"Zzzz..."
Upon a high, dimly lit bed lay two delicate flowers entwined, reminiscent of the famed painting "Beauty Resting Amidst Apricot Blossoms." Their ivory arms draped gracefully, exuding warmth and enticing sweetness.
At least, that's how it should have been.
Unfortunately, Kiana was currently restrained by glowing blue chains, spread-eagled on the bed, yet still sleeping soundly. Saliva glistened at the corner of her mouth, while bubbles formed with each snore, bursting rhythmically as she breathed.
"Mmm... No more, Zeke... Enough already... Mmph!"
"Pop!"
Kiana's eyes snapped open, bursting the bubble on her nose.
"Is it morning already..." She mumbled groggily, instinctively trying to rub her eyes before realizing her limbs were held captive by energy chains extending from the walls.
"What's going on?"
Her antenna-like hair stood upright, instantly jolting her awake.
Soon after, she heard steady breathing beside her. Turning her head, she spotted a petite girl with cascading gray hair curled up asleep next to her.
Kiana stared, momentarily speechless.
Alright, although Kiana often found Zeke annoying when they were together, he silently endured her restless sleep no matter how unruly she got. Bronya was different; physically, there was simply a vast gap between them—Kiana carried the Kaslana bloodline and was even a Herrscher. Not just anyone could withstand her extraordinary strength, so some restraint measures were indeed necessary.
Realizing the crux of the situation, Kiana wasn't particularly upset. She merely channeled Honkai Energy to break the chains around her wrists and ankles, sat up, and stretched lazily.
"Ah~ What a refreshing nap!"
"Hold on, where's Zeke? Icarus, do you know where he went?" Rubbing her eyes, Kiana couldn't spot Zeke nearby or sense his presence anywhere in the room, so she quietly called out to Icarus.
Instantly, a projection screen popped up beside the bed, displaying Zeke's image.
To her surprise, he was wearing a girlish pink apron with small floral patterns, adding seasonings to a steaming pot.
"Sizzle..."
Kiana gulped audibly, half due to Zeke's rare domestic attire, which stirred an impulse within her... Ahem! To be more serious, the other half was purely for the anticipation of Zeke's cooking.
"I want meat!" Wiping away her drool, Kiana declared assertively, assuming naturally that Zeke must be preparing this meal for them.
Unexpectedly, Zeke glanced sideways as if peering through the screen to see her undressed form and calmly replied,
"I'm not cooking for you this time. Besides, I'm not at the base, so there's no way for you to have any."
"Huh? If not for me, then who else could possibly deserve your cooking? Which sly vixen is it now? Doesn't matter—I want some too! Tell me where you are, quick!"
"I'm with Vera."
Kiana fell silent at Zeke's response.
After a moment, she fidgeted nervously and softly said, "Alright, then I'll find something to eat on my own."
Over the past half-year, Kiana was aware that Vera had been staying in Yordle City, keeping tabs on her life discreetly. It wasn't a well-guarded secret that Kiana's unauthorized incursion into Schicksal led to her confinement, nor was Anti-Entropy Headquarters' location hidden from anyone. During this time, Vera never visited Headquarters to meet Kiana—a clear indication that Vera didn't wish to see her.
The tragedy of the Yordle City incident was unintentionally caused by Kiana, but the mistake had already been made. Beyond feeling deep remorse, there was little she could do. Consequently, respecting Vera's wishes, Kiana dared not set foot in Yordle City.
As Zeke finished adding the seasonings and covered the pot, he turned to face the screen and said:
"She doesn't hate you."
"Really?"
"She doesn't hate you, but she's not ready to let it go yet. You need to give her time."
"Mm-hmm! Of course I will... Is she doing okay now? Come to think of it, I don't even know what kind of food she likes anymore." Kiana initially sounded excited but quickly lowered her head, feeling crestfallen.
Zeke stroked his chin and replied, "She's doing well—healthy and working as a construction robot operator. In her spare time, she helps with Honkai Beasts and contributes to her hometown. She's made some friends, leading a fulfilling life. As for food, there isn't anything specific she particularly likes or dislikes; she's just like most girls who have a soft spot for sweets—unlike you, that picky eater obsessed with meat and avoiding veggies. Vera is well-rounded, academically excellent, polite, and understanding—a truly good child."
At this point, Zeke suddenly furrowed his brow, gazing at Kiana, who was eagerly staring at the screen, and muttered to himself:
"On second thought, am I really inferior in parenting skills compared to that young lady?"
"Huh?" Confused, Kiana blinked rapidly, unsure how to respond.
Then, Zeke shifted his gaze toward Bronya, huddled nearby, and relaxed his expression once more.
"No, it's merely a matter of differing student qualities. My educational standards are clearly up to par," he reassured himself softly.
Zeke nodded as he muttered to himself, seemingly confirming some reassuring truth.
Kiana fidgeted with her fingers, cocking her head and furrowing her brow.
"You... Are you implying I'm stupid?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Just wait till you get back here—I'll show you!"
"Sure thing. I'll prepare for your rebellion suppression efforts accordingly. Once you wake up, wash up, drink some warm water, and have dinner with your family at home. I'll return after finishing my meal here."
As Zeke rambled on, his gaze remained fixed on the pristine white landscape majestic like a towering mountain, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Only when Kiana belatedly blushed, lowered her head, and pulled the blanket over herself did he end the call.
"Whew..." Kiana sighed, letting go of the blanket, cheeks puffing indignantly from embarrassment.
"What's the big deal anyway? It's not like it's the first time you've seen me like this—why stare so much? Although, rushing to see Vera so soon probably means he wants to help us resolve our issues, right? So maybe he does care about me? Stubborn softie, silly Zeke!" she grumbled under her breath, suddenly covering her face with both hands and giggling guiltily, as if trying to pretend nothing happened.
"Staring..."
At that moment, she felt an intense gaze nearby.
Looking down, Kiana met Bronya's emotionless, unwavering eyes.
"Oh, you're awake too?"
"Bronya isn't so oblivious that she can sleep through strange noises right next to her ear."
"Oh, did I wake you? Sorry about that. But seriously, even though I endured one more round of impact than you, how come you're still slower at waking up?"
"...Hmph." Bronya fell silent for a moment, understanding that Kiana wasn't intentionally gloating but simply being clueless as usual.
Rolling her eyes, Bronya responded in a childlike voice: "Fools tend to have stronger constitutions and better sleep quality. Unfortunately, Bronya is not a fool."
"Stop calling me 'fool' all the time! I'm actually pretty quick-witted!"
"Bronya suggests Kiana retake the course on self-awareness from scratch."
"You asking for it!" Enraged, Kiana pounced on Bronya, wrapping her arms around the smaller girl's body and launching a tickling assault.
"Pfft... Kiana... you paramecium... don't waste your energy! Bronya won't succumb to such petty tricks... Puhaha!"
Their limbs tangled as they collided, with Kiana laughing triumphantly while Bronya retaliated angrily, occasionally breaking her defense to burst out giggling. The room that had been quiet all day erupted once more into noise.