Develop my body...
Pah, how lewd!
Is this something you can say in front of others? And Kiana and Bronya, two kids who haven't grown up yet, are here.
Raiden Mei's delicate face was as rosy as a ripe fruit, her beautiful eyes like a pool of autumn water, a single glance from them could make one's heart flutter.
This off-color joke didn't disgust the young girl; instead, it tickled her heart like a cat's paw, making her feel an itch inside.
A timely dirty joke not only doesn't cause resentment but can also gradually improve the relationship between two people.
After all, politeness signifies distance, and excessive distance signifies alienation.
Raiden Mei placed her slender hand in Brian's palm, letting that fiery warmth envelop her.
For some reason, this feeling always gave her a sense of security.
Nearby, the snow-haired girl watched as their relationship progressed another step, gritting her teeth, unsure of what to do.
She had tried to guard against it in every possible way, but she still couldn't stop the Blondie from stealing what was hers.
Even right in front of her, he could do whatever he wanted to Raiden Mei, and she could do nothing but throw a tantrum.
Kiana's eyes were glazed over; her single-track mind couldn't come up with a suitable solution.
What to do?
She didn't know what to do.
Ignoring Kiana's thoughts...
The young boy Brian held Raiden Mei's hand but heard no notification from the system.
As expected, a physical hand-hold had no effect; the mission's requirement was more akin to affection progress.
He infused his voice with an invisible magic.
"Mei, look into my eyes and open your mind to me."
"..." The intense gaze made the girl even shyer.
But with serious business at hand, she, the young lady of the Raiden family, the star of the stage, couldn't afford to mess up here.
If she failed because of the fluttering in her heart, she would never be able to face the others again.
"Mm."
Raiden Mei mustered her courage and met Brian's gaze.
When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.
From an onlooker's perspective, Raiden Mei's violet, glassy eyes lost their focus, and her previously tense body relaxed in an instant, relying solely on Kiana's support to keep from collapsing.
The white-haired fluffball was having it too tough. Even as she was being betrayed, she had to bear Raiden Mei's weight and press on.
And in Raiden Mei's perception...
Falling.
An endless fall!
The rapid descent was over in an instant, almost making her heart leap out of her chest.
Raiden Mei's eyes were dazed as she looked at her surroundings, bewildered.
This place, she was very familiar with it.
"Is this... Senba Academy?"
As she spoke, several dark figures that looked like Senba Academy students appeared not far away.
Voices followed, "The Queen of Thunder?"
"You're wrong. Now she's the daughter of an embezzler."
Men and women alike, all spoke ill of her.
Raiden Mei's face turned pale, a tightness in her chest.
These memories were the deepest shadows in her heart, the scars left by the betrayal of those people.
From the day her father was suddenly arrested, the whole world began to turn against her. Her former friends not only distanced themselves but also became the vanguards of her bullying.
If not for Kiana's existence bringing a ray of light, and another person's existence showing her another world...
Perhaps, by now, she would have...
"..."
The girl's gaze hardened, and she took a step forward amidst the pointing fingers and curses of these dark figures.
"It doesn't matter. You are all just remnants of the past."
The dark figures dissipated at her words.
From this day on, they belonged to two different worlds. The old scars, though they still faintly ached, had also made her stronger.
The girl moved forward, and the light and shadow in her mental world shifted accordingly.
Time seemed to turn back to the past, and new dark figures appeared again.
"Is that the 'Queen of Thunder'?"
"What queen? Just a bitch who acts all high and mighty because of her family background."
"..."
Two-faced, the friends who had surrounded her had secretly formed a small group to curse and slander her.
But it didn't matter. She had already seen their true colors.
She moved forward again.
A dojo filled with an ancient atmosphere filled her vision. The large character for 'Sword' on the wall made Raiden Mei realize where she was.
This was the Raiden family's dojo, the place where her father had taught her swordsmanship.
In the center of the dojo, a girl with features identical to her own sat quietly.
"You... are the power hidden inside my body?"
"Power?" The girl with a sharp and domineering aura opened her eyes. Her crimson-purple vertical pupils emitted an indescribable pressure, making Raiden Mei's heart clench.
This girl was wearing a plain kendo uniform, with a pair of crimson horns on her forehead, giving off the impression of an Oni clan from the ancient legends of the Far East.
Domineering, savage, oppressive, sharp...
Raiden Mei was certain that as long as she defeated this woman, she could develop the dark power hidden within her body and live up to everyone's expectations.
The Herrscher of Thunder stood up, the oppressive aura emanating from her growing even stronger.
"Say what you will. I am indeed related to the power you seek."
"But what you want, the thing that will let you transform into a magical girl, isn't here."
Raiden Mei: "..."
Do you know what it feels like to have your dark history recited by someone else?
She knew now.
She wished she could dig a new mansion on the spot with her toes.
Knowing she couldn't let this woman continue, Raiden Mei immediately spoke up, "As long as I defeat you, I'll get the power to help everyone, right?"
Very classic, very hot-blooded.
This is how all the 2D works in the Far East develop.
The protagonist encounters a strong enemy and suffers a crushing defeat, then defeats and surpasses themselves during their training to obtain even greater power.
Raiden Mei's idea wasn't wrong, but there was a slight discrepancy with the current situation.
Herrscher of Thunder: "You're right. You just need to defeat me to get the power of a Herrscher."
"But!"
The girl drew her blade. The silvery surface reflected her sharp face, filled with unprecedented dominance.
"A one-sided victory would be too boring. Let's both wager our own stakes and decide the winner here."
"If you win, I'll give you power."
"But if you lose..."
A wild smile spread across the Herrscher of Thunder's face, her crimson-purple vertical pupils shining with oppressive might.
"That man outside will be mine."
Men are only for the strong.
"It's a deal!"
She had the script of a hot-blooded shonen manga protagonist. There was no reason for her to lose!
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