Overlap Bronya’s words also gave the other three people present some ideas.
Theresa suddenly came to a realization and said, “That’s right.
I remember that not long after Xiao Shi first appeared, the Stigmata Theater appeared as well.
“And Kiana and I, the ones who discovered Xiao Shi, were both pulled into the Stigmata Theater.” Theresa felt that this might not be a coincidence, but that there was some inevitable connection between them.
Hearing this, Kiana asked in confusion, “Bronya, according to what you’re saying, could the Stigmata Theater actually have been created by Xiao Shi?” Bronya shook her head and said in an even quieter voice, “Bronya doesn’t think Xiao Shi’s connection to the Stigmata Theater is that close.
“Bronya only finds it strange that not long after Xiao Shi appeared, we were pulled into the Stigmata Theater together and saw the childhood and past experiences of a Kiana who wasn’t our Kiana.
“Isn’t that too much of a coincidence?
“Also, if Xiao Shi isn’t Kiana’s Clone, does that mean Xiao Shi naturally looks like Kiana?” Bronya didn’t state her point outright, but Raiden Mei and Theresa both understood what she was trying to say.
—Xiao Shi might be the actual Kiana who had performed on the stage of the Stigmata Theater.
As for where Xiao Shi had come from, perhaps she was from a Parallel World, or perhaps a World Bubble.
In any case, there were many possibilities and theories.
That would also explain why the storyline concerning Kiana in the Stigmata Theater differed so greatly from the real world.
Hearing this, Kiana scratched her head.
She suddenly thought of a flaw in Bronya’s theory.
“Shortie, if Xiao Shi really is another this Young Lady like you said, then why does she always look so dazed?
She doesn’t seem smart at all!
“If she took an exam at school, she’d probably score even lower than this Young Lady!
“That more elegant version of me in the Stigmata Theater looked like the obedient, model-student type, at least in other people’s eyes, even though this Young Lady doesn’t know how good her grades were.” Kiana felt that Xiao Shi and that elegant, refined version of herself definitely couldn’t be the same person.
The two gave her completely different impressions.
Bronya also had an explanation for Kiana’s doubts.
She said, “The story in the Stigmata Theater hasn’t finished playing out yet.
Bronya doesn’t think we can dismiss the possibility that Xiao Shi is the Kiana from the Stigmata Theater so easily.
“Perhaps something happened to Kiana in that world that caused her to become like Xiao Shi?
“Besides, the Kiana in the Stigmata Theater didn’t have as many Stigmata-like patterns on her body as Xiao Shi does.” Bronya explained her theory, though she wasn’t completely certain either.
“For now, all of this is merely one of Bronya’s theories.
“Bronya can’t be completely certain that this theory is true.
It’s simply more plausible than other theories that have no supporting connections whatsoever.” While they were talking, the sound of a door opening came from the next room.
Footsteps gradually drew closer, and Xiao Shi, now dressed in a school uniform, pushed open the door and walked in.
Everyone hurriedly stopped talking and ended their discussion.
For now, it wasn’t suitable for Xiao Shi to know about these theories.
If the day came when they told Xiao Shi about their theories, it should only be after they had learned everything about Xiao Shi and Kiana’s past in the Stigmata Theater.
They would only tell her after confirming Xiao Shi’s identity.
For now, they would let her enjoy a carefree, leisurely, yet fulfilling student life at St.
Freya Academy!
After the physical examination was completed, they headed back.
A gentle breeze brushed past them as flower petals drifted toward them on the wind.
Raiden Mei raised a hand to block the cherry blossoms so they wouldn’t blow into her eyes.
Along with them came the mingled aromas of all kinds of food: egg rolls, grilled eel, dango, fried chicken, curry bread, grilled beef patties, sugar cakes, rice wine, senbei… There were also all kinds of noisy voices.
Raiden Mei remembered that the Snack Street of St.
Freya Academy was over there.
On weekends, whenever she didn’t cook in the dormitory, she would go to Snack Street with Kiana and Bronya to eat and browse the stalls.
Sometimes, they would invite Himeko along as well.
As she was thinking, she suddenly heard a rumbling sound beside her.
Xiao Shi covered her stomach and rubbed it twice.
“Are you hungry, Xiao Shi?” Raiden Mei asked as she looked at her.
Xiao Shi’s appetite seemed even larger than Kiana’s!
The amount of food she had given Xiao Shi that morning was about the same as Kiana’s, yet Kiana normally wouldn’t feel hungry until at least noon.
Xiao Shi nodded repeatedly.
This body truly needed to replenish its energy.
Arranging and performing the plays within the Stigmata Theater consumed a tremendous amount of mental and physical strength.
If she didn’t expend additional energy to replenish her stamina, then she would simply have to eat more.
She was doing this to conserve resources.
It definitely wasn’t because she had suddenly smelled the delicious aromas coming from Snack Street and deliberately cut off the flow of energy!
“Then let’s get something to eat first.
Xiao Shi, choose whatever you want!
I’ll pay,” Raiden Mei said.
The moment she finished speaking, Xiao Shi ran ahead toward Snack Street.
As Raiden Mei watched her, she suddenly felt Xiao Shi’s retreating figure overlap with another figure—the one who had risked her life to save her in the Stigmata Theater… “Kiana!” Before she realized it, Raiden Mei had already reached out and called her name.
Xiao Shi’s figure seemed to pause for a moment.
Soon, she stopped in front of a shop selling fried chicken.
“So you like fried chicken?” Raiden Mei quickly caught up to her with two practiced steps.
Perhaps Bronya really was right.
Before this, Raiden Mei had believed that she would never be able to reach that figure again.
“Ouch!” Kiana, who was currently at the St.
Freya Academy research center, suddenly ducked her head before turning to glare angrily at Bronya.
That had definitely been Bronya messing with her again, hadn’t it?
She must have secretly used that invisible robot of hers to smack Kiana on the head.
If Theresa and Class Monitor Fu Hua hadn’t both been watching, Kiana definitely wouldn’t have let the matter go.
As she thought this, Bronya looked at her innocently.
“Kiana, what’s wrong?
“Are your eyes bothering you?
Would you like Bronya to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist for you?” “You hateful Shortie!” Kiana was just about to charge at her when Theresa immediately called out to stop her.
“Enough, Kiana.
Don’t run around recklessly inside the Laboratory.
“What if you damage the experimental equipment?
These are all instruments I… I spent ages begging Grandpa to specially approve for the Far East Branch.
“Let’s hurry up and finish the examination.
Bronya, you operate the equipment.
“Once the examination is complete, return the item to Mei.” “Hurry up, Bronya!
This Young Lady still has to go back and eat with Mei!” Kiana immediately stood behind Bronya and urged her on.
She was starting to miss Mei.
After completing Xiao Shi’s physical examination, they had prepared to study the Relic of Saint Kallen.
It wasn’t suitable for Xiao Shi to accompany them for the time being, so Raiden Mei had volunteered to escort Xiao Shi back to the dormitory.
Meanwhile, the others met up with Fu Hua on the way and came to the research center together to examine the device that looked like a perfume bottle.
★ ★ ★ T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me.
★ ★ ★ Shilling time!