After some time, Senba Academy finally started its school year. Ryn packed Kiana's school bag with all sorts of miscellaneous items, looking just like a parent fussing over their child on their first day of school.
"I know, I know, you're so annoying." Kiana pinched Ryn's side, interrupting his stream of reminders.
"I'm doing this for your own good! It's your first time at school, you should know some precautions!"
Ryn paused his talking for a moment, but his hands didn't stop moving, stuffing things like pepper spray, a baseball bat, a pistol, and dynamite into Kiana's backpack.
"You've said it a dozen times! I can recite it from memory! What good is this pepper spray? It's not as effective as my fist. Also, why is there a bomb in here!"
Kiana pulled the pepper spray and the bomb Ryn had just put in out of her backpack. She was no longer the clueless idiot she used to be. Under the cafe owner's tutelage, she could now do anything.
"Even a Paramecium can recite it, huh? Looks like I really have said it too many times. If the bomb is a no-go, then at least take the gun." Ryn thought about it. You really couldn't bring bombs to school; Kiana carrying a bomb wouldn't be safe for her either. So, a gun it was. Having her carry a gun was probably a bit more socially acceptable than Kiana punching bad guys into pulp.
"You're the Paramecium."
Kiana didn't refuse the request to take the gun. After all, she really liked this gun; it was a gift. There were originally two, but Ryn had made one explode, so it was safer for her to carry the remaining one with her.
"Right, take your lunch box. I made this bento with love." Ryn handed the wrapped bento box to Kiana. Most students in the Far East brought lunch from home, and it was common for students to compare whose bento tasted the best.
Kiana didn't even open it to look. Ryn's cooking skills were on par with her own; if the contents weren't burnt to a crisp, it was a success. She'd probably just go to the tuck shop or cafeteria to eat later.
"Let's go, it's almost time for class."
"Okay."
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After sending Kiana into the academy, Ryn stood outside and watched her walk into the classroom before leaving.
Walking home, Ryn was still thinking about whether Kiana would have trouble adjusting on her first day of school and whether she could keep up with her classes.
"No, no, why have I turned into a mother hen? This is too weird." Ryn slapped his own face. Why was he worrying about this stuff? Siegfried should be the one worrying. *Forget it, she's my child bride, so I should be the one to worry about her.*
"Cortana, let's start today's work! Same as usual, remind me if a message comes from Kiana."
"Of course, Master."
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Time always passes quickly. Ryn stretched his back. He had been coding all day. That dog Otto said he would arrange for people to help him develop the game, but all he got was a character profile and some general requirements, and then nothing.
Fortunately, he had Cortana to help with modeling, database construction, and so on. Sometimes it made Ryn feel like he was superfluous. He would tell Cortana the requirements, and she would handle everything herself.
*Oh no, could it be that when dog Otto said he'd get someone to help, he meant Cortana?*
Shaking his head, Ryn pushed those thoughts aside. It was almost time. School was about to end for Kiana, and he should go pick her up.
After a while, Ryn had been waiting at the school gate for a long time but didn't see Kiana come out. So, he had Cortana locate Kiana's phone and found that she wasn't in the classroom. He headed towards the signal's location.
Then he saw Kiana with a baseball bat slung over her shoulder. A girl was crouching behind her, and opposite them were four or five upperclassmen, also crouching.
"You bastards, if I ever see you bullying the weak again, I'll beat you up every time I see you. Now, scram!" Kiana waved her small fist and said menacingly.
"Yes, yes, yes." The five upperclassmen helped each other up and scrambled away. They had originally thought Kiana was a new underclassman who would be easy to bully, but she had pulled a baseball bat out from under her skirt.
They had used the new student to threaten Kiana into dropping the bat, and Kiana had obediently complied. The bullies thought Kiana was no longer a threat, but as soon as they let the new student go, Kiana rushed over and punched one of them. While beating them up, she shouted:
"The baseball bat sealed my power! I wanted to reason with you properly, but you actually made me discard the seal. Now I have no choice but to let you witness my true power!"
Kiana helped up the bullied girl, comforted her a bit, and then sent her home. She herself stayed behind to clean up the scene. After all, Ryn had told her that if you're going to do something, do it thoroughly and don't leave any loose ends.
"Ryn is such a liar. He clearly said that if I showed my weapon, the bad guys wouldn't dare to act. Why would someone threaten me and make me drop my weapon? If I can't use my weapon to intimidate them, then I have to fight directly.
In that case, I should have just used my power form from the beginning."
Kiana muttered to herself as she packed her things. She slung her school bag over her shoulder, dusted herself off, and was about to turn and leave when she saw Ryn standing at the intersection, looking at her.
"Hey there... Nice weather today, huh..." Kiana was a bit awkward and didn't dare to look at Ryn, like a child caught by a parent doing something wrong.
Ryn didn't say anything, just looked at Kiana, then ruffled her hair.
"Let's go home."
"Okay."
"Next time, if you can't handle it, you can call Cortana or me."
"Okay."
"Stop saying 'okay'. What do you want to eat tonight?"
"I want a big chicken leg!"
"Alright. To that fried chicken shop, right? It's been a while since I've seen the owner."
"Okay! By the way, Ryn, your bento of love was disgusting. It was worse than my own cooking."
"..."
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"Yes, yes, I'll be careful. Kiana has been a lot of trouble for you lately... I'll pay attention, I'll definitely keep a close eye on Kiana..."
Ryn was on the phone with a teacher, a placating smile on his face. Although their conversation seemed harmonious, Kiana, who was eating at the table, was a bit restless. She even felt a little embarrassed to be eating the big chicken leg in her hand.
After a while, Ryn hung up the phone and looked at Kiana with narrowed eyes and a stiff smile.
"Ryn, don't look at me like that, you're scaring me..." Kiana shrank her neck, feeling a little guilty.
Ryn slammed his hand on the table, furious. He really didn't know what to say to Kiana.
"In just two short months, you're either sleeping in class or skipping it. Tell me, what have you been doing! What kind of trash academy is this? Where do all these school bullies pop up from every day? You've fought so many of them you've earned the title of a little tyrant, haven't you! You're something else!
And the teacher said your excuses for leave are too ridiculous. What do you mean, 'Ryn got in a car accident, I'm going to check on him'... 'Ryn choked on a chicken leg, I'm going to check on him'... Even more absurdly, you dared to say Siegfried died and you were going to his funeral. You! You? You!"
"Here, here, have some water. Take a break before you continue scolding me." Kiana handed Ryn a glass of water. Although she looked full of remorse, her eyes clearly said, *Scold me all you want, I'll still do it again next time.*