The insects chirped in the rainy night, their calls rising and falling.
Mei stood alone at the entrance of the school building. The rain drifted in, dampening the top few steps. A wave of moist air, mixed with the unique earthy scent of summer, washed over her.
The young woman's expression was tense. She held the communicator tightly to her ear with a slender hand, holding her breath slightly as she listened intently.
A moment ago, a strange sound had definitely come from the other end of the line.
Running. What kind of running would involve a suppressed grunt?
Mei searched her mind for a similar scenario.
It sounded a lot like… the sound a magical girl would make when being attacked by evil tentacle monsters.
Running?
Mei knew how incredible Kiana's stamina was. Back then, she had carried Mei across the entirety of Nagazora City without even panting.
But her breathing now was extremely uneven.
It sounded like she was in a fight, at the very least a battle with an Emperor-class Honkai Beast!
Mei's heart instantly tightened.
"Ki—"
Before she could call out her name, a brilliant flash of cold steel shot past. Mei felt a sharp, blade-like aura rush toward her.
Her hand slapped the hilt of her sword. She dug in her heels, twisted her waist, and drew her blade to parry.
Clang!
The blades met, sending a shower of sparks into the air.
The two swords were locked in a cross. A figure in pink came into view.
"Yae Sakura?"
Mei cried out in surprise, her eyes filled with confusion.
Yae Sakura, Higokumaru, and Yuno had all successfully enrolled at St. Freya High School, so Mei naturally recognized her.
She just didn't understand why she was suddenly being attacked.
"The Benefactor sent me to conduct a combat drill with you."
Yae Sakura took a step back, leaped away, and held her katana at the ready.
Hearing this, Mei's mind instantly cleared, like parting the clouds to see the moon. Kiana's situation is probably something similar.
The last time she had come here, Kiana had also been doing squats.
Ah, that's right. Kiana said she was undergoing special training here.
The reason she was able to achieve second place was all thanks to this world, all thanks to Mr. Ye Feng.
That's it, it all adds up!
At this thought, the young lady of the Raiden family, who had been raised with a traditional noble education, couldn't help but feel a pang of shame, silently cursing herself for her indecent thoughts.
Why had her mind been wandering in such strange directions these past few days?
Kiana had been working so hard all this time!
She had to keep up with her!
Mei let out a breath. When she opened her eyes again, her clear pupils shone with a determined light.
The young woman held her sword, lowered her stance slightly, and assumed the opening form of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū.
Her gaze was sharp as she looked at the miko opposite her.
"Menkyo Kaiden, Hokushin Ittō-ryū. Raiden Mei. Please, I welcome your instruction."
Vmmmm~~~
As Mei and Yae Sakura's blades vibrated, Kiana was also vibrating intensely.
"Hiss~"
Kiana sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.
But all she inhaled was stale air.
On a summer night, in a sealed gym, the smell of leather equipment, dripping sweat, and other unidentifiable odors intertwined… it should have been a foul mixture that would make one frown.
But for someone undergoing intense exercise, it was a different kind of catalyst for stamina.
Ye Feng lightly licked the sweat from Kiana's back.
It really was sweat.
The little bug's entire body was trembling; she could no longer lift the barbell.
She had failed.
She could not escape the shackles of gravity.
Kiana hadn't just given in to Ye Feng; she had lost to universal gravitation!
Right now, Kiana truly looked like a wriggling white caterpillar.
Sweat flowed like a small stream, soaking the black leather and dripping onto the tiled floor.
Kiana was like a fish thrown onto the ground, her moist, alluring lips opening and closing as she panted out puffs of white, hot air.
The gym was now so quiet you could hear a pin drop, save for the sounds of breathing and a powerful vibration.
*Is… is that Mei's… heartbeat?*
Kiana instantly understood the source of the vibration.
After linking the vibrator to Mei's heart rate last time, Ye Feng had never taken it off.
His promise to "not apply any additional status effects to Kiana" was made after that, so this wasn't a breach of their agreement.
The quick-witted little bug figured this out and naturally wouldn't fuss over it.
It was just that…
*…Why is Mei's heart beating so fast? What did you do to Mei?*
The little bug couldn't help but remember that afternoon when Ye Feng and Mei had spent a full five hours in the library.
Five hours. The number on her lower abdomen had gone down five times.
Kiana was on the verge of tears.
Ye Feng smiled. "Isn't this to give Mei a sense of participation? How does it feel now? Are you happy?"
Vmm vmm~~
Kiana's eyes grew moist. She bit her lip tightly, saying nothing.
"Heh, it doesn't feel good at all!"
"I see. So compared to Mei, Bug-bug still thinks I'm better."
"?!! What nonsense are you talking?!"
"Bug-bug, which is better then? Now, or before?"
"I… You…"
The little bug turned her head away, refusing to answer the question.
If she said before, wouldn't she be admitting that this big bastard was better?
If she said now, she had just claimed it didn't feel good at all!
Ye Feng pressed his thumb against the soft flesh inside Kiana's mouth, his index finger pressing on her cheek from the outside. He used his grip to pull her face back toward him.
"Why are you looking away? Look at me. Which one is better, Bug-bug?"
"Awoo~~"
Humiliated and furious, Kiana bit down hard.
---o---
The next day.
Ji Lin arrived in this world once again.
The body her consciousness entered… felt very heavy, and her shoulders were sore.
After all, it had been "sculpted" by Ye Feng, a man who had appraised countless top-tier beauties.
And recently, Ye Feng had taken a liking to large assets, modeling her completely in the style of Azur Lane.
Her figure could only be described as heart-stopping. Her beautiful, alluring body was a masterpiece of curves, like a treasure meticulously carved by the heavens themselves.
Today, there were no strange silver ornaments on her body. Instead, she wore an elegant, pure white palace dress. The white feather-like garment made her look ethereal, and her jet-black hair cascaded down her back.
Ji Lin's gauze skirt trailed on the floor, unable to hide her breathtaking figure.
She walked with a light step, swaying like a soft willow, the very picture of feminine charm.
"This outfit still looks the best."
Ye Feng had recently developed a taste for the classical style.
He wasn't sure if it was because of Jingliu.
Ji Lin lowered her gaze and offered a polite greeting.
"Come, take a walk with me. I'll give you a tour of my world," Ye Feng said with a smile.
Ji Lin gave a soft "mm" and followed one step behind and to the side of Ye Feng.
The first location was the green belt by the central fountain.
Amidst the lush vegetation was a birdcage as large as a house. Inside the golden cage, a crimson figure was locked away.
When Ji Lin got a clear look at the person inside, her almond eyes flew wide open.
"Red… Red Kite! You… you…"
"What about me?"
Ye Feng blinked. "A Red Kite bird belongs in a cage with a collar, doesn't it? Is there something wrong with that, Ji Lin?"