“I heard you didn’t eat anything at all yesterday.
What, the chef’s cooking not to your taste?”
At lunchtime, Himeko was happily enjoying her potato beef stew, while Angel across from her seemed utterly indifferent to the food, quietly flipping through her book like an emotionless robot.
After a few bites to take the edge off her hunger, Himeko smiled and said:
“You need to eat.
Honkai energy can’t replace food, you know.”
“…”
Angel lifted her head slightly, her violet eyes fixed coldly on Himeko.
In truth, she was already drooling on the inside, but she was using the authority of Dominance to keep her expression cold and detached.
Gulp.
It smells so good.
I want to eat it so badly…
Stay calm!
Maintain the traumatized, withdrawn persona!
But it smells so good!
True.
Think about it carefully.
St.
Freya’s chefs probably aren’t flown in from Europe.
They’re most likely hired locally.
But Far Eastern cuisine tends to not be very filling, so it definitely wouldn’t satisfy the appetites of St.
Freya students who are Valkyrie trainees.
And the closest culinary tradition to the Far East is…
Shenzhou cuisine!
Otto spoils Theresa so much, there’s no way he wouldn’t arrange the best meals for her…
Shenzhou chefs making Shenzhou food!
Ah!
I can’t take it anymore.
Just one bite, even just one bite!
Most of the Angels were reaching their breaking point.
Herrschers didn’t need to eat, but the Angels were still using human bodies.
Even if they wouldn’t starve to death, the physiological pangs of hunger were very real.
And it had been so long since they had a proper meal.
The save-point plan from yesterday hadn’t even started yet.
There was only one Angel on the outside right now, and she had to sit in front of fragrant Shenzhou food without touching it.
It was pure torture.
In the theater, a group of Angels was already rolling around on the floor.
But the one suffering the most was the Angel in the real world, because she was the one facing the temptation directly.
And not only could she not roll around, she also had to focus on maintaining her persona.
Slurp~
Just for a moment, Angel’s focus slipped.
Her eyes unconsciously drifted toward the food, and her face went blank as she sucked back a bit of drool.
The Angels in the theater quickly warned her.
Angel snapped back to attention, her expression quickly returning to cold detachment as she continued flipping through her book with a blank face.
“Pfft!”
“…What are you laughing at?”
“I remembered something funny.”
“…How boring.”
Angel said coldly, her fair cheeks gradually turning red, even as she forced herself to keep up the indifferent act.
That’s right.
As long as I pretend it never happened, my persona is still intact!
It’s just food.
Even if it flew right into my mouth, I would never—
Himeko held a piece of beef up to Angel’s face.
“Aah~”
Angel opened her mouth.
“Aah—munch!”
Angel chewed the beef Himeko had fed her, her expression completely blank.
Three seconds later, she vanished from the chair.
And so, by the law of conservation of mass, the blanket on the bed formed a lump.
“Hahaha!
I’ll step out for a bit.
I’ll come back to chat with you later.”
Himeko left the room, barely containing her laughter.
On the bed, the lump under the blanket had already begun to tremble slightly.
Ugh, so embarrassing.
There’s no way that idiot is me, right?
She must be a spy.
Kick her out of the group!
Alright, alright, let’s be serious.
Embarrassing as it is, this awkward, withdrawn personality fits the experiences of this world’s Angel.
It’s not a flaw.
Relax.
Don’t be afraid.
Keep up the hunger strike.
Right.
Hold out for two or three days, then pretend to faint from hunger.
After that, we can naturally accept their kindness and slowly cooperate with Himeko.
That’s the best script!
The Angels in the theater smugly patted themselves on the back, savoring the deliciousness transmitted through their shared sense of taste.
Meanwhile, the Angel under the blanket let out a mortified whimper in the darkness.
…
Himeko shared the amusing incident with Theresa.
Kiana was also there because she was concerned about Angel’s condition.
Raiden Mei had followed Kiana, and Bronya had followed Raiden Mei, so the main trio was all present.
“Bahahaha!
What kind of comedic character is she!
She tries to go on a hunger strike and then totally blows it!
Hahaha!”
Kiana doubled over laughing, curling and writhing on the sofa like a restless caterpillar.
Raiden Mei gently tapped Kiana on the head with a karate chop, half-scolding and half-resigned:
“Kiana, you shouldn’t laugh at people behind their backs.”
“Hmph!
She almost beat my beautiful, cute face into a pulp.
Can’t I even laugh a little?”
“Ki~a~na!”
“Yes!
Whatever Mei says is right.
I’ll listen to everything Mei says!”
Kiana immediately glued herself to her “wife’s” side, hugging her arm and acting cute.
Raiden Mei was completely helpless.
She patted Kiana’s head and gave up on scolding her for now.
Theresa watched the scene with a smile, then cleared her throat and turned serious:
“Ahem!
Alright, Kiana, let go of Mei for now.
Mei, I believe Himeko told you about that girl’s situation last night.
So, what do you think?”
“I…
I’ll do whatever Himeko-sensei and Principal Theresa think is best.”
Raiden Mei’s expression stiffened instantly.
She twisted her fingers together and answered weakly.
Theresa frowned and looked at Himeko.
Years of experience allowed Himeko to understand immediately.
She turned to Mei and said in her teacher’s voice:
“Mei, you know that’s not what we want to hear.”
“Himeko-sensei, I…
I…
I want to help her.
I don’t know what I can do or how much I can accomplish, but I want to help her.”
With Himeko’s encouraging gaze, Raiden Mei finally spoke her true thoughts, a sense of relief washing over her.
And once the words started flowing, surrounded by trusted companions and elders who knew the truth, Raiden Mei continued, touching her chest:
“She’s so much like me.
Suddenly losing the family who protected her, facing school bullying, losing control in the darkness and despair…
I feel like she’s another version of me in this world.
But…”
But Raiden Mei had been fortunate enough to meet Kiana Kaslana, who had charged headfirst into her dark life and illuminated her world.
And Angel had never met the light that could save her.
Raiden Mei stroked Kiana’s head, her gaze soft and moved, and spoke gently.
“I already know what a Herrscher is, and I know I bear inescapable responsibility for what happened in Nagazora City.
I created someone so much like me.
Knowing that, I can’t just stand by and do nothing.
I’m so grateful that I was saved, and precisely because of that, I want to do everything I can to help her…
Even though I’m still scared and at a loss, not knowing how it will all turn out, I’ll try my best to carry that burden.
That’s how I feel, Himeko-sensei.”
“Mei, you’re wonderful.
Don’t be afraid.
No matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side!”
“Thank you, Kiana.”
“Hehe, Mei doesn’t need to thank me.
We’re practically made for each other, right?”
Kiana snuggled against Raiden Mei, grinning foolishly.
Himeko smiled warmly at the scene and gave Theresa a knowing look.
Then she nodded and said:
“You’ve grown up, Mei.
Your teacher is proud of you.
Alright, I need to go check on that awkward little girl.
Look forward to it—I’m sure you two will become great friends.”
“Yes.
Thank you for everything, Himeko-sensei.”
Raiden Mei bowed as she saw Himeko off, then turned back to deal with Kiana’s usual overwhelming affection, torn between exasperation and happiness.
In the midst of this peaceful scene, no one noticed that Bronya, who had been quietly listening, was gripping the plush arm of her Homu doll tightly, her downcast eyes looking somewhat shadowed.
A victim of Nagazora City, huh…
Then that sin probably had her share in it too.