Chat Group : Another Fate From Honkai

"Fu Hua? Where are you going?"

Nagami raised an eyebrow as he spotted a familiar figure: gray hair, turquoise eyes behind red-rimmed glasses, dressed in practical clothes for easy movement, and clearly in a hurry.

"What did you and Otto talk about?"

Fu Hua's forced serious expression revealed her conflicted feelings.

She didn't answer his question—instead, she fired back with one of her own.

She had just received word that the Sirin Project had been suspended.

There was no way Otto had suddenly grown a conscience—about as likely as humanity defeating the Honkai tomorrow.

Recalling that Otto had mentioned coming to St. Freya with Nagami and C.C. as his targets—and knowing how close Nagami was with K423.

It didn't take long for Fu Hua to deduce that some kind of special deal had gone down between them.

As one of the few who knew the truth behind the Sirin Project, Fu Hua was well aware of how important it was to Otto—it was key to his attempts to resurrect that saint.

Naturally, she was curious what kind of price Nagami had paid to halt such a crucial plan.

In her intelligence network, the possibility that Nagami was a former MANTIS from the Previous Era hadn't been ruled out.

If he truly was someone she had forgotten from long ago… then perhaps he could still be of use in some way.

"Otto really doesn't waste time, huh," Nagami said casually.

Only the most socially skilled people could push others into action while making it sound pleasant.

Well, no need to stick to the original plan anymore—he might as well rearrange a few things.

After all, there was no longer any need to hoard traversal card points like before.

"If I told you Otto changed his ways after my moving, heartfelt speech… would you believe me?" he asked with a shrug and a nonchalant smile.

"No." Fu Hua adjusted her glasses with a calm face and flat tone, but her response was as unwavering as someone declaring the sun wouldn't rise from the west tomorrow.

"It might sound a little crazy," Nagami said as he casually draped an arm around her shoulder, "but if things play out like I expect, this whole scenario might actually come true."

Fu Hua's eyes widened.

Though she clearly disliked Nagami's overly familiar behavior, she didn't have the energy to push him away right now.

"What exactly did you do?"

Faced with her puzzled gaze, Nagami hesitated.

In the end, he chose not to reveal the details of his deal with Otto.

"You'll find out soon enough."

"Fine." Fu Hua pulled his arm off her shoulder and gave him a stern look. "Otto isn't someone you can handle easily. Even if you've struck some kind of deal, don't ever trust him completely. Otherwise, you'll lose—badly."

She only gave this warning because they were both from Shenzhou, and because Nagami—despite everything—possessed intel from the Previous Era.

She didn't want to see him end up like she had.

With that, she turned, nodded at him briefly, and walked off with firm strides.

Nagami watched her fade into the distance, pausing thoughtfully. "…She really does treat me like one of her own."

Walking through the halls of St. Freya Academy and into a dorm that looked more like a luxurious villa, Nagami absentmindedly rolled two Herrscher cores between his fingers like worry stones.

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On the balcony, True Kiana sat by the railing, lost in thought.

After her bath, she had changed into a flowing pink nightgown.

Her moonlight-colored hair cascaded down her smooth back, her bare shoulders glowing softly with a blush-tinted hue against her fair skin.

Stars blanketed the sky above, yet it was as if they'd all fallen into the depths of her sapphire eyes, faintly glimmering with light.

She stared into the night sky, propping her delicate chin with one hand, her expression like a pristine sheet of white paper—untouched by ink or emotion.

She sighed softly.

Recalling everything that had happened since moving into the St. Freya dorms, True Kiana found it oddly amusing.

She had lived alone her whole life.

She had never known this kind of noisy, chaotic warmth.

K423 getting scolded daily by Raiden Mei, Theresa and Bronya screaming at each other over HoYo-manga, Himeko constantly drunk and slurring her lectures…

And herself—from another world.

Not a real sister, but closer than any blood-related twin.

Then there was Nagami and C.C.…

To True Kiana, this might be the happiest time of her life.

Even the deep-rooted hatred she once felt for K423 was slowly fading.

That foolish, naïve little tuna… unexpectedly kind, with a strong sense of justice.

Not that True Kiana herself realized this change.

Her "other self," however, felt it vaguely through their shared connection—but chose not to bring it up.

With her personality, she'd never admit it anyway.

Of course, it wasn't "liking" her… but it had reached the point where she could interact without any other agendas or emotions clouding things.

This new warmth, this happiness—it couldn't stop the quiet, creeping sense of loss in her heart.

Moonlight rested on her curled lashes as she slowly closed her eyes.

In her mind echoed memories synchronized from her other self—etched deep into her soul. A gentle mother. A kind father.

Tears shimmered under the moonlight, spilling silently down her cheeks.

Why…

Why…

"…You'll catch a cold if you fall asleep out here."

A gentle, soothing voice reached her ears, and True Kiana's eyes snapped open.

She looked up at the boy—someone who, in a way, she had stolen from her other self's heart.

A boy who had never been able to fill the icy void in her soul with love, but still stirred something deep inside her.

His tousled black hair swayed softly in the breeze.

"You're back~"

Her voice was a little hoarse, but she still tried to make it sound as warm as possible.

A radiant smile bloomed across her delicate, snow-white face.

Nagami sat down beside her naturally, reaching out to gently wipe away the tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes.

He sighed inwardly.

He'd noticed her crying alone on the balcony the moment he reached the door—so he simply leapt up to meet her.

Sliding an arm around her soft, rounded shoulder, he gently pulled her close, letting her other shoulder rest against his chest.

"You don't have to push yourself so hard."

He held her slender, delicate body close and softly ran his fingers through her silky long hair, speaking in a tender voice.

'I could have endured the darkness… if only I had never seen the light.'

That line might not perfectly describe True Kiana at this moment, but it came close.

For the first time, she had experienced real familial warmth—so intense, so consuming—that it ignited a deep longing for affection within her heart.

But she knew. She had no chance of ever experiencing her parents' love again.

All she could do was lie awake at night, quietly reliving the borrowed memories from her "sister."

"…Mm."

After a long silence, True Kiana gave the slightest nod and leaned her head against his chest, closing her eyes.

"Nagami… do you think that if my mom were still alive, what would've happened to me and K423?"

She shifted slightly, folding her pale, tender legs together, her slender body curling up as if trying to merge into him.

"If Ce— I mean, if your mother-in-law were still alive," Nagami replied, "then maybe you and Sirin really would've become sisters.

You'd go to school together, talk about classes, eat the breakfast she made…

You, as the older sister, would probably scold Sirin when she messed up—or maybe protect her when someone tried to bully her…"

He painted a warm, imagined future with a soft voice.

Since no one else was around, he felt no need to hold back, slipping naturally into flirt mode.

Turning his head slightly, he gazed at the girl's flawless profile under the dim moonlight.

"Thinking about it like that… K423 doesn't seem so bad anymore."

A lovely blush bloomed on True Kiana's refined cheeks, her long lashes fluttering.

In her eyes shimmered a mixture of bashfulness and joy.

The reason, of course, was how Nagami referred to Cecilia.

"If a world like that really existed… and you met both me and K423 at the same time—who would you fall for?"

She tightened her embrace slightly, looking up with a playful, teasing smile.

Her deep blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

The sudden "death flag" question made Nagami freeze instantly.

His face twitched a little, then—before True Kiana could even react—he flopped backward with a groan, sprawling out to enjoy the night breeze and starlit sky.

"In this kind of atmosphere, how can you ask something like that?! Have all those books you've read taught you nothing about timing?"

He tapped her smooth forehead with a finger and let out a long, comfortable sigh.

"Hmph~!"

True Kiana lowered her head and gently pressed her forehead against his chest with a soft grunt.

But her lips curled up into a small smile.

Tonight, she was acting more like a normal girl than ever before.

"You know, back in Shenzhou, there's a saying about 'skipping a generation' in affection—it means that kids are often closer to their grandparents than to their parents."

"Huh?"

Resting on his chest, she looked up, her head tilted in confusion, her sapphire eyes reflecting the countless stars above.

She seemed curious why he'd suddenly bring that up.

"So… to make sure our future kid doesn't grow up without a loving grandma, I think it's our duty to drag your mother—my future mother-in-law—down from heaven!"

For a moment, the scene felt like it had frozen in time.

A soft breeze tousled her silky hair, lifting a few strands around her ears.

And deep in those ocean-blue eyes of hers… something brilliant seemed to bloom.

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