Kiana the kitty cat had a lion hidden in her eyes.
When a lion's territory is invaded, it will suddenly transform from a lazy feline into a deadly beast.
Ye Feng raised his index finger and lightly blocked her fist.
"Kiana, why are you so angry?"
He's calling me Kiana again?
He always used to call me Bug!
Dog Ye Feng.
So you play with this young lady and then toss me aside like a dirty rag, is that it?
The pride of House Kaslana would absolutely not allow it!
"I know. You're surely just this anxious because you can't help Mei, right?"
"Eh?"
A clear flash of confusion crossed Kiana's eyes, then she nodded forcefully.
"Right, that's it! You bastard, what did you do to Mei?!"
"Nothing much. After having a deep exchange with her, I sent her to the infirmary."
"?"
Deep exchange?
More like exchanging fluids while fucking!
Grief welled up from within Kiana, and she said angrily, "Are you some kind of fucking monkey who only knows how to screw?! The bet just ended and you— No, wait, Mei would never be willing! You forced her!"
Kiana was so anxious her face turned green.
"Classmate Kiana, have you misunderstood something? Why does it feel like your head is full of lewd junk right now?"
"Your head is the one full of lewd junk!"
"Yeah, me too."
"..."
Kiana retracted her fist. "So, did you or did you not do anything to Mei..."
"Why do you care so much about this, Kiana? It has nothing to do with you, does it?"
"How does it have nothing to do with me?"
The Bug tilted her head up, unconvinced.
"Then let me ask you, in what capacity are you asking this question?"
"...What capacity?"
"As my lover?"
"Who-who's your lover?! Stop being so full of yourself."
Ye Feng chuckled. "Then as Mei's lover?"
"Eh? Wh-wh-what are you talking about?! We're just... friends..."
The same girl who was just talking about wanting to drink Mei's 'juice' was now cupping her face, fidgeting like an innocent maiden.
"Well then, here's the problem. Since you're neither, then whatever happens between Mei and me, you have absolutely no right to ask, do you Kiana?"
"You— I..."
"This is a little secret between Mei and me."
"Hmph, fine, don't tell me. I'll go ask Mei later."
Ye Feng let out a villainous "Jie-jie-jie" laugh. "And you think Mei will tell you?"
"Why wouldn't she?! Want to bet on it?"
Kiana puffed out her chest, full of confidence.
"I'm tired of it."
"?"
"Don't give me that resentful look. I meant I'm tired of making bets."
Ye Feng's half-smiling expression made Kiana's face flush red, and a vein popped on her forehead.
"That's what I was talking about!"
"Whatever. I'm going to find Da Yaya now. You can go play by yourself, Kiana."
Da Yaya... Kiana knew who that was.
It was the adult version of Bronya.
When she thought of that pipsqueak Bronya, Kiana felt her figure was simply a violation of natural law.
No, wait.
The one standing in front of him right now was a living, breathing person.
And he was running off to play with an NPC that had no will of its own?
"—Wait."
Ye Feng stopped and turned his head. "What, is something wrong?"
For some reason, Kiana's gaze shifted away evasively as she stammered:
"That... thing... remove the weird thing from my body... That's why I came looking for you."
"Oh, I almost forgot."
Ye Feng waved his hand, and the small pink pendant "bound" to Kiana's three points was automatically removed.
"??"
Kiana was even more bewildered.
Wait, he's not even going to make me pay some price for it?
He's just taking it off that easily?
Kiana found it hard to believe, but Ye Feng's figure was truly walking further and further away, without a hint of hesitation.
Kiana stood frozen on the spot until his back disappeared into the misty gloom of the night.
It seemed she wouldn't have to suffer his torment anymore, but... for some reason, she felt an emptiness in her heart.
---o---
"Kiana, Kiana?"
"Huh? Mei."
"Why are you so out of it? Is something on your mind?"
The next morning, Kiana even ate less for breakfast.
"Don't tell me Kiana had a nightmare again?"
Bronya, who was sitting on the sofa playing Homu Adventure, surprisingly spared a moment of her attention to glance at Kiana.
Normally, when Bronya was gaming, she absolutely wouldn't even turn her head.
"I..."
Kiana's feelings were complicated.
"Mei, did you... see Mr. Ye Feng last night?"
"Ah?"
Mei was clearly flustered for a moment.
This was only natural.
She had been in heat the entire night, soaking the sheets of the infirmary bed.
Just thinking about it made Mei want to die from shame.
—And she had "woken up" before she could clean it up.
Mr. Ye Feng will definitely find out if he goes there again...
Mei's mood grew even more complicated.
"Y-yes, I saw him. I saw Mr. Ye Feng as soon as I entered that world... What a coincidence."
"Tsk."
As I thought.
Kiana clicked her tongue.
What coincidence? That scoundrel was clearly waiting for Mei!
Kiana put her hands behind her head, pretending to ask casually:
"So what were you and that dou... I mean, Ye Feng, doing?"
"Umm..."
Mei's gaze wavered.
Although nothing had actually happened between them, Mei's body had been hot and bothered the entire time.
And from time to time, Ye Feng's face would flash across her mind...
"We weren't doing anything."
Mei avoided Kiana's gaze. "Mr. Ye Feng and I just talked a little about the Herrscher problem, and then he took me to the infirmary and left."
"??"
Kiana was confused.
Just how intense did a conversation have to be to end up on a bed in the infirmary?
Mei also realized there was something wrong with her phrasing and quickly corrected herself, "I-it was my own body... I wasn't feeling well..."
Kiana stared at Mei, a bad premonition growing in her heart.
Why was Mei blushing just from saying she wasn't feeling well?
No, wait, Mei, what are you blushing for?!
Kiana couldn't just come out and ask directly.
Don't be fooled by Kiana's usual simple-minded appearance; she was actually quite good at reading people.
Kiana knew very well just how thin-skinned Mei was.
Asking her why she was blushing?
That would be no different from publicly reading aloud a diary she wrote during her chuunibyou phase.
But looking at her like this, something definitely happened between them!
The atmosphere grew slightly awkward.
Even the sound of Bronya's button-mashing became lighter.
She couldn't help but be curious about what those two had experienced in there.
And besides, this feeling of "being the only one left out" was really frustrating.
Just then, Rita also walked in, looking listless and dispirited. Her face was pale, and she even had faint dark circles under her eyes, looking as if she'd been completely squeezed dry, as if she had encountered a succubus last night.
"Miss Rita? What happened to you?"
Mei hurried over to her.
"Oh, you're all here. That's wonderful."
The maid looked haggard, yet she still projected an air of profound elegance.