Being a Cosplay Master in the World of Honkai Impact 3rd: Chapter 34

Chapter 53: Kiana, Listen to Me

Kiana's face turned livid. Even with her thick nerves—

What had happened today was even more worldview-shattering than learning about Honkai!

Her father had put on a set of women's clothing...

Not only that, he had put on clothes that she might wear in the future.

"That's impossible!"

Kiana slammed the table and stood up. "This outfit! How could I possibly wear it? It's so big! And this..."

Kiana bit her lip, becoming somewhat incoherent. It felt as though countless words were clogging her heart, tangled together so tightly that she could not get them out.

"I don't want to wear this outfit!" Kiana said, utterly unable to accept it. "What Valkyrie Battle Suit?!"

"This isn't even a good outfit, is it?!"

"This thing is obviously a scam."

"It couldn't possibly be useful!"

"And it's clothes that Father can wear." Kiana pointed at Siegfried. "How could I possibly wear them?! And! And! My dad isn't like this at all!"

"He wouldn't be this kind of pervert!"

In the end, Kiana could not take it anymore. Without caring about anything else, she rushed out of the classroom.

She truly did not want to stay here for even another second.

Kiana ran out of the classroom, catching everyone completely off guard with the sudden change.

"Kiana! Kiana! Listen to my explanation!" Siegfried was even more anxious. He knew just how great an impact everything he had done today would have on Kiana.

But he had no choice! As her father, he only wanted to give Kiana a complete family again.

For that complete family, he was willing to give everything, even his reputation.

But he also hoped Kiana would understand everything he had sacrificed.

"Kiana..." Siegfried started to chase after her. It seemed his wife could still accept his current appearance, so he should calm Kiana down first.

"Wait!" Himeko grabbed Siegfried's shoulder and forcibly held down the man who stood half a head taller than her.

"Where do you think you're going, Teaching Assistant Sieggie?"

Himeko's voice was stern and brooked no argument. "There's no point in you chasing after her now, and you'll disrupt the normal order of class."

Sure enough, after learning about Siegfried's situation, Himeko had known things would definitely spiral out of control today. Fortunately, she had the foresight to keep someone useful around.

"You shouldn't go." Himeko said, "Stay here and be the teaching assistant. Besides, you're dressed like this right now."

"Do you think Kiana would listen to you? And if you run out from here..."

"More students will see you."

"You don't want to cause Kiana even more trouble, do you?"

"Siegfried."

"Th-this..." Siegfried was at a loss. It had been a long time since he had felt as panicked and helpless as he did today. He could probably calm down and understand Himeko's reasoning.

But he could not sit still, yet he also felt unable to leave.

He could only remain here, caught between advancing and retreating, worrying helplessly.

"There's someone," Himeko said confidently. "Someone who can do it—and only she can."

Himeko turned her gaze toward the person she believed could handle this. Siegfried followed her gaze.

Li Pu...

Eh... looks like I've gotten myself into trouble.

Li Pu felt uncomfortable all over under the gazes of the two of them. Though their intentions differed, they meant more or less the same thing. Naturally, he had heard what Himeko had just said.

After all, rather than persuading Siegfried, those words had been directed at him.

He really could comfort Kiana.

But that required the genuine mother-in-law.

As a transmigrator wearing the skin of her mother-in-law, he really could not say for sure.

"I... understand..." Li Pu said through gritted teeth. "Leave Kiana to me."

"But~"

"Siegfried, you really do have a great figure~"

Aside from being a pervert...

Li Pu hurriedly left the classroom. Though he really wanted to see what kind of scene would unfold next, he simply could not bear the looks in those two people's eyes.

Leaving now would also save him some trouble.

But where would Kiana go now? Li Pu walked out of the Valkyrie training grounds and looked at the campus before him. This place isn't exactly small...

"How are we supposed to find her?!"

Kiana and Li Pu still planned to look for her, but St. Freya Academy was no small place. Trying to find one person here really did feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.

"But..." The corners of Li Pu's mouth lifted slightly as he thought, We'll find her eventually, right?

Kiana had not run very far.

After rushing out of the classroom, she had no idea where she wanted to go. Not much had happened today, but every single thing that had happened had been utterly shocking.

Why?!

Kiana knew her father was a complete drunk, irresponsible, and not much for keeping himself tidy.

But...

But...

But she had never imagined that her father had such a bizarre hobby! She had always thought he was merely somewhat slovenly, fond of drinking, and lacking in responsibility. In any case, all those flaws had driven Mother away.

Now, though, it seemed that was not the case at all!

Maybe this strange fetish was what had really driven Mother away!

No...

That did not seem right either?! She had never seen her father dressed like this before.

The more Kiana thought about it after rushing out of the training base, the more something felt wrong. Everything that had happened today was simply far too strange!

If her father had this kind of hobby, shouldn't it have been exposed long ago?

No, maybe he had hidden it well, and it had only been exposed today.

Was that it? It still did not feel like that was right.

The more Kiana thought about it, the less sense it made.

She knew her classmates called her an "idiot," and her teachers considered her an "underachieving mediocrity." But Kiana herself knew that she was not stupid, nor was she some mediocre student with no ambition.

It was just that ordinary academic classes could not hold her interest.

No, that was not the point.

The point was, with Kiana's intelligence and wisdom, how could she possibly fail to figure this out?

Yet she still could not figure it out.

"Arghhhhh!" Kiana grabbed her head and shouted, "W-What the heck is going on?!"

"That is quite a good question."

Kiana suddenly heard a voice behind her say, "So, what exactly is going on here?"

"Huh?!" Kiana froze for a moment, then turned to look at the person speaking to her—the boy she had previously thought was trying to take advantage of Mei.

Looking at that delicate face and gentle smile—

Kiana blurted out involuntarily.

"Mother?!"

Uh... Mother...

Li Pu's mouth twitched wildly.

No matter how many times he heard it, it still felt rather difficult to...

It was not that he could not accept it. It was just weird! Awkward! Uncomfortable!

Cecilia was Kiana's mother. If he wanted to understand Cecilia, he inevitably had to spend more time with Kiana. The mission involving maternal love was also directly connected to Kiana.

Playing Kiana's mother was inevitable.

But hearing Kiana call him that directly—

"Hiss..." Li Pu drew in a sharp breath and said, "You should still call me..."

"Forget it. As long as you're happy."

Li Pu gave in under Kiana's gaze.

This little grasshopper was really stubborn! Once she accepted something as reality, it seemed that no amount of persuasion or explanation from him could change her mind.

"Mother, was Father always like this?" Kiana asked cautiously, though she was clearly puzzled. "Did Mother leave because of Father's unusual fetish?"

Kiana was being very careful. She was truly afraid that Mother might leave again because of Father's strange hobby.

If... if... if that really was the case—

"I'll definitely cure Father!" Kiana blurted out almost without thinking, not even waiting for Li Pu to explain. "Mei told me that electrotherapy works on all kinds of strange illnesses."

"As long as we don't give up on treatment, he'll definitely be cured."

For all we know, it might cure him to death, Li Pu grumbled inwardly.

"Kiana." Li Pu shook his head. "Listen to me. Some things definitely aren't as simple as you imagine."

Of course, maybe they really are that simple. Li Pu grumbled inwardly. Electrotherapy might solve every problem. You and Siegfried both need electrotherapy to knock some sense into those wooden heads of yours.

"Th-then what is it?" Kiana asked nervously. "Could someone have forced him?"

"Th-That... I don't know either." Li Pu shook his head.

He really didn't know. But Li Pu had already prepared some lines to fool Kiana with.

"Kiana." Li Pu spoke seriously. "Some things may be complicated, or they may be simple. At least before we know the real reason, we should choose to be tolerant or simply ignore them."

"Because he truly has reasons why he has to do this."

"Why?!" Kiana still asked in confusion. "I don't think anyone could force Dad."

"Dad may be a drunk who gets wasted every day, hates cleaning the house, has no sense of responsibility, and is always making instant food and stuff."

"But Dad is really strong. If he doesn't want to do something, no one can force him."

"Then just assume he did it willingly." Li Pu picked up the thread. "If you think no one could force him, then just believe he wanted to do this himself."

"Eugh~" Kiana immediately shuddered, rubbing her hands over her shoulders. "That feels absolutely awful!"

"Kiana!" Li Pu suddenly turned stern. Looking at Kiana seriously, he said, "You need to learn tolerance and acceptance. Modern society is a diverse society."

"You should know that Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender people aren't diseases."

"They're no different from us. It's just that they were born with their hearts going the wrong way."

"Perhaps to you and me, everything Siegfried—your father—is doing now seems utterly unacceptable." Li Pu tried to persuade her. "But do you know how much agony he's suffering inside?"

"I remember Master Lu once said, 'Inside every man lives a young girl.'"