Chapter 100: Chapter 100 – Three White-Haired Trouble Makers
Dusk settled in as the twilight sky burned with streaks of crimson, the setting sun painting the clouds like fire across the heavens.
With her soft hands resting behind her head, C.C. walked leisurely beside "Sirin" (The heiress Kiana0.
Her golden eyes gazed fondly at the noisy trio of " Herrscher" playing ahead, a gentle warmth flickering in their depths.
"Are you sure we shouldn't tell them in advance?"
"Sirin", still feeling it might be improper, furrowed her delicate brows and turned her head toward the green-haired girl beside her.
A cool breeze swept past, lifting the fringe from C.C.'s forehead.
Her pure black lace dress rippled softly with the wind, the warm glow of the sunset casting a blush over her peaceful face, as if dyeing her gentle expression with the colors of the evening.
The fading light fell into her bright, serene eyes.
Caught in the beauty of this dreamlike scene, "Sirin" couldn't help but be a little mesmerized by C.C.'s exquisite face.
But C.C. broke the mood with a crisp, teasing voice that utterly clashed with her graceful aura.
"Don't you think their shocked faces will be priceless~?"
A sly grin curled her lips as she crossed her arms with satisfaction.
"..."
As expected—yet somehow still unexpected.
Despite the breathtaking beauty beside her, this girl was, at heart, just an impish mischief-maker.
"...Well, when you put it like that, I suppose it will be fun."
"Sirin"'s own lips curved into a slight smile as she imagined the group's shocked expressions.
Joy, after all, is contagious.
"Ahhhhh!! Why?! Whyyyyy?!"
Kiana clutched her head in despair, looking so pitiful that even Mei felt a little sorry for her.
"We're all new transfer students, but why is Sirin so much more popular than me?!"
"There, there... don't feel bad. Once everyone gets to know you, they'll like you too."
Seeing her best friend so crushed, Mei gently took Kiana's hand in comfort.
"Aww Mei~! That's not what I'm upset about!!" Kiana wailed louder. "We have the same face! So why's there such a huge difference between us?!"
Yes—the real reason for her heartbreak was being totally overshadowed by "Sirin"'s elegant, lady-like aura.
She glanced at the two walking gracefully behind them, and her frustration only grew.
When two people with identical faces stand side by side... it's like showing up to a party in the same dress—except one of them ends up looking embarrassingly worse.
"Bronya estimates that with Baka-Kiana's substandard intelligence, she will never, in this lifetime, possess Sirin-nee-sama's grace." Bronya's monotone voice struck mercilessly.
"You little...! Are you picking a fight?!" Already in a foul mood, Kiana bristled at the completely serious insult, glaring daggers at the blank-faced girl.
"Bronya and Heavy Bunny stand ready to accept your challenge anytime."
A shimmering image appeared in the air—the sci-fi-styled steel giant flexing its metallic muscles in a showy pose.
"Using Heavy Bunny is cheating, you coward!" Kiana's confidence faltered noticeably at the sight of the intimidating steel behemoth.
"Alright, alright, both of you knock it off! People are watching!" Mei sighed heavily, rubbing her forehead as if her soul itself was weary.
Inwardly, she muttered: For Kiana to match Sirin's grace... not in this lifetime.
"Hmph! I refuse to lower myself to argue with a child like you!"
Slowing her steps, Kiana naturally hooked arms with C.C. as they caught up.
But when she saw the noble "Sirin" striding gracefully on C.C.'s other side, her bravado deflated once more.
"It's okay, Kiana might be a bit dumber than Sirin but... but..." C.C. reached out and gently patted Kiana's head, trying to offer comfort.
True, Kiana lacked the young lady's elegance and couldn't match Bronya in brains, but...
But what, exactly...?
C.C. hesitated, unable to find any redeeming words.
Under the combined pressure of Sirin's refinement and Bronya's intellect, Kiana was... simply overwhelmed.
"But you're cute!" Seeing Kiana on the verge of tears, C.C. quickly blurted out her best praise.
That's right—being cute was enough to live on in this world!
"Hehe~" Praised by the one she adored, Kiana beamed with a silly, innocent grin.
And so, amid their chatter and teasing, the girls returned to the dorm.
"Naagamii~ we're home~!" Kiana sang out in a sweet, high-pitched voice as she burst through the door like a ball of white fluff.
Dressed in the Saint Freya Academy uniform, her plaid skirt swayed above smooth thighs wrapped in pristine white stockings, revealing the faint, irresistible strip of bare skin between socks and hem.
As she giggled and kicked off her shoes, her pink toes peeked through the sheer fabric.
"Welcome back~" A crisp, clear voice called from the living room.
"Aloo, today I—" Kiana instinctively raised her arms, ready to pounce on Nagami as usual—but she froze in place the moment she reached the living room.
There, sitting calmly on the sofa, was a face both unfamiliar and strangely familiar, radiating quiet elegance.
She wore a pale, fitted dress that outlined her slender curves, its hem brushing against long, flawless legs smooth as jade.
Her fair, translucent skin shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
Her waterfall of hair cascaded down her back like a silken river.
Black-rimmed glasses perched on a dainty nose, adding a touch of literary charm to her gentle features.
Seeing that impossibly familiar face flash a strange, knowing smile and nod at her, Kiana stood frozen on the spot.
Her wide, sky-blue eyes blinked slowly, full of confusion and utter disbelief—as if a thousand question marks had just popped up above her head.
"Kiana? What's wrong?" Mei's gentle voice called from behind, as she hooked a delicate finger around the back of her heel to slip off her shoes, her black-stockinged feet stepping free of the stiff leather.
The usual rowdy noise was missing, which made her curious.
But Kiana didn't respond.
Or rather—Mei's words couldn't even reach her overloaded mind.
Her single-core, low-memory brain processor was already working at full capacity.
Moving like a rusty machine, Kiana slowly backed away in the exact same motion she'd used when entering the room—as if time itself was being rewound.
The strange sight made everyone blink.
"Baka-Kiana?" Bronya tilted her head slightly, her usual deadpan expression tinged with rare confusion. Her pale gray eyes blinked.
'What happened? Had this paramecium finally broken beyond repair?'
Watching Kiana move like a broken-down robot, C.C.'s porcelain face bloomed into a devilishly charming smile.
Her golden eyes glittered with amusement.
Beside her, "Sirin" also fell prey to the contagious delight—her clear blue eyes sparkling with excitement.
Kiana kept backing up until she reached the corner by the entryway.
Her expression remained blank as she glanced at the young lady standing beside C.C. This time, she wasn't even distracted by the fact that the two were still holding hands.
Frozen stiff, she turned her head to look at the white-haired girl sitting gracefully on the sofa.
Then she turned to "Sirin" leaning by the doorway.
Back and forth, back and forth... at least a dozen times.
But no matter how many times she checked, her brain simply refused to make sense of this impossible scene.
Kiana raised one slender finger and pointed at the girl on the sofa.
She raised a second finger toward the girl by the door.
And finally, she lifted her other hand and pointed a third finger... at herself.
Three fingers, three people.
Staring at those fingers with a blank, dead expression, Kiana now looked nearly as stunned as the young lady herself had been that morning.
"Kiana... what in the world are you doing...?" Mei, unable to hold back her growing curiosity, finally stepped forward and placed a hand on Kiana's stiff shoulder.
But halfway through speaking, she, too, caught sight of the white-haired girl sitting gracefully on the couch, smiling sweetly.
Then Mei also turned her head—just like Kiana had—and stared at the young lady by the door.
"Haha—ahahaha!!" Nagami finally burst out laughing at the synchronized expressions of total confusion.
"N-N-N-Na-Na-Nagami!! W-What the heck is going on?!" Kiana stammered, utterly flustered, her voice breaking into a panicked wail.
At the same time, Bronya entered the living room and spotted the seated Sirin. For the first time ever, her expressionless face showed real surprise.
Of course—she immediately turned to Nagami.
This bizarre situation definitely had his fingerprints all over it.
Refreshed by his fill of amusement, Nagami was in a great mood and decided not to drag out the mystery any longer.
He motioned for the Sirin on the sofa to come closer, then called the young lady by the door to join as well.
"Alright—time for some introductions~"
The white-haired girl nodded gently, turning toward Kiana and the others with a warm smile, and gave a polite bow.
"Hello everyone. I'm Sirin. Starting today, I'll also be living here in this dorm. I look forward to getting along with you all~"
Her soft, graceful voice was like a spring breeze—polite, gentle, and impossible to dislike.
The moment that name left her lips, the entire room fell silent.
Everyone slowly turned their gaze toward Nagami.
"...Okay, guess I'd better explain it myself." Nagami shrugged at the perfectly synchronized trio and raised his hand to point at the girl from the sofa.
"This one here is Sirin from this world."
Then he gestured to the young lady by the door.
"And this one is Sirin from a parallel world."