Another month passed, and the case of Mei's father, Raiden Ryoma, became increasingly heated online and in real life in Changkong City.
Online, speculation ran wild, with rumors of all kinds making it impossible to discern truth from falsehood.
In reality, whispers and malicious gossip about Mei at Senkai Academy grew more prevalent.
The public's gaze, the family's predicament, and the bullying at school... Mei felt as if she were drowning, suffocated by a tide of negativity.
Mei wore a troubled expression every day, and for a period, she became withdrawn at home.
Ling Feng had secretly investigated.
After a long while, Mei wiped her tears, put the items back in the cabinet, and closed it.
She changed back into her normal clothes and returned home in a daze.
Two days later, early in the morning, Mei walked through the school grounds with her head down.
She usually arrived at school very early to avoid crowds.
Today, due to some matters, she was late, and the school was already quite populated.
Mei dared not look at the people around her, silently making her way to the teaching building.
However, Mei was too conspicuous; those around her quickly noticed her and began to curse without reservation.
"It's the criminal's daughter!"
"She must be an accomplice!"
"She's spending dirty money!"
"The school doesn't welcome you! Go to prison!"
Listening to the curses, Mei's heart crumbled again. Tears streaming down her face, she walked towards the campus park to wait for the crowd to disperse before returning to the teaching building.
Mei sat beneath a tree, sobbing quietly.
"Huh, is that Mei? Why are you crying here alone?"
"Did those guys bully you again? Stop crying, get up."
Mei looked up with tear-filled eyes. Kiana's radiant smile and her outstretched hand met her gaze.
...
A while later, Mei and Kiana sat on a park bench.
"Mei, I often see you alone. Don't you have any friends?"
Kiana swung her legs and looked at Mei curiously, asking.
"This..."
Mei hesitated, not wanting to involve Ling Feng and the others.
"If Mei doesn't have friends, then let me be your friend."
Kiana took Mei's hand.
"What?!"
Hearing this, Mei looked up in surprise, stunned.
"What what? You don't have friends, so let me be your friend."
"From now on, I'll call you Mei, and you can call me Kiana."
Kiana smiled brightly.
Mei paused for a moment, hesitant, but then spoke.
"Classmate Kiana..."
"It's Kiana."
Kiana pouted, correcting her with dissatisfaction.
"Okay, Kiana, don't you mind?"
"Ah? Mind what?"
"That... case involving the me company."
"What are you talking about? Mei is Mei, what does it have to do with any case?"
"Kiana..."
"After all, before this, I was always alone... Now that I have Mei, I won't feel lonely anymore."
Looking at Kiana's bright and sincere smile, Mei felt a warmth surge within her.
So... there were still many people who genuinely wanted to be her friend.
Ling Feng, Kiana...
The darkness, which had been largely shattered by Ling Feng and the others, was now completely broken with Kiana's help.
*Ding-a-ling!*
"Ah! Mei, it's time for class. Let's hurry back to the classroom."
Kiana quickly grabbed Mei's hand and rushed towards the classroom in a panic.
"Mm."
This time, Mei no longer chose to evade.
At noon, the rooftop of the high school teaching building.
"Wow! Mei, I thought you had no friends. I didn't expect you to have so many... You lied to me."
Kiana looked at Ling Feng and the others around them, feigning a pout as she looked at Mei.
"Sorry, Kiana, it's just that I..."
Mei quickly lowered her head, intending to apologize.
"Okay, okay, I was just teasing you, Mei."
Kiana smiled and waved her hand, clearly not taking it to heart.
"Wow! Classmate Ling Feng, your lunch is so generous!"
"Wow! Mei, yours too!"
As the aromas wafted through the rooftop, Kiana's mouth watered.
"Mei, look! What is that!"
Kiana suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the sky.
Mei instinctively looked up.
A smirk played on Kiana's lips. With lightning speed, she snatched a rice ball from Mei's lunchbox and shoved it into her mouth.
"Ah! My lunch, Kiana."
Mei finally realized she had been tricked.
At that moment, Kiana, who was laughing and eating the rice ball, suddenly her expression changed, and she looked uncomfortable.
"Kiana."
Mei patted Kiana's back, concerned.
"Don't worry, she just ate too fast and choked. Here, have some water."
Ling Feng handed Kiana a bottle of mineral water.
Kiana quickly took the water, twisted open the cap, took a big gulp, and then let out a long sigh.
"Are... are you okay, Kiana?"
Mei looked at Kiana worriedly.
"Whew... Delicious!!!"
"It's so delicious! Did you make this yourself, Mei?!"
Kiana's eyes sparkled. Mei's rice balls had conquered her stomach.
"Huh? Ah, yes, I made it..."
"It's delicious! This is the best rice ball I've ever tasted!"
"Really?"
"Of course, it's much better than what I make myself."
Kiana opened her own bento box, and a burnt smell immediately wafted out.
Damn it!
Killing intent!
Ling Feng scrambled to the edge of the rooftop, looking at Kiana's bento with a hint of fear.
"Huh? Classmate Ling Feng, why are you running?"
"It's nothing."
Ling Feng shook his head.
For some reason, he now felt an inexplicable fear whenever he saw burnt food.
"Huh? Classmate Ling Feng, classmate Mirai, and junior Sagiri, why are your bentos all the same?"
Kiana looked at Ling Feng's bento with shining eyes, her face filled with surprise.
Ling Feng took a breath, walked back, and sat down, explaining their relationship.
Kiana understood.
"I see. Classmate Ling Feng, can I try your bento?"
Ling Feng smiled and didn't refuse, handing over his bento.
Kiana couldn't resist the enticing aroma and picked up a piece of chicken.
"Mmm! Classmate Ling Feng, yours is delicious too!"
Having tasted so much delicious food at once, Kiana felt like she had reached the peak of life.
"Mei, I always thought your bento smelled great, so... could you...?"
Kiana smiled sweetly, her large eyes blinking at Mei.
"Alright, alright, I'll make one for you next time."
Mei naturally wouldn't be stingy with her friends; it was just a matter of making a little extra.
"And classmate Ling Feng, could you...?"
"Alright, alright."
"Hooray! The pouting strategy succeeded!"
For a moment, the rooftop was filled with a harmonious atmosphere.
...
From this day onwards, Mei no longer avoided Ling Feng and the others. The group walked home together.
As for the rumors and gossip?
None of them cared.
In the afternoon, the Kendo Club.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
As they passed each other, Ling Feng seized an opening and swung his sword, knocking the bamboo sword from Mei's hand before calmly sheathing his own.
Mei looked at the fallen bamboo sword, unable to believe how strong Ling Feng's swordsmanship was.
In less than ten seconds, she had been defeated.
"Wow! Ling Feng, you're amazing!"
Kiana applauded from the side.
With her combat experience, she could tell that Ling Feng's swordsmanship was extraordinary.
"Ling Feng, I didn't expect your swordsmanship to be so formidable."
Mei picked up her bamboo sword and praised him.
"Hahaha, not that formidable. I've practiced for a few years, and I haven't touched it in months. I was worried my hand might be rusty."
Ling Feng swung his bamboo sword and scratched his head with a smile.
Mei's Hokushin Itto-ryu techniques were good, but she lacked practical combat experience. Otherwise, it might have taken him some effort to defeat her.
"But I won't give up. My father told me that inner strength is the best weapon."
"No matter how many times I lose, I won't give up!"
Mei said earnestly.
Ling Feng's lips curved into a smile as he adopted a fighting stance.
"Then... bring it on!"
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Afterward, Ling Feng and Mei sparred again, with Ling Feng occasionally offering Mei some pointers during the fight.
When they left the Kendo Club, Ling Feng and Mirai went to pick up Sagiri from the Art Club.
Usually, Sagiri came on her own, but sometimes club activities ran late, and they had to wait.