"Alright, enough joking around. Can someone explain what's going on here?"
Murata Himeko fastened the buttons of her hospital gown, steering the conversation back on track.
Honestly, if Kiana got jealous, Himeko wouldn't mind teasing Shiraki with a bit more eye candy.
But Kiana's bizarre attitude? It felt like she was the clown here!
Especially those overly intimate gestures Kiana showered on Shiraki, stabbing Himeko's fragile, single heart like a knife.
Like a spinster dog force-fed dog food!
Can't you show some love for animals!?
"Oh, oh, it's a long story, Teacher Himeko. Let me explain slowly~!"
With that, Kiana dragged a chair in front of Shiraki, her delicate, manicured nails and soft hands pressing his shoulders, guiding him to sit.
Then she began, weaving the tale with flair.
Her starry eyelashes and full chest quivered lightly with each breath, exuding the relaxed charm of a distant, exotic civilization.
She tweaked the story's cause and effect, embellishing here and there, narrating with vivid gusto.
Well, not exactly tweaked—Kiana just pinned all the credit on Shiraki.
She was Shiraki, so no harm done.
As she spoke, Kiana tilted her little head proudly, her pristine, stunning face brimming with glee and excitement, her tone bursting with pride, her expression radiating it.
Clinging tightly to Shiraki's arm, the white-haired girl's sky-blue eyes sparkled with little stars, overflowing with admiration and adoration for Shiraki, every bit the smitten, obedient fangirl girlfriend lost in her boyfriend's charm.
Paired with occasional kisses planted on Shiraki, Himeko was on the verge of barfing from the overload!
The gorgeous girl giggled, letting Shiraki's head rest on her perky, snowy peaks, her hands gently, rhythmically massaging his shoulders.
Don't get it twisted—Kiana's deliberate intimacy wasn't to torment her manless, resurrected teacher, but…
"Huh, weird, why's it suddenly so hot?"
Her slender finger tapped her lip, head tilting in feigned confusion, her breathtakingly cute face paired with that puzzled pose—adorable to the max!
Super invincible ultra-freaking-cute me!
Savoring 'her' kisses, Shiraki admired Kiana's performance, feeling the heat rise, but also a bone-chilling sensation, as if an icy, intense emotion had locked onto him.
A literal ice-and-fire double whammy.
Siegfried was really about to explode!
His twin golden guns blazed with roaring flames, as if they'd meld into the Skyfire Greatsword any second, cleaving that daughter-seducing punk in two!
Hearing Kiana's words, Skyfire's flames snuffed out instantly. Siegfried stumbled back, eyes shut, repeating deep breaths.
He couldn't look inside anymore, fearing he'd lose control and charge in. He couldn't just show up in front of Kiana like this.
Patience!
Siegfried!
Patience!
Wait till Kiana's gone!
Every father wants to be a hero in their daughter's eyes. Though Siegfried considered himself a lousy dad, far from heroic…
Whenever he recalled, long ago, eight-year-old Kiana gazing at him fighting Honkai beasts with those shimmering, adoring eyes…
That worshipful sparkle was like a shot of adrenaline, reviving his withered heart.
Now, Siegfried felt that image in Kiana's heart was being usurped by some punk!
How could he stay calm!?
Every father probably feels this way when their daughter finds a lover, right?
But Siegfried's hit a billion times harder, a billion times more visceral~!
Kiana's cutesy, lovestruck girlfriend act sent tidal waves of emotion crashing through him.
In that state, Kiana's story went in one ear and out the other—he couldn't process a word!
"So that's how it is…"
After Kiana's tale, Himeko took a deep breath, burying her tangled emotions.
Her red hair fell in graceful arcs, glinting in the sunlight, as she eyed Shiraki, his head cushioned by Kiana's waves.
"Thank you."
Her voice was soft, yet brimming with sincerity.
"Thank you for saving me, and even more for saving my precious student."
Shiraki shook his head with a light smile. "You're Kiana's teacher, so you're my teacher too."
His earnest, matter-of-fact words caught Himeko off guard, her lips curving into a smile.
Kiana finding a boyfriend in half a month felt surreal and bizarre, but Himeko could clearly sense the inseparable bond between these two.
Though she couldn't rule out Kiana's brain being seriously fried… it probably wasn't a worry.
Himeko threw off the covers and stepped out of bed.
So light!
Moving freely, she instantly noticed her body's state… better than ever!
Incredibly light, her tissues—once eroded by artificial stigmata—were 'burned out' by the Plague Gem, and the demon-blood serum had regenerated them.
Her artificial stigmata were gone, leaving only the natural Chixiao stigmata.
Now, Himeko was a Valkyrie with natural stigmata, her power slightly diminished, but in exchange, she'd gained a normal lifespan!
"This is a huge debt…" Himeko murmured softly.
Shiraki said what he said, but she couldn't just accept her student's boyfriend's favor so easily.
Wait!
What's this!?
Feeling her body's vibrant health, Himeko was about to thank him again, but turning, she caught sight of the mirror on the wall and the familiar yet unfamiliar figure within.
Her bare face remained refined, with crescent brows, a high nose, and flawless, faintly pink skin. Her golden eyes gleamed, and her vibrant red hair, spilling over her shoulders, added a touch of allure.
Once a quintessential mature beauty, her glossy lips and smooth, tender skin now lent a youthful air, blending enchantment with a hint of girlish charm.
"This, this…!!"
"Oh, sorry, Teacher Himeko."
Shiraki flashed a slightly sheepish smile. "The demon-blood serum is pretty potent. Most of your body's tissues are newly regenerated, so you might look a lot younger."
Gulp!
Himeko couldn't help swallowing, her breathing growing uneven.
"Shiraki, you're from another country, right?"
"Yeah, that's right. Why?"
"There's an old saying, isn't there?" Himeko's face flushed with inexplicable fervor. "Like for such a great kindness, with nothing to repay, I can only offer myself in return!"
Seriously, to Himeko, restoring her youth was a bigger favor than saving her life!
Did you know the pain of a spinster!?
Watching herself age in the mirror was like hauling a sack of rice from Saint Freya to Destiny's floating island!
Now, if she claimed to be a girl in her early twenties, who'd dare disagree?
She'd twist their head off!
Shiraki was practically her reborn parent!
"…" Blinking, Shiraki was speechless, unable to respond.
"Great! I'll accept on Shiraki's behalf!" Kiana beamed. "From now on, we'll each have our own terms—I'll call you Teacher Himeko, and you call me Onee-chan~!"
Himeko fell silent, just like Shiraki.
The white-haired girl's smile was radiant, like summer blossoms, her eyes pure and earnest, but Himeko's heart chilled.
It's over!
Her adorable student's brain was really fried!
Kiana didn't seem to be joking at all.
Outside, eavesdropping, Siegfried nearly cracked his teeth.
The room fell deathly still.
After a long pause, Himeko's voice drifted faintly: "Kiana, I was kidding…"
"Teacher Himeko, learning from Fifty-Fifty won't do!" Kiana puffed her round, adorable cheeks.
What's Fifty-Fifty?
"Alright, enough messing around." Shiraki took Kiana's hand, knowing how much of 'her' words were jest and how much were real.
"Teacher Himeko just recovered and needs rest. It's late, so we won't disturb you. Let's share the good news with Mei and Big Aunt first."
That "Big Aunt" froze Himeko's gaze, especially since Shiraki said it.
Thud!
Something collapsed outside, and Shiraki and Kiana turned in sync.
This time, they genuinely didn't mean it—Shiraki just forgot to switch terms.
Outside, Siegfried slumped as if drained of all strength, his body hitting the ground. What did Shiraki calling Theresa "Big Aunt" imply?
"Theresa! Theresa, you… idiot!"
Siegfried felt like he was gearing up for a high-stakes duel, only for a teammate to stab him through the heart from behind—ice-cold, soul-soaring!
After a half-second stupor, Himeko's shock morphed into a subtle, teasing smile. Nodding thoughtfully, she said:
"I'll handle Theresa myself—give her a little surprise."
Shiraki and Kiana exchanged a glance. "Alright, that works. Then, Teacher Himeko, we'll visit tomorrow."
Waving goodbye to Himeko, Shiraki and Kiana walked hand-in-hand out of the ward. Siegfried had already ducked around the corner when he heard them leaving.
Shiraki and Kiana played it cool, strolling off, while Siegfried trailed stealthily, hands trembling with excitement.
Finally!
It was night!
Once Shiraki and Kiana split up, he'd barge into Shiraki's room with Skyfire. Whether this kid was worthy of Kiana or not, he'd get a beating first!
Closer!
Just two corners to the guest rooms, twenty meters, ten meters!
Closer!
Nearer and nearer!
Five meters!
Three meters!
One meter!
Finally…
They're in!
Siegfried's grin vanished, his raised fist froze mid-air, his thoughts grinding to a halt, his whole being petrified like an exquisite statue.
They're in!
Kiana went in with Shiraki!
This freaking…!!
And that punk…!