Honkai: Starting to Wander with Kiana

After a long wait, Chiba Academy finally reopened. Ryn busied himself packing Kiana's backpack, stuffing it with all sorts of supplies, like an overprotective parent sending their child off to their first day of school.

"I know, I know! Stop nagging already," Kiana complained, pinching Ryn's sides to interrupt his lecture.

"I'm just trying to help. It's your first day back, so you should be aware of some basic safety precautions!" Ryn replied, continuing to pack. His hands moved swiftly, stuffing items like self-defense spray, a baseball bat, a handgun, and even explosives into her bag.

Kiana stared at the absurd collection. "You've told me all of this like five times already! I could recite it in my sleep. But seriously, what's the point of this self-defense spray? My fists are stronger. And why on earth are there explosives in here?"

Ryn paused, considering her point. "Fair enough. If even a paramecium could memorize it by now, maybe I've gone overboard." He held up the spray and shrugged. "Fine, if explosives won't do, just bring a gun."

Kiana gawked at him. "A gun is safer than a bomb? You're unbelievable."

But she didn't refuse. After all, the handgun was a gift she actually liked. There were originally two of them, but Ryn had destroyed one during a test run, so it made sense for her to keep the remaining one with her.

"Here, take this lunch too. Made it with love just for you," Ryn said, handing her a neatly wrapped bento box.

Kiana eyed the lunch skeptically but didn't open it. Knowing Ryn's cooking was as hit-or-miss as her own, she figured it was better to leave it untouched and grab something from the canteen later.

"Alright, let's get moving. Class is starting soon."

"Yeah, yeah."

After escorting Kiana to the school gates, Ryn stood outside, watching until she had entered her classroom before heading home.

As he walked, he couldn't help but worry. Would Kiana struggle to adapt to campus life? Could she keep up with the lessons?

Wait a minute, he thought, shaking his head. Why am I acting like her mother? This is Siegfried's job, not mine. Ugh, but then again, she is my future companion...

"Cortana, start the day's work as usual. If Kiana sends any messages, notify me immediately."

"Understood, Master," Cortana replied.

Time passed quickly. By the end of the day, Ryn stretched, feeling the strain of hours spent writing code. Otto had promised to send someone to assist with his game development project, but all Ryn had received was a basic character profile and vague requirements. After that, Otto had vanished without a trace.

Thankfully, Cortana handled most of the heavy lifting, from modeling to database setup. Ryn often felt like a bystander, only needing to issue instructions for Cortana to execute flawlessly.

Wait a second. Don't tell me the 'helper' Otto mentioned is actually Cortana! That sneaky dog…

Ryn shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it. It was almost time to pick up Kiana from school.

Ryn arrived at the school gate and waited for Kiana. Minutes turned into hours, but she didn't show up. Concerned, he asked Cortana to locate her phone. The signal revealed she wasn't in her classroom. Following the coordinates, he found her standing in a secluded alley.

Kiana was there, baseball bat resting on her shoulder. Behind her crouched a younger girl, while four or five older students sat trembling across from them.

"You little punks! If I catch you bullying anyone again, I'll beat you to a pulp every time I see you! Now scram!" Kiana barked, her tiny fists shaking with fury.

"Yes, yes, we're sorry!" the bullies stammered, scrambling away in fear. They had mistaken Kiana for an easy target—a new, defenseless freshman. That illusion shattered when she pulled a baseball bat out from under her skirt.

They had tried threatening the younger girl to make Kiana drop her weapon, and she had played along, tossing the bat aside. But the moment they let the girl go, Kiana lunged at them, fists flying.

"The bat was suppressing my power!" she yelled as she swung at them. "I wanted to talk things out, but you forced me to show my real strength!"

After ensuring the younger girl was safe and sending her home, Kiana stayed to clean up the scene. Ryn had drilled it into her head: always finish the job thoroughly and leave no evidence behind.

As she packed up her things, she muttered, "Ryn, you liar. You said showing a weapon would scare off bad guys. But what's the point if they just make me drop it? I might as well start fights with my powered form next time."

Just as she was about to leave, she spotted Ryn standing at the corner, arms crossed.

"Oh, hey! Lovely weather today, huh?" Kiana said awkwardly, avoiding his gaze. She looked like a child caught red-handed by a parent.

Ryn sighed, ruffling her hair. "Let's go home."

"Mm-hmm."

"Next time, if you can't handle something, call me or Cortana for help."

"Got it."

"And no more of those 'got its.' What do you want for dinner tonight?"

"Big chicken legs!"

"Alright. Let's hit up that fried chicken place. Haven't seen the owner in a while."

"Yes! Oh, by the way, Ryn, your 'love lunches' are awful. Mine taste better."

"…"

Later that evening, Ryn sat at the table, listening to Kiana's teacher over the phone. He smiled politely, speaking fluent English.

"Yes, I'll keep a closer eye on her. Thank you for letting me know," he said, though his expression grew increasingly strained.

Kiana, sitting across from him, stopped mid-bite. The tension in the room was palpable.

When the call ended, Ryn's narrowed eyes and frozen smile turned to Kiana.

"Ryn, don't look at me like that. You're scaring me…" she said softly, shrinking into her chair.

Ryn slammed his hand on the table. "In just two months, you've managed to turn the school upside down! Sleeping in class, skipping lessons, picking fights—you've earned the title of 'little tyrant!' Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?"

Kiana looked sheepish, but her defiant eyes glimmered with mischief.

"And don't even get me started on your excuses! 'Ryn got into a car accident, so I had to check on him.' 'Ryn choked on a chicken leg.' And the best one—'Siegfried died, so I attended his funeral!' Seriously?!"

"Here, drink some water," Kiana offered, pushing a glass toward him with a faux-innocent smile.

Ryn groaned, holding his head. "You… you're impossible."

But deep down, he couldn't help but smile at her antics.