What in the world happened last night?
Kiana's jaw moved up and down mechanically, like a machine controlled by a pre-written program, without a trace of life.
The breakfast in her mouth tasted like chewing wax, bringing no satisfaction whatsoever.
Her eyes were dull, devoid of any light, only showing the stunned emptiness left in the wake of reality's assault.
She couldn't figure it out. She couldn't figure it out at all.
Everything had been fine yesterday. In the morning, Mei had even been lying in the same bed as her. But in the blink of an eye, this uninvited, damnable Blondie had pushed his luck even further.
From staying for one night to staying indefinitely; from staying indefinitely to becoming a part of this family.
Give him an inch, and he'll take a yard! Give him a yard, and he'll take a mile!!!
This was intolerable!
She had to take back her Raiden Mei.
"You bastard, what did you do to Mei!" Kiana's expression was fierce. The stainless steel knife and fork in her hand were twisted by an unintentional burst of immense strength.
In such a short time, he had made Raiden Mei agree to his request.
Even if she thought with her toes, Kiana could conclude that this guy had ill intentions toward Raiden Mei.
They were complete strangers, yet after just one night, he could be so brazenly called 'family'.
Her Mei wasn't some scammer on social media calling everyone 'family', 'bro', or 'sis'. She would never do something like that.
The only explanation was that this guy did something to her Mei, which was why she made such an abnormal decision without even discussing it with her.
She had let a wolf into the house!
Kiana was filled with regret. She should have just beaten this guy up at school and made him a VIP client of Nagazora City Hospital.
If she had reacted a little faster, this situation that pained her friends and delighted her enemies would never have happened.
However…
"Kiana, it's not what you think." Raiden Mei spoke, her expression calm.
It seemed that in her eyes, letting a wolf into the house was no big deal at all.
Compared to the potential threat Brian posed, Kiana, who slept in the same bed with her, had practically scared her soul out of her body.
"Mei…" Kiana opened her mouth.
"I'll tell you the reason in the future."
"…"
Defeated, Kiana could only sit down obediently and eat.
Raiden Mei was the master of the house. Her opinion as a guest couldn't sway Raiden Mei's decision.
A conflict was nipped in the bud by Raiden Mei's assertiveness. No matter how much Kiana disliked Brian, she had no way to act on it.
Seeing Kiana quiet down, Brian, who had chosen not to escalate the conflict, finally spoke up: "Mei, do you need me to prepare bentos for you two?"
"Thank you, but I think I'll do it myself."
Polite, yet maintaining distance.
Kiana breathed a sigh of relief.
Based on what she had seen at Senba Academy, if a boy and a girl became intimate, it would be obvious no matter how they tried to hide it.
After all, once they had achieved the great harmony of life, some unnecessary distances would be subconsciously ignored.
And right now, Raiden Mei and Brian looked far from reaching that stage.
As long as she beat up this stinking Blondie, she could rescue her Mei from the abyss.
Kiana Kaslana firmly believed this.
After breakfast, the two girls, as usual, joined the stream of other ordinary JKs heading to Senba Academy.
Along the way, Kiana, who had been lost in thought, finally couldn't hold back her impulse and asked Raiden Mei.
"Mei, what on earth happened between you two? Why would you agree to that guy's outrageous request?"
Letting a wolf in the house wasn't even enough to describe it. It was clearly like stripping herself down to a little lamb and sending herself into a tiger's den.
Even if she was falling in love for the first time, it shouldn't progress like this.
If she hadn't smelled anything strange on Raiden Mei, Kiana would have almost thought she had stepped onto the set of an Inner World film, becoming the tragic female lead who could only watch helplessly as her Mei was sullied step by step by a Blondie.
"Kiana, I don't know how to explain it to you." Raiden Mei's face was troubled. "If you knew about some things, it wouldn't be good for anyone."
Not revealing what happened last night to Kiana was Brian's request.
Raiden Mei hadn't wanted to hide it from Kiana, but when she thought about how empty-headed Kiana was, completely unable to keep any secrets, she knew it was for the best.
If Kiana knew the truth, it would only lead to trouble.
Between two evils, choose the lesser.
Raiden Mei would rather Kiana misunderstand that she had suffered some tragic fate than let what happened last night get out.
"Why? Is there something I can't know?" The white-haired fluffball was as straightforward as ever.
Until she personally felt the pain, she would always be this way.
"Once everything is over, he and I will explain the truth to you," Raiden Mei promised. "For now, we just need to do our best."
"Fine." Kiana said, her interest waning.
As they approached Senba Academy, the two girls' conversation gradually came to an end.
The students around them, wearing the same school uniform, silently distanced themselves upon seeing the two. They lived in the same world, yet were clearly separated.
Raiden Mei and Kiana parted ways in the hallway; after all, they were in different grades.
The girl, with a heavy heart, was now alone. She silently walked into her classroom and arrived at her seat in the second-to-last row by the window.
As expected, her desk was already covered in slanderous drawings and words.
'Daughter of an embezzler'
'Go die, bitch!'
'Lowly slut'
'…'
Such foul and unsightly language.
Compared to these bullies, even Brian, who lusted after her body, seemed much more pleasant.
At least that guy wasn't two-faced, and he was also very good-looking.
Raiden Mei sat in the back row, silently cleaning her desk.
Though surrounded by people, she was utterly alone. Neither teachers nor students would dare to enter her solitary little world.
Usually.
At the end of the school day, Kiana was still sleeping.
Just as Raiden Mei stood up to leave, she was surrounded by a few female students.
"Daughter of an embezzler."
…
Raiden Residence.
The sound of heels clicking on the floor echoed through the spacious mansion.
A man in a black suit moved with practiced ease, as if he were already familiar with the layout, and easily found Brian, who was staying there.
"Please, help the young miss."