Kenji sat stiffly at his desk, pen in hand, as Himeko stood at the front of the class delivering a lecture on everyone favourite-not subject: History. Her voice was steady, commanding the room's attention as she recounted pivotal moments from past eruptions and the Valkyries' role in combating them. The classroom was bathed in soft morning light, the hum of the projector providing a faint backdrop to her words.
Kenji tried to focus on his notes. As a student who had transferred mid-year, he was already informed that he had a lot of material that he needed to catch up. His notebook was open in front of him, half-filled with scribbled bullet points that barely managed to keep pace with Himeko's lecture. He wanted to just focus on learning and then talk with Kiana and Mei.
Sadly with him being the only male student, avoiding attention was impossible.
He could feel the stares from all around the classroom, as if the walls themselves had eyes. It was as though the air itself was buzzing with curiosity, and he was the focal point of it all.
'Please let this end soon' Kenji thought desperately, his frustration mounting with each passing moment. He was once again reminded of why he disliked school.
He stole a glance at the front of the class, where Himeko continued her lecture without missing a beat. But then her gaze flicked to him for just a moment, and he saw it—the faintest hint of a grin tugging at the corners of her lips. His irritation flared. 'She's enjoying this.' he thought bitterly. She was clearly amused by his discomfort, probably finding it entertaining to see him squirm under the weight of so many stares.
'How supportive, Himeko...' He thought sarcastically.
(1 Hour Later)
The bell rang sharply, cutting through the lingering hum of the classroom. Kenji let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The past hour had felt like an eternity, and he was grateful for the reprieve. According to the schedule, there was a thirty-minute break before the next session—physical training. Or as it was called at St. Freya, battling holographic Honkai beasts, which sounded super exciting.
Kenji started gathering his notebooks, eager to escape the stifling classroom atmosphere. His fingers fumbled slightly as he gathered his things, his mind still racing from the earlier lecture. But just as he stood up, the air shifted. He felt it before he saw it—a growing presence around him. Suddenly, he was surrounded.
"So, Kenji, huh? That's a nice name!" one student said, leaning in a little too close.
"How about we get to know each other~" another chimed in, her tone bright and eager.
"Fight me!" someone else blurted out, their enthusiasm causing a ripple of laughter among the group.
"How do you know Kiana and Mei?" a quieter voice asked, tinged with curiosity but no less insistent.
The questions came at him like rapid-fire bullets, leaving Kenji stunned and struggling to keep up. He barely managed to stammer out half-responses before another voice cut him off with a new question. The sea of faces around him grew closer, their excitement palpable. It felt like the walls themselves were closing in, and his thoughts spiraled as he tried in vain to process the barrage of voices.
In the back of the classroom, Kiana leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed and a smug grin spreading across her face. She watched the scene unfold with the air confidence. "Looks like Kenji's in need of a good old Kaslana rescue," she declared to no one in particular.
Mei glanced at her, her expression already tinged with exasperation. "Whatever you're planning, Kiana, don't do anything overboard." she said softly, though her tone carried a note of resignation. She had seen this play out before.
Bronya, ever the pragmatist, had already begun tidying up her and Kiana's desks, anticipating the inevitable chaos. Her face remained impassive, but the slight glimmer of exasperation in her eyes betrayed her thoughts. "Bronya advises caution," she murmured, her voice barely audible as she neatly stacked their belongings. "But Bronya suspects Idiotka will ignore such advice."
Without another word and ignoring Bronya's comment, Kiana launched herself into action. She leapt over the crowd of students with ease, her movement fluid and athletic. Her landing on Kenji's desk was punctuated by a loud thump that silenced the room. Everyone froze, their attention snapping to her.
"Kiana!" Kenji yelped, startled by her sudden appearance. Before he could say anything else, she grabbed him by the collar with both hands and hoisted him into the air as if he weighed nothing.
"Kiana, wha—?!" he sputtered, his words cut off as she carried him out of the classroom like a sack of potatoes. His legs dangled uselessly, and his protests echoed faintly as she marched down the hallway. His belongings, still scattered across his desk, were left behind in the chaos.
The remaining students watched in stunned silence, their expressions ranging from amused to bewildered. Someone let out a stifled laugh, breaking the quiet.
Mei sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I should have expected this." she muttered, her voice tinged with both annoyance and fondness.
She turned to Bronya, who had already finished organizing their things. "Thank you, Bronya," Mei said, her tone softer now as she reached out to pat the girl on the head.
Bronya's expression didn't change, but the slight flicker in her eyes betrayed her satisfaction. "Bronya will ensure the items remain organized. Mei should prepare to retrieve Kenji from Kiana's antics."
With that, the two girls left the classroom. Mei's pace was brisk as she muttered under her breath about Kiana's impulsiveness. Bronya followed calmly, her steps measured and deliberate. Together, they hoped to mitigate whatever trouble Kiana had already caused.
As they made their way down the hall, Kenji's muffled voice echoed faintly from around the corner. "Put me down, Kiana! I'm not a bag of rice!"
Kiana's laughter rang out in response. "You'll thank me later!"
Mei groaned softly. "This is exactly what I was afraid of," she muttered.
"Bronya calculates a ninety percent chance Kiana will escalate the situation," Bronya said matter-of-factly, earning a sideways glance from Mei.
The sound of Kenji's protests and Kiana's laughter grew louder as they approached, leaving Mei and Bronya bracing themselves for whatever chaos awaited them around the corner.
…
Kenji, Kiana, Mei, and Bronya stood together in the now-empty hallway, the distant hum of the school's activity barely audible. Mei had her fingers lightly pinching Kiana's cheek, her voice a mix of exasperation and gentle scolding. "Kiana, you can't just grab someone and run out of the classroom like that. What were you thinking?"
"Ow, ow, ow! Mei, let go!" Kiana whined, trying to pull away from Mei's grip. "It was a rescue mission! He needed my help!"
Kenji, who had finally gathered his bearings after being carried through the halls like a ragdoll, couldn't help but laugh at the sight. The sound broke through the tension, drawing the trio's attention. He smiled at them, shaking his head. "Looks like you two haven't changed a bit," he said, his voice light.
Mei and Kiana paused, glancing at each other before soft smiles spread across their faces. Kiana stepped forward, grinning wide as she punched Kenji lightly on the shoulder. "Of course not! Why would we? After all, I'm perfect as I am!"
Kenji raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. "If by 'perfect' you mean being a brute who only knows how to fight, then sureee." His tone dripped with mockery.
A vein popped on Kiana's forehead. Without warning, she reached out and pinched Kenji's right nipple, twisting it mercilessly. "Say that again, you little shit!"
"Ow! Ow! Okay, okay, I take it back!" Kenji yelped, jumping back in an attempt to escape her grip.
Mei, now rubbing her temples, stepped forward and smacked both of their heads lightly. "Seriously, you two? Even after months of not seeing each other, you still act like children."
For a moment, silence hung between them. Then, as if on cue, the three burst out laughing, the tension dissolving into genuine joy.
As their laughter subsided, Kiana extended her hand to Kenji in a playful dap. "Nice to see you again, you old fart."
Kenji grinned, slapping her hand back. "I am still only one year older than you, brat." Despite his words, the wide smiles they exchanged made it clear they were happy to be reunited.
Kenji turned to Mei and held up his hand for a high five. "Nice to see you again, Mei."
Mei returned the gesture with a warm smile. "Nice to see you too, Kenji."
As the moment settled, Mei's gaze shifted to the side, landing on Bronya, who stood a few steps away. The younger girl's posture was stiff, her arms crossed as she observed the reunion with an awkward air. Realizing Bronya had been left out, Mei quickly acted. "Ah! S-sorry, Bronya." She gestured toward Kenji. "As you know, this is Kenji. He's a friend of mine and Kiana's."
Kenji stepped forward, extending a hand toward Bronya. "Nice to meet you, Bronya. Hope Kiana's antics didn't give you a bad impression of me."
Bronya stared at his outstretched hand for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, without a word, she reached out and gave it a brief shake.
Kenji blinked, unsure of how to interpret her silence. Before he could say anything, Kiana's loud voice broke the moment. "What's up, Bronya? Been too chronically online that you lost your nonexistent social skills?"
Bronya turned her icy glare toward Kiana, her tone flat as she delivered her retort. "Die."
Kenji blinked again, then let out a chuckle, the tension completely dissipating. Even Mei couldn't suppress a giggle, shaking her head fondly at her friends.
"So," Kiana said, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. "What's it like being the only guy in a school full of Valkyries? Feel special yet? Liking the attention from all the girls aren't you~." Her tone was teasing, but there was genuine curiosity behind her words.
Kenji shot Kiana an annoyed look which made her chuckle. Then he scratched the back of his neck, thinking of an answer. "Special isn't the word I'd use," he admitted. "More like... out of place."
Mei's smile softened as she stepped closer. "You'll get used to it. Everyone's just curious right now. Give it time, and they'll settle down."
"Yeah, and if they don't, you've got me to scare them off!" Kiana added with a confident grin, flexing her arm for emphasis.
Kenji chuckled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Thanks, but I don't think I'm going to need that. I'd rather not be manhandled in front of the entire class."
Kiana smirked, clearly unrepentant. "No promises!"
…
As Kenji caught up with Kiana and Mei, he noticed that Bronya remained unusually quiet. Even with Mei and Kiana's best efforts to draw her into the conversation, she responded only with brief nods or an occasional glance. Her silence was uncharacteristic, but Kenji didn't have time to dwell on it before the bell suddenly rang, echoing sharply through the hallway.
The group tensed immediately.
"We're going to be late!" Kiana shouted, taking off down the hallway at a full sprint. Mei sighed but quickly followed after her, and Bronya, ever calm, adjusted her pace to match Mei's. Kenji stood frozen for a second, disoriented by the sudden rush, before realization struck.
"Wait for me! I still don't know the layout of the place!" he called, bolting after them. His voice barely carried over the sound of their retreating footsteps. The chaotic clamor of their shoes reverberated through the empty corridors, and Kenji's increasingly frantic voice was met with no response.
---
At the training ground
Kiana, Mei, and Bronya stood in front of an obviously annoyed Himeko, who was already clad in her battlesuit. The imposing crimson armor glinted faintly under the overhead lights, and her arms were crossed as her stern gaze bore down on the trio with the intensity of a drill sergeant.
"You three are twenty minutes late," she said sharply, her voice steady but firm. "Anything to say for yourselves?"
The trio exchanged quick, guilty glances before lowering their heads and mumbling a collective, "Sorry."
Himeko sighed heavily, her posture relaxing slightly as she rubbed her temples. "This is supposed to be combat training, not a social outing. Do you understand how critical timing is in a mission?" Her sharp tone made the trio flinch.
"Yes, ma'am," they said in unison, their voices subdued.
Himeko's expression softened slightly as she scanned the group, but her frown returned when she realized someone was missing. "Where's your friend?" she asked, her eyes settling on Kiana.
Kiana blinked in confusion, then realization dawned on her. "Oh, Kenji? Uh…" She looked around the grounds and shrugged. "I dunno. Changing maybe?"
As if on cue, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from behind them. The entire class turned to see Kenji sprinting toward the group, his breath labored and his face flushed from the effort. His footsteps faltered slightly as he approached, nearly tripping over himself in his haste. He skidded to a stop in front of Himeko, doubling over slightly as he caught his breath.
Himeko raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for an explanation. Kenji scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, avoiding her gaze. "Sorry for being late," he said, his voice sheepish. "There weren't any male changing rooms, so I had to go to the other side of the school to change in the bathroom."
For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then Himeko's lips twitched, and she let out a hearty laugh. "Oh yeah! Forgot to tell you about that, didn't I?" She waved a hand dismissively, her laugh trailing into a grin. "Well, you're here now, so we can get started."
She turned and walked off, leaving Kenji standing there with a look of mild irritation. His shoulders sagged slightly, and he muttered under his breath, "Great start to the day."
As Himeko began talking with one of the staff members to prepare the training session, Kenji became uncomfortably aware of the stares from his classmates. Whispers spread quickly through the crowd, and he noticed some of the girls blushing as their eyes darted toward him.
'Oh, what is it now?' Kenji thought, his frustration mounting. He turned slightly, catching sight of Kiana and Mei standing off to the side. Both of them looked like they were struggling to hold in their laughter.
"What is it?" Kenji asked, his voice tinged with annoyance.
That was all it took for Kiana to lose it. She doubled over, laughing so hard she was wheezing, while Mei did her best to suppress her giggles, covering her mouth with one hand. Kenji's irritation deepened.
Kiana finally managed to point at him, her voice shaky between fits of laughter. "Your battlesuit is just… pfft—!"
Kenji frowned and looked down at himself. He never did open the battlesuit that he was given, wanting to surprise himself when he opens it for the first time. But being in such a hurry, he couldn't fully realise what his battlesuit actually looked like.
His face turned bright red as he took in the sight. The battlesuit he'd been given was skin-tight and, worse, it had a boob window. His stomach dropped as realization hit him like a truck. 'This is a Valkyrie's battlesuit!'
Kiana's laughter grew louder, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Mei wasn't faring much better, though she managed to maintain a semblance of composure, though her shoulders shook as she struggled to stifle her laughter.
Kenji clenched his fists and turned to Himeko, who had returned to see what all the commotion was about. "Himeko! Why does my battlesuit look like this?!" he demanded, his voice a mix of embarrassment and indignation.
Himeko raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening into a full grin. "Well," she said, crossing her arms. "We weren't exactly prepared for a male student and didn't have any battlesuits ready for you. Custom ones take time to make, so for now…" She pointed at the boob window with an exaggerated flourish. "You're stuck with that."
Kenji groaned, his shoulders slumping as he resigned himself to his fate. 'Why me?' he thought, glancing around at the faces of his classmates. Kiana's laughter echoed across the grounds, mingling with the murmurs of the other students. It was going to be a long day.
'Is that girl drooling at me?!'