Chiba Academy, Hokushin Ittō-ryū Youth Training Camp Clubroom
"Damn it. With Shiraha gone, is there really no one I can rely on?"
Mei slammed her fist against the desk in frustration, brooding.
She glanced at the other two. The delinquent senpai listened to orders but didn't obey them, she, the club president, still had to coax her along. Yuna, though admirably loyal, lacked ability.
It seemed the only true core members of this club were Shiraha and herself!
With Shiraha away these past few days, she didn't even know what major undertaking to tackle next.
"What's the young lady got in mind to do now?"
Raven rocked lazily on her chair, her eyes never leaving her novel, a lollipop in her mouth. She was enjoying the life of a Far East high school girl more and more.
So relaxing. Every noon at the club, she could tease the young lady a little, and the wooden Yuna too. Once Shiraha was back, there'd even be the little young master, pretending to be all grown-up.
Mei looked at her, her voice serious. "The Hokushin Ittō-ryū Youth Training Camp exists to cultivate prodigies capable of saving the world."
"And right now, look at you. Look at us. Do you honestly think you can save the world?"
Raven laughed despite herself. Young lady, if saving the world has already fallen to the point where it needs you... then this world is probably beyond saving anyway.
"You're still laughing!"
Mei had discovered that this delinquent senpai had already gone far beyond merely "listening to orders but not obeying them."
Thud, thud, thud!
Suppressing her indignant expression, Mei spoke. "Come in."
The door pushed open. Shiraha slowly peeked his head in. Mei's little eyes blinked. The indignation on her face visibly melted toward a smile but she held it back.
"Mei-nee, I'm back."
"You've missed quite a few lessons during this stretch. Good thing I took notes..."
Mei maintained her dignified posture, her tone deliberate until the door fully opened, and Shiraha walked in leading a white-haired, blue-eyed little girl by the hand.
The clubroom atmosphere, which had just begun to warm, instantly froze solid. Mei narrowed her eyes.
Didn't Dad say Shiraha went to help find his friend?
Oh. Right. Dad's friend was definitely the same age as Dad. Having a daughter was perfectly normal.
Thought after thought flashed through her mind. Mei rose. "Who is she?"
"Kiana."
Shiraha was just about to introduce her, but Kiana answered on her own.
She liked this name. Dad had later agreed to it too. So whenever anyone asked her name, her answer always came a little faster.
"Kiana. That's a very lovely name."
Raven's eyes drifted half-closed. Kiana was far more promising than Mei. The recent upheaval in Siberia had been huge, even she, an ordinary Far East high school girl, had heard about it.
One word could sum it up: boiling over.
She didn't know Schicksal's exact situation, but World Serpent had boiled over completely.
Before, everyone had merely tacitly assumed and hoped. Now, Shiraha had truly answered their expectations.
Hearing the praise, the corner of Kiana's mouth curved slightly upward.
Shiraha gave a simple introduction. "She's Siegfried's daughter. I heard she'll be receiving basic education here for the next few years. Uncle Ryoma asked me to bring her along."
Mei braced her little hands on the desk, trying to make herself look imposing. "Why is she wearing my clothes?"
Because it's exciting. A meme instantly popped into Shiraha's head, but this time he didn't joke around.
"She hasn't bought new clothes yet. She can only wear yours, Mei-nee."
Hearing this, Yuna's eyes brightened slightly. A transfer student. And entrusted to enter this academy by someone else.
As for new clothes... no one could compare to the young lady Mei. So Yuna understood all too well the difficulties Kiana was about to face.
"Oh." Mei puffed out her little cheeks.
Kiana's lively eyes darted around. Her expression turned obedient. "Sorry, Mei-nee. I didn't mean to cause trouble. Next time I definitely won't make you angry."
Her voice was soft, a little uneasy.
Shiraha discovered that Kiana wasn't obedient at all. In fact, she wasn't even as obedient as he was.
Mei's little cheeks puffed out even further. The young lady Mei treated everyone equally. Yuna was a friend, and everyone was happy together in the club.
But Yuna would never wear her little dresses, hold Shiraha's hand, and act like she was about to settle in for a long stay in her home.
Her premonition wasn't wrong.
During afternoon classes, the teacher introduced the new student—Kiana.
"Kiana, find a seat for now. After a while, based on your grades, I'll adjust your seating."
Because they'd advanced another grade, Yuna was also in this class. Yuna carefully waved her hand. Kiana hesitated for a moment, then sat down beside Yuna.
Yuna cautiously passed her a note.
Kiana was a little puzzled but opened it anyway... Although, theoretically, she'd never received any formal education, every time she saw these characters, their pronunciations inexplicably surfaced in her mind.
And this note described the rules, the urban legends of Far East schools.
[1. You must fit in. But not too much.]
[2. When refusing someone's goodwill, you must give a very good reason.]
[3. Don't provoke the class boss (crossed out)]
Yuna had switched classes. The current class boss was Mei.
[3. You can be unique. But not too unique.]
[4. If you really can't find a common topic, chat about the super popular manga and anime lately!
Recommended titles below: ...]
Kiana felt her head starting to ache again.
This country was so strange. Filled with contradictions everywhere.
She endured until class ended. In an instant, several figures gathered around her empty space, led by Mei.
Mei had already comforted herself. Kiana was the daughter of Dad's friend, after all, rounded off, that made her practically a little sister. All the earlier matters could be generously forgiven.
She gestured warmly toward Kiana. "This is my little sister. She just transferred back from abroad, might still be adjusting to the atmosphere here."
Mei's enthusiasm made Kiana feel a little embarrassed for a moment. "Mm. I'm not very familiar with things here. Sorry, everyone, I might have been a bit stiff during the self-introduction."
Mei: ....
You weren't stiff at all. I've never met anyone who spoke with more confidence than you.
"Anyway Kiana, do you watch cartoons at all?"
Mei asked.
Kiana recalled the few titles Yuna had briefly introduced just now and was about to fabricate an answer, when she spotted Shiraha, sitting alone by the window.
"No one plays with him?"
Kiana's voice was very soft.
That surprised her. The boy's smile was so bright. Why would he have no friends?
"Shiraha?" A classmate beside her chimed in. "He's pretty strange. Keeps to himself. Other than Big Sis Mei, hardly anyone plays with him."
Oh, and Yuna. But Yuna chose to fit in most of the time too.
Kiana lowered her head and glanced at the still-unopened notebook on her desk.
Then she paused. "Sorry. I just transferred here, don't really get the cartoons from this area. Plus I have to catch up on studies lately. Probably won't have time to chat about that stuff."
Kiana scratched her head, her expression awkward.
"Sorry, everyone."
She said it again, her tone impeccably sincere.
Then, hugging her schoolbag, she walked straight toward the window.
Mei: ....