"Ah... something like that."
Himeko walked into the room, changed into slippers, and looked at Xia Qi. There seemed to be something else in her gaze.
But before Xia Qi could get a good look, Himeko turned her head away. Her expression seemed hesitant, as if she wanted to ask something but didn't know how to begin.
"..."
Seeing that look, Xia Qi thought for a moment and understood what she wanted to ask. Her own expression grew slightly complex.
It seemed it was time... to have a proper talk with Teacher Himeko about her.
"Haa..."
Himeko walked over to Xia Qi, reaching to take a bottle of alcohol from the nearby cabinet, but Xia Qi stopped her.
"Teacher Himeko, it's better... not to keep drinking so much. It's not good for your body."
"My body... don't worry, Mei. My body's fine."
A smile appeared on Himeko's face. In that moment of smiling, she looked dashing and beautiful, her eyes holding a convincing, hearty spirit. But Xia Qi still shook her head, looking at her with a complicated gaze.
"Teacher Himeko, your body has already been severely eroded by the artificial stigmata. Alcohol might numb the pain a little, but it will only drag your body down further."
"..."
Hearing these words, Himeko's smile faltered slightly, then faded somewhat.
"Hah..."
She couldn't help but rub her head in frustration. Then, under Xia Qi's firm, stubborn gaze, she put the bottle back and turned to sit on the sofa.
"Honestly, I'm supposed to be your guardian. Why does it feel like it's the other way around?"
"..."
Xia Qi was silent for a moment, then gently sat down beside her.
"Mei, then keep me company for a bit."
Himeko leaned back lazily in her seat, looking at Xia Qi beside her. Her expression softened a great deal, and a gentle smile appeared.
That gentle smile made Xia Qi's heart tremble slightly.
"Mm... We can talk about anything."
Xia Qi said softly to Himeko, her gaze extremely serious. This surprised Himeko a little; she understood some of the unspoken meaning in Xia Qi's words.
But...
She just smiled faintly, not intending to ask about the things she, Theresa, and the others most wanted to know.
Because 'Raiden Mei' had been utterly unwilling to speak of those things before. Himeko could guess that revealing them might have a significant impact on this world, or on themselves.
So Himeko would rather not know. She trusted 'Raiden Mei.' She believed there was a reason for her earlier silence. She also believed that 'Raiden Mei,' and 'Kiana,' and perhaps others, could handle the matters of the future. Otherwise, 'they' would have already asked for help, wouldn't they?
Therefore, Himeko wouldn't let her own current curiosity lead her to ask things that might disrupt their plans for the present and future of their world.
"Mei, the matters of the future... you've all worked hard."
Nagazora Himeko looked at Xia Qi and spoke softly, her gaze tender and proud.
"..."
Xia Qi stared at Himeko for two seconds, stunned. Then her demeanor visibly shifted, becoming somewhat flustered. But immediately after, she couldn't help but show an expression of joy, happiness, and a touch of sorrow.
"Mm... Teacher Himeko, please believe in me. Believe in us..."
As she spoke, the corners of her eyes grew slightly red. Himeko couldn't help but reach out and pull Xia Qi into a hug. Xia Qi felt a moment of being lost, then felt Himeko gently stroking her head.
"Honestly, I've only been your guardian for less than two months, and suddenly I get to see you all grown up. That means... I'm missing out on so much anticipation and surprise."
"That won't happen... Teacher Himeko."
Xia Qi's face was slightly flushed, but being held in Himeko's embrace, she felt an unprecedented sense of security. Her voice also became gentler, more like... the voice of the present-day Mei.
"There's still so, so much I need to learn from you, Teacher Himeko... And in the future, we'll still have a very, very long time. We'll continue... to be together, always..."
"Is that so? Then I look forward to it."
Himeko didn't ask the question she had originally intended. She simply looked at her proud student—the one who had overcome Honkai's control, who carried heavy memories with no one to confide in, who had to shoulder it all alone—now showing such an attached expression before her...
Ah, right. And Kiana, who was unwilling to meet them.
Himeko suddenly felt those questions were no longer necessary.
Because if they could change her physical condition now, they would have already done so. She... shouldn't add more pressure to them.
Himeko suddenly felt as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders.
However, she didn't plan to slack off. Her own fate wouldn't be entrusted to others. She still had to keep striving, even if her future student already seemed so powerful.
"Oh, and if you see Kiana later, talk to her properly. Tell her not to think about carrying everything alone."
Himeko spoke softly.
"Mm... I will..."
Xia Qi's cheeks were burning, a feeling of guilt brewing in her heart.
Of course, she wouldn't tell Himeko that the other Kiana was also her. Nor would she tell Himeko that her original unwillingness to appear stemmed from not wanting to change the future and not believing this warmth belonged to her.
Instead, she had stubbornly believed this was their life, and she shouldn't intrude.
"And you too. In the future, if there's anything you need to do, communicate more with everyone. The Far East Branch is plenty strong, you know. Everyone will be your solid support."
"I know... Teacher Himeko."
Quietly held in Himeko's embrace, Xia Qi shed all her sharp edges. Though her features didn't hold the same gentleness as Mei's, anyone could see she was completely at ease in this moment.
They talked for quite a while. During the conversation, Xia Qi wanted to bring up Himeko's physical condition, but Himeko was unwilling to discuss it, so Xia Qi didn't press further. Instead, they chatted about everyday things, sharing amusing anecdotes that were safe to tell.
But as time passed, Xia Qi couldn't help but feel a bit drowsy. Nestled in Himeko's warm, gentle embrace, she gradually, unknowingly, fell asleep.
Himeko was momentarily stunned, then looked at Xia Qi's sleeping face—utterly defenseless, brows slightly furrowed, the exhaustion showing after letting her guard down. A look of heartache couldn't help but appear in Himeko's eyes.
Beep beep beep... beep beep beep!
Just then, however, she heard a phone ring outside the door.
Then came the sound of hurried footsteps rapidly fading away from the doorway.
"Huh?"
After a moment of confusion, Himeko's own phone chimed a few times. She quickly muted it to avoid waking Xia Qi, then carefully checked the message.
[Teacher Himeko, have you seen Kiana? She seems to have skipped class. No one knows where she went. —Bronya]
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