"Deadly Strike, Hundred Style: Oni Burn... Tch, you managed to dodge that."
"Hmph, don't underestimate me. Now it's my turn, Hundred and Twenty-Four Style: Barren Bite."
"I'll defend, I'll defend, I'll defend and defend! This is a good opportunity—"
"It's my chance, you fell for it—Deadly Strike, Two Hundred and Twelve Style: Koto Moon Sun!"
"Damn it, you knocked off so much of my health, but no matter, I still have a chance! Reversal, I'll strike, I'll strike!"
"You're still so aggressive after losing that much health, it seems like you've lost this round."
"Don't get too cocky, the outcome isn't decided until the very end."
"Then let me maintain my advantage until the end."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, watch me pull off a reversal."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Finally, the time has come. Detonation—Super Deadly, Forbidden Twelve Hundred and Eighty-One Style: Eight Maiden!"
"Oh no."
"K.O., the Winner is Iori! Haha, I won."
The dialogue above took place one morning at Waver's rented apartment, with two young otaku playing the fighting game "The King of Fighters '97".
"The King of Fighters", or KOF for short, is a series of fighting games published by SNK on the MVS arcade hardware. Being released approximately once every 1.5 years, the series had already accumulated over 10 installments in Shinji's previous life, making it the undisputed leader in the fighting game genre.
Shinji and Waver were playing KOF '97, which is considered the most popular entry in the series. Even 20 years later, there are still die-hard fans battling each other across various platforms.
Waver chose the character Kyo Kusanagi, while Shinji used Kyo's rival, Iori Yagami, who is the most popular character in the entire KOF series.
After successfully defeating Waver and pulling off a comeback, Shinji swept his bangs back, striking Iori Yagami's iconic pose, and delivered the character's classic line:
"Whenever I see the moon, I'll think of you."
Just as Shinji was reveling in the joy of cosplaying as Iori, two female voices suddenly emerged from within the rented apartment.
One was youthful, the other was dignified.
"There they are again, I knew you two were playing games."
"Well... Whenever I see the moon, I'll think of you."
Shinji didn't need to look, he recognized the voices instantly.
The youthful voice belonged to the mischievous Reines Archisorte, who was destined to be intertwined with Waver's fate.
The dignified voice belonged to the well-known lady of the Clock Tower, Barthomeloi Lorelei.
"What brings the two young ladies here?" Waver tossed aside the controller and stood up from the sofa, ordering the mercury maid standing at the door, "Kurumi, go brew two cups of black tea."
"Understood." Kurumi bowed and left.
"Ah, I'd like mine with milk, and what about you, Miss Lorelei?" Reines raised her hand.
"Plain tea, thank you." Lorelei nodded graciously.
"Understood." Kurumi bowed again and went to the kitchen.
"Thank you very much, maid lady."
After waving at the maid, Reines stepped lightly towards Waver, her face bearing an innocent yet mischievous smile.
"Big brother, I've come to see you."
Still young, Reines had not yet developed the imposing presence of the next head of the family before the Fifth Holy Grail War, but the intertwining of angel and devil in her nature was already beginning to show, and a simple greeting was enough to make Waver's expression turn sour.
"Lady, I am not your brother." Waver's exclusive title for Reines was "Lady", as he said it carried a sense of respectful distance.
"No, no, you are my brother." Reines's smile grew even sweeter, "I've already obtained the lord's consent, and from today on, you will be my mentor and guardian. Or would you prefer I call you uncle?"
Hearing this title, Waver instantly felt a stomachache. "If possible, just call me professor like the others."
"No way, we're comrades who have fought together, our relationship is much closer than your students'." Reines was referring to their joint efforts to help Kenneth return.
"Alright, alright, brother it is then."
Faced with Reines' relentless pursuit, Waver could only surrender. Indeed, in every world line, Waver was powerless against this girl who was over 10 years his junior, completely at her mercy.
"Alright, now you can answer my question. Why are you here with Miss Lorelei?"
"Ah, that's because the lord asked me to bring Miss Lorelei over. I'm not too sure of the exact reason, perhaps it's because he's interested in a new educational approach for you, big brother?"
"You're overestimating me, Lady." Waver was self-aware, "A dilapidated classroom, a bottom-ranking department, not worth Barthomeloi's attention."
"No, you're mistaken, Mr. Velvet." Lorelei spoke seriously, "Barthomeloi has already placed your El-Melloi classroom on the list of subjects of interest, and has also discussed your new educational approach."
"So, what's the result? What's the result?" Reines pressed.
"The reviews are mixed - some think it's unorthodox, others see it as groundbreaking. But regardless of the perspective, no one can deny your educational achievements. By the way, I'm part of the approving camp. When your first batch of students graduate, I'm planning to recruit a few talented individuals among them."
"As expected of my big brother, my judgment was correct." Reines had a smug expression.
Waver gave a wry smile as he cautioned, "My students are all very capable, I can guarantee that. But their capabilities are proportional to their personalities. Recruiting them requires a strong nerve and an iron stomach."
"No problem, I'm already well aware of the personalities of your classroom's students." Lorelei was unfazed. "And their personalities are still better than the one standing right next to you. At least they won't openly mock the Barthomeloi family, nor try to knock me unconscious. Isn't that right, 'Assassin' of the El-Meloi?"
At these words, both the childish Reines and the increasingly unflappable Waver were stunned, their gazes turning in unison toward Shinji, who was posing as a statue.
"I was just stating facts, and I've already apologized," Shinji said resignedly.
"I didn't take any offense. On the contrary, I appreciated your attitude. That moonlit night, I will remember it for the rest of my life."
Still dressed in a neutral outfit, Lorelei approached Shinji and extended her right hand.
"Let's get reacquainted. I'm Barthomeloi Lorelei."
"Shinji Matou at your service, it's a pleasure to meet you." Shinji adapted to the situation, gently taking Lorelei's hand and lightly kissing her hand.
Reines was dumbfounded.
Waver was dumbfounded.
Even Lorelei herself was dumbfounded.
"Th-that..."(Reines)
"The hand-kissing gesture is only to be used for married ladies."(Waver)
"Shinji Matou!!!"(Lorelei)
In an instant, a gale blew through the area.
"It was a misunderstanding! I've seen this gesture used in many TV shows, I didn't mean anything by it!"
Shinji was also dumbfounded and hastily tried to explain himself.
"W-wait a minute--"
"No excuses!!!"
PS: Another girl entered the circle...
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