A sorrowful atmosphere spread through the air. The reunion they had only just managed to have was, just as they had realized from the start, like an illusory dream.
And this time, their parting was destined to be "forever"—a true farewell, never to meet again.
Kiana understood that. Murata Himeko understood that. And they both understood that the other knew it all too well.
At that moment, they were clearly standing together, yet it felt as though an invisible dimension stood between them.
Then Murata Himeko smiled. "Kiana, are you ready?"
Kiana's delicate body trembled. She pressed her lips together and clenched her fists, but in the end, the girl's expression turned resolute. "Yes, Ms. Himeko."
Murata Himeko nodded. "Come on! Let's walk a little farther."
Kiana nodded, then walked with Murata Himeko along the broad road ahead, toward the gates of St. Freya Academy.
They walked neither too fast nor too slowly. The atmosphere was somewhat stifling, so Murata Himeko began recounting things from the past in a lighthearted, nostalgic tone.
She spoke of how Kiana had always slacked off in class at the academy, often sleeping with her head on the desk during academic lessons, always so reckless, noisy, and restless.
Though she constantly declared that she would become the strongest Valkyrie, in practice, she had merely been a poor student with absurdly strong physical abilities.
Back then, Murata Himeko had been terribly troubled by that.
Yet in the blink of an eye, Kiana had grown into someone so outstanding that Murata Himeko could not help but sigh with emotion.
Kiana merely listened—silently listened. With her head lowered, the girl's bangs concealed her eyes.
Murata Himeko continued looking ahead as she walked, softly reminiscing while encouraging and guiding Kiana. It was as if she wanted to use what