Second-year classes at Chiba Academy ended a bit earlier than first-year classes.
As per their prior agreement, Raiden Mei planned to wait for Ren Amamiya at the kendo club, then take him home and finally reveal the true identity she had hidden from him.
However, as Mei tried to calm her anxious heart and steel her resolve...
At some point, her former sycophantic follower, now leading a group of female students, had taken up positions along the path to the kendo club.
"Well, well, if it isn't Lady Raiden Mei. Heading off to that lonely little kendo club to play all by yourself again?"
Upon seeing Mei, they swarmed and surrounded her, leaving her no escape route.
Seeing Mei tense up, the faces of these girls, accustomed to and relishing in bullying the former "Raiden Queen," twisted into cruel, mocking sneers.
"Raiden Mei, you're so selfish! We already gave you a proper talking-to last time, but you still haven't learned your lesson. Is the title of Kendo Club President really that important to you? Shamelessly clinging to a position you don't deserve... how utterly pathetic!"
"And she's not alone in the kendo club, either. I saw it myself; that handsome Kohai who defended her from us last time went in there with her. This Lady Raiden Mei puts on an innocent act, but she's clearly full of lies, tricking that poor boy. Who knows what liberties she's taking with him under the guise of teaching kendo!"
One girl made a snide remark, her words dripping with acid, piercing Mei's ears like needles and making her body tremble.
"No wonder you've been so happy lately. Snagged yourself a naive little Kohai to play with!"
"Even wearing a new hairpin today to dress up. There's no need to be so obvious about trying to attract boys, you know? Who'd even like a childish lightning hairpin like that? Who do you think you are? The high-and-mighty Raiden Queen again? You're just the daughter of an economic criminal!"
"Let me play with that hairpin... Oh, right! I have to tell that naive Kohai the truth about you. Don't think you can keep tricking people with that fake innocent act and that weak little face! From today onwards, that Kohai won't go anywhere near you!"
Relying on her understanding of Mei's personality and her extensive experience bullying her, the lead bully's face twisted into a vicious grin. Knowing exactly what Mei cared about most, she targeted her sensitive spots, her every word a targeted strike at Mei's fragile heart. She reveled in the dark satisfaction of seeing the former Raiden Queen crushed beneath her feet.
Just as the lead bully reached out, attempting to rip the small lightning hairpin, along with a strand of her smooth purple hair, from Mei's bangs...
Mei's hand shot upwards, her slender fingers tightly gripping the bully's outstretched wrist with a surprising strength, like a mechanical vice.
As Mei's grip gradually tightened, an expression of pure agony twisted the lead bully's face. Her face turned purple, sweat dripped from her forehead, and she felt like her wrist might snap at any second.
"What are you doing?! Raiden Mei, you're just a criminal's daughter! Do you dare defy us, children of nobility? Let go!"
The lead bully gritted her teeth, seemingly in disbelief that the usually meek and submissive Mei would actually fight back. She snarled the words that usually silenced Mei instantly, reducing her to utter meekness.
"...So what? Don't touch my hairpin with your filthy hands. It's mine."
Mei's quiet, even voice came from behind her lowered head.
Her voice echoed slightly, as if two people were speaking simultaneously.
The complete absence of her usual meekness, replaced by an assertive arrogance welling up from within, made the lead bully stop struggling.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, the shock momentarily eclipsing the searing pain in her wrist.
That arrogant tone of voice... the lead bully knew it all too well because... it was Raiden Mei's usual way of speaking before her father's imprisonment!
What was going on? After being ostracized due to guilt and public opinion, reduced to the lowest rung of the school hierarchy, never retaliating no matter how much she was bullied... why could she suddenly regain her former pride, sounding just like the original Raiden Queen reborn?!
All because of a measly hairpin? Because of a handsome-faced, naive Kohai?!
The lead bully couldn't comprehend it, but an instinctive wave of panic and terror washed over her. The return of the Raiden Queen shook her deeply.
"I will explain my true identity to that mortal myself. There's no need for a lowly, repulsive insect like you to interfere in our affairs!"
Mei slowly raised her delicate face, opening her eyes. Her normally amethyst eyes now shone with a golden light.
Her face was cold as frost, her golden pupils radiating intense arrogance, like a god looking down upon an ant, disdainfully staring at the pathetic lead bully before her.
...The Raiden Queen isn't just back, she seems even more arrogant and terrifying than before?!
Crack.
Just as the lead bully began to cower before Mei's abnormal behavior, Mei's grip tightened slightly, her wrist bending at an unnatural angle.
"Aaah!! Get her! As expected of a criminal's daughter, only resorting to brute force to hurt others! It's just her alone, take her down!!"
Excruciating pain exploded in the lead bully's mind, completely consuming what little reason she had left. Using anger to mask her incompetence and weakness, she roared, ordering the other girls surrounding Mei to attack.
Rumble—!!!
Just as the bully tried to intimidate Mei with her shrill cries, a ground-shaking tremor suddenly erupted from behind her.
The girls surrounding Raiden Mei turned their heads and saw hundreds of deep-blue, steel giants marching relentlessly towards them.
The Titans, which appeared at Chiba Academy without warning, were now incredibly close. The nearest one raised its heavy, broad, metal foot and stomped down on the girls who couldn't dodge in time, triggering a chorus of terrified screams.
The female students, initially packed tightly around Mei to block her escape, were now utterly stunned by the sudden turn of events. Panic seized them as they scattered, desperately trying to flee, but the chaos only led to a horrific stampede, making it even harder to escape the Titans' path.
Raiden Mei, her face cold and proud, stood motionless amidst the panicked girls, silently watching the approaching Titans.
A gleaming Titan hand swatted the lead bully before Mei like a fly, sending her crashing into a distant wall.
The cold, massive mechanical hand slowly closed in on Mei's slender form, attempting to grasp and capture her.
But just as the Titan's hand drew closer and closer, the golden light in Mei's pupils intensified...
A searing crimson explosion suddenly ripped through the air, hurtling towards the Titan reaching for Mei, detonating violently against its giant metal hand!!