Chapter 38: Kiana's Worries

Kiana is in a bad mood since yesterday. It was the awaited weekends as such she has a two whole days as a free time. She been wanting to play with Glynne as they haven't spent that much time together this passed few days. However when she went and visited him in his room, he was nowhere to be seen. There is also an option of playing with someone other than him but even Bronya, her usual partner, is missing.

The atmosphere between those two has been quite questionable lately. They act as if they were more than friends but it didn't seem to like they were dating either. However what sealed the deal was what happened last night. Just thinking about it made Kiana felt a tingling pain inside her chest.

In order for her to distract herself from it, Kiana decided play a single player game in the living room. Booting up the game console, the TV screen lit up to show a company logo and then the title of the game "Kallen Fantasy III"

It is a game considered a masterpiece series by the whole community of gamers. Although despite it's popularity, it was infamous for its scarce copies worldwide. Some tried to pirate it but it was proven to be impossible as the codes are hard to crack. That is why, just by getting one copy would earn you a boost in fame.

Yes, it was considered one of the greatest game on earth but.... "Ugh... This is getting boring..." Kiana exclaimed as she throws the controller on her side. It just that, there is that certain charm of playing with someone. Even if the game is good, playing with an AI does not capture that feeling that will make her blood pump in excitement.

Kiana leaned her head on the couch as she glance upside down towards the opened door of the living room. There are no people at the other side but she somehow expecting for someone to appear.

"Are you okay, Kiana?" the white haired girl's line of sight quickly shifted to the direction of where the voice came from. She sees Mei putting down a platter full of freshly baked yam on top the table that is in front of the couch and proceeded to sit right next to Kiana. "Want some?" she offered.

"Thanks" Kiana simply replied as her hands reach for one of the yam. However she failed to noticed that the food is still steaming hot. "Ouch!" she out a shriek from burning herself.

"Geez, please be more careful." Mei scolded. Kiana felt her cheeks heat up a bit as the black haired girl hold her hands to check for any injuries. "Thankfully, it seems like there is nothing to worry about." Mei commented and proceeded to procure a handkerchief to help her friend from grabbing the hot food.

Kiana thanks Mei for the help. Slowly, she begun peeling the yam and blow it with cute 'fuu~ fuu~' sound for it to cool down. Once she judged that it was cold enough she slowly put it in her mouth. "Dewisous~" she proclaimed as her eyes became starry.

"I'm glad you like it" Mei was happy at the compliment and shows a smile at her friends antics. She then proceeded to eat her own share and find herself satisfied with the sweet flavor.

After a few minutes in, the whole platter is empty as both of the girls has finished eating the baked yams. Mei goes to the kitchen and poured some chilled orange juice in a pair of glasses and offered the other one to Kiana.

Seeing her friend drink the cold drink, Mei's mind suddenly wondered at the fustrated sight of Kiana just a while ago. Not to mention, she seems to be quite out of it as evident to the scene where she accidentally burned herself from the steaming hot food.

"Hey Kiana," Mei sat down and captured the attention of her friend. "Is there something bothering you lately?"

"....." Mei noticed how Kiana's mood has gone down again. She watched the girl quietly put down her glass on the table and proceeded to curl up with her knees near her chest.

Mei let out a small sigh, this scene reminded her of the same thing that happened a month ago. "It's about Glynne again, isn't?"

Mei has noticed it for quite a while now. Despite the white haired girl's constant advances to her, she knows that Kiana is also very fond of the black haired boy. Her current mood might be because of him at risk of being taken away.

It was really easy to misunderstand what happened last night. When Kiana left the dining table, the rest has started bombarding both of them multiple question. However they kept denying the allegations of them having a relationship and just told it was only two friends messing with each other. Though, it was still not that convincing.

"Say Kiana, are you sure you don't have any special feelings for him?" Mei decided to not beat around the bush and just asked her friend directly. She noticed her flinched a bit as she has curled up further.

"I.... Don't know... " Kiana muttered under her breath. Her answer was a lot more different compared to back when Mei has asked her the same question in the past. "Glynne.... Reminded me a lot of my Father... "

Mei was surprised by the last sentence. It was very different to want she was expecting as it just come out of nowhere.

Kiana's father, Siegfried Kaslana,

was a man who is considered a hero by many. A man who's fighting prowess is on par with S rank Valryja despite being a male. A man infamous for being for being a womanizer. Well, there are a lot of rumors surrounding him but those three are the most prominent.

However even when he was that popular, he suddenly disappeared without a trace, leaving only his daughter alone. Though she doesn't show it in public, Mei knows that Kiana wanted to met him again. There were times when the white haired girl cried in her sleep while muttering her father's name.

In fact, it was also one of the reasons why Kiana chose to became a Valryja. She hoped that one day she would met her father in one of her missions.

"As expected, its strange, isn't?" Kiana wiped the tears on her eyes as she look at Mei with a smile that seems like she was mocking herself. See look up as she was reminiscing about the past. "It started when I first met him. The way he handled his gun was very similar to that old man... At first, I just shrugged it off as a coincidence but I just couldn't shake that feeling..."

"... And because of that, you challenged him to a duel." Mei concluded while putting a hand on her chin. It seems to be correct as Kiana just meekly nodded to it.

"It was a failure though... " Kiana curled up more as she was reminded of the duel. "His fighting style and that arrogant smirk that he always has on his face, it just made that feeling stronger."

It really isn't that much hard to see that Kiana seems to really missed her father that she started to reflect them to others. Mei was worried for her friend's well being as what she was doing is not healthy for the mind. "But Kiana, Glynne and Siegfried are two different person."

"I know!" Kiana cried while covering her ears. Her face was wrapped in guilt and confusion as she was conflicted about something. "I know.... That is what I wanted to believe too! However as each day passes by, it just grew stronger that I can't help but imagine their face overlapped!"

"Calm down Kiana!" Mei panics as her friend begun breaking down. She quickly grabbed her head and embraced them into her chest. "Think about it Kiana! Don't you think Glynne would like it if he discovers this? I beg you, please wake up."

Kiana has her eyes opened wide as she slowly begun to realize her mistake. 'Glynne and father are two different people' — is what kept repeating in her mind in order to break herself free of the illusion. She begun sobbing in Mei's arms as she felt a hand stroking her head to help her calm down. It took a few minutes before the white haired girl has visibly calm down.

"...Say Kiana, do you want to go grab something sweet?" Mei asked the girl who seems to be having a peaceful face while she was in her embrace.

"Wait.... Please let me enjoy this a little bit more..... " Kiana muttered as she rubs her face on Mei's chest. The black haired girl giggled and was glad that her friend seems to have recovered a bit as she has returned to her usual antics.

Perhaps already have her Mei energy charge up, Kiana separated herself from Mei while wiping the tears from her reddened eyes. "Shall we go?"

Mei smiled in response and stood up to prepare to leave. Kiana soon followed with a wide smile on her face, thinking on her mind that they are basically going on a date.

As both of them leave the dorm, they failed to notice a certain women hiding behind the staircase.

==========

Yepyep, the plot is beginning to pick up pace. Tbh though, I originally planned to finish this arc at the end of this month. However as some of you already knew, the updates slowed down a bit.

Oh yeah, drama is really not my thing XD. So sorry if its a bit rough around the edges.

Anyways, thanks for reading.