18 Chapter 17 upcoming exam

Meanwhile, Bronya, who had gone upstairs, tried to wake up Kiana for breakfast.

"Hehehe, Mei-senpai, ten more minutes," Kiana mumbled with drool all over her mouth.

Seeing Kiana's expression, Bronya looked at her with her neutral face and picked up a pillow from near the bed, then threw it at Kiana's head.

Kiana immediately stood up and looked around the room, then she got hit by a pillow once again. "You!...Don't hit me on the head with a pillow; it would make me an idiot!"

Bronya looked at Kiana without much emotion and answered, "Bronya has determined that Kiana has no room for her intelligence to decrease."

After saying that, she immediately left and arrived in the living room, where Aron was sitting at the table.

She climbed into his lap and swung her legs, clearly enjoying her time getting pampered by Aron.

Aron smiled, patted her head, and buried his face in her hair while closing his eyes.

"Uwah...." Kiana arrived in the living room and saw Aron and Bronya interacting affectionately once again. "Mei-Senpai, do that to me too!" She announced, wanting to sit on Mei's lap, but Mei shook her head in disagreement.

"Kiana-chan, you're heavy. I wouldn't be able to move if you sat in my lap," Mei answered, making Kiana feel downcast with a pout.

She sat next to Aron and Mei and ate her food, then she smiled brightly and devoured it without stopping.

"Ah~ this reminds me of my mom's cooking!" Himeko's voice echoed throughout the kitchen, her ample bosom on display. "What a bliss~"

"Sigh." Aron let out a deep sigh as he buttoned up Himeko's clothes once again.

This occurrence was already natural in the house, as Himeko was a laid-back woman, while Mei, Bronya, and Aron would sometimes act like big sisters or a mother.

"Ara~" Himeko smirked at Aron. "I didn't know that you were interested in this Onee-chan."

"Do you want to touch these 'weapons' of mine that much? You should have said so earlier; I would gladly allow you to hold them," Himeko smirked at Aron as she spoke those words.

Aron blushed but avoided his gaze from her chest and looked away.

"Fufufu," Himeko giggled, enjoying his reaction.

Aron couldn't help but blush. Despite having fought many times in the Hueco Mundo, he had never experienced flirting from an adult before.

Suddenly, Kiana grabbed Aron's face and made him look at her directly. She said, "Ignore that old hag and just look at me," with a pout, clearly displeased with the reaction he showed to Himeko's flirting.

"Mine," Bronya said, observing Kiana's actions, and she grabbed Aron's t-shirt.

Himeko, noticing the situation, couldn't resist chiming in. "Well, well, it seems our little family is as lively as ever." She smirked mischievously.

Mei and Seele, typically the calm and collected ones, just shook their heads and sighed with gentle smiles.

"This is delicious, Mei-Onee-chan," Seele flattered Mei upon tasting the food.

"Thank you, Seele," Mei accepted the flattery.

Himeko smiled, feeling that the six of them were like a family. No, they already treated each other like a family.

Once the five of them finished eating, they cleaned up, changed their clothes, and stood in front of the door.

"We're off to class!" Kiana announced, with the others following suit.

"Today is the first exam that you will face since coming here, so remember to do your best," Himeko said to everyone as she bid them farewell.

"Why are you looking at us like a mother saying goodbye to her children going to school? You should go to your work too," Aron remarked, noticing the way Himeko was waving at them as if she didn't have work to attend. "Your assistant has been there ever since we changed our clothes!"

Realizing that she had been discovered, Himeko's assistant didn't hide anymore and said, "Major Himeko, you should start working too." She suddenly appeared next to Himeko like a trained assassin.

"Eh?" Himeko was shocked to see her assistant showing up next to her without making a single sound or revealing her presence.

_ _ _

(In Saint Freya academy)

Many students were chatting with their groups, their voices filling the room as they discussed the upcoming exam.

"Ugh, another exam... It hasn't been that long since we finished the last one. My head hurts just thinking about it," a girl with brown hair mumbled, her mood clearly downcast.

"I don't want to study anymore," a green-haired girl, who had been reading a book, slumped her head onto the table.

"Luckily, I reviewed the whole exam and subject," a girl with violet glasses said to the others.

"Not everyone is like you, you know," the brown-haired girl remarked to her friend.

"Yeah, she's right. Not everyone can study all day," the girl with green hair agreed.

"Sounds like an excuse to me," the girl with violet glasses retorted with a smirk, looking at her friends.

"Kiana, aren't you worried at all?" the brown-haired girl asked, observing that Kiana seemed incredibly confident.

"Worry?" Kiana asked, not quite comprehending the question.

"I mean, you have to take an exam not long after transferring here," she clarified, noticing Kiana's lack of concern.

"I'm a genius! With my talent, passing this exam will be a walk in the park," Kiana responded with unwavering confidence.

"Kiana, it's great that you're confident, but don't underestimate the Valkyrie exam," Fu Hua, a 17-year-old girl of average height with bluish-purplish hair, pale skin, and blue eyes, cautioned. "As the proverb goes, 'An arrogant army would only lose.'" She adjusted her red glasses,

"It's Miss Fu Hua!" The girls around them began fangirling over Fu Hua. "She's still as handsome and elegant as ever."

"Huh?" Kiana didn't quite grasp the profound meaning behind Fu Hua's words and tilted her head in confusion.

Fu Hua let out a sigh. "Even though you're talented, never think of achieving quick success," she explained. "Know that haste makes waste."

"Hmph," Kiana huffed with a smirk on her face. "Of course, I know that."

"Is that so? Then I must have made an insensitive remark," Fu Hua replied, leaving Kiana be.

Aron watched the scene unfold and couldn't help but giggle as Kiana didn't realize she had just received a scolding.

"That? Is she scolding me?" Kiana asked, looking at Aron, who burst into laughter upon hearing her question. This made Kiana pout and playfully punch his shoulder, sending him flying into the wall. "Ah!? I'm sorry, are you alright?"

Aron brushed himself off, relieved that Kiana's strength hadn't caused any serious harm. "Baka," Bronya scolded Kiana, her expression filled with concern.

Kiana glared at Bronya, taking offense at her words.

"Alright, alright," Aron intervened before the two could start a fight. "I think Fu Hua was telling you to take the exam more seriously, especially because you already failed the history class."

Upon hearing his words, Kiana initially felt downcast but then brightened up with Mei's support.