Being a Cosplay Boss in Honkai Impact 3rd

'Sigh...'

'Zero times and countless times.'

There had to be a beginning!

Just like cross-dressing only had zero times and countless times, equipping—or rather, transforming—was no different.

As for technique and such, he would only become more proficient with time.

Kiana waited outside the changing room, anxious yet patient.

She had already been waiting for a long time! A very long time, so even though she still felt anxious now, she could patiently wait a little longer.

Kiana also knew that this period of patient waiting was necessary.

The person she longed to see was inside. She would come out soon.

Soon...

"Rustle~"

The curtain was suddenly pulled aside, and the person she had waited so long for emerged in a beautiful outfit. Her lovely, youthful figure was perfectly accentuated.

There might have been a trace of awkwardness and discomfort on her face, yet she still appeared poised and graceful.

That was more like it!

This was what my Mother should be like!

Kiana wrapped her arm around the person's affectionately and said, "Mother~ I've been waiting for you forever. Let's go shopping!"

Go on, go do the things she had once dreamed of doing.

At least at this moment, Kiana was not a child without a mother.

Matching parent-child outfits, parent-child meals, photo booth pictures. Whatever Kiana could think of, she wanted to do it all, regardless of whether those things were actually suitable to do with one's parents.

Even if the mother beside her looked young enough to be her older sister.

She did not care.

Kiana truly knew how to have fun, and Li Pu no longer cared either.

Just as cross-dressing only had a first time and countless times, letting go and freeing oneself was also merely a matter of zero times and countless times. Pretending to be Kiana's mother was the same.

With that principle in mind, all Li Pu did was let Kiana drag him along.

Though it was somewhat passive, it was still better than resisting negatively.

And he could use this opportunity to learn more about Cecilia.

Because, for now, during his interactions with Kiana, the emotions belonging to Cecilia became stronger. Likewise, those extremely Schrödinger-like things in his mind became clearer.

After they had had enough fun, they went to eat together on the sixth floor.

In truth, rather than eating, it was more like taking a temporary break—having drinks and some pastries. After being dragged around shopping nonstop, they had finally stopped.

Only then did Li Pu have the chance to think about some things.

For example, how to get away.

He looked at Kiana, and Kiana looked at him. The two of them maintained this strange silence, as though they were communicating. Neither said a word, yet it seemed to surpass a thousand words.

'How should I put this?'

Li Pu said nothing, nor did he intend to interrupt or disturb Kiana.

'She isn't looking at me at all.'

Li Pu suddenly realized something. Letting go and choosing to continue pretending to be Cecilia would not cause him to sink deeper until he could no longer escape.

It would only make him increasingly clear-headed, increasingly filled with an indescribable sense of disgust.

Because Kiana was not looking at him at all!

'She's looking at Cecilia—her mother!'

This feeling truly was not pleasant at all! Being treated as someone else, being reconciled with, being treated well—not because of who you were, but because you were the person she wanted to 'see.'

As for who he himself was.

Sorry, she did not care!

Li Pu did not know exactly what Kiana was thinking, but at least his feelings at that moment were extremely strong.

'Forget it.'

Li Pu cast the feeling from his mind and comforted himself inwardly. 'At least I still need Kiana right now. I may need Siegfried too. Now that I'm equipped as Cecilia, Kiana is also someone I must contact to complete that mission.'

'For now, let's leave it at that.'

Li Pu did not intend to say anything, nor did he intend to interrupt Kiana's observation and self-indulgent fantasy.

For the time being, things were still fine.

But if necessary, Li Pu felt that he would still cut it off without mercy.

For example...

"I'm rested!" Li Pu said, draining the fruit tea in her cup in one gulp. "Let's look around a little. We still haven't bought Siegfried any clothes."

"No matter what his reason was for dressing like that,"

"he still has to keep wearing it for a while, doesn't he?"

Exactly!

No matter what, she had to drag Siegfried into this. After all, there was no such thing as cross-dressing only once—there was only zero times and countless times. She would make Siegfried sink deeper and deeper down this path!

"Achoo!"

Siegfried, who was also in Seventhmist, sneezed!

Of course, Siegfried had not come here willingly. He had no particular interest in this kind of all-purpose entertainment complex. If he wanted somewhere to relax, he thought a bar would be much better than this place.

But the reason he had come was that his daughter had skipped school!

With his wife in tow.

Though that sounded a little absurd, that was exactly what had happened. Somehow, the two of them had talked it over and run out of school to go shopping here.

One of them dared to suggest it, and the other dared to come along.

As for why Siegfried had come, it was not merely because of his responsibility as a teaching assistant, but also out of a parent's concern for his child.

Sneaking out so brazenly was practically a declaration that they had no respect for him, the head of the household.

Siegfried felt it was necessary to exercise the authority of the head of the household today.

In every sense of the word.

Finding his daughter in this enormous mall looked about as likely as finding a needle in the ocean. But in reality, the odds were not quite that low.

Everyone's actions followed certain patterns.

Generally speaking, people visiting a mall they knew well were highly likely to browse familiar shops and eat at familiar restaurants. In other words, they tended to spend money at places they were already familiar with.

So, as long as he asked Mei about her usual habits, Siegfried could still get a rough idea.

After searching for quite a while, Siegfried finally spotted a familiar figure.

Oh! Isn't that my wife?

She looks so beautiful today!

She saw me. As expected of my wife—we really are connected at heart~

We even have a psychic connection.

Why do I suddenly feel like it would be better to make a run for it...

Don't Run Yet, Brother

"Ah~ Cecilia."

Siegfried greeted her happily. Looking exceptionally enthusiastic, he said, "You look beautiful."

Siegfried was happy, extremely happy—so happy that he kept backing away. After all these years, was his home finally going to feel like a real home again?

"Out shopping with Kiana?" Siegfried said, patting his chest. "Have a good rest and relax."

"I'll handle things at the school. Although most of the teachers aren't very easy to talk to,"

"Otto is a very nice person. He's very understanding."

"I'm sure he'll understand and approve leave for you and Kiana."

"Then I'll head back to work first." Siegfried waved. "No need to see me off. You two haven't seen each other in so many years. You should really catch up properly."

"I won't stay here and be a third wheel."

"Work comes first, work comes first."

Work was simply far too important. Siegfried turned around and bolted.

He had to get back to work. Siegfried loved his job! No one in the world was more dedicated to their work than Siegfried. He was going back to work right now!

Smack!

Siegfried broke out in a cold sweat!

How could he not? The moment that little hand grabbed him, his heart had suddenly fluttered. After all, it was Cecilia's hand!

His wife's hand!

Some people said that after being married for a long time, holding your wife's hand felt like holding your own hand.

But after all this time, when his wife once again took his hand in hers, Siegfried still could not help stopping. He stared dazedly at the person holding his hand, at that face upon which time seemed unable to leave a trace.

It felt as though he had suddenly returned to many years ago, when they had first met.

She was still the same person.

Her voice was gentle as water—clear, pure, and enough to fill one's heart with warmth.

"If Siegfried isn't coming with me." Her voice was still as pleasant as ever, like a warm current gently flowing through Siegfried's heart.

"Then none of it means anything."

Meaning...

Yeah.

It wouldn't mean anything anymore. Maybe he should just skip work today. Even if it was his first official day on the job, even if Otto caught him over it and fired him.

None of that mattered.

As long as today...

As long as everything today could be as wonderful as it had once been, as it was in the past, as it was in his imagination.

Then every sacrifice would have meaning.

Except for...

Wearing! Women's! Clothes!

"Um... Cecilia." Siegfried held up a tiny garment that was clearly far too small for him. "This outfit... isn't appropriate, is it? I really don't think it suits me. I don't want to..."

"No! You do!"

Li Pu said with unshakable firmness, leaving Siegfried no room to argue, "Siegfried!"

"You want to wear it, you have to wear it, and you can wear it!"

"This is what you truly want deep down!" Li Pu worked his silver tongue. "This is what you want to wear."

"You already wore it in class, so what's the big deal about wearing it here?"