Raiden Mei sighed deeply, rubbing her temples with weariness. After a moment, she weakly asked, "Kiana... Are you genuinely trying to help me overcome this, or are you just enjoying messing with me?"
"Can't it be both? Heh!"
"...I've noticed that when it comes to twisted humor, you and Zeke Mr. Zeke really are quite similar."
"Agh! Saying Zeke has a twisted sense of humor? I'm noting this down; I'll definitely tell him later!" Kiana pointed at Raiden Mei, speaking indignantly.
Meanwhile, Raiden Mei had slowly clenched her fist—her patience wearing thin.
"Ki...ana...!"
"Ehehe! Come catch me if you can! You won't get me, Mei! Ha-ha-ha!"
"Stay right there!"
"As if I'm dumb enough to stand still for you, Mei! Anyway, knowing your personality, you'll forget your anger soon after escaping this time! Nyeh~"
The two began chasing each other around the entrance.
When Kiana acted mischievous, even the most patient person would find their hands itching, and Raiden Mei was no exception. However, the girl had already gained preliminary mastery over spatial abilities, making her as elusive as Sun Wukong—a true challenge to catch, let alone touch.
While Kiana and Raiden Mei continued their playful scuffle, Ana, who had been walking ahead of them, encountered several youngsters gazing up at her.
"Are you the volunteer starting today, Big Sister?"
"Uh... Yes, I am. My name is Ana, Ana Schariac—nice to meet you!"
"Hi, Big Sister! Just call me Sora. Today, I'm in charge of overseeing all the work here. Our tasks are quite demanding, so be prepared, okay?!"
The serene little girl with short lilac hair and vivid crimson eyes smiled warmly but suddenly produced a small device resembling an asthma inhaler. She placed it between her lips and took deep breaths from it.
Watching this unfold, Ana noticed the glowing Honkai Energy corruption patterns beneath the girl's collar, causing her pupils to contract, and her hand trembled slightly.
"You..."
"Don't worry, Big Sister. My situation is somewhat unique; I need regular doses of mild Honkai Energy along with specific medications to grow healthily... Well, maybe not that unique. Most kids here have their own issues, requiring specialized care only available at Headquarters. Plus, we don't have to fear being captured by various villains for dissection or research."
"Does it hurt?"
Ana knelt down and gently cradled the young girl's soft hands, filled with boundless compassion.
She had encountered many children infected by Honkai Energy before. Their plight was truly hopeless—nearly impossible to cure, with countless malicious individuals eager to exploit their pitiful lives. As a Valkyrie, there was little Ana could do; each time, she'd leave heartbroken, helpless.
If given the chance, they would spare no effort to save these children—that was once a promise made by Ana and her comrades alike.
Now, only Ana remained to fulfill it.
Despite herself, pain surfaced on her face.
Sora tilted her small head and blinked, her ever-gentle smile devoid of any worry. Assuming Ana felt sorry for her, she reassured her warmly:
"Don't fret, Big Sister—I'm fine! It's been such a long, long time since I last woke up from the pain. Everyone at Anti-Entropy is really, really nice, so everything's okay! Plus, Big Bro Zeke says my condition is just temporary. Once my Stigmata fully awakens, I'll become a powerful Anti-Entropy fighter! Don't mind it~"
Sora flashed a thumbs-up, her words full of optimism.
Then she grabbed her inhaler and took two deep breaths from it.
Watching Sora, Ana suppressed all her confusion and sorrow, revealing instead a gentle smile.
"Well then, tell me about today's assignment. As a Valkyrie, I'm strong and have plenty of stamina—I can handle anything!"
"Oh, you're exaggerating, really. We've got robots to help with chores, so we manage just fine on our own. Today, mainly, we need someone to supervise us while we take art lessons outside, which is why we asked for your help!"
"No problem—leave everything to me... Oh, right, there are also the two sisters waiting at the entrance; they're here with me. Together, we'll make sure you're well taken care of."
"Great! Then let me check how everyone's preparations are coming along. Once they're ready, we'll head out."
Sora jogged toward her nearby friends but paused midway to use her inhaler once more.
After some excited chatter, around forty or fifty little kids gathered before Ana and the other two, who had finished their playful scuffle.
"Big Sisters Kiana, Mei, and Ana, we're all set!" Sora, equipped with art supplies and multiple inhalers hanging from various spots on her body, stood before the trio with a wave.
Do they know each other? I suppose it makes sense—they live so close by. And Misses Kiana and Mei are such kind people; they must often come over to help.
Ana observed the scene thoughtfully.
Then she watched as Kiana leaned down, playfully ruffling Sora's light purple hair with both hands, wearing a bright, cheerful grin.
"It's been too long, kiddo! Did you miss me? Do you have everything you need?"
"Big Sister Kiana, stop! You're messing up my hair!"
"Oh-ho! No worries, even if your hair turned into a bird's nest, Big Sister Kiana would still adore you just the same! So, did you bring enough medication?"
"Yes! I've got fully loaded inhalers, spare inhalers, spares for the spare inhalers, and extra backups—all accounted for!" With a bashful smile, Sora happily counted through the inhalers hanging around her while responding.
Kiana nodded contentedly.
But Ana hesitated. "Um... Is it really necessary to bring so many spares?"
"Absolutely!" × 2
Both Kiana and Sora turned their heads simultaneously, looking sternly at Ana.
Then, placing her hand on Sora's head, Kiana said:
"Sora, share Big Bro Zeke's teachings with your Auntie Ana!"
"Mm-hmm! Big Bro Zeke told us that proper preparation prevents poor performance. We must always be fully prepared, especially for critical tasks where there can be no room for negligence. Therefore, having ample backups of essential items is the first quality of a mature powerhouse—this lesson must be engraved in our hearts. Did you get that, Auntie Ana?"
"No, I think maybe..."
"Auntie Ana, everything Big Bro Zeke says is absolutely correct. Do you remember now?"
"I..."
"Do you remember?"
"...Yes, I do."
Under the girl's unwavering insistence and assertiveness, Ana eventually gave a weak nod, conceding.
Following this, Kiana and Sora clapped their hands together, both wearing bright smiles.
"Great job, Sora! Thanks to you, another person embraces Zeke's teachings. Dinner tonight will be extra special!"
"Yes! I want chicken legs!"
"No problem! And there'll be mini-cakes too!"
"Woo-hoo!" Sora cheered.
Joining her jubilation were all the children behind them.
Amidst their joyful smiles, Ana gradually found herself smiling as well.
This wasn't Ana's first time volunteering at an orphanage. However, she quickly realized that this one was unlike any other she had encountered before.
Among these children, aside from Sora who required a specialized inhaler, many bore visible signs of Honkai Energy corruption or even physical disabilities. Just as Sora mentioned, they were indeed unique individuals.
Yet despite their circumstances, none seemed burdened by sorrow or gloom; each child radiated energy and optimism for life.
Ana observed Kiana and Raiden thoughtfully, noting their warm smiles. Recalling the kind-hearted girls she'd met in the Inner City over recent days, she also remembered Welt, someone so universally respected within Schicksal that few could harbor ill feelings towards him.
Of course, Ana thought to herself, everyone here is genuinely kind-hearted, so naturally, they wouldn't let anything diminish these children's smiles.
Unconsciously pressing her hand against her heart, Ana remembered her teammates who loved kids just as much—some even hailing from orphanages themselves... If only they could witness this scene too, they would undoubtedly be overjoyed!
For a moment, Ana's eyes dimmed before quickly regaining their sparkle.
It doesn't matter! Since they're not here, she'll work extra hard on their behalf, ensuring these extraordinary children have an unforgettable day filled with happiness—absolutely!
I must! Ana emphasized internally, realizing that this mission was of utmost importance, no less significant than battling Honkai Beasts.
With newfound determination, Ana joined the well-behaved queue of children, smiling brightly as they stepped out of the orphanage's entrance.