“…Kiana?” Liang Wu’s voice pulled Kiana back to her senses.
She snapped out of it, finally tearing her gaze away from Mei’s face, which was almost identical to Mei’s.
“N-Nothing!
I just…
spaced out for a moment.”
After saying that, she quickly bent down and picked up the paper bags that had fallen to the ground.
Liang Wu watched her slightly flustered movements and had a general idea of what was going on.
Although Mei and Raiden Mei did have differences in temperament, that face was probably still too much of a shock for Kiana.
But judging by Kiana’s current reaction, she had not actually mistaken Mei for Raiden Mei.
Or had she already realized the difference?
Liang Wu had already prepared an explanation for Mei, but it seemed the situation had not developed in that direction.
Standing nearby, Mei did not notice anything unusual.
She just smiled gently: “A little sister from the orphanage?
You never mentioned her before.”
Liang Wu remained composed: “There wasn’t really a chance to bring it up.”
“She lives far away and doesn’t really like socializing.
I was pretty surprised she could come stay with me for a few days.”
Mei nodded thoughtfully, her gaze once again falling on Kiana.
After looking her up and down, Mei suddenly asked: “By the way, your sister…
does she not go to school?
Today is Sunday, sure, but she doesn’t look like a student from Nagazora.”
Liang Wu was about to explain, but Kiana spoke up first: “I’m on a break from school.”
Her tone was unexpectedly steady: “There were some family issues, so I came here to stay with my brother…
just for a while.”
Mei looked at Kiana’s earnest expression.
After a moment, she smiled again: “I see.
That does sound tough.”
Liang Wu nodded.
Good.
As long as Mei did not pry further.
After all, Liang Wu had been a bit worried that Mei might start asking too many questions about Kiana’s background, like a household registration check.
It seemed that the fact that both he and Kiana had white hair did help save a lot of trouble in everyday situations.
She could sense that there was a natural familiarity between this girl who looked so much like Mei but was named Mei, and Liang Wu.
But this was clearly not the kind of deliberate friendliness between ordinary classmates.
It was the natural rapport that came from knowing each other for a long time.
Just like her and Mei and Bronya back then.
Kiana lowered her eyes and tightened her grip on the paper bag handles.
Right now, she felt a bit homesick.
She missed a home she could never return to.
“By the way.” Liang Wu suddenly remembered something and continued looking at Mei.
“I heard you took leave next week to go to the Mu continent for an academic seminar?”
After all, Chiba Academy was still a high school that cared about its graduation rates.
With a genius like Mei, the school was more than happy to promote her achievements.
Mei nodded: “Yes.
It’s supposed to be a seminar on some new physics theories.
I heard quite a few cutting-edge researchers will be there.”
Liang Wu’s heart stirred.
The academic seminar on the Mu continent.
According to the timeline, that was where Mei would catch Mobius’s attention.
And that was also the prelude to the official start of the Third Herrscher incident.
Add to that Eden’s concert next week.
It seemed time was indeed very tight.
The two chatted for a bit longer before Mei waved goodbye and walked off in another direction with her book bag.
After watching Mei’s figure disappear around the street corner, Liang Wu let out a long breath and turned to look at Kiana.
She was still looking down at the handles of the paper bags in her hands, lost in thought.
“You had a pretty strong reaction back there.” Liang Wu said directly.
Kiana was silent for a few seconds before speaking softly: “She…
looks a lot like a friend of mine.”
“A very important friend.”
Liang Wu did not press further.
He already knew who that friend was.
But right now, his priority was raising Kiana’s favorability.
Raiden Mei?
A random girl. This story is hosted at g.com.
Not relevant.
Liang Wu spoke again: “She’s not that friend of yours.
Just someone who looks very similar.”
“…Mm.” Kiana only gave a soft reply before looking up, her gaze lingering on the bright afternoon street for a moment.
After having lunch outside and buying some daily necessities in the afternoon, the two finally returned to the rented apartment.
And with that, the short weekend came to an end.
…
At night, after washing up, Liang Wu returned to his room alone.
Listening to the sound of water from the bathroom where the other person was showering, he began his daily review session.
First, he was quite satisfied with today’s gains.
In terms of bond level, his relationship with Kiana had already advanced from a basic bond to an intermediate bond!
So visual novels were not lying.
Accompanying a girl on a shopping trip really did increase favorability!
Although Liang Wu was well aware that compared to an advanced bond, the gap between basic and intermediate was not that large, this was still a huge step forward.
Aside from the bond level increase, Liang Wu noticed a new line of text on the system panel:
[Kiana Kaslana—Intermediate Bond Unlocked]
[Melancholy Charge Efficiency Increased: 40% → 60%]
Liang Wu: …
Only an extra 20%?
This system really knew how to squeeze every last drop out of a person.
Still, 60% charge efficiency was already quite substantial.
At this rate, perhaps with a bit more effort, he might actually be able to push his melancholy level up another notch before the Third Herrscher hit.
And given the current level of Honkai strength, with Kiana by his side, he should be able to steamroll through it, right?
However, just as Liang Wu was thinking this, something unexpected happened.
He suddenly felt a warm current surging from the back of his right hand, as if something was slowly awakening beneath the skin.
He instinctively looked down and saw a faint golden pattern emerging on the back of his hand.
Then, a white figure appeared before Liang Wu.
It was the ghost from earlier in the day.
[Ding!
New melancholic character detected: Cecilia Schariac.]
[Status: Spirit Form (Cannot be bound)]
[Currently bound melancholic character: Kiana Kaslana]