Tuna's Redemption Part 5

“Burgers are ready~” Mei called Raynor as she was done cooking.

“Nice! Almost done here.” 

The girl looked at what he was doing.

‘I think he is selling something.’

‘You don’t say. We share the same eyes, and I can see that he is earning quite a bit.’

The Herrscher persona sarcastically replied. 

‘Yes, well, I don’t know the stock market that well!’ 

‘So do I, but I understand the basics.’

After a few moments, Raynor was done. He got up and walked to the doors. Mei stopped checking and swiftly walked to the kitchen.

“I made three types of burgers and made the sauce to fit with the different tastes of the patties.” 

“...Damn…” Raynor sounded impressed to hear that. He inspected the burgers. He could see different coloured sauces.

The purple-haired girl smiled, seeing his impression. She then motioned to try it out.

Without wasting time, he did so.

“...Umm… this is good~ I knew buying meat from farmers is far better for this than supermarket store stuff.”

“...Yes, you are right.” Mei agreed with a small, which quickly disappeared as she recalled that those small stores would soon cease to exist.

‘You do know that no matter what. Honkai will continue. We are supposed to be the 3rd. But if you ignore this, Honkai will skip us and will move to 4th one either way.’

The Herrscher Persona reminded her. At that moment, Mei recalled a girl in a wheelchair with bandages becoming a pseudo-Herscher before they stopped her.

‘Yes. You either become one properly, or she will be forced to become one earlier.’

Mei frowned upon hearing that. She could become one properly, and it could cause an eruption—or not, depending on how she does it.

As far as he can recall, if they are enemies of humanity, it becomes an eruption that causes the Honkai Beasts to appear.

But if she becomes one on the side of humanity, nothing happens.

‘I should leave Nagazora and try it out.’

‘Yes. Thankfully for you, we are Thunder, and thunder moves quickly.’ 

As Mei pondered what to do, Raynor moved closer to her.

“You got spacey all of a sudden. Are you okay?” 

He placed his hand on her forehead. His actions made Mei blush as she snapped out of her thoughts.

“I am fine. I just wondered if I passed the test.” The girl smiled at him as she pushed her embarrassment down.

“Test?” He looked confused for a second before he realised.

“Haah. So you think this is a test? Well, you did pass,” he replied to her as he took another bite. He was honestly surprised at how far she could go to make food, and it impressed him.

However, the issue is that he still does not understand why there is 110% in this. He doubts that because Mei has realised what Kiana did.

“Great! Then tomorrow, I can cook dinner for you again?” The purple-haired girl clapped her hands, excited that she had passed her second hurdle.

“...Ugh… sure.” Raynor slightly frowned at how she reacted. It's hard to resist her excitement.

“Fantastic~”

She then pulled out a notebook and a pen.

“Tell me what you like, and I can cook something you like.”

“...You are serious?” 

“...Of course! As your g-girlfriend, it's my duty.” She said it with a serious tone as she pushed down her embarrassment.

“...duty..  huh…”

Seeing his reaction, she swiftly clarified.

“I-I don’t know how Europeans do, but we take our duties very seriously, and as you said yourself, since we are a c-c-couple, I should do my part to perfection.” Even though she was blushing and stuttering, she pushed it through. 

The girl had to resist the constant snickering of her Herrscher Persona along the way.

“I suppose you are right.” Raynor finished the burger and cleaned up his hands with tissue.

“Fine. Since that is the case, I will give you a credit card. Since you will be cooking my food, I can’t allow you to spend your money on me.” 

Her eyes widen for a second.

‘Wait, did he just…’

‘Haha. It appears it went from a week to indefinite.’

‘Maybe. But it's just a credit card. Not debit.’ Mei reasoned with her.

Credit cards have spending limits, which he can easily adjust. Who knows, he can take them away from her after the upcoming week ends.

“...Very well, I accept this challenge!”

Raynor frowned when he heard that. Well, she is not wrong. He is guarding against her and looking for opportunities to figure out what she is thinking.

But calling it a challenge? Well…

“...If you say so. I am not some big boss who needs to be beaten.”

When Mei heard that she had a smile, her smile was very strange.

‘Hahaha! IF only he knew!’

“Why so?” Mei replied.

“It is like that.” She leaned slightly forward before putting a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

“After all, it is like a conquest, no?” Her smile slightly changed.

‘I do believe Honkai would get confused midway if it learned that you are trying to date a Herrscher while being one yourself.’

‘Shhh! I am trying to seduce!’ Mei hissed internally at her other self.

“...Right.” Raynor slightly leaned back. This girl was as hardcore as he was.

‘She honestly trying…’ He was out of words.

After back and forth, which slowly became flirting, it was time for Mei to head home.

Raynor decided to take her back, and Mei didn’t resist. It was more or less a small victory for her as he was taking her back.

The pair spoke some more. The Thunder Queen decided to ask some more about his plans as she recalled that he was in Coral after graduating from high school… or more like was forced to move as she caused an eruption. 

“What are you planning after graduating from High School?” 

“Hmm? Me? Well, I am thinking of staying here or going to Coral.” Her eyes slightly perked. Maybe she can figure out what he did in Coral!

“Oh? Coral? Isn’t it an island at the equator?” Mei had a pondering look. She didn’t know much apart from what happened to it while she was there.

“Yes, well, I do have quite a bit of stock in companies that work on space elevators. By all means, I do own a portion of it.” He explained with a small shrug.

“Oh…”

“Yes. Soon, I will get more of their stock of it,” he said with a smug voice. His trading has been going quite well.

Mei internally grimaced. She recalled how he had covered the elevator and everything in the area in frozen dust, which had spread out through the wind.

“Good to hear, so you will be going to live there?” She asked curiously.

“Depends on a few factors.” He said with a small frown.

“...Hmm? Like?” 

But all he did was look at her.

“It does seem the sharp knife and dull dagger reference is true…” He said with an amused look.

But all Mei did was frown.

‘Ugh… don’t be dull, he is saying that it will depend on relationships. In other words, he will look at what his girlfriend will do after she graduates.’

“...Oh…” Mei blushed like a tomato…

“I see.” 

Raynor looked at her with a little confusion. He saw no reason for her to blush, as it was normal.

Regardless, they arrived at the dormitory, where Mei had moved in just a couple of days ago.

The purple-haired girl looked at the building before looking at Raynor. A small smile appeared on her lips as she knew the best way to end this.

“My thanks~” The Thunder Queen leaned at him slightly before kissing him on the lips. 

She was about to run away into the dormitory, but he grabbed her hand and stopped her.

“You forgot something.” The future world destroyer stopped her and showed a card he got for her.

Mei swiftly realised what it was. Her blush became even more evident as she realised that she had forgotten something important.

“S-Sorry!” She swiftly took it before rapidly walking into her dormitory.

Raynor chuckled before he touched his lips for a second.

He got kissed by two of them in a single day.

It was crazy.

However, at that moment, he looked at the distance. He could hear someone calling him. It was like someone was shouting, but it was extremely far, and he couldn’t make out what it was.

It swiftly disappeared the same way it appeared.

‘Strange…’

That night, he dreamed of a black armoured being and red lightning.

~~~

“How did it go?” Kiana asked Mei as the purple-haired girl returned to her shared dormitory.

“G-Great!” Mei stuttered as she dropped into her bed and buried her head into her pillow.

Seeing her like that has confused Kiana. She had never seen her like that!

“...Anything else?” 

After a while, Mei moved her head to the side and looked at Kiana, who was sitting on the opposite bed.

“...” The Thunder Queen arranged her thoughts before speaking.

“...I suppose I progressed further but, at the same time, retreated back to square one?” 

“...How?” Kiana asked, confused. Mei experienced something; that much is obvious; however, she is not telling.

“I suppose I had to make him fall for me, but I think…” The girl once again buried her head into her pillow and said something Kiana could not understand.

“What?”

“...Nothing.”

“...Mei-senpai! Explain! I am not as smart as you!” The girl started to complain as the purple-haired girl was talking in circles.

“...Hmm… I think it works both ways. I need a cold shower.” Mei got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom.

It took a couple of moments for Kiana to process, but she eventually understood what had happened!

**Loud Gasp**

Kiana placed her hand on her mouth.

‘D-Did Ray made her fall in love with him!?!’ The white-haired girl trembled as she realised that!

‘He is dangerous!’ 

The girl swiftly pondered what to do.

But then she stopped sitting, dropped into her bed, and stared into the ceiling. She recalled that fight between her and Raynor.

She recalled his last words.

All she could think was how crazy that was. 

‘He would rather burn everything instead of let me go… and yet…’ 

She slightly pouted as she realised that he made Mei fall for him.

It was a little bit of jealousy.

‘Well, whatever! Tomorrow, I will kidnap his attention!’ Kiana grinned as she got some money from her father!

He most likely got it from Anti-Entropy, but whatever!

‘Wait… does it mean Anti-Entropy know what is going on?’

~~~~~~Next Morning~~~~~~

The moment Raynor left his flat, he heard that voice.

“Rey!”

Kiana swiftly walked over to his side. She slightly pouted at him.

“...Kiana… morning.” Raynor yawned as he greeted her.

“Say~, do you want to go to the arcade today?” Her shoulder touched his as she walked next to him. 

“Arcade? I asked you before, but you would always decline.” He reminded her.

“Gah!!! Can we forget about that?” Kiana flinched as she was reminded of the previous incidents.

“Why? It was like a week ago.” 

‘To you!’ 

Kiana loudly exclaimed in her mind. It was a sour point to her!

“I mean… I know… it was before I was blind and that stuff. But I want to make up! So what you say!?” She ended up hugging his hand and showing him teary, trembling eyes.

‘Puppy eyes? Jeez…’ 

Raynor realised that this girl could do that.

“...Fine…fine…we can go.” He sighed loudly as he caved in.

‘What is with this over-the-top effort…’ 

He realised that both of them were trying very hard.

“Great! After the arcade, we can visit some other places!” After accepting her request, she didn’t let her hand go. Instead, she continued to hug it.

“...though, you haven’t forgotten that Mei is my girlfriend?” Raynor reminded her about that.

“...Hehehe, I know~, and Mei doesn’t mind me being your second girlfriend~” The white-haired girl declared with a smug voice.

For a second, Raynor imagined both of them being all over him, but he swiftly shook his head and calmed himself.

He might be a healthy male, but that is far too good!