On the internet, there's a term called "the ultimate one-for-one trade."
It means that just as one party is smugly celebrating having hurt the other, the opponent, unexpectedly and caught off guard, executes a desperate counter-kill, dragging the first party down with them to mutual destruction...
For example:
Hater: "So-and-so's singing and dancing are trash, can't stand it. My XXX is N times better, okay?"
So-and-so's fan replies: "My so-and-so relies on their looks. Their singing and dancing are negative numbers. How many times better can negative numbers be? That means you're not even as good as a monkey, right?"
This is the ultimate one-for-one trade.
Hurting the enemy by a thousand, self-damaging by a thousand.
Sometimes, it can even be hurting the enemy by a thousand, and self-damaging by two thousand, or even ten thousand.
Perhaps, this was a classic case of self-damaging by ten thousand.
Looking at Miss Paramecium's delicate face, filled with "benevolence," Li Zihan's eye twitched slightly.
He truly hadn't expected that this girl would jump out and confess to him while he was in the middle of his own confession.
To stop him from confessing, she actually used herself as a human shield.
"I think we aren't very—"
"We aren't very suitable?"
Before Li Zihan could even speak, Miss Paramecium cut him off, swiftly and clearly finishing his sentence.
Her voice was loud, almost as if afraid others wouldn't hear.
She took tiny, incongruous steps and moved to the young man's side, intimately wrapping her arm around his.
Suitable enough to go to the beach together and scream at bikini-clad beauties?
Suitable for jack shit.
Li Zihan, who wasn't very interested in Miss Paramecium, and knew Miss Paramecium wasn't very interested in him, twitched his eye.
"Kiana, I think we should calm down."
Feeling the sharp twinges of pain from his embraced arm, a hint of forced amusement crept into Li Zihan's smile.
Miss Kiana was a beautiful girl with a superb figure, and being embraced by her arm, one could certainly feel that captivating softness.
However, Kiana wasn't about to let herself be "eaten tofu" so willingly.
This unadulterated brute-force character was genuinely squeezing Li Zihan's arm with all her might.
"Ah Li, I only accepted your confession after deep consideration, you know?"
No one knew where she'd picked up such clumsy acting, but Miss Kiana blinked her moist blue eyes, and even her form of address changed.
Damn it.
What the hell is with this sickeningly cute act?
You spent days hanging out with Theresa the Silly, one of Schicksal's top combatants, and this is all you learned?
Going back to St. Freya with Theresa and learning a "Tornado Destroys Villa Island" move from Fu Hua would be better than this!
The magus was still baffled by Miss Kiana's move, as if her brain had short-circuited.
Numerous old complaints were itching to leap from his throat.
Ever since parting ways with a certain perverted old man who time-traveled to watch magical girl series, he hadn't felt this sensation in a long time.
After all, he was always the one messing with others.
But before those complaints could escape, Miss Kiana began her performance again.
"Ah Li, why aren't you paying attention to me?"
Miss Kiana shook Li Zihan's arm, her voice deliberately cutesy, seeming to carry a hint of grievance.
Li Zihan, who was all too aware of a certain Paramecium's true nature, instantly broke out in goosebumps.
"You're really going all out, aren't you?"
The magus, who had learned thought transmission in basic combat class, pressed his lips together but successfully conveyed his words to Kiana's ear.
Miss Kiana remained silent, merely staring intently at Li Zihan.
She couldn't use thought transmission, but some thoughts could be conveyed without it.
Mei is mine!
You bastard, don't even think about taking her from me!!
"So, you're trying to steal her from me, huh?"
Li Zihan continued communicating via thought transmission, his tone laced with a hint of threat.
This Paramecium was truly getting a bit too arrogant.
So what if I am?
Miss Paramecium, her eyes surprisingly expressive, still replied to his question with just a look.
"You'll regret this."
Li Zihan grinned, all traces of forced amusement gone from his face, replaced by a playful smirk.
This time, he didn't use thought transmission, but spoke aloud directly.
"I won't regret it."
Miss Kiana felt the young man's gaze slowly change, her heart skipped a beat, but she still continued to act coy in that unsuited tone of hers.
Miss Mei, standing by, watched the scene unfolding before her, her expression incredibly complex.
Not being emotionally clueless, she could largely understand the current situation.
Li Zihan had intended to confess to her.
Kiana was worried she would accept, so she made her move, confessing to Li Zihan.
I will interrupt your confession with my own confession.
Perhaps, she ought to get involved now, otherwise, these two would surely stir up some outrageous shenanigans.
Feeling that she absolutely had to mediate, Miss Mei looked towards Li Zihan.
While Li Zihan's personality was atrocious, he was actually a very rational person. As long as he didn't want to make a fuss, this farce would end quickly.
She gathered her thoughts, intending to speak up and dissuade them.
And then—
She found herself unable to speak.
In her line of sight, Li Zihan very naturally revolved around his embraced arm as a central axis, turning to face the white-haired dango, his back to her.
He then placed his hand on Miss Paramecium's shoulder, his palm slightly turned, gently stroking her slender neck.
What is he doing?!
Miss Mei, feeling the situation might not be what she imagined, trembled slightly, momentarily losing her ability to vocalize.
Miss Paramecium, who had never been touched so intimately by a male peer, shivered, seemingly wanting to shake her head and pull away from the young man's hand, but hindered by her previous declaration...
She didn't overtly resist, merely glaring at the young man's face with clearly annoyed eyes.
You bastard, stop your damn paws. If you dare make another move, I'll beat you to death.
This message was easily conveyed to Li Zihan.
The young man's hand climbed from the girl's slender neck, stroking her flawlessly delicate profile. Then, through her hair, it cupped the back of her neck.
For once, the white-haired dango, who usually feared no danger, felt an urge to flee.
She wanted to extend her free hand, wanting to push Li Zihan away, but she couldn't.
His Magecraft circuits had already activated, and the Honkai energy flowing through his body had been infused into his stigmata.
Magecraft: Reinforcement.
Honkai Energy: Human Reinforcement.
"I like you very much too, Kiana."
A profoundly affectionate sentence escaped the magus's lips, leaving both Miss Kiana and Miss Mei, standing by, stunned.
Kiana felt him lean down, his warm breath fanning her face.
She wanted to flash away and run, but found one of her arms was still wrapped around Li Zihan's, making escape impossible.
She wanted to shake her head and dodge, but the young man's hand was already cupping her face, restricting her movement.
In the time it took for the white-haired dango to think, two thin lips had already descended.
Pure, cool.