Interlude: A Queen of Thunder's loneliness (1)

A/N:

Alright, I don't often write author notes at the beginning of the chapters. But I felt like this one was needed

So...

What you are about to read is either the most cringe-worthy stuff I've ever written.... Or the most mind-blowingly good interlude of all time, as if I had cooked like a master chief that would put Gordon Ramsey to shame

No, seriously, the boundary between these two is very illusionary... Reading what I wrote again, I honestly can't decide on whether it is cringe, or a masterpiece

Just in case, though, please fully activate your [Cringe Nullification] to max level

This was a disclaimer

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Mei Raiden walked through the extravagant halls of Chiba Academy. 

- Alone

It was a normal occurrence, really. The students of a School for rich ladies would never interact with people of lower class, much less a criminal's daughter like herself.

And Kiana was still sleeping at her desk- even though class had ended.

A light smile formed on her face as she was reminded of the Kaslana's antics.

That girl was so energetic, so enthusiastic, so positive, and she always looked at everything in a lovable yet simple-minded way.

If she were honest... Mei was a bit envious of the white-haired girl's attitude. 

-Of course, she didn't envy the girl's laziness and grades

Especially now as she left alone because she didn't have the heart to wake up Kiana

As for Adam.... 

She didn't know where he was

'.....'

Smile fading, lips pursing, she hastened her steps. 

The students around her.... The indigo-eyed girl could feel their gazes. 

Their gazes of contempt and disgust were glued to her, and she perceived every bit of negative emotion.

It was as if those disgusting gazes took physical form- touching her, and making chills go down her spine.

'I need to-'

Mei shuddered, a sense of panic and uneasiness emerging in her heart.

She thought that she was better than this, that this didn't affect her anymore, and that she could easily ignore those gazes-

But oh, how she felt so vulnerable under those gazes, as if her every secret was exposed, and her thoughts were seen through

'Adam...'

She clenched her hands that were trembling, grasping the hem of her skirt as she repeated that name in her heart.

Was it for comfort? Or was it because she wished that he would appear by her side and clear away all those judgemental gazes? 

- She herself didn't know the answer

...

.. 

. 

She ran

Mei was now a coward.

Before her father was imprisoned, and before all of her friends abandoned her... 

-She could act as a high and mighty Queen... Sure, she was gentle, but she obtained the nickname of 'Queen of Thunder' for a reason

But now... 

Loneliness was commonplace. 

The arrogance simply developed because of her background and flattery of her classmates has turned into a shield of coldness to protect herself and deal with the omnipresent malice around her.

When Raiden Mei was still the "Queen of Thunder", they were all respectful and behaved.

But when she fell from grace, everyone was eager to stomp on her dignity and enjoy the pleasure of an inferior trampling on the superior.

….All except two people

And so-

Perhaps if Adam and Kiana never appeared in her life, Mei would have been able to endure being ostracized by her classmates and having no one to be able to call a friend.

But... 

The purplish-black-haired girl met someone who stood by her side, even though her father was imprisoned, and she lost that 'young heiress' privilege.

In fact, Adam didn't even care about her status. Even before that incident, he was indifferent.

What's more, they become closer after her father was imprisoned.

A small smile once again crept up on her face as she thought of that.

Maybe it's wrong, and she feels bad feeling this way.... But she is a little glad her father was imprisoned.

It allowed her to find people who actually cared about her, who didn't interact with her just because of wealth and benefits.

She is still crestfallen and sad, but she could at least be optimistic about her situation and say that this incident wasn't purely negative.

And of course, now, Mei had understood what Adam had told her when they first met.

"I told you, I am not interested"

She froze in her steps as she heard a familiar voice.

And-

Her smile widened, bolting right into the direction from where she heard the voice from

... 

.. 

. 

Mei stopped hastily as she saw the scene before her.

It was Adam, standing in the hallway, as if stopped by someone. 

Beautiful glowing blue eyes, glistening golden hair that she would doubt were dyed if she hadn't seen his silver hair with her own eyes... 

And of course, he wore the standard Chiba uniform, which didn't conceal his handsome 'features'.

Why is it that he becomes more and more beautiful as time passes? 

Her cheeks tinted red at that thought.

Tucked in his arms, there was a... Comic? Or was it a so-called 'Manga'? 

"Tch! It's really annoying!"

An annoyed, female voice interrupted her observation.

Maybe she was too focused on Adam, or maybe it was a subconscious action… 

But-

There were three girls around him, which she had previously ignored.

No- they were the same girls that had tried to bully her earlier this morning.

"Why are you hanging out with that criminal bitch all the time?! Being friends with her will only ruin your reputation!"

Mei froze at one of the girl's shout, blood running cold.

With another shudder, she took a deep breath. 

She slowly moved to the side of the corridor, from where she had taken a turn, and saw this scene.

And.... She hid her figure before anyone could notice her presence.

Normally, Mei would have gone up to Adam and greeted him. Afterward, perhaps they would stroll around the school and just accompany each other.

But now.... 

"Exactly. It would be of no benefit to hang out with Raiden-san. It would only bring you down and give you unnecessary trouble"

Another girl took the initiative to say to Adam.

The indigo-eyed girl was hidden, so she couldn't truly see everyone's expression. 

.... But she could see that the girl who talked to Adam this time had endless sarcasm in her voice.

As if the girl was keeping a polite facade, but inwardly she was cursing at Mei and thinking that she was superior.

"...."

Mei didn't dare to approach them, nor did she dare let them know that she was near them.

She was afraid

Afraid that these girls would bring even more trouble to Adam once they notice her

And afraid that they would bully him, and ruin his future

Unlike her, Adam was just an orphan. So if these rich ladies tried something... They could easily ruin his life and worse.

So… Even though the purplish-black-haired girl wasn't an heiress anymore, and she did not have any power whatsoever..... 

She would not let Adam suffer just because he was friends with her

[Just kill them]

'Eh-?'

"And what does it have to do with you?"

The blonde(?) boy stared blankly at the 3 girls who were harassing him

His voice was utterly dry, devoid of any emotions

The expression on his face didn't seem any different. In fact, it seemed as if the people who were harassing him were trivial

[Hehe….]

'Huh-?'

"Why don't you be good girls and focus on your own damn business?"

Her questioning of the sudden thought that emerged in her mind was interrupted by Adam's reply

The blonde(?) boy sounded calm... Even, his tone of voice was condescending and sarcastic

"Adam-san...." Voiced out the third girl "Perhaps you don't understand the situation you are in"

She pricked up her ears, listening to their conversation, digesting every word and every sentence that came out of their mouths 

"Uhuh. I understand her attractiveness, but... She is only a trophy. Mei Raiden is a criminal, and beyond her beauty, she will only hurt you and your future"

The other girl piped in, utterly disregarding anything but Mei's value and worth

"Exactly. Besides... Adam-san, aren't we three beautiful too? We all have rich families, and hanging out even with just one of us is a lot better than Raiden-san"

The second girl 'softly' advised Adam. As if hanging out with them and trying to have a good relationship with those three are better than a fallen heiress

"...."

Mei bit her lower lip, closing her eyes in shame

She wanted to deny what these girls were saying. She wanted to rebuke them for insinuating such vulgar-

"Hehe, how about it?! Just say the word, and I'll take care of you....!"

The first girl spoke out in a 'sweet' voice

She widened her indigo eyes, body trembling at those words

Mei poked her head out of the hallway, taking a peek at what was happening-

Her mouth gaped at what she saw, eyes widening any further 

[Kill those bitches! Annihilate them!]

These three girls were pressing themselves against Adam, their bodies glued to him from every direction and giving him no way to escape

It seemed that after their persuasion failed, they tried being more forceful and using their charms 

'H-how... Shameless! How u-utterly shameless!!'

[....]

But… Except for feeling that these girls-[humans]- were utterly shameless, another feeling was sweeping through her heart

It felt as though her heart was getting squeezed by an invisible hand. 

She felt the beating of her own heart quicken, thumping into her body as small aches of pain appeared, as if getting pierced with countless small needles

[... Tch]

"Hoh?" 

Adam raised an eyebrow, his face showing amusement

He didn't seem fazed by them.

Yes, his expression was one of amusement, yet his eyes were looking at these girls as if looking at animals at a park

Their threats, their charm, or their forceful approach didn't seem to trouble him in the least, as if it was all a joke to him

"You know…." The silver-haired boy's lips curved upwards "If it were the previous me… I would probably have accepted your offer"

Mei felt her heart jump out of her throat

"Oho? Then…?"

One of the girls showed him a sweet smile, thinking that he might be tempted

[....]

The purplish-black-haired girl opened her mouth to speak out, but no voice came out

Throat dry, heart beating wildly in her chest, she could only watch 

[Coward, why just watch? After this, just imprison him, and keep him in your basement forever]

"Unfortunately for you…." 

Adam's voice went cold, eyelids half closing as he stared at the girls who were holding him lazily

"I'm not interested in weak women"

With an almost sneering expression, he declared

"What does that even mean-?!"

One girl questioned/shouted out in confusion at his statement

However-

Plop

The girl was interrupted. 

She instantly fell to the ground, on her knees. The arms that were holding Adam falling to her sides

"What…?"

Trembling with intensity, she tried to question, but only one word came tremblingly out of her mouth, her throat not being able to convey her next words

Thud….Thud….

Two echoing sounds reverberated throughout the hallway as the other two girls also dropped to the ground

They slumped to the floor on their knees, faces pale, and bodies trembling

"...."

The indigo-eyed girl stared blankly at the scene in front of her

'…Why did they drop to the ground? Why were their faces trembling? Are they shaking in fear?'

Those were the questions that were going through Mei's head at the moment

BANG

A thundering sound interrupted her stupor-

Adam had thrown the comic(?) that was tucked in his hands to the ground. 

He did it abruptly, and with such strong intensity- perhaps that was why the sound was so pronounced

"I am not even remotely interested in you three" 

The blonde(?) put his hands in his pockets, looking at them with indifference 

At that moment, to Mei, Adam seemed… detached

After her father's imprisonment, her ability to read emotions and discover what others think of her has become marginally better

So-

"You can't even withstand this much pressure…" 

Trailing off, his gaze slid to their trembling bodies

"You really are weak- both in power and mentality"

Adam's face only showed a little disappointment, as if he already expected such a result

"That's it" 

He shrugged his shoulders

"Goodbye"

The student who made 3 girls kneel with his presence alone turned around, walking away with a nonchalance that the black-haired girl wished she had

…

..

.

Mei looked down at her hands

Her thoughts were in conflict right this instant

Normally…. Adam was calm, gentle, and sometimes came off as a tease.

But now… With the events she witnessed, she had discovered another side to him

Overbearing, indifferent, detached, self-assured to the point of arrogance….

That's right

Mei realized.... 

- She didn't seem to know Adam that well

[Does it matter…?]

She looked up, staring at his back that was rapidly leaving the field of her vision

It was as if, an illusionary wall was separating Adam and the rest of the world

- As if Adam and the others lived in entirely different worlds

[Ehehehehe…..]

She ignored the perverted giggles that were echoing in her mind

Because-

No, it didn't truly matter

Though it made her sad to see her friend(?) like that…

But in fact… She was also a bit happy that she had uncovered a hidden side of him.

She should have been more concerned about this change in personality, and his strange detachment….

But-

Just like how, before her father's imprisonment, she was a cold 'Queen of Thunder' to some people, and a gentle girl to others…. This should also be the case for Adam

And… Perhaps Kiana also has a hidden side of her?

"Hehe…."

Mei covered her mouth, stifling a giggle at that thought

There was no way that Kiana-chan, the pure, cheerful, and enthusiastic girl would have such a hidden side to her

[....]

…

..

.

The black-haired girl looked at the comic(?) in her hands with hesitation

Should she…. chase after Adam and return this to him?

'No'

She shook her head at the thought

School had almost ended, and he had already disappeared from her side

So-

Mei had to take it with her, and then give it to the blonde(?) boy tomorrow at school

[.... Or maybe… It would be a great excuse to visit his room at night~]

Cheeks reddening, she shook her head rapidly to banish that thought from her mind

'That would be too s-shameless. I am sure that A-Adam would be annoyed by a n-nightly i-intrusion'

[Tch]

With her decision already made, Mei tucked the comic(?) in her arms, similar to Adam, and walked away

…..

….

…

..

.

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A/N(Again):

Yeah...

I have been cooking this interlude up for maybe... 1 or 2 months?

And of course, there is a second part, this isn't the end

Anyway... Tell me whether this was cringe or insanely good

Personally... I believe this interlude is in a quantum state- it is both cringe and amazing at the same time