Fu Hua had probably fully adapted to elementary school life over the past year, so she seemed equally at ease in middle school, at least when it came to being isolated.
That's right, Fu Hua, who'd always been able to blend in easily, a good buddy to guys and a reliable elder to girls, was being isolated.
Shiraha chose a seat by the window in the back row. Though he hadn't arrived early, that spot wasn't particularly popular, unless you considered yourself the center of attention or were completely ostracized.
Kiana still took the last row, near the trash can. She wanted to make friends, but she'd found that in the Far East, friendships came with a lot of baggage.
Take the young lady Mei, she had tons of friends, but her life was complicated too.
"I still love school life!"
Elysia sighed contentedly, finding her familiar spot again. Different building, same position, back row by the window, where the morning sun slanted in from the left.
And most importantly, Shiraha had the same "infamous reputation."
Shiraha looked up, his expression complicated: "That means something's wrong with your head, Nee-chan."
Elysia's starry eyes curved, and she didn't argue.
But this seat really had carried most of her emotions over the past few years, even more delightful than holding a kid at night while sleeping.
Sleeping was mostly silent, but by the window, she could whisper with Little Shiraha, lie on the desk where no one could see her, her starry eyes shimmering as she watched him helplessly play along.
As long as she remembered that Shiraha was first in his grade, she had no guilt whatsoever.
"Though, Hua is still as reserved as ever."
Hua wasn't actually introverted, but compared to most people, she was a bit quiet... after all, she didn't know anything.
"Building a persona?" Shiraha guessed. "Or maybe she really doesn't know how to fit in with kids."
The first day of middle school wasn't too busy, mostly introductions and settling everyone back in. Since Chiba Academy combined elementary through high school, after Shiraha's introduction, he was... unsurprisingly isolated again.
Though he was still better off than Fu Hua, she hadn't even gotten to her introduction yet before being ostracized based on her past reputation.
Everything else proceeded as usual. Mei always had her own little circle around her.
Kiana thought for a moment, walked over, and placed her hand on Shiraha's desk: "Are you interested in having another friend, Shiraha?"
"Not—" Shiraha paused, then immediately changed his answer: "Interested."
If this friend was Fu Hua, Shiraha's lips curled slightly.
Come on, Supreme One, whether it's for intel or anything else, I have plenty of time to play with you.
Kiana let out a breath of relief: "I was afraid you'd say you already had friends to keep you company."
Shiraha exchanged a glance with his Nee-chan. She didn't seem... bothered?
"Nee-chan doesn't care about such trivial things!"
He said it in a tone that defended her, as if his Nee-chan was supposed to be glorious, great, and all-powerful, just like him.
Kiana said nothing. She didn't believe him.
A moment later, she reached out, took Shiraha's hand, and led him toward the gloomy-looking girl not far away, Fu Hua.
"Fu Hua, Shiraha's here." Kiana paused, then explained to Shiraha: "None of us have friends, and Fu Hua is really capable. I think we should get to know each other."
This was called banding together for warmth.
As for whether banding together still counted as being lonely, Kiana wouldn't ponder any philosophical questions. She had no interest in that.
Fu Hua looked up again, her expression still subtle.
She sighed: "Hard to imagine that Shiraha has no friends at school."
At that question, Shiraha glanced at his Nee-chan again. Elysia hummed and turned her head away.
"Fu Hua thinks I should have a lot of friends?"
Fu Hua nodded.
Though she had no evidence, she just felt that Shiraha, who was connected to that miracle in Siberia, should be warm, outgoing, and care about everyone.
Origin, that was the word. She vaguely grasped it. The Origin should be like that.
Shiraha stood beside her, his tone natural: "A lot of people think that. I did originally want to go in that direction, but clearly... it didn't work out."
As for why the Origin had no friends, first, because Shiraha wasn't the true Origin, and second... because of the previous Origin.
Sigh. Old timer. Sigh. Big sister.
"Why doesn't Fu Hua have any friends?"
Shiraha asked softly. He was curious what kind of persona Fu Hua had set for herself.
Fu Hua's expression looked uncomfortable: "I'm an orphan."
You're not! Oh you are now.
Shiraha paused. And then?
But Fu Hua had already lowered her head. Shiraha's lips twitched, fine, being an orphan was reason enough.
Kiana spoke up, speaking Fu Hua's thoughts for her: "We've decided to start an entrepreneurial club. Shiraha, do you want to join?"
One person could join multiple clubs, as long as they could manage their time well.
Otherwise, it'd easily make people dislike you.
Shiraha looked reluctant.
"Anyway, you don't really do anything in that 'Hokushin Ittō-ryū youth training camp' anyway."
Kiana said bluntly.
Though it was Shiraha's only connection to Raiden Mei at school, Kiana didn't think Shiraha was the type to suck up to others... right?
In the distance, Mei's ears twitched. Did she just hear someone trying to poach her most loyal retainer?
But Fu Hua hadn't really intended to start a club. She noticed from the corner of her eye—
Mei was storming over, her boss-like aura overwhelming everyone. Fu Hua quickly went quiet and looked down at her textbook.
At that moment, Shiraha cleverly spoke up: "Why don't you two join the Hokushin Ittō-ryū youth training camp instead!"
Fu Hua's eyes lit up, this kid was so cooperative! She didn't even have to mediate or steer things, she hated that kind of work.
Kiana curled her lip, who cared about Mei's pretend club? No matter how ordinary she was, Kiana had seen blood in Siberia.
Mei looked troubled, are her subordinate recommended subordinates, were they still her subordinates?
"Mei-nee, Fu Hua is really excellent, she's currently second in our grade."
I know. Because of her sudden rise, my rank dropped again. And because I played too much recently, I even fell out of the top twenty moving from elementary to middle school.
Mei stayed silent, but Fu Hua raised her hand... raised her hand?
She acted like a model student: "If Mei allows me and Kiana to join the club, I can tell you a big secret that belongs only to me, a secret about the truth of this world!"
Mei held her breath, she vaguely guessed what it was.
She looked around. Her friends were chatting on and off, and without her, even the atmosphere seemed duller.
She quickly leaned in and whispered: "Herrscher?"
Fu Hua put on a look of "shock"!
Mei's lips curled up immediately, letting out a light hum. She knew it.
But for an ordinary person to know about Herrschers, they must be pretty lucky.
At that point, Fu Hua's 'shock' subsided, returning to that wooden calm: "What's a Herrscher?"
Mei: ?
Mei tilted her head, you don't know what a Herrscher is? Then what's your secret?
"I was going to say, there's a power in this world that can mutate the body, making people incredibly strong but emotionless, like walking corpses."
Fu Hua added, her heart bitter, this kid already knew that much? Wasn't Anti-Entropy supposed to be a greenhouse education?
Otto, how bad is your intelligence network!
Where is someone like me, a nominal ordinary person, supposed to learn about Herrschers!
Mei's face was bewildered, what was this again?
Setting aside those scenes she'd seen in North America, Mei currently knew almost nothing about Honkai: "Why do you talk nonsense like the delinquent senpai..."
Mei suddenly stopped, was it possible that neither of them was talking nonsense?
With that thought, Mei was quiet for a moment.
"...Do you have proof?"
She asked softly.
Fu Hua quickly nodded: "I recorded it on my phone."
Mei fell silent. Could it be that the delinquent senpai had once been a loyal subject, but because of her own ignorance, she'd started looking down on her?
She was silent for a moment. Being able to calmly shift blame onto another party was also a skill a qualified leader should possess.
Yes, it was definitely the delinquent senpai's fault!
"Welcome to the Hokushin Ittō-ryū youth training camp! For now, hang out with Shiraha and the others, we'll talk more at noon."
As Mei turned, she stopped and reached out: "Do you want to hang out with me?"
Thinking about it, not many people liked being isolated.
Except for Kiana and Shiraha, but Shiraha had his ghost, and Kiana had Shiraha and her job.
And Kiana was strong.
Fu Hua was clearly tempted, but she held back: "Sorry, I have to work after school."
She could act too, she was willing to stay up late learning how.
Besides, Fu Hua had been playing online games lately, how else would she get stronger without spending money?
She could technically not spend, but then she wouldn't be able to explain why her account had so many powerful items.
Gradually, she started working part-time, and then realized she didn't even need to apply for aid anymore.
Self-sufficient.
Kiana let out a breath of relief, this was her work buddy! Lately, she'd been trying hard to keep up with Fu Hua's pace, and her little savings had grown into a decent sum.
Mei immediately understood: "That's fine, come to the club whenever you have time."
She returned to her seat, thoughtful... if Fu Hua had to work every day, what was the point of having her join the club?
But then she thought, Fu Hua would also take Kiana to work and she was instantly relieved: as long as she takes Kiana away, that's all that matters.
After Mei left, Shiraha looked at Fu Hua, paused for a moment, then said: "If anyone bullies you, tell me or tell Kiana. She's strong."
Kiana quickly clenched her fist and gestured: "Yeah I really can't stand bullying."
"I'm very grateful. How about I treat you two to dinner tonight?" Fu Hua paused, then quickly added: "And we can talk more about that secret."
Shiraha kept his expression neutral, was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Okay."
As Shiraha turned away, his lips kept twitching up and then flattening.
Elysia glanced back at Hua once more before bounding after him with her hands behind her back.
"Does the thought of Hua going out of her way to invite you out make your lips curl up all on their own, my little brother?"
She suddenly bent down, peeking in from the side, her eyes curving as she looked at Shiraha's face.
Shiraha gave a slight nod but didn't respond, after all, he wasn't sure how good Fu Hua's hearing was.
It wasn't until he was back in his seat, leaning by the window again, that his smile finally broke free, bright and radiant.
His classmates were already used to it, Shiraha had a mental condition, after all.
But this time, Shiraha held up his notebook and pressed close to his Nee-chan, writing gently on the page.
[Thinking about how the once most honest Hua is now pretending to be an elementary schooler and even lying, it's really hard not to laugh.]
[Nee-chan, Hua might be here because of you.]
Elysia hummed lightly: "If I said I couldn't read, would Little Shiraha be upset?"
She could read, and Shiraha knew that.
But Shiraha never killed the mood!
He stood on tiptoe, leaned close to his Nee-chan's ear, and whispered, so softly that he couldn't even form a complete sentence, but with the breath of a young boy mixed in, the atmosphere was all there.
Elysia smiled, her eyes like spring water: "Now I understand."
"But my little friend, the one you should be paying most attention to right now is someone else."
Rin had been quiet all day, that wasn't right. Elysia could sense what Rin was doing.
Now that they'd entered middle school, Rin was clearly lying low, waiting. Little Rin believed that anyone connected to the Elysian Realm would definitely make contact with Shiraha today.
And she'd set her sights on Fu Hua!
Shiraha clearly didn't care. If Rin got the better of Fu Hua, that meant Fu Hua was in terrible shape right now, no need to step in just yet. He'd wish her luck and help out later.
When Kiana passed Shiraha on her way back to her seat, she stopped again. Watching him play so happily with thin air, she suddenly felt that, now that she'd earned a decent amount of money, she needed to do something.
"Shiraha, I think we need to find you some real meaning in life."
She said softly. Not just being a good kid at home, not caring about being isolated at school because he had an imaginary friend, turning a blind eye to others' indifference.
She pressed down on Shiraha's shoulder: "At lunch break, come with me to the rooftop."
"We need to have a proper talk."
Kiana now wasn't the same kid shivering in the Siberian cold, she had enough money to cover a full year of her own schooling.
Shiraha tilted his head. Kiana reached over and straightened it: "I'm not joking. We need to talk."
Then she looked at the air, specifically, toward the window, where there was nothing, but to Shiraha, that was where his most important person sat.
"And I want to talk to your nee-chan too. If possible... just me and your nee-chan, alone."