Following Her

At dinnertime, in a small restaurant on the commercial street outside St. Freya Academy.

"Hey, you've been carrying that thing around for three hours already? It's just a sword. What's there to be so happy about?"

Kiana sat in the restaurant, staring at Sheng Jiu across from her. She covered her face, exasperated.

With his sword, Absolute Shadow, on his back and his face glowing, Sheng Jiu waved his fork around. "You don't understand the romance of men! I earned this through my own efforts, so of course I'm happy! Let me tell you, this sword was made from a Honkai Beast's skull. It's definitely more durable than those mass-produced katana..."

Yae Sakura leaned over and whispered to Bronya, "It's been a long time since I've seen Sheng Jiu this happy."

"Bronya understands foolish Sheng Jiu. This is a warrior's glory."

"..."

Just then, Sheng Jiu spotted a familiar figure outside the window and abruptly stopped mid-sentence. "It's the weekend tomorrow, but it's already so late. Where's the principal heading?"

The others followed Sheng Jiu's gaze. A short figure in a cloak was sneaking along outside, and the enormous cross strapped to her back gave away the identity of the passerby.

"Huh? Auntie's heading in the direction of the naval port!"

"Should we follow her and see?" Bronya voiced what everyone was thinking.

"...Forget it. The principal must have her reasons for dressing like that, and she probably doesn't want us getting involved. We'd better not go." After a brief moment of thought, Sheng Jiu stood up to pay. "Let's head back early, too. It's getting late, and I'm tired. It's the weekend tomorrow, so I want to sleep in."

After watching them disappear from sight, Sheng Jiu quickly picked up his pace and followed the direction Theresa had gone. Halfway there, he suddenly ran into someone. "Ow, that hurt!"

"Are you all right... Huh, Sheng Jiu? What are you doing here?"

"Teacher Walter?" Sheng Jiu was astonished to run into someone he knew so late at night.

Walter glanced at Absolute Shadow on Sheng Jiu's back, then at the sweat on his forehead. "Why aren't you back in your dorm at this hour? What are you doing out here?"

Sheng Jiu pretended to be exhausted. "I'm doing weighted training, sir. I just finished running ten kilometers with a load, and I'm on my way back to the dorm now."

Walter stared at Sheng Jiu for a long while, then smiled. "You remind me of myself when I was young. I know you have your own reasons for being here, and I won't pry. Just remember to stay safe."

Sheng Jiu thanked Walter and hurried off. As he watched Sheng Jiu grow smaller in the distance, a flash of red flickered in Walter's eyes. It lasted only a few seconds before vanishing. He turned and walked into a dark alley...

Sheng Jiu soon caught up with Theresa, who was walking at an unhurried pace, and watched her enter the spaceport.

Unexpectedly, the spaceport was bustling that night. One searchlight after another switched on, illuminating the dark sky. Valkyries were coming and going aboard the Hyperion, hauling combat supplies, while a crane slowly loaded a howitzer into the ship's ammunition hold. It was obvious that the massive vessel was about to set off on a mission.

Sheng Jiu hid in the bushes near the spaceport, watching everything happening inside the harbor. Just then, rustling came from a thicket not far behind him.

Without thinking, Sheng Jiu brought his hand down in a karate chop. To his surprise, he jabbed something soft. "Huh? That didn't quite..."

"Pervert! Take this!" A familiar voice came from the bushes, and a slender leg suddenly shot out, kicking straight at Sheng Jiu's face.

Sheng Jiu swiftly dodged the flying kick, grabbed the leg, and dragged his attacker out of the bushes.

Now Sheng Jiu could see the white hair covering the newcomer's head. He immediately let go.

Kiana clutched her head in grievance, then angrily grabbed Sheng Jiu's ear. "Ow... That hurts! Why'd you hit me so hard? I'll twist your ear right off!"

Knowing he was in the wrong, Sheng Jiu let Kiana twist his ear. Suddenly, his astonishingly slow reflexes finally caught up with him, and he reached out to squish Kiana's face. "Wait, what?! What's a little white-haired dumpling like you doing here? Weren't you already back at the dorm?"

"You're the white-haired dumpling! Stop squishing my face! I knew you were up to no good, so I secretly followed you!"

"Impudence! I'm a champion of justice. How am I up to no good? No, you're going back right now!"

"No way!" Kiana stubbornly shook her head. "I should be asking you that! Tell me, why are you following Auntie?"

Sheng Jiu looked at Kiana, his expression suddenly serious. "Do you remember what I told you earlier? It seems something formidable has emerged among the Honkai forces in Changkong City."

Kiana froze, then immediately remembered what they'd discussed in class. "I do, but what does that have to do with Auntie?"

"You're so dense! Think about it—when has the principal ever carried Judah with her to a meeting? It's obvious she's going to Changkong City to eliminate the newly emerged Herrscher. If even I can guess the source of the Honkai Beast tide in Changkong City, how could someone as shrewd as the principal not know?"

Kiana finally caught on. "So you want to follow Auntie to Changkong City! No way. I'm coming too!"

"No! It's too dangerous. You can't come!"

"Why not? If you can go, why can't I? I'm going, and that's final. You're so reckless you might die out there, and then no one would be around to collect your body! If I go with you, I can collect it for you!"

Sheng Jiu knew that, beneath her prickly exterior, Kiana was worried about him. Looking at her tough talk and tender heart, he felt a warmth well up inside him.

Sheng Jiu thought it over for a while, then finally nodded. "But what about Yae Sakura and Bronya?"

"Don't worry. I told them I'd be playing games online with you all day for the next couple of days. As long as we're back by Monday, it'll be fine!"