"No one's fighting you for it, Kiana, eat slower."
Watching Kiana grab his lunchbox and devour it, in just a few seconds, half of the food inside was gone, and the mouth of this white-haired furball was puffed up like a hamster's.
So cute !
"Gulp! Wah wah wah! Water, water!"
"I told you to eat slower."
Should I say, as expected of Paramecium?
Byakuya looked at Kiana, whose face was beet red and who was vigorously pounding her chest, with a wry smile, and quickly went to pat her back.
He also handed her the water cup.
Kiana took it and gulped it down.
"Gulp gulp gulp! Ha~ I'm, I'm alive! I thought I was going to choke to death."
"Haha, then congratulations, you've unlocked one of the most absurd ways to die in this world."
"Hmph, I was just saying! I'm a warrior of the great Kaslana Family, I won't fall easily because of such a small matter!"
Kiana held up Byakuya's water cup with one hand and made a cool shooting pose with the other.
She thought her cool look would earn her admiring glances from the two, but…
"Alright, alright, then, esteemed Miss Kiana of the great Kaslana Family, first wipe your mouth clean. As a girl, pay attention to your image. Also, what dangerous thing did you do after school yesterday? You're all bruised again. Please pay a little attention to safety."
"Eh eh eh~ Byakuya, why are you just like my stinky old man, no, you worry even more than my stinky old man. Ah, don't touch there, it hurts!"
Byakuya mischievously poked the girl's arm, and Kiana immediately couldn't maintain her cool pose.
She was careless yesterday while fighting Deadmen and Honkai Beasts, and almost got into trouble.
Fortunately, the Kaslana Family's bloodline power was truly strong, and she was almost completely healed in half a night, otherwise Kiana would have probably had to take a day off today.
"Here's some ointment for you, it's very effective for bruises. Although I don't know what Kiana you're doing, no matter what you do, always pay attention to your own safety first, understand?"
"Alright, alright, I get it. Byakuya, you worry even more than my old man. Ugh, this ointment smells terrible!"
"Good medicine always smells like this. Hey, hey, don't move, don't move. I'd better do it. You're actually quite clumsy."
"Byakuya, who are you calling clumsy?!"
"Whoever's getting agitated is who I'm talking about~"
["Host, have you gone too far? For a Kaslana's bloodline, this level of abrasion would be fine even if left alone."]
The System commented rationally and objectively.
However, Byakuya shook his head.
Although it was indeed a minor injury for a Kaslana that would heal even if left alone, he just couldn't ignore it. Healing quickly didn't mean it didn't hurt.
On the contrary, for someone like Kiana, whose bodily senses are very strong and keen, the pain she experiences from injuries would be a bit more intense than for an ordinary person.
Moreover, a girl who chases Honkai Beasts everywhere every night already has a bit of the Sky Ranger's shadow about her.
["Based on your actions during this period, Host, you seem to have an unusual level of concern for Kiana Kaslana."]
'System, what are you trying to say?'
["This System wants to say that you spoil her too much."]
'Oh, so what's the problem with that?'
Looking at the virtual light screen that only he could see, Byakuya raised an eyebrow and retorted. 'This is the ultimately invincible, super-duper cute Kiana! Is there a problem with me, as the Captain, spoiling her rotten? No, there isn't~'
Thinking about all the trials this girl would face in the future, Byakuya felt that spoiling her more now was a good thing.
["Alright, you're the Host, you're right."]
On the other side, Kiana ultimately accepted Byakuya's kindness obediently. Looking at her well-treated minor injury, she felt very happy.
For Kiana, who had traveled alone from Europe to the Far East since she was 12, although someone was secretly supporting her journey, she still experienced more hardships than the average person.
Kiana had encountered both kind people and bad people. She had accepted others' kindness and had also fallen into difficult situations due to the malice of bad people.
Therefore, even though this girl looked silly and not very smart, this white-haired lump actually had a very keen and accurate judgment of others' good and evil.
What she felt from Byakuya was simply pure concern and goodwill. Therefore, even though they hadn't known each other for long, Kiana had already sincerely considered Byakuya her good friend.
"Grrrrrr—"
"...Cough cough!"
Just then, Byakuya's stomach rumbled. He hadn't wasted his time during this period either.
After school, he ran around Changkong City, trying to find a way to infiltrate the ME Corporation branch, while also rushing to rigorously train his body.
His physical exertion was not small.
"Is Byakuya hungry too? Then you also eat... uh, I'm sorry, I ate it all."
Kiana looked at the empty lunchbox in her hand, which she had licked until not a single grain of rice was left. She scratched her head awkwardly, feeling very embarrassed.
"It's fine, I have Mei!"
"Huh?"
"Hmph hmph! I thought being fake lovers with Mei was me protecting her, but I didn't expect I'd be the one benefiting, getting to eat Mei's delicious homemade bento every day."
"It's, it's not that exaggerated."
Mei's cheeks flushed as she took out two lunchboxes.
When they were opened, the food inside made Kiana's eyes light up: sweet pepper curry with tempura, several pieces of delicious fried chicken, and miso soup with tomato and kelp.
The taste of the dishes went without saying, and even the presentation was exquisite, showing that a lot of thought had gone into it.
Kiana swallowed hard, looking at Byakuya with immense envy, her drool seemingly about to fall three thousand feet.
"Wow! Mei's love bento! I want to eat it too!"
"Ki-Kiana, what love bento? You can't just say things like that."
Mei, still a pure young girl, felt her face flush from Paramecium's words and was practically fuming.
Meanwhile, Byakuya had already taken the bento carefully prepared by the Mei and began to devour it.
One must know that Mei's cooking skills were forever T0 in Honkai Impact 3rd, always ranking among the top two. Back then, even Kevin, the lord of World Serpent, would personally recruit her to improve the meals for World Serpent and Elysian Realm.
This dish, filled with a maiden's affection, was far more delicious than outside takeout or anything Byakuya made himself.
"Byakuya, Byakuya, can I have a piece of fried chicken? Just one, please, please!"
Kiana sprawled on Byakuya's lap, her big, watery eyes looking pitifully as she begged to be fed, a tail seemingly wagging behind her.
"...Kiana, where has the dignity of a warrior of the great Kaslana Family gone?"
"Hmph! My old man used to say, the Kaslana Family never yields! Unless three meals are guaranteed!"
"Wow, your family is really strange. Just one piece."
In the end, he still gave a piece to the girl. Then Byakuya immediately sped up his eating. Even he was unwilling to share such a delicious lunch with others.
So when Kiana finished gnawing on that chicken leg and wanted another piece, Byakuya declared that a mere Paramecium shouldn't dream of getting a second piece of fried chicken from him.
Immediately, Kiana's face fell into a pout.
"Pfft~"
Raiden Mei watched this scene gently.
Especially when Byakuya ate the bento she made herself, the expression of satisfied enjoyment on his face inexplicably made Mei herself feel very content.
The cooking skill she had acquired to live independently after her father was imprisoned never brought her any special feeling when she ate alone, no matter how well she cooked.
But ever since she started preparing lunch for Byakuya, Mei found that she seemed to like cooking more and more.
"Haah, I'm full, satisfied."
"As long as you like it, Byakuya. Oh, do you have any favorite dishes? I'll make them for you next time."
"Really? How can I be so lucky… Can I have Shenzhou cuisine? Like Mapo Tofu, Dongpo Pork, Boiled Beef, etc."
"That sounds so delicious, Mei, Mei, I want some too, I want some too!"
"Okay, I understand. Shenzhou cuisine. I'll learn it tonight and make it for you two to eat."
Looking at the two hungry white-haired lumps before her, Raiden Mei felt her heart pound fiercely, and a sense of mission spontaneously arose.
She immediately decided to level up her cooking skills to max.
(Mei: "I shall enter the kitchen and exchange it for a full meal for you!")
There was still a long time before lunch break ended.
"Haah~" x2
Byakuya and Kiana, full and satisfied, yawned in sync. Clearly, neither of them had gotten enough sleep after running around Changkong City last night.
However, for Byakuya, it was more of a habit. Before he transmigrated, he used to have a nap time at noon during school, and over time, he now felt sleepy every noon.
"So sleepy, I'll just doze off for a bit. Wake me up when it's almost class time. Eh~ Although the sunlight is pretty good, it would be even better if I had a pillow."
Byakuya's eyes were hazy. At this moment, he deeply missed the pillow . He really, really wanted to sleep on Sushang's chest.
"Me too, yesterday I took down three or four Charger-class Honkai Beasts, and one riding a horse. So tired, so tired. And Byakuya is right, if only I had a pillow... Huh?"
The drowsy Kiana suddenly froze her gaze, staring intently at Mei's long, black-stockinged legs with a gaze that even for another girl seemed rude and suggestive.
"Kiana, why are you suddenly staring at my legs?" Mei covered herself, a little embarrassed.
However, this Paramecium had already pounced, burying her face in those two long, black-stockinged legs, sniffing deeply.
"Isn't there a ready-made, top-grade pillow right here? I want Mei's lap pillow!"
"Eh?! La-lap pillow?"
"Hehe, I saw it in a manga book in the Far East. Please, please, Mei, please?"
Faced with the ultimately invincible, super-duper cute Kiana's spoiled attack, Mei couldn't help but soften inside. However, just as she was about to agree with a wry smile...
"I can't help you, Bai, Byakuya?"
"Stare~~" (⊙_⊙)
The young man was staring at her expressionlessly.
Although he said nothing, how could Mei not understand what he meant?
'I want one too! Kiana, you're truly a little Genius. But since you can have Mei's lap pillow, then it's reasonable for me, as her 'boyfriend' and a more advantageous presence, to have the same treatment, right?'
"Then, then fine, but you two can't do anything strange, especially Kiana."
Mei shyly agreed to their whims, but still gave an extra warning to a certain white-haired lump.
"How could I~ This young lady wouldn't do anything strange to Mei, I just want to…"
Alright, time to sleep. Mei, you take this right leg, and Kiana, you take the other."
"Okay, wow, is this a lap pillow? Mei's lap pillow is so comfortable Zzzzzz"
"Same here, good afternoon, Zzzzzz~"
(These two fell asleep way too fast.)
Mei looked at the two people who were already asleep, resting their heads on her left and right legs, a wry smile on her face.
Although a little nervous, she tried her best to relax her legs and not tense them, so as to give the two of them the best lap pillow experience.
And as time passed by, minute by minute,
Mei couldn't help but raise her hand and reach out towards the boy's snow-white hair.
(I feel so relaxed…)
Raiden Mei looked at the two heads resting on her legs, and couldn't help but think to herself.
Kiana is so cute, Byakuya is so handsome. She is so lucky to be friends with these two.
The girl's sleeping face was as innocent as an angel, completely different from her waking self—quiet and elegant. She truly lived up to the name 'Moonlight Goddess,' noble and beautiful like a princess from a story.
It made Mei feel a little bit ashamed of herself.
The boy's sleeping face made Mei unable to look away. His exquisite and proper features were like those of a prince from a fairy tale, and his slightly furrowed brows, as if he was troubled by something, made Raiden Mei very concerned and caring.
The midday sun shone on them, and their white hair seemed to glow with every strand.
Paired with Byakuya and Kiana's looks, which could kill 99% of the world's population.
Mei only felt that the art style had changed at this moment, and her eyes seemed to have been nourished.
(Uh, this scene is already a bit sacred, aren't these two so… so… beautiful when they quiet down? Am I lying on two angels?)
Mei took a deep breath and carefully raised her hand to place it on their heads, gently stroking Byakuya and Kiana's hair. The corners of the girl's lips unconsciously curled up.
(I really wish this moment could last forever.)
The flow of time seemed to slow down at this moment, and Mei's thoughts began to wander.
While stroking the two white-haired bundles on her legs, she pondered about them.
(Speaking of which, both Byakuya and Kiana give me a mysterious feeling.)
(They know about my affairs, but I don't know much about their stories.)
(Where is Kiana from? She's so mysterious, and sometimes she gets some new injuries.)
(Byakuya is also incredible. Is he from Shenzhou? And… it seems he's been busy with things I don't know about recently.)
At this moment, Raiden Mei suddenly realized that she hardly knew anything about these two people.
She only knew that they were kind, brave, lively, cheerful, and didn't care much about what others thought, but she knew nothing else about them.
And…
As Mei quietly gazed at the two on her lap, she suddenly realized they were very similar: the same white hair, the same cheerfulness, the same mystery.
(Byakuya and Kiana look so well-matched…)
Before Kiana arrived, the boy's tenderness seemed to belong only to Mei.
However, when Kiana arrived, Mei realized that the boy was not her prince alone.
Rather, Byakuya's attitude towards Kiana seemed to be a few more points… doting?
(No, no, what am I thinking? Byakuya wasn't mine to begin with. It's too arrogant for me to think like that. We're just a fake couple.)
(I'm just unilaterally accepting the protection he gives, so I can't be greedier for more.)
(This is good, now is good. I've made true friends for the first time, and I have people I care about for the first time. I must cherish these two joys.)
Mei shook her head abruptly, as if to shake all those thoughts out of her mind. However, just as she was trying to adjust her mindset quickly,
"Raiden Mei, is that what you really think?"
Suddenly, a female voice appeared in her mind.
"Do you really not want to monopolize Byakuya? Do you really not want him to be your prince alone? You're just a weak crybaby, Raiden Mei, you can't do anything."
It was a female voice just like Mei's own, but the tone was so condescending, so ruthless and cold, like an arrogant queen.
"Humph!"
Mei was startled.
She thought it was a prank and quickly turned her head to look around, but the queen-like voice merely snorted again and then disappeared.
"Was… was I hallucinating? Strange."
She let out a slight sigh of relief, but when Mei lowered her head again to look at the sleeping Byakuya, a sense of guilt welled up in her heart for some reason.
Just then.
"Creak~~"
The iron door to the rooftop made a sound.
She keenly sensed a faint presence.
"Who's there? Come out!" Mei called out, keeping her voice low so as not to wake Byakuya and Kiana.
Although her personality was somewhat soft now, Mei had still trained the Raiden family's inherited katana technique, the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, to the level of Menkyo Kaiden.
Her five senses were a bit sharper than ordinary people's.
"!!!"
Unexpectedly, their presence was discovered, and several girls emerged from the stairwell.
Their expressions were ashen, especially when they saw the two people lying on Mei's lap, they were filled with apprehension.
But even so, they didn't hold back with their words.
"Hmph, swindler's daughter, how much longer do you plan to stay in this school?"
"Don't think that finding two helpers can change your current situation."
"Although you seem to be getting along well, who knows if these two aren't just playing friend games with you for some reason, otherwise, what right does someone like Raiden Mei have… Wahhh!"
Before the person could finish speaking,
A baseball bat and a brick flew towards them.
Directly scaring the girls who had just been verbally bullying Raiden Mei into screaming.
"You guys, bullying Mei again!"
"I warned you, didn't I? You never learn, it seems the previous lesson was too light."
"Byakuya, Kiana…"
Raiden Mei looked at the two who had suddenly woken up with surprise. Speaking of which, she didn't know where they had hidden the brick and the baseball bat.
But seeing Byakuya and Kiana so angry because of her, Raiden Mei was very touched, and her gaze towards them became even softer.
"Hmph, what a crybaby…"
...
Herrscher of thunder