Chapter 358: The Script Brings Forth Change! Reality and the Game Achieve Absolute Fulfillment
In the livestream room.
Cocona's storyline reached its finale.
If the many setbacks at work forced Cocona to kill her former self with her own hands,
Then.
The departure of her boyfriend was the final straw that crushed her sanity!
Originally, everything had been agreed upon.
After winning the competition,
He would take her out of the dream, to a blue planet.
However.
What awaited Cocona was not her triumphant boyfriend.
But a sighing stranger.
The stranger said: "To fulfill his promise to you, Pound… borrowed a sum of money from the family, a very large sum."
"He used all of this money on a bet—he bet that he would win the championship in this amateur mobile-ball competition."
"Unfortunately… although Pound's technique was superb, competitive games always have their unpredictable parts. Pound ultimately took second place by a narrow margin, but this also means…"
"…Uh, I think you know what this means, Miss Cocona."
Cocona found it hard to accept this fact upon hearing it.
After a long while, she asked with a tremble: "…Is he… still safe?"
"Honestly, Miss Cocona, I don't know… and it's better not to know."
After throwing away the tickets and the record.
Cocona's memories had also come to an end.
The whole world had turned into a grayscale! At the very front.
On the edge of the roof.
Cocona's desolate figure stood there.
After experiencing all of this.
She was desperate.
She was tired.
No need to say more!
All the watching players understood…
What she wanted to do.
…
"…Such a depressing color…"
"I can relate to this feeling, sometimes I have similar thoughts too."
"Don't do it, Cocona!"
"Sometimes, saving a suicide victim might be a disrespect to them…"
"Damn, I empathize so hard! If it were me, I wouldn't want to live either, leaving this malicious world…"
"As long as you live, there is hope!"
"If you die, you'll never be able to play Honkai: Star Rail again, sob…"
…
Seeing Stelle walk over.
Cocona said calmly: "Please allow me to leave… At this point, I've heard all the reasoning. No matter how hard I try, it's all in vain."
[ Cocona, do you remember your song? ]
[ Envision a Rose Forthcoming ]
"That song… Heh, it might not even be called a complete song… just a defective product."
"…Just like me right now. To survive in this world, I kept slicing my soul, discarding it… until in the end, all that remained was a shell that made me sick."
"Along the way to becoming the shop manager, I learned many qualities that I despised. I kept betraying myself… in exchange for success in the eyes of others."
"But I couldn't change completely. Guilt always caught up with me, and the soul-searching from within always arrived. I am too twisted, too painful, and there is no place for me in this beautiful dream."
Originally.
The streamer had a look of determination.
No matter what, she had to stop Cocona's suicidal thoughts.
However.
Following these words from Cocona, the streamer wavered!
Perhaps…
Maybe…
Letting go was the best choice for her?
At this moment.
Two options appeared.
[ Grab Cocona's hand. ]
[ Watch Cocona leave. ]
In the livestream room.
More and more players participated, voicing their opinions!
…
"I didn't have the chance to hold her hand before, this time I hope the streamer doesn't let go!"
"I choose to grab her, because I hope that when my day comes, someone can grab me too."
"She hasn't really lived for herself yet, how can she just leave!"
"She told me, that is her asking for help!"
"If Cocona leaves without a sound, that is true despair."
"Even if everything is void, I will struggle until the last moment!"
…
In the livestream room, what no one, including the streamer, expected was…
At this moment.
The people watching this plot.
Besides them.
There was also Cocona herself!
Seeing herself wanting to leave this world.
Cocona was not surprised.
Because she had, really, had similar thoughts many times!
In reality.
During those hardest days, she came into contact with Honkai: Star Rail.
Seeing the plot of [ To the Dim Star ]…
It allowed her to keep a glimmer of hope during several breakdowns!
And in the story.
She had truly reached this point…
However.
Cocona's hand clenched slightly.
At this moment.
She actually hoped that her in-game self would not give up!
She hoped someone could pull her up!
The world might be terrible.
But there are always people mending it.
The developer of Honkai: Star Rail, Feathered Spirit, must be such a person.
Now that she is a player, how could she let him down?
In the livestream room.
After a brief hesitation.
The streamer resolutely chose [ Grab Cocona's hand ]!
No matter how Cocona struggled, she refused to let go!
With persistence after persistence.
Cocona's world gradually returned to color.
Finally.
The whole world returned to its normal colors.
Those words of incitement and temptation to die also vanished completely.
Cocona sighed: "Miss… you really are a strange person."
"That voice… it has dispersed now. It will come back, I know that well—but at least for the moment, at this very instant, I am temporarily free from its control."
"Thank you, Miss. Thank you for not giving up on me… even if this is just a temporary comfort. But at least you made me understand… that there are still people who care—there are still people who believe I can continue to fight against it."
…
"Good, good, good!"
"Her world has regained its color!"
"So it really can be saved! I persisted three times but finally couldn't help but let go…"
"When you have the chance to make a choice, don't let yourself regret it."
"Kafka's words are still increasing in value!"
"I hope that in every moment of despair, there will be someone to pull you up."
…
The streamer also let out a long sigh of relief.
Her eyes welled up with tears.
"I knew it, my choice was right!"
"Because I have had similar experiences…"
"Back then, someone also pulled me, allowing me to start a new life."
Seeing this, Cocona in front of the screen felt warm currents flowing through her heart.
The livestream room had a function to connect with the streamer.
Cocona couldn't help but click it.
The streamer was a bit surprised.
She didn't expect anyone to choose to connect with her at this time.
After hesitating for a moment, she chose to accept.
The livestream was split in two.
Cocona's image appeared on the right side of the screen.
As soon as she saw her,
The streamer was stunned!
In the livestream room.
All the players were also stunned!
"Are you, Cocona herself?"
Cocona wiped the corners of her eyes.
She revealed a smile…
"Yes."
"I followed everyone and finished watching this part of my own story…"
"I want to say to everyone… thank you."
"Thank you for persisting and not letting go, persisting until the very last moment."
"Next, I will live my life well and won't do such silly things again."
…
"Really?"
"Didn't expect to actually see Cocona in person."
"Nana is even cuter in person than in the game, keep it up!"
"If you live, there is hope!"
"Who would have thought that our world would have a game like Honkai: Star Rail?"
"Great, both reality and the game have a happy ending!"
…
The streamer wiped her excited tears.
"Great, that's great!"
"So good…"
"Nana, I'm really happy to see you pull yourself together!"
"By the way, can you sing that song for us?"
"—'Envision a Rose Forthcoming'."
Cocona was a bit surprised.
She showed a shy look.
But she still gathered her courage.
And said: "Um… okay."
"I haven't sung in a long time, there might be some flaws in my voice, I hope you don't mind."
Immediately.
She cleared her throat.
"Lost ones, look ahead, it is not empty there~"
"It's just that the rose from the future has not yet bloomed~~"
…
"Wow, it made me cry, it's so good!"
"Unexpectedly beautiful!"
"Miss Cocona, please start a livestream! I will definitely be in your room every day and never leave!"
"Clapping like crazy, praise Miss Cocona!"
"My god! Is this really a voice without any sound board enhancement?"
…
Cocona's singing became more and more beautiful and confident.
After the song ended.
The livestream room was full of tips and praise.
Someone had already specifically recorded this segment.
Preparing to post it to the Honkai: Star Rail forum!
At this moment.
Cocona's phone suddenly received a message notification.
It was an official message from the family.
As she read it,
Her expression went from confusion to surprise, and then from surprise to shock!
The streamer hurriedly asked: "Nana, what's wrong?"
"The family has just arrested all my colleagues and superiors because they were involved in forging products and smuggling illicit goods…"
"Because of poor supervision, the family has decided to transfer the luxury shop where I work to me for free…"
After Cocona finished speaking.
She herself was still in disbelief!
Everything happened too fast!
It was almost like a dream.
The streamer was the first to react.
Showing a look of pleasant surprise.
"Congratulations, Nana!"
"It must be because of the [ Envision a Rose Forthcoming ] quest that the family quickly uncovered the inside story of the shop…"
"I told you, as long as you live, there will be hope!"
"Now you can bravely pursue your dreams!"
In the livestream room.
Players also reacted one after another!
…
"Miss Cocona! I am willing to help you manage this business…"
"Your intentions are so obvious they're hitting me in the face."
"I am a fashion management student, Miss Cocona, please give me a chance!"
"Actually, my dream is to work in a high-end luxury shop."
"Can't call her Miss Cocona anymore, have to call her Boss Cocona!"
"Those colleagues and superiors really deserved it!"
"I just saw the news photos from the scene, it's so satisfying!"