After a brief tutoring session, Mobius noticed a fact that took her slightly by surprise
Onii-chan really does seem to be a bit of a genius. Ahem. Shiraha's aptitude truly wasn't bad.
She'd originally thought this kid only had exceptional Honkai talent. She hadn't expected him to have some aptitude for studying as well. Still far from a true "genius," but at this age, he was already the kind of promising seedling who put a teacher's mind at ease.
Shiraha was suffering inwardly. But fortunately, once he truly followed Mobius-nee's train of thought, there was simply no time left to suffer inwardly at all.
"Studying is hard, isn't it."
Mobius had spotted Shiraha's pained little expression. Her voice carried the teasing lilt of someone who already knew the answer. Compared to watching a child smile, watching a child who tried to act like an adult look so tormented was far more delightful.
Shiraha exhaled deeply. "I'm going to become a Tokyo heartthrob. A little difficulty like this won't stop me."
Anyway- anyway! He just needed to get through this phase. In a few more years, when he could physically go to World Serpent's headquarters, all of this knowledge would be sacredly severed from his life.
He silently painted himself a mental pie, then lowered his head and went back to reading.
...
In the clubroom, the sound of a wooden sword splitting the air rang out again and again, the rhythm steady.
Yuna bit her lip and followed along earnestly, swinging the sword. A thin sheen of sweat had already formed on her forehead.
Mei was satisfied. This—this was what a club under her leadership ought to look like. Serious. Hardworking. Refusing to back down.
Raven flipped a page of her book, lifted her eyes for a glance at them, then lazily withdrew her gaze. Clearly, she had no intention of learning this so-called Hokushin Ittō-ryū.
Elysia rested her chin on her hand, her gaze settling on Shiraha.
"Flirting with another big sister in the Realm again?"
She murmured quietly, reaching out a finger to gently poke Shiraha's arm.
Soft.
The kid didn't wake up.
She poked him again.
This time Shiraha stirred. Elysia immediately put on an expression of complete innocence.
Dizzy and disoriented, Shiraha pulled off his helmet and slumped over the desk for a while longer.
"Did you... run into Kalpas or something?"
Elysia leaned in close, her starry eyes reflecting Shiraha's dazed little face.
Kalpas didn't bully children either, though.
Shiraha's eyes went blank for a moment, then slowly focused. "I was studying in there."
Studying?
Elysia blinked. She thought she'd misheard.
"Mobius-nee wanted me to learn some basic biology first. Then decide whether I want to become a MANTIS soldier or not."
Elysia blinked again. 'Did you just say... Mobius-nee?'
"Shouldn't she be tricking you into becoming a lab rat?"
And also, Shiraha, as the "World's Number One Killer" from the Manticores of the Previous Era, you seriously don't have any prejudice against Mobius?
A bad premonition suddenly rose in Elysia's chest.
Shiraha tilted his head, his voice naturally sweet and syrupy. "Mobius-nee is a really good person."
Hearing that sickly-sweet "Mobius-nee," Elysia felt goosebumps about to break out all over her body.
She grabbed Shiraha's shoulders and shook him violently, trying to make him act normal. It was fine to play-act being a kid, but don't get too deep into the role. Playing along with her was enough.
Shiraha swayed back and forth with the shaking and mouthed silently: Natasha...
Oh. Elysia instantly stopped.
There was still someone from World Serpent here. Mei could be naturally ignored, Mei was just a child, after all. But Natasha couldn't be.
She was someone even the "World's Number One Killer" had judged as a top-tier assassin... At this thought, Elysia inexplicably let out a laugh.
Shiraha paid no mind to Nee-chan's antics. He checked the time and hopped off his chair. "Mei-nee, time to go home. If we don't head back soon, Uncle Ryoma will start worrying."
Mei stubbornly finished her current set of practice swings first.
Only then did she ceremoniously put away the wooden sword, looking very much like a great Far Eastern swordmaster, just like Ryoma Raiden.
Mei felt she had improved again. She didn't quite understand why, but as long as she trained, her physical progress was always remarkably obvious. Perhaps this was a talent uniquely her own.
"See you tomorrow, Yuna."
"See you tomorrow, Delinquent-senpai."
Raven corrected her expressionlessly. "It's Natasha-senpai."
Shiraha adapted instantly, his smile bright and innocent. "Mm. See you tomorrow, Natasha Delinquent-senpai."
Raven opened her mouth, wanting to correct him again, but then felt that arguing semantics with a seven-year-old was truly beneath her dignity. So she shut her mouth and expressionlessly flipped another page of her book.
Mei wiped the fine sweat from her forehead. She felt that if the kind of bullying Shiraha had faced before were to happen again, she'd now be able to fling the offender aside with ease, rather than having to rely solely on an over-the-shoulder throw.
"S-See you tomorrow. Mei. Shiraha."
Yuna's voice was very small. She'd originally expected to be an errand runner, or a cushion to prop up the young lady Mei. She'd never imagined that joining the club really did just mean practicing swordsmanship. It was tiring, but... she could bear it.
'This is wonderful. From now on, I'm the young lady's little follower.'
Yuna silently stuck that label onto herself in her heart. The corner of her mouth unconsciously curved upward.
"I hope you won't give up halfway."
Mei admonished her, her tone serious.
But based on previous experience, Mei figured there was a high chance that by tomorrow morning, she'd find a club withdrawal letter in her shoe locker.
Raven said nothing. She simply kept flipping through her novel.
Aside from a few special assignments, she only had one long-term task at school: make sure nothing happened to Shiraha on campus.
On the way back, Shiraha suddenly stopped and smacked his fist into his palm. "Mei-nee, wait for me a sec. I forgot something."
Mei's expression turned helpless, but she stopped walking. "Then hurry up."
Shiraha had indeed left his schoolbag in the clubroom. Deliberately.
He ran all the way back and pushed the door open forcefully. Raven looked up, slightly surprised.
"Teacher Elysia told me Yuna's talent is quite good." Shiraha braced himself against the doorframe, his voice not loud, but every word enunciated clearly. "World Serpent is not to do anything unnecessary."
Raven nodded quietly. So, back in the clubroom just now, the invisible Master had secretly orchestrated this move?
"Mm. I understand. Young master."
The corner of Shiraha's mouth twitched. "Just call me Shiraha."
"Mm. Understood. Young master Shiraha."
Raven slung her shoulder bag diagonally, walked out of the clubroom, and on her way past, ruffled Shiraha's hair. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly.
Raven didn't dislike children.
After the Raven had also left, Shiraha tidied his schoolbag.
Elysia was expressionless. "Shiraha... didn't you say you don't like kids?"
Why'd you suddenly run all the way back just to warn about something like that? And using my name, no less.
Shiraha explained simply. "The bet. I believe that from this moment forward, from the moment I decided to save the world, every single person I come into contact with will be able to leave their name in the history books."
His expression was exceptionally confident. Elysia gave a soft huff, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
"Then explain something to me. What is this 'Mobius-nee' business? Weren't you only close to Eden in the Realm?"
Elysia had at first understood Shiraha's behavior. After all, among the final Thirteen Flame-Chasers, any normal person would probably only like Eden, Pardo, Hua, and herself.
Griseo? Griseo was too young, and had always been kept protected. Shiraha definitely wouldn't have had any chance to interact with her in the Previous Era.
The corner of Shiraha's mouth curved upward, revealing a smile that made Elysia even more uneasy. "Because I never imagined... the Doctor would be this cute. This... easy to tease."
Elysia: ....
"To think that in the Previous Era, I never got to know the Doctor, that I let rumors and hearsay block my steps. What a shame."
Uuu~
Elysia grabbed Shiraha's shoulders and shook him violently.
Don't talk like that! Don't talk like that!
You should be saying, with innocent, adorable sincerity: "Because the Doctor is very gentle. Even though she's a little sharp-tongued sometimes, she always takes such good care of me."
Oh, right. And Mobius uuuu, it's all my fault, Dr. Mobius!