需要朋友那种无关紧要的关系。」

“Wahahahahaha!”
「唔哈哈哈哈哈哈！」

It was not just her sense of style she liked, but also her straightforward way of speaking which did not mince words. In truth, she also quite liked the way she was determined to play her character to the hilt.”
不仅是对方的时尚品味让她很中意，还有那直言不讳的坦率个性也让她喜欢。真要说的话，还有那贯彻得相当彻底的角色人格特质，也让她中意得不得了。

As a “fun-loving” person, she naturally needed “people to have fun with”. Since she had already asked her, why not oblige? Especially since she was the type that Top Speed liked. That was Top Speed’s life philosophy.
她原本就属于「爱玩乐」的个性,理所当然也需要「一起玩乐的对象」。既然对方有求于她，何乐而不为呢？更别说还是她欣赏的对象。这就是最高速度的处事哲学。

“Okay! I’ll accept your request. Mt. Meisho, right?”
「OK！俺就接受你的请求吧。去明将山就行了吧？」

“Mm.”
「嗯。」

Top Speed took out her Magical Phone and contacted Ripple.
最高速度取出魔法终端设备，联络莉普儿。

While "Empress" was a small group that only had five members and barely qualified as a biker gang, she had never handed over her title of N-City’s speed queen until she had retired from that world. Being faster than anyone else was not just a matter of riding skills or bike performance, but also one of route choice. Only one who got on the radio, communicated with other bikers, picked the best places for racing and mastered all sorts of elements could be a true speed queen.
虽然「燕无礼栖」是仅有五名成员、称不上飚车族的小团体，但一直到她退出为止，都没有交出N市飙速王的封号。要飙得比任何人都快，除了飚车技巧与车子性能之外，选择路线也是一大关键。拦截无线电、与其他飚车族交换情报、选择适合飚车的街道，必须掌握 好以上种种要素，才能成为最快的霸主。

Even though she had left that world behind her, her methods had not changed. She began by choosing the shortest route.
即使她现在已经退出飚车界了，但做法仍然没有变。从选择最短路径开始。

If she went straight to Mt. Meisho from Nishimonzenmachi, she would pass through the Jonan District.  That was Calamity Mary’s territory. Charging recklessly into it would only sow the seeds of discontent and nobody would benefit from it.
如果要从西门前町前往明将山的话，中间会经过城南地区。那里是天灾•玛丽的地盘。鲁莽地闯入只会种下祸根，没有人能得到好处。

At this point, an amateur would choose to detour around. However, Top Speed went to Ripple first. Not long ago, Ripple and Calamity Mary had parted ways under a cloud of gunsmoke. She would have Ripple apologize to Calamity Mary with a gift in hand, while Top Speed and Swim Swim would take advantage of this opening to pass through Jonan District and charge straight for Mt. Meisho.
外行人通常会在这个时候选择绕远路。不过，最高速度首先找来莉普儿。不久前，莉普儿与天灾•玛丽才在差一点擦枪走火的状况下不欢而散。她让莉普儿带着伴手礼去向天灾•玛丽道歉，而最高速度与水姆水姆就趁这个空隙，穿越城南地区，直奔明将山。

This was a perfect plan that would benefit all parties involved.
这是全部的登场人物都能够得到好处的完美计画。

“Hello, Ripple?”
「喂喂，莉普儿？」

“...What?”
「……干么？」

“Ah~ I was hoping you could go apologize to Calamity Mary.”
「那个啊〜俺希望你能去向天灾•玛丽道个歉。」

The sound of a tongue clicking came over the line before it was hung up. She hurriedly called again, but she could not get through. She sent a text message, and thirty seconds later she got a reply. The reply read, “...Tch!”
电话随着咂嘴声传来的同时被挂断了。她急忙重拨，却一直打不通。在她传简讯过去的三十秒后，收到了回信。回信显示出「……啧！」的内容。

Top Speed glanced to the side, and saw Swim Swim staring at her. She could not say anything. What should she do now? After thinking for a while, she took out her Magical Phone again and made a call.
最高速度偷瞄了旁边一眼，水姆水姆紧盯着她看，她支支吾吾地一句话也说不出来。该怎么办才好？暗自思索了一会儿后，再度拿出魔法终端设备，拨了一通电话。

“Ah, Magicaloid 44? Yeah, that’s right, it’s me. There’s something I’d like to trouble you with, could you help me call up Calamity Mary? Mm, I just need you to help me create an opening… yeah, I know, I’ll pay you 5000 afterwards? No, 3000 is the max…. Ah, alright, 4000 it is, then. Sorry, and thanks. I’ll owe you one.”
「啊，魔法赛璐珞？嗯，没错，是俺。有事情想麻烦你，可以请你帮我打电话给天灾•玛丽吗？嗯，俺只需要一点空档就好……俺知道，事成之后会付你五千？不，最多三千吧……啊啊，好啦，
那就四千，抱歉，还有谢谢你。算我欠你一次。」

Top Speed turned off her Magical Phone and slipped it back into a pocket, then quickly mounted up and looked behind her.
最高速度将魔法终端设备关掉并收进怀里，迅速跨上扫帚，指向后头。

“Alright, just as planned! Let’s go! I’ll fly you over to Mt. Meisho! Hang on tight!”
「计画非常完美！走吧！我载你飞去明将山！别掉下去喽！」

They gently floated up. The way even her guts felt like they were floating up as well had been quite uncomfortable before she got used to it. Top Speed peered forward through her windshield, then suddenly accelerated. In the blink of an eye, the scenery before them had changed. The massive school she had found so annoying at a student seemed so tiny now. The wind roared past her ears, yet she did not feel any air resistance at all. No mattr how many times she experienced it, flying made her feel comfortable.
轻飘飘地浮起。似乎连内脏都一同飘起来的感觉，刚开始不习惯时会令人感到无所适从。最高速度向前倾并透过挡风罩看向前方，接着一口气加速，仅仅眨一眼的短暂时间，就会看见截然不同的景色。学生时代觉得碍眼，看起来犹如龎然大物的学校，也变得那么渺小。耳边吹来风切声，却完全感受不到任何风阻。不管体验多少次，飞行仍然令她感到舒畅。

“How’s that? Awesome, huh?”
「如何？很厉害吧！」

“Not bad.”
「还好。」

Top Speed’s magic broom “Rapid Swallow” could fly through the air at supersonic speeds. If someone fell from the back of Rapid Swallow, they would be badly hurt, even if they were a Magical Girl.
最高速度所操控的魔法扫帚「飞燕号」能够以超音速飞行于空中。如果从最高速度的飞燕号掉下去的话，就算是魔法少女也会受重伤吧。

Swim Swim clung tightly to Top Speed’s waist from where she was sitting in the backseat, so it would seem she did not have to worry about her falling off. She could feel an overwhelming fleshy sensation through her back--
坐在后座的水姆水姆紧紧抓住最高速度的腰部，似乎不必担心她会掉下去。透过背部传来一股压倒性的肉感——

“If I’d know, I would have made a curvier avatar…”
「早知道我就做一个更有分量一点的代理人了……」

“...What?”
「……什么？」

“Nothing, just talking to myself, don’t mind me.”
「没事，自言自语。别理我。」

Right now, she had to think about what was important, and not unimportant things.
她必须思考的是必要的事情，而不是这种无关紧要的事情。

Mt. Meisho was very large. Even with a Magical Girl’s excellent eyesight, if they had to search the place for Ruler’s location once they reached there, they might not be able to make it in time. She predicted the path Ruler would have chosen. According to Ruler’s personality, she would surely go for the high ground without a second thought.
明将山范围很大。即使拥有魔法少女的卓越视力，一抵达山上就开始搜索露苗她们的位置，也有可能来不及赶上。她预测起露菈似乎会选择的路线。按照露菈的个性，应该会二话不说先朝制高点前进吧。

“They say idiots, smoke and amazing people always rise to the top.”
「正所谓笨蛋与烟、了不起的人都喜欢往高处爬嘛。」

“Which one of these is Ruler?”
「露菈是哪一个？」

“Well… of course she’s an idiot and an amazing person.”
「这个嘛……当然就是笨蛋加上了不起的人喽。」

Besides, there was no guarantee that Ruler would not be scolded for taking Top Speed’s broom over. On the contrary, the chances of being scolded were very high. Top Speed could easily imagine Ruler going, “you’re late and still hitched a ride here, what a showoff you are!” and so on.
再说，也不能保证水姆水姆搭乘最高速度的扫帚过去，不会受到露菈的责难。被责备的机率反而很大。最高速度能够非常轻易地想象露菈找碴地说「迟到还搭专车姗姗来迟，你的排场挺大的嘛」之类的话。

As long as one bowed and scraped to Ruler, she was easy enough to deal with. Having gifts on hand was the ideal way to show one’s devotion. When he left the house, she had brought a lunchbox with her. Originally, she had made it for her husband. Now, it sat behind the windshield.
只要对露菈展现卑躬屈膝的态度，她就会是个很好对付的人。如果有伴手礼的话，可以说是再好不过的奉承手段。离开家时，她顺手拿了便当。原本是做给丈夫吃的，被她偷偷夹带出门。现在藏在挡风罩后。

She was very confident in the taste of what she had made. It was so good that even the frigid Ripple would quirk the corners of her mouth up in a smile. Also, it ought to suit an outdoor activity like maple-watching quite well. Surely it would win Ruler over.
她对味道相当有自信。好吃到就连一向冷冰冰的莉普儿，也会忍不住扬起嘴角浅笑的地步。而且，应该非常吻合赏枫这种郊远性质的活动。一定能够讨露菈欢心。

“However, that means there won’t be a lunchbox for tomorrow.”
「不过明天就没有便当可以吃了。」

Perhaps she had thought Top Speed’s mumbling was directed at her, but Swim Swim responded.
也许是把最高速度的低喃当成对自己说话，水姆水姆做出了回应。

“There’s a nutritious lunch.”
「有营养午餐。」

“Nutritious lunch?”
「营养午餐？」

“There’s one every day. Going without a lunchbox is fine.”
「每天都有。没有便当没关系。」

If she was in an environment where they provided nutritious lunches for her, that meant she either worked in a school or was a student. While this was just a hunch, she did not think the person behind her was an educator.
有提供营养午餐的环境，也就说她任职于学校或者是学生，两者其中之一吧。虽然完全，出自于直觉，但她并不觉得身后的魔法少女是教职员。

“Have you revised the topics for your mid-terms?”
「已经准备好期中考的考前猜题了吗？」

“What are mid-terms?”
「什么是期中考？」

She was an elementary schooler.
是小学生。

She had been thinking that she sounded a little distracted, but this explained everything. While she felt a little sorry for elementary schoolers getting absorbed in social games, since it was free, it was no big deal. Besides, she had the vague idea that Swim Swim, as an elementary schooler, was better suited to being a Magical Girl than a 19 year old pregnant mother like herself.
原本还心想，这个人的应对进退有点心不在焉的感觉，这么一来一切就说得通了。虽然多少会对小学生沉迷于社交游戏的现今世道感到难过，不过既然是免费的就算了。更何况，她也隐约觉得身为小学生的水姆水姆，似乎比十九岁的人妻又是孕妇的自己更适合当魔法少女。

Top Speed gripped her broom once more, and then asked:
最高速度重新握紧扫帚后，再度询问：

“You just said you didn’t need friends, right?”
「你刚才说自己不需要朋友吧。」

“Ruler said so.”
「露菈是这么说的。」

“All people need friends.”
「人都是需要朋友的。」

In order to have fun, one needed friends. Just like her fellow bikers in the past, and now Ripple and her… husband? That did not quite seem to fit her husband.
愉快的「玩乐」需要一起玩乐的伙伴。就像自己过去的飚车族成员，以及现在的莉普儿与……丈夫？丈夫不太一样就是了。

“Ruler once said, people don’t need friends.”
「露菈说过，人不需要朋友。」

“Nonsense. Even Ruler has friends.”
「才没有这回事。就连露菈也有朋友。」

“...Who?”
「……谁？」

“A cute Magical Girl called Top Speed.”
「叫做最高速度的可爱魔法少女。」

Top Speed bared her teeth in a brilliant smile, but then she immediately realised that Swim Swim could not see her face from behind her. “Forget it, let’s leave it at that. Hang on right. We’re going up the mountain. I’m sure we’ll spot them right away.”
最高速度咧嘴灿烂一笑，不过立刻察觉到身后的水姆水姆看不见她的表情。「算了，不说了。就这样抓稳喽。快到山上了。一定能马上找到她们的。」

“You’re Ruler’s friend?”
「你是露菈的朋友？」

“I’ll prove it to you later. Don’t talk, you’ll bite your tongue.”
「我等一下就证明给你看。会咬到舌头的，先别说话了。」

“What’s this charm for?”
「这个护身符是做什么的？」

“Kids these days sure ask a lot of questions. It’s for a safe birth and traffic safety… in other words, a prayer to the gods that a baby can be delivered successfully, and that I won’t get into traffic accidents.”
「这小鬼问题还真多耶。有祈祷安产以及交通安全……也就是向神许下小婴儿能够顺利出生，还有别发生交通意外的愿望。」

“Are you going to give birth to a baby?”
「你要生小婴儿了吗？」

“Yup.”
「是啊。」

It was embarrassing, so she had not even told Ripple about it, but to think she had actually let it slip out just like that. It was probably because she was a girl that she had spoken so easily.
因为很难为情，所以她连莉普儿也没有说，想不到现在竟然如此干脆地脱口而出。应该是因为对方是小孩，所以才会这么轻易地说出来吧。

Mt. Meisho had been bright green right until the end of summer, but now it was dyed in brilliant shades of red, yellow and brown, with lingering traces of green. A Magical Girl could enjoy watching the maples even in the farkness.
直到夏天结束前，都还是一整片深绿色的明将山，如今被红色、黄色以及咖啡色,还有勉强撑到现在的绿色染成斑斓的色彩。如果是魔法少女的话，在黑暗之中也能尽情享受赏枫的乐趣。

Top Speed plotted her course while thinking with Ruler’s mindset, and focused her attention near the top of the mountain. She was looking for a place which could barely be considered a mountain trail, a steep and precipitous region which only Magical Girls could climb. As Top Speed orbited over the maple leaves, she kept her eyes open tosearch, and she finally found someone floating in mid-air.
最高速度以露菈的思考模式预测路线，将注意力集中于山顶附近。她要找的是难以称为登山路径、唯独魔法少女才能攀爬、地形险峻且地势很高的地方。最高速度一边在枫叶上方盘旋一边睁大眼睛搜索，终于发现轻飘飘地飞在半空中的人影。

“Bingo!”
「宾果！」

It had a wing and a halo. It was an angel. While she was not amazing enough to tell who was Minael and who was Yunael, it was okay even if she couldn’t tell them apart/
天使光环配上天使羽翼。那是大天使。虽然她没有厉害到能辨别谁是米娜叶尔，谁是优娜叶尔，不过分辨不出来也没关系。

“I told you before, right? I’d find her right away. That’s the power of an adult.”
「俺告诉过你吧？一定能马上找到的。这就是大人的能力。」

After that brief statement to the backseat, they reached their destination in an instant, before she had time to breathe. Minael and Yunael stared at them with eyes agog, while Ruler looked up and pointed at her with an arrogant expression on her face. Beside her, the dog-eared Magical Girl who yelped in surprise was Tama. It would seem they had prepared for a picnic.
向后座简短说完之后，都还来不及呼吸即瞬间抵达目的地。吃惊地瞪大双眼望向这里的是米娜叶尔与优娜叶尔，而抬起头来、以一副自大态度指向这里的是露菈。在一旁发出惊呼的犬耳魔法少女则是球球。她们似乎已经铺好野餐垫了。

“Swim-chan, what’s all this?”
「小水姆，这是怎么回事？」

“Weren’t you not showing up?”
“Or should that be going on strike?”
「你不是缺席吗？」、「该说是缺席还是罢工？」

Ruler stood up and rapped her scepter on the ground.
露菈站起身来，以权杖底部敲向地面。

“You’re slow! Dummy! You’re not to be late! And why did you bring her along?”
露菈「很慢耶！大笨蛋！不准迟到！还有，为什么那家伙也一起来啊！」

“What do you mean ‘her’, don’t be so cold.”
「什么那家伙，别说得这么绝情嘛。」

Top Speed deposited Swim Swim on the ground, and then she dismounted herself. She smiled broadly as she put her hand on Ruler’s shoulder.
最高速度将水姆水姆放至地面后，自己也从扫帚下来。笑容可掬地将手搭在露菈的肩膀上。

“We’re buddies, right?”
「咱们是伙伴吧。」

“Oi, who allowed you to touch me just like that?”
「喂，谁准你随便乱碰我了。」

“We’re friends, right?”
「咱们是朋友吧。」

“Who’s friends with who?!”
「谁跟谁是朋友了！」

“Me and Ruler, of course. Ah, that’s right, that’s right. I brought a lunchbox along. Come on, let’s have it together.”
「俺与露菈你啊。啊，对了对了。俺带了便当来，大家一起享用吧。」

When she took out the lunchbox, Tama and the angels immediately squeezed up. Ruler, on the other hand, waved her scepter casually while Top Speed turned back to wink at Swim Swim. There was no response, but she had probably gotten the message across.
当她一秀出便当盒，球球与大天使立刻拥上前。露菈则是涨红着脸，敷衍地随手挥了挥权杖，最高速度则转过头去对水姆水姆眨眼。虽然对方没有反应，不过应该有成功传达过去。

“Now then, let’s enjoy watching the maples! No need to hold back when we’re all friends!”
「那么，就让咱们来尽情地赏枫吧！朋友之间不需要客气喔！」