Honkai Star Rail: Make Honkai Great Again Chapter 20: Of Course It’s Because I Like You

"Is this… a Stigmata?"

Holding the blade in her hand, Raiden i gazed at the weapon she had used for training, her voice filled with a dreamlike sense of disbelief.

If the sword in her grasp weren't just a practice blade but a divine weapon, the power behind her strike would have been even greater.

If it had been Narukami…

Raiden i sheathed her sword. Though countless thoughts about her swordsmanship filled her mind, Kiana was still waiting nearby.

"How does it feel?"

Seeing her put away the blade, Kiana hurried onto the training field to inspect the charred fissure still radiating faint heat.

There were traces of residual Honkai Energy.

i's last strike had utilized the power of the Honkai. Clearly, the Honkai Energy density in this world wasn't even five percent yet… No, wait—it was now close to ten percent.

Hold on!

Kiana suddenly realized sothing—the rate of increase had already surpassed her own as the Herrscher of Finality.

"The feeling?" i recalled the sensation and said softly, "The power of the Stigmata is easy to control, and it integrates perfectly into Hokushin Ittō-ryū. But I might need so ti to create new techniques that synergize with it."

Although the fusion was seamless, with the Stigmata's support, she could see the limits of Hokushin Ittō-ryū—or rather, the limits of herself as a human.

Her current Hokushin Ittō-ryū was no longer the original—it had evolved with her ideas, adapting to her own style. Every move she created was a step toward a higher realm.

But now, what she sought had changed.

This world had Oni and Kami. In the future, her blade would inevitably cross theirs.

She needed to rely on the power of the Stigmata—to forge techniques capable of slaying such foes.

Kiana shook her head, grasped i's hand, and asked with concern, "I ant your body—do you feel any discomfort?"

She knew that a Stigmata represented Honkai Energy resistance, and i's ability to use Honkai Energy now was because of it.

But since i had never been exposed to Honkai Energy before, she couldn't help but worry.

"Discomfort?"

Raiden i thought back to the lightning that accompanied her blade and assud Kiana was worried she had electrocuted herself. She explained gently, "Those currents didn't harm . I actually feel fine."

"It's still Honkai Energy, after all." Kiana exhaled in relief and released i's hand. "Even with resistance, it can be dangerous the first ti you use it."

"Honkai Energy…" i repeated the na, committing it to mory before replying softly, "Don't worry, Kiana. I don't feel any discomfort at all."

"Then you can use Honkai Energy against those Kami from now on!"

"Thank you, Kiana."

"It's nothing." Kiana scratched her head awkwardly. "Even though Yae Sakura took Narukami for a reason, it was still my fault it got lost while we were out shopping…"

i froze slightly.

"…Kiana, do you think Narukami's loss was your fault, and that's why…"

Yes, that made sense.

Kiana must have believed Narukami's disappearance was her responsibility, and so…

It wasn't a big deal.

Then why did her chest feel tight?

Why was it suddenly hard to breathe?

"Yeah, if I hadn't asked you to co out that day, Narukami might not have gone missing." Kiana sighed, still regretful. "But Yae Sakura said she took it because of your father. I thought it might help you reconnect with him, so I asked her to leave it with you."

Rembering what had happened, she rubbed her arm—the one that had healed—but the phantom pain still lingered.

"…But that wasn't your fault."

"I know you wouldn't bla , i. But since I chased her all the way there, of course I had to bring Narukami back!" Kiana sighed. "Too bad she was too strong—I couldn't even touch her."

Raiden i's thoughts spiraled out of control. Unable to suppress her emotions, she asked, "You gave the Stigmata… because you felt guilty about Narukami, didn't you?"

The only thing Raiden i hoped for was that Kiana's kindness toward her wasn't born from guilt or gratitude.

"Of course not!" Kiana blurted out.

If it really had been about guilt, she would have just given i a sword as an apology gift.

Raiden i looked at her. "Then it's because…"

"Because I don't need a reason to be good to i—because I like i!" Kiana declared boldly.

"…Like?"

Raiden i froze as if struck by lightning.

Her body stiffened, her movents beca awkward, and her mind was consud by the echo of Kiana's words.

Li—like?

Did Kiana just say she…

After testing the waters, Kiana cleared her throat and corrected herself awkwardly. "Ahem, I an—I an that I like i the most! i's the most important person to , so I don't need any other reason to treat you well!"

Ah, so that's what kind of 'like' she ant.

Raiden i quietly exhaled, though there was an odd sense of disappointnt hidden beneath her relief.

Wait—why did she feel disappointed?

"Kiana is important to too," she replied softly.

The words ca out light and airy, as though they didn't fully convey what she wanted to say.

Feeling that it wasn't enough, Raiden i hesitated, then added with her cheeks faintly pink, "You're also… the reason I wield my sword now."

So please—don't leave.

Apart from the shrine and Hokushin Ittō-ryū, she had always been alone.

But Kiana had stepped into her heart.

She treasured every mont spent with her and wished for more ti together in the future.

Ideally…

They could stay together forever.

Her hand tightened slightly around the scabbard as the seventeen-year-old Raiden i made up her mind.

She was willing to follow Kiana—to draw her blade for her, to face and cut down every obstacle that lay ahead.

Until today, she had never truly understood the aning behind her father's words: When your swordsmanship reaches its limit, and you understand why you wield your blade, only then will you be worthy to master it.

It was only after hearing Kiana speak about the Kami and the Edict Edge today that she finally understood what her father had ant.

To wield the blade for the sake of protecting humanity.

Her father had wanted her to realize that truth—to gain the resolve to take up the sword and turn its edge against the Kami for the sake of saving others.

But, Father…

My reason for drawing my sword—

Is not the noble one you had hoped for.