Born from a comment under a fanart on Reddit, the story captures my view on Adam's ability to capture the hearts of the main trio and the repercussions he has to face for it.
Awkward silence. Awkward couldn't even begin to describe it. If cosmic horror could be silent and deadly, it would be like that, perhaps.
Mei looked up at Kiana, feeling somewhat under pressure.
"Um, Kiana? Can we talk about why Adam has severe Honkai irradiation and got both his arms broken? Also, why are you so big, you know, I'm not really into the giant fet~"
"Silence!" — Kiana boomed, before Mei could make it any more weird and then added in a hushed voice— "And no, not today, we'll talk like that."
"It's weird, but okay, Kiana," — Mei sighed and glanced at Adam, foaming, close to her. He passed out from shock, — "My other question stands, though. Why is he like that?"
You would think that the one feeling uncomfortable should be anyone else other than the literal god, but no. In the face of unbelievably composed Mei, Kiana almost regretted bringing them here. Maybe it's all untrue? Maybe Mei just... Helped Adam train? And there was nothing wrong with it that time, she he just slipped and fell, and...
"Kiana! I know that you wouldn't have brought me here without any good reason — not with Adam, at least — so out with it".
"Why are you like that, Mei?"
"Like what? You did this to my subordinate and wouldn't even tell me the reason, nor you are sorr~"
"I have no reasons to be sorry for!" — shouted Kiana, almost instinctively clutching her fist. Mei stopped her fingers from closing, her gaze reproachful, yet kind and empathetic. What a model teacher, huh, — "You slept with him!"
Kiana's heart beating faster, she scrutinized the face of the one she loved. How would she respond to that? What her reactions would be?
Mei looked Kiana in the eyes, and then glanced back at Adam, who regained his senses and was sweating profusely. No amount of paychecks would be enough for this interrogation.
"...That was my mistake."
Huh?
"I should've kept our distance, but..."
But what, Mei? You are stronger than him, you have me, what?
Mei turned her eyes toward Kiana and smiled bitterly.
"I... I'm sorry, Kiana."
"What? You are n-not denying it... Why? It's gotta be a lie, doesn't it?"
Kiana searched her memory for answers which could lessen the pain, somehow. She did not expect to be betrayed like that, not at all. And by Mei? Not in a million years, not ever!
Just why, why... Huh?
Wait, what is this?
Kiana remembered the time when Mei, long ago, saved one honkai-corrupted boy from the streets in the abandoned city. The memory was fuzzy — she couldn't remember anything regarding precise place or time, but the eyes... The same eyes, that were frantically switching between her and Mei now...
