"I don't need to."
Mei refused quite simply and directly.
And it was true; as a Herrscher, she naturally didn't need human food to sate her hunger. Simply put... she could survive by breathing air.
Especially the Honkai energy-filled air here in Chang Kong City.
"Eh! How can anyone not need to eat! And just now, the sound from your stomach was singing a duet with mine! What's more, eating is when people feel the happiest!"
Kiana couldn't help but recall all the delicious food she used to eat, like Crazy Thursday, V me 50 ( ).
"Happiness..."
This word made Mei waver a bit. Would she truly... have happiness?
"Of course! After all, eating is when you satisfy your desires! After a full meal, you're filled with satisfaction! So you've agreed, right!"
Kiana didn't expect her casual remark to unexpectedly sway Mei. Sure enough... relying on Theresa wouldn't work; she had to do it herself.
Then she extended her hand and introduced herself.
"Well then, my name is Kiana Kaslana! Just call me Kiana! Since we'll be traveling together from now on, we should get to know each other, right!"
Although Kiana already knew it was Mei, the point wasn't that she knew, but for Mei to say it herself.
"...Raiden Mei."
Without shaking hands, Mei stood up and looked at her, speaking coldly.
For now... let's see if what this human says is true.
"We know each other's names! This is a huge step forward in our relationship!"
Kiana applauded vigorously, and incidentally, estimated her height.
As expected, Mei was much taller than her, plus that expression... *sobs*, such a cool and aloof Mei.
"So, next is to find the convenience store, hmm... Mei, do you know where the convenience store is?"
Kiana was completely unfamiliar with this place; this was her first time at Chiyu Academy.
"..."
Mei glanced at her, as if something was amiss.
"I can't call you Mei?! But calling you 'Raiden-san' feels too distant! We're partners!"
Kiana chose to act cute to get past it. After all, asking her to call her 'Raiden-san' would be worse than just killing her; she was completely unaccustomed to it.
"...Whatever."
Mei crossed her arms, pushing up her chest, her scattered purple long hair fluttering in the breeze. She walked off in a certain direction with a very queenly demeanor.
"Wait for me! I'm coming!"
Kiana quickly followed. Mei finally moved, and if all went well, she was heading towards the convenience store.
She didn't expect Mei to be a bit tsundere. Eh heh heh, but this actually worked to her advantage.
After all, she was the persistent Kiana!
But... just being persistent wasn't enough; she needed to find out Mei's hobbies...
Ugh! Mei, in her impression, was only a 'cooking wife'! Where would there be an environment to cook now!
[The convenience store at Chiyu Academy is... ah, it's on the path you're taking. Is she actually leading the way?! The Third Herrscher's personality needs to be re-evaluated.]
[Uh... Kiana, you can act independently for now! Currently, the Third Herrscher's Honkai energy is stable, and your strategy is correct!]
Theresa's side gave a reminder, but... it was too late.
Sure enough, it wasn't very useful, and needed to be re-evaluated.
However, since this was a hasty operation, it was normal for there to be so many loopholes... right?
With Mei present, the path forward was incredibly smooth. No Honkai beasts or Honkai beasts could stop a Herrscher here.
Upon arriving at the convenience store, it was in a complete mess due to the Honkai outbreak.
"Ah, I hope we can find something edible!"
Kiana pulled out a snack; the packaging was already damaged. It was clearly Honkai-infected food and couldn't be eaten.
She needed to find undamaged snacks.
"Over there."
Mei, with her arms crossed, leaning against the door, spoke faintly.
"Uh..."
At least point in a direction!
However, perhaps it was tacit agreement, Kiana understood Mei's meaning: the section behind her.
"Found it! There's chocolate! This is good stuff! And some biscuits, it seems there's only these..."
Kiana looked at the small amount of food in her hands. Forget about being full, it was barely enough for a taste.
"Here! This chocolate is for you! I'll just eat the biscuits!"
Give the high-calorie one to Mei! She'll just eat the biscuits!
Presumably, Theresa wouldn't watch her starve!
"..."
Looking at the chocolate being offered, Mei reached out and took it, then looked at Kiana.
"Mmm, so delicious! Ah~! As expected of a noble girls' school! Although I don't know what brand it is, it tastes really good!"
Anyone who has been hungry for a long time would find a biscuit delicious, let alone Kiana, who was not only hungry but had also exercised for quite some time.
"..."
Looking at the blissful Kiana, Mei couldn't help but look at the chocolate in her hand. In the memories of another Mei, she remembered this was a very sweet thing.
She took a tentative bite.
So bitter! Humans actually like to eat this!
But looking at Kiana, it didn't seem like she was lying...
"Hey, you."
Raising the chocolate in her hand, Mei said.
"Huh? I'm Kiana! Not 'hey'!"
They were already so familiar, how could she still call her 'hey'! Was it just her imagination!
"...Kiana, let's swap."
Mei, too lazy to argue, chose to use her name.
"Oh, you want biscuits, huh? Here! I highly recommend the milk-flavored ones!"
Taking the chocolate that Mei had bitten, Kiana handed all the biscuits to Mei.
Mei picked a milk-flavored biscuit, tore open the packaging, and popped it into her mouth.
It felt...
"How is it, how is it! Isn't it delicious!"
"..."
Looking at Kiana's expectant gaze, Mei somehow felt that this biscuit seemed... a little delicious.
"I know you think it's delicious, so as for the chocolate... I'll split it with you! After all, we have to hurry, so we need to replenish more calories!"
Kiana looked at the bite marks on it and thought for a moment.
"I'll just eat a little less! This whole one is for you!"
She had taken a big loss!
"Mmm, mm~! The feeling that dessert brings is just different!"
"..."
Seeing Kiana's blissful expression once again, Mei couldn't help but doubt herself, then took another bite.
It was still so bitter, after all...
But whether it was an illusion or not, she always felt that, actually, it was a little sweet.
In the end, she still finished them.
"Satisfied, satisfied! But, as expected, hot meals are still more filling..."
Kiana rubbed her stomach. With just that little bit of snacks, she even felt hungrier.
"I seem to... know how to cook?"
Seeing Kiana like this, Mei couldn't help but say.