The bus moved slowly, trying to avoid traffic, as debris was scattered all over the road, hindering movement.
However, strangely enough, Shizuku easily navigated around all the obstacles.
Sweat trickled down her face, betraying extreme concentration, but in the depths of her mind, fragments of the recent tragedy with Shido's group surfaced, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth that almost all the bus passengers shared.
Almost.
Meylen seemed to bask in her own indifference. With lazy grace, she painted her nails black, quietly humming something to herself, as if the universal grief didn't concern her.
Rei was trying to comfort Takashi, who was clearly lost and didn't know what to think. The day had started as usual, and now…
Death and fear seemed to breathe down their necks.
His hands trembled nervously, and Rei whispered words of comfort, saying that everything would be alright and that they would get through it, and that the most important thing was not to lose heart.
Her face expressed concern and care, her eyes radiated support, which calmed Takashi.
But Meylen, watching the pair, noticed that behind Rei's superficial facade of care, dark, overflowing emotions were hidden.
Sometimes Rei suppressed a smile, covering her lips with her hand or coughing, which did not escape Saeko's gaze.
Saeko, in turn, was confused.
In her mind, memories of "that" incident, which revealed the dark side of her own personality that she tried to hide from and forget, were still swirling.
How to look at this world now?
Kohta tried to calm down, wiping sweat from his face and cooling his body. However, his gaze often fell on Meylen, although he tried to avoid her eyes.
Deep down, a strange, painful tangle of dejection and… admiration was growing.
Involuntarily, his mind wandered to the recent incident.
Kohta didn't feel much grief, because among the dead there weren't those who were dear to him.
On the contrary, there were those who had mocked him: Tsunoda, who constantly bullied him, and teacher Shido, who ignored him and made his life even more difficult. Mika Yuki and her girlfriends didn't evoke any sympathy in him either.
Only detached pity, as if for representatives of the human race, although deep down he felt that they didn't deserve more.
They got what they deserved, — a thought flashed through his mind, and Kohta immediately felt a pang of shame, but he didn't argue with himself.
Saya, on the other hand, felt a gnawing guilt for not being able to help, for not being able to save Shido's group.
They are people! Just like me, with their own characters and dreams! — she thought, clenching her fists.
The images of the dead pressed down with unbearable force, and a malicious, burning hatred was born in Saya's heart. She cast a murderous glance at Meylen, but the latter only gave her a wide, innocent smile and waved slightly.
This only added fuel to the fire.
Pictures of the ruined city flashed outside the bus windows. Burning buildings, ruins, the sounds of sirens, distant cries, and echoes of gunfire.
The dead wandered aimlessly, and the longer the group looked at it, the stronger the despair mounted.
It was better to just not look and not think.
Suddenly, a message in a blue frame appeared before Saeko's eyes:
"Busujima-san, are you alright?"
She shuddered, tearing herself away from her thoughts. The swordswoman was a little confused when she saw the message in the blue frame on the screen.
A second later, she realized that it was a "chat" that had appeared as if from nowhere. Casting a fleeting glance at Meylen, as if looking for confirmation, she felt care coming from "that side."
Deciding to answer, she mentally said:
"I'm alright…"
But her words were immediately interrupted by a new message:
"Hey, Saeko-chan, what's with the dry tone? Didn't I save you? Where's your boundless gratitude? And, you know, flower, I'm waiting for you to thank me properly!" the text undoubtedly belonged to Meylen and was accompanied by a winking smiley face.
Saeko's eye twitched nervously. She looked at Meylen, who was looking at her with the eyes of a beaten dog, full of feigned resentment.
This contrast reminded her of the time when she and her father were taking care of a sick puppy.
And the absurdity of the situation, like a mountain stream, broke through the dam of her icy calm.
Her laughter, unexpectedly echoing in the stuffy cabin, attracted everyone's attention.
People looked at her with bewilderment, even horror.
"S-Saeko-senpai, are you laughing? At people's despair?!" Saya couldn't stand it, jumping up from her seat and staring coldly at Saeko, who seemed to be coming back to herself.
"It's… not what you think," she replied quietly, trying to regain control of herself.
Once the stone was cast, each sank into their own thoughts.
Even though they were all silent, their reflections were similar. They began to look at Saeko with wariness and detachment, wondering if she could be trusted now. How could they trust someone who had behaved so unexpectedly?
And besides… Wasn't "that woman" here specifically for her?
No one harbored any illusions about Meylen; her character and essence were already clear enough.
Being near her was like being trapped in a cage with an unpredictable beast, wondering what she would do next.
But Saeko…
No one had expected this turn of events.
It seemed as if another fragile shard had broken off from their informal group, and Saeko felt this loss keenly, her heart gripped by an icy hand of sorrow.
She tried not to look at Meylen; every glance dragged her into an abyss of despair, threatening to swallow the remnants of hope.
And yet, Saeko stole a glance at the one who dared to utter words of support.
Was it Rin Tohsaka?
Saeko decided to immerse herself in studying the chat – until now, there had been neither the time nor the energy. Now, in this oppressive silence, it seemed like the only salvation from the encroaching darkness.
Having studied its functionality, she was amazed by its uniqueness and flexibility: from obtaining mystical skills and artifacts to being able to travel to other worlds.
The ease of use of the system was also striking: mental control allowed her to remain unnoticed, and it seemed that no one except her could see this shimmering blue window.
Saeko's attention was drawn to the "Artifacts" section. Many katanas with various properties, but they all cost… points?
Where to get them?
This question pierced her consciousness, and she began searching until she came across the "Gacha" section, where she was greeted by the possibility of one free daily roll, while the rest required an exorbitant number of points.
Deciding to try her luck, she mentally activated the daily roll.
A burst of light blinded her, forcing her to instinctively squint and cover her eyes with her hands. Meilen, noticing this reaction, chuckled gleefully, anticipating the entertainment.
Oh, my purple flower, caught in the gacha trap? Should have turned off special effects in the settings! — the goddess thought, enjoying the situation.
The remaining bus passengers, immersed in their own dark reflections, barely paid attention to the flash of light, only reinforcing their suspicions about Saeko.
Is she going crazy? Maybe it's better to stay away from her? — their thoughts flitted by.
The white veil before Saeko's eyes slowly dissipated, revealing a message:
Congratulations! Received 50 Points!
Points, like small stars, shone in the upper right corner of the interface. Saeko, glancing at the astronomical prices for artifacts, shook her head in resignation.
Daylight robbery!
Next, her attention was captured by the "Tickets" section.
The ability to travel to other worlds turned out to be surprisingly accessible.
So that's how Meylen got here…
She also found a column with information about the participants. Brief biographical sketches: name, race, weight, height, and origin from the worlds of DxD, Overlord, Sousou no Friere, Nasuverse, Highschool of the Dead…
Stop.
The last one was her world?!
Saeko froze, her face expressing genuine surprise.
What kind of name is that?
Who gave my world such a name?!
Then Saeko found information about Rin and decided to contact her via private chat. She didn't want Meylen to interfere in their conversation.
Saeko typed a message, feeling awkward:
"Hello… Tohsaka-san, right? Our conversation was interrupted so outrageously…"
She felt a strange sense of embarrassment for Meylen's behavior, although she didn't quite understand why she should be ashamed of her actions.
After all, it wasn't she who wrote all those rude and impudent messages!
Rin, meanwhile, was trying to regain her composure.
A slight irritation threatened to turn into a headache, but she decided to resort to a modern way of getting rid of this ailment – taking a pill.
The medicine worked quickly, and she felt a tangible relief.
Her mood started to deteriorate again when Meylen started writing her nonsense again and butting into someone else's conversation, but stopped halfway, receiving a private message from Busujima.
You can do that?!— she exclaimed mentally, struck by this simple truth.
And indeed, it turned out that you could!
Rin, as a mage accustomed to unraveling mysteries, easily figured out the functions. She had already spun the daily gacha, but, to her disappointment, received only 10 points.
Why so few?!— she grumbled, mentally cursing her bad luck.
Nevertheless, she answered Saeko, and their correspondence began, like a timid stream breaking through the rocks of distrust.
In the course of the correspondence, which was a bit awkward from the very beginning, Rin began to understand that "their" chat administrator was someone you clearly needed to be careful with.
Saeko and Rin continued to communicate, and the longer they communicated, the more they understood each other. Saeko learned that in Rin's world there were "ghouls," but they were promptly eliminated by the Church, and the world itself was generally much calmer and safer than her native world, engulfed in an apocalyptic nightmare.
The thought of visiting Rin's world and finding a way to stay there forever became more and more tempting for Saeko.
However, she didn't yet suspect that the Nasuverse held even more dangerous secrets, capable of eclipsing any apocalypse…
***
Having finally calmed down, Rias leisurely sipped her hot chocolate cocoa, washing it down with cookies, kindly brought by Akeno.
She had traded the stuffy air of the clubroom for a spacious corner in the park, where students sought a breath of fresh air from their heavy thoughts.
Nearby, like an emerald oasis, the gardening club flourished, exuding intoxicating floral aromas.
It was there, among the climbing roses and sleepy dahlias, that Rias had found her refuge, having chosen a veranda entwined with ivy.
Sitting there, she read her usual manga, trying to distract herself from all worries, including the "chat group" that had suddenly descended upon her – that very "system" like the ones the main characters had.
Could it be that I'm the main character?!
A wave of pride and excitement washed over her. She felt singled out from the crowd, and this was a real opportunity!
However, the red-haired devil girl didn't forget the problem looming over her – the forced "marriage" with Riser Phoenix, the "fiery little rooster" whose name and face she longed to erase from her memory forever.
He was the embodiment of meanness and vanity, a true scoundrel in shining armor!
A gloomy mood clouded her thoughts once more, and she began to drink from her cup and eat the cookies with renewed vigor, to quell the bitterness. To distract herself, she dove into the depths of the "system's" functions and settings, studying the "Shop" section with particular interest, where, apparently, untold treasures were hidden…
In the "Shop" section, her eyes widened in amazement. Boosted Gear, artifacts imbued with magic, and even… Annihilation Maker!
This is an incredible opportunity! — she rejoiced mentally, her heart pounding wildly, anticipating the long-awaited possibility.
But harsh reality immediately cooled her ardor: all these wonders cost points. Points that she didn't have.
How could she get them?
She stumbled upon the "Gacha" section – a daily free roll and other, more expensive ones.
"Where the hell is the donate button?!" she muttered indignantly, reaching to open her wallet, but alas, the saving option was nowhere to be found.
With a heavy sigh, she chose the free attempt.
A burst of light blinded her for a moment, and Rias, crying out, leaned back in her chair. The hot cup of cocoa slipped from her weakened fingers, spilling directly onto her pristine school uniform.
"So hot!" she shrieked, jumping to her feet and frantically wiping the treacherous stain with a napkin.
Muttering to herself, she tidied herself up somehow, then exhaled in relaxation and shook her head.
And then a message appeared in the chat:
Congratulations! Received 90 Points!
"Not bad, worthy of my luck," Rias nodded, satisfied with the result.
Who can even get a hundred points?
Most likely, only the goddess of luck herself, and even then, not every time.
Rias, of course, didn't rule out the possibility of hitting the jackpot one day, but constantly? That would be absurd, something out of the realm of science fiction.
Her musings were interrupted by a new message in the chat. Saeko and Rin were arguing about something animatedly, and Meilen, as usual, was inserting her spicy comments. Rias chuckled involuntarily, clutching her stomach.
That goddess is definitely in Saeko's world. Does that mean Busujima is safe? — a thought flashed through her head.
In her world, there were also a kind of undead – ghouls or vampires, the names were different, but the essence remained the same: bloodthirsty creatures, devouring people and turning them into soulless puppets.
Rias wasn't particularly interested in them – what was so special about them?
Her brother had once told her about the grand showdowns of the "Hellsing" group with vampires, but she had just waved it off: she wasn't interested in that.
Besides, her brother was clearly interested in what was happening and planned to profit from it, but that didn't concern her.
She preferred to enjoy a carefree life in Japan, as if she had stepped out of the pages of a romantic manga, and to study without unnecessary worries and emotional turmoil.
Rias also noted that Meylen… was quite interesting.
For the heiress of Gremory, there was nothing reprehensible in being interested in "unconventional" love. Devils had very perverse tastes, and love between women seemed quite harmless – cute, charming, and even attractive.
Once, the redhead stumbled upon a genre where women and men had feelings for their own gender, and, succumbing to curiosity, showed it to Akeno…
Rias's cheeks flushed, and she was overcome by a heat of memories. She involuntarily touched her bottom, where her playful queen, a lover of spicy pranks, loved to make herself at home.
These innocent amusements helped Rias relax and experience the sweetness of kisses and passion.
Although the red-haired devil girl sometimes allowed herself such liberties with the raven-haired beauty, she realized that this was not what she needed, and that it was time for her to think about finding a boyfriend.
But was it possible?
And then it dawned on her.
What if she asked Meylen for help?
This goddess clearly wouldn't refuse a red-haired beauty with "impressive assets."
If Meylen helped her get rid of Riser, then…
"If she helps, I… wouldn't mind becoming her girlfriend," Rias muttered shyly, feeling her cheeks flush.
Yes, Rias wasn't embarrassed by this.
Being a devil, she stood outside the framework of ordinary human standards and social norms, and saw nothing reprehensible in a relationship with someone who would help her solve her problem. Besides…
Wasn't she a goddess? She must be strong and reliable!
The devil society had always valued strength, and it was welcomed. Wouldn't her family praise her for becoming the girlfriend of a strong goddess?
Wasn't that great?
"Hello, Meylen. I have a problem, and it seems you can help. Would you mind talking?"
With such thoughts, Rias decided to write Meilen a private message, not even suspecting what she was signing up for…