Nagazora — The Roost
Clang… Clang…
Mei descended the stairs, following the familiar sounds of metal striking metal. When she reached the lower floor, she found a large humanoid mech working on the outer guardrails.
Its main armor plating was painted a striking fire-engine red, contrasting sharply with its pitch-black mechanical joints and subtle white trim. Heavy metallic shoulder guards protected its upper body, while its angular, streamlined head featured a faceless visor radiating a bright yellow-orange glow.
A sophisticated thruster array was mounted on its back, allowing the heavy machine to hover, perform rapid aerial dashes, and launch itself into the air for devastating plunging attacks. Heat-conduction vents ran throughout its armor, carrying energy through its mechanical frame.
The mech was carefully repairing the outermost guardrails.
Mei recognized it immediately.
It was Hephaestus.
However, the children gathered around the machine had apparently mistaken it for something else.
Resident: "Wow… it's Arahato!"
Several children crowded around the mech, their eyes shining with excitement.
Resident: "It's my favorite anime! It was super popular in Nagazora!"
Resident: "I've memorised that cool line from Muji Countdown episode 3!"
Resident: ""This isn't philosophy. It's just a simple removal of annoying things.""
Resident: "The battle where the Voidrine Tyrant demolished the hero team was so epic! I watched it dozens of times."
Tesla: "WHY WOULD YOU KEEP WATCHING THAT BATTLE?!"
An angry Tesla suddenly leaped out of Hephaestus's cockpit, startling the children.
Mei couldn't help but give a small smile at the scene.
Tesla dusted herself off before turning toward Mei.
Tesla: "So… I went to the last scanning location but found nothing. Kiana must have left the east city."
Mei: "I asked the children in the shelters and someone saw her heading to the other side of town."
Mei: "We should start moving at once and search the west city."
Tesla glanced toward the sky. The sunlight was already beginning to fade.
Tesla: "Mei, I understand that you want to find Kiana as quickly as possible."
Tesla: "But it's getting dark. Let's call it a day and start our search tomorrow."
Mei: "But…"
Tesla: "We know she's out there. That's why we should be cautious and avoid unnecessary accidents."
Mei lowered her gaze briefly. She understood Tesla's reasoning, but the thought of Kiana wandering through the ruined city alone made it difficult for her to stop.
Mei: "I understand… but I still have a few hours before the sun sets. I can still do some scouting."
Tesla: "Just get back before it gets dark."
Mei nodded, then hesitated before bringing up another matter.
Mei: "Oh… one more thing."
Mei: "Can we… help the children here?"
Tesla considered the request.
Tesla: "I'll talk to Mophead and see what we can do."
Tesla: "The Salt Lake base already took in some orphans, and we're low on medical supplies. We must talk to their Sensei…"
Tesla: "I'm afraid our assistance will be quite limited…"
Mei nodded. Even so, she hoped they could find some way to help the children.
Before leaving, Mei went to speak with Sora.
Sora: "You need to cross the Nagazora Wall to get to the west city. Let me lead the way since it's easy to get lost there."
Mei: "Thank you so much, Sora. We'll protect you if something dangerous happens."
Sora: "Don't worry, I'll hide in a safe place when the fighting starts."
With Sora leading the way, Mei began her journey toward the Nagazora Wall.
The route was far from safe. Several Honkai beasts emerged from the ruined buildings along the way, but none posed much of a challenge for Mei. She dispatched them quickly, allowing the pair to continue without much delay.
Eventually, they reached the enormous structure that divided the city.
Sora: "We're at the wall now."
Sora pointed toward the other side.
Sora: "The west city is just up ahead."
Mei looked beyond the wall. The western district stretched into the distance, its ruined buildings partially obscured by the evening haze.
She checked the time and decided they had gone far enough for today.
Mei: "That's it for today. Time to head back."
She turned toward Sora.
Mei: "Sora, would you mind going to the Helios with me to get a health exam? We can have dinner together."
Mei: "Thank you so much for helping us today."
Sora's eyes brightened at the mention of dinner.
Sora: "Really? It feels bad saying this, but there's only canned food at the Roost. I always wanted to try something else."
Mei smiled.
Mei: "Alright. Let's go."
As they began making their way back, Mei suddenly stopped.
Mei: "…Huh, what's that?"
Her attention had been caught by a familiar-looking building standing among the ruined concrete jungle.
She stared at it for several seconds.
Mei: "That's… Chiba Academy?"
Sora followed her gaze.
Sora: "Lemme see… ah, yes, the famous Chiba Academy. Only rich people study there."
Sora: "People say that if you're a student of Chiba, you're set for life."
Mei gave a small, nostalgic smile.
Mei: "Well… that isn't exactly true. I used to be a student at Chiba as well."
Sora's eyes widened.
Sora: "Whoah… does that mean you… you're super, super, super rich?"
Mei chuckled softly.
Mei: "I was in school when the Honkai Eruption happened… I didn't expect to return to this place like this."
Mei: "So many things have happened since then."
Sora looked at Mei curiously.
Sora: "Where's your family?"
Mei's smile faded slightly. She looked toward the academy, her thoughts drifting back to a time before the world had fallen apart.
Mei: "I'm the only child, and my mother passed away when I was very young."
Mei: "My father raised me alone. Shortly after I enrolled in Chiba, he was framed and thrown in prison."
Mei: "He's no longer in jail. Someone cleared his name and sent him somewhere safe."
Sora: "You haven't seen him for a while, right?"
Mei: "He's on an important mission. We talk on the phone sometimes, but he always assures me that he's safe."
Mei paused.
Mei: "…It was very painful when he was a wanted criminal."
Mei: "My only family was taken away. The name of the Raiden clan was tarnished."
Mei: "While I was being ostracised by my "friends", people who coveted Father's wealth tried to approach me."
Mei: "The world I knew crumbled. I realised that no one cared about me. They cared only for the Raiden name."
Her voice softened.
Mei: "All but one ..."
A familiar face appeared in her memories.
A young man with short red hair and red eyes. A traveler from another world who had appeared in front of ME Corp and somehow become an important part of her life.
Kouga Hayata.
Mei: "Despite being at odd with everyone, being hated by other at school, he still stood by my side no matter what."
A gentle smile appeared on Mei's face.
Mei: "And it's also thanks to Him, i also meet her. They stood by my side."
Mei: "They saved me."
Sora tilted her head.
Sora: "Who are they ?"
Mei: "Kouga and Kiana. Kouga Hayata and Kiana Kaslana."
Three years ago.
On the rooftop of Chiba Academy, Mei had stood at the edge, she had been ready to let go as she take a jump.
But two hands had reached out and caught her.
One belonged to Kiana.
The other belonged to Kouga.
Both of them had grabbed her arms, refusing to let her fall.
Mei: "They saved me from the disaster."
Mei: "They were the one who grabbed my hand and lifted me out of the darkness."
Mei: "Kiana's frail arm was imbued with unimaginable strength. I tried to twist and pull away from her, but she held on. While Kouga hold my arm tight refusing to let go."
Mei remembered looking into Kiana's blue eyes.
Despite the danger, Kiana had looked straight at her. She was naive and stubborn, but there was something reassuring and sincere about her.
Mei: "I looked into Kiana's blue eyes. She was naive and stubborn, but also reassuring and sincere."
Kiana: "'I'll always be here!'"
Mei's thoughts then shifted to the other person holding her.
Kouga's red eyes had been fixed on her. He could be strict, and sometimes difficult to understand, but beneath that exterior was a gentle soul who would do everything in his power to save her.
Mei: "Under Kouga's red eyes. He was a strict man with a gentle soul that will do his best to save me."
Kouga: "'None of this is your fault.'"
Mei remembered how Kiana had refused to stop talking about saving her, even as she struggled to hold on.
Kouga, meanwhile, had remained beside them, making certain that neither of them would be lost.
Mei: "Kiana just couldn't stop talking about how to save me, but she fought hard to save me from death, Kouga on other hand will make sure all of us are safe."
Mei chuckled softly as she recalled Kiana's antics and Kouga's habit of putting everyone else's safety before his own.
Mei: "They are the person i trust the most."
Mei: "We finally left Nagazora together."
Mei: "Schicksal Valkyries took us away and we enrolled in St. Freya High. Things happened. I met new people."
Mei: "The family, friends, home, and future I'd lost trickled back to me and I found a place where I belonged."
Mei paused.
Then she shook her head slightly.
Mei: "No, it was when i was with Kouga and Kiana that i already found the play i belong."
Her thoughts returned to those early days, to the people who had reached out to her when she had nothing left.
Mei: "Now that I've been thinking about it, perhaps it was at that very moment…"
She remembered the first time she had met Kouga, standing in front of ME Corp.
Mei: "That my life changed."
Thinking about the past brought a smile to Mei's face.
For many months, she had hardly smiled at all. The weight of everything that had happened had left little room for happiness.
But now, as she stood before the ruins of her old school, a smile returned to her face.
It was a smile of pure happiness, the kind that belonged to an innocent girl who had once believed the world was full of possibilities.
Mei: "…Oh dear, I think I got carried away."
Sora shook her head.
Sora: "No, of course not! They must be very important to you."
Mei looked toward the academy again.
Mei: "We shared many memories in this place. Just walking around here reminds me of our past…"
Her smile gradually faded.
Mei: "But Kouga had gone missing and i only manage to find Kiana."
Mei: "And thinking about the past makes me want to find her sooner…"
Mei clenched her hands.
Mei: "She was once one of my protector… the time has come for me to protect her instead."