"I don't know."
Sirin's reply was blunt—because she truly didn't know. She had no idea what Raiden i was planning.
Just as she had said earlier.
Her relationship with Raiden i was currently strained. The rift caused by deceit, compounded by neither side showing any intention of reconciliation, made it unsurprising that things had reached this point.
Burdened with heavy responsibility, Sirin had neither the ti nor the energy to quarrel with Raiden i. She had been entrusted with everything.
Though they no longer had a planet to rely on, fortunately, they had taken so Edict Edges with them, as well as so of Kiana's leftover equipnt that could still be utilized.
Thus, during their long voyage through the cosmos, they had yet to encounter a threat capable of destroying the Ark.
"I don't know what she's thinking either. Finding her won't be easy. The universe is too vast—trying to locate her is no different from searching for a needle in an ocean."
No clues, no destination—finding one person among countless worlds.
It was far too difficult.
Unless fate itself guided them,
It would be impossible to find her so easily.
Rather than wandering aimlessly, it would be wiser to wait for news from the IPC—and for Raiden i to seek them out herself.
"...So we really have to make a na for ourselves first, huh."
Kiana murmured softly, letting out a sigh. Either she had to wait until the Penacony arc began—or spread her own na across the cosmos to draw i's attention.
If she relied on luck, hoping to randomly stumble upon Raiden i in so world, it would be just as Sirin said.
That was like searching for a needle in an ocean.
The difficulty was self-evident.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, really."
Kiana smiled at her, then finally took a good look at Sirin now.
She didn't seem much different from before.
No—there were differences.
When they first t again, Sirin had been quite emotional. But now that she'd cald down, Kiana could see that she had matured a lot.
At least, in her deanor.
Mature and composed...
Thinking back to the Sirin she'd seen years ago in Izumo, Kiana looked at her with faint tenderness in her eyes.
"Hiko and the others placed their final hope on you. It must have been hard all these years, hasn't it?"
Hard?
She carried the Ark, ensuring that Izumo's legacy would not perish—but others helped shoulder that burden.
Sirin's role as their leader,
Was essentially one of deterrence—of power and protection.
She wasn't particularly exhausted. In the early days, Raiden i had helped her; later, others aboard the Ark grew stronger, and the weight of leadership no longer rested solely upon her shoulders.
But...
It was painful.
And lonely.
Everything she had cared about had been in Izumo—and all of it was swallowed by that Honkai Eruption.
Everything she cared for, loved, or hated...
All of it.
"It's not as hard as you think. The Ark doesn't just have ; everyone worked together to keep the na of Izumo alive."
Sirin's tone was calm. "We all did our best—together, we managed to preserve what Izumo stood for."
Kiana didn't believe it could've been as easy as Sirin made it sound. Looking at her, she asked, "Do you want to return to Izumo?"
Sirin's eyes suddenly brightened with a spark of hope. "Kiana, are you saying..."
Kiana shook her head. "I can't right now. But I'm working on it. Sooner or later... I will make it happen."
"No!"
Sirin's reaction was imdiate. She jumped up and began pacing before Kiana, her tone filled with anxiety. "You can't take any more risks! Izumo... Izumo is already gone. Let it remain in the past!"
She didn't want Kiana to endanger herself again.
Izumo was already destroyed—Sirin didn't want her to repeat the sa mistake, to et the sa tragic end as before.
Let things be as they were.
Kiana was still alive. The legacy and embers of Izumo still survived—that was already the best outco she could ask for.
During their years of sailing across the galaxy, the Ark had gathered extensive data related to Nihility.
They had learned just how dangerous it truly was.
"I already have a plan. Believe , as long as I—"
"No. I've heard enough, Kiana."
Sirin turned around, gripping Kiana's shoulders, her voice breaking with emotion. "I absolutely forbid you to risk yourself again!"
It was the first ti Kiana had ever seen Sirin like this. Stunned by her sudden intensity, she froze, her tone softening.
"Sirin, I won't..."
Sirin pressed her hand gently over Kiana's mouth and said firmly, "I will not allow you to risk yourself for Izumo again. Even if Raiden i were standing right here, I believe she'd make the sa choice as I do!"
Once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of the rope.
Looking at Sirin, Kiana suddenly recalled that saying. She understood—Sirin was only worried for her, terrified that she might once again throw herself into danger and lose everything.
"I just want you to live safely."
Sirin pursed her lips and said earnestly, "Izumo... let it live only in our mories. Let it remain forever in the past."
Kiana knew Sirin was speaking out of care. She wasn't ungrateful.
But even if it wasn't for Izumo's sake,
She still had to deal with the current flaws—the bugs—between Honkai and Nihility. Otherwise, who could say what the galaxy, or even the universe itself, would beco in the end?
The image of endless numbers of Galaxy-class Honkai Beasts roaming the universe flashed through her mind.
Kiana shuddered.
It hadn't even been that long since the last incident, and already a Planet-class Honkai Beast had appeared. If left unchecked, what would happen after hundreds or thousands of years? Would the universe even remain livable?
A peaceful life was impossible for her.
With such deep ties to the Honkai, she was destined to keep walking this path.
For a while, countless thoughts swirled in her mind.
Ruan i's words and those of others echoed within her. She... couldn't keep running away forever.
But since she had just reunited with Sirin, it was better not to bring up such heavy topics.
"Then I won't do it anymore."
Sirin, who had been watching her anxiously, finally relaxed. "As long as you understand."
It wasn't that she didn't care about their holand. Sirin was simply afraid—afraid that if Kiana ever took another risk, Izumo might truly be lost forever.
"Do you rember when you once ntioned Penacony?"
Sirin suddenly brought up the topic, trying to lighten the mood.
"Penacony?"
Kiana raised a brow. Of course she rembered. Before crossing over, she had just finished the Penacony main story.
"I've been there," Sirin said. "A world of dreams, the planet of festivities—just like you once described."
"I've never actually gone there myself."
Kiana smiled encouragingly. "Then next ti, take with you. I'd like to see it too."
Sirin turned to her and said simply, "No need to wait for next ti. We can go now."
"Now?!"
"Yes, now."
Kiana quickly waved her hands. "Not yet. I still need to say goodbye to Ruan—and there are other things I have to do. Besides, shouldn't you still be watching over the Ark?"
Sirin was supposed to be in charge of the Ark, wasn't she? It should still be around.
Hearing how Kiana addressed her, Sirin was montarily surprised. "You an Ruan i? Are you two... close?"
Kiana rubbed her chin.
Close?
She thought about their year together—about Ruan i's reaction when she had returned from Euphorion.
And she rembered, too, that mont days ago—when Ruan i had gently touched her face, not to analyze data, but simply to feel.
The warmth and softness of that touch still lingered in her heart.
"I think we're very close," Kiana said softly.
To , she's... soone special.
Kiana didn't know what Ruan i truly thought.
But to her, Ruan i was special.
Her mories of this world were limited—and nearly all of the past year she had spent together with Ruan i.
Though Ruan i was distant—sotis even cold enough to be described as lacking humanity—her attitude toward Kiana was undeniably different.
And Kiana understood why.
When she had no mories, she was carefree, thoughtless, and never troubled herself wondering why Ruan i treated her differently—whether it was interest, usefulness, or simple curiosity. Nor did she think about whether, once she beca worthless, Ruan i would regard her with the sa indifference she showed to others.
But now that she rembered everything, those thoughts returned—and brought unease with them.
Because she knew that Ruan i's special treatnt was built upon the fact that Kiana was of value to her, that Ruan i was interested in her.
Still, setting all that aside—
Ruan i was beautiful, gentle in her own way, and had always treated her with care. After living together for over a year, their bond had beco close.
If affection could be quantified,
Then after all this ti, Kiana's affection for Ruan i would surely be at least eighty-five out of a hundred.
So how could she possibly say that Ruan i wasn't special?
As for what kind of "special" it was—
Kiana didn't want to dig too deep.
She felt perfectly comfortable with the way things were now—no need to take a step forward, or back.
Sirin, however, eyed her suspiciously, an uneasy feeling rising within her chest.
What did she an by "very close"?
Could it be...
"Then compared to Raiden i?" Sirin suddenly asked the question that made Kiana freeze. "Who do you think you're closer to?"
Though she hated to admit it, the truth was obvious—Raiden i was probably the only person who could be considered truly special to Kiana.
And comparing herself to that was... strange.
"That... that question..."
i and Ruan i?
Even though neither of them was currently by her side, the question still left Kiana struggling for words.
If she had to choose—
She said, "i."
After all, if affection could be asured, i's would be at least a ninety, no less.
She was Kiana's very first friend in this world—the person she cared about and loved most.
That answer was hardly surprising.
Sirin stayed silent.
The answer itself wasn't unexpected—but the hesitation before it spoke volus.
Back in Izumo, Kiana would have blurted out Raiden i's na without a mont's thought.
But now, she had paused.
That pause ant sothing.
The two now stood in nearly the sa place in her heart.
Which was why Kiana hesitated.
Ruan i... how had she managed that?
If Ruan i could beco special to Kiana, then maybe—just maybe—she could too?
The thought flashed briefly through Sirin's mind.
"i is very important to ," Kiana added quickly, as if to reinforce her answer.
"That's such a nostalgic response," Sirin said with a faint smile. "You're still the sa as ever—still so fond of Raiden i."
Kiana didn't see anything wrong with that and nodded earnestly. "My feelings for i will never change."
Never change?
Sirin withdrew her probing gaze and said softly, "I know. You told that before—I rember."
Told her before?
Kiana blinked, realizing she must have confessed it openly in front of Sirin before—that she liked i, wanted to be with her.
"I'm a little curious," Sirin continued.
"About what? Whether I ever confessed to i properly?" Kiana asked uncertainly.
So they had never actually been together officially?
Sirin shook her head. "You said your relationship with Ruan i is good... but is it the sa kind of relationship as with Raiden i?"
"...Probably not."
Kiana paused for a long mont before answering, her tone uncertain.
Before regaining her mories, she had seen Ruan i as the person closest to her—and she had truly liked her.
Now, though...
She couldn't quite say what kind of relationship she wanted to have with Ruan i. She only wished that, to Ruan i, she could always remain soone special.
And as for herself—she would keep the promise she had made.
As long as Ruan i needed her, Kiana wouldn't leave. She would devote herself entirely to assisting with Ruan i's experints.
From her reaction, Sirin could tell she'd hit on sothing—and smiled, steering the conversation back to the earlier topic. "What about the Ark..."
...
How many system hours had their discussion lasted?
Ruan i hadn't paid attention.
It must have been quite so ti. After all, everyone who joined the Simulated Universe project was a genius of the Genius Society. Each specialized in a different field, and during their discussions, countless sparks of inspiration were exchanged.
The clash of knowledge was intoxicating.
The initial structural problems had already been settled during this round of talks. Once Herta completed her preparations, the project could officially begin.
For now, Ruan i had so free ti.
Leaving the conference room, she glanced at her terminal and noticed the ssage Kiana had sent her a while ago.
"Still here, huh."
Seeing the ssage, Ruan i sent a short reply, then turned to find a quiet spot. She stood by the window, gazing out into the vast cosmos, waiting for Kiana to arrive.
It didn't take long.
Before much ti had passed, Kiana appeared.
"Ruan~!"
Kiana ran up eagerly, her face lit with unrestrained joy.
The first thing Ruan i did upon seeing her was take her hand and check her life data.
Everything was normal.
No changes since their last eting.
"Where's your next destination?" Ruan i asked.
"Penacony."
Kiana's answer ca without hesitation—she had already made up her mind.
It hadn't originally been her destination.
Sirin had invited her to go to Penacony together, but she'd turned it down at the ti. Then, just a few days ago, Robin had sent her an invitation.
An invitation to attend her concert.
Kiana had already turned Robin down twice before, and after sharing so of her worries through ssages, Robin had said she wanted to talk to her in person.
Maybe she had a way to help.
So this trip to Penacony—
Was decided just like that.
"That place belongs to the Path of Harmony, doesn't it?" Ruan i asked, faintly recalling sothing.
Learning that Kiana's next stop was Penacony, she didn't ask much more.
"Yes. Penacony is under the Family's control. I plan to visit Robin while I'm there."
Ruan i's brows furrowed slightly.
So she was going specifically to find Robin?
Kiana wasn't trying to...?
Forget it. Ruan i wouldn't have the ti to concern herself with such things for quite a while. Wherever Kiana wanted to go, whatever she wanted to do—it didn't matter.
"If you co across any interesting research specins, rember to contact ."
"Don't worry, Ruan. If I find anything fascinating, you'll be the first to know!" Kiana promised earnestly.
That much, she truly ant.
Looking at Ruan i's calm, delicate face, Kiana suddenly realized that she might not see—or even be able to contact—Ruan i for a long ti.
A wave of reluctance rose in her chest.
"Um, Ruan... may I... hug you?"
The question ca suddenly.
Ruan i turned to her, a trace of quiet confusion in her eyes.
User Comments
0 comments from readers