Fully Recovered

The next day, when the last piece of plaster was removed from Sheng Jiu, he leaped lightly off the hospital bed like a dragon freed from its seal. "Hahaha! Honkai Beasts, your grandpa's back!"

"Thump!" The military doctor gave Sheng Jiu a not-too-hard tap on the head. "Quiet down. The other patients are trying to rest!"

"Ow! Sorry, Doctor. I'm just so excited." Sheng Jiu scratched his head sheepishly and looked at the young woman before him, who seemed about his age.

Svet pursed her lips. "Hmph. I have to say, you're one lucky kid. In all these years, not a single student who faced the Herrscher of Honkai has come back alive. What on earth were you raised on? Your body's recovery is incredible."

"Honestly, I have no idea. I didn't even know my body could recover completely in just two weeks." Under Svet's gaze, as if he were a lab mouse, Sheng Jiu felt a little uneasy.

"Forget it. One of these days, I'll have to study you properly. I'm busy, so I'm off. Be careful out there, and don't go getting yourself killed. I still haven't figured out the secrets of your body."

With that, the genius military doctor tossed her short brown hair and left on her own, swift as the wind, leaving Sheng Jiu standing there, dumbfounded. "I guess that's what makes geniuses different..."

In the classroom, Kiana was slumped on Yae Sakura's shoulder, bored out of her mind. She muttered, "This is so boring. That lazybones hasn't been around for two weeks, and it feels like something's missing..."

"Bronya concludes that silly Kiana has fallen for silly Sheng Jiu," Bronya teased from the side.

Kiana's face turned bright red. She buried her head in the crook of Yae Sakura's arm and stammered, "W-What are you talking about?! There's no way I'd like someone like him! I only helped him because he saved me, and I reluctantly brought him meals. The only person I like is Yae Sakura!"

Watching the two of them bicker, Yae Sakura chuckled and tapped Kiana on the nose. "You're still as much trouble as ever."

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly rang out. "Hey, hey, that's a pretty hurtful thing to say. Guess I'll just eat the sundae I bought you myself, then."

Kiana jerked her head up. Sheng Jiu was sitting at his desk, smiling at the three of them. "Surprise! Your buddy's back at full health!"

Kiana stepped forward and smacked Sheng Jiu. "You scared me to death!"

Sheng Jiu raised the four sundaes he was carrying, looking aggrieved. "You violent girl! I bought these to surprise you all, and this is how you treat me? I'm heartbroken!"

Kiana snatched the bag from him and stuck out her tongue with a grin. "Tch. Since you brought us treats, I'll let you off the hook this time!"

"Shouldn't I be the one saying that..."

Yae Sakura took a sundae and smiled apologetically. "Thank you, Sheng Jiu. Kiana hasn't caused you any trouble these past few days, has she?"

Sheng Jiu hurriedly waved his hands. "Don't worry, Yae Sakura. When this girl's being serious, she's pretty reliable. She even... Oh, she brought me hot meals every day." As he spoke, he suddenly felt Kiana's murderous glare and quickly changed what he was going to say.

"Bronya thinks silly Sheng Jiu is hiding something," Bronya said, resting her chin on her hand as she eyed Kiana suspiciously.

Kiana blushed and protested, "What?! Do you think I'm the kind of person who'd take advantage of a lazy bum like him?"

"Very much so."

"You!"

Just then, Walter walked in from outside and saw them fooling around. "Sheng Jiu, come outside with me for a moment."