Don't Know, or Don't Want to Say? / The Answer About Love
But...
Mei is indeed still obsessed with the Great Honkai.
That's fine. Anyway, she's already explained everything to Mei. If she confirms it with Sakura again, Mei should be able to put her mind at ease.
98
Chapter Ninety-Eight: Do you not know, or do you simply not want to say?
Whether it is or not, let's assume it is.
"Okay, you talk to Ying first, I'll go ask ARuan what's going on."
Yomi responded and approached the device containing the Stigma, gazing at the pattern on the Stigma.
And Izumo?
The answers to these questions should all be found in Yae Sakura, whose consciousness has been transformed into Stigma.
Kiana turned and left, but before going to find Ruan Mei, she asked the little robot to prepare some pastries.
Regardless of whether Ruan Mei has any problems or not.
Bringing some pastries when you go to see her can't hurt; you can't go wrong.
Using the permissions granted by Ruan Mei, Kiana confirmed her location and, carrying the freshly made pastries, ran to where Ruan Mei was.
That's strange...
She wasn't in the lab.
When they first parted ways, she clearly saw Ruan Mei go to the lab, but now that she's looking for her, she finds that Ruan Mei isn't in the lab at all, but in another rest area.
The rest area over there is different from the rest area in the experimental area; it's larger and also serves as a space for storing books and collectibles.
When Kiana arrived, Ruan Mei was standing by the window, gazing at the vibrant scenery outside.
"ARuan?"
Kiana called out to her, quickly walked over in a few steps, put down the pastries she had brought, and greeted her with a smile, "I brought you some pastries."
"Have you finished talking?"
Ruan Mei turned around, her gaze sweeping over her. She was usually indifferent to joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, and her face revealed no hint of her current thoughts.
Kiana, being scrutinized, stiffened slightly. Ruan Mei's words seemed to confirm what Yomi had just said.
So she really did give me a hint?
Kiana felt a sense of defeat. She hadn't even noticed Ruan Mei's hint. If Mei hadn't reminded her, she wouldn't have known that Ruan Mei was waiting for her.
"We're almost done talking."
Kiana, not wanting to cause any misunderstanding, honestly said, "I'll have Mei meet with Sakura to catch up."
Ruan Mei didn't say anything, but simply walked to the opposite side of her and sat down.
She didn't even glance at the pastries Kiana brought; her gaze remained fixed on Kiana.
"Um, what does ARuan want to talk to me about?"
You probably wouldn't notice anything unusual about it normally.
However, she failed to see through Ruan Mei's hints, which frustrated her greatly and left her completely unsure of Ruan Mei's thoughts.
Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under Ruan Mei's gaze, which held a meaningless meaning, she sat down.
Is there anything you want to tell me?
Instead of asking questions, Ruan Mei turned the question back to Kiana.
"I?"
This problem came somewhat unexpectedly.
Kiana thought for a moment and said, "I should have told you about the Herrscherization process sooner."
I know why you didn't say it.
Ruan Mei said calmly, "I understand your reasons."
Kiana observed Ruan Mei's reaction and, confirming that she was still being honest, breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Back in Kasli, having just regained her Remembrance, she didn't pay any attention to this at all.
On her way back, she accidentally stumbled into a battlefield and almost lost control while using the power of Honkai. After returning, she was even less inclined to mention it.
After she had mentally prepared herself.
Now it's time.
"So ARuan, are you asking me about compatibility?"
Kiana continued to ponder, "I mentioned this before, but I'm not entirely sure myself. I'll only be certain after we get to Jarilo."
What's the basis for your guess?
"... I don't know how to explain it to you. I'll explain it to you when we get to Jarilo -VI."
Don't know how to explain this?
This seems to be based on very abstract speculation.
Ruan Mei's gaze, which had been fixed on her, suddenly fell on her face.
To be precise, it was her pursed lips.
Ruan Mei recalled the scene of her kissing that Miss Raiden Mei.
This is Ruan Mei's territory.
If she wanted to, nothing that happened here could escape her perception.
Nature...
She witnessed everything that had just happened, but she didn't do anything; she simply observed as a bystander.
The lips and teeth are the most sensitive parts.
What's the difference between touching it with your hands and experiencing it with your lips and teeth?
After witnessing what had just happened, Ruan Mei, who was an observer, had this question in her mind.
She remembered the last time she woke up, she unconsciously reached out and touched Kiana's face, feeling the touch and warmth in her palm.
"... ARuan, do you really want to hear this?"
"Sit down next to me."
Since Kiana had said she would explain to her after going to Jarilo -VI, Ruan Mei didn't press the matter further.
She can wait a few days.
She's more curious about something else now.
Kiana, puzzled, got up and sat down next to her.
With others seated beside her, Ruan Mei openly scrutinized Kiana, making Kiana even more uncomfortable.
Suppressing the urge to avoid Ruan Mei's gaze, she forced a smile, "ARuan, is there anything else you want to say?"
Stop staring at her like that.
I feel strangely uncomfortable.
Hearing her urging, Ruan Mei picked up her right hand and placed her fingertips on Kiana's lips, caressing them in a somewhat ambiguous manner.
Normally, Kiana wouldn't have thought of anything inappropriate.
But things are different now.
The feeling of just being in contact with the Yomi seemed to return to her heart, Kiana felt her heart beating faster.
Ruan Mei... why are you suddenly making this gesture?
All of Kiana's senses seemed to converge on her lips, which were being pressed against by the girl's fingertips, and she couldn't help but swallow because of the tension.
"ARuan?"
Ruan Mei ignored him, staring only at the soft lips beneath her fingertips, waiting for her thoughts to surface.
She said something rather calmly, but to Kiana it was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.
What does kissing feel like?
Kiana stared wide-eyed at Ruan Mei in disbelief, her heart skipping a beat at Ruan Mei's words.
"ARuan, why are you suddenly asking such a question?"
She never expected Ruan Mei to ask such a question; her voice trembled slightly.
What would it feel like to be transformed into Herrscherization?
That's more like it.
Why did Ruan Mei suddenly...?
Could it be!!!
I saw it.
Kiana: "!!!"
Kiana's face turned bright red; she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground. Her face was so hot it felt like it was steaming.
"Do your fingers and lips/teeth feel different?"
Ruan Mei continued asking.
"I, I..."
Kiana didn't dare look at Ruan Mei, her throat tightening as she murmured, "I don't know."
Is this a question that can be answered?
Was Ruan Mei really not doing this on purpose when she asked such a frustrating question?
Kiana thought with grief and indignation.
Unfortunately, Ruan Mei had no other emotions, only curiosity, which left her with unspeakable suffering.
"Have no idea?"
Ruan Mei frowned slightly, withdrew her hand, looked into her eyes, and spoke in a calm but authoritative tone.
"Is it that you don't know, or that you don't want to say?"
99
Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Answer to "Like".
Is it that you don't know, or you don't want to say?
Faced with the question that was almost within arm's reach, Kiana felt a chill run down her spine.
Even if she had skin as thick as a city wall, she still couldn't answer the kind of question Ruan Mei asked!
Is this normal?
This isn't a normal question!
What does kissing feel like?
How should I answer that?
"I can't tell you something like this!"
She explained anxiously in a low voice.
"Why?"
"This, this... do you know that it can only be understood intuitively and cannot be explained in words?"
Why ask such a question!