"A cat!"
Ema Sakuraba and Kushida Kikyo exclaimed in surprise.
A living human like Yukinoshita Yukino could actually turn into a cat—it was miraculous!
Kiana was also taken aback.
Could it be that their abilities really had nothing to do with Honkai Energy?
She had never heard of Honkai Energy allowing a person to turn into a cat; turning a cat into a Honkai Beast was more like it.
Xia You said with a smile, "Yukinoshita, I appreciate your cooperation. I would also hope to gain more detailed information. This isn't an inquiry into your privacy, but rather an exchange of intelligence. Later on, we will all disclose our own abilities."
"So, Yukinoshita, could you please explain in more detail?"
Xia You's voice was gentle and organized, making people feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze. Combined with that Ikemen face, it was hard not to feel a sense of goodwill toward him.
Kushida Kikyo glanced at him, inwardly noting that she had underestimated him.
Ema Sakuraba felt a bit envious. She thought of her former best friend, Hiro, who was once just as reliable and capable, yet for some reason, her attitude toward Ema had suddenly turned sour.
If she could be as reliable as Xia You, would Hiro have changed her attitude so inexplicably?
If it were someone like Xia You, he definitely wouldn't be without friends, all alone, or bullied by them...
Yukinoshita Yukino gave Xia You an extra look and replied with equal clarity:
"Your request is reasonable; I will cooperate."
"It's just that I am not very clear on the matter of Superpowers either. I only know that activating this Ability causes me to turn into a cat, or grants me the agility and strength of a cat... It is quite extraordinary."
"If it weren't for the fact that you all are the same, I might have found it difficult to accept that Superpowers actually exist in this world."
After speaking, Yukinoshita Yukino noticed that everyone, including Xia You and everyone except Kushida Kikyo, was looking at her with eyes full of wonder and eagerness.
Xia You asked expectantly, "Can you turn into a cat for us to see?"
Kiana nodded. "I want to see too!"
Ema Sakuraba's eyes were filled with hope.
Yukinoshita Yukino refused without leaving any room for negotiation. "I do not have the habit of being put on display for others. If you are curious and have a Superpower yourself, you can watch that as you please. I advise you not to get any ideas about me."
Though she said this, Yukinoshita Yukino actually really wanted to turn into a cat.
First, to test this miraculous Superpower.
Second, because kitties were cute, and being able to turn into one was simply wonderful!
Yukinoshita Yukino decided that she would try turning into a cat in private later.
"I see."
Xia You, Ema Sakuraba, and Kiana felt a bit disappointed.
They wouldn't get to see Nyakinoshita Nyano; what a pity.
Kushida Kikyo narrowed her eyes and snorted inwardly, feeling dissatisfied that someone like Yukinoshita Yukino was drawing everyone's attention. However, she spent more effort thinking about how to engage in Making Friends with Yukinoshita Yukino.
The more cold and aloof a person was, the more of an Achievement Kushida Kikyo felt when becoming friends with them.
Especially after learning the other party's secrets and seeing the contrasting true face beneath the cold exterior—just thinking about it was incredibly satisfying.
Kushida Kikyo turned her gaze toward Xia You.
The only boy present hadn't acted unsightly despite being surrounded by beautiful girls. Instead, he had displayed high levels of Ability, becoming the leader of the conversation and faintly showing signs of becoming the leader of this small group.
If she secured his help, she would surely be able to become friends with that hateful Yukino.
She would ask him for a favor a little later.
With that thought, Kushida Kikyo pressed her hands together in front of her, tilted her head cutely, and laughed. "Yukinoshita's Ability is so amazing! Rurikawa-kun, who's next?"
Xia You said, "Thanks for the cooperation, Yukinoshita. Who's next for the self-introduction?"
"Me."
Kushida Kikyo answered before the hesitant Ema Sakuraba could. Her cute face was brimming with smiles, her affinity as high as a Little Angel's, immediately capturing all the attention of the somewhat dejected Ema Sakuraba.
Xia You, however, felt that smiling so perfectly in front of a corpse was a bit "hellish," sister.
He wondered what kind of Ability the Kushida Kikyo of the Cold Noodle Faction would possess.
At least everyone had an Ability and wasn't just eye candy.
This made Xia You very pleasantly surprised; it was practically a perfect team. Their chances of survival in this strange world had increased significantly.
Meeting everyone's gaze, Kushida Kikyo specifically smiled at Xia You—whom she intended to ask for a favor later—and spoke:
"I am Kushida Kikyo. I attend White Blue Middle School. I like Making Friends, and my dream is to become friends with everyone."
"I semi-proactively agreed to enter this place because a voice in my head said I could make friends here, you know?"
"However, it seems I was deceived by an unscrupulous liar."
Kushida Kikyo let out a sad sigh.
Xia You glanced at her; someone was actually flaunting the fact that they weren't very bright.
That was quite idiotic.
Ema Sakuraba's pink eyes went wide, her brows arching slightly in surprise. "Eh? Kushida-san, the voice I heard also said I could make friends here."
However, Ema Sakuraba was very wary and had not agreed to such a suspicious thing; there was no need to mention that part.
Kushida Kikyo revealed a joyful smile. "Ema-san, you too?"
"E-Ema!?"
Ema Sakuraba was shocked by such an intimate form of address, her face turning slightly red.
Kushida Kikyo took two steps forward, her face full of smiles. "Let's be friends!"
"O-Okay! Kushida... Kikyo-san!"
Ema Sakuraba was lightheaded with joy, responding with a nervous stutter as the blush on her face deepened.
Kushida Kikyo was inwardly very proud:
An easy-to-handle idiot like this doesn't need a deliberate strategy.
While dealing with that hateful woman Yukinoshita Yukino and the high-ability man Rurikawa Natsuyu, just being casually close to Ema Sakuraba a few times should make Ema feel like they're best friends.
"Kushida-san."
Yukinoshita Yukino said calmly, "Now is not the time for your Making Friends. Please explain your Superpower. There are still three people waiting for you."
What's the rush, you bitch!
Kushida Kikyo smiled gently. "Yukinoshita is right. Sorry for wasting everyone's time."
Ema Sakuraba immediately whispered, "I... I don't mind at all."
Xia You's eyes swept over Yukinoshita Yukino and Kushida Kikyo, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly as he found it interesting.
Even in an Other World, Kushida Kikyo still encountered a cold-faced, Sharp-tongued nemesis, preventing things from going exactly as she wished.
This was the underlying logic of their character archetypes at work.
Xia You asked curiously, "What is Kushida's Ability?"
Kushida Kikyo scratched her cheek and said slowly:
"I only just realized I have a Superpower. It can divert the attention of others."
"Let me try using it... Like this: [Everyone, look at Rurikawa-kun]!"
Kushida Kikyo's deliberately amplified voice echoed in the minds of the four, constructing a distorted, overlapping, ethereal tone that made them dazed and entranced.
The next second, the gazes of the three girls, including Yukinoshita Yukino, all shifted from Kushida Kikyo to Xia You.
Everyone was somewhat shocked.