The sorrows of people are not all the same. Ryn didn't know how sad Bronya and Seele were, nor did she care. After all, she didn't know them now, and it wouldn't be too late to feel sad for them once she got to know them in the future.
Academy City was recently preparing for a Summer Festival, and all the schools were becoming active.
Kiana, with a wild charge, crashed into Ryn's arms and said excitedly:
"Ryn, Ryn! Do you want to come visit my school for the Summer Festival! There'll be lots and lots of delicious food!"
Rubbing the little white-haired fluffball's head, Ryn had Cortana pull up her schedule and found that she had nothing planned for the days of the festival.
"Hmm... I can. Do I need to prepare anything in advance?"
"Nope, just bring yourself. I was going to ask Mei to come with us, but she said no, that she had plans with someone else. But luckily, Kika agreed to come!" Kiana grabbed Ryn's hand and swung it back and forth, she was so happy right now.
Last year's Summer Festival, Ryn and she were new and didn't know anyone. It didn't feel very lively, just noisy, so they took a quick look and went home. The main reason was that Kiana had heard there would be lots of delicious food, but she couldn't find where it was.
This year's Summer Festival, she was determined to eat all the food she missed last year! Good food plus good friends, that's double the happiness!
"Mushoku Kika, huh... Is she going to wander around with us? I have a feeling she'll be asking us to carry her before long."
Ryn pictured it in her mind. Mushoku Kika was the ultimate chill, slacker girl, the delicate and easily-pushed-over type.
You never know where she'll suddenly pull out a sofa and lie down on it to slack off. She's also a stubborn tsundere. Teasing her when you're bored is always fun.
Mei... that must be Raiden Mei, the young lady from ME Corp. It's normal that she wouldn't come. After all, she's always surrounded by a bunch of followers. She probably just sees Kiana as another admirer. I've seen her being quite dismissive of Kiana. Only a dummy like Kiana would think they're good friends.
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The day of the Summer Festival arrived quickly. The streets were hung with lanterns bearing the mitsudomoe crest. The government, clubs, and schools began to parade and perform on the streets, and the food carts were swarmed with people.
Since it was an Academy City, most of the crowd consisted of parents with their children, or groups of children. Few adults wore yukata or kimono, but the children all did. Their competitive spirit wouldn't allow them to go without.
Since everyone was wearing one, how could my cute Kiana be left out!
Kiana wore a blue kimono with a floral pattern, with a large pink bow tied on her back. Ryn tied blue ribbons on Kiana's two braids, making her look even more playful and cute.
She herself hadn't wanted to wear a kimono, but she couldn't resist Kiana's pleading, so she wore one too. It was mostly black with some red stripes. The outfit was very stylish and, when worn, really accentuated her temperament.
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After getting ready, the two prepared to leave. As they were heading out, Ryn knelt on one knee and extended a hand to Kiana.
"My princess, please accompany me to the Summer Festival."
"Hmph, hmph, my knight... I grant you permission. Do your utmost to please me!"
Kiana placed her hand in Ryn's, and their fingers intertwined. They walked shoulder to shoulder, slowly making their way to the meeting spot with Mushoku Kika.
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When they arrived at the meeting spot, Kika was already there, currently doing a 'Ge-You Lying' on the sofa she had brought.
Kiana waved at her.
"Kika, why are you still in that outfit? Aren't you going to change for the Summer Festival?"
Kika opened her eyes, glanced at Kiana and Ryn, then pointed at her own clothes and said matter-of-factly:
"Isn't what I'm wearing a kimono? Although it's not quite like yours, it's still a kimono!"
"Are you sure?" Kiana was very puzzled. This didn't look like a kimono at all. Except for the sleeves, which were in the furisode style, what other part looked like a kimono, hey!
Mushoku Kika saw Kiana's disbelieving face and couldn't be bothered to argue.
"Alright... actually, kimonos are too expensive, and my family has fallen into decline... we can't spare that much money to buy a kimono. Plus, I don't like wearing yukata out, so I just decided to wear this..."
"Then you should have told us! Ryn and I are loaded right now. Kika, we're friends, you have to tell us if you're in trouble!"
Hearing Kika's words, Kiana went up and took her hand. She understood what it was like to have no money, after all, she and Ryn had been adrift together for a long time.
Ryn nodded at Kika from the side. "Kallen: Sakura Dies Twice" had been a huge hit, and he had made a fortune. Plus, Otto had given him a lot of funding, all of which he had embezzled. And with Cortana, as long as Schicksal didn't interfere, he could directly hack into most of the world's banks. It could be said that he could solve any problem that money could solve!
"Indeed, when Kiana told me you couldn't even afford donuts anymore, I thought she was lying. If you're really in trouble, I can lend you money... If you can't pay it back, you can come work for me to pay off the debt. The benefits are excellent."
Mushoku Kika was now completely bewildered. Her family had only declined, they hadn't gone bankrupt and started begging. Why were Ryn and Kiana already considering giving her aid?
"What are you guys talking about? I just can't afford a kimono, why does it sound like I can't even afford to eat in your mouths! And what's this about not being able to afford donuts! I just didn't have enough money with me that one time!"
"Uh... but the one Ryn bought for me was only a little over 1 million yen. That's less than what the meal Ryn took me to with Otto cost... In comparison, doesn't that mean you can't afford to eat..."
Kiana felt a little wronged. Although she was often called a dummy, most of the time she was pretty sharp. This calculation wasn't wrong...
"I'm going to strangle you, you money-oblivious dummy."
Kika was furious, grabbing Kiana by the neck and shaking her from side to side. What normal person spends millions of yen on a single meal! You jerks! Everyone else rents their kimonos, don't you dare show off your custom-made, handcrafted one in front of me!
Ryn rubbed his head. Damn it, hanging out with the Paramecium for too long has turned me into one too. So this is the nouveau riche mentality... suddenly having money and almost forgetting what a normal person's income is.
But Cortana is just too good. All I have to do is give Cortana the concept and the final effect, and she can deduce and develop the game on her own. I can even scam some funding from Otto. Although I feel like Otto knows I'm scamming him, since he hasn't said anything, it means he doesn't mind!
Otto, who had just stepped off an aircraft, sneezed.
Huh... is someone thinking of me? Could it be my dear Theresa... I should go visit her when I have time!