Several days had passed.
Since then, the radiation in the city had diminished enough for people to start living there again.
It wasn't surprising-they managed to remove the radiation in just a few days, thanks to their technology. In this world, Honkai energy was practically used for everything. Besides the corruption it brought, it also served as a power source for reactors, vehicles, mechs, and even for advancing civilization.
So every time a Honkai outbreak occurred, it became the perfect opportunity to harvest more energy. Reina also knew that the Honkai-infected zombies were being used to create a cure.
But it wasn't very efficient. It took around 100 Honkai zombies just to create one dose of the cure.
Even then, the cure wasn't perfect-it only worked on patients in the early stages of infection. If someone was already in the late stages, there was nothing that could be done. The only option left was to use them as energy fuel, since the corrupted carried an good amount of Honkai energy.
"Oh well... I just need to erase that Cocoon from this timeline and everything will be fine... The problem is, I don't know where that Cocoon is," Reina muttered to herself while slicing a few carrots for soup.
All she knew was that annoying Cocoon existed either in another dimension or in the Sea of Quanta. But in her current state, she couldn't force open a portal to get there.
She needed more Honkai energy. This world didn't have the same kind of energy she used back in Granblue Fantasy.
The other option was to ask her original self for more power-but she really didn't want to involve her other self in this situation with how he's do things.
As Reina was lost in thought, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap gently around her waist from behind.
A soft, cheerful voice came from behind her. "Hehehe, good morning~ My wife is so diligent every day, I'm so happy."
Turning slightly, Reina saw Kiana still in her pajamas, her long white hair messy, clearly just woken up.
"Good morning, Kiana. Go wash your face first. After that, I'll help you tidy up your hair. Also, don't call me your wife."
"Ehhh, but people keep saying we're like a married couple with how we act~"
What Kiana meant was that for the past two days, the two of them had been visiting the city frequently to check on Anne and her parents.
Kiana simply wanted to make sure they were okay and play with Anne-but for Reina, it was more than that. She needed to monitor whether there were any side effects after absorbing the Honkai corruption from them.
Because of how Kiana acted around her, people often commented on how cute they were together. Even Anne once asked if they were married like her papa and mama.
"Whose fault do you think that is, huh???" Reina said, pinching Kiana's cheek.
"Ow ow! It's my fault! I'm sorry!"
After their usual morning routine, Kiana headed to the bathroom to wash her face. A few moments later, Reina walked into the bedroom to help tidy up her long, white hair.
"Hmm~" Reina hummed softly as she ran the comb through Kiana's hair.
For some reason, Kiana's hair was always incredibly soft, and Reina loved brushing it, tidying it up with care.
As she worked, she occasionally glanced at the mirror in front of them-or rather, she looked at Kiana's reflection in the mirror.
It was the same cute Kiana staring back at her, but there was something different now-her eyes. Her right eye was a bright blue, while her left eye shone gold.
A side effect of the Herrscher of Void lending her power to Kiana.
Since it was only she lending her power, Kiana couldn't use the full extent of the Herrscher of Void's power. But that was fine with Reina-this stage was enough. Because she needed time to train Kiana so she could use it properly.
"All done," Reina said after a few more strokes of the comb.
Today, she had styled Kiana's hair into two large braids, just like her in-game look.
Because today was the day they were finally leaving this place.
"Hmmm, thank you, Reina~" Kiana beamed, clearly happy with the hairstyle. She turned and wrapped her arms around Reina's waist again.
"Now, let's eat. We also need to visit Anne again to say goodbye."
"Goodbye, huh... It's only been a few days, but I already don't want to leave Anne. She's just so cute..." Kiana said, her voice tinged with sadness.
Reina gently stroked Kiana's head, trying to comfort her as she spoke softly,
"No need to be sad, Kiana. If you learn to control your power properly without leaking too much Honkai energy, we can always visit them again through your portal."
"Hmm... but how long will that take?" Kiana pouted.
"Well, if you're diligent, probably about a year," Reina replied. "But remember-we're leaving to make the world a better place."
"I see... I don't really like training or anything like that, but I'll do my best," Kiana said, looking up at Reina with a determined nod.
Reina smiled, her voice full of warmth,
"Hmm, I'll be with you every step of the way."
Just as Reina turned to head out of the room, Kiana gently tugged on her sleeve.
"Reina..." she said in a soft voice, leaning forward with expectant eyes, "Can I get a morning kiss?"
Reina stopped and sighed with a slight smirk. "Kiana, you've been asking for that every single day."
"But it's morning," Kiana said with a pout, puffing her cheeks. "Morning kisses are a special kind of affection that helps me survive the day~"
Reina chuckled, brushing her fingers against Kiana's cheek. "You're already overflowing with affection. I don't think one kiss will change much."
"Hmph... meanie." Kiana turned away with her arms crossed, still pouting.
Shaking her head in amusement, Reina started to walked toward the door.
But just before she left the room, she paused-then turned on her step, walked back, and leaned in close.
Before Kiana could react, Reina gently pressed her lips against her cheek.
It was soft, quick, but warm enough to melt all the sulking Kiana pretended to have.
"Eh-?!" Kiana blinked, wide-eyed, her pout instantly disappearing as her face turned pink.
"That's your kiss. Now stop acting like that~," Reina teased with a wink before heading out to the dining room.
Kiana stood there, stunned for a few seconds, before breaking into a wide, dreamy grin. She touched her cheek, then spun around happily.
"Waaahh~ she did it! She kissed me! That totally counts!"
"[You disgust me.]"
But just as Kiana was happily jumping around, another voice suddenly echoed inside her head.
It was the Herrscher of Void's voice. She and Kiana had been talking to each other quite a lot since that day.
Though talking might be a stretch-most of the time, they were just trading insults because of how much they hated each other.
"You just don't understand how I'm feeling," Kiana said with a smile still on her face.
"[Did you forget we basically share the same body? I feel everything you feel-and it's disgusting.]"
"Ehh, you're just jealous it wasn't you who got the kiss."
"[I don't care about your stupid kiss. Just stop doing that all the time-I can't handle it.]"
"Nope. Anyway, goodbye! Don't talk to me anymore. I wanna eat my wife's breakfast~"
And with that, Kiana immediately shut off their connection by simply ignoring her while walking happily toward the dining room.
"Hey, Tuna! Where are you going?! Stop ignoring me!" the Herrscher of Void yelled at the phone in her hand.
She was currently in a room that looked nothing like the one she had before. It was now much larger, with way more furniture to suit her needs.
There was even a spacious bathroom where she could take a proper bath.
"You stupid Tuna!" she shouted again, tossing the phone-but carefully aimed it at the couch. She still needed it to talk to Kiana, after all.
In front of her stood a large TV screen showing Kiana's point of view. Technically, she didn't need the screen since she could feel everything Kiana experienced, but it was easier this way-more convenient to keep an eye on what her other self was doing.
The Herrscher of Void kept her gaze locked on the screen, watching as Kiana happily devoured Reina's breakfast. Instantly, she could feel Kiana's joy seep into her as well.
"Ugh... this feeling again..." she muttered, clutching her chest in mild irritation. "It'd be better if I just went to sleep instead of staying awake like this..."
At least if she was asleep, she wouldn't have to worry about being influenced by Kiana's emotions.
Her fingers twitched.
Even though she said she hated it, her chest was beating hard. That warmth-so irritating-kept spreading from her core like ripples in water.
"Tch... It's just that stupid Tuna's feelings leaking into me. That's all," she muttered, looking away.
But her eyes slowly shifted back to the large TV screen.
Before she realized it, her hand moved on its own, grabbing the remote.
Click-rewind.
The moment replayed on the screen: Reina leaning in and giving Kiana a surprise kiss on the cheek.
Click-rewind.
It played again. That soft, gentle kiss. Kiana's eyes widening, her cheeks turning pink.
Herrscher of Void bit her lip.
Click-rewind.
Again.
"W-what the hell am I doing!?" she shouted, tossing the remote aside-but only for a moment. She picked it up again with a grumble, her face already a little red.
This time, she skipped forward.
Now Kiana was sleeping, arms wrapped around Reina's waist, snuggled under the same blanket. Reina's hand gently stroking her head while she smiled down at her.
Herrscher of Void stared.
"...Why is my chest doing this?" she whispered, her fingers pressing lightly over her heart. It was thumping like crazy, and her face was fully flushed.
Click-rewind.
Another scene. Another kiss. Another gentle hug. Another whispered word between them.
Over and over again.
Her face was now bright red, steam practically coming out of her ears.
"This is so... s-so stupid! Why am I feeling this?! It's not like I want that dumb Tuna to-!!"
She clutched her head, rolling on the couch, screaming into a pillow to muffle her voice.
"Uwaaaaahhh this is all her fault! Stupid gorilla woman! Stupid Tuna! Stupid kisses!"
But even as she yelled, the corner of her mouth twitched upward... just a little.
Maybe... just a tiny little bit...
She was jealous.
---
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In the afternoon, Reina and Kiana arrived at Anne's temporary residence.
The place was a modest apartment building provided by the government-currently used as shelter until repairs on everyone's homes were complete.
"Welcome, Big Sister Kiana! Big Sister Reina!" Anne's cheerful voice rang out the moment her mother opened the door. The little girl ran toward them with open arms.
"Anne, don't run like that. What if you fall?" Reina gently scolded her, crouching down to scoop her into her arms.
"Hehe, it's fine! Papa always says my forehead's pretty tough, so I won't get hurt," Anne replied with a big grin.
Meanwhile, Kiana handed a neatly packed container to Anne's mother. "Here, aunty. This is from Reina."
"Oh my, thank you so much, both of you," the woman said warmly. "Why don't you stay for a while? I'll bring you something to drink."
"Sure, we'd be happy to," Reina replied, smiling. "There's something we wanted to talk about too."
"Huh? Where's uncle? Usually he's already here by now," Kiana asked, glancing around.
"Oh, he's still at the shop. He said this was the perfect time for renovations, so he's been helping out with the repairs. He'll probably be back by evening."
Both Reina and Kiana shared a brief look-slightly disappointed. They knew they wouldn't be able to stay that long.
Reina had explained earlier that they needed to leave for Nagazora City soon. That's where the next Herrscher is gonna appear... and also where both of them could attend a school.
While Reina chatted with Anne's mother at the table, Kiana was busy playing with Anne. The two could be seen chasing each other around the room or laughing during piggyback rides.
"I see... So it's time for you two to leave," the woman said with a faint sadness in her voice. "I still haven't repaid you for what you've done for us..."
Reina shook her head gently. "Like we said before, you don't need to repay us. We just did what anyone should-helping each other. Besides, you've been giving Kiana free stuff ever since she go to your shop. I'd say that makes us even."
"That's just a small thing-it can't even compare," the woman replied, smiling wistfully. "Oh... how about this?"
She suddenly stood up and hurried to another room. It only took a few moments before she returned, carrying a small wooden box in her hands.
Reina watched curiously as the woman sat back down and placed the box on the table, gently opening it to reveal what was inside.
Inside lay two beautifully crafted bracelets-colorful and delicate. Each one bore half of a heart, meant to form a whole when placed together.
"This..." Reina murmured, her eyes widening slightly.
"This bracelet," the woman began softly, "was something we bought during our dating days. One day we stumbled upon a street stall that sold them, and we decided to get them as a promise to each other."
A tender smile formed on her lips as she recalled the memory. "He gave me his bracelet and promised he'd marry me and make me the happiest woman in the world-he had the silliest grin on his face too."
She laughed lightly, eyes distant with nostalgia. "And I gave him mine, with the promise that I'd stay by his side no matter what. Whether in joy or hardship... we'd always be together."
Reina listened quietly, her gaze softening.
"But after we got married," the woman continued, "we took them off. Our wedding vows replaced them with something even more romantic. The bracelets had already done their job."
She gently pushed the box toward Reina. "So I'd like to give these to you. I hope you and Kiana will share a bond as deep and lasting as ours. Stay by each other's side until your final breath... and may your love only grow stronger."
Reina stared down at the bracelets, a bit stunned. The weight of the gesture sank in slowly.
"...Thank you," she said quietly, her voice touched with emotion. "We'll treasure them."
From the other side of the room, Kiana called out, "Reina~! Come play with us too!"
Reina looked back at her with a small smile.
Reina and Kiana ended up staying at Anne's place for a few more hours, enjoying the warm, homey atmosphere.
They spent time chatting with Anne's mother, laughing over stories, and savoring the quiet moments. Kiana continued to play with Anne-building towers with blocks, chasing her around the living room, and even drawing silly pictures together.
But as the sun began to dip lower in the sky, painting the room with golden hues, Reina stood up and gently said, "It's about time for us to go."
At those words, Anne froze.
"Huh...? You're leaving now...?" her small voice trembled. Her wide eyes turned glossy as she looked back and forth between Reina and Kiana.
"W-Wait... you're leaving the town?" she asked again, her tone more urgent.
Reina crouched in front of her and nodded softly. "Yes. We have something important to do. We'll be heading far away for a while."
"B-But... you'll come back, right?" Anne's voice cracked-and then, as the realization fully sank in, tears began streaming down her cheeks. "Nooo! I don't want you to go!!"
"Anne-" Kiana stepped forward, but the little girl had already thrown herself into her arms, sobbing hard against her chest.
"I don't wanna wait a year! I want to play with Big Sister every day! I don't want you to leave!"
Kiana's heart twisted at the sound of her cries. She hugged her tightly, stroking her hair as she tried to stay calm.
Reina knelt beside them, placing a gentle hand on Anne's back. "It's okay to cry, Anne... But we'll come back. We promise."
"Y-You promise...?" Anne sniffled, her tear-stained face looking up.
"We'll come back in a year," Reina reassured her with a smile. "And if you ever miss us, you can call. We'll answer every time."
Kiana nodded eagerly. "Yup! And next time we meet, I'll bring you something amazing!"
"...Really...?" Anne wiped her eyes slowly. "Promise?"
"Pinky promise," Kiana said, holding up her pinky finger. Anne linked hers with it, still sniffling, but no longer sobbing.
With hugs all around and teary goodbyes, the two finally stepped out of the apartment, waving one last time before the door slowly closed behind them.
By the time they returned to their cabin it's already evening.
Kiana stood in the doorway, gazing at the space they had called home for the past few months. Her expression was quiet... reflective.
Reina gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let's get ready."
"Yeah..." Kiana nodded. Together, they began packing everything they needed for the journey-clothes, supplies, tools, even the wooden box with the bracelets carefully tucked inside Reina's bag.
When everything was finally ready, they stood at the edge of the cabin one last time.
From here on out... it was time to head to Japan.