"Mei, how can you say that to me?" Oberon frowned as he looked at her, his eyes narrowing as he stared.
Herrscher Mei, sensing his gaze, scoffed as she held Kiana tightly in her embrace.
"Where have you been, Oberon? You've been gone too long... far too long," she said, her gaze turning cold.
"Where? Obviously trying to find where the food is, Mei."
As Oberon spoke, he took a step toward her—but Himeko stopped him.
"Boy, don't! Don't get any closer to her!" She got up on one knee, using her sword for support.
Oberon turned to Himeko and replied gently,
"Why? Isn't she Mei? What's wrong with getting closer to my friend~?"
He was about to step forward again when Bronya's voice cut in, stopping him.
"Subject Oberon, Bronya advises you not to get closer to Mei-nee-sama right now."
She turned her head slightly toward Herrscher Mei.
"That's not Mei-nee-sama anymore. That's the Herrscher of Thunder."
Oberon raised his head, confused, still carrying Bronya in his arms.
"Herrscher? Bronya, what's a Herrscher?"
"Subject Oberon, Herrsch—"
Bronya was about to explain when Herrscher Mei's cold voice cut her off.
"Stop talking nonsense, insect."
Her voice remained distant, cold, and carried a sharp arrogance.
Oberon's expression darkened as he stared at her.
"Miss, can you still fight?" he asked Himeko, setting Bronya down beside him.
"Yeah... I should be able to fight for now," Himeko huffed, gripping her sword tightly.
Bronya stood beside her as Project Bunny manifested behind her.
"Subject Oberon, Bronya can still fight," she said, as the robot behind her clenched its fists.
Herrscher Mei stared them down, frowning. Her eyes narrowed.
"Insects... how dare you."
Thunder cracked above them, and lightning surged around her form.
In the blink of an eye, she vanished—
A leg appeared in front of Himeko's face!
Sensing danger, Himeko instinctively raised her sword to block.
BOOM!
The impact shattered the air, throwing Himeko back violently.
A cold voice echoed as Herrscher Mei stepped forward.
"Next."
Oberon clenched his fist. A wooden, swirling spear materialized beside him.
Gripping it tightly, he charged forward—
—but Herrscher Mei crouched and swept his legs, throwing him off balance.
Just as he fell, a brutal kick slammed into his stomach, launching him into the air!
As she turned to follow up, a flash of silver caught her eye.
She stepped back instinctively as a blade sliced through the air—Himeko was back.
"Hoh? You're still standing after that hit?" Herrscher Mei's voice carried a hint of amusement.
"Very well. I'll fight you using your specialty. Be grateful."
A lightning katana formed in her hand.
With a step forward, she appeared before Himeko and brought it down.
Himeko gritted her teeth, raising her sword to block.
"Hoh... For a little girl, you pack quite the punch."
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Their swords clashed again and again. Lightning sparked past Himeko's cheek, drawing blood.
"But… have you forgotten something, little girl?" she said, smiling slightly.
Herrscher Mei narrowed her eyes as a massive shadow loomed behind her.
She kicked Himeko away and spun around—
CRASH!
A metal fist collided with her lightning katana, cracking the ground beneath her.
"Tch..." Herrscher Mei clicked her tongue as Project Bunny struck again.
She tried to kick it—
But Bronya slid in beside her, leveling a gun and firing four shots in two seconds—like a certain legendary turkey shooter.
Unfortunately, a lightning barrier absorbed the bullets.
Bronya prepared to fire again—but lightning crackled above her!
She flipped backward like a gymnast—
BOOM!
A thunderbolt struck where she stood, melting the deck.
"Subject Oberon!" Bronya shouted.
Oberon, still airborne, gripped his wooden spear and hurled it toward Mei.
"Mei~ have some wood from the Autumn Forest~! Savor it!" he shouted enthusiastically as it spiraled through the air.
Herrscher Mei dodged instantly—but a golden dust began falling where she had been.
"What is this...?" she murmured, letting go of her katana.
Oberon's voice echoed above her as she looked up—he stood atop his moth's back.
"It's fairy dust~"
Then—
BOOM!!!
The dust exploded in a burst of golden light!
Herrscher Mei immediately cloaked herself in lightning, shielding her body from the blast.
Oberon landed beside Bronya. Himeko walked toward them, using her sword for support.
"Did we get her?" she sighed, dragging her feet.
Bronya and Oberon turned to her and said in unison,
"I don't think so."
A plasma beam shot past them, exploding nearby and destroying more of Hyperion.
"WHAAAT!! You little SHI—! Do you know how expensive this ship is to fix?!" Himeko yelled.
"As if I care, insect."
Smoke blew away from Herrscher Mei's form—lightning cracked around her.
Her expression was even colder now. The killing intent in the air thickened.
"...Ahh, we are so cooked," Oberon joked, a bead of sweat trailing down his face.
Bronya and Himeko stared at him with matching "are you serious?" expressions.
"Subject Oberon... where did you learn that?" Bronya asked, tugging his moth-cloak.
"Seriously? You're still joking?!" Himeko added, her expression souring.
"Hey, hey! I was just trying to lighten the mood! I don't want to die miserable!" Oberon defended himself.
"Insect, you truly are annoying."
Herrscher Mei gathered lightning in her palm. The air began to hiss and glow with heat—plasma crackled.
She was ready to strike—
But then, Kiana twitched.
"...ei... back..."
"What?" Herrscher Mei turned to Kiana, who was barely conscious.
"Mei... Give Mei's body back...!"
With a burst of strength, Kiana grabbed the wings of lightning—
"You—!!!"
—and snapped them off.
They dissolved into particles.
Kiana and Mei both collapsed onto the metal floor.
Kiana groaned, shivering from the cold steel.
Clutching Mei's unconscious hand, she sighed in relief, eyes beginning to close.
Then someone lifted her in a bridal carry.
Using the last of her strength, she opened her eyes.
"O...beron..."
"Well done, Kiana. That was a nice clutch."
Oberon smiled as he carried her, while Project Bunny carried Mei.
"Heh... heh... What... do you ex...pect?"
Kiana gave a cheeky smile—
—and fainted.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diavolo, help me!
[Two days later]
---
**Himeko POV:**
"HNNNG-!!!"
"Seriously? Even though it's been two days, my body is still sore? Hah... A sip of a drink would be great." Stretching my body as I walked toward the principal's office.
Sighing to myself, I gently knocked on the door.
"Theresa, it's me, Himeko. I'm coming in." Grabbing the doorknob, I was about to twist it when a cluttering sound echoed inside.
Opening the door—there, a white tuft of hair popped out from under the table. Shaking my head, I opened my mouth.
"Theresa, where are you? I can't find you." I was about to finish my sentence when a child's voice shouted—
"Himeko!! Don't make fun of me!"
Looking at the white hair behind the table, I chuckled and walked closer.
"Yes, yes, Theresa."
Theresa frowned as she clutched her small hands, muttering something.
"Anyway, Himeko, where are the files?"
Theresa crossed her arms on her chest. Grabbing my chest apart, I pulled out the USB.
"Yo-Yo-You! Why did you put the USB in *that* thing!" Theresa stuttered furiously as she pointed a finger at me.
A small chuckle escaped from my lips, and I answered her question.
"You said *'secretly'*—so I did hide it in secret." Shrugging my shoulders, I placed the USB on the table. Theresa continued to grumble while glancing at her chest.
"Cheer up, Theresa. You'll grow someday... probably."
"Himeko!!!" Theresa shouted as she tried to pounce at me—unfortunately, her height wasn't enough.
*Seriously? How can this little girl be a principal?*
"Anyway! Stop messing around and report everything to me, Major Himeko."
Tensing up, I replied in a polite tone,
"Yes, Principal Theresa."
. . . . . . . . .
At the Dorm:
"Mei~ I'm hungry~! When's food gonna be ready?" Kiana whined dramatically, rubbing her stomach while lazily sprawled across the couch. Next to her, Bronya and Oberon were locked in an intense battle—well, Bronya was dominating with one hand on the controller.
Oberon, on the other hand, was being absolutely massacred.
"Dammit… Bronya! How do you even play this thing?! This is BS! I call BS!" Oberon cried out, flailing as Bronya coolly decimated him again.
"Subject Oberon, it's too early for you to challenge Bronya. Stay humbled. You're a noob," she said flatly, her face still emotionless despite the brutal own.
From the kitchen, Mei smiled as she listened to their antics, continuing to prepare dinner.
Kiana turned toward Oberon, holding her hand out dramatically. "Oberon, pass me the controller. I'll show you how to beat her. This mighty lady's gonna amazingly you!" she said proudly.
Oberon bowed with exaggerated formality, handing her the controller. "Mighty Lady Miss Kiana, please avenge me!"
Kiana grinned, gripping the controller—but before she could speak, Bronya interrupted.
"Idiotka. It's amaze. Also, Bronya doubts you can defeat her."
"Hoh? You think I can't beat you? Dream on! I'm top five in every game!" Kiana snapped back, narrowing her eyes.
"Bronya doubts that," she replied, turning her gaze back to the screen. Then, she added, "The probability of you defeating Bronya is like… a snowball surviving in summer."
Oberon blinked. "So… zero?"
"Yes," Bronya answered bluntly.
Kiana began muttering to herself, trying to decode the analogy.
[30 Minutes Later]
Kiana was curled up on the floor, clutching the controller in defeat. Bronya had massacred her over two hundred times—using only basic combos.
"Idiotka. You can't defeat Bronya. It is inevitable," Bronya said coolly.
Oberon patted Kiana's back, his face solemn. "Kiana… it's truly impossible to defeat Bronya right now…"
"How…?" Kiana mumbled, stunned. First she thought it was luck. Then coincidence. Then cheating. She'd come up with hundreds of excuses, but nothing explained her repeated losses. Unacceptable!
"Bronya! I want a rematch!" she shouted, jumping up and snatching the controller.
"You can't defeat Bronya no matter how hard you try. Give up, Idiotka."
Just then, Mei's gentle voice came from behind them.
"Everyone, dinner's ready." She smiled warmly.
Kiana instantly did a complete 180, dropping the controller and dashing toward the table.
"Bronya understands, Mei-nee-sama."
"Thank you, Mei~" the duo echoed, following her to the dining table.