This Hateful World (Part 1)

The person next to Kiana, who seemed to have known her for a long time, was Satou Yunona.

Satou Yunona was one of the few girls in this class who had never targeted her with malice. Shortly after Kiana transferred, she even couldn't help but speak out against the slander directed at Asakura Miyuki. This seemingly honest and ordinary girl possessed a courage and resolve that Asakura Miyuki lacked.

Speaking her mind while disregarding the atmosphere created by most people might be seen as immature by some, but to those who were defended, such a person was incredibly great, like the only ray of sunshine in a dark world, warm and precious.

If, if Asakura Miyuki hadn't gone bad, perhaps she would have found some solace in that too.

Unfortunately, there are no "ifs."

So annoying, so annoying, so annoying, so annoying, so annoying.

Why, why, why?

Why did Satou Yunona know Kiana better and earlier than me?

The current state of the young girl's heart, besides a twisted and deformed "love" for Kiana, was filled with bottomless darkness. Even Satou Yunona, who had once extended a helping hand to her, was now seen by her as no different from everyone else. She had even developed murderous intent towards her.

Endure, endure, endure, she told herself. She couldn't let Kiana see her strangeness.

If she didn't do this, she wouldn't be able to get close to her properly.

Endure, endure, endure, Asakura Miyuki murmured in her heart.

Her expressionless face and ink-black eyes looked somewhat unsettling, but then she revealed a shy smile.

Beautiful and natural, as docile as a harmless little deer.

During lunch break.

Kiana sat on a less crowded bench on campus. The energy of the high school girls in this country was a bit overwhelming for her. She sighed inwardly and opened the bento box prepared by Su Qing'an. It contained a normal girl's portion.

After more than four weeks of interaction, Su Qing'an had realized that while Kiana could eat a lot, it was her upper limit. In reality, without extremely strenuous exercise, a normal girl's portion was enough to keep her from being hungry.

In fact, during her years of wandering, she had encountered places where money was useless and experienced the hardship of not knowing where her next meal would come from. So, when she had the means, she would subconsciously eat a lot. How much of that was due to her love for food and how much was habitual vigilance for the next moment, no one could understand.

At any rate, the girl at this moment picked up a piece of egg roll with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. Her indifferent expression unconsciously softened, revealing a hint of a smile.

It's delicious. Su Qing'an didn't play a prank by secretly adding chili. Worthy of praise.

So... so cute. The girl secretly peeking from behind a tree exclaimed at the expression Kiana revealed.

"Is something wrong?" After swallowing the egg roll completely, Kiana questioned the girl hiding behind the tree.

Asakura Miyuki emerged from behind the tree. Her delicate face was filled with shyness and bashfulness as she said, "My name is Asakura Miyuki. Um... yesterday... thank you for saving me."

"This is the hoodie you lent me yesterday." She handed the neatly folded hoodie, which had been on her back, to Kiana.

"Uh, thanks." Kiana took the hoodie and said.

"Um... I have a gift for you! As thanks for saving me yesterday. If you don't accept it, I won't be able to live with myself."

"Let's meet here tonight. I didn't expect to run into you so soon, so I left the gift at home. Then it's settled. I'm heading back to the classroom now, Kiana-classmate."

With that, without waiting for Kiana's response, the girl, beaming with joy, turned and walked back to the classroom with light steps.

Kiana will come.

Because Kiana is very kind.

Asakura Miyuki was so sure.

"Um, Kiana-classmate." Two girls from the same class walked over.

"Hm?"

"Definitely don't get too close to Asakura Miyuki. That girl has mental problems," one of the girls said assertively.

"Yeah, I heard she used to associate with those disreputable men at her previous school and society, and she was even..." the other girl quickly added.

Kiana originally had no interest in such gossip, but what the two girls said next made her stop and listen.

"Then she became a bit strange towards girls."

"Yeah, she's still very clingy to the girls at the academy now."

"It's really disgusting." The two girls couldn't help but show expressions of disgust.

"..." Kiana's expression remained indifferent, silent.

"Speaking of which, the senior Asakura used to pester was one of the victims in the recent disappearance cases."

"Yeah, and that one from the second year... but they found a body recently, didn't they? The disappearance case has turned into a serial murder case."

"That just makes people want to stay away even more!"

"Anyway, that person is a jinx. Although we don't like to talk badly about others behind their backs, it's safer to stay away from her as much as possible."

Serial murder case. Clues flashed through her mind. Her intuition issued a warning. Combined with the hint of strangeness she had previously sensed, Kiana couldn't help but frown.

"Then we won't disturb you while you're having lunch, Kiana-classmate. See you in class." The two girls waved goodbye to Kiana.

"Mm, goodbye."

Her hand holding the hoodie tightened. Kiana's previously cheerful mood had vanished.

The sky was high and the clouds were thin, birds flew across the sky, and the rushing wind stirred up the maple leaves on the ground. In this autumn, nearing winter, even the bright sunlight seemed abruptly dim.

The girl's skirt swayed in the wind as she gazed at the clouds in the sky, her eyes as clear and cold as a frozen spring.

"Huh? Kiana, aren't you coming to the shop with me?" Satou Yunona asked, a little confused. Ever since she'd met Kiana, the girl had basically only ever been active in the coffee shop, rarely going out. Kiana not returning to the shop after school piqued her curiosity.

"I'm going to pick up a package that was mailed from Europe. The address seems to have been sent incorrectly, so I thought I'd go get it today," Kiana urged. "You should hurry home. If I'm not there, Su Qing'an might be too lazy to open the door, and you wouldn't want to make a trip for nothing, right?"

Kiana had undoubtedly spoken the truth.

"That makes so much sense! I've always wanted to complain about his attitude towards running the shop. The Shopkeeper has been like this for half a year. Speaking of which, he's only 17, right? How can he run a shop? Is there some weird, shady dark force behind him?"

Satou Yunona began to vent, her curiosity now directed elsewhere. After that, she said goodbye to Kiana:

"Then I'll head home for today. See you tomorrow, Kiana, bye-bye (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡."

"Mhm, bye-bye." The girl nodded, watching Satou Yunona's lively, bouncing figure gradually disappear from sight. After a moment, she also chose to leave the empty classroom.