Honkai: Strijder

After Kiana's kitchen explosion destroyed a group of experimental samples, Sigurd had to spend most of the day working in the underground laboratory to replicate the process.

When he floated back upstairs, the sky had turned dark, and the bright wall lights illuminated the entire living room.

Kiana was holding Vira, watching cartoons together. Both of them were in their pajamas, indicating that they had already taken a bath.

"You finally came up. Hurry up, if you don't come, we won't wait for you for dinner."

Only Kiana could speak to Sigurd like this, bossing him around.

Sigurd didn't even bother to look at Kiana's smug expression that seemed to be asking for a beating.

However, something was strange. The living room today was tidy. The sofa wasn't overturned, the cushions weren't torn apart, and there were no strange marks or damage on the floor or walls. There were also no remnants of snacks...

Something was off!

Very off!

Could it be that something was wrong with her?

Looking at her flushed face, seemingly well-nourished, with a slightly plumper and healthier-looking face, Sigurd couldn't see any problems.

"Could it be that she's planning something big? Or maybe she's finally growing up?"

Sigurd muttered in a low voice, full of suspicion.

"Hey! What are you daydreaming about? I'm starving to death here, and you want to make me wait even longer? Hurry up and prepare the food!"

"..."

Reconsidering his words, he realized that he had probably misunderstood. It couldn't be any significant progress.

Sigurd didn't want to argue with this single-celled organism any longer and gave instructions to Icarus before going to his room to change clothes.

...

After eating their fill, Vira hugged a popular yellow bunny plush toy and watched a children's animation produced by Entropy Entertainment.

Sigurd, on the other hand, sat in another corner of the living room, reading a book with a cup of steaming tea by his side.

Surprisingly, Kiana didn't join Vira to watch cartoons and play around but instead approached Sigurd, looking at him with her innocent big eyes.

"What do you want?" Sigurd turned the pages of the book, not lifting his head.

"Hehe~"

Kiana giggled strangely, then pinched Sigurd's arm, gestured towards the top of his head, circled around him, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad, you've gained some weight, and your body is much stronger. You look good. Although you already look healthy, you should still eat well and rest properly. Take care of yourself, Sigurd, got it?"

"..."

Sigurd paused his book flipping, finally looked up, and saw the contented smile on Kiana's face.

"Hmm..."

After a moment of contemplation, taking a deep breath, he mentally prepared himself and spoke in a calm tone:

"Tell me, did you cause some trouble that I don't know about? Or did you come up with some idea and want something from me?"

Those were the only two reasons Sigurd could think of for Kiana's sudden caring attitude.

Kiana blinked her eyes blankly, then pouted and stomped her foot in anger.

"Sig, you big idiot! I was clearly just concerned about you, and you think like that of me? That's so mean, hmph!"

Just genuine concern?

Sigurd instinctively doubted it but couldn't figure out Kiana's intentions. After hesitating for a moment, to avoid accusing Kiana wrongly, he clapped his hands.

"Icarus, bring chocolate ice cream."

"Yes, My lord."

A mechanical arm brought a cup of premium ice cream, which Sigurd handed over to Kiana, who was still glaring at him.

Kiana snatched the ice cream from him.

"Don't think that I'll forgive you just because of this. You better reflect on yourself, hmph!"

Half tsundere and half satisfied, Kiana huffed and then walked to the balcony with the ice cream in her hands.

Sigurd silently watched her figure.

Kiana leaned against the balcony, bathing in the moonlight. Her small figure seemed somewhat lonely for some reason.

"???" Several question marks appeared above Sigurd's head.

What's wrong with her now?

Unable to figure it out, Sigurd got up and went to Vira's side, asking, "Vira, did anything happen between you and Kiana today?"

"Huh? With Big Sister Kiana? No, nothing happened."

Vira looked up in confusion and innocently replied.

Right, what conflicts could there be between Kiana, who was silly, and obedient Vira?

It wasn't a conflict with Vira, it wasn't a disaster, and she didn't have any demands. So, what was the purpose behind her sudden concern?

Could it be that she had really matured and become considerate?

Did he misunderstand her?

Sigurd furrowed his brow, troubled. Why was it that his intellectual prowess, which gave him an advantage in the realm of rigorous mathematics and scientific theories, couldn't help him decipher a girl's thoughts? He couldn't figure out what Kiana was thinking.

Collecting himself, Sigurd took a deep breath and asked Icarus for another piece of cake before heading towards the balcony.

"Here, an extra serving."

Sigurd placed the cake on the platform of the railing and pushed it towards Kiana.

Kiana glanced at the cake, then at the half-eaten ice cream in her hand. She moved the cake in front of her and said with a hint of tsundere and concealed delight, "Consider yourself lucky, but that doesn't mean I'll forgive you."

In reality, whether she forgave him or not didn't matter to him. In fact, her tsundere behavior was quite amusing.

Sigurd felt tempted to say something like that and watch Kiana get angry and stomp her feet. But he realized it would be a bit too much. If she genuinely meant well, intentionally provoking her would hurt the child's feelings.

Recognizing himself as a parent who could assess the situation, Sigurd softened his tone and asked, "So, is there something else you want?"

"Well... forget it. Just treat Vira better from now on."

"I haven't mistreated her."

"Then treat her even better! Vira is so cute, what's wrong with pampering her a little?"

What's wrong indeed.

Sigurd recalled his efforts of taking care of Vira's needs, providing for her, helping with homework, and occasionally showing affection—well, apart from not being accustomed to smiling at little girls, he believed he was doing well enough.

"I mean, put more effort into it! Understand? Put as much effort as you do with me into taking care of Vira."

"Like I do with you? Are you saying I should use the program to lift Icarus and even suspend Vira when necessary?"

Kiana widened her eyes, initially igniting with anger, but then, seeing Sigurd's perplexed expression, she burst into laughter, followed by unrestrained laughter.

"Hahaha! Sigurd, you'll never find a girlfriend like this!"

"Don't worry, if I can't find one, I'll just stay single. I don't mind."

In the end, Sigurd had zero experience with the species called girlfriends. He was completely clueless about them, so whether he had one or not didn't affect his mindset.

However, Kiana patted his shoulder, her eyes sparkling with tears of laughter, and comforted him, "Don't give up! You're so smart, if you try, you'll definitely succeed. I believe in you!"

"This is so random. What's gotten into you, anyway?"

Sigurd keenly noticed that something was off. He sensed that Kiana had something on her mind.

Kiana's smile gradually faded, and she looked up at the moon. After a while, she spoke softly, "Actually, I didn't want to say it. But as a friend, it wouldn't be right to leave without a word, Sigurd."

"Uh, it's impolite to leave without saying anything—huh? Leave without a word?"

Sigurd's pupils contracted as an unsettling conclusion came to mind.

"Yeah. Don't forget, I came out to find my stinky old dad—Although he's stinky, I really miss him, and he must be missing me somewhere too. I can't just stay in one place forever. I have to keep searching until the day I find him, and then I'll punch that big idiot in the face, it'll be so satisfying, hahaha!"

Kiana held the ice cream cup up, as if toasting to the moon, or perhaps to the vast sky that contained the whereabouts of the wandering Siegfried.

"So, you're leaving?"

"Yeah."

"Alone?"

"Otherwise, what? You've finally found a peaceful life, so don't wander around with me."

Besides, our worlds are different, and if I bring Sigurd along, he'll get hurt—Kiana didn't say these words out loud.

Kiana's mind was filled with images of her facing the Herrschers. She didn't have a clear understanding of Honkai yet, but she knew she was different from ordinary people.

Kaslana was a surname born to protect the world. It was both an honor and a responsibility, as Siegfried had told her.

In Kiana's perspective, her mission was to confront disasters like the Herrschers. That's why she shouldn't involve Sigurd. Sigurd just needed to live his life well, so that when they met again, he could scold her without hesitation.

Under the moonlight, Kiana's face blossomed into an incredibly gentle smile.

Sigurd could only look at her, his mind in a state of confusion.

Although he had already considered parting ways with Kiana, when the moment actually arrived, Sigurd couldn't describe his feelings. It was as if he had only thought about it, but never truly made a decision, and had never imagined what it would be like to separate from Kiana.

Can't I make her stay?—a thought flashed through Sigurd's mind.

Then he saw Kiana's gentle yet resolute gaze.

Yes, who could stop Kiana from doing what she had decided?

She was leaving, like the moonlight that couldn't be retained.

This fact left Sigurd standing beneath the moonlight, with an indescribable expression on his face.