Even though she was greedy, Kiana wasn't actually a big eater. Having been hungry for a whole day, she only finished a standard set meal and a small plate of snacks before she was stuffed and ready to slump into her seat.
Unfortunately, the restaurant's chairs had no backs. Kiana nearly tipped over backward, but at the critical moment, she grabbed Hua Yi's arm. Luckily, Hua Yi wasn't an ordinary person. If he were, her sudden yank wouldn't have just failed to save her; it would have sent him tumbling down with her.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Kiana knew she'd been clumsy. Remembering that the man beside her was not only the benefactor who had just treated her to a fine meal but also her creditor, she immediately became much better behaved. Her eyes frequently drifted toward Hua Yi, secretly observing his expression.
"Let's go, now that you're full."
Hua Yi stood up after paying. Kiana hesitated for a moment then followed obediently behind him. Once they reached the street, she leaned in close to him and whispered weakly.
"Where are you taking me?"
Hua Yi had thought Kiana would regain her high spirits once she was fed, but she had become unexpectedly meek instead. He stopped, turned to look her over, and spoke with interest.
"Take a guess."
"It couldn't be the police station, could it? Because I broke into your dorm and you want to have me locked up? Was that just my last meal before execution?"
"The police don't just shoot criminals immediately after catching them. There's a process."
Hua Yi paused intentionally to enjoy Kiana's tense expression before continuing.
"Besides, you've got quite an imagination. I'm not about to send you to the police station. Though you did cause some damage, it was within my limit. That 'one hundred million' compensation was just a joke. Now then, do you need me to walk you home? Or do we part ways here?"
Hua Yi wasn't entirely clear on Kiana's current situation. In his memory, Kiana would transfer to Chiba Academy, and then the Third Honkai Eruption would occur. As for the specific details,
he didn't know much. This world was originally a game, not a novel. The official manga updated slowly and often overhauled the original setting. There was no way Hua Yi could remember every single detail.
"I... I don't have a home here."
Kiana's voice grew even weaker. Hua Yi frowned slightly. Seeing the girl's pitiful and dejected look, he no longer felt like teasing her. His previous actions hadn't come from any negative feelings, but rather because Kiana held a very special place in his heart. Otherwise, if it were any other intruder, Hua Yi would have just kicked them out instead of wasting so much time.
Simply put, he only wanted to tease her because she was Kiana.
Hua Yi carefully recalled Kiana's backstory from the game's plot.
Her current public identity wasn't something to be discussed lightly her mother, Cecilia Schariac, who was once the strongest S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, had passed away.
Her father, Siegfried Kaslana, hadn't been in good shape after the Second Honkai Eruption. Hua Yi didn't know the exact details, as Siegfried wasn't a Valkyrie, after all.
As for the true identity of the girl before him, that was an even greater tragedy.
Hua Yi sighed softly and reached out to pat the girl's head. He had done this many, many times in the game, but back then he was only touching a screen. At first, there were tactile responses,
but even those eventually disappeared. Now, he could feel the warmth between her strands of hair and the smoothness of her white locks. He could also feel the hesitation and unease she hid so poorly.
Kiana, having wandered here all on her own, wasn't nearly as energetic or carefree as she appeared. Her clumsy behavior was only because she disliked thinking,
not because she was truly stupid. Otherwise, a girl who had long lost contact with her only guardian, her father, wouldn't have been able to survive alone for so long, let alone travel all the way to Nagazora.
Even if Schicksal had been pulling strings in the shadows.
Hua Yi didn't believe Kiana's journey was entirely based on her own will without external influence. Specifically, he was thinking of that fellow, Otto.
If he spent too much time with Kiana now, Hua Yi might catch Otto's attention, sowing seeds of instability for the future. But... should he cut off contact just because of those concerns?
If he really wanted to be safe, he shouldn't have contacted Raiden Mei in the first place, since she was the daughter of the former CEO, Raiden Ryoma, who was affiliated with Anti-Entropy.
Should he do nothing because of overthinking? Or live like a background character hiding in the shadows until he was strong enough to step out?
Putting aside the tragedies he would witness and the events he would miss, if an ordinary person trained in an ordinary way, no amount of time would ever be enough to reach the point of being "strong enough."
Hua Yi's primary way to grow stronger was the Friendship Supply, and to get the Friendship Points required to draw from it, he had to interact with these girls. In reality, Hua Yi never had much of a choice from the start. He had already set foot on the only path available.
"If you don't have a home... would you like to live with me for now? My dorm building has plenty of empty rooms."
Hua Yi looked at Kiana and spoke with a gentle smile.
In Hua Yi's own mind, his current image was likely brilliant and noble. After all, he had made a choice and resolved to face the unknown risks. However, in Kiana's eyes, it was a different story altogether.
The girl wrinkled her nose and looked at Hua Yi with an inquisitive, scrutinizing gaze.
"Are you up to something no good?"
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