Why did things turn out this way?
Takatsuki sat on the bed in the room, watching Fu Hua, who was not far away, unbutton her clothes with her back to him, slowly taking them off.
To an outsider, their actions would look like they were about to do 'that'.
However, thankfully, Fu Hua stopped after only taking off her jacket. Next, she just needed to roll up her clothes with her back to him, exposing her back, and…
"What are you doing?!"
Fu Hua was already half-lying on the bed, and she looked at Takatsuki in confusion: "Didn't you say the process is similar to a divine blessing, and requires exposing the back?"
"That's right, but you don't need to lie down like that."
Although theoretically a 50,000-year-old old woman, Fu Hua looked exactly like a young girl from every angle, the same age as Mei and the others. If not for this, she wouldn't have been able to blend into St. Freya Academy without being suspected.
"No matter. It's just exposing my back. On the battlefield, my armor has been damaged before."
Hearing this, Fu Hua rolled up her clothes and lay down on the bed: "Alright, don't waste time."
Takatsuki's mouth twitched. Since Fu Hua had already said that, saying anything more would be too pretentious.
Without another word, he pressed his hand onto Fu Hua's fair back. Its tenderness gave no indication that this was the body of a 50,000-year-old person; instead, it felt like a teenage girl's. Perhaps her body stopped changing the day she became a Fusion Warrior.
The blessing on the back was locked by Hestia. With more people in the Familia, though a bit troublesome, it was for safety.
After all, everyone here except Bell had unique skills, and Fu Hua's skill was astonishingly exaggerated.
Takatsuki's remaining crystal inventory was exactly 200 crystals, the price of two A-rank Stigmata.
And the Stands he had left were only White Album, Diver Down, and Heaven's Door.
Heaven's Door was too powerful, so Takatsuki didn't plan to give this Stand to anyone. And if it had to suit Fu Hua, Diver Down was the most suitable.
After watching a red pattern imprint onto Fu Hua's back with Takatsuki's palm, Takatsuki withdrew his hand.
"Done."
Fu Hua was completely unfazed by Takatsuki's recent touch. She expressionlessly put her clothes down and looked at Takatsuki: "Hm, I can see it now, indeed."
Takatsuki had already released his Heaven's Stairway. Fu Hua saw Heaven's Stairway at a glance, knew Takatsuki was right, and was about to put on her jacket and go out.
"Huh? Aren't you going to ask about your Stand ability?"
Takatsuki hadn't introduced the Stand to Fu Hua at all, and Fu Hua seemed to not care.
"It's just an external object. For me, it's enough to be able to track a Herrscher's whereabouts. A Stand's power is inferior to the power I've honed myself."
…
Old fuddy-duddies are really rigid.
"A Stand isn't an external object. Just like Hamon and Haki, a Stand and its ability are part of you, so you can use it with confidence."
Takatsuki sighed and explained: "The Stand I gave you is a humanoid Stand called Diver Down. Its ability is to dive into objects or human bodies. After diving into a human body, it can destroy from within or block damage for them. The cost, of course, is that you will also be injured, as the Stand is connected to your main body."
"Another use is to inject power into the target of an attack, similar to striking through a mountain, but more exaggerated. You'll understand it as you experience it. The second method can be used by your main body even if you don't release the Stand."
After listening, Fu Hua nodded. As for whether she would use it then, that remained to be seen.
After Fu Hua left, Bronya quickly came in.
"Bronya expresses doubt regarding the necessity of physical contact."
Bronya said to Takatsuki as soon as she entered.
"Even if you doubt it, there's nothing I can do. It has to be this way. Besides, you're just a little girl; I'm not interested in you."
Takatsuki rolled his eyes and said casually.
"Bronya asked Mei, Stands have different abilities. What kind of ability are you planning to give Bronya?"
Not dwelling on the matter anymore, Bronya immediately asked about something Fu Hua didn't care about.
"Actually, there's no choice. I only have one left here. It's an ability that can generate ice, and it's not humanoid. Instead, it can generate armor around your body, with objective defensive power."
"Ice ability, Bronya thinks it's fine."
Saying that, Bronya turned her back to Takatsuki, and then a giant mecha appeared between the two, blocking Takatsuki's view.
"Hey, what are you…"
Before Takatsuki could finish, Bronya's voice came from the other side of Project Bunny 19C: "Bronya feels it's necessary to guard against you. Please don't do anything unnecessary."
As the words fell, Project Bunny 19C moved aside slightly, revealing Bronya's back, and her fair, smooth back.
"Yes, yes, yes."
Takatsuki placed his hand on Bronya's back to install the Stigma. Sometimes he wondered if he should show his temper, after all, he was wholeheartedly doing good for them and yet was guarded against like this, which was truly disheartening. However, after thinking about it, it seemed he wasn't doing it for Bronya's sake; he was originally just completing a task for crystals.
However, due to his guilt towards Mei, he chose to help her, and relying on the fact that he wouldn't die, he saved her, and then gathered the big three to join the Honkai Impact 3rd main storyline to gain crystals.
He joined St. Freya Academy to maintain the main storyline.
But now…
Is the main storyline he originally cared about still there?
Not to mention Hamon and Haki, there's Stand, spoilers, and pulling Sirin's memories out of Kiana's body.
This plot has long been messed up by him, no wonder the system hasn't given any tasks. After all, this broken system needs to be close to the protagonist and complete the original main storyline to get rewards.
Takatsuki's series of actions had stifled the future main storyline in its cradle.
"Takatsuki! Takatsuki!"
Bronya's voice woke Takatsuki from his deep thoughts.
"Ah, Bronya, it's done. Sorry, I was just thinking about something."
Looking at Bronya, who had already put her clothes back on, Takatsuki smiled apologetically.
Bronya raised her dead-fish eyes and looked at Takatsuki, saying, "Were you fascinated by Bronya's body? Pervert!"
"No way!"
In Bronya's flat tone, Takatsuki didn't see the ears hidden by her gray hair, which were now completely red.