Chapter 17 - Another Girl Rescued...?

Half an hour later, after they had finally gotten their fill of the carnival, everyone agreed to meet up so Mei's chauffeur could drive them back home.

"Ahh, too bad we couldn't play together during the carnival," Kiana said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

She was sitting in the middle of the back seat between Reina and Yuna, while Mei sat in the front beside her chauffeur.

"You must be happy though, right, Kiana? Since you managed to eat a ton of junk food without me around~" Reina teased, her voice light and playful.

"Wha-no, no! I didn't eat that much!" Kiana quickly denied, flailing her hands in panic before things could escalate.

"Yuna," Reina called, glancing at the girl beside her.

Yuna hesitated for a moment before quietly replying, "...I'm sorry, but Reina told me to tell her what you ate beforehand."

Kiana froze, her face falling into a look of quiet betrayal. "Yuna...!"

Reina smirked, satisfied with her small victory, while Yuna turned her head, pretending to look out the window to avoid the incoming pout.

Seeing that she had no support left, Kiana immediately turned to the last person she could rely on.

"Meiii! Help meee! They're bullying me!" she cried dramatically, wrapping her arms around Mei's neck from behind.

"Kiana-calm down! I can't breathe if you hug me like that!!" Mei struggled, her voice muffled as Kiana clung to her tightly.

"But those two are bullying meee!!!"

"I mean... what Reina said isn't wrong though," Mei replied, trying to pry Kiana off her. "Eating too much of that kind of food is bad for your health."

"Ehhh?! You joined them too? I thought you were on my side!" Kiana finally let go and sat back with a pout, arms crossed tightly in front of her chest.

"Just give up already," Reina said calmly, reaching over to pat her head. "I never said you couldn't eat junk food-I only said don't eat too much of it."

"Humm..." Kiana's pout vanished almost instantly as soon as Reina's hand settled on her head.

After that, no one said much more. The long day had caught up to them, and the car grew quiet. Even Yuna had already fallen asleep, her head resting lightly against the door.

Kiana leaned against Reina's shoulder, quietly scrolling through her phone and looking at all the pictures they had taken together throughout the day.

Up front, Mei played with her Homu doll, a small, content smile on her face. She gently touched the plush, pinched its cheeks, and eventually hugged it close to her stomach like a treasured memory she didn't want to let go of.

The ride continued in a peaceful silence. The gentle hum of the engine, the soft breathing of those drifting between wakefulness and sleep, and the occasional bump of the road created a calming atmosphere.

Kiana leaned quietly against Reina's shoulder, and even Mei, still clutching her Homu doll, seemed to be in her own little world. The gentle warmth inside the car was comforting as the city lights outside slowly passed by.

But just as they were nearing the apartment complex where Reina and Kiana lived, the calm was abruptly broken.

"Stop the car," Reina said suddenly, her voice was sharp and urgent.

"Huh?" Kiana confused while raising her head. "What's wrong?"

"Reina?" Mei turned to her in confusion, her chauffeur briefly glancing in the rearview mirror.

"I said stop the car!!" Reina shouted, louder this time, her eyes fixated on something outside the window.

Startled, Mei quickly told the chauffeur, "Pull over, please!"

The car swerved slightly before easing to the side of the street. As soon as it stopped, Reina unbuckled her seatbelt and swiftly climbed over the now-awake Yuna, who had stirred from Reina's shout.

"Reina-wait! Where are you going?!" Kiana called out, reaching for her, but Reina had already thrown the door open.

Without answering, she sprinted off in the opposite direction of their route, her steps fast and determined.

Meanwhile

A narrow street between two buildings. The kind of place people normally avoided-dimly lit, silent, and isolated. The air felt heavy, and the scattered trash and flickering streetlamp only added to the eerie atmosphere.

And in the middle of it, a young girl stood frozen, her back pressed against the wall.

Four men surrounded her, closing in slowly, their shadows stretching along the pavement like claws. Their voices were muffled, but their intentions were clear-and far from good.

The girl trembled, clutching her bag tightly, unable to scream or even move. The alley swallowed all sound, and not a soul seemed to be around to help her.

Until sounds of someone running getting closer can be heard

And a figure dashed toward them.

The moment Reina arrived at the scene and saw what was happening, she didn't hesitate.

With a sharp, explosive motion, she kicked one of the men hard in the side.

Thawck-the sickening sound of flesh meeting bone echoed in the alley as the man was thrown off his feet, crashing into the wall with a heavy thud.

"What the-?!" one of the others turned in surprise, eyes wide. But before he could even finish his sentence, Reina was already moving. She used her momentum to drive her foot straight into his stomach, knocking the air out of him and folding him over with a strangled gasp.

Then, without pausing, she turned and lunged at the last two. Grabbing each of them by the head, she slammed both down into the ground with brutal force.

The echo of their impact rang through the dark, empty alleyway.

After making sure all four of the men were unconscious, Reina turned her attention to the girl they had surrounded.

"Are you okay?" she asked, stepping closer and gently checking her condition.

Her clothes were messy-her blouse slightly wrinkled, and her skirt torn near the hem-but thankfully, it seemed nothing worse had happened. Just as Reina was about to ask again, the girl suddenly lunged forward and clung to her tightly.

"I-I'm so sca...red... I thought they were gonna..." she stammered, her voice trembling, her entire body shaking against Reina.

"Shhh, it's fine. You're safe now," Reina whispered softly, brushing her hand over the girl's long, black hair, gently calming her.

They remained like that for a few moments, wrapped in silence, until the girl's trembling stopped. But even then, she didn't let go.

Reina lightly pushed her back, realizing how close they were. "We should call the police and then-"

Her words cut off mid-sentence.

Her heart suddenly began to pound hard in her chest, and a sweet, intoxicating fragrance hit her senses. The scent made her body tense-no, react. Strongly.

When Reina looked down at the girl she had just rescued, her breath caught in her throat.

Tears glistened in the girl's gentle, innocent eyes. Her face looked delicate, almost angelic, yet it struck something deep in Reina-something primal. Something confusing.

'What... is this?' Reina muttered in her mind, overwhelmed by the strange surge running through her body.

She was so caught off guard by the sensation that she didn't notice the smirk forming on the girl's lips.

"Thank you for saving me... my savior," the girl said, her trembling voice now gone-replaced with one smooth and sultry, like a temptress whispering in the dark.

She lifted her hand, brushing her fingers along Reina's cheek, tilting her face to meet her gaze.

"!?"

The moment their eyes locked, Reina felt a jolt through her body. A heat flared inside her-sharp, invasive. It felt as if something inside her snapped loose, pulling her into a trance.

Her thoughts blurred.

Her logic faded.

All she wanted in that moment was to tear off the girl's clothes and make her hers. Right here. Right now.

Her ruby eyes grew cloudy, dazed by the gaze that held her in place-and that only made the girl smile wider.

Slowly, deliberately, she began leaning closer, their faces only inches apart... lips nearly touching.

"Reinaaa! Where are you!?" Kiana's voice suddenly echoed from the distance.

The cry jolted Reina back to her senses, right as the girl's lips were just about to touch hers. Her eyes widened-and without hesitation, she pulled her fist back and punched herself hard in the face.

BAM!

The impact echoed through the narrow alley. Reina staggered backwards, the sheer force of her own punch ringing in her skull.

"Are you okay?! Why did you do that?!" the girl asked, feigning concern as she took a step forward.

"Hahh... hahhh..." Reina panted, wiping the blood trickling from the corner of her lips. "Sorry... There was something wrong with me just now..."

Fortunately, the loud sound had drawn the others to the alley. They came running just moments later.

"What happened here...?" Yuna said, her eyes widening as she saw the four unconscious men on the ground.

"Reina! Are you okay?? Your beautiful face has a bruise on it!" Kiana cried out in alarm, rushing to her side and checking her cheek.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Reina reassured her quickly, even as Kiana fussed over the mark.

But then, the atmosphere shifted.

Reina felt it first-a sudden, heavy pressure that made the hairs on her neck stand on end.

It was coming from Mei.

A dark aura surrounded her, tinged with violet lightning. Her presence shifted drastically, her calm demeanor replaced by something far more dangerous.

"Who hit you?" Mei's voice was low, cold-nothing like her usual tone.

She stepped closer, her eyes fixed on Reina's bruise. "Which one of them did it?" she asked again, brushing her fingers gently across Reina's cheek.

"N-No, Mei, I'm fine! Really-I mean it!" Reina said quickly, panic rising in her voice. She knew all too well what would happen if Mei lost control here.

"You're not fine," Mei shot back. "Look at this!"

She turned sharply toward one of the unconscious men.

"If you won't tell me, then I'll just find out myself." Her eyes began to glow, crackling with purple energy as the power of the Herrscher of Thunder surged within her.

"No! I did it to myself! It wasn't them!" Reina cried, grabbing Mei's arm and clinging tightly to it.

"E-Eh? Reina...?" Mei froze, blinking in surprise as she felt something soft press against her arm.

"Calm down, alright? Just listen-I'm the one who punched myself. It wasn't them," Reina said again, her voice gentle and pleading.

"...Y-Yeah... okay... I understand..." Mei mumbled, her aura slowly fading as the thunderous energy around her disappeared.

With the tension finally settling, Reina let out a breath and pulled out her phone. "First of all, I'm calling the cops. They need to deal with these guys," she said as she turned away, dialing the emergency number.

While Reina spoke to the police, Kiana and Yuna shifted their attention to the girl.

One look at her disheveled clothes and the tear in her skirt told them everything they needed to know.

"Are you okay? They didn't do anything to you, right? Should I go back there and kick their balls so hard they'll never try this crap again?" Kiana asked, her tone fiery.

"I'm fine. Thanks to her, they didn't manage to do anything to me," the girl replied softly, giving them a gentle smile.

"Good thing we ended up going this way... If not..." Yuna muttered, her voice low as her eyes lingered on the unconscious men sprawled on the ground.

Kiana nodded, then turned back to the girl. "By the way, what's your name?"

The girl smiled again and tucked a strand of her long black hair behind her ear. "My name is Asakura Miyuki," she said sweetly.

---

---

---

---

---

After the police arrived, they quickly apprehended the four unconscious men, dragging them toward the patrol car one by one. Flashing lights filled the once dark alley, painting the scene in red and blue.

The officers questioned everyone thoroughly, especially Miyuki, who was clearly the victim. At first, they wanted to bring her to the station to record a full statement. But considering the late hour and her shaken condition, they eventually relented and allowed her to go home after taking her testimony on the spot.

Once the officers departed, Mei stepped forward and offered gently, "Do you want to come with us? Especially with your skirt like that..."

But Miyuki shook her head, offering a small smile. "No, it's fine. My home's nearby. I can just run back."

It was then that the group realized something surprising, all of them were actually in the same class. It made sense why they hadn't noticed each other until now. Kiana was always focused on Reina, Mei was constantly busy during breaks and often absent, and Yuna-unfortunately-was the kind of girl who got bullied quietly. Miyuki, on the other hand, always disappeared during lunch, eating alone somewhere out of sight.

"Then be careful going back," Reina said, stepping toward her. "If anyone approaches you again, scream as loud as you can, alright?"

Miyuki tilted her head and smiled. "If I scream... will you rescue me again?"

Reina responded with a confident grin, placing a hand on her hip. "Of course. I won't let innocent people get hurt."

With that, they all said their goodbyes. Reina and the others returned to the car, leaving Miyuki standing near a busier street, surrounded by the hum of people returning home from work-far safer than the dark alley from earlier.

As the car began to move again, Kiana leaned back with a sigh. "Thankfully you were fast, Reina. You managed to save her... Too bad I didn't get to crush their balls, though."

"Yeah," Mei added quietly, her voice heavy. "I don't even want to imagine what would've happened if you were just a little late."

"But at least she's safe now," Yuna said, looking out the window.

Reina didn't respond. She sat quietly in the middle seat between Kiana and Yuna, her eyes closed.

She wasn't tired-she was thinking. Something about the girl from earlier kept poking at her thoughts.

As she dug through the memories from her original self, her lips moved in a quiet whisper.

"...So that's it," Reina murmured to herself.

Meanwhile, Miyuki remained in the same spot, standing under the streetlight as the car carrying Reina and the others disappeared from sight. Her soft smile slowly faded, replaced by a blank expression. Without another word, she turned and began walking down the street.

It took her about five minutes to reach a modest-sized house tucked into a quiet neighborhood. It was her home-the place she had lived alone for years since her parents passed away in a tragic accident. There was no one waiting for her inside, and no one to greet her when she stepped in.

Locking the door behind her, she tossed the grocery bag onto the small table near the entrance before collapsing onto the worn-out sofa. The dim lighting of the living room cast long shadows across the walls, but she didn't seem to care.

She picked up her phone, unlocking it with a swipe and casually scrolling through her contacts. Her finger stopped at a name glowing brightly on the screen:

♡ Reina ♡

A giddy smile returned to her lips as she stared at the name.

"Finally... I finally managed to get her contact~"

She let out a small, dreamy sigh. From the moment Reina had transferred into their school, Miyuki had been captivated by her beauty-her mysterious eyes, her gentle aura, and that calm, mature charm. And when she learned that Reina, like her, was attracted to girls... it felt like fate.

"But..." Her voice dropped, tinged with quiet bitterness.

Her finger resumed scrolling, stopping at another name:

Kiana

Unfortunately, Reina was already in a relationship. And not just with anyone-Kiana. They were always together, practically inseparable. It didn't take long for Miyuki to realize just how deep their bond was. On their very first day, she had tried to approach them, hoping to start a conversation and asking for their contact information.

But then she saw it-Reina smiling so lovingly at Kiana, pampering her like she was the center of her world.

That moment ignited something sharp inside Miyuki.

Jealousy.

And then, something unexpected happened. Reina glanced her way. Their eyes met for just a second... and Reina smiled at her-warmly, kindly-and even waved.

That simple gesture was enough to send Miyuki running.

She remembered it clearly-how she bolted up the stairs and hid on the school's rooftop. Her heart had been pounding so hard in her chest, and between her thighs, a heat had begun to build... wet and uncontrollable. That was the first time she realized just how badly she wanted Reina.

And she wanted to use her power to influence Reina now more than ever.

"Oh right... almost forgot," she muttered to herself, blinking as she checked the time. Pushing herself off the sofa, she straightened her clothes and walked toward the door near kitchen.

She unlocked the door in front of her and saw the stairs leading down.

Without hesitation, she descended the stairs, heading toward the basement.

The deeper she went, the stronger the sharp, sweaty scent became-an aroma both pungent and strangely alluring. Turning on the basement light, she saw a bed in the center, surrounded by plates and glasses.

"Ahh~ Master, you're finally back. Please have me; I've already prepared myself," said a girl lying on the bed, unclothed and wearing an alluring expression.

Usually, Miyuki's instincts would kick in at this point, and she gonna pound her immediately.

But she already had someone else in mind, so this girl didn't interest her at all.

She was already bored with her; she had been planning to replace the girl and kidnap someone new.

With her power, Miyuki could arouse anyone and command them to obey-and that's how she had been kidnapping adult women and girls her own age.

Suddenly, dark tendrils emerged from behind her, creeping toward the still-aroused girl. In an instant, the tendrils engulfed her completely.