The sky had already completely darkened. Although it was because of winter that it got dark at only six o'clock.
But considering that even the Homu Paradise had already closed, Kiana's group of four still decided to head back.
"Today was really super fun! Thank you all for making time to accompany me today!"
Although Kiana was somewhat slow, she could also feel that everyone had been revolving around her today, so she felt a bit touched for a moment.
"You idiot Kiana, just look at what day it is today. Of course we'd accompany you." Perhaps because Bronya wasn't there, the missing "idiot" was supplied by Mei instead.
"Yeah, today is a very important day for big sister Kiana." Seele said with a smile. Although what she cared about most right now was resolving her brother's matter, she also cherished her friends very much.
"Mhm. If it's today, then accompanying classmate Kiana is only natural." Fu Hua finally nodded and said. Shun had directly and forcefully canceled all of her work for the day so she could make time.
"Ah? Why are you all saying that… What day is today? Halloween? But that seems to have already passed… Christmas Eve? There aren't any Christmas trees on the streets either…"
With Kiana's current brain capacity, she temporarily couldn't think of any other answers, so she could only smile foolishly at the three of them, hoping to get the answer from their mouths.
"You idiot. Today is your birthday!" Mei couldn't stand it anymore. She also had the best relationship with Kiana here. After poking Kiana's smooth forehead, she said somewhat helplessly.
Everyone had basically made it obvious already, but who would have thought Kiana would be this slow and need it spelled out directly.
"My birthday?! What date is today?" Only then did Kiana react belatedly, realizing why everyone had put on this show today.
So today was her birthday! In the years she had been wandering outside, she had completely had no mood to think about this matter.
"You guys are so good to me!" Thinking of this, Kiana's nose suddenly stung. The next moment, tears flowed out endlessly as if they cost nothing. In a moment of excitement, Kiana stepped forward and hugged her three good friends.
Fortunately, even the seemingly frailest Seele among the three was no ordinary person; otherwise, Kiana might have accidentally killed someone today.
"By the way, if today is my birthday, then are Shun and Auntie Theresa and the others also preparing some kind of surprise?"
Kiana had found it strange these past few days why it felt like someone was avoiding her. So that was why.
"Yeah, otherwise why would we ask you to go to brother's house today?" It was Seele who spoke. Although she really didn't want to admit that it was Shun's house, she had to acknowledge it in front of her friends right now.
"Then what are we still standing here for? Let's hurry back!" Upon learning that there was still an unknown surprise waiting for her ahead, Kiana immediately couldn't stay calm. Like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, she ran toward the inside of St. Freya Academy.
"Let's hurry and follow her too." Mei nodded at the other two, activated her authority, lifted the three of them, and chased in the direction Kiana had madly dashed toward.
"Hiss, why is it so pitch-black!" Upon arriving at Shun's house, what awaited Kiana was different from what she had imagined—not a brightly lit luxurious mansion emitting warm light, but a house so quiet it was terrifying.
"Is the door unlocked?" Kiana noticed that the villa's front door was still open a crack, as if it had been deliberately left that way.
Thinking of the surprise that Mei and the others had mentioned, Kiana no longer hesitated. She took a few steps forward, forcefully pulled open the door, and walked inside.
"Ouch!" Kiana felt as if she had bumped into something hard. Even with her Kaslana physique, she couldn't steady her balance, and her body fell backward.
"Careful. Are you alright?" At the critical moment, a hand reached out and caught Kiana's body.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. You are…?" Kiana focused her gaze. Although there was no lighting, the moonlight coming through the door allowed her to make out the appearance of the person in front of her.
She had light golden wavy hair with tips in a light coral color, and the same blue eyes as hers were filled with resolve and conviction. One could say this was exactly the image of the ideal Valkyrie in Kiana's mind.
"Sister, are you a Valkyrie?" For no particular reason, Kiana suddenly asked.
"Sister?" Being called that by Kiana, Durandal was somewhat caught off guard. But for some reason, hearing this child call her "sister" gave her an inexplicable sense of satisfaction in her heart.
She really wanted to hear her call her "sister" a few more times… This was Durandal's subconscious thought. However, as the most self-disciplined Valkyrie, she temporarily set this thought aside.
"I am a Valkyrie affiliated with the Immortal Blades squad, Bianka Durandal Ataegina. And you are…"
"My name is Kiana Kaslana, big sister Bianca." Kiana immediately answered.
"Eh, I… Never mind. Kiana… little sister." She really wanted to say that people usually call her Durandal, but she didn't want to refuse this girl she had just met. Moreover… inexplicably, she felt a strange sense of closeness to both this name and this girl.
Calling a girl she had just met "little sister" was almost unimaginable for Durandal, who usually kept excellent control over social distance. But today, she had somehow managed to do it.
"By the way, big sister Bianca, do you know Shun? What are you doing at his doorstep?" After getting to know this approachable big sister, Kiana finally started asking about the main matter.
"I do know him, but the reason I came here now is because the Overseer, along with Rita and senior Theresa, asked me to come at this time. But… it seems like there's no one inside."
Recalling why she had come here, Durandal felt a bit speechless. During training today, she had needed to use the Moon Soul armor, but the Overseer had lied to her that the armor had disappeared.
In the end, after inquiring from multiple sources, she had gotten this information. She had actually come here with some intent to question and demand answers. Losing the mobility of Moon Soul made carrying out missions somewhat inconvenient.
"Don't worry, big sister Bianca. If I say there's someone inside, then there definitely is!" Seeing that Durandal had no intention of moving forward, Kiana decisively grabbed Durandal's hand and pulled her ahead.
Passing through the not-too-long entrance and hallway, the two arrived at the living room together. And the moment the two entered the living room at the same time—
"Pop!" All kinds of party poppers and streamers fell from above, enveloping the two of them. Immediately after, warm lights turned on, revealing a living room decorated with an extremely birthday-like atmosphere.
Right after, everyone together offered Kiana the most sincere birthday wishes.
"Kiana, happy birthday!"
"Ugh, can I really not go down and take a look?" On a mountain peak quite far from Shun's villa, Siegfried held up binoculars, watching the warm scenes of the birthday party, and couldn't help feeling a bit tempted.
"No. Did I forget what I said? I didn't even go accompany Kiana for her celebration, and I'm up here keeping you company. You should be content with that."
Shun said irritably. Clearly he also wanted to celebrate Kiana's birthday, but now he could only stay here with Siegfried, enduring the cold wind.
However, the next second, a phone ringtone broke the tranquility of the night. Hmm… it was Kiana calling. She probably hadn't found Shun among the group and was calling to ask.
"Heh, then I'll take my leave first." Showing off the caller ID on his phone screen, Shun immediately flashed away and left.
"Damn it, remember to bring my gift over!" Siegfried shouted toward where Shun had disappeared, then could only continue gloomily watching through the binoculars.
"Mhm, I will." Shun's calm reply came through.
Suddenly returning from the dark environment to the glaring lights, his body instinctively didn't react in time.
Shun subconsciously raised his arm and used his palm to shield against the strong light that suddenly shone over. After his eyes adjusted slightly, he slowly lowered his hand, and his gaze immediately turned toward Kiana, who was standing in front with a face full of anticipation.
"Kiana, happy birthday!" Accompanied by this enthusiastic blessing, Shun, with a smile on his face, carefully took out two exquisitely packaged, incredibly delicate gift boxes from his bosom. He gently handed them to Kiana, his eyes filled with sincerity and gentleness.
However, in the next moment, something unexpected happened. With lightning-fast speed that was too quick for the eye to follow, Shun once again swiftly pulled out two more equally exquisite gift boxes and without hesitation handed them to Durandal, who was standing beside her. After completing this series of actions, as if afraid of being caught by someone, he instantly fled the scene at an astonishing speed and disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye. He left only Kiana and Durandal standing there, staring at each other in bewilderment, momentarily unable to react to what had just happened.
At times like this, it was better not to explain anything.