The sound of the shower stopped.
As the door slid open, a girl with bare feet emerged from the bathroom.
Her hair, like the bright, clear moonlight, cascaded down her back, not tied into its usual twin braids. Her delicate face, like that of a porcelain doll, was flushed an alluring rosy pink from the heat of the shower.
Kiana was no longer in her White Comet battlesuit, but in a pair of low-rise hot pants and a tank top dotted with pink spots.
She stretched lazily, her fine figure exuding a youthful energy.
Kiana looked at Otto, who was sitting on the sofa.
"I'm done. Your turn."
Oho, it's the Paramecium with her hair down. I never thought I'd get to see her like this here.
It really makes me want to hug her.
Otto remained on the sofa, looking at Kiana and shaking his head.
"I showered earlier."
"Fine, then."
Kiana began to dry her long hair with a towel. She walked over to Otto and saw what he was watching, and her face immediately fell.
"Why are you watching the movie I rented without me?"
Kiana puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction. The television was playing a gory, R-rated horror film. On the coffee table in front of him were several DVD cases, one of which was open.
"Don't worry, it's just a low-budget piece of trash. The lead actress is the only one with any talent. Let me tell you, at the beginning, the male lead..."
"I'm not listening, I'm not listening!"
Kiana clamped her hands over her ears, refusing to be spoiled. When Otto stopped talking, she scrambled onto the sofa like a wildcat and plopped down next to him.
"Start it over, start it over!" she demanded like a little child.
"Alright, alright, whatever you say."
Otto could only sigh and hand her the remote. Kiana immediately rewound the movie back to the beginning.
"Honestly, do you really like these zombie movies that much? At the start, the male lead..."
The master of spoilers was promptly silenced by Kiana, who covered his mouth. She glared at him with a threatening look, and Otto could only mime zipping his lips shut with his right hand.
He would be quiet.
With the spoiler-dog muzzled, Kiana tucked her feet up onto the sofa, hugged her knees, and watched the movie with an excited expression.
She desperately wanted to be like the heroine in the movie, using stylish Gun Kata to fight her way in and out of a sea of zombies seven times over. But in the real world, where would she find any zombies?
Otto sat beside her, close enough to smell her sweet fragrance.
He couldn't help but wonder. The hotel provided the same brand of shower gel for everyone, so why did Kiana smell so much better than him?
He really wanted to join her in the bathroom for some... in-depth research.
Just then, Kiana's phone chimed.
Otto's gaze drifted towards her pert backside. Kiana heard the sound too and pulled her phone out of her pocket with a puzzled look.
After a glance, a conflicted expression appeared on her face.
"What's wrong?" Otto asked with a smile. "Could it be some little vixen is looking for you?"
Otto was a little on guard.
People can learn and get smarter.
"No, it's not that! It's the girl I told you I rescued today. Her name is Asakura Miyuki, and she has super pretty black hair!"
"She said the school is closed for now, so she wants to ask me to hang out tomorrow."
Kiana generously showed Otto the text message.
Otto glanced at it. Seeing that it was a normal message from a female classmate, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He did not want history to repeat itself.
The biggest threat, the Housewife, was already secured in his room, but this 'central air conditioner' Kiana was really giving him a headache.
"Then go ahead."
Otto didn't think much of it. The name Asakura Miyuki didn't ring any bells for him; she was probably just a passerby character from Senba Academy.
Although he planned to shape Kiana into his ideal form, it didn't mean he would completely cut her off from the outside world. She still needed to have normal, healthy social interactions.
Otherwise, it would be easy to raise a yandere.
Besides, once he took Kiana back to Schicksal HQ, a minor character like this would have no more chances to appear.
"Really? Then I'll say yes?"
Kiana asked Otto for confirmation. She still remembered that she was his subordinate and had to listen to him. Her Valkyrie assessment depended on it!
The last thing she wanted was to go back to studying and taking exams!
"Mm."
Otto nodded.
Seeing Otto agree, Kiana replied to Asakura Miyuki's message. Then, she asked curiously.
"By the way, did something happen at Senba Academy today?"
Kiana had witnessed the school building suddenly collapse with her own eyes. If it weren't for Asakura Miyuki suddenly fainting, forcing her to carry the girl to safety, Kiana would have immediately rushed into the collapsed building to save people.
Thinking about the death and injury count from the news today, her heart ached a little.
If she had left Asakura Miyuki behind at that moment, could she have saved a few more people?
"Raiden Mei had a small accident, but it's fine now."
Otto said. Kiana swallowed hard. A collapsed school building was just a "small accident"?
For the first time, she truly felt that her and Otto's actions were directly tied to the safety of the entire city.
"Maybe... I shouldn't go tomorrow? I can go with you to handle official business."
"And have an amateur like you get in my way?" Otto said mockingly.
Are you kidding me? I'm in the middle of conquering Mei's route. You think I want a Paramecium like you messing things up?
Kiana huffed and lightly punched Otto's shoulder.
"You're still young. You should hang out with your friends while you can. Once you follow me back to Schicksal HQ, you won't have this kind of leisure time," Otto said, ruffling Kiana's hair. He, too, cherished these moments of playful banter with her.
Once they were back at HQ, he would have to constantly wear the mask of the Schicksal Overseer.
No, wait. I can probably still play with Kiana from time to time.
"A friend? Does this count as a friend?"
Otto nodded.
Kiana looked at her phone and muttered softly.
"My... second friend."
"Second?" Otto's interest was piqued. "Then who's the first?"
Kiana raised her hand and pointed her slender finger at Otto.
Kiana's first friend was Otto Apocalypse.
Seeing the delicate finger pointed at him, Otto's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Could you add the word 'male' in front of that?"
"No."
Kiana answered decisively.