"...Damn it!!!"
After realizing what those girls had done again, Byakuya cursed and immediately rushed out of the classroom.
He hadn't expected that after he had just disciplined those girls yesterday, they would do something even more outrageous today.
Byakuya wasn't sure what had happened to Raiden Mei at the hands of these people, but he was certain of one thing:
With Kiana not yet present,
He was the only one in this Academy who could help her!
Images from his past gaming experiences, of the girl's heartbreaking memories of her Academy days, flashed through his mind. Byakuya gritted his teeth and quickened his pace.
At the same time,
"...Why are they doing this to me? What exactly did I do wrong?"
Tears welled up in Mei's eyes.
She was currently curled up in the corner of the changing room, wearing only a thin swimsuit. After swimming class, the girls had suddenly snatched Mei's clothes and locked her in the changing room.
No matter how she cried for help, no one responded.
No matter how she apologized, there was only mockery.
No matter how she pleaded, there was only laughter.
"So cold, so sad. I don't want to be hurt anymore. I've had enough of this... Anyone, please, someone save me."
Mei's light purple eyes became incredibly bright at this moment. Purple electric arcs flickered around her delicate body, and the Honkai Energy around her gradually intensified, centered on her.
A new consciousness emerged, unnoticed by anyone, whispering, urging, commanding Raiden Mei to destroy everything.
However, just as this consciousness, with its irresistible omnipotence, was about to bring Mei a new beginning,
"Mei! Are you in here?!"
Clang—!
With a loud bang, the door to the girls' changing room was violently kicked open.
A young man burst in, with short, long-white hair and light golden eyes filled with obvious anxiety and concern.
"Byakuya… Byakuya."
Mei stared blankly at the young man who had burst in. In her sight, the person before her was as dazzling as a prince from a fairy tale.
The despair, sadness, and self-abandonment from moments ago abruptly ceased, like someone about to drown finally grasping a last straw.
Seeing that Mei was unharmed, Byakuya breathed a slight sigh of relief. He quickly stepped forward and draped a coat over the girl's shoulders, comforting her that she was safe now.
At the same time, he noticed the lingering purple electric arcs flickering on the surrounding ground, and immediately realized that if he had been any later, the consequences could have been unimaginable.
Although the Honkai Energy concentration was certainly not enough for Herrscher transformation, the signs had already appeared.
"Ahh!!~ Mei, you've been bullied again, but it's okay now, so don't worry. I'll teach those people a good lesson for you later."
Byakuya raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the girl's eyes. Since it was one of the first two times in his life comforting a crying girl, he seemed a bit flustered.
Mei, meanwhile, clutched Byakuya's clothes tightly with her hands, as if silently pleading for him not to leave.
After a slight hesitation and delay,
Byakuya raised his hand and patted her head.
"It's okay now, don't be afraid."
"Mm, Shiraishi-kun, you came to help me again…"
"Then this time, I'll take your bento as payment, Mei. Uh, if you're hungry, then forget it."
"Mm, okay, I'll give it to you. Really, truly, thank you, Bai Ge."
An indescribable feeling appeared in Mei's heart. She couldn't accurately describe her mood at the moment.
It was the feeling of suddenly being saved by someone when she had fallen into despair and was about to give up.
If possible, she wanted to maintain the current situation a little longer, so the two of them sat together in silence.
The girl lowered her head, leaning against Byakuya's arm, while Byakuya looked up at the ceiling, thinking about how he would discipline those girls later.
"...Um, what exactly is this coat?" Mei finally spoke first.
"Oh, I borrowed it from the drama club on my way here. Does it fit you well, Mei?"
Byakuya explained.
Thanks to the system's reminder, he remembered that Raiden Mei's clothes had been taken by those girls.
Otherwise, he might have had to make another trip.
"It… it's okay, just a little tight."
"..."
One could only say that she truly lived up to being the best-figured among the three main heroines; she was already developing pronounced curves at such a young age.
Byakuya glanced at the girl's chest. The buttons of the clothes were enduring more tension than they should, as if they might burst open and fly off at any moment.
"Speaking of which, Shiraishi-kun, you've been calling me by my first name since just now," Mei said softly.
"Eh? Have I? Oh, sorry about that, it just slipped out. Mei… Raiden-san, if you don't like it, then forget it." Byakuya scratched his head.
"No, I don't dislike it!"
"...Is that so? That's good."
Byakuya smiled upon hearing this. He wasn't used to other forms of address.
After all, he had always called her Mei in the game, and for a while, Byakuya had even forgotten that the girl had the surname Raiden, just as when they first met yesterday, he almost called her by her first name directly.
For people in the Far East Region, first names are only used by close friends or family, but for any Captain, they are only accustomed to calling her Mei.
"It's me who should be thanking you Shiraishi-kun, , for calling me that." She also smiled.
Raiden Mei was truly happy that there was still someone in the Academy willing to call her by her first name.
Instead of calling her things like 'the fraudster's daughter' or 'the sinner's daughter'.
"Since that's the case, Mei can just call me Byakuya directly, hehe, it's like returning a favor."
"Okay, then... Byakuya."
As if doing something very challenging, Mei cautiously called out Byakuya's name. She clearly felt a difference from the past.
Unlike those who aimed for the Raiden family's wealth and Mei's reputation to befriend her, this young man before her was so sincere and pure, as spotless as his snow-white hair.
Byakuya was extremely happy at this moment.
Because he had formed a bond with the living, breathing Raiden Mei, not virtual game data, but the flesh-and-blood, genuine Raiden Mei.
He was so happy he even wanted to cheer, and really wanted to show off to his friends in the previous life's fleet.
"Oh, right, I suddenly thought of something good!"
A flash of inspiration suddenly struck Byakuya, and he immediately turned to propose to the purple-haired girl in front of him.
"Mei, I have an idea. It might not completely change your current situation and stop you from being bullied, but it should at least be much better than now. Want to try it?"
"Really? Please tell me!"
"Don't get too happy too soon. In some ways, you might have to make a small sacrifice. Anyway, just listen first."
So Byakuya explained his sudden idea, and Raiden Mei's eyes widened upon hearing it, a blush appearing on the her cheeks.
It was indeed a simple and effective method.
But it also seemed ambiguous and strange.
For Mei, who had been strictly raised with proper family education since childhood, possessing a gentle and conservative nature, truly a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko, this was an idea she wouldn't have considered in the past.
But the current Raiden Mei was different. She was at the most desperate, weakest, most powerless moment of her life, unable to do anything. She was lonely, desolate, helpless, physically and mentally exhausted, and covered in scars.
It was also the moment she most yearned for someone to save her.
Perhaps it was the so-called suspension bridge effect that caused Byakuya's favorability in Mei's heart to be excessively high, but the young man before her had undoubtedly saved her twice.
In this Academy where no one was willing to help her, and everyone was targeting and harming her, only Byakuya had stepped forward twice to protect Raiden Mei.
Perhaps it was precisely because of this that Mei instinctively relied on Byakuya, who provided her warmth.
And facing Byakuya's proposed method to help herself, though a bit ambiguous, it was a plan with purely good intentions, so she naturally couldn't refuse.
"But Byakuya, is this really okay? I mean... if you do this, you'll also be ostracized by everyone because of me."
The kind-hearted Mei couldn't help but say worriedly.
"It's fine, it's fine~ I'm not interested in them anyway, and if the object is Mei, then no matter how you look at it, I'm the one getting the better end of the deal." Byakuya waved his hand, indicating it didn't matter at all.
"...Thank you. Uh, I'm sorry, it seems I can only say 'thank you' to you right now. I will definitely remember this kindness and repay it someday."
"Mei, you're just too serious, but that's also your strength. As for repayment, could you prepare lunch for me starting tomorrow? Yesterday's bento was incredibly delicious, I'd like to eat it again."
"Please, please leave it to me!"
Mei immediately agreed.
Perhaps a mere lunch seemed insignificant compared to the help Byakuya had given her, but she was also happy that she could do something.
Byakuya looked at her like that, blinked, and then propped his head up with a smile.
"Mei, you just smiled."
"Eh?"
"Girls are indeed beautiful when they smile, especially a beautiful girl like Mei. Although your previous melancholic and pitiful look wasn't bad, it's definitely better like this now."
He almost wanted to take out his phone and snap a picture.
"...Did I, smile."
Mei unconsciously touched her face.
She hadn't smiled for who knows how long since her father was imprisoned, but at this moment, because of the young man before her, Raiden Mei's smile bloomed once more.
The girl's scarred heart was also healed somewhat because of him.
"Alright, since we've decided to do this, let's act without further ado!"
"Uh, wait, please let me prepare myself mentally."
"You don't need that kind of preparation. Don't hesitate once you've decided. If we don't hurry, class will start."
Pulling Mei's hand, Byakuya sprinted towards the classroom.
Mei, being pulled by him, felt her heart beating so fast. She thought it was probably just because she was running, and not for any other reason.
.........
When the two finally arrived at the classroom, the afternoon class bell had already rung.
"Next, we'll begin class. Uh, where are Shiraishi and Raiden..."
Bang!!!
Before the teacher on the podium could finish speaking,
The classroom door was pulled open with immense force, startling everyone in the class. A few who were slacking off even dropped their phones.
"Teacher, sorry we're late!"
"Ha ha, Byakuya, this is too..."
Showing no signs of being sorry at all, Byakuya walked onto the podium with his head held high. Behind him, Raiden Mei was panting, her face flushed red, and her hair disheveled.
Everyone's gaze was focused on them, imagining what the two had been doing during lunch break.
Especially the boys, who cast envious glances.
Although the Raiden family had fallen on hard times and Miss Mei no longer held her former status, she was still the most beautiful girl in the entire Academy. Could it be that she had already been 'taken down' this afternoon?
The next second, Byakuya placed both hands on the podium.
"Ahem, I apologize for interrupting class, but now... everyone, look at me! I'm announcing something!"