"Teacher Hiko, reality and ideals often differ, leading to discrepancies. But even if you walk a path that wasn't part of your original dream, it doesn't an you made the wrong choice, nor does it an your life has gone astray."
Elias gazed seriously at the beautiful red-haired woman in front of him, then gently raised his arms and hugged her.
He knew her life story.
He knew her greatness.
He knew her final fate.
There was no one in this world who understood how worthy of respect Murata Hiko was better than he did.
Even in tilines without Elias, the torch she lit and passed on continued to burn brightly.
"Teacher Hiko, you are even more beautiful and remarkable than you realize. I will never allow anyone to deny your life—not even yourself."
"It was you who taught us to fight for the beauty in this world."
"It was you who taught us never to give up, to strive to turn this imperfect world into the one we hope for."
"You will always be our beloved and respected Valkyrie—our Teacher Hiko."
With the sincerest of words, Elias conveyed his feelings. Hiko's heart was struck deeply, an indescribable emotion surging within her.
Yes—how could her life have been wrong?
Maybe when she first beca a Valkyrie, she had simply wanted to uncover the truth about her father's death. But later, Hiko t a Valkyrie nad Ragna.
Ragna told her that Valkyries are those who bring light to the world, that they should not let obsession and hatred fill their hearts. She told Hiko to shape this imperfect world into the one she desired.
From then on, Hiko truly beca a Valkyrie who fought for the beauty of the world.
Before Elias appeared, even when Hiko sensed her days were numbered, she did not retire. Instead, at Theresa's invitation, she joined St. Freya Academy.
While continuing to fight, she also beca a teacher.
She passed that conviction to generation after generation of young Valkyries, ensuring that the light would be inherited.
"Ugh... ah..."
Elias heard Hiko choking back sobs. He gently patted her back, more determined than ever—he would never let her die! He would never let her "graduate."
"Besides, so what if your old dream wasn't realized? It's fine. Hiko, you now have a future—an infinite amount of ti."
"Once we defeat the Honkai, you can continue chasing your dream. When that ti cos, I'll go with you. The sea of stars... I want to see it too."
As for lost dreams—
Just pick them back up.
Elias pursued a perfect happy ending, without a single regret.
After all, just as he said, Hiko was no longer troubled by Honkai erosion. Elias had reclaid all the lifespan she had lost.
With him by her side, Hiko would have an infinitely long future. One day, like her counterpart aboard the Astral Express, she would achieve her dream.
"Thank you... thank you, Elias. I really..."
Hiko hugged the boy tightly, tears of gratitude uncontrollably streaming from her eyes.
No matter how mature she acted on the surface, Hiko was still just a 29-year-old woman.
She wasn't soone who had lived a long life and could take everything lightly. On the contrary, she was an aging single Valkyrie who had never even experienced love.
It was natural that she would feel lost, anxious, uncertain about her future, and doubtful about her past.
But now Elias had affird her.
With the most sincere words, he told Hiko that her life until now had burned like fla and shone like gold.
Elias rekindled the fla of life for her, allowing Hiko to step into a future far beyond anything she could imagine at this mont.
After a while...
"To think I was comforted by my own student... how embarrassing. Elias, you must not tell anyone, okay?"
"Of course. I wouldn't want to share the sight of Teacher Hiko crying in my arms with anyone else."
"It's so humiliating. You better forget it too."
"Hehe~ That's impossible."
Elias chuckled. Hiko, feigning anger, wrapped one arm around his neck. Her reddened eyes were clear evidence that she had cried her heart out earlier.
Tears had soaked a good part of Elias' clothes.
Of course, he didn't mind at all. Having a stunning beauty like Hiko cry so vulnerably in his arms was a fresh and novel experience for him.
Due to their position, Elias couldn't see the tender gaze Hiko now directed at him.
"Teacher Hiko, if you squeeze any tighter, I might suffocate—well, actually, it's fine."
After hesitating for a few seconds, Elias let her hold him tighter. After all, the soft sensation pressing against the back of his head was incredibly comfortable—far better than any pillow.
Seeing he had no objections, Hiko hugged him even tighter, but then fell into silence.
They were so close now that Elias could hear her heartbeat—and it was pounding wildly, to the point that he grew a little concerned.
"Hiko, your heart's beating so fast."
"...Is that so? Elias, can I ask you sothing? You said before that you liked , right?"
"Of course. I really like you, Hiko."
"...Thank you."
Hiko took a deep breath and suddenly grabbed the bottle of red wine beside them.
There was still half a bottle left.
In the next second, under Elias' startled gaze,
She tilted her head back and chugged it all in one go.
Hic!
Already quite drunk, Hiko's cheeks now turned so red they seed to be burning.
(Uh oh... at this rate...)
Elias gasped in shock. If he still couldn't tell what Hiko intended, he'd have to be a fool.
Instinctively, he glanced at the bedroom on the second floor—where i was currently fast asleep.
"Teacher Hiko, you..."
"Don't speak. Listen to first."
Hiko placed her hand over Elias' mouth. Her flushed face made it impossible to tell if it was the alcohol or so deeper feeling.
"You know, Theresa once made a bet with . She bet I wouldn't find a good man before I turned thirty. I bet that I could. Now... there's less than a month until my thirtieth birthday. Elias, will you help your teacher win this bet?"
"..."
This isn't right. I should refuse... Elias knew this clearly, but the words just wouldn't co out.
He felt he had never faced a more difficult choice. His mind remained rational, but he was utterly captivated by the beautiful woman before him.
Even before crossing worlds, Elias had adored Hiko's character. If just a 2D ga character could have such charm, how could he resist the real Murata Hiko standing before him now?
A fiery yet tender crimson-haired beauty—Elias found himself helplessly entranced.
"...Alright, I'll help you win, Teacher Hiko."
"Mhm, thank you."
Their figures gradually drew closer.
Before their lips t, Elias cast one last glance at the upstairs bedroom and thought with a wry smile: i, I'm sorry...
...
Morning arrived.
"Haaah~ I woke up so early today! Hehe~ As expected of ... huh?! Wh-what is going on here!!!"
Normally the last one to get up, Kiana had miraculously woken up first today.
But the mont the "Baka Kiana" walked out of her room, she was instantly stunned by the sight before her eyes.
A broken vase, torn curtains, a table split in half, a shattered TV screen, books scattered everywhere, a ruined sofa, and red wine spilled all over the floor...
The Valkyrie dormitory's first floor looked like a cri scene—no, that was too mild—it looked like a tornado had ripped through.
"Baka Kiana, why are you shouting so early in the morning?"
"Uuu... Good morning, Bronya-sis..."
"Did Elias co back last night?"
Hearing the commotion, the other three girls ca out one after another—only to be equally stunned by the chaotic scene in the living room.
Bronya, Kiana, and Seele were rely shocked, but i's expression—as if she suddenly realized sothing—turned to stone.
"G-good morning, everyone."
"Eh? Auntie Hiko, you're alright now?!"
"Uh, yeah, the Honkai erosion symptoms suddenly disappeared, so I ca ho last night."
"But Hiko, why are you all sweaty?"
"...I just did a bit of exercise, that's all."
Hiko tried her best to act calm. She glanced around at the disaster zone that was the living room and swallowed hard.
anwhile, Elias ca out of the kitchen as if nothing had happened, carrying plates of breakfast for everyone.
"Oh, you're all up? Perfect timing. Let's eat."
"Wow! Today's breakfast is amazing! As expected of Elias~ Hehe, I'm digging in!"
"It slls so good. Bronya will also eat."
"Hmm? Teacher Hiko, what's wrong with your leg?"
Noticing that Hiko was walking a bit oddly, Seele asked with concern.
"Uh, it's nothing, Seele. I just twisted it a little while exercising. Don't worry about it."
Such a sweet and kind girl, Hiko thought.
Despite her efforts to hide it, Seele's keen eyes still picked up on it. Truly the gentlest and most attentive in the whole dorm... but Hiko kind of wished she could've been a little less sharp this ti.
"..."
i sat silently at the table, her expression unreadable.
"By the way, what happened to the dorm? Did we get robbed last night or sothing?"
"Kiana, there's no way a thief would dare break into a Valkyrie dorm. And even if soone tried, Bronya has Project Bunny on constant alert."
"Then what the heck happened? How did it end up like this?"
The three girls looked around while wolfing down breakfast. Anyone who didn't know better might think a lion had barged in—no, a hyperactive husky had rampaged through the night.
"Uh, well, I had a bit too much to drink last night and got a little... rowdy. Maybe that's why."
Hiko awkwardly offered the only reasonable explanation she could.
"Seriously? Auntie Hiko went on a drunken rampage again?!"
"As expected of an A-rank Valkyrie. Such destructive power while drunk—Bronya is impressed."
"Seele thinks Teacher Hiko should drink less... You were in the hospital just yesterday."
"..."
Out of sincere respect for their beloved teacher, Kiana, Bronya, and Seele didn't question her any further. They rely decided it was best not to let her drink so much next ti.
As for the ruined furniture—it wasn't a big deal. Valkyrie salaries were high. They could just order replacents, and the dorm would be back to normal by tonight.
Compared to the minor loss of so furniture, everyone was much happier about Hiko's recovery. After all, they had all been worried sick until late last night.
After finishing breakfast...
"Well then, let's head to class."
"Kiana, could you help ask Elias for a leave of absence?"
i finally spoke her first words of the day. She gently wrapped her arms around Elias' arm, naturally showing off the closer-than-normal relationship between them.
"Hmm? i, what's up?"
Kiana tilted her head in confusion.
"It's nothing, just a small personal matter. Please?"
"Of course~ It's just asking for leave. If it's i asking, I'll definitely help."
"..."
As a Kaslana, Kiana's brain shut down whenever her "external brain" wasn't active, so she didn't overthink anything.
But Bronya imdiately realized what was going on. Her already expressionless face beca even more blank.
(The wrecked living room... i's reaction... Hiko's sore legs... Could it be... Guh! This is bad—Bronya's been overtaken again!)
"Bronya-sis, what's wrong?"
"...Seele, do you know why ducks can fly?"
"Eh? B-because they have wings?"
"No! It's because the hunter failed to seize the opportunity, letting the duck that should have been in hand fly away! Bronya swears—she will never miss her next chance!"
Bronya declared this seriously, even though she looked like a defeated general.
But it didn't matter! Because if this was a war, the biggest loser today wasn't Bronya—it was Miss Raiden i.
"i-sis' hat today looks so... eco-friendly."
"Huh? i's wearing a hat? I don't see one."
"Baka Kiana, that's a hat only smart people can see. Co on, the dorm is going to get dangerous soon—let's hurry to the teaching building—the safe zone."
You can truly see a person's character at critical monts. Bronya proved herself a loyal companion.
Even in this dangerous situation, she didn't abandon her comrades—instead, she grabbed Kiana with one hand and Seele with the other, quickly heading toward safety.
anwhile, Bronya's clever mind was working at lightning speed, and her eyes grew brighter.
(Wait… from another angle, this might not be a loss at all. It's actually a great opportunity!)
(Hiko successfully broke the balance—i's era of monopolizing Elias is over. Now it's Bronya's turn to strike!)
i had lost her advantage—the race was now open to all.
After all, the first one to move always took the biggest risk. The second and third would have it much easier.
And if i accepted Hiko's relationship with Elias, it ant Bronya might be accepted too.
Thus, she just needed to wait for the commotion to settle—then make her move and win Elias over in one strike!
"I see it! Bronya's path to victory!"
Thinking this, Bronya's lips curved into a rare smile, and her light steps almost made it seem like she could fly.
...
anwhile, back at the dorm—
Elias, i, and Hiko stood in a tense equilateral triangle, the atmosphere awkward.
"I'm sorry, i. It's all my fault. Last night, I got drunk and... no, it was who actively approached Elias."
"Hiko, you don't need to take the bla for ."
Elias shook his head, stopping Hiko from shouldering the responsibility alone. He stood firmly in front of i, looking straight into her eyes.
"I'm sorry, i. I lost control."
"...Elias."
"Hm?"
Surprisingly, there was no anger, no disappointnt, no sadness in i's eyes. She walked up to Elias, hooked her arms around his neck, and pulled him close to her lips.
i: "Kiss . Love ."
Elias: "...As you command, my princess."
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