At dawn, the sun rose.
Sunlight streamed into the room.
Brilliant arcs of light reflected off the pages of the new calendar, covering the floor in golden hues as clearly visible dust danced in the wind and sunlight.
All the furniture and daily necessities in the room had been carried over from storage by Himeko and Kiana.
Although he had said he could do it alone, the two of them had rejected the idea on the grounds that he had only recently recovered from his injuries.
This single dormitory was about sixty square meters, with every facility one could need. Himeko had seemed rather regretful that day that she had not chosen to live with him.
Actually, if Himeko had been the only one living in her home, Su Qing'an might have considered it. But now three girls had moved in with her, and no matter how he thought about it, it would be inappropriate for him to move in too.
Kiana did not really care whether he moved in or not. Over the past three days, she would occasionally drag him into playing games, and sometimes complain that Bronya was a sly little fox, a "green tea" as people online called it. Su Qing'an could not help laughing every time he listened to her.
Kiana had returned to her usual lively self. It seemed that the people around her had recently allowed her to open her heart, and Su Qing'an was seeing her wear that cold expression less and less often.
That was a good thing, right?
For a girl who had experienced so many hardships and tragedies since childhood, what had happened in Changkong City was merely an accident in her life. Yet after crossing that hurdle, the future she would face would be even more difficult.
Such carefree days, when she did not have to ponder the meaning of life, were precious to Kiana Kaslana.
Her days at St. Freya Academy would be the last safe harbor in her memories.
After that, storms and raging waves on the sea would come rushing toward her.
All Su Qing'an could do was become a little stronger, and then stronger still, before that day arrived.
When he opened the window, the branches and leaves of the ancient tree came into view. Bathed in the morning sun, it resembled the Fusang of Shenzhou legend.
Breathing in the fresh air, the young man could not help smiling when he saw the girl quietly practicing her punches beneath the tree.
Hua.
Every time I see you, no matter what mood I was in before, I feel happy.
Is this some kind of strange habit?
He opened the door and walked beneath the tree, tacitly waiting for the girl to finish a set of punches. Watching the tranquil and peaceful movements, he understood that this was not a fist meant for killing, but a method for nourishing the body and strengthening it.
She had removed her red glasses before practicing. Her uncovered eyes were as clear as autumn waters.
Her face appeared even more flawless than white jade beneath the sunlight, her crystal-clear skin shimmering with an ivory radiance.
The girl seemed to have just finished bathing. Her gray hair was slightly damp and tied back with Black Rope.
Su Qing'an felt his heart pounding as violently as when he had been hunted by Ganesha. Even when he had ridden the Kawasaki H2R across the gap between life and death, it had never beaten this hard.
The guards in his heart were as useless as the soldiers in a game he had once played, Dynasty Warriors. After only a few more glances, they had already been routed.
To him, the girl's beautiful brows and eyes, along with the movements of her punches, were as sharp as swords. They pierced straight into his heart in the blink of an eye, impossible to resist.
What a strange feeling. That was what he told himself.
Then he began practicing the same form the girl was performing.
Fifteen minutes later, the two of them withdrew their fists at the same time. Their nearly identical movements were harmonious and natural.
Their morning warm-up was over.
"Fu Hua, you came early today." The young man struck up a conversation naturally.
"The martial path has no end. Diligence is the most basic requirement." Fu Hua wiped the lenses of her glasses before putting them on and replying.
For the past three days, Fu Hua had come beneath the tree every morning to practice her punches.
When he asked her why, she had replied that she had always liked practicing beneath this tree in the morning.
It was just that his dormitory happened to be nearby.
Su Qing'an did not think Fu Hua treated him any differently.
No matter how good Fu Hua's memory was, the world's reset after his death was enough to erase everything, just as Kiana had no longer recognized him before.
A god's resurrection was never some convenient, amusing game.
Even though he might be resurrected after dying again, he would never take his own life lightly.
"Miss Nagamitsu asked me to give this to you." Handing him a silver metal case marked with the Schicksal emblem, Fu Hua said helplessly, "It should contain your reforged sword. Miss Nagamitsu really is reckless. She probably worked through the night without sleeping that day. After I took the case from her, she simply collapsed onto her desk and fell asleep."
The gentle way she had later carried Nagamitsu to bed and tucked her in was another story.
"Mm, thank you." He took the somewhat heavy case and replied, "Miss Nagamitsu is undoubtedly an excellent swordsmith, but sometimes I wish she would pay more attention to her own health. It wasn't an urgent matter, so I feel a little guilty that she pushed herself like that."
"I have to find time to thank her properly."
"Are you planning to go to Changkong City today?" Fu Hua asked.
"Mm. The weapon has been reforged, so I have no reason to delay." Su Qing'an answered.
"...Is that person important to you?" Fu Hua suddenly asked.
Su Qing'an froze for a moment at the question, then answered seriously:
"For the previous 'me,' Satou and the stray cat were the only lively things in an otherwise dead life."
"She was a very ordinary child. She often complained noisily about the people and things she disliked, and she really loved drinking the coffee I made. While drinking it, she was so quiet that she hardly seemed like her usual chatterbox self. I really liked the serious way she praised me after finishing it." The young man recounted his memories slowly, his expression cheerful.
"Whether for the old 'me' or the current me, Satou is an important presence. Making coffee for her every day is just like feeding the cats outside the coffee shop every evening."
"If I can't see her, I feel uncomfortable."
So, whether for the old Su Qing'an or his current self, he would regret it if he did not go and take a look.
Even though it was foolish, silly, and illogical, he still had no intention of giving up.
Su Qing'an was a man who had survived being hunted by an Emperor-class Honkai Beast for the sake of this so-called idiotic promise. After doing something that foolish, what was wrong with looking back one more time?
It was like playing a hundred-floor tower-climbing RPG. After painstakingly defeating the demon king boss on the ninety-ninth floor, you would not give up halfway and refuse to climb to the final floor, regardless of whether the last stage contained a reward chest or even greater despair.
"I understand. Sorry for asking you such a strange question." Fu Hua brushed aside a strand of gray hair by her shoulder. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but the girl's cherry-colored lips seemed to curve upward slightly.
"Are you going to see Headmaster Theresa now?" she asked.
"Mm." Su Qing'an nodded. He was going to ask Headmaster Theresa for authorization to travel to Changkong City.
"Be careful. Although most of the Honkai Beasts in Changkong City have been cleared out by the Far East Branch, we cannot rule out accidents. That is also why the headmaster has to think it over before agreeing."
Fu Hua reminded him with utmost seriousness. Her calm expression made him feel that the smile he had seen earlier had merely been an illusion.
"Thank you. I'll be careful. See you, then." After saying goodbye to Fu Hua, Su Qing'an headed toward the headmaster's office.
After the young man's back disappeared from sight, the girl continued practicing her punches.
"Lady Fu Hua! Why haven't you been practicing in the training room lately? We haven't been able to find you to ask about our training." The speaker was a student in the same class as her.
"Nothing in particular. I just feel that the morning air beneath this tree is better lately." The girl withdrew her fists and spoke indifferently.
Although it was already winter, the slightly cool air had grown warm beneath the sunlight.
The weather was wonderful today.
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