Mei stared in surprise as she stumbled back a few steps after being pushed away.
"... Kiana?"
She looked at the sweaty girl in front of her, suddenly feeling that her close friend seemed a bit unfamiliar.
"Um, sorry, Mei... I didn't mean to."
Kiana avoided looking Mei in the eyes, her gaze wandering as she explained:
"Um, this... this... is our Kaslana family's unique training method. It's a basic practice of gun fighting technique, and if you were nearby, I was worried it might hurt you."
"The Kaslana family's gun fighting technique?"
Mei had heard of it before, much like she had heard of the "North Star Blade Style" from the Raiden family. Both were family secrets not to be shared with outsiders.
She hadn't expected Kiana to showcase her training skills. Since it was a unique technique of the Kaslana family, it must be quite different from ordinary training methods.
Feeling a bit remorseful for correcting someone without any knowledge, she thought that if she were in Kiana's place and someone came up to her while she was demonstrating the North Star Blade Style, she would definitely feel unhappy.
With that thought, Mei showed an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry; it was my recklessness."
"Um—no need for you to apologize, Mei... Ah, I~~ um, know... you're... doing this... for my sake... Ha—!!"
Suddenly, Kiana tensed her body, glaring fiercely, and with a loud "Ha," she launched a powerful straight punch forward!
"Ha! Ha! Ha—!!"
She punched continuously, each strike almost creating a sonic boom.
Mei took a few steps back.
She clenched her small hands, her expression subtly observing Kiana, who was drenched in sweat and had a flushed face. She asked quietly, "Is this also... part of the Kaslana family's gun fighting training?"
"Um, yeah~~"
Kiana didn't answer directly but instead stretched her long, pale neck upwards, her alluring lips releasing hot breaths.
Only after about ten seconds did she take a deep breath and open her glistening eyes.
"Pretty much..."
"Does Kiana come here for special training every night?"
"... Yeah."
Kiana finally stopped her workout and sat down.
Mei lowered her head, her expression showing a hint of shame. "Kiana really works hard~"
"Well... I, as a lady, am going to become... the strongest Valkyrie... so I must work hard..."
"True. If it's Kiana, maybe you really can do it."
Kiana paused.
"Maybe?"
If she had heard Mei say this in the past, she would have been so excited she couldn't sleep that night.
But just hearing Ye Feng assert confidently, "In the future, the Bug is definitely going to be the strongest," and "I'm not just trying to cheer you up; it's an objective fact," suddenly created a sense of disparity.
Yet, she was still happy.
"But how did you manage the cultural subjects for the exam?"
Mei discovered a blind spot.
The Kaslana family's gun fighting technique could be practiced independently, but the cultural subjects at St. Freya Academy weren't something you could just grasp by reading a book.
"Well, um... it was that bastard Ye Feng who helped me—Um, hmm!"
"Mr. Ye Feng? Did he tutor you?"
Mei smiled. "Mr. Ye Feng really helped Kiana a lot."
She didn't correct Kiana's use of "bastard" again.
She could tell that Kiana's use of the word didn't carry as much repulsion as before.
It was like calling Himeko "Auntie" on purpose or referring to Bronya as "Shorty."
"Kiana has a good relationship with Mr. Ye Feng."
"Huh? No way!"
Kiana vehemently denied it.
Mei was being ridiculous, saying she had a good relationship with that bastard.
What relationship?
He was still trying to find ways to bully her.
If she hadn't kept her cool, she would have made a big fool of herself just now.
Mei collected herself, looking at Kiana, who seemed about to collapse, and said, "I need to learn from Kiana too. Training so hard every night... I have to get stronger."
"Eh? Learn from me?"
Kiana touched the back of her head with a silly smile.
"I'm not that hardworking, hehehe~~~"
"Hey, Kiana, you're getting happy too soon."
Ye Feng's devilish voice echoed in Kiana's mind.
"The countdown has begun. I'll be generous this time and give you 5 minutes."
"Eh?"
Kiana was taken aback.
She had just reduced the count!
5 more minutes to go again?
Is he trying to kill me?
The smile on her face gradually disappeared.
At this moment, she suddenly longed for Ye Feng's "reset" state.
With the ability to refresh her status, what would she have to fear?
But now, it was impossible.
Her legs felt numb as if they weren't even her own.
"Kiana, what's wrong? You suddenly look worried."
"Um... it's nothing... um, Mei..."
"Hmm?"
Kiana wracked her brain, trying to think of a way to get Mei to leave the room.
However, her little brain was nearly fried before she finally thought of an excuse.
"Were you looking for Ye Feng just now?"
"Ah?"
It was neither completely true nor entirely false;
After arriving in this world, Mei subconsciously looked for familiar faces.
Ye Feng or Kiana, either was fine.
But since she had found Kiana, the urgency to find Ye Feng lessened.
"Indeed, there were a few things I wanted to ask him."
Mei said, "By the way, Kiana, did you consult Mr. Ye Feng about your father?"
"No way!"
Kiana suddenly realized.
"Why does that bastard only satisfy one of my conditions? Why doesn't he require any compensation when it comes to Mei?"
Ye Feng smiled. "Oh? Do you really wish for me to do something for Mei? Have you thought about why you're here competing?"
Kiana was taken aback, wanting to slap herself!
"I didn't mean that!! What happened to your equal exchange? The most expensive things are free; I have reason to suspect you're secretly plotting something bigger."
"Not at all. Right now, I'm more concerned about the Bug."
"Concerned about me?"
Kiana was stunned.
"Do you think I would believe your nonsense?"
"Which part of my words do you not believe?"
"Hmph."
Seeing Kiana in a daze, Mei couldn't help but say, "Let's go find Mr. Ye Feng."
"Ah? Okay."
This was actually Kiana's intention to bring up Ye Feng to Mei.
"Mei, go to the training ground. I'll head to the academic building. If you find him, send me a message. The communicator here can still be used."
Mei hesitated for a moment, but seeing the look in Kiana's eyes, she nodded, "... Okay. I'll head over first."
---
Advanced chapters in pat.reon.com/SenatusPopulus