Kiana's footsteps paused.
Su Yu's face turned red instantly, as if someone had splashed a basin of hot oil over him.
"It's not—"
"It really isn't—"
The two voices crashed together, speaking in unison, a complete mess of panic.
Himeko watched their frantic flustering and burst into laughter, her hearty laugh echoing through the entire stairwell.
"Being young is great! I can't smell this sour stench of love anymore."
She slapped her thigh hard, laughing until tears nearly came out.
"Alright, alright, I won't tease you two anymore. Big Sister is going back to enjoy her boozy single life!"
She shook the beer can in her hand and turned, preparing to head upstairs.
"Wait a moment."
Kiana's voice rang out.
Himeko stopped and looked back.
"Hime—"
Kiana's lips moved, and that name almost slipped out.
That name which had appeared in her dreams countless times.
But she stopped herself in time, like slamming on the brakes.
"...Sister Himeko."
"Hmm? What is it? If you want a beer, Big Sister can spare you a can."
Himeko looked at her with some curiosity.
The moonlight spilled onto Kiana's face, illuminating those heterochromatic eyes.
"In the future..."
Kiana took a deep breath. Her voice was somewhat stiff, but incredibly serious, as if making a solemn vow.
"Please take care of me."
The stairwell went quiet for an instant.
Himeko was stunned.
She looked at the white-haired young girl before her, looking at those eyes that were once filled with despair but now held light.
In those heterochromatic pupils, a weak but stubborn flame was burning.
It was like a candle flame struggling in the wind and rain, refusing to be extinguished.
This girl...
Her look has changed.
Himeko didn't know what had happened in this short week.
But she could tell that this girl was trying—clumsily, bit by bit—to come alive.
She carelessly scratched her fiery red hair and waved her hand with feigned impatience.
"Alright, alright, I can't stand you stiff types the most! You make it feel like we're acting in some tragedy."
Her tone sounded frivolous, but the corners of her mouth quietly curled up.
"Anyway, I live right across from you. If you need anything, just find me! Whether it's drinking or fighting, Big Sister will keep you company!"
After speaking, she turned and walked upstairs.
The sound of beer cans colliding echoed in the stairwell, carrying a reassuring rhythm.
"Oh, right—"
After climbing a few steps, she looked back again and winked at Su Yu.
"Even if your leg is broken, heal up well, Little Su. Don't make that Little Junior Sister worry too much. If you miss out on such a good girl, you'll regret it for a lifetime."
"My leg isn't broken!"
Su Yu's protest echoed in the stairwell, sounding feeble.
Himeko's laughter came from above, gradually fading away, followed finally by the sound of a door closing.
Kiana stood in place, gazing in the direction where the red-haired woman had vanished.
Teacher Himeko.
She gently recited this name in her heart.
The Himeko of this world, and the Himeko of that world, were two completely different people.
She knew that.
But—
Looking at that familiar back, listening to that familiar voice.
She still couldn't help but recall those past events.
Teacher.
I am now... trying my best.
Just like you taught me.
Even in this world without the Honkai, I will live on... properly.
"Hey," Su Yu's voice came from beside her ear, interrupting her thoughts. "Are you ready? Can we go up? My leg is really getting a bit numb."
Kiana snapped back to reality, realizing she was still standing at the stairwell entrance with this guy on her back.
Like an idiot.
"...Let's go."
She lifted her foot and walked up the stairs, step by step.
The night was gentle.
The sound-activated lights in the stairwell lit up one by one, then extinguished one by one.
The shadows of the two lengthened on the walls, overlapped, and then separated.
"By the way," Su Yu spoke up. "Just now, you almost called her by the wrong name, didn't you? You wanted to call her 'Himeko'?"
Kiana's footsteps paused slightly.
"...You heard that?"
"Yeah, it was so loud, it would be hard not to hear."
"..."
After a few seconds of silence, Kiana's voice sounded softly.
"She looks very much like... a very important person."
Su Yu didn't pry.
"I know."
He simply responded softly, then rested his chin on Kiana's shoulder.
"When this leg heals," he said, "I'll treat you to hotpot. The extra spicy kind."
"Why hotpot?"
"Because Sister Himeko said she recently found a new Chongqing hotpot restaurant that's really good. If we don't go taste it, it would be a disservice to life."
"...What does that have to do with her?"
"Because we can invite her along then," Su Yu said as a matter of course. "We're neighbors anyway; having one more person makes it livelier. And... I think you probably want to stay with her a little longer, right?"
Kiana fell silent for a while.
In the stairwell, there was only the sound of their footsteps.
"...Mmh."
She just gave a soft hum, as if she didn't care.
But Su Yu could feel her arms, the ones carrying him, tighten slightly in that instant.
That was a silent affirmation.
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