Su Qing'an's Answer

This seems to be the first time someone has asked Su Qing'an this question.

In the past, the boy had never consciously thought about why he liked Fu Hua.

Once this emotion arises, the only path forward is restraint and compliance; there is no need to trace its origins.

But after Himeko asked the question directly, Su Qing'an suddenly realized that he hadn't really gotten to the bottom of these things.

Why do I like it?

He thought that perhaps not only Himeko would be curious, but Himeko might feel the same way after finding out, but in that timeline, she just didn't find a suitable opportunity to ask.

Upon reflecting on the event and deciding to offer an answer, the boy realized that the incident that had left a seed in his heart didn't seem particularly special.

The girl who initially impressed me was really ordinary; even her appearance wasn't particularly outstanding compared to many other girls I met later.

The entire St. Freya Academy is filled with beautiful girls of exceptional quality. In terms of pure feminine charm and appearance, Fu Hua clearly does not have an overwhelming advantage.

Given this premise, the superficial yet useful reason of appearance is not very convincing.

Su Qing'an did not consider this aspect of the problem.

He simply realized that the reason was actually quite ordinary.

It's so ordinary that there's no need to consciously think about why you like it.

The first encounter in the timeline wasn't exactly unforgettable, but it was the cause of everything.

Otherwise, upon seeing Fu Hua again after the third timeline restart, the boy's reaction to her might have been nothing more than normal.

The budding emotions and joys gradually settle over time, becoming feelings that one gradually comes to believe are real.

It's like a glass of water subtly gaining a touch of sweetness; the change isn't immediately apparent.

He thought that the kind of reason that Himeko could understand intuitively must be like a drop of ink in clear water—a change that is so obvious and intuitive that it would be the kind of emotion that many people crave.

But that wasn't between her and Hua. The feelings between them had always been hidden in a transparent medium, surging silently beneath the surface.

Therefore, it would be difficult to give a more precise reason.

In comparison, it is much simpler to describe the other person's strengths. After all, with the experience of restarting multiple times, the vocabulary and events that can be summarized can be countless.

The reasons behind what we call "liking" are difficult to explain in just a few words.

So in the end, Su Qing'an simply followed Himeko's gaze and looked at the shimmering sea.

He was silent for a moment, then squeezed out a sentence and said seriously:

"Because Hua is very cute."

Upon hearing this, the Little Feather in the Mind Lake turned over, and the surrounding crimson halo seemed to brighten slightly.

Himeko couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.

The woman's words alone were enough to reveal something about the man's character.

Just like the lingering immaturity in her appearance, Su Qing'an in front of me is essentially just a child.

She placed the flute cup on the table, but couldn't help covering her upturned lips with her hand.

Su Qing'an heard the faint laughter and was speechless.

This reaction was strikingly similar to Himeko's. The boy had initially thought that she would appear more mature and ruthless due to the harsher reality, but it now seemed that these traits were not present, at least not in a relaxed atmosphere. In the realm of gossip, Himeko and Murata Himeko were equally matched.

Su Qing'an lowered her gaze. The other person's laughter did not make her feel embarrassed. On the contrary, it made her feel a sense of familiarity and nostalgia that she had not felt for a long time.

He smiled slightly, but said bluntly:

There's nothing strange about it.

The woman gradually stopped laughing, but her lips still retained an upward curve. She looked at the traces of people's lives in the city, as if she could hear the peaceful hustle and bustle carried by the sea breeze.

Sydney's current prosperity is all thanks to the people around it.

So Himeko doesn't mind meddling in other people's business if it might make them happier.

She said softly:

"Then why not just tell her directly?"

"I can tell that Hua won't refuse you."

Su Qing'an responded:

"Should you say it if you like someone?"

"My time is running out, but her life is still long. She shouldn't let momentary pleasure constrain the rest of her long life."

In his view, the reason why Fu Hua likes him now is based on the legacy of the previous timeline, and the emotions that have fermented from the subsequent stance of her teachers and her mysterious past.

Such feelings might be difficult for Su Qing'an to accept due to his personality. He couldn't take the initiative in this situation; to put it bluntly, it was somewhat like taking advantage of someone in distress.

At the same time, he also had to admit that he had undergone some kind of change.

It's like wear and tear, but it's also like growth.

The condition for a god's resurrection is an interesting death; do I still meet that condition now?

To simply wither away in the flames like a moth drawn to a flame is hardly interesting.

The fact that resurrection wasn't guaranteed through save-keeping meant that Su Qing'an could only prepare for the worst.

Assuming this death cannot lead to a restart, the timeline will continue to extend, and the deeper Fu Hua's bond with herself as Fusion Warrior becomes, the more pain she will bear in the long years to come that she would not otherwise have to endure.

Himeko remained noncommittal.

"I don't know how much those two battles two weeks ago cost you, but there's no need to overthink it. Being too cautious isn't like a young person. Sometimes being too mature doesn't bring happiness."

She paused, then said something that was very unlike what a captain should say:

"No matter how much you have left, even if it's only a month or even just a day, there's no need to restrain yourself or hold back for a certain period of time."

"While this statement might not be very convincing coming from me, the reality is that in today's world, choosing an attitude of entertainment to the death for revelry may be the easier option."

"Actually, this ball was held for that purpose as well."

Su Qing'an smiled helplessly and said:

"I can't do it, Himeko."

Himeko held the glass of wine up to the bright sunlight, watching the liquid medium turn into a magnificent golden hue. The light scattered and diffused at the corners of her eyes, revealing the clear texture of her Amber eyes.

The woman said softly:

"As a whole, we can be confident that we will achieve victory, but from an individual perspective, no one knows when or where they might fall."

"Just like Sydney two weeks ago, if that Judgment-class Honkai Beast had been given more room to maneuver, this place would probably be completely destroyed."

Even someone as strong as you is no exception.

Su Qing'an did not believe that Himeko was wrong.

Love is restraint, but not pure and unconditional restraint. While you are thinking about these things, you never consider the other person's thoughts and feelings after they find out.

Such arbitrary decisions may not be considered correct.

In the previous timeline, Su Qing'an had already broken free from his inner shackles. Logically speaking, he shouldn't hesitate about these things now.

But the unspoken feelings, the despair before their meeting, the pain of seeing the future and learning of the other's inner sorrow, and... that tragic death that seemed like a cruel mockery of fate.

All of this exacerbated the self-imposed confinement.

While all of the above can be overcome, the objective fact that Su Qing'an's lifespan is only two years and the completion of the Stigmata Project is a distant prospect makes it truly difficult for him to break free from his own shackles.

The more resilient a person is, the more likely they are to be stubborn and persistent.

Whether right or wrong is important is no longer the most crucial factor.

Su Qing'an walked to her side and poured himself a glass of champagne. As the champagne swayed, fine white bubbles appeared, which then slowly dispersed into the glass, revealing a pure color without any impurities.

He responded softly:

"Himeko, I understand everything you're saying."

"But I can't do it."

The boy, smelling the pure and elegant fruity aroma, thought to himself that he rarely drank alcohol, including champagne.

But he had heard that bubbles are the hallmark of Champagne; they persist in young wines but naturally diminish with age, resulting in a smoother, more delicate flavor.

The champagne in front of you is called Perrier-Jouët.

The champagne bottle is decorated with an Art Nouveau anemone motif, symbolizing elegance and the joy and beauty that seem to overflow from the semi-transparent bottle. It appears indispensable for a ball held to relieve stress.

Himeko ignored his actions; no one would think it necessary to care whether a currently invincible Martial Immortal was old enough to drink alcohol.

In fact, given the current situation, even if a toddler, just learning to speak, says with a smile that he/she wants to drink some, a woman would at most say that it's just a moderate amount, and not to drink too much so that she can't make formula for the night.

She deftly poured the remaining wine into the flute glass, her movements swift and elegant, as she said:

"This brand of champagne is made from grapes grown in the Des Blancs vineyard. If the grapes are not of good quality that year, the production of the wine will be postponed to the following year."

"Based on this condition, perhaps these are the last batch of true Perrier-Jouët."

Himeko spoke of these disheartening realities, but made no deliberate attempt to bring up the previous topics.

Since Su Qing'an found it difficult to articulate the core of the problem directly and ensure Himeko's perfect understanding, from Himeko's perspective, the situation could only be attributed to the shyness of a young person.

This is normal; no one stipulates that a dragon-slaying hero must be incredibly powerful in addition to slaying the dragon.

It would be even more strange if someone were completely omnipotent and flawless. Su Qing'an had given her a similar impression before, but now that the other party was involved in emotional issues, the naivety he showed made Himeko feel a closeness that was different from the previous sense of distance.

A few flaws aren't necessarily a bad thing; at least, they've made Himeko eager to try them out.

It's okay if Su Qing'an is too shy to take the initiative.

Love isn't a one-way trip. It doesn't matter if one person is agonizing over whether to buy a ticket at the station, while the other person just hauls them on in an armed helicopter. All they have to do is weld the hatch shut so no one can get off, and everything will be fine.

Whether Ms. Fu Hua is skilled at flying a helicopter is not a particularly important matter. Flying a plane is something that should be left to professionals, while amateurs only need to stay in the cockpit and dress up nicely.

The young man savored the rich fruity aroma of Perrier-Jouët his lips and flowed down his throat. Surprisingly, the refreshing taste didn't bother him, even though he didn't like drinking alcohol—but he still preferred Coca-Cola.

Actually, arriving at the ball early was quite boring, but for some reason, Seele kept urging her to get ready, so Su Qing'an simply came here.

I initially thought it would be another typical afternoon, but now it seems chatting with Himeko isn't so bad after all.

At least this feeling of nostalgia is constantly bringing Su Qing'an closer to her original self.

Meanwhile, Himeko opened a new bottle of Perrier-Jouët. While the boy was lost in thought, she poured champagne into his flute glass until it was half full. Her nonchalant manner was like pouring cold water from a water dispenser, exuding an air of wealth and extravagance.

The woman patted him on the shoulder and said:

"For parties reimbursed by the higher-ups, all you need to do is ensure everyone drinks to their heart's content."

Whether it was his imagination or not, Su Qing'an felt that her tone had become a little more lively. Of course, he couldn't have imagined that the once solemn and iron-blooded captain of the Moth to Fire was already showing signs of becoming a tinderbox at this ball.

But the boy still wanted to complain that this natural act of urging someone to drink was somewhat like the time when Murata Himeko of beer stains on his clothes.

The overlap of these two scenes unconsciously brightened Su Qing'an's mood considerably. What used to feel like nothing more than helplessness now took on a different kind of warmth in the present moment.

Perhaps memories are like the bubbles in champagne; numerous memories are continuously preserved for a short period of time, but as time goes by, some of the feelings at the time will naturally be forgotten. However, the taste that is savored after years will tend to be delicate and mellow.

The existence of reincarnation and past lives might be considered a kind of gentle treatment for me.

The boy took a sip of the champagne in his glass and politely nodded in response:

"I will."

Himeko bids farewell with a smile:

"Okay, I have to go now. Remember to be on time tonight."

While Su Qing'an was drinking champagne alone, all the troublemakers except Himeko had gathered at his house and were launching a mental attack on Fu Hua.