Doubts About Fu Hua

Kiana and Sheng Jiu bickered as they headed toward the classroom. Before they knew it, they had reached the door.

"You're back, Kiana. What did the principal want with you... Huh? Who's this? A new student?" Just then, a tall girl stepped out through the front door. She had long purple hair tied into a ponytail with a ribbon, and pale violet eyes. Seeing the two approaching, she came over to greet them.

"Hi, I'm Sheng Jiu, a new student in Class 8. Nice to meet you." Sheng Jiu stepped forward to greet her first. "Hello, hello! I'm Raiden Yae Sakura, Kiana's good friend. We're all friends from now on, so I hope we get along." Yae Sakura smiled and nodded at Sheng Jiu.

Just then, Sheng Jiu felt a sharp pain at his waist. He winced. "Ow, that hurts! What are you doing?"

Sheng Jiu turned to look at Kiana, who wore an annoyed expression. Kiana said indignantly, "Did you forget what I just told you? I said you weren't allowed to..." Her voice trailed off as she spoke.

Sheng Jiu immediately realized what was going on and grinned mischievously. "I get it. You're just worried that I'll..." Kiana clamped a hand over Sheng Jiu's mouth and smiled awkwardly. "Hey, no, don't! Don't say it! I was just worried, okay? Sorry, sorry!"

"Oh? What are you two talking about?" Yae Sakura looked at them with amusement.

"Dummy Kiana must be trying to show the new student that she has a claim on Big Sister Yae Sakura." A short girl appeared behind Yae Sakura. She had pale gray curls and a pair of equally pale gray eyes, and stared expressionlessly at the red-faced Kiana.

"Bronya! I'll fight you!" Kiana angrily thrust a fist toward Bronya and waved it in front of her.

"Heavy Trooper Bunny 19C, prepare to fire—" A massive armored mech suddenly appeared behind Bronya. A cannon with a barrel wider than Kiana's head emerged from its arm and pointed at her.

"Hey! You—how can you cheat? I'm not even using a weapon!"

"That's how dummy Kiana is. But smart Bronya knows to use a weapon." Yae Sakura chuckled and patted Bronya's shoulder. "All right, you two, stop messing around. You're going to scare the new student."

"Yes, Big Sister Yae Sakura." Bronya obediently had Heavy Trooper Bunny retract its cannon. She looked expressionlessly at Sheng Jiu, who was staring in stunned amazement. "Hello, I'm Bronya, Big Sister Yae Sakura's good friend and dummy Kiana's sworn enemy." ("You!") "Nice to meet you, Big Brother Sheng Jiu."

"Ah, nice to meet you. Um, what's that...?" Sheng Jiu gestured at the shape of Heavy Trooper Bunny, stumbling over his words as he spoke to Bronya.

"This is my friend, Heavy Trooper Bunny 19C. Pretty cool, right?" Bronya expressionlessly patted Heavy Trooper Bunny behind her.

"That's so cool! Just as cool as Alahato. You know the Devil Sword Mecha Alahato, right? It's seriously awesome!"

At the mention of "Alahato," the dull light in Bronya's eyes instantly brightened. "Big Brother Sheng Jiu really does have great taste. Your taste is miles better than dummy Kiana's..."

"You!" Kiana, who had just calmed down, was infuriated all over again. Then an unfamiliar voice interrupted their conversation. "The bell has rung. Please head into the classroom promptly."

Sheng Jiu turned toward the speaker. A gray-haired, green-eyed girl stood before him, a pair of red-framed glasses perched on her nose. She wore an immaculate Valkyrie uniform, and the badge on her chest, marked "monitor," identified her as the class monitor.

"Okay, Class Monitor. We'll go in now." Yae Sakura and Kiana hurried into the classroom with the others. Sheng Jiu was about to follow when Fu Hua stopped him.

"You must be the new student. Hello, I'm Fu Hua, the class monitor of Class 8." Fu Hua extended his hand to Sheng Jiu.

"Hello, Class Monitor Fu Hua. I'm Sheng Jiu. Nice to meet you." Sheng Jiu hurriedly reached out to shake his hand.

The instant their palms met, a flicker of barely perceptible shock crossed Fu Hua's normally calm eyes. But he quickly regained his composure and smiled at Sheng Jiu. "Judging by your features, you're from Shenzhou too?"

"Yes. Where in Shenzhou are you from, Class Monitor?"

"Canghai City."

"Oh, I see. I've never been to Canghai City. A friend told me the seafood there is especially good. I'll have to try it sometime."

"Sure. If you ever visit Canghai City, I'll treat you to seafood. Class is about to start. Come with me." Fu Hua smiled and led Sheng Jiu into the classroom, but inside, his thoughts were already in turmoil. How could it be him? No, impossible. I must have remembered wrong...