Dusk, after the final school bell rang.
"Um, Fu Li, I won't be walking back with you today. I have something to do, so I'm leaving first."
"Hey, wait..."
Watching Mei hurriedly bid farewell the moment class ended, Fu Li reached out a hand. But before he could say anything, Mei had already quickened her pace and left.
Strange? Did I do something to upset her?
Fu Li wore a look of utter confusion. He carefully replayed the events of last night and realized that, aside from stepping away during the curtain call, he had been by her side almost the entire time.
As a man who didn't understand women, Fu Li turned his gaze to Kiana, who was also a girl, hoping to get an answer from her.
"So... Kiana, do you think I might have offended her at some point without knowing? I get the feeling she's trying to avoid me."
"I don't know... I remember everything was fine when we parted ways yesterday."
Kiana shrugged and pulled a lollipop from her bag, popping it into her mouth with a hesitant expression.
"How about this, Fu Li? It really does seem like Mei is avoiding you right now. Why don't I follow her and see? Maybe I can find out what's wrong."
"Yeah, that could work." Fu Li nodded, a little helpless, and stood up from his chair. "I'll leave it to you then, Kiana."
"Mhm, I'm off!"
Fu Li watched Kiana quickly chase after Mei. With a sense of resignation, he took out his phone, found Snakey's contact, and quickly typed out a message.
I guess... I should have Snakey review the surveillance footage again... The Honkai Eruption is coming soon, after all. I hope she's okay...
---o---
"Hey, hey! Mei! Slow down! I can barely keep up with you!"
"Hm...? Kiana, what are you doing here?"
Hearing the shouts from behind her, Mei turned her head. Seeing Kiana running toward her, she instinctively reached out to steady her.
Mei couldn't help but feel a little exasperated as she watched Kiana, who wasn't even sweating, pretend to be completely exhausted.
"Kiana, couldn't you have just called my name? Why did you run so fast?"
"Hah... hah... Isn't it because I was afraid you'd run off, Mei? Hah... I'm exhausted."
Kiana wiped the non-existent sweat from her brow and gave the slightly helpless-looking Mei a goofy smile.
"You really are..." Mei sighed, but deep down, she knew that Kiana had only chased after her out of pure concern.
But... the kidnapping from her childhood was a source of trauma for her. Although she considered herself to have moved past that shadow, she was still worried.
She was worried that if Kiana and Fu Li found out she had been kidnapped, they would distance themselves from her out of fear of danger and trouble, just like the other students in her class.
And... that potential distance wasn't even her biggest worry. Her greatest fear was something else entirely, and that was the key reason she was subconsciously avoiding Fu Li.
Thinking about that little secret in her heart, Mei really wanted to turn and leave. But when she saw the stubborn look in Kiana's eyes, her heart couldn't help but tremble.
"Kiana... I..."
"Hmph, it's okay, Mei. Just tell me."
Kiana looked at Mei seriously, clasping her hands behind her back and leaning her face in close, her expression earnest.
"Mei, you know me. If you don't tell me, I'll keep pestering you."
"Eh? Kiana, you...唉...."
Hearing Kiana's slightly roguish plea, Mei's expression clearly grew hesitant. After a long moment, she let out a helpless sigh.
When it came down to it, a part of her really did want to find someone to share her troubles with.
"Alright then... Kiana, I can tell you, but you have to promise me you won't tell Fu Li."
"Huh? Why? Does this mean your troubles are related to Fu Li?"
"Well, I guess you could say that..." As she said this, a look of clear embarrassment flashed across Mei's face, and she nervously fiddled with her hands.
"Anyway, come to my place first."
"Okay, sure."
Seeing Mei finally relent, Kiana breathed a silent sigh of relief.
For as long as she could remember, she had been a wanderer. Although a generous living allowance was deposited into her account every month, she had never thought about settling down anywhere.
Now, she had come here all by herself to find her stinky old dad. Having made two good friends in Fu Li and Mei was a rare blessing, so of course, she wanted to help them.
After all, that's what friends were for—to support each other. Even if there were small frictions sometimes, they would always make up in the end.
As the future strongest S-rank Valkyrie, she could definitely handle a small task like this!
With that mindset, Kiana followed Mei back to her apartment. But for some reason, the moment she stepped through Mei's door, she felt a strange sensation from the soles of her feet, like a brush of static electricity.
Is it because of the plush carpet?
Kiana found it a bit strange but didn't think much of it.
----
PS from the Author: Getting ready to go out and eat, meow. I'll write the next chapter when I get back, meow.
Also, if my predictions are right, the Herrscher of Thunder should be making her official debut in the next two chapters.