บท 19: Interlude: Kiana Kaslana
The train rumbled softly beneath Kiana as she leaned back in her seat, her legs stretched out in front of her. She looked to her side to see Mei, looking out of the window, She thought about asking what was on her mind but decided against it, she had thoughts of her own right now.
Saint Freya's was still hours away, and while excitement buzzed in her chest at the thought of finally becoming a Valkyrie, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia for the life she was leaving behind.
Nagazora. Mei. Kenji. The shenanigans they'd gotten up to together. She smiled faintly, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest as the memories played out in her mind like a highlight reel.
She'd met Mei back in high school, and for some ungodly reason, the two had clicked immediately. It was strange, really. Mei was everything Kiana wasn't: calm, composed, elegant, practically perfect in every way. Meanwhile, Kiana was… well, loud. Energetic. Maybe a little chaotic. And yet, from the moment they'd started talking, it felt like they'd been friends forever.
Why Mei liked being around her so much, Kiana didn't know. But she wasn't about to question it. Being friends—really good friends—with someone as amazing as Mei? It was the kind of thing people dreamed about. Heck, sometimes Kiana had to pinch herself to believe it was real.
Of course, she hoped they'd be more than friends someday, but she wasn't about to push it. For now, being by Mei's side was enough.
Kiana chuckled softly as another memory surfaced. It was back when Mei had decided to start helping out at the local dojo.
Kiana had been skeptical at first, wondering why on earth Mei would want to spend her free time teaching kendo to a bunch of spoiled brats. And judging by Mei's rants after her first few weeks there, her doubts weren't entirely unfounded.
"Ugh, Kiana, you wouldn't believe it," Mei had groaned over lunch one day, her usually calm demeanor cracking just enough to reveal her frustration. "Half of them don't even want to learn. They just show up to impress me—or worse, they think I can magically make them better without putting in any effort!"
Kiana had grinned, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Want me to go beat some sense into them? I'll knock those egos down a few pegs."
"No," Mei had said firmly, though the faint smile tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement. "Violence isn't the answer."
"Are you sure? Because I think it's a great answer," Kiana had replied, her grin widening.
Mei had just shaken her head, but Kiana could tell she was tempted. Still, she relented, for Mei's sake, if nothing else.
It wasn't until a few weeks later that Kiana found herself at the dojo. Mei had sent her a text, casually mentioning that almost all of the students had stopped showing up, except for one. Worried that Mei might be feeling lonely or discouraged, Kiana had decided to drop by and check on her.
That was the first time she met Kenji.
At first, he hadn't seemed like anything special. Just another guy trying his hand at kendo, with nothing particularly remarkable about him. She'd even made sure to tease him a little, warning him that Mei-senpai was off limits—"Except for me, of course," she'd added with a wink.
But as the days went by, Kiana noticed something that changed her opinion of him.
Kenji wasn't like the others. He wasn't there to impress anyone or stroke his own ego. He was serious about training—really serious. Kiana had never seen anyone so focused, so determined to improve. Even Mei, who was usually composed and measured, seemed to light up in his presence.
Kiana couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him, though. Mei's intensity when teaching was no joke, and Kenji bore the brunt of it. She'd seen the way Mei drilled him relentlessly, pushing him harder than anyone else. It was almost painful to watch at times. Heck, even the other students got scared from Mei's teaching methods on Kenji.
But to Kenji's credit, he never complained. He took everything Mei threw at him and came back for more. That kind of dedication was rare, and Kiana found herself respecting him for it.
Before long, the three of them had fallen into an easy rhythm. Kiana had initially been wary of Kenji, she wasn't the type to let just anyone into her inner circle—but he grew on her faster than she'd expected. His funny demeanor and casual attitude balanced out her energy and Mei's calmness in a way that just… worked.
She smiled as she thought about all the times they'd spent together outside the dojo.
There was the time they'd gone shopping, Kiana dragging the other two from store to store as she tried on everything from sleek leather jackets to ridiculous novelty hats. Mei had watched with quiet amusement, occasionally offering a polite suggestion, while Kenji mostly just sighed and followed along, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
She would never forget the look he had when she convinced him to dress up in so many types of clothing. She still had the pictures even now!
Then there was the horror movie incident. still one of her favorite memories. She had laughed through most of the film, while Mei watched with her usual composed expression. Kenji, on the other hand, had nearly jumped out of his seat half a dozen times, spilling popcorn everywhere during one particularly intense scene. She made sure to tease him mercilessly, and even Mei had joined in on the fun.
And who could forget the museum? Kiana had been heavily against the idea at first—"Museums are boring!" she'd complained—but Mei, in her infinite wisdom, had called Kenji to join them. It was a sneaky move, and Mei had known it, too. She'd given Kiana a mischievous smile that said, I know you don't want to be left out.
Kiana had grumbled all the way to the museum, but in the end, she couldn't stay mad. The three of them had a blast wandering the exhibits together, joking and laughing and making even the dullest displays feel like an adventure.
Of course, it wasn't all fun and games. Kiana had always sensed that there was something… different about Kenji. There was a strange energy about him, something that didn't quite fit with the rest of the world. She knew Mei had sensed it, too, though neither of them ever said anything.
For Kiana, it didn't matter. Whatever secrets Kenji was keeping, she didn't feel the need to dig. And it would be pretty hypocritical of her if she did, considering the things that she is keeping even from Mei. He was a good guy, someone she trusted, someone who'd become a real friend. So what if he had some secrets?
The train jolted slightly, pulling Kiana from her thoughts. She shifted in her seat, stretching her arms over her head as she let out a quiet sigh.
Saint Freya's Academy was getting closer, and with it, her dream of becoming a Valkyrie. It was what she'd been working toward for, just so she could achieve her mission, her entire reason for going this far.
But that didn't mean she wasn't going to miss Nagazora. The dojo, the city, and most of all, the three of them hanging out.
She smiled to herself, thinking about how much she'd teased Kenji over the years. Whether it was calling him "old man" (despite him being just a year older) or poking fun at his serious demeanor, their playful banter had become one of the highlights of her days.
Her smile turned into a grin as a thought struck her. If Kenji really was the Night Runner. The mysterious vigilante she'd heard so many rumors about, then there was no doubt in her mind that their paths would cross again.
"I can't wait to see you again, Kenji," she murmured to herself, her voice filled with excitement. "Let's see how well you fare against a real Valkyrie."
With that, she leaned back in her seat, her grin widening as she slowly let her eyes fall. Falling asleep next to Mei as she prepared for her future.
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