In Honkai, I Found a Kiana

The popsicle was smooth and tender.

Her palm had calluses from frequently using her gun.

Kiana looked up towards a rooftop.

Squinting slightly with a hint of suspicion, she wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt someone was there.

However, she didn't dwell on it.

They didn't have any enemies or acquaintances here, so no one should be watching them.

Thinking this, Kiana turned and walked, catching up to the other two.

"Hey! You two, wait up for me!!" Kiana shouted when she realized the other two had walked quite far ahead.

Lin Nai also slowed their pace, waiting for the boisterous girl behind them to catch up.

Bronya glanced at Kiana, already certain that the other girl was an idiot.

Chapter 13: Lin Nai: My head itches, I'm growing a brain

After eating.

The three of them wandered around the small town.

After all, there wasn't anything else to do right now.

Kiana planned to find a copy shop or something, intending to print out missing person posters.

But on the way...

"Lin Nai, Lin Nai! Look, there are pigeons over there!" Kiana exclaimed, pointing at a large square.

Many pigeons were gathered there.

Someone nearby was feeding them, scattering breadcrumbs and such.

Kiana's eyes lit up; she had never fed pigeons before!

Well...

But she had eaten them.

Whenever Lin Nai casually tossed a light ring into the sky, one or two pieces of poultry meat would fall, identified as pigeon.

Don't ask Kiana how she identified them.

Once, in the square, Lin Nai grabbed a pigeon by the scruff of its neck with an iron grip.

And then, as if nothing had happened, they left with it.

That night, they had a feast.

A roasted young pigeon.

And so, Kiana understood what those things falling from the sky occasionally were.

Poultry meat, split in two!

It was... it was pigeon!

That day, Kiana ate even more heartily.

Because roasted pigeon was delicious.

"So there are pigeons, big deal. What are you doing? Want to have a feast?"

Lin Nai and Bronya caught up to Kiana, who was already running ahead.

Bronya gazed at the white doves flying all over the sky, and unconsciously extended her hand.

A pigeon landed on Bronya's hand.

Bronya froze for a moment.

"Coo coo."

The white dove tilted its head, making eye contact with Bronya.

Seeing this, Lin Nai took out a camera and gently captured the scene.

It was quite beautiful.

"Woohoo!"

Kiana ran towards the pigeons, startling them into flight, while she herself laughed happily.

If you didn't know better, you'd think she was trying to steal the pigeons' food.

Of course, Lin Nai also took a picture of this moment.

Took two.

One was a beautiful memory...

The other was a misconstrued shot of her looking happy, as if she had snatched the pigeons' food.

She'd release this later as embarrassing past history.

Lin Nai's lips curved into a sly smile subconsciously, sending a shiver down Kiana's spine.

Kiana looked around in confusion. Could it be that some scoundrel is trying to harm me?

The scoundrel: Lin Nai.

Bronya was still locked in a staring contest with a pigeon.

The pigeon cooed twice, spread its wings, and flew away.

The girl, however, continued to gaze at the birds flying in the sky.

"They're very free, aren't they?"

"Hm?"

Lin Nai walked over to Bronya, looking at the flying birds.

"Birds are free creatures because they can soar through the vast sky, feeling the wind blow freely."

"You're the same, Bronya."

"You are also free. You've escaped the cage that held you."

Bronya fell silent, lowering her head to look at her hands.

Was she truly free?

"Everyone is free, everyone yearns for freedom. If you're locked up, then find a way to escape."

"Mm."

Bronya nodded gently. A cage...

The outside world was beautiful, so much more beautiful than that concentration camp.

Bronya knew. One month.

It wasn't a short time, nor was it a long time.

But during this period, she had truly experienced what the outside world was like.

Lin Nai would take her and Kiana to various places, and along the way, they'd post a few missing person flyers.

Although she didn't say anything, she was slowly starting to feel happy.

She didn't show it on the outside, but she wasn't as numb as before.

Freedom...

The two stood together, watching the birds in the sky.

Kiana used money from her personal stash to buy some pigeon feed and was now feeding the pigeons.

She saw Lin Nai, who was talking to Bronya, not paying attention.

It wasn't the first time, anyway.

After playing in the plaza for a while, the sky gradually darkened.

It was too late to go to the copy shop at this hour, so the three decided to return to the hotel to rest.

Night.

Bronya, fast asleep, frowned, then suddenly jolted awake. She rubbed her temples.

She had dreamt that Lin Nai and Kiana were dead.

Killed by people from the concentration camp.

And she had returned to that place...

Bronya silently looked out the window.

The deep night sky was like an endless, thick ink, heavily smeared across the horizon, not even allowing the faint light of the stars to escape.

Bronya got out of bed and glanced at Kiana, who was sleeping in a rather odd position on the other bed.

She let out a subconscious sigh of relief.

But this idiot... does she really kick off her blanket while sleeping?

Bronya walked over and carefully pulled the blanket, kicked away by Kiana, back over her.

Then, she changed her clothes and walked out.

Asleep, Kiana scratched her stomach and mumbled a few words before rolling over.

She was completely unaware that someone had left the room.

Unaware that she had just walked out of the room and taken the elevator.

And so.

Bronya walked the streets alone, aimlessly. The deserted streets were so quiet.

Unknowingly, Bronya arrived at the plaza where they had watched pigeons that afternoon.

Bronya stopped here.

A gentle breeze swept by, brushing past her face, and Bronya stood quietly.

Bang!!

Accompanied by a sound, Bronya simultaneously performed a forward roll, dodging the incoming bullet.

Find cover, draw her pistol, aim!

Thump thump thump—

Footsteps approached.

A man wearing a mask appeared there.

Bronya's pupils contracted.

"Silver Wolf."

"..."

Bronya gripped the gun in her hand, staring intently at the masked man.

"Why aren't you going back?"

"..."

"Silver Wolf! Have you forgotten the rules?!"

Facing the other's questions and reprimands, Bronya didn't reply, only feeling cold sweat cover her forehead.

At the same time, she secretly pondered how to quickly eliminate the opponent.

He was that person's subordinate, that person's confidant