Kenji
The door opened with a soft click, and Kenji looked up with a smile on his face as Himeko walked in.
She looked as lively as ever, her red hair tied back in a ponytail, though there were faint shadows under her eyes that suggested she hadn't been sleeping well.
Her coat was slung over one shoulder, and despite looking like she desperately needed a cup of coffee, she carried herself with that same confident swagger.
"Hey, Kenji. Took you long enough to wake up," she said, pulling a chair over to his bedside.
"Better late than never, am I right?" Kenji replied.
Himeko dropped into the chair with a sigh, tossing her coat over the back. For a moment, she just looked at him, her expression unreadable. Then her lips quirked into a small smile.
"So," she said, leaning back and crossing her arms. "How are you really feeling? And don't give me the sanitized version, the doctors are probably hearing."
Kenji blinked at her. "I'm... fine?"
"Uh-huh." Himeko's eyebrow rose. "Try again."
"Waking up restrained on a hospital bed was pretty jarring," Kenji offered. "And it's kinda boring being in here for so long."
"Kenji." She said with a firm tone. One that he had already gotten used to and knew that it meant there was no escaping.
He sighed, taking time to gather his words. "I'm tired. Everything hurts, even though apparently I'm physically fine. My brain feels like it's moving through mud. And the hospital food tastes like cardboard."
"There we go," Himeko said, her tone softening.
"Sheesh, let me look cool for once, would you?" Kenji muttered, slightly embarrassed at admitting his weakened state.
Himeko laughed, "Not a chance! You just woke up form a coma, looking cool is the last thing you should be worrying about."
They sat in silence for a moment. Kenji went back to staring at the ceiling, and Himeko seemed content to just watch him, glad that her student was all right.
And Kenji was happy with her constant presence. While he wouldn't say it out loud for fear of embarrassment, he did miss his sensei a lot.
Then her expression changed just a little. The usual confident mask cracked, and something more genuine showed through.
"You scared the hell out of us, you know."
Kenji looked at her, startled by the sudden shift in her tone.
"A whole month. We didn't know if you were going to wake up. If Zero was going to come back. If you were even still in there."
"Himeko—"
"I know, I know." She waved a hand dismissively, but her voice was still strained. "You're back. That's what matters. But don't get yourself captured again, you hear me? I'm too old for that kind of stress."
"Sorry," Kenji said quietly.
Himeko looked at him then, really looked at him, and her expression softened. "Don't apologize, idiot. Just... take care of yourself more."
"I'll try to."
"Good."
The tension in the room eased, and Himeko leaned back in her chair again. She stretched her arms above her head with a groan, then settled back with a more relaxed expression.
"So," she said with a lighter tone. "You want the rundown of what you missed while you were taking your little nap?"
"You mean my month-long nap," Kenji corrected.
"Right, my mistake." Himeko grinned. "Well, for starters, the girls have been a complete mess."
Now this got his attention. "Define mess."
"Kiana's been pacing like a caged animal. I swear she's aged the training room by 10 years from how much she's been in there." Himeko shook her head. "Mei barely slept. I caught her in the medical bay at three in the morning more than once, just... sitting there. Staring at the monitors."
Kenji's chest tightened at that. "And Wendy?"
"Kept asking for updates every few hours," Himeko said. "She's been staying with me, settling in pretty well actually, but she was constantly checking if there were any changes in your condition."
Something warm settled in Kenji's chest despite the guilt that came with it. "I didn't mean to worry them."
"I know." Himeko's expression turned a little more serious. "But that's what happens when people care about you, brat. They worry."
Kenji didn't know what to say to that, so he just nodded.
Himeko watched him for a moment longer, then her expression changed again. This time, there was something almost... guilty in her eyes.
"There's something else that I need to tell you," she said, her tone careful.
Kenji tensed slightly. Not liking the look on her face. "What?"
"There's a bio-chip in your head. One Theresa implanted without your knowledge or consent."
"Oh, that," Kenji cut her off. Sighing in relief that it wasn't something new to worry about. "I already know about that."
Himeko blinked. "You... know?"
"Theresa told me. About the chip and the experiments she did secretly." Kenji said. "
"Oh." Himeko looked caught off guard. "And you're... okay with that?"
Kenji shrugged, or tried to. The motion was weak and probably looked more pathetic than casual. "I trust her. If she thought it was necessary, then it was necessary."
Himeko stared at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she let out a slow breath and looked away.
"I really need to beat that habit out of you," she muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing." Himeko shook her head, her expression conflicted. She opened her mouth like she was about to say something else—maybe to push him on that trust, maybe to warn him to value himself more—but she stopped.
Her head tilted slightly, and Kenji realized he could hear it too.
Footsteps.
Lots of them.
Himeko let out a long-suffering sigh and stood up, moving toward the wall to give the room more space. "Brace yourself, kiddo."
"For what?"
"Geez your slow," Himeko said dryly. "We've got company."
The footsteps got louder, closer, echoing down the hallway like a stampede. Kenji could hear voices now—high-pitched, excited, overlapping—and his stomach did a weird flip between anticipation and nervousness.
Suddenly, the door slammed open hard enough that the handle hit the wall with a bang that made Kenji flinch.
Kiana burst through the door first, moving so fast she was practically a blur.
Mei and Wendy were right behind her, trying and failing to keep up with her momentum. Theresa appeared in the doorway a second later with an exasperated expression.
"Kiana! I told you not to slam the door!"
Kiana wasn't listening. Her face was lit up with relief and excitement, and she was already babbling the moment she spotted Kenji awake.
"Kenji! Oh my god, you're awake! Do you have any idea how worried we—you better not ever do that again or I swear I'm gonna—!"
The words tumbled out in a rush, overlapping and barely coherent. She was making a beeline straight for his bed.
But in her hurry, she failed to spot a cable on the hospital floor. Her eyes widened as her shoe got tangled in it, and she slipped.
"Whoa—!"
Kenji saw it happening in slow motion. Kiana's eyes widened.
'God, why?' Kenji thought as he accepted his fate.
She crashed directly onto his stomach with all her weight.
"ACK—!"
The air left his lungs in a strangled wheeze. Pain shot through his torso like he'd been punched, and the heart monitor beside him spiked.
"Oh crap!" Kiana scrambled off him immediately, her hands hovering worriedly over his body. "Sorry! Sorry, I didn't mean to—are you okay?!"
Kenji tried to answer, but all that came out was a choked gasp as he struggled to breathe.
Mei rushed over, "Kiana!"
"I said I was sorry!"
Wendy hovered nearby, also with a panicked expression. "Should I get a doctor?!"
Himeko was still leaning against the wall, and despite the situation, she was biting her lip to keep from laughing.
Theresa stormed into the room and, without hesitation, smacked all three girls on the back of their heads in quick succession.
SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.
"Ow!"
"What was that for?!"
"I didn't even do anything!"
"He just woke up from a month-long coma," Theresa said with unrelenting fury. "And you three are already trying to send him back! Did you forget he's still recovering?!"
The girls looked appropriately bashful, rubbing the backs of their heads and mumbling apologies.
Despite the pain in his stomach, Kenji couldn't help but laugh. "I definitely missed this," he said quietly, still trying to catch his breath.
Kiana's expression brightened immediately. "See? He's fine!"
"That is not what he said," Mei muttered, but there was relief in her voice.
The tension broke, and suddenly all three girls were crowding around his bed again, though more carefully this time. They were talking over each other, voices overlapping in a chaotic mess of questions.
"How are you feeling?"
"Does anything hurt?"
"When did you wake up?"
"Do the doctors know when you can leave?"
Kenji raised a hand weakly, trying to get them to slow down. "Guys, chill out please. My brain is still catching up."
"Oh, right." Kiana backed up slightly, looking sheepish.
Theresa stepped forward and clapped her hands once, "Girls. Give him some space to breathe, or I'm kicking all of you out."
They reluctantly backed up a bit, though Kiana was still bouncing on her heels with barely contained energy.
Kenji took a moment to just look at them. Kiana was vibrating with excitement. Mei was trying to look composed but failing to hide the relief in her eyes. Wendy was hovering at the edge of the group with a small smile.
They were okay. They were all okay.
"I'm fine," he said, answering their earlier barrage of questions. "Just weak. Though my stomach is hurting a little more than usual."
"I said I was sorry!" Kiana protested.
"I know, I know." Kenji's lips twitched into a small smile. "But seriously, I'm okay. Just... tired."
Mei's expression softened. "We're glad you're awake."
"Yeah," Wendy added quietly. "We were worried."
Kiana, never one to let a serious moment linger too long, grinned and leaned forward with her hands on her hips. "So! When are you gonna be back in action? Can you train soon? When can we spar?"
From the corner, Himeko let out a snort. "Priorities, Kiana."
"What? It's a valid question!"
Kenji couldn't help but smile at that. Leave it to Kiana to immediately jump to sparring. "Physical therapy starts in a few days if they give me the clear. If things go well, maybe a few weeks before I'm back on my feet."
"A few weeks?" Kiana's face fell. "That's so long!"
"It's really not," Mei said.
"It is for me!"
Kenji's expression turned more serious. "There's... something else you probably should know."
The room went quiet.
"I lost my regeneration," Kenji said. The words felt heavier than they should. "Though this time it's completely. The doctors said they can't detect it at all. They don't know if it's coming back."
Shock rippled across their faces. Kiana's smile faded. Mei's eyes widened slightly, guilt flickering across her expression. Wendy looked stricken, like she'd been slapped.
"You..." Mei started, then stopped. Her hands clenched at her sides. "Because of—"
"Because Zero burned it out," Kenji said, cutting her off before she could finish that thought. "It's not anyone's fault."
But Mei didn't look convinced. Her expression was heavy, shadowed with guilt. He'd been suppressing her Herrscher for months, keeping her stable, and now he'd lost his healing because of everything that happened.
Because of what she did back at ME Corp. What she had to do to bring him back.
Wendy's face was pale. She looked like she wanted to say something, but didn't know what.
The mood threatened to turn somber as the warmth from moments before slowly faded away.
But then Kiana spoke up.
"Well," she said, crossing her arms with a grin that was just a little too sharp. "I guess that means I'll be able to surpass you way easier now."
Kenji's eye twitched.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, really. I mean, without your cheat code healing, I'm probably already stronger than you."
"You wish."
"I don't wish, I know."
The banter shattered the tension and made the room calmer. Mei let out a quiet breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. Wendy's expression lightened, though the guilt hadn't completely left her eyes. Theresa and Himeko exchanged a knowing look from their respective positions in the room.
"Anyway," Kenji said, eager to move past the heavy topic. "What have you guys been up to? I've been out for a month, hopefully things didn't change too much."
He glanced at Wendy, who was standing slightly behind Mei and Kiana. "Are you a student here now too now?"
Wendy shook her head with a small smile. "I'm already qualified as a Valkyrie. I work at St. Freya as Himeko's assistant."
"Oh, that's neat." Kenji paused, then grinned. "I'm sorry you have to deal with her, though."
"Hey!" Himeko's hand shot out and grabbed his shoulder hard enough to make him yelp. "Watch it, brat."
"Ow, ow, okay! Sorry!"
Kiana snickered. "You walked right into that one."
The banter continued for a moment before Mei's eyes widened as she remembered what she wanted to say.
"Kenji... there's something you should know—."
"Is it about the chip in my head?"
"You have a chip in your—wait, you already know?!," Mei asked, completely surprised at his knowledge.
"Yup. Theresa and Himeko already told me."
Mei looked taken aback. "A-And you're... okay with it?"
Kenji sighed, a little tired of repeating the same words over and over again. "I am. I trust her and all of you. If she thought it was necessary, then it was."
"Besides, she didn't hurt me at all, so I don't see any reason to hold a grudge."
The answer seemed to satisfy most of them. Kiana nodded like that made perfect sense, and Wendy looked relieved.
But Mei saw something deeper.
Something troubled flickered in her eyes. She stared at him for a long moment, her brow furrowing slightly, like she was piecing something together.
How easily he accepted it. How he seemed to have so little care about his own autonomy. How quickly he forgave things that should have bothered him.
A spark of anger appeared in her chest. Or was it irritation? She couldn't tell.
Something about how Kenji, someone who always cared for others, always looked after others, never seemed to look out for himself.
Her eyes drifted to Kiana for a split second before turning back to him. But before she could say anything, Wendy stepped forward.
She looked a little shy, but her eyes showed immense respect for Kenji. "Kenji—oh sorry, Aoyama-san—"
"You can just call me Kenji, I don't really mind."
Wendy smiled," Kenji, I wanted to thank you. For saving me. For not giving up on me back in Oceania."
Kenji waved a hand dismissively. "It was nothing. Anyone would've done the same."
"No." Wendy's tone was firm. "Not anyone. You saved my life. After so long in that wheelchair, you were the only one to extend your hand to me. If it weren't for you, I'd either still be in that wheelchair or dead."
She looked at him with such genuine gratitude that Kenji didn't know what to do with it.
" I promise I'll repay you one day," Wendy said.
Kenji looked genuinely lost. He wasn't used to people thanking him so directly and sincerely. He looked away for a moment to hide his embarrassed expression. "It's... really, it's no problem. You don't have to—"
"Jeez, just take my thanks, will you?" Wendy sighed, "You did more for me than anyone ever did. So I will repay you." She finished with a firm tone, leaving no room for argument.
"O-Ok…"
Himeko and Kiana exchanged glances. Their eyes were shifting back and forth between Kenji and Wendy. Then slowly, knowing smiles started to appear on their faces as they stared at the two. Even Theresa and Mei were giving approving nods.
Kenji noticed. "What?"
"Nothing," Kiana said, far too innocently.
"You're smirking."
"I'm not."
"You definitely are."
Himeko just grinned and said nothing.
Kenji looked between them suspiciously but couldn't figure out what they were finding so amusing.
The conversation shifted again, and this time it was Mei who brought up something that surprised him.
"While you were out, Wendy and I experienced withdrawal from your powers," she said quietly,
"I'm sorry, what? Withdrawal?"
"From your ability to absorb Honkai Energy," Mei clarified. "It turns out you were constantly making it easier for me to control my Herrscher powers while keeping her in check, and it was because of you that Wendy was able to take back control over her mind so easily."
"Wait, so what happened then?" Kenji asked, worry evident in his tone. "If you were experiencing withdrawal, did your herrshcers also wake up?"
Mei smiled, "Thankfully, it wasn't anything too extreme. While it did cause some side effects, we eventually got through it."
She unconsciously brought her hands to her ears, remembering the headphones that Kiana made her wear with a soft expression.
"For me, I experience sensory overload. Even the smallest sound was too loud for me. It was unbearable." Kiana nodded aggressively at her statement.
Wendy added. "And I don't have an alter ego like you or Mei. The withdrawal just made my body unable to regulate temperature properly. Wouldn't want to experience that again."
Kenji stared at them, stunned. He'd known already that his power was used to suppress Mei's Herrscher, but he didn't know he also affected Wendy. "I didn't know it was that bad."
"Don't blame yourself." Mei quickly said. "We managed just fine, and got stronger because of it."
"Wayy stronger by the way!" Kiana announced loudly, cutting into the conversation with a grin. "Especially me!"
"Oh?"
"My combat efficiency went up two hundred percent!" Kiana's grin was practically splitting her face. "The simulation ratings don't lie! I've been crushing the training exercises!"
Two hundred percent.
Kenji's mind struggled to process that number. How the heck did she grow so quickly in a month?
A part of him was glad she was getting stronger, but the more competitive side felt slightly threatened.
"It won't be long before I make A-Rank," Kiana continued, her confidence radiating. "And when you're back on your feet, I'm challenging you to a one-on-one. I can definitely take you now."
"You're on."
Kiana's grin widened. "You're gonna regret that."
"We'll see."
The girls continued talking, filling him in on training progress and funny moments that happened while he was out. Kiana dominated the conversation, as usual, talking about her improved reaction times and better aim.
Mei mentioned a new technique she'd been working on, involving more of her Herrscher powers. Wendy talked about her improved control over wind currents.
Kenji listened, occasionally adding comments or asking questions, and slowly the warmth that had been missing for a month settled back into his chest.
/ — /
But the wholesome atmosphere couldn't last forever. The room's comfortable aura shifted when Theresa's expression changed. She glanced at Himeko, who gave a small nod. Then she looked back at Kenji, her face more serious than it had been moments before.
"Kenji," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "I know this might be difficult, but... we need to talk about Zero. About what happened while you were..." She paused, choosing her words carefully.
"While he was in control."
Kenji's expression twisted, becoming more guarded. He looked down at his hands, his jaw tightening slightly.
"I guess its better to just rip off the bandaid," he said quietly.
Kiana shifted uncomfortably. Mei's hands clenched at her sides. Wendy went very still.
Theresa waited, giving him time to gather his thoughts.
When Kenji looked back up, there was guilt written all over his face.
"I'm sorry... For everything Zero did. For hurting you guys. For all the trouble he caused."
"Kenji—" Kiana started.
"I know it wasn't technically me," Kenji continued, his voice getting quieter. "But it was my body. My power. If I had been stronger, if I hadn't—"
"Stop that," Kiana cut him off firmly. "That wasn't you. You don't get to apologize for something you didn't do."
"She's right," Mei added, though her expression was much more intense than Kiana's. "You were captured and even tortured. None of this is your fault."
Kenji didn't look entirely convinced, but he didn't argue.
Theresa leaned forward slightly. "Can you tell us what you know? What you're comfortable sharing?"
Kenji took a slow breath. His mind was still foggy, his thoughts moving more slowly than he'd like, but he tried to organize what he remembered.
"I never knew I had a Herrscher inside me until he took control, so that was completely new." He started. Everyone was listening intently, and Theresa was making sure to mentally remember everything.
"I met Zero again. After... everything. But I'm not sure if it was in my mind or somewhere real. It felt real, but..."
He trailed off, struggling to find the words.
"It's okay," Theresa said. "Take your time."
"There's a place," Kenji continued. "I'm pretty sure he called it a Path Space? It's where the core of my power is. Where my… everything, originates."
Theresa's eyes sharpened with interest. She was cataloging every word, filing it away in her mind.
"Can you describe it?" she asked.
Kenji frowned, trying to recall the details through the haze. "It was really empty, but also not? I remember it kind of like being in space, but I don't know, my memory of it is fuzzy."
"Anything else about your power you want to tell us?" Theresa prompted.
He was about to answer, but quickly caught himself. Taking some time to think of what he wanted to say. "Zero also told me that my powers came from a being called an Aeon.
Everyone's eyes widened, but Kenji already spoke before they could ask questions. "Before you ask, I have no idea what an Aeon is."
That, of course, was a lie.
Theresa nodded. "We can revisit this when you're feeling clearer. For now, just... anything else you remember?"
Kenji shook his head. "Not really. It's all still pretty blurry."
The conversation might have continued in that direction, but then Kiana went quiet and tense.
Mei almost immediately noticed the change in her posture. "Kiana?"
Kiana looked up at Kenji, her blue eyes were filled with something he'd rarely seen from her.
Fear.
"When we beat Zero… He said something," Kiana said, her voice smaller than usual.
Everyone immediately knew what Kiana was referring too. Theresa wanted to stop her from asking, as she thought he wasn't ready for hard questioning, but she couldn't get her voice out.
Kiana swallowed hard, like the words were physically difficult to get out. "He said you had predecessors and you were going to make some kind of deal…"
Her voice got quieter. "And that it would... that it would kill you. That your soul would be destroyed."
"Is what he said true?"
Kenji's entire body went rigid.
The heart monitor, which had been steady for the last hour, suddenly started beeping faster. At that instant, everyone in the room felt their blood run cold. No words were spoken, yet the sound of the heart monitor said all that needed to be said.
His mouth opened, then closed. No words came out.
'Ok calm down, I know what Zero said was fake, but how do I tell them without exposing the fact that I'm not from this planet? Why didn't I prepare for this? Oh right, I was too out of it to even remember! What do I say? I can't tell them about Elysia or any of the Flame-Chasers. That leads to questions about reincarnation. I don't even understand what Zero meant by the deal or the miracle.'
Of all the things he never wanted his friends and the people close to him to know, it was that he didn't come from this world.
Because once they knew, they would start asking questions. And eventually, he'd start questioning his own motivations.
He couldn't do that. He won't.
As Kenji was spiraling in his thoughts, those around him only grew more worried.
Himeko moved closer to the bed. "Kenji," she said gently. "If you're in trouble—if something or someone is threatening you—you can tell us. We can definitely help you."
She glanced at the others, then back at him.
"But you need to talk to us. We can't help if we don't know what's happening."
'Oh god she said the line.'
Kiana looked more worried as his silence stretched, "Are there really... people in your head? Who want to kill you?"
"No!" Kenji said immediately. Too quickly. "They wouldn't—They're not trying to hurt me."
"..."
"..."
'Oh fuck me…'
Wendy narrowed her eyes, "They?"
Kenji's jaw clenched. He just walked right into it.
"They wouldn't hurt me," he said, trying to backtrack. "I do have… predecessors. But they aren't bad people and won't hurt me. I fully believe that."
He stopped for a moment, carefully analyzing their reactions.
"There is no deal or anything that is going to kill me. Zero was just saying that to mess with you."
But even with his assurance, they all still looked hesitant. Wendy especially so, as she was the one who got a close-up look at Zero's desperation.
Kiana could see that he was hiding something. She wanted to ask more, to know more! But… a part of her couldn't bring herself to force him to give answers.
He turned his gaze away from all of them and onto his hands, "Can we please not talk about this right now?"
Mei's eyes widened. She recognized this. It was a little habit she observed about him, the way he almost always gave in when pressed too hard. Especially if the people asking were close.
She knew he'd give in and tell them everything if they just pushed a little more. If they kept asking, he'd break eventually.
But forcing him to do that, the day he just woke up from a month-long coma, felt wrong.
She glanced at the others. Kiana looked torn between wanting answers and respecting his boundaries. Wendy's expression was conflicted.
Suddenly, Theresa stood up. Himeko followed her lead.
"Alright then, we'll talk about this later," Theresa said, trying her best to make her tone as gentle as possible.
"Once you're ready, we will talk about it. But Kenji—" She met his eyes. "We will talk about it eventually. Understood?"
Kenji nodded mutely, not trusting his voice.
Theresa's expression softened. "For now, just... spend time with your team. I think you really need it."
Himeko paused at the door and looked back at him. "Whatever this is, whatever you're carrying… You can trust us with it, you know?"
Then they left, the door clicking shut behind them, and the room was left in heavy, uncomfortable silence.
No one knew what to say.
/ — /
Kenji stared at his hands, unable to meet anyone's eyes. The heart monitor had finally slowed back to normal, but the atmosphere was still tense.
After what felt like forever, Mei spoke first.
"You don't have to tell us everything," she said. "We're allowed to have our fair share of secrets but… don't forget that we would always help you if you needed it."
"I know…" Kenji said, still not looking up.
The silence threatened to stretch again, but then Kiana let out a loud sigh that broke through the tension.
"Finee," she said, dragging out the word dramatically. "We'll talk about your weird ghosts another day."
Kenji's head snapped up. "My what?"
"Your ghosts, the voices in your head. Your predecessors or whatever" Kiana repeated, completely serious.
"They're not ghosts," Kenji said, a little defensive.
"They're people in your head. That's literally what ghosts are. And don't you start correcting me, I thought you didn't want to talk about it!"
"That's not—" Kenji stopped himself. "You know what, never mind."
Kiana grinned, pleased that she'd gotten a reaction out of him. "Anyway, like I said, we can talk about that later. Right now, I have way more important things to tell you about."
"More important than the potential death deal?" Wendy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Way more important," Kiana said confidently. She turned back to Kenji, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "So, remember how I said my combat efficiency went up two hundred percent?"
"Yes?"
"Well, let me tell you exactly what that means."
And just like that, Kiana launched into an enthusiastic explanation of everything she'd been working on.
She talked about her improved reaction times, how she could track targets faster now, how her aim had gotten way more accurate. She described in detail how she'd absolutely destroyed the training simulations, breaking records left and right.
"And then," Kiana continued, gesturing wildly, "there was this one simulation where I had to take out thirty targets in under a minute. Normally, I'd barely make it with like two seconds to spare, but this time? I finished with fifteen seconds left!"
"That's impressive," Kenji admitted.
"Right?!" Kiana beamed. "Himeko said if I keep it up, I'll definitely make A-Rank by the end of the year. Maybe even sooner!"
From the side, Mei and Wendy immediately knew what Kiana was doing. As she always does, she tried to change the topic to something lighter and succeeded.
Though it seemed this deliberate action was completely lost to Kenji, most likely due to his current state of mind and body.
Both she and Wendy still wanted answers, each still feeling responsible for Kenji's state. They knew there was so much more that they didn't know. But for now, they let it slide to just enjoy a moment of peace with their friend.
Besides, Wendy wasn't that close with Kenji yet. It would be pretty weird if she were the one who kept prying.
Mei relaxed slightly, adding her own progress to the conversation. "I've been working on a new technique. I've been able to tap into more of my Herrscher abilities and can incorporate more lightning into my attacks."
"How's that going?" Kenji asked.
"Better than expected," Mei said. "I can actually control the direction and intensity now. Before, it was just... destructive. But now I can make it more focused."
Wendy chimed in, "I'm also quickly regaining most of my strength. It won't be long until I get back to my A-Rank and then get officially promoted to S-Rank."
The conversation flowed more naturally now, the earlier tension fading into the background. Kiana dominated most of the talking, as usual, but Mei and Wendy added their own stories and progress reports.
Kenji listened, occasionally asking questions or making comments. He didn't realize how much he really needed this normal banter again. After everything, he could finally start to relax.
Kiana was talking about some ridiculous training accident where she'd accidentally blown up a training mech so hard that pieces of it ended up in the cafeteria. Mei was trying not to laugh while explaining that Theresa had been very unimpressed. Wendy was adding details that Kiana conveniently left out.
Kenji leaned back against his pillows, letting their voices wash over him. His eyes were getting heavy, exhaustion finally catching up with him, but he didn't want them to leave yet.
"Hey, Kenji?"
He looked up. Kiana was watching him with an unusually serious expression.
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you're back,"
Something warm settled in Kenji's chest. He didn't trust himself to speak without his voice cracking, so he just nodded.
Kiana's grin returned immediately. "Now you just need to hurry up and get better so I can kick your ass in training!"
"There it is," Kenji muttered, but he was smiling.
"What? I'm just being honest!"
The weight of the earlier conversation hadn't disappeared. The questions were still there, hanging in the air. The secrets, the lies, the fear—all of it was still present.
But for now, in this moment, surrounded by his friends, Kenji felt like everything was normal again.
At least, just for a little while longer.
/ — /
Tesla
The encrypted communication line crackled to life with a soft hiss.
Tesla sat in her lab, surrounded by holographic displays and half-finished projects scattered across multiple workbenches.
Her fingers drummed impatiently against her desk as the screen flickered, resolving into a familiar, infuriating face.
Cocolia.
"Dr. Tesla," Cocolia greeted, her tone professional but with an undercurrent of smugness that grated on Tesla's nerves. "I trust you received the package?"
"I did," Tesla said curtly. She glanced at one of her side monitors, where lines of code and research data scrolled past. "It's... more extensive than I expected."
"I told you it would be worth your while."
Tesla's expression soured. "Yeah, well, forgive me for being skeptical when you're suddenly so eager to share."
Cocolia smiled, and it didn't reach her eyes. "Consider it a gesture of goodwill. Anti-Entropy benefits when we cooperate, don't you think?"
"Cooperate," Tesla repeated flatly. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Is that what you're calling this? Because it feels more like you're dangling bait."
"Call it whatever you like." Cocolia's smile widened slightly. "The point is, I've given you access to research that would have taken your team years to compile. All I ask in return is a small favor."
There it was. Tesla had known there would be a catch. There was always a catch with Cocolia.
"What kind of favor?" Tesla asked warily.
"Nothing unreasonable," Cocolia said. "Simply share your findings on energy suppression technology. Specifically, anything related to Honkai energy absorption or nullification."
Tesla's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Does it matter?"
"It does when I'm the one handing over research."
Cocolia's expression didn't change, but there was a calculating glint in her eyes. "Let's just say I have a... personal interest in the subject. Consider it academic curiosity."
Tesla didn't believe that for a second.
She stared at the data on her screen again. The information Cocolia had provided was invaluable—detailed analysis of Herrscher core stabilization, suppression field theory, energy output readings that would have been impossible to obtain without direct access to a Herrscher subject.
And that was the problem, wasn't it?
Cocolia had gotten this data from somewhere.
"You experimented on him," Tesla said quietly.
Cocolia didn't deny it. "I did what was necessary for Anti-Entropy's advancement."
"He's a kid!"
"He's an anomaly," Cocolia corrected. "And anomalies need to be studied."
Tesla's hands clenched into fists under the desk. She wanted to tell Cocolia exactly where she could shove her data, but...
But the research was good. Really good.
And if Tesla didn't take it, someone else would. At least this way, she could make sure it was used properly.
'Dammit, we need to get our plan going faster before she gets out of control.'
"Fine," Tesla said through gritted teeth. "I'll send you the energy suppression files. But Cocolia—" She leaned forward, her expression hard. "If I find out you're using this for something that puts more innocents in danger, this deal is off."
Cocolia's smile didn't waver. "Of course, Dr. Tesla. I would expect nothing less."
The screen went dark.
Tesla sat in the silence of her lab, staring at the blank monitor. After a long moment, she let out a frustrated breath and ran a hand through her hair.
"I really hope I didn't just make a huge mistake," she muttered to herself.
She raised her hand in a quick motion, and a new holographic screen appeared. It was another call that was quickly picked up.
"Welt, we have a problem…'
/ — /
???
The chamber was dark, buried deep beneath the earth. Holographic displays floated in the air, casting cold blue light across the space.
Gray Serpent stood before the largest screen, his masked face reflecting the cold blue light. His distorted voice echoed in the empty space as he spoke.
"Aoyama Kenji," he said, pulling up a file. "Student at St. Freya Academy. Possesses an anomalous power designated 'OFA.'"
The screen shifted, displaying combat footage—Kenji fighting Honkai beasts, his body wreathed in crackling red energy.
Then it switched to energy readings, graphs that spiked and fluctuated in patterns that shouldn't have been possible.
"And more importantly," Gray Serpent continued, "he carries the signature of the Previous Era."
A figure stepped forward from the shadows.
Raven.
She moved with her arms crossed as she studied the information on the screen. Her expression was neutral, but her eyes were sharp and calculating.
"You're certain?" she asked.
"The energy signature is unmistakable," Gray Serpent replied. "It predates the Current Era by at least fifty thousand years. Whatever power he possesses, it originates from a time before the fall of the last civilization."
Raven's eyes narrowed slightly. "That's... unusual."
"Indeed." Gray Serpent manipulated the display, bringing up more data. "And according to recent intelligence, he was captured and experimented on by Anti-Entropy. During that time, a Herrscher-class entity emerged from within him."
"A Herrscher?"
"One that displayed knowledge and abilities inconsistent with typical Herrscher manifestations. It spoke of 'predecessors' and made references to events that predate recorded history."
Raven was quiet for a moment, processing. "What does Lord Kevin want?"
"Lord Kevin wishes to understand the nature of this boy's power, he says that there is something about the boy's power that is familiar to him," Gray Serpent said. "Whether it poses a threat to our mission... or an opportunity."
"And that's where I come in."
"Precisely." Gray Serpent turned to face her fully. "You are to observe Aoyama Kenji. Assess his capabilities, his connections, and most importantly—his intentions. We need to know if it is possible to bring him to our side."
Raven glanced back at the screen, at the image of Kenji frozen mid-battle.
"What's my approach?" she asked. "Observe only, or am I cleared for direct contact?"
"Observation for now," Gray Serpent said. "But be prepared for more direct action if necessary."
"Understood."
She turned to leave, her coat swirling behind her, and disappeared into the shadows.
Gray Serpent remained in the chamber, analyzing the data. The boy possessed power from the Previous Era. An anomaly Lord Kevin had deemed worthy of personal attention.