Kiana swayed to the dining table as if in a trance, savoring the aroma of breakfast delicately. With a blissful expression on her fluffy face, she eagerly took a bite of the pancake roll prepared by Luo Lin.
"Delicious! It's a flavor I've never tasted before!" Kiana exclaimed as she came to her senses, devouring the pancake roll eagerly.
"Don't rush, there's more to come," Luo Lin said, placing a stack of pancakes, along with shredded potatoes, fresh lettuce, sliced cucumbers, and a small dish of chili sauce on the table. There were even two steaming cups of milk.
Due to the unexpected early end of the simulated combat session today, Luo Lin woke up to a slightly bright sky, realizing there was extra time available. She decided to prepare a more elaborate and varied breakfast than usual.
Kiana was deeply moved and found her appetite greatly stimulated. Behind Luo Lin, Fu Hua widened her eyes in astonishment. "Is she really going to eat all of that for breakfast?! She doesn't usually engage in vigorous exercise, does she?!"
"Some people just have big appetites," Luo Lin remarked, watching Kiana happily indulge in carbohydrates, almost reminiscent of her own childhood, not much different from her sister Bianca.
Unable to resist, the girl reached out to ruffle Kiana's hair and stomach, eliciting giggles from the fluffy-haired girl.
"Um... Luo Lin... you should eat too..." Kiana mumbled with her mouth full.
"Alright, but take your time. No one's competing with you," Luo Lin replied.
After finishing breakfast, Kiana picked up her backpack and watched as Luo Lin locked the door. Together, they rode their bikes leisurely to school.
They arrived safely at the Senba Academy. Luo Lin sat at her desk, observing Kiana waving her assignments, announcing proudly to her sporty friends that she had copied all her homework last night, much to their amazement.
"Kiana has been copying her homework so quickly lately, and with such high accuracy," one of the girls exclaimed excitedly while flipping through Kiana's workbook. "It feels like it must have been done by that girl from Shenzhou... Luo Lin, right? Kiana has made friends with her, hasn't she?"
The fluffy-haired girl sniffed proudly, "Humph, of course! Just look at who I am! I'm Kiana Kaslana! Making friends is a piece of cake for me!"
"Alright, then lend me your homework to copy," another girl chimed in.
"Feel free to copy it!" Kiana waved her hand confidently.
With that, the others divided her assignments among themselves and dispersed to copy them, leaving the fluffy-haired girl standing bewildered in place.
"...Haha," Luo Lin chuckled lightly, her peripheral vision noticing a few of Raiden Mei's followers huddled together in a corner, exchanging whispers and occasionally casting glances in their direction.
"Sorry for arriving late today," a crisp voice came from the classroom door. Raiden Mei walked in with a tired expression, placing her backpack flat on the desk and closing her eyes to rest.
Seeing this, the entourage who had intended to greet her wisely dispersed and returned to their seats.
"...You should be careful of the new student in our class and don't get too close to her. Avoid going out alone these days, and it's best not to participate in those small parties either..." Her father's words were clear, and Raiden Mei, having received excellent aristocratic education since childhood, could naturally discern the hidden meaning behind Raiden Mei's words.
The marketplace is like a battlefield... and on the battlefield, one must use every means possible.
Taking a deep breath, the girl opened her eyes slightly and directed her gaze toward the new student from Shenzhou.
Luo Lin seemed to sense something and turned to blink at Raiden Mei.
- Are you my father's enemy? -
Raiden Mei glanced away, licked her slightly dry lips, took a sip from her water bottle, and closed her eyes again.
- Will you become my enemy? -
For some reason, upon realizing the danger around her, Raiden Mei felt an unusual excitement, causing her to unable to sleep all night.
She even got up early and practiced swordsmanship in her private training room next to her room. After finishing her practice, Mei realized that she still needed to go to school today.
So she arrived at school exhausted, sitting at her desk, absent-mindedly twirling her pen.
"Raiden Mei, please answer my question just now."
"Huh?" Snap out of her thoughts, Raiden Mei was already called upon by the teacher. The female teacher looked at her with expectant eyes, believing in Mei's abilities as a top student to help her continue the classroom activity.
But today, she was indeed not in the right mindset and had not been paying attention to what the teacher had said before.
Raiden Mei glanced around for help but found that no one had noticed her dilemma. In the eyes of other students, even her followers, Raiden Mei was a perfect and outstanding student who would have no trouble answering questions when called upon by the teacher.
Time passed, and Raiden Mei started sweating slightly on her forehead.
The teacher's expression also became somewhat stiff. She continued to look at Mei with hopeful eyes, hoping that this outstanding student could give an answer.
After a few seconds of standoff, Raiden Mei reluctantly closed her eyes and spoke aloud, admitting defeat.
"Sorry, teacher, I seem to..."
"Um, well, alright..." The female teacher hurriedly interrupted Mei's words, adjusting her glasses. "This question may indeed be a bit difficult for you. Let me explain where to start with this problem... Mei, please sit down."
Amidst the surprised gazes of her classmates, Raiden Mei sat down with a flushed face, unable to determine whether her blush was due to embarrassment or anger.
Kiana whispered softly, "Wow, this is the first time I've seen Mei like this..."
Luo Lin wasn't particularly surprised. "I noticed she wasn't herself when she came in this morning and couldn't focus on studying... Hmm, maybe it's because she's on her period?"
"No way, it's not time yet, is it?" Kiana raised her voice slightly.
Luo Lin looked at the fluffy-haired girl with a horrified expression. "Why do you remember that so clearly?!"
"Uh, um, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough..." Kiana coughed as if choking, attracting the teacher's displeased gaze.
Luo Lin clicked her tongue, turning back to continue reading the Schicksal textbook projected by the system, but she felt a burning gaze sweep over her.
Raising her head, she saw Raiden Mei's profile swiftly turning away, her ponytail swaying like a wave caused by her movement.
Why is she glaring at me? Did I do something to offend her?