There was still a chance to turn things around. After all, he could always casually bring it up when the three giants of Anti-Entropy visited.
Ryoma Raiden cared deeply for Shiraha. But when it came to the three giants of Anti-Entropy, they owed Siegfried their lives.
After the Second Eruption, it was Siegfried who'd brought the core of the Herrscher of Reason back to Anti-Entropy, giving Welt Yang the chance to rise once more.
Shiraha patted his cheeks. "It's fine, Nee-chan. Think about it, no matter how strong that Siegfried is, can he really be stronger than you?"
Elysia smiled radiantly, her starry eyes sparkling. "The fairy lady can do anything."
The Next Day, Nagazora, Far East. The First ME Corp-Sponsored Martial Arts Tournament.
The crowd was far larger than expected.
The area outside the arena was packed with people, competitors in athletic wear, media reporters hauling camera equipment, ordinary citizens dragging their children along for the spectacle, and quite a few busybodies clearly drawn by the "hidden folk talents" headline.
Ryoma Raiden wasn't particularly concerned with the final matches. The pre-competition medical screening, that was what he cared about most.
"S-So many people..."
The tiny shred of confidence Yuna had painstakingly built over the past few days was instantly shattered into dust.
The Raiden family... was just too incredible.
"We'll take the back entrance."
Mei had originally wanted to queue. She wasn't fond of pulling strings, after all.
But with this many people, nothing but the backs of heads as far as she could see, she decided to use those strings just this once.
"Over here!"
Himeko called out from the distance.
Yuna's body instinctively stiffened when she saw Himeko. How am I still seeing my teacher even after taking leave from school?!
"Don't worry. Himeko-nee isn't a teacher anymore."
Shiraha's voice was gentle.
Yuna paused. Himeko-nee? So they were siblings?
She glanced at the red-haired, amber-eyed Himeko. Then at the blonde-haired, pinkish-eyed Shiraha. And then at the dark-purple-haired, blue-violet-eyed Mei.
No, no... wait.
"Isn't Himeko-nee a PE teacher?"
While jogging toward Himeko, Yuna asked curiously.
Mei explained under her breath, "She got reported. Currently reflecting at home."
Chiba Academy was a famously prestigious integrated academy. Teaching positions here were highly coveted within the system.
Though Himeko and Shiraha had a close personal relationship, she was still a teacher someone expected to educate and serve as a role model for students. Kissing a kid on the cheek? Reported or not, reflecting was still in order.
"Himeko-nee! We came to watch you compete!"
Truth be told, they'd come to watch the delinquent senpai. Shiraha was very curious whether the Raven's current strength would let her breeze through this so-called martial arts tournament and then officially enter Anti-Entropy through ME Corp.
With Nee-chan's money-loving personality, once she saw the gap between Anti-Entropy and World Serpent, she'd surely join without a second thought.
Even if Grey Serpent later blackmailed her over her past and forced her to keep working for World Serpent, no problem! Because Anti-Entropy's wisest Sovereign was already seven years old this year!
The Sovereign didn't mind!
"I'm not competing."
Himeko's voice was flat.
Then, before Shiraha could even react, she crouched down and planted a loud kiss on his cheek.
"I don't even know who reported me. What's wrong with kissing my own little brother?!"
Himeko straightened up, her face full of righteous indignation. She hadn't originally intended to do anything to Shiraha but now, whenever she saw him, she was going to give him a good smack of a kiss.
I kissed him! So what!
Shiraha wiped his cheek with practiced composure.
Yuna's little mouth fell open, a trace of shock in her wide eyes. Then, Teacher... it kind of seems like getting reported wasn't entirely unjustified.
As for Elysia, she had gotten used to it too. It wasn't like she could do anything about it anyway, she'd just wipe him down a few extra times when they got home tonight. She watched the scene with a blank expression.
"Why aren't you competing anymore?"
After wiping the drool off his cheek, Shiraha asked curiously.
Himeko was quiet for a moment. "Because I'm an internal ME Corp employee. I know exactly what kind of people signed up."
Himeko was indeed young, full of dreams, convinced that in this world, there was nothing a girl couldn't do.
But one look at the weight classes of the registered competitors had instantly cleared her vision.
Shiraha nodded, his little face looking somewhat regretful.
Himeko thought the kid was disappointed he wouldn't get to watch her perform. She ruffled his hair. "Alright, alright. Let's just call today a day out to have fun."
"It's not like you two have anything to do at school anyway."
Still wearing that regretful expression, Shiraha followed Himeko-nee into their private spectator booth.
Along the way, they passed many competitors. Most looked fierce and menacing; even the ones with mild expressions were intimidating. Shiraha gazed around with curiosity.
Elysia offered a gentle reminder. "Your little friends' faces are turning pale."
Shiraha turned his head. Mei and Yuna's faces were tightly drawn, the color drained. Though Mei-nee was holding up a little better.
Once everyone was settled, Himeko went off to grab some snacks.
Seizing the gap, Mei pulled Yuna and Shiraha close together and whispered, "Um... does anyone need to go to the bathroom?"
She paused. "I think I ate something bad today."
Shiraha: ...
Yuna nodded hurriedly. "Me too. I also ate something bad."
The true essence of martial arts was simply too terrifying. Yuna no longer wanted to witness it.
Both of them turned their gazes squarely on Shiraha.
Shiraha was quiet for a moment. "Then I'll just stay here—"
"Shiraha!" Mei's voice grew urgent.
Elysia reminded him, "She wants to leave. Probably sneak out from the bathroom and slip away."
I can see that.
But I'm not scared.
Under Mei-nee's anxious expression and Yuna's hopeful little eyes, Shiraha nodded with great difficulty. "I think... I also ate something bad."
When Himeko returned with the snacks, the room was already empty. She let out a helpless, dry laugh.
2007. First ME Corp Martial Arts Tournament. Champion: Natasha Cioara.
The seemingly frail girl erupted with astonishing strength. At the same time, this contest made quite a few people vaguely aware of something.
Honkai.
At the same time, ME Corp continued its rapid development. As the most critical economic pillar of Anti-Entropy's core, it was coveted by many.
As for the on-campus martial arts tournament... well, no one really paid it much mind anymore. It became just another school festival activity. Mei waited eagerly for a long time, but even when people actually walked in and saw Mei and Shiraha, they completely lost any desire to compete.
A ten-year-old girl. A seven-year-old boy. Who would have the nerve to fight two tiny runts like that?
Early 2008.
The Raiden residence was bustling for the first time in a while. Because of the two children, the three giants of Anti-Entropy had gathered here together, something that hadn't happened in a long time.
The living room was filled with warmth and cheer, most of it the sound of the two kids and Tesla playing video games.
Before the giant TV screen, after yet another utterly predictable landslide victory
Shiraha's smile was brilliant and radiant.
Tesla hurled her controller onto the sofa and flopped backward, her hair a windswept bird's nest. "Shiraha, don't you think your fierce ghost friend is a little too omnipotent?"
Tesla simply couldn't accept this. She had over sixty years of gaming experience! How could she possibly lose to a tiny runt like Shiraha?!
Mei immediately chimed in from the side. "Exactly! So, Dr. Tesla, when is the fierce ghost friend you promised me finally going to happen?"
Tesla instantly fell silent. That's a hard one, little Mei. Shiraha's fierce ghost friend really is omnipotent in a way that no Stigmata or schizophrenia can explain.
Shiraha emphasized from the side, "Mei-nee, Nee-chan located you from an entire city away and carried out the rescue. Nee-chan is irreplaceable!"
Mei sighed, her little expression helpless. "I know. That's why I'm not scared of her anymore."
...Most of the time.
"Start another round. Shiraha, this time you're not allowed to let your precious Nee-chan help."
Having mussed her already messy hair even further, Tesla prepared to exert fourteen-tenths of her full effort!
As for why not twelve-tenths well, twelve-tenths was the excuse she'd used last round.
"Um, hold on a moment." Einstein, curled up on the sofa, suddenly spoke. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.
"Shiraha... back then, by what means did your Nee-chan find little Mei?"