Accompanied by Kiana's firm and resounding words, the scene instantly fell into dead silence.
The crispy egg roll in Ivana's mouth dropped to the ground. She widened her eyes, unable to believe what she had just heard.
'Wait a minute, how is this script different from what was agreed on!' Ivana instantly transformed into a roaring emperor in her mind and shouted internally,
'Where's the promised love triangle? Where's the promised jealousy and rivalry?'
On the other side, Raiden Mei also widened her eyes due to Kiana's words. However, when she looked into Kiana's calm and open gaze, she suddenly realized, Kiana was serious.
This was not her compromise, nor a concession. She genuinely believed this was good for everyone.
Himeko, on the other hand, choked on Kiana's wild words. But soon after, Himeko let go. This kind of answer truly was very much in line with Kiana's style.
On another side, even Van was so shocked by Kiana's words that he was left speechless. He had imagined all kinds of reactions from Kiana after regaining her memories, but he never imagined this kind of development.
"What's with all these expressions?" Kiana tilted her head in confusion.
"Didn't we already say before? Mei, Van, and I… we'll always be together…"
Then Kiana turned to Himeko, "Aunt Himeko is also someone important! So she should be with us too…"
Ivana finally couldn't hold back and leapt up from her chair.
"Kiana! Are you serious? This isn't as simple as sharing lunch!"
"Is it really that complicated?" Kiana blinked her sky-blue eyes and said with a smile,
"If you like someone, you stay together. If you don't, you separate. Van saved us so many times, Mei's cooking is so delicious, and Aunt Himeko taught us so many things…"
"All of these people are people I cannot give up. So why should we make ourselves unhappy over something like this?"
This straightforward, almost naive speech left everyone speechless.
Van looked at the brightness in Kiana's eyes, and suddenly understood her thoughts. After witnessing so much loss in the past, this girl had chosen the most foolish, yet also the most sincere way to protect everyone's happiness.
Just then, Kiana suddenly leaned close to Van and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear,
"And… this time, it's my turn to protect you. I won't let you carry everything alone again…"
The warm breath tickled his ear, and in that moment of daze, Van saw again the girl who had stood before him in the Final Battle.
He smiled bitterly and thought, 'Maybe this is Kiana's greatest power… even when saying the most absurd things, she makes it impossible for you to refute.'
———
Ivana, on the other hand, collapsed into her chair, face full of despair. The dramatic love-triangle showdown she had longed for had just been shattered by Kiana's direct pitch.
Raiden Mei looked at Kiana's pure and flawless smile, and her tense nerves slowly relaxed.
Maybe… this wasn't so bad? At least they wouldn't have to choose between friendship and love.
Though Himeko sighed while holding her head, the corners of her lips couldn't help curling up.
'You really are Kiana… Using the simplest method to solve the most complicated problems.'
The midday sunlight filtered through the tree leaves onto the ground, and Van looked at the people before him.
He suddenly felt, this atmosphere… wasn't so bad after all?
Just then, a lazy voice came from not far away.
"Oh? Seems like quite a few interesting things happened while I was gone?"
Everyone turned their heads toward the sound. There stood Mobius, leaning against a nearby tree, wearing her iconic green lab coat.
A faint, ambiguous smile played at her lips. Her pale green eyes slowly scanned over everyone, and finally stopped on Van's face.
That sudden gaze made Van's back tense up instantly. Because he was far too familiar with that look. Every time Mobius discovered a new "experimental subject," she would look exactly like this.
Seeing this, Ivana immediately perked up.
'Yes! This is the direction I've been waiting for!'
Ignoring everyone's wary stares, Mobius walked straight to Van's side and sat down.
"Can I hear about it too?"
Kiana nodded and said, "Since none of us can part with each other, then why should we fight over it?"
Hearing that, Mobius tapped her chin lightly with her fingertips. Her eyes narrowed instinctively.
"'Us'?"
Her gaze circled between Kiana, Raiden Mei, and Himeko. Then she revealed a sudden "aha" expression.
"What touching unity," she said.
Beside her, Van felt his soul leaving his body. Because he knew Mobius too well. Every time she spoke with this terrifyingly gentle tone, It usually meant someone was about to suffer.
And this time, the one most likely to suffer… was him.
Sure enough, the next second, Mobius suddenly leaned in, close enough for him to smell the faint fragrance on her.
"Since all of you are being so generous… Why don't you let me borrow Van for a day? I just need his help with a teeny-tiny favor…"
At that, Van's expression froze. 'Are you kidding me?! A day?'
With Mobius's abilities, she could take him apart and reassemble him three times in an hour.
For the sake of his personal safety, and so this book wouldn't get 404'd, Van wanted to immediately express his opinion as the person involved.
But before he could speak, Kiana stepped forward first.
"Sorry, I can't do that."
Mobius's smile stiffened. A dangerous glint flashed in her eyes.
"So… you don't trust me? Or are you saying everything you just said was just convenient lies?"
"No." Kiana said seriously.
"I mean that whether it's me or you, neither of us can make decisions on his behalf."
"Oh? Then how do you know he doesn't want to come with me?" said Mobius.
'Like hell he would!' Everyone present had this exact same thought.
Mobius had practically written her intentions on her face, just one step away from saying it out loud.
However, just as everyone was bracing for a showdown between Kiana and Mobius, Van quietly stepped forward.
"Everyone, you don't need to argue over this," said Van.
"In the past, my wish was to make all of your wishes come true, to let you all live happy and joyful lives. That hasn't changed…"
"Little lab rat, what do you mean by that?" said Mobius.
At that moment, the bystander Ivana finally couldn't sit still.
"Old hag?! Are you out of your mind?! The cautionary tale of the ancient fossil is still fresh in our memory!"
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