Himeko

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Murata Himeko
Alias(es)	Himeko-sensei (姬子老师); Ms. Himeko; Aunt Himeko
Species/Race	Human 17
Gender	Female
Affiliation	MiHoYo; St. Freya Academy; Valkyries
Occupation/Role	MiHoYo staff member and performer; former Valkyrie and instructor at St. Freya Academy 3 138 264
Status	Alive in the reconstructed world; her in-game counterpart was declared missing after The Last Lesson 14 273
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Background / History

Himeko lost her father, Murata Ryusuke, when his laboratory exploded. Ye Ming entered the past through a time corridor, pulled the grieving Himeko from the burning facility, and helped her begin recovering from the loss. 25 26

Despite Ye Ming's attempts to steer her toward an ordinary life, Himeko chose to become a Valkyrie. She was inspired by the unnamed boy who had saved her and wanted to pass his hope on by protecting others. 26 27

Ragna became Himeko's teacher and captain. After the Herrscher of the Void killed Ragna and destroyed her squad during the 2010 disaster, Himeko—who had been absent—lost her teacher, comrades, and place at headquarters before being sent to the Far East. 17 244 248

At St. Freya, Himeko became an instructor and formed a close, familial bond with Kiana and the other students. Her long-term Honkai erosion and prior injuries caused severe pain and occasional blackouts, leading Theresa to assign Ye Ming to assist with her daily life. 13 16 45

Ye Ming's interventions in the past repeatedly altered Himeko's circumstances without changing her fundamental resolve. When Himeko later recognized the red cord associated with the person who had protected her through the years, she began actively seeking answers about Ye Ming and their connection. 27 30

Appearance

Himeko is a mature woman with fiery red hair and a notably curvaceous build. She commonly wears a plain coat in daily life, though she makes an impression when dressing formally in red. 34 159

• Fiery red hair, strongly associated with her flame-themed Valkyrie imagery. 159
• Often appears in practical outerwear; she is criticized by colleagues for looking unkempt when she does not dress up. 34
• Wears an elegant red dress for an important meeting with Ye Ming. 34
• Her Valkyrie depictions include Valkyrie Triumph armor and Vermilion Knight: Eclipse armor. 12 46 240

Personality

Himeko is outspoken, teasing, and intensely protective of her students. She lectures Kiana when the girl becomes overconfident, but still recognizes and praises Kiana's progress. Their disagreements never diminish Himeko's concern for her. 8

She is self-sacrificing and resolute under pressure. Even after suffering overwhelming injuries and losing those closest to her, Himeko refuses to abandon Kiana or the people she considers her home. 13 18 240

Himeko is also emotionally vulnerable beneath her confident exterior. She struggles with loneliness, initially uses drinking to cope, and has difficulty openly admitting her feelings for Ye Ming because of pride and fear of losing what they share. 8 17 264 265

Her attachment to alcohol is closely tied to Ye Ming's companionship rather than the drink itself; she later realizes that what she enjoyed was drinking with him. 267 268

Abilities & Skills

Valkyrie Combat Training

Himeko possesses extensive combat experience accumulated over years as a Valkyrie.

• Has a decade of combat history involving repeated Honkai Beast operations. 27
• Retains enough of her old training to physically overpower the Herrscher of the Void when neither can rely on their supernatural power. 238
• Continues fighting despite severe wounds, blood loss, and Honkai erosion. 13 18 19
• Her combat ability is limited by the deteriorating condition of her body; using power accelerates her erosion and drains her life. 19

Flame and God-Slaying Armament

In her Valkyrie storyline, Himeko wields flame-based power through God-Slaying equipment.

• Vermilion Knight: Eclipse contains the Plague Gem, allowing its wearer to use the power of the Herrscher of Flames. 12
• Uses a burning greatsword to break through the Herrscher of the Void's spatial attacks in Imaginary Space. 13
• The armor's power comes at a severe physical cost and intensifies the burden on its user. 12
• Entrusts the God-Slaying Spear to Ye Ming during the battle against the Herrscher of the Void. 19

Consciousness Remnant and Legacy

Himeko's influence remains with Kiana even when she cannot physically return.

• Briefly manifests in Kiana's consciousness space to encourage her to continue living and fighting. 46
• Her flame power manifests through Kiana during the latter's battle with the Herrscher of the Void. 245
• Appears at St. Freya as a remnant of consciousness, confirming that she is not a complete resurrection. 246
• Her legacy later blesses Kiana during the battle against the Herrscher of Domination. 257

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Vermilion Knight: Eclipse — God-Slaying Valkyrie armor equipped with the Plague Gem. 12
• Plague Gem — grants flame-related Herrscher power through the armor. 12 245
• God-Slaying Spear — a serum-derived Herrscher-killing weapon designed to weaken Honkai energy in a Herrscher's body. 12
• God-Slaying Greatsword — Himeko's primary weapon during her confrontation with the Herrscher of the Void. 18
• Red dress — an outfit Himeko carefully prepares for an important meeting with Ye Ming. 34

Relationships

• Ye Ming — Her rescuer, caretaker, and romantic partner. Ye Ming saves her from the laboratory fire, protects her across altered timelines, and becomes the person Himeko most relies on emotionally. 26 30 52 268
• Kiana — Her student and family. Himeko is strict with Kiana but consistently supports her growth, while Kiana is deeply traumatized by the prospect of losing Himeko. 8 46 241 250
• Ragna — Her teacher and captain. Ragna's death profoundly shaped Himeko's life, ideals, and later compassion toward Kiana. 17 27 43 248
• Theresa — St. Freya colleague and headmaster who worries about Himeko's deteriorating health and arranges for Ye Ming to care for her. 16 264
• Durandal — Fellow Valkyrie with a shared connection to Ragna; the two reminisce about their mentor together. 43
• Fu Hua — One of Himeko's students in the present era; Himeko is stunned to learn of Fu Hua's identity and past. 138 155 174
• Mei and Bronya — Students and colleagues whom Himeko treats protectively, even when they compete with her for Ye Ming's attention. 138 219 273

Story Role / Major Arcs

MiHoYo Production and *The Last Lesson*

Himeko joins MiHoYo's motion-capture and performance work. Upon learning the full plot of her game counterpart, she quickly understands the character's emotions because the role was written from her own template. She accepts the tragic ending as one she believes suits her. 3 9

Her performance as Himeko makes The Last Lesson especially devastating for players and colleagues. The in-game Himeko is left missing after sacrificing herself to save Kiana, causing Kiana, Griseo, and the wider audience to break down. 13 14

Time Corridor Intervention

After Himeko's apparent death, Ye Ming enters a time corridor reaching ten years into the past. He saves the younger Himeko from her father's burning laboratory and tries to change the events that led to her eventual decline. 25 26

Although he cannot change Himeko's desire to become a Valkyrie, Ye Ming protects her from the shadows throughout her career. Himeko eventually realizes that the mysterious unnamed hero may be the same person who saved her. 27 30

Kiana's Growth and Farewell

Himeko repeatedly serves as the emotional center of Kiana's development. Her brief appearances and memories push Kiana to stop running from her pain and to inherit Himeko's ideals. 46 103 245

When Kiana reaches Himeko's consciousness remnant at St. Freya, Himeko encourages her to keep moving forward and accepts that Kiana must grow beyond her. 246 249 250

Later Productions

Himeko continues contributing to MiHoYo's projects, including writing suggestions for a short film centered on Kiana's growth. Watching Kiana become Flamescion leaves her proud but tearful, as she wishes she could personally witness her student's future. 258

She later attempts to use a video featuring herself and Ye Ming to comfort fans grieving over her in-game fate—while also openly displaying their relationship, much to the jealousy of the other girls. 269 273

Notable Quotes

“Then, now it's my turn!” 13

“I can still... keep burning!” 13

“But sadly, even I, who am not favored by the gods, have people who will cry for me.” 18

“You are my student, Murata Himeko's student!” 250

Trivia

• Himeko is knowledgeable about romance manga and romance-game conventions despite Kiana's surprise at the subject. 41
• She initially insists that red wine “goes into a different stomach.” 8
• Himeko has a habit of joking about her own death or disappearance, which Kiana finds painful because of their shared experiences. 163 274
• She has explicitly considered using an in-game missing-person notice to make her apparent disappearance feel more immersive for players. 123