Mei couldn't do anything. Because she genuinely had her own little circle of friends. She could only watch as Kiana, after "politely" refusing them, didn't even bother pretending, just hugged her books and walked straight toward Shiraha.
Shiraha, warned ahead of time by Nee-chan, turned his head early to look at her. His smile was bright and clean. "What are you doing here? You don't need to come find me at school. It'll get you isolated too."
Shiraha had no intention of adapting to others. Mei-nee had long since gotten used to this. She even envied Shiraha for having a fierce ghost friend who was always by his side.
Kiana thought for a moment. Standing there, looking down, she extended her hand toward Shiraha. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, making Kiana's smile look rather radiant.
Elysia couldn't hold it in anymore. "Shiraha... what do you think the odds are that she's also a remnant of the Previous Era?"
Even though kids instinctively mimic the habits of those around them, there was no reason for Kiana to be copying Shiraha specifically.
Shiraha paused, then let out a dry laugh.
"She's definitely not. But that shy, demure girl from the frozen snowfields, I'll remember that version of her for the rest of my life."
Kiana, who could hear every word crystal clear from the side, felt her ears twitch. This guy, did he just not care about being overheard?
Shiraha stood up, briefly clasped her hand, then sat back down beside Nee-chan. The two of them squeezed by the window, leaving the seat for Kiana.
The windowsill wasn't very wide, but since Shiraha was small, it didn't feel cramped.
"If I remember correctly... you've never been to school before."
Kiana nodded frankly. She seemed to have amnesia. Only memories from this past year or so. Everything before was hazy and indistinct, as if she hadn't yet gained true awareness.
She settled into the seat, squinting, her sky-blue eyes momentarily dazed. "Wait. Can you get down and let me sit there instead?"
This spot faced the sunlight. Far too glaring. Shiraha's tiny body couldn't block the sun at all.
Shiraha froze. "Huh?"
Elysia propped her chin on her hand. She had the distinct feeling this girl was somewhat odd. Was she really not a remnant of the Previous Era?
Could it be some MANTIS soldier reincarnated, just haven't awakened their memories yet? Could it be some branch of the Fire Moth that she didn't know about?
"No." Shiraha shook his head. His answer was crisp.
He didn't like looking up when talking to people, beautiful older sisters excepted.
Shiraha paused and emphasized, "Stop getting sidetracked. Save the jokes for the clubroom or at home."
He'd almost gotten used to not interacting with classmates at school. In fact, even Elysia-nee, whose emotions had been growing more and more vivid lately, would become much more relaxed during school hours.
Because Shiraha really was isolated by his classmates. And at those times, only she, his Nee-chan, could keep him company. Thinking of this, Elysia more or less understood why Shiraha was so enthusiastic about spending time with her.
Because picturing that scene made her a little excited too. It was just... that excitement carried a faint, inexplicable ache.
Kiana let out a soft "Oh."
"I just thought it must be pretty boring for you alone. Everyone else has friends. Even if I blended in with them, nothing would really change. But if I come find you... then everyone in this class will have a friend."
She said this in a completely flat tone.
Kiana couldn't stand seeing someone isolated. Even though her own life was currently a tangled mess.
Shiraha laughed despite himself and nuzzled against Nee-chan beside him. "I have Nee-chan."
Kiana didn't respond. Only her sky-blue eyes were unusually complicated. Dad had told her bad things about Shiraha. So she knew Shiraha was schizophrenic. At least, that was how Dad slandered him.
"Forget it. I'm in a good mood today. Let's first check your basic foundation."
Shiraha pulled a math book from the stack beside him, ready to go through it section by section with Kiana, figure out the fundamentals, and slowly help her catch up.
Kiana listened very attentively. By the time the class bell rang, she was already sprawled across the desk, fast asleep. Strands of hair clung to her not-particularly-chubby little cheeks. Her breathing was even.
Elysia's laughter was crisp and bright, her body quivering. She understood. She truly understood this situation!
Shiraha was speechless. He could only pile the books higher in front to block the teacher's line of sight as much as possible.
Then he sat down in Kiana's seat. Nee-chan, naturally, no longer sat by the window either.
His backside had barely warmed the seat when a paper ball smacked him on the head. Shiraha looked up and saw Mei-nee. She pointed at the note, one cheek puffed out.
[What exactly is going on between you and Kiana?]
Brief and to the point.
Shiraha thought for a moment, then flipped the note over and wrote on the back. His answer was even more concise.
[I'm her first friend.]
The paper ball accurately struck the back of Mei-nee's head. Mei hurriedly snatched up the note before the teacher noticed... probably not noticed.
Shiraha's explanation was indeed simple. But in an instant, Mei's mind spun out all sorts of dramatic scenarios.
Her thoughts were tangled. She wanted to turn and glance at Kiana, but discovered Shiraha had piled the books so high that from her angle, she really couldn't see a thing.
Just focus on class.
Mei was a good student.
But Elysia was not. Every time class started, little trains would start running through her head, chugging along tracks of every imaginable future.
"By the way, Shiraha... it seems you haven't been to the Realm in quite a while."
Mobius was probably pretty disappointed.
Imagining that scene, the corner of Elysia's lips unconsciously curved upward. "Your big sister in the Realm is going to be heartbroken."
"It's fine. I'll tell them Nee-chan was the one who wouldn't let me go." Shiraha paused, then added, "Mobius-nee will believe it anyway."
Elysia: ....
Just how exactly had Shiraha been slandering her when she wasn't around to see?
"But it really is about time I went."
Shiraha touched the back of his shoulder. There was a five-pointed star mark there now.
A Stigmata.
He wasn't sure exactly when it had appeared. Sometime around last night, Nee-chan's fingertip had brushed against it while she was sleeping.
He couldn't pinpoint the exact time. After all, genetic inheritance could quite fittingly be called the greatest mountain of spaghetti code in human history, exquisitely intricate and utterly absurd in equal measure.
"Now, strong fortune stands on my side. I don't lack for anything anymore."
He'd always prioritized efficiency, let those who get ahead first pull the rest along.
But now the Stigmata had already condensed. He hadn't even needed Mobius for it... sigh. Truly, a useless snek. All that biology he'd studied for so long.
But joking aside, he'd been reviewing constantly during this period. He was ready to go to the Realm and give Mobius a surprise. As everyone knew, World Serpent was also known as a subsidiary of Lab One.
"Are you going to prove who the real World's Number One Killer is?"
Elysia was somewhat curious.
The corner of Shiraha's mouth curved upward. "You people who never joined the Manticores, you only ever marvel at Sakura's strength. But only the top-tier combatants of the Manticores truly acknowledge me from the bottom of their hearts."
"Nee-chan, when I have the ability to take you traveling around the world, when we go to World Serpent's headquarters—"
"Sakura will admit with her own mouth who the World's Number One Killer really is."