"Hmph! Enough nagging! This Headmaster is one of the few S-rank Valkyries in the Schicksal Organization! And who says I'm alone?"
As she finished, the other Valkyries had already assembled. Theresa shouldered Judah and paid no more attention to Himeko.
Fu Lin silently watched all of this until he saw Himeko carrying Mei☆ onto the Hyperion, and only then did he feel somewhat relieved.
Then, he resolutely turned around and quickly chased after Kiana☆ in the direction she had gone...
--------------------------
And on the other side, Kiana☆ was sitting in a corner, her mind filled with countless thoughts. Just a few hours ago, everything was still so wonderful...
Kiana☆ murmured,
"Fu Lin, you said you'd always be with me. You lied to me..."
She had never fully understood what kind of complicated feelings she had for Fu Lin. Was it merely sibling-like affection, or was it a hidden love she dared not express?
Whenever night fell and everything was quiet, this question would crawl around her heart like a little bug, leaving her mind in turmoil.
However, just as she was entangled in these thoughts, that bad woman named Akari (Otto~) appeared between her and Fu Lin, trying to steal him away!
But... it was also Akari's words that, like a bolt of lightning across the night sky, instantly illuminated her wavering heart.
Thus, that night, when she calmed herself and carefully recalled every bit of time spent with Fu Lin over the past year, her confusion seemed to gradually dissipate and become clearer.
Under Fu Lin's meticulous and attentive care day after day, those seemingly trivial acts of warmth were like a clear, gentle stream, softly yet firmly seeping into her once desolate and lonely heart.
Each drop of care was like a magical key, gently unlocking the long-sealed doors deep within her heart, slowly awakening those long-suppressed emotions.
That feeling was like a tender green sprout silently growing in the deepest corner of her heart. It was so fragile and slender that it seemed it could break at a mere touch, yet it contained a tenacious strength capable of withstanding all the hardships of the world.
This strength compelled her to approach Fu Lin involuntarily, yearning for his full attention and care, like that sprout desperately reaching toward the sunlight, hoping to bask in his love.
However, the innate shyness in her heart was like a thick and heavy fog, silently covering up her remaining courage, trapping her in a dark mist where she couldn't see the way forward.
And the constant anxiety rising from within was like countless invisible hands tightly grabbing her clothes, pulling at her endlessly, making her too scared to take that crucial step and bravely confess her true feelings to Fu Lin.
She feared that if her confession failed, she would lose this hard-earned warmth and companionship; she feared that her feelings would be rejected, making their relationship awkward and distant.
So, she could only hover in this endless struggle, silently guarding the blazing flame in her heart, hoping that one day she could find the right moment to reveal her feelings to Fu Lin without reservation.
But fate always seems to enjoy playing tricks. Now, the one she longed for had disappeared without a trace. It was all too late...
No one knew how much time had passed when Fu Lin poked his head out from within the wall, his gaze immediately locking onto Kiana☆ who was curled up in the corner, silently shedding tears like little pearls.
Kiana☆ looked just like a wounded little animal, pitifully hiding there, evoking compassion in anyone who saw her.
Fu Lin floated to Kiana☆'s side, then quietly sat down, reaching out his right hand to adjust the height, pretending to gently pat Kiana☆'s head while softly comforting her,
"Alright, don't cry. I'm not really dead.
Besides, you know, in the future, you actually locked me in a little dark room, day and night...
Ahem, but that experience isn't suitable to talk about too much, after all, it's a bit inappropriate. Now, there's even a child!"
At this point, Fu Lin suddenly seemed to recall something amusing and couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
He quickly covered his face with both hands, but his shaking shoulders and trembling voice still revealed his amusement,
"Actually, I always thought my other half would be Fu Shi.
To be honest, I really like her lively and slightly childish personality. After all, pretty faces are everywhere, but interesting souls are one in a million—she's simply a walking bundle of joy!
But unexpectedly, after spending so much time with her, I unknowingly started seeing her as a little sister.
Every time I imagined pressing her beneath me in the future, I always felt kind of weird and just couldn't go through with it...
If she knew what I was thinking, would she charge over and give me a good beating?"
...
Meanwhile, at Kiana☆'s apartment...
"Achoo! Achoo!"
Fu Shi sneezed several times in a row, rubbing her nose forcefully while unhappily glaring through the window at Kiana☆'s gradually swelling belly.
There was jealousy and discontent in Fu Shi's eyes, and her heart burned like it was on fire. She pouted and muttered,
"Hmph, damn Fu Lin! Just wait till you get back, I'll show you! I'll knock you out and toss you on the bed, and give you a good ravaging! You'll know how fierce I can be!"
As she spoke, Fu Shi waved her little fist as if already seeing Fu Lin pinned beneath her, obediently trained by her.
But soon, Fu Shi's attention returned to Kiana☆'s belly. Staring at the high bulge, her heart grew even more sour.
"Hmph, why can Kiana☆ have a baby, but I can't?
No, in the future I'm going to have a bunch of babies, even more and cuter than Kiana☆'s!
Otherwise, I won't be called Fu Shi!"
The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, even starting to imagine the future where she and Fu Lin were surrounded by a group of chubby, pink-cheeked little Fu Shi's.
At this moment, Fu Shi was truly making one laugh and cry — even childbirth had become a competition for her. Fu Hua beside her could only shake her head.
Fu Hua tilted her head slightly and looked at Fu Shi, who stood stubbornly by the window, gently asking,
"Are you really not going in, Fu Shi?"
Fu Shi crossed her arms and quickly turned her head away, stubbornly replying,
"Hmph, I'm not going in! I said I won't, and I won't. Kiana☆ surely doesn't want to see me anyway, so why should I bother talking to her?"
Hearing Fu Shi's firm answer, Fu Hua sighed softly, shook her head helplessly, and said,
"Alright then, I'll go in by myself."
With that, Fu Hua stepped inside the house.
At this moment, Fu Shi remained outside, standing like a statue, tangled in her thoughts, unable to go forward or retreat.
On one hand, she had just refused the old antique. If she went in now, wouldn't it be embarrassing?
But on the other hand, if she left, then what was the point of coming here today? Was it really just to make a fool of herself?
Thinking of this, Fu Shi regretted refusing the old antique earlier. But now that things had come to this, she didn't know what to do.
So Fu Shi could only stare at the door, mumbling,
"Aiya, why didn't the old antique insist a bit more and drag me inside..."
As soon as Fu Hua entered the apartment, she saw Theresa in a rage, standing with her hands on her hips, angrily shouting,
"That Fu Lin is such an irresponsible bastard! He actually ran off without a word—he's gone too far!
Once I catch him, I'll smash his head with my Judas!"
After venting her anger, Theresa slightly calmed down, then turned her gaze to Kiana☆, speaking earnestly,
"My dear niece, let's just forget about that heartless guy. Pretend he's already dead.
As for the baby in your belly, don't worry. We're all here to take care of you. We won't let you or the baby suffer one bit."
Hearing this, Kiana☆ couldn't help but reveal a gentle, loving smile. She subconsciously reached out and gently stroked her slightly swollen belly, as if she could feel the fetus happily moving inside.
Then, Kiana☆ looked up at Theresa and gently explained,
"Alright, Auntie, it's fine. Fu Lin just went back to my world temporarily and can't return for now. Stop nagging me so much; my ears are getting calluses already."
After speaking, Kiana seemed to sense something at the door and immediately cheered,
"Class Leader Fu Hua, you're here! Hehe, what delicious food did you bring today?"
Seeing this, Theresa slightly nodded to Fu Hua, then jumped onto a small stool nearby and poked Kiana☆'s little head while complaining with some displeasure,
"Hmph, you silly girl, all you know is eating! That guy has been missing for over a month now, and you're still speaking up for him!
What kind of spell did he cast on you to make you so loyal to him?
You're just like your mother back then — so foolish, easily deceived by those awful men!"