"Ow ow ow ow ow!" Kiana leaned to the left, dragging herself forward, her right foot barely touching the ground. Thankfully, her apartnt was only a street away from Chiba Academy. It took almost ten minutes for her to hobble to the school gates.
"Eh? Is that...?"
A sleek black car stopped beside her. A stern-looking driver with a buzz cut and sunglasses stepped out, circling the car. He glanced at Kiana indifferently as he passed.
Reaching the rear passenger door, he opened it carefully, removed a glove, and extended his hand. "My lady, please," he said respectfully.
"Much obliged," a haughty voice drifted from the darkened interior. A figure erged gracefully, soone Kiana recognized, though not intimately.
"Tch! The Raiden heiress. What was I expecting...?" Kiana grimaced, turning to limp towards the school. For so reason, seeing soone so ticulously cared for—no, served—rubbed her the wrong way.
Whether her annoyance stemd from the stark contrast in their lifestyles and social standing, or simply envy, she couldn’t tell, nor did she care to.
She was more interested in reliving that recent dream—the unbelievable battle, the familiar yet foreign terms and nas... Sadly, like most dreams, it was fading rapidly, leaving only fragnted, insignificant pieces.
"Um... My lady, there’s sothing I need to tell you."
"Speak."
"I apologize, my lady, for not ntioning this sooner, but this is my last ti as your chauffeur. Mr. Raiden has assigned a new position. Starting this afternoon, a new driver will be escorting you."
"Oh? Oh... I see. Take care."
"You too, my lady."
Kiana was walking slowly and close enough to overhear their conversation, especially since the pair seed to have no concept of whispering.
"Seriously... it’s just a small matter. Such a formal farewell, as if they’ll never see each other again... Plus, class starts in less than ten minutes, right? Is he ever going to stop? Should I remind her? Nah, she’s not like . Forget ten minutes, if she picks up the pace, she can reach the classroom in five."
Kiana shook her head, trudging on. Most students were either at club morning practice or, if not, rarely arrived right on ti. Ten minutes early—this was when most people settled into their classrooms. Only soone like her, who overslept and was injured, would be this late.
Thinking about it, Kiana tilted her head back. She had never really paid attention to this girl, i Raiden. As the heiress of Corp, even in Chiba Academy, which was full of privileged students, i was a celebrity. Information about her circulated effortlessly; every ten sentences of student chatter contained at least one about her. Why bother paying attention directly?
However...
"Hmph! Didn’t expect the heiress to sleep in too! Otherwise, how could she be as late as ?" This thought made her oddly smug, as if she had found a kindred spirit...
"What happened to your foot?"
A cool voice, without even a greeting, erged from behind. Kiana, already feeling slightly guilty for eavesdropping, lost her balance and stumbled to her left.
"Crap! I’m going to twist my other ankle now!" Wait! Wouldn’t that be a legitimate excuse to skip class?
Indecision plagued her—should she try to recover or seize this golden opportunity?
Soone made the decision for her. A hand steadied her shoulder, and her balance returned.
"I asked you a question! What’s wrong with your foot? You’re even wearing a slipper..."
Kiana turned. It was i, the Raiden heiress, who had caught her. eting i’s gaze, a mix of shyness and annoyance washed over Kiana. She jerked her head away. "None of your business!"
"Are you sure? At your current speed, you won’t make it to class before the bell."
"I said, mind your own business!" Kiana abruptly pulled away from i’s hand and hopped aside, putting so distance between them.
It wasn’t that she disliked being helped, it was i’s tone. It reminded her of how she treated stray cats and dogs.
Compared to the other students, she was indeed poor. But although her stinky old dad’s whereabouts were unknown, he was still reliable, sending her money regularly every month. It wasn’t much, but enough for her to live on without being too strapped.
That’s why she often bought sausages for stray animals, finding joy in watching them eat. There was nothing wrong with that, but i’s condescending concern evoked a similar dynamic, only she was the stray cat lapping up the offered sausage.
"Oh? Quite the pride, I see. Fine, I’ll leave then." Having been rejected, the Raiden heiress saw no point in forcing her help. She shook her head indifferently and headed towards her classroom at a quicker pace.
After a couple of steps, she glanced back. "Well... make sure you catch up!"
"Damn it! Just you wait... Ow ow ow! Hiss—"
i giggled and broke into a run, leaving the fuming white-haired girl behind. Barely thirty seconds after she burst into the classroom, the bell rang. Perfect timing.
"Sigh. Too bad for that dummy. She definitely didn’t make it... She looks familiar. Is she from the class next door? Seriously reckless. Her ankle... if she doesn’t treat it... Whatever. That clumsy girl, late and in slippers. Mr. Katsuki from next door will definitely make her stand outside. I’ll ask her about it later... Ugh... Math again. So sleepy..."
Despite trying her best to follow the formulas on the blackboard, the more she focused, the more she felt her head grow heavy.
Her vision blurred, her head drooping from the blackboard to the desk. Just before succumbing to darkness, she’d snap awake, only to repeat the cycle five or six tis. Like ti-traveling, the bell suddenly rang. The blackboard was covered in math equations, but her open textbook and notebook remained blank.
"Ugh... ssed up again... Wait, did I forget sothing?"
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she stumbled to her feet and headed out of the classroom.
As expected, the white-haired girl from that morning was standing outside the next classroom, left foot supporting her weight, right foot resting lightly on it, upper body leaning against the wall, head down, light snores audible.
Mr. Katsuki, legendary for his strictness, erged from the classroom, holding his lesson plans. Seeing his punished student not only unrepentant but blatantly napping, he said nothing, rolled up his papers, and smacked the white-haired girl’s head.
"Ow! Ouch... Who... Ah—"
Poor Kiana lost her balance again and began to fall. But the expected pain didn’t co. Soone caught her from behind. And that shampoo scent... familiar...
"Miss Raiden?"
Mr. Katsuki lowered his rolled-up lesson plans, his expression unchanged by the arrival of the school’s most prominent student.
"Ah, Sensei, what did this student do wrong?"
"Tardiness, and wearing slippers in a place as respectable as this academy. Miss Raiden, do you know her?"
"Not personally. Although she’s from the class next door, she seems to be a transfer student. We haven’t interacted much, but..."
i didn’t argue. She helped Kiana lean against the wall again, then crouched down and gently pulled down Kiana’s white knee-high sock.
As i neared her ankle, Kiana instinctively gulped. But i’s movents were gentle and precise. She felt a slight sting on her ankle, a cool sensation, and then her sock was off.
i pointed to Kiana’s swollen ankle. "I saw her at the school gates earlier. She wasn’t intentionally late or wearing slippers. She sprained her ankle. And judging by its current state, it needs imdiate attention, otherwise..."
"I understand." Mr. Katsuki nodded curtly and walked away without another word.
i stood up. Before she could say anything, Kiana snatched her sock back, instinctively wanting to sniff it. But seeing i’s knowing look, she blushed and hid the sock behind her back.
"Are you an idiot? You could have just shown him your injured ankle. Honestly..."
Kiana looked away, muttering, "Hmph! A Kaslana never makes excuses out of a minor sprain!"
"What did you say?"
Kiana’s heart sank. Although a bit ditzy and not a fan of history class, her stinky old dad had told her enough about the Kaslana na. She knew it had once been prestigious and, while now fallen, was still recognizable.
She shouldn’t have revealed that secret. She hadn’t forgotten their life on the run.
She should have kept that na buried, yet she blurted it out in front of this purple-haired girl... Damn, did she hear?
She looked up, teeth clenched, only to et i’s face inches from hers.
"Eh... Wait... What are you doing? Put down!"
Her outburst attracted the attention of everyone in the hallway. The heiress of Corp was carrying a white-haired girl towards the restroom.
Kiana naturally struggled, but i whispered in her ear, "Dummy, you think I was joking with Mr. Katsuki? Your ankle is this swollen..."
"It’s fine, put down! This lady has always been robust. I’ll recover quickly!"
"If you don’t want permanent damage or even amputation, stay still!"
i’s tone left no room for argunt. Walking towards the restroom, she turned to the onlookers. "You, get so ice from the cafeteria."
"You, bring the bandages from the outer pocket of my bag to the restroom. And bring a chair too."
"You, fetch a crutch from the infirmary."
She issued commands like a queen, and every student she addressed, regardless of their relationship with her, simply nodded. Kiana watched, stunned. She finally rembered i’s nickna: The Thunder Queen.
i reached the restroom, where the students had already placed the bandages and chair as instructed.
She thanked them softly, then focused entirely on Kiana. Gently placing her on the chair, i lifted her injured ankle to the sink, positioning it under the faucet.
"Whoosh—"
"Hiss!"
It was November; the East Asian winter had arrived. The tap water was icy cold, perfect for treating a swollen ankle.
As the water flowed, i remained silent, and Kiana, apart from occasionally gasping from the cold, also didn’t speak.
After about three minutes, the students returned with the ice and crutch.
i accepted them, expertly cradling Kiana’s foot in her lap, wiping it gently with her sleeve, then wrapping it with the bandage. The tightness was perfectly controlled, providing just enough compression. Then, she wrapped the crushed ice in a bandage, creating a cold compress that she secured around Kiana’s ankle.
"Done!" i clapped her hands. The bell rang just then, but Kiana remained frozen, even when i handed her the crutch. She only managed a soft "Mm."
"What’s wrong?" i tilted her head.
Her question snapped Kiana out of her daze. Her lips parted silently a couple of tis before she finally bead. "My na’s Kiana. Can’t tell you my last na yet. Thanks for today, Lady Raiden!"
She extended her hand, and i chuckled, taking it briefly.
"Alright, go back. Your teacher shouldn’t give you any trouble now."
"Ah, but you’re late for class. Is that okay?"
i tilted her head, seemingly pondering the question.
Kiana gave her a gentle push. "Co on! Go back to class! I can manage the rest of the way myself!"
i turned, saying nothing, just smiling at Kiana, making her feel strangely awkward.
"Er... Do you want to skip class? I’m not the one suggesting it, though I’d love to... but my leg... I can’t really run..."
i sighed, pointing at Kiana. "You’re still sitting in my chair."
"Ah... ahahaha..." Kiana laughed awkwardly, thinking, Since Dad left, this is the first ti anyone’s been this kind to . They say this heiress acts like a queen, but she’s actually quite gentle. Still, as a Kaslana, I don’t owe anyone favors.
anwhile, i’s thoughts were simpler: This girl is clumsy and stubborn, like a paracium. But our social standing is so different... we probably won’t cross paths again, right?
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