A/N: This is the part where i put disclaimer that i don't remember much from early hi3, so if something is wrong or not accurate just think of it like different timeline or something.
I try to find more by reading the wiki and other stuff but I'm definitely gonna miss some plot or stuff, anyway doesn't really matter as this story not gonna follow the game too much because of the OP tag.
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Nagazora City, Japan
September 2nd, 2013
The soft chime of her digital clock echoed through the spacious room, followed by a gentle stream of morning light spilling through the tall windows.
Raiden Mei slowly opened her eyes.
For a few seconds, she remained still, listening to the quiet hum of the wind outside the window and the rustle of leaves. The first day of the new school term had begun.
She sat up gracefully, brushing a few loose strands of indigo hair from her face, and reached for the remote beside her bed. With a click, the curtains slid open fully, bathing the room in gold.
Her room was large and elegant, adorned with dark wood furniture, bookshelves full of classics and scientific literature, and a few plush pillows scattered neatly on her bed. Everything was in perfect order-just the way she liked it.
A soft knock echoed from the door.
"Lady Mei, good morning," came the gentle voice of one of her maids. "We've drawn your bath."
"I'll be there in a moment," Mei replied, her voice calm and refined.
As always, her routine began the same.
She stepped into the large private bathroom attached to her room, the marble floors cool under her feet. Warm steam wafted from the tub, and Mei slipped into the water with a content sigh. The silence helped her clear her thoughts.
After bathing and dressing in her uniform, she made her way downstairs, where another maid greeted her at the foot of the stairs.
"Breakfast is ready, Lady Mei."
"Thank you, Ayane," Mei said with a soft smile.
She entered the dining room-lavish, spacious, but utterly silent.
A long table stretched before her with a beautifully arranged breakfast set on her side: eggs, grilled salmon, miso soup, and rice, all steaming fresh. Despite the inviting aroma, the seat at the end-her father's-remained empty.
As always.
Sitting down alone, Mei picked up her chopsticks with quiet grace.
She didn't mind the silence anymore. At least... she told herself that.
Her father was an important man-always busy with work, always caught in meetings, phone calls. Mei understood. She truly did.
But still, there were mornings like this where she couldn't help but feel... lonely.
She paused for a moment, looking at the untouched seat across from her.
Then she smiled faintly and took her first bite, masking the loneliness behind practiced poise.
Because that's what she usually did.
"Lady Mei," the other maid-Mikako-called gently from the doorway, holding a tablet. "Your school car will be ready in twenty minutes."
"Understood," Mei replied, rising slowly from her seat after setting down her chopsticks.
Another day had begun.
Another step in the routine she had long grown used to.
After walking inside the limousine where her chauffeur usually brought her to school, the car started moving while she stared out the window.
The one driving her was someone she knew very well. He was the person who always talked to her every day, asking how she was doing and how school was.
He was also the one who told her about her father's work and how he missed her every day.
And so, while they talked to each other, they finally arrived at Chiba Academy-a prestigious school where the children of the rich and powerful attended. But there were also exceptions; if someone was truly smart, they could join the school too.
However, those kinds of people rarely interacted with other students because of how different they were from one another.
Every student had their own reason for joining this school like making friends with family that richer than them or just want to gaining connection from other family.
Just like now, as Mei walked through the school grounds, people began greeting her and asking how her summer break had gone.
People greeted her with a smile, but to Mei, it was painfully obvious how fake those smiles were. They didn't see her for who she was-only for her family name, for what they could gain from her.
As she walked through the corridor, her presence naturally drew attention. Students greeted her out of habit, admiration, or ambition. None of it felt sincere.
"By the way, Raiden-san, did you hear we're getting two transfer students later?" one of the girls walking behind her asked casually.
"Transfer students? And two of them?" Mei's interest was piqued. It was rare enough to have one, let alone two. "That's unusual. Do you know who they are?"
"We don't know yet, but we heard it's two girls who'll be transferring in," the girl replied, her tone laced with speculation.
Mei kept walking, eyes focused ahead, her mind already turning toward possibilities.
Mei's curiosity didn't linger for long. As soon as the teacher entered the classroom, she brought with her an announcement that immediately captured everyone's attention.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm sure most of you have already heard the rumors," the teacher said as she glanced around the room. "We'll be welcoming two transfer students to our class today."
The moment those words left her mouth, quiet murmurs spread through the classroom. Curious whispers and exchanged glances filled the space, everyone wondering who the new students might be.
"All right, settle down," the teacher called out, her voice firm but calm. "These two are transferring from another country, so I hope all of you will do your best to get along with them."
She turned toward the classroom door.
"You two may come in now."
After that, the door to the classroom slid open, and the students turned their attention toward it as two girls stepped inside.
One of them was shorter than the other, with uniquely long white hair styled into two large braids that hung down her back. She wore the school's uniform-a white T-shirt with black and yellow collar and sleeve cuffs, its hem ripped just above her waist, revealing a glimpse of her stomach. A yellow necktie hung loosely around her neck, paired with a brown skirt, black thigh-highs, and white shoes.
Her snow-white hair and striking blue eyes seemed to suit the uniform perfectly, giving her a presence that immediately drew attention.
Beside her stood the taller girl with long black hair-a common color, yet somehow different. Her hair was so dark it shimmered in the sunlight, almost like it absorbed and reflected the light at the same time. Her eyes were even more distinct: ruby-red, glowing softly like polished gems.
She wore the school uniform as well, but not the standard white most students used. Instead, it was the black variant-the same one Mei wore. At Chiba Academy, there were two types of uniforms: the white one used by most students, and the black one reserved for those from families of significant influence.
What caught the class's attention even more wasn't just their appearance, but the way the white-haired girl clung closely to the other, her arms gently wrapped the taller girl's left arm as if refusing to let go.
After both girls stopped at the front of the classroom, the teacher turned to them with a nod, asking them to introduce themselves and share a little about who they were.
The black-haired girl stepped forward first, gently prying the white-haired girl's arm from her own before walking ahead with graceful ease.
"Hello everyone, my name is Reina-or Reina Zero. You can call me Reina, I don't mind~"
Her voice had an odd charm to it-enchanting in a way that made the entire class focus on her. Even Mei found herself drawn in by the sound, as if her words resonated deeper than they should have.
"Maybe the teacher already mentioned it, but I'm from another country and recently moved here. I still don't know much about Japanese customs, so I hope everyone can be kind to me and help me learn." She ended her introduction with a gentle bow and a soft smile that lingered just long enough to leave an impression.
The classroom buzzed with whispers. Students murmured among themselves, intrigued by her elegance and otherworldly aura.
But Mei wasn't listening to any of them.
Her focus remained solely on Reina.
Because her other self was speaking again.
["That woman is not normal. She acts like a proper human... but something inside her feels truly dangerous."]
Mei didn't even flinch at the voice. She had grown used to it by now. The first time she heard it is few months ago, she thought it'd because she was simply so lonely that she's manage to imagining someone to speak with, someone who she can speak to without her mask. It had been oddly comforting back then.
Reina stepped back after her introduction, and the white-haired girl took a cheerful hop forward, her energy contrasting her companion's calm presence.
"Hello everyone! My name is Kiana Kaslana. You can call me Kiana! Like Reina, I'm from another country too. I hope we can all get along~"
Her lively, adorable voice filled the classroom with ease, and the atmosphere shifted. Students began whispering again, this time about her vibrant attitude and unusual appearance.
Some called her hyperactive. Others commented on her unique look.
But Mei wasn't paying attention to her.
Her eyes remained fixed on Reina.
Despite her other self's warning, Mei couldn't feel anything strange. To her, Reina seemed like a perfectly normal girl.
"Thank you, you two, for introducing yourselves. Everyone, you may ask questions if you're curious about them," the teacher said, addressing the class. "But only one question, as we don't have enough time for a full introduction."
The classroom erupted almost instantly. Dozens of voices began speaking at once, students eager to ask everything from where they came from to what they liked.
Everyone was talking-except for Mei.
She stayed silent, observing.
The noise grew louder until the teacher clapped her hands sharply, cutting through the chaos.
"I said one question," she reminded them with a sigh. "Just choose one. The rest you can ask during break."
There was a brief moment of quiet murmuring as the class debated which question to ask, until finally one voice rose above the others.
"What's the relationship between you two?"
It was a fair question. The way the two girls had entered the classroom-especially how the white-haired one clung so closely to the other-had sparked everyone's curiosity. Were they sisters? Best friends? Something else?
Reina stepped forward, opening her mouth to answer with something simple.
"We're-"
But before she could say anything, Kiana suddenly clung to her arm again, squeezing tightly as she declared in a loud.
"She's my wife! So you better not try to get close to her because she's mine!"
The classroom fell into stunned silence.
Dozens of students froze in place, their eyes wide in shock. Not a single word followed.
Even the teacher seemed unsure how to react.