2013 December 14th
Walking in the same direction, a group of students are heading towards Chiba Academy's building, the same students that are together, even distancing themselves from Kiana Kaslana and Raiden Mei.
The difference is that Kiana is with Cecilia Kaslana, the girl that's been skipping school and was now forced into school thanks to Kiana and Theresa's force.
"Boo… I don't wanna go to school. It's so boring!" Cecilia moaned.
"Get used to it. I can't have you skipping again, unless you want to fail again. And again. And again. And again."
"Okay! You don't have to say it again! Please!" Cecilia exclaimed while cutting Kiana off.
"Hey, Cecilia! Glad to have you back!" Appearing from behind, Houraiji Kyuushou is back to hang around with Kiana and Cecilia.
"Kyuu! Boy, am I glad to see you!" Cecilia rejoices while hugging Kyuushou.
"Hey, Kyuushou." Kiana moves her eyes while keeping her cool expression.
"Yo, Kiana! Relax, no one's going to pull me away from you this time!" Kyuushou laughs.
"Really? You seem eager to see me every day this morning."
"Duh? Remember when you first got to Japan? I promise to stay by your side as your hero!" Kyuushou points at herself proudly while wrapping her arm around Kiana's shoulder.
"Man, big sis has Mei-senpai and Kyuu without even trying, you loner." Cecilia sighs, knowing that Kiana is going to have a harem of girls as a girl herself.
Kiana ignores both Kyuushou and Cecilia while walking quickly ahead of the duo.
"Huh!? Kiana!" Kyuushou exclaims.
"Big sis, wait!" Cecilia yells, following Kiana along with Kyuushou.
Giggling quietly, Mei can tell that Kiana is having fun, even when she's not showing any expression towards that.
At the locker area inside a school building, every student is changing their footwear to their indoor shoes, even Mei comes across a letter in her locker, making her suspicious about this said letter.
Is it a threat? A prank? Because there can't be a love letter during this time.
Whatever it is, Mei puts the letter in her skirt pocket as nobody's watching.
Then she heads towards the classroom.
Inside a classroom is a Japanese literature lesson, reading through the textbook each along with her classmates, Mei is still writing and looking into her books while minding her own business in studying.
Looking at the same letter that was in her pocket, Mei pulls it out without anyone noticing, opens this said letter and then…
[Mei!]
"Hya!?" Mei shrieks as she quickly closes the letter.
"Raiden-san? What's going on?" The teacher asked.
Mei stops herself, witnessing the teacher and her classmates looking at her as if she's being watched everywhere.
Shaking her head, Mei tries not to think about what's going to happen to her.
This letter mustn't be exposed.
"U- Um… Please, may I use the bathroom." Mei asks as she bows.
"Seriously? Haah… Alright. Just be back before the bell rings." The teacher sighs while letting Mei go.
"Thank you." Mei stands up and then leaves the classroom as quickly as she could, making her wary of her surroundings.
Finally, a bit of freedom and she'll be safe.
In the bathroom.
One of the bathroom doors is fully closed as Mei is sitting on the toilet and stares at the letter that was given to her.
But who gave her that letter?
Opening the letter again, it reveals a tiny glowing item that looks like a siren or a button, making Mei curious about what this item was like.
Then the same thing pops out.
[Is this thing on? Mei, is that you?]
"Dad?" Mei asks while surprised about a green bunny-like creature that's in an eyepatch and wears a samurai getup.
[Of course it's me. The Samurai Homu.] A Homu, who is classed as a Samurai Homu, introduces himself while bowing.
"Ah? The Anti-Entropy device. That explains why there's a small item in that letter." Mei sighs after realising someone is masquerading as a Homu. "But why are you here?" Mei is curious to know what her father is doing in Chiba Academy.
[Well… Ahem! Never mind that. The reason I'm here is to send you a message and accompany you.] Said the Samurai Homu.
"Accompany me? Seriously?" Mei asks out of curiosity while sighing.
[That's right. You do know why I'm here, right?]
Mei can see why this Homu is helping her as anonymous, making sure to send her a message from the Anti-Entropy.
[It's about this Kaslana girl.]
"You mean Kiana or Cecilia?" Mei halts with surprise.
[The former. I heard some rumours that she possesses the final Herrscher. She's also related to the Schicksal warriors that were her family.]
"You mean her father travelled around the world because…" Mei gasps after realising why Kiana mentioned other countries earlier.
[Unfortunately. Is Kiana Kaslana your friend?] The Samurai Homu asked.
"We only just met and Kiana is a lot friendlier than everyone makes her out to be." Mei is being honest with her relationship with Kiana towards a single mascot character.
[I see. Be wary of Kiana Kaslana and her associates.] The Samurai Homu warned.
"Yes, father." Even Mei is embarrassed to roll with it by speaking to a mascot character that is her father and that's not the first time that happened..
[Good. There's one last thing I have to-]
Splash!
"Trying to hide, are you?" A girl's voice called after the Homu disappeared from a splash of water.
"Too bad!" The other girl laughed.
The laughter that Mei couldn't stand as if they're still trying to torment her.
It suddenly becomes quiet as the door opens.
Mei can hear slow footsteps and the sink turning on, leading her to stay quiet.
"Oh. It's you, Kaslana Kiana." One of the bully girls groaned.
Gasping, Mei can tell who that was after seeing that she's near a group of bullies that messed with her.
"Aww, what's wrong? Feeling sick or what?" One bully asked.
No response.
All Mei wants to do is to get out and save Kiana, but is unable to due to the increasing fear of what's coming to get her.
"Hey! We're talking to you!" Another bully shouts.
"Why're you following Mei-senpai?" Kiana asks in response.
"Huh?" The bullies stop after what Kiana said to them.
"What are you talking about?" The one who leads the bullies asks as she's confused and then snorts out of disgust. "If that's the case, maybe you can replace her if you wanna be her hero!"
Before Mei kicks the door, a clicking noise has caused the whole bathroom to be silent, giving Mei the impression that something is wrong behind the stall.
"You can bully me all you want, but bullying Mei-senpai is something you shouldn't do. When we know each other, Mei-senpai is one of the few people that understands other people, unlike you. If you were the same delinquents that molested Asakura-san, I'd have shot you on the spot, spraying blood on the wall. I don't care if I'm expelled or arrested, so you better leave, or I'll pull this trigger." Kiana warned as her tone is more harsher.
As other bullies whisper as they panic, the leader chuckles as she thinks Kiana is bluffing.
"Y- You don't scare us. I'm sure this gun is a fa-"
BANG!
Slamming the stall open, Mei can see Kiana with a hand pistol has smoke coming out of its hole, meaning a bullet hole is on the wall, causing the bullies to whimper as the leader pants in fright.
That bullet is a warning sign to them.
"Leave, or the next one's through your head." Kiana is now impatient as she refuses to let them stay any longer.
Afterwards, the bullies scream while rushing past Kiana and Mei, leading the 2 all alone in the bathroom.
"Kiana…"
"Oh, Mei-senpai. Yo." Kiana is now attentive towards Mei while smiling at her.
"That gun… Why did you bring that with you?" Mei asked.
"For self defence. I know it's illegal to have guns in school, but my old man brought it from America for me to keep hold of." Kiana takes a seat by the sink.
Mei holds her breath and then looks into Kiana's eyes.
"You know guns are illegal! You should've known better, so don't bring it over next time! Got that!?" Mei finally scolds Kiana, making Kiana herself sigh and cross her legs.
"Yeah. Sure. I'll make sure not to bring a gun over." Kiana accepts Mei's warning and then stands off the sink.
"Good." Mei finally concludes while turning away from Kiana and opens the bathroom door. "After school, can we meet at the bridge? If you're free."
Mei knows that Kiana is busy with other things, but wants to hang around with her for a little longer.
"Well… I'm bored, Cecilia is going straight back home and Kyuushou is busy with other things, so sure." Kiana accepts Mei's offer.
"R- Really!? I mean, I see." Mei sighs with relief and then wash her hands. "So why're you here?"
"I stink and I feel sick." Kiana bluntly answers without hesitation.
"Oh. I'll give you some space then." Mei waves before she leaves.
"Thanks, Mei-senpai."
After closing the door, Mei is relieved that no one is hurt, especially when Kiana is bringing the gun to school without any notice.
Quickly, she rushes back to class before she misses more time in lessons.
The school bell rings as many students are leaving the building and head back home, even going out with each other.
"Bye, Kyuu! See ya, Kiana!" Cecilia cheers while waving.
"See ya, girls!" Kyuushou called, heading in the opposite direction from Cecilia.
Kiana waves as she waits, looking into her phone as her phone keeps on beeping, saying [Herrscher nearby!] leading her to sigh and close her phone and put it in her pocket.
Appearing from behind, both hands had Kiana off guard while getting her eyes covered.
"Ah. Mei-senpai, there you are." Kiana's tone is now positive, giving her the impression that Mei is teasing her for once.
"That's right, Kiana. Let's head towards the bridge, shall we?" Mei said while grabbing Kiana's hands.
"Sure." Kiana accepts while getting dragged.
At the bridge, Kiana and Mei are watching the sunset together as there's cars under the bridge, the Anti-Entropy security are checking the areas that aren't infected by the Honkai.
Leaning on the fence of the bridge, Kiana sighs, hoping for something interesting to happen.
Mei turns her head while calmly looking at Kiana.
"Kiana. How do you feel when someones a Herrscher?" Mei asks.
"Huh? Why do you ask?"
"I mean you did hunt down the Honkai, but if anyone who's still conscious yet infected or holding that kind of power inside them, what do you do?" Mei is curious to know how Kiana feels.
"Hm. The truth is I killed Honkai and Herrscher and innocent people are no exception. I put a bullet through those that are infected considering there's no cure. Regardless if you or I were Herrschers, I never hesitate to kill. If I have a Herrscher in me, then I would gladly kill myself. Bang." Kiana reveals her truth behind her motivation, doing a charade of shooting herself with a gun.
This gives Mei the impression that Kiana is heavily anti-Honkai and will do anything to prevent anyone from getting infected by one.
"Oh. So what do you think of life itself?"
"Dull and miserable. It's just that humans like us are meaningless as a species after all." Kiana admits her feelings towards life.
"That is true. People are truly ignorant of Honkai these days. I got it." Mei smiles as she walks towards the other side of the bridge while raising her arms. "How about we die together."
"What?" Kiana halts as she remains calm, but is surprised that Mei is offering her own life along with Kiana's.
"That's right, if we commit suicide, then this'll lessen the problem, I mean the scar on your body shows that you're not the only one facing a problem. You're infected, so it's obvious that you'll kill yourself in the process." Mei points out.
"So you're saying we'll die together, especially that I'm infected?"
"That's right." Mei nods.
This led to Mei halting as a glock was pointing towards her forehead.
"Kiana?"
"So you're admitting to being the 3rd Herrscher, Herrscher of Thunder." Kiana reveals her phone as it gives out warning and targets Raiden Mei.
Mei gulps while staying silent, waiting for the opportunity to meet her end.
"Go on. Shoot me. I don't care if you hate me, as long as I'm free of my suffering, you can kill me and the Herrscher." Mei lets out a sigh, knowing Kiana would shoot someone like her.
BANG!
Blood splatters on the bridge, staining Kiana from her right arm to her uniform, she finally kills another one of her targets.
Surprisingly, Mei remains unscathed as a zombie collapses next to Kiana and Mei.
"What the?"
"Mei-senpai, you're being silly. If I could, then I wouldn't have met you. Besides, I need you to help me. Well, you're from the kendo club, so I thought a samurai would assist a valkyrie like me." Kiana raises her hand, offering Mei to help her on a mission to hunt down as many Honkai as possible.
Mei stops herself and thinks back about why Kiana is sparing her as she rarely does that to a girl who's about to release a Herrscher out of her.
"Don't worry, if the Herrscher comes out, then I'll put you out of your misery. I'll kill you if that happens, got that?"
As much as Kiana threatens Mei with a bullet, Mei couldn't help but smile as if she's glad to have someone not sparing her as a Herrscher.
"Kiana…" Mei sighs, relieved to see someone who's willing to go this far against her other side.
As Mei opens her eyes, she halts as she gasps, witnessing a light that is one of the buildings' rooftop, causing Mei to quickly push Kiana until a loud noise is disturbing and scaring the citizens as they panic.
BANG!
"Kiana!" After Mei pushes Kiana, a bullet grazes Kiana's arm as Kiana herself exclaims out of shock.
"What the!? An ambush!?" Kiana looks behind herself as she pulls out her phone and zooms the camera onto a specific sniper.
A sniper appears to have silver hair with drilled twintails, reloading her sniper rifle that is about to hit Kiana, leading Mei to gasp out of shock.
"Bronya!?"
"Bronya? You know her?" Kiana asks while releasing her second glock as she's ready to face this said sniper.
"She's one of the orphans near the Anti-Entropy organisation. Wait. Don't kill her."
"Don't worry. I won't kill her, but I will capture her." Kiana hops off the fence of the bridge and surprisingly lands on the truck, heading towards the building that's about to fire another bullet.
Mei then runs through the bridge, goes down the stairs and rushes towards the same building Kiana is heading to.
Whoever Bronya is, maybe the Anti-Entropy have ordered her to kill Kiana because she's either a Herrscher or associated with Schicksal.
Behind Mei, Kyuushou has witnessed the very sniper as she rushed forward, following Mei in trying to stop Bronya from what she's trying to do.