Having completed today's groundwork, the Raven said nothing more. She sprawled across the desk and went right back to snoozing soundly.
"Do high schoolers these days just not sleep at night?"
Mei muttered under her breath, her tone carrying the puzzled air of a seasoned veteran.
But she quickly tossed the question aside, her gaze landing delightedly on the unfolded map.
So cool. From now on, whenever they wanted to go on an adventure, they could plan the entire route right here in the activity room. They could even determine the best spots for an ambush in advance.
Raven lifted her eyes slightly, casting a glance at Mei. And what exactly do you think is the reason I'm lacking sleep?
Club cramming. Academic cramming. After sitting through half a lesson this morning and still understanding absolutely nothing, the Raven had simply and decisively skipped the rest. She'd catch up on the fundamentals first.
Shiraha leaned in close and whispered an explanation. "She's a delinquent. Probably out tearing up the streets at night."
Raven lifted her eyes again, just barely. But... she couldn't refute it. Compared to her, the so-called delinquents in Chiba Academy's high school division were practically little lambs. Even if she didn't actually tear up any streets.
The lunch break wasn't long. Aside from eating... no, even while eating, Mei's eyes were glued longingly to the map spread across the table.
"Why doesn't Nagazora have any disasters that need us to solve them?"
She set down her chopsticks, her voice tinged with the melancholy of a hero with no battlefield. As the successor of Hokushin Ittō-ryū, she felt her path of growth should not be this uneventful.
Shiraha continued reviewing high school material and didn't answer.
He'd already gone over middle school content back in America. High school was slightly harder, his college entrance exam scores had only been "passable." His high school academics had been decidedly average.
"Shiraha!"
Shiraha hurriedly looked up. "What is it, Mei-nee?"
"I believe the Hokushin Ittō-ryū Youth Training Camp should be doing something more meaningful during club hours."
Mei's little face was serious. She added, "Not sitting here reading books and drinking tea. That's the kind of thing the Light Music Club does."
Shiraha fell silent. You're nine years old. What exactly do you want to do? Get kidnapped again?
He asked instead, "Why did Mei-nee want to create a club in the first place?"
"To gather all the heroes under heaven! This world's heroes are as numerous as the fish in a river. I believe Nagazora definitely has more than just one Shiraha."
Mei was an ambitious boss. Mei told herself this in her heart.
But after saying it, she quickly added, "Of course, Shiraha, you're special."
Shiraha had the sweetest way with words. And Shiraha was practically her little brother now. Even without a name change, in a certain sense, he could already be considered Raiden Shiraha... even if that name didn't sound good at all.
Shiraha looked at Mei's earnest little face and racked his brain. "Then we'd have to ask Dr. Tesla and Dr. Einstein for help. See if they have some kind of machine that can detect talent."
Maybe something like that did exist. But the process would definitely be a hassle. It wouldn't be as simple as scanning someone's forehead and having numbers pop up. That wouldn't be scientific. It wouldn't even be Honkai-logical.
Mei sank into thought. Then Shiraha put forward a second suggestion. "But Mei-nee could put up a notice on the outdoor bulletin board. Call it the First Chiba Academy Martial Arts Tournament. Mei-nee, you'd hold the elementary division. I'd take the middle school division. We can ignore the high school division for now. Let fists and feet do the talking."
He paused and added, "And through this, we can ask Uncle Ryoma for a favor, get the student rosters for all grades. Screen for good seedlings. Then approach them one by one."
Shiraha had no desire to go class by class searching for Yuna. Too inefficient. And unlikely to yield many additional gains.
The number of characters from Chiba Academy who actually appeared in the story could be counted on one hand.
Raiden Mei. Yuna. Asakura Miyuki but Miyuki was from Honkai Gakuen 2... At that thought, Shiraha lifted his eyes and glanced at Elysia-nee. Yes. We're in Honkai Impact 3rd. Confirmed.
"You'll take the middle school division?"
Raven ultimately hadn't fallen asleep. She looked the little brat up and down.
"Is there a problem?" Shiraha met her gaze without a trace of timidity.
Plenty of problems. Are you sure anyone from middle school would even show up to challenge... wait. Would anyone even participate in a weird tournament like this in the first place?
Raven lowered her head. No telling what she was thinking. After a moment, she raised it again. "Why nothing for the high school division?"
"Because Mei-nee and I are too young."
Raven pointed at herself. "What am I? Invisible?"
She'd thought it over. Whatever these two brats wanted to do, what did it have to do with her?
All she needed was to blend in with them. Complete Grey Serpent's mission. That was it.
"Are you up to it?"
Shiraha's eyes were clear. His voice held only pure doubt and distrust.
The corner of the Raven's mouth twitched. She forced her expression into one of arrogance, flashing a canine tooth. "Hmph. Worry about yourself first."
"Seeing as we're in the same club... if things go south on your end, I suppose I could step in and hold the fort for you two."
After saying it, her face twitched. She almost cracked. Good thing she was professionally trained.
Shiraha looked at the Raven's expression and felt the urge to laugh too. He held it in.
Off to the side, Elysia rested her chin on her hand. She was pondering what exactly this Natasha Cioara was after.
In the end, Shiraha managed to squeeze out an expression of trust. "Then I look forward to seeing Senpai's strength."
Raven was just about to let out a light scoff to solidify her persona when Mei couldn't hold back any longer!
"Wait a minute! I haven't decided whether we're holding a martial arts tournament yet!"
She slammed her hand heavily on the desk, trying to remind these two exactly who the club president was.
Shiraha. Natasha. Are you two attempting to usurp the throne?
"Mm. I'll listen to Mei-nee."
Shiraha sat back down immediately. Honestly, elementary school was just that boring. He might as well find his own fun. And if no fun was to be had, that was fine too, the Raiden household's conditions were excellent. Just living normally felt great.
Mei's newly assembled stern expression instantly froze. She suddenly didn't know where to look. So Shiraha was a loyal retainer who spoke his mind directly?
She pressed her lips together, straining to make her voice sound deeply considered. "But I will give this suggestion serious thought. After all, it's all for the sake of saving the world."
When afternoon classes began, Raven still hadn't left. She remained sprawled in the activity room, breathing evenly. Looked like she planned to skip the afternoon classes too.
Sigh. Delinquent senpai.
The afternoon lessons weren't worth mentioning, elementary school curriculum, after all. But when school let out, Shiraha was noticeably quieter.
"Why aren't you keeping your fierce ghost sister company today?"
Mei asked curiously.
Shiraha turned his head, his eyes carrying a subtle, plaintive edge as he explained, "Fierce ghost sister is too fickle. At noon today, she saw how sleepy that delinquent senpai was. She decided to follow her and see what she gets up to in her daily life."
"Sigh. She doesn't even care about me. Mei-nee, you're so much better."
Mei blinked. After digesting this information, she arrived at a serious conclusion. "Then your fierce ghost sister is really mean."
She reached out a small hand, ready to fulfill her duties as an older sister. "But it's fine, Shiraha. You still have me. I'll play with you."