"We... we..."
Raiden Mei was on the verge of tears, a layer of aggrieved moisture covering her violet, glassy eyes.
It was clearly stated that she had the script of a hot-blooded shonen manga protagonist.
But unexpectedly, that shameless person inside her body told her with actions...
What you got was the script of an Inner World Princess Knight.
Your man is mine from now on!
It was infuriating, but she couldn't beat her at all.
Her prized swordsmanship was as helpless as a chick in that woman's hands; when she slashed with her sword, she had to roll around pathetically like a rolling gourd.
There were no rules of engagement; it was a no-holds-barred fight to the death between them.
She lost, utterly and completely! She lost something important to her!
Brian, who was pinned underneath her, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Raiden Mei like this.
When the Herrscher of Thunder suddenly appeared just now, he had almost felt a chill around his second little brother, on the verge of being forced to sacrifice his life's happiness.
Thankfully, it was just the Herrscher of Thunder giving Raiden Mei a beating. The problem wasn't too big.
His feeling of relief had yet to fade when a few familiar lines of text began to scroll across his vision.
[Mission Complete. Acquired ability 'Blondie-like Stamina'.]
Hiss—!
The young boy Brian sucked in a breath of cold air. This was set to make him go down the path of becoming an Inner World male lead and never return.
It couldn't be helped. Since the system requested it, he could only graciously accept.
Using his waist strength, Brian sat up and pulled Raiden Mei into his arms. "Mei, don't be sad. We've already found the right way."
"You only need to succeed once. She cannot fail even once."
He held the girl's hand with one hand to give her a sense of security, and patted her back with the other to soothe her mood.
This failure was within expectations. With the Herrscher of Thunder present, there was no way Raiden Mei could have easily obtained the power of the Herrscher Core.
After all, this was the highest concentration of Honkai energy crystal in the world, containing a 'Welt' from the Imaginary side. For the current Raiden Mei, obtaining this power was no less than carrying a thousand-pound boulder on her shoulders.
The possibility of being crushed was far greater than the possibility of taming this power.
Finding a correct method was the biggest gain this time.
Seeing Raiden Mei return to normal, Bronya also let down her guard.
Having a sister who was also a natural Stigma awakener, she certainly knew what was going on.
She just hadn't expected the two personalities within Raiden Mei's body to get along so poorly, a stark contrast to her own sisters.
It seemed that even with a natural Stigma, it wasn't a guarantee that it would get along harmoniously with its host.
On the floor, the snow-haired girl shakily got to her feet.
Kiana consoled herself in her heart.
That person just now wasn't her Mei; it was the bad woman inside her body acting up.
It wasn't Mei's intention to have her first kiss stolen; Mei still liked her.
The girl forced a smile. "Mei, don't be so sad. Let's prepare well and challenge that person again."
"Just like Brian said, we can fail countless times, we just need to succeed once."
"Mei, don't give up, I believe in you!"
Bronya: "..."
I'll step away, lest the blood splashes on me.
Just as Bronya took a small step to the side, the expression on Raiden Mei, who was in the young boy Brian's arms, changed, becoming cloudy and uncertain.
She lost once and lost her love.
If this happened a few more times, wouldn't she lose everything she had!
Kiana, you innately evil Kaslana brat, you actually want me to lose everything.
Immediately.
Raiden Mei wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. "Kiana."
"Mei, I'm here."
"You can sort out your own lunch tomorrow."
(a kneeling/prostrating pose emoticon)
Why did it turn out like this?
Why am I always the one who gets hurt?
Kiana still hadn't figured out what she did to have her food bowl taken away.
While she was doubting her life, Bronya came to Kiana's side and gave the white-haired fluffball a friendly explanation.
"Kiana, you're not the right person, so whatever you say is wrong."
"..." Little sister, that one hit close to home.
The ruthless Russian loli had exposed the scar in Kiana's heart, forcing the girl to face reality.
Just then, Kiana's phone lit up with a short message from afar.
'Kiana, do you have time to come out for a bit? I have a gift I want to give you.'
From Asakura Miyuki.
The damned couple was being all lovey-dovey in front of her, while Asakura Miyuki had prepared a gift for her, a lonely and cold single dog.
Kiana felt a warmth, and she especially didn't want to be stuffed with a mouthful of dog food here.
"You guys stay here, I'm going to find Miyuki."
The girl left in a hurry, out the door in a flash.
She didn't even stop to seriously consider why Asakura Miyuki would be looking for her at this time.
Kiana Kaslana had always used her muscles to think and her intuition to act.
Although she had spoken harshly to this atmosphere-blind white-haired fluffball just now, Raiden Mei was still concerned about Kiana.
The girl's cheeks were rosy as she got out of Brian's arms.
"Kiana isn't going out on some urgent matter, is she? Should we go with her?"
On the other side, Bronya looked up, her voice calm. "If the one looking for her is that Asakura Miyuki, I think we should go together."
...
The night sky was deep, the bright stars obscured by the dazzling neon lights. Everything in sight was filled with the prosperity of civilization.
Relying on her powerful two-legged bus, Kiana ran under the night sky, the two pigtails behind her head dancing in the wind.
She hadn't reacted at first, but after running for some distance, Kiana finally realized the problem.
"What on earth is it that she has to give it to me at this time?"
December was already winter, and the island nation surrounded by the sea was particularly cold.
Normal people were cooped up at home enjoying the warmth of the kotatsu and wouldn't go out unless it was something urgent.
And Asakura Miyuki...
"Something's wrong! Definitely something's wrong!"
The snow-haired girl sprinted, the distance under her feet shortening rapidly.
She arrived at the location mentioned in the text message and saw the same girl as usual.
Her long black hair was stirred by the night wind, the girl in her Senba Academy uniform was full of youthful energy.
In Kiana's eyes, Asakura Miyuki was very quiet, with a delicate beauty similar to Raiden Mei's.
"Miyuki, did you call me here for something urgent?"
The neon lights flickered, and the cold wind lifted the girl's skirt, revealing flesh-colored new growths that had not yet healed.
Asakura Miyuki turned around, like a girl next door, and smilingly made a request to Kiana, "Kiana-san, can you be with me forever?"