Chapter 27: Let's Compete Fairly

While Lu Yu felt like he was dying inside, Raiden Mei and Kiana also left the cafeteria. These two girls, who had sworn to be lifelong best friends just minutes ago, now didn't know how to face each other.

"Um..."

The two beautiful girls walked shoulder to shoulder on the stone path. They weren't fools; both of them noticed each other's attitude towards Lu Yu.

"Kiana, the guy you mentioned with whom you have good feelings, is he Lu Yu?"

Silence was not the solution, and Raiden Mei broke the awkward atmosphere with a question, glancing at Kiana, who was deep in thought.

"Yes... Mei, is it the same for you too?"

Raiden Mei nodded, "Yes."

"So, the person we both wanted to meet is the same guy, Lu Yu."

What does it feel like when you and your best friend both like the same person? Kiana felt a bit disheartened.

Although she couldn't be sure whether she truly liked Lu Yu, she did care about him. The feeling was like someone snatching away her beloved ice cream, leaving a sour taste in her heart.

"Kiana, have you experienced something similar?"

Looking at Kiana's gloomy expression, Raiden Mei realized something. Based on how Kiana looked, she might have experienced multiple lifetimes too.

"Something similar? Ah! Mei, could it be you too?"

"Yes, I've experienced it as well."

Though they didn't explicitly talk about what had happened, their eyes met, and they both understood each other's experiences.

"So, Kiana, is the reason you want to go to Longksy City to find Lu Yu?"

"Yeah, I thought he was there. Wait! Mei, is that the reason why you agreed to go to Longsky City too?!"

Raiden Mei didn't answer, but Kiana read the answer from her eyes.

So, they were both interested in the same person, and both wanted to do the same thing in Longsky City. What was going on?

"Mei..."

Kiana looked disappointedly at Raiden Mei. Both of them encountered the same situation, and both developed good feelings for each other. This made her feel uncomfortable.

Raiden Mei's thoughts were quite similar at the moment. She hadn't expected Kiana to experience the same thing. She could understand Kiana's feelings. After all, they were forced to watch each other's lives over and over again. How could they not be moved?

"Mei, I haven't experienced it for a few days now. How about you?"

"I... just last night."

"Really...?"

Upon hearing this news, Kiana, who was already feeling down, became even more disheartened. It had been several days since her last simulation.

From the moment Lu Yu was pierced by the Spear of Aether in the heart to the last time he saved her, several days had passed without any simulations. Hearing that Raiden Mei had experienced one just last night made Kiana feel a bit sour.

Raiden Mei understood Kiana's feelings. After all, she had experienced the same, and she even worried that Lu Yu might have died in Longsky City during those days.

What should they do now?

After pondering for a moment, Raiden Mei suddenly remembered something. There was a possibility that Lu Yu might be pretending. Considering the over-the-top simulations he put them through, it was highly likely that he was pretending not to recognize them.

"Wait, Kiana, didn't that guy named Lu Yu say he didn't recognize us?"

"Yeah!"

"Kiana, do you think it's possible that he's pretending? He did all those extreme things to both of us. I think there's a high chance he's deliberately pretending not to recognize us!"

Raiden Mei grasped the key point.

"Mei, do you mean...?"

"My point is, he must have a secret. Have you ever seen anyone else do such miraculous things?"

"You're right, Mei!"

So, they decided to work together and investigate the secrets about Lu Yu. Then they would compete fairly, each using their abilities to win his heart. This was the solution Raiden Mei and Kiana came up with together.

---

On the other side, Lu Yu, squatting in the corner and venting his frustration at the system, had no idea that everything he was doing had been observed by others.

The girl standing quietly on a tree branch near Lu Yu's location was wearing a black off-shoulder outfit. She was a long-haired girl, barefoot, with a black crow perched on her shoulder.

Simulator, audience, protagonist, system... Various words that the girl couldn't comprehend flowed from the man's mouth as he spoke to himself.

What was he saying?

The girl didn't understand. There was no one around, but he seemed to be talking to someone?

Also, she didn't seem to recognize this person. Was he new to Saint Freya Academy?

Several questions arose in the girl's mind.

However, being a girl who loved tranquility, she didn't jump down from the tree. She stood there expressionless, watching the man below. His actions had nothing to do with her. She disliked interacting with others and preferred to be alone.

Living alone in Saint Freya Academy was something she had done for a very long time, a very long time...

(In this chapter, a mysterious girl is introduced. The author hints that readers might be able to guess her identity. The story continues with Lu Yu preparing to start the simulation again.)