While regretting his decisions, Shu didn't forget to continue chatting with Mei, to prevent her from falling unconscious again, and to avoid being alone again.
But finding a topic was difficult…
Shu: "Mei, what kind of clothes do you usually like?" Girls should like pretty clothes, right? Asking about makeup might be too complicated. Let's ask about outfits.
Mei: "Kiana… she likes clothes that are… comfortable and easy to move around in… She always said… complicated clothes… although pretty… but… uncomfortable… She didn't like them…"
Shu: "…So you must like reading? I heard that you are a top student!" No one actually said that, but that's how Shu asked.
Mei: "Books… If only… Kiana… also… liked reading… like me… then she wouldn't suffer so much… and she wouldn't worry… about exams… She only liked… reading novels… She liked… to imagine herself… as a hero… very cute…"
Shu: "...Ahem, then… uh… Mei, can you tell me about your family? I'm a bit curious." Shu finally found a topic after wracking his brains. He was good at ending conversations, but not starting them!
At this rate, he would end up telling Mei bedtime stories!! But would she just fall asleep if I did that?
"My family?" Mei looked up, hesitating slightly. After a moment, she let out a soft sigh that blew into the nape of Shu's neck. "There's… nothing much… I am… the heiress of MEI Corp… the sole heir…"
"Wow! That MEI Corp?!" He knew nothing about it, but it didn't hurt to be supportive.
"You're also surprised… right… It's hard to imagine… that someone like me… is not elegant… doesn't have much… to brag about… is actually the heir… to such a large corporation…" Mei said with a bitter smile.
Shu shook his head. "Not at all! You are not just anyone! You are the beautiful, graceful, and capable senior who makes great food!" He didn't care about anything else right now. Just praise her!
Mei paused for a moment and then smiled, "Kiana… also said something similar… I… miss… when Kiana… and I… first met…"
Shu: "…" I should just shut my mouth.
"Before… because of my status… I was always aloof at school… And there were so many… people around me…" The pause when Mei mentioned "people" was longer than any of her other pauses. Shu guessed she was probably going to say "friends."
"At the time… I thought… I was happy… Although… studying was tiring… practicing was also tiring… but I felt… I was happy…"
And then, it's the "but"… I've heard these words too many times… Shu rolled his eyes. Isn't this just like Theater of Thunder? There might be a slight difference because of the changes in this world, but the main points should be the same...
So there would still be Kiana later on...
"But… later on… My father… was suddenly arrested… And I was no longer the heiress… Those people who were always around me… their smiles… disappeared… They became so scary… And my happiness… was gone…"
Shu sighed. He had thought that even Ryoma could escape his fate in this world.
"At the time… I felt like… I was living in darkness… Until…"
Until Kiana appeared, and she saved you, right? Shu thought helplessly. Mei stopped talking, and there was nothing more.
"Mei?" Without Mei's voice, Shu felt anxious. "Mei, are you okay?"
"I… I'm okay…" Mei's voice sounded very weak, even weaker than before.
"Hold on, we're almost there!" Shu looked up and started looking for the hotpot restaurant.
He couldn't find it…
"You… went past it…" Mei's weak voice sounded.
Shu froze, his face flushing slightly.
He was too invested in their conversation, he hadn't paid attention, and it seemed he'd…
"Hehe… Mei…" Shu started awkwardly, hoping that she would tell him how to get back on track.
After a moment, Mei slowly raised her hand and pointed in one direction. "Let's go that way… I'll guide you…"
"Then you have to stay awake!" Shu quickly said and ran towards the direction Mei had pointed at.
After a few steps, Shu suddenly heard Mei softly chuckle.
"You… and Kiana… are very similar…" Mei said softly.
Shu's eyes widened. "Am I?" How are we similar? Can you stop messing with me? How am I like a paramecium? Did I fail all of my exams, or can I jump several meters?
"But, there's something different about you…" Mei's voice was as gentle as ever. Shu could feel that she was right beside his ear, her warm breath hitting his neck.
"You are… more considerate than Kiana… You can take care of yourself… and you can also take care of others… You like to think and analyze… you're more calm…"
See! I'm not like her!
"And weaker…"
Shu: "…"
"So..." Mei's voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible. Shu had to stop complaining and concentrate, to hear what she would say next.
"So… I'm sorry…" A faint warm breeze blew on Shu's ears, and a drop of something fell on his shoulder.
Is it raining? Shu looked blankly at the sky.
The moon was gone, but it wasn't raining.
Shu realized that it was Mei's tears. His heart began to race, "Mei! What are you saying? You…"
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" Mei's soft voice, tinged with cries, was barely audible.
"I'm… sorry." Finally, barely audible, Mei's voice disappeared. "Shu… If you… can find Kiana… please… take care of her… Thank you…"
"..."
"Shu… Just… leave me here…"
"..."
"…Mei?"
There was no response. The warm breeze was also gone.
Shu's steps stopped. He stood in place, motionless.
The stars in the sky peeked out, noticing that the blood moon had vanished. They quickly used that opportunity to spread a faint starlight onto the world.
Shu lowered his head. He suddenly took a deep breath and started to walk forward, his steps resolute.
"..."
"…Don't even think about it…"