Protocol: Stigmata

"Kiana! Why did you suddenly jump?!" I exclaimed.

"I only wanted to get closer to that thing!" Kiana defended her impulsive action.

"Shin-kun, please support Kiana. She can be reckless," Mei chimed in.

"Ah! That's mean, Mei-senpai!" Kiana pouted, clearly not pleased with Mei's comment.

This was precisely 30 minutes ago. Our mission was crucial: the Selene, a powerful Anti-Entropy battleship, was hurtling toward Sapphire, a metropolis with approximately 30 million inhabitants, and it was entirely unmanned.

The responsibility to gain control of the aircraft and prevent it from crashing into the city fell on the shoulders of St. Freya Valkyries - Kiana Kaslana, Raiden Mei, Bronya Zaychik, and myself. Instructor Murata Himeko was providing us guidance through our comms.

"Don't do anything reckless, idiot," I cautioned Kiana, giving her a stern look.

"Huh? Who're you calling an idiot!" Kiana retorted.

"It's you!" 

"Huh!? You're more of an idiot than me!"

"You two are both acting like idiots," a deadpan voice interjected.

"Now, now, let's just get this done right?" Mei suggested, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Yes, Mei-senpai!" Kiana and I said in unison, before exchanging a competitive glare.

Allow me to introduce you to these remarkable girls:

First, there's Kiana Kaslana, the stubborn and boisterous one, with her messy white hair often tied into two big braids.

She exudes confidence and a hint of overconfidence, and she's known for her love of food.

I'll never forget the first time we met; she couldn't resist sneaking a bite of my lunch, setting the tone for our friendship.

Kiana was undeniably happy-go-lucky and believed she could conquer anything she set her mind to.

Then, we have the beautiful senpai, Raiden Mei. She's tall with long dark purple hair and striking indigo eyes.

Mei played the role of caretaker not only for Kiana but for the rest of us as well.

Her nurturing nature extended to her culinary skills, as she often prepared meals for the group, even packing lunches.

Mei had always been an outstanding student, consistently ranking in the top 3 for the initial written tests at St. Freya.

Mei was someone I greatly admired.

Lastly, there's Bronya Zaychik, a petite girl with light gray hair and darker gray eyes. Her distinctive haircut featured drill-shaped ponytails.

She rarely displayed empathy or aligned her actions with those of others.

However, despite her stoic demeanor, Bronya had a soft spot for the HOMU franchise, a side of her that occasionally shone through.

I couldn't forget the time I saw her carrying sets of HOMU merchandise into our classroom, a glimpse into her more whimsical side.

"Looks like everyone is here. Has anyone read the mission info?" The woman with fiery red hair announced as she approached the podium.

"Yes, Himeko-sensei," I responded promptly.

"Good, I will explain it within the next 5 minutes, so please listen carefully."

All of us turned our attention to the board, eager to absorb the mission details.

Well, almost all of us did. Kiana, on the other hand, was... how should I put it... half-listening, with her attention drifting elsewhere.

And then, fast forward to the present, Kiana and I found ourselves locked in relentless combat with hordes of zombies.

I wielded an ordinary katana, similar to Mei's weapon, deftly slicing through the zombies as they fell and turned to dust.

Beside me, Kiana was armed with dual pistols, her trigger finger working tirelessly. Between the cacophony of gunfire, I yelled, "How do we get in there now!?"

"Haahh! Shut up for a minute!" Kiana snapped her focus fully on evading and returning fire.

"Kiana! Get back now!" 

Confusion clouded her thoughts for a moment. "Eh?"

A zombie-wielding dual katana was about to strike at Kiana. Without a second thought, I positioned myself in front of her and blocked the attack.

"Shin!"

"Don't worry about me! More importantly, call Himeko-sensei! We need help here!" I implored, still holding off the zombie.

"What about you?!" Kiana's concern was palpable.

"Do it already!" I shouted back, managing to force the zombie back momentarily as I pressed the attack, giving Kiana the precious moments she needed to make the call for assistance.

As Kiana reached for her communicator to call for Himeko's help, her sharp eyes picked up on the presence of more battle drones.

"Shin, let's just use those!"

"Huh!?" I was taken aback by her sudden idea.

"Ugh!" Kiana promptly began shooting at the zombie wielding the katana and then grabbed my collar from behind. "Grab on!" With a swift motion, she pulled me along as she sprinted toward the approaching battle drone.

My heart raced as I protested, "Woah woah woah! This plan is too insane!"

Nevertheless, Kiana's determination was unwavering. With a powerful leap, she propelled us into the air, and we landed skillfully on top of the battle drone.

"T-That was reckless," I panted, still trying to catch my breath.

Kiana grinned. "Really? It's fun though."

"Only for you!"

Kiana's sharp eyes caught the sight of a massive figure descending from the sky. "Shin!"

Startled, I swiftly followed her gaze and instinctively backed away beside her. "A Honkai beast...!"

Kiana, with a grin that seemed almost eager, began to limber up her legs. "Let's take care of it."

Reluctantly, I sighed, realizing there was no other option. "Fine... I agree with you."

The Honkai beast let out a deafening roar as it charged straight at us. We synchronized our movements, dodging with precision. I sliced and sliced with my katana, while Kiana switched between her guns and powerful kicks, doing her part in the battle. 

Now that I think about it, She's actually stronger than me despite her body.

I need to keep up the pace too.

My right hand began to glow with a light blue radiance as I assumed my fighting stance.

"Argh, too hot!" I exclaimed, the unexpected surge of energy coursing through my body.

"Shin! What's wrong!" Kiana's concern was palpable.

"I'm fine. It's just..." I struggled to explain, feeling an intense ache in my right hand.

The Honkai beast roared even more ferociously and began advancing toward me. Panic surged within me as it moved closer, and I felt the impending danger. I had to move; otherwise, I'm dead!

"Shin! What are you doing!? Move!" Kiana's urgency snapped me back to the reality of the battle.