LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 241: Big Brother
The darkness was as thick as ink, enveloping her sleeping consciousness as it drifted upwards. After an unknown amount of time, a faint light pierced the endless darkness, illuminating the girl's soul.
Her eyes closed, she continued to rise, carried by the light. Finally, like a drowning person surfacing, she broke through, sunlight returning to her world.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Kiana, how many times have I told you not to sleep in class?"
The girl's vision was still blurry, but the voice made her freeze. She looked up, her eyes wide, staring at the woman on the podium.
"Himeko-sensei!"
"Hmm? Why do you look like you haven't seen me in ages?" Himeko, holding a pointer, looked at Kiana, puzzled, wondering if she was still half-asleep. The next second, tears streamed down the girl's face. Before Himeko could react, Kiana threw herself into her arms, hugging her tightly.
Seeing her like this, Himeko sighed, swallowing her reprimand. She gently hugged Kiana, stroking her head.
"Did you have a bad dream?"
"Himeko-sensei, I missed you so much."
"Don't be silly. I've always been here." Himeko was baffled, unsure why Kiana was acting like this. She could only let her hug her, addressing the class, "It seems we have a special situation. Everyone, please study quietly."
Mei, Bronya, Himeko-sensei…looking at the familiar faces in the classroom, Kiana couldn't contain her emotions.
She was back at St. Freya, a place filled with cherished memories.
The sunlight was so warm, carrying a sweet scent, like a dream.
But Kiana didn't dare reach out, afraid of bursting the bubble, shattering this world.
She quietly returned to her seat, listening to Himeko's lecture, savoring this moment of happiness.
Finally, class ended. Kiana joined Mei and Bronya. The trio reunited, just like old times.
"Kiana, are you feeling unwell?" Mei asked with concern.
"No, just…"
"Just a very, very long nightmare. I dreamt that we were separated, that we could never be together again." She looked at the gentle Mei, a smile appearing on her face. "I dreamt that Mei became so distant, like a regal queen, and even beat me up. But it was just a dream. The real Mei would never bully me, right?"
Though Kiana said it was just a dream, Mei replied seriously, "Of course. I would never let anyone bully Kiana."
"Bronya will also help the idiot Kiana. Don't worry." Even the usually aloof Bronya expressed her support.
As they chatted, Himeko knocked on the classroom door, calling Kiana out.
"Kiana, if you're not feeling well, you should go home with your brother. I'll give you half a day off."
"Brother?"
"Ren. Are you still half-asleep? Don't tell me you've forgotten your own family?" Himeko saw the girl freeze, like a statue.
"If you don't want to go back, it's fine. You can stay for class."
"I want to go back!" Kiana interrupted before Himeko could finish, waving goodbye to her classmates and running towards the school gate.
The St. Freya campus was vast, but to Kiana, it felt incredibly distant. She ran until a familiar figure came into view.
"Ren!"
Catching the running girl, Ren said helplessly, "You should call me 'big brother.'"
"Ren." Kiana didn't respond, simply hugging him tightly.
"Though you are technically a little older than me, you don't have to hug me like this. We just saw each other this morning."
But no matter what he said, Kiana refused to let go. He could only wave at Himeko, who had followed them, and took Kiana back to their small house.
"It's almost lunchtime. Go play for a bit, I'll make lunch. What do you want to eat today?"
"Whatever you make."
"Alright."
Ren was a decent cook. He quickly prepared two meat dishes, a vegetable dish, and a soup, all familiar to Kiana.
It was like being back at St. Freya. It felt just like the day she'd first met Ren. Kiana quietly finished her lunch and looked at him again.
Ren's figure seemed to be shrouded in mist.
"Why are you staring at me? Eat some more."
"No," Kiana shook her head, a happy smile on her face. "It's enough."
As her voice faded, the sunlit world was once again enveloped in mist, shattering like glass.
…
"Kiana, you're awake."
"Class monitor…do you think we'll ever go back to those days again?"
"I don't know, but you can try."