Helios — One Hour Later
The dining area aboard the Helios was unusually lively.
Sora sat at the table alongside Mei, Tesla, Sakura, the little Kallen doll, and Higokumaru.
A freshly prepared meal was spread across the table, filling the room with a delicious aroma.
Sora, Higokumaru, and the Kallen doll were eating as though they were competing against one another. Sora and Higokumaru had quickly developed an impressive appetite, while the tiny Kallen doll was struggling to keep up due to her small size.
Sakura watched the three of them with an amused expression before gently scolding them.
Sakura: "Eat slowly little one, the food isn't going any where."
Higokumaru: "It's can be helped Aneki, the food you and Mei made are too good"
Doll Kallen: "Indeed anything you made is tasty"
Sora: "Kyaa… this is… so super tasty!"
After all, Mei and Sakura had joined hands to prepare the meal.
Mei smiled as she watched Sora enjoy herself.
Mei: "Have as much as you want. There's more in the kitchen."
Sora picked up another bite and examined it with curiosity.
Sora: "…It's filled with chili peppers but it's not spicy at all! It's actually pretty sweet!"
Tesla glanced at her plate.
Tesla: "Because they're sweet peppers…"
Sora continued eating, clearly delighted.
Sora: "If only Sensei could cook like Mei. Sensei is such a nice person… but the food she makes isn't nice at all…"
Tesla raised an eyebrow.
Tesla: "…Speaking of which, I'm curious about something."
She put down her utensils and turned toward Sora.
Tesla: "Your Sensei goes out every month. She had 3 years to help you leave. Why wouldn't she do that?"
Sora swallowed her food before answering.
Sora: "Oh… she has her own reasons."
Sora: "The Roost is a lonely place. We always wanted Sensei to tell us stories about herself."
Sora: "Sensei came from a poor family. Something terrible happened when she was young and left her with nothing."
Sora: "For many years, she worked hard, dealt with people from all over the world, and saved a small fortune."
Sora: "She spent most of that money to buy a private island in a faraway country called… erm… I can't remember."
Sora: "She planned to build a large house and live happily and peacefully there."
Sora: "She'll also take us there along with people she saved in other countries."
Sora's expression brightened as she recalled the story.
Sora: "The huge house was almost complete. We felt so happy that her hard work would finally pay off."
Her smile slowly disappeared.
Sora: "But no one foresaw that tragedy…"
Mei: "What happened?"
Sora: "The Great Eruption 4 months ago."
Sora: "Sensei was here when it happened. Many beasts attacked us, but Sensei fought them off and protected the Roost."
Sora: "The battle lasted hours, but we were finally safe. It was then that we received the bad news."
Sora: "Sensei's island sank beneath the waves…"
Mei: "…?"
Sora lowered her eyes, remembering the day.
Sora: "I can still remember what Sensei did that day…"
Sora: "She paced about and said "it's fine". Then she started throwing herself against the ground… she was crying."
Sora: "Then Sensei rushed out of her room and howled at the waves like a child."
Sora: "She kept howling until she ran out of tears and her voice turned coarse."
Sora paused.
Sora: "I could never forget the oath she swore at the setting sun."
Sora: ""Humanity shall defeat the Honkai no matter the cost…!!""
The dining room fell silent.
Mei stared at Sora, while Tesla remained motionless.
Mei: "…"
Tesla: "…"
Sakura: "..."
The little Kallen doll also stopped eating.
Higokumaru, however, was still busy enjoying her meal.
Mei eventually broke the silence with a sympathetic smile.
Mei: "Oh dear… that's… a very sad story."
She glanced at the window. The sunlight was fading, and it was almost time to escort Sora home.
Mei: "Alright, Sora. I'll escort you home before it gets too dark."
Sora hesitated before making another request.
Sora: "Mei… can I… take some of that delicious curry home so that everyone gets to try it?"
Mei smiled warmly.
Mei: "Of course, I have it all packed and ready."
She stood up and headed into the kitchen. A moment later, she returned carrying several neatly packed bento boxes.
Mei: "This is enough for 20. Share them with your friends."
Sora's face lit up.
Sora: "Thank you so much, Mei. You're the nicest person in the world!"
Tesla watched Mei with a faint smile.
Tesla: "Humph, Mei is really good at taking care of people."
She paused, then looked at the remaining dishes on the table.
Tesla: "…"
Tesla: "…Wait, is it my turn to do the dishes today?"
Sakura immediately stood up.
Sakura: "Here, let me help you clean the dishes."
Higokumaru: "Me too."
Nagazora — A Convenient Delivery
Mei and Sora stepped outside the Helios, carrying the packed bento boxes.
Nearby stood one of the red tactical mechs.
Mei looked at the machine, then at the food in her hands.
An idea suddenly occurred to her.
Mei: "Using tactical mechs to transport curry…"
She glanced back toward the Helios.
Mei: "I hope Dr. Tesla won't get mad."
Sora watched curiously as Mei opened the mech's cockpit.
The two climbed inside.
Mei settled into the pilot's seat and activated the controls.
Mei: "Turning on autopilot… Done."
The tactical mech powered up. Its thrusters activated, and it began its journey toward the Roost, carrying Mei, Sora, and their precious cargo.
The Roost — Delivering Dinner
Mei: "Safely arrived."
The mech landed near the settlement. Mei and Sora climbed out, and Mei handed over the bento boxes.
Mei: "Here, share with everyone."
Sora nodded enthusiastically and carried the food back into the Roost.
Mei waited nearby until the girl returned.
A little while later, Sora came running back, looking happier than ever.
Sora: "Mei, I gave out all the curry and everyone really liked it."
Mei: "I'm happy to hear that."
Sora: "I really wish Sensei could try it as well."
Sora looked at Mei for a moment before asking another question.
Sora: "You'll leave once you find Kiana, right?"
Mei nodded.
Mei: "Yes… we still need to take care of many things."
Mei: "I'm sure we'll meet again. Dr. Tesla and Anti-Entropy will try to help you and meet your Sensei."
Sora smiled brightly.
Sora: "Of course! You're so kind, Mei. You're just like our Sensei. I'm sure you'll become good friends."
Mei chuckled softly.
Mei: "And you always sound happy every time we talk about your Sensei."
Sora: "Yeah. She's my Sensei in so many ways."
Sora looked down at Mark II, which she was holding in her arms.
Sora: "The disaster took away my memory… I could hardly remember my family, friends, the life I led, or even my dreams."
Sora: "I could only remember waking up in Sensei's arms as she silently walked through the ruined city."
Sora: "It was dark and the clouds were heavy, but I… I felt as though light was shining on me."
Mei listened quietly.
Sora: "Sensei gathered me with the other children, took us to the Roost, and told us that we would live together."
Sora: "But I couldn't remember anything and didn't know what to do. I chose to follow Sensei wherever she went."
Sora: "Sensei was a little annoyed, but she taught me survival skills since she couldn't be in Nagazora all the time."
Sora: "She taught me how to get around quickly, how to avoid the roaming beasts, and how to protect myself."
Sora: "She taught me how to "live well"."
Mei tilted her head.
Mei: "What does that mean?"
Sora looked at Mark II again, her expression becoming nostalgic.
Sora: "I remember it was a normal afternoon. Sensei wished me happy birthday and told me about a present."
Sora: "I was surprised since I couldn't even remember my name. How did Sensei know my birthday?"
Sora: "…Sensei then gave this to me."
Sora carefully held Mark II in both hands.
Then, in a gentle voice, she addressed the little robot.
Sora: ""Mark II, Mark II, who am I?""
PSSSHHZ…
Mark II's eyes illuminated.
A holographic geometric pattern emerged from its head, rapidly expanding into a massive display filled with lines of text.
Mei stared at the projection in surprise.
Mei: "What's this?"
Sora looked up at the information.
Sora: "…It's my life."
Sora: "My name, birthday, family members, experiences, an incomplete diary, social network page, and theme park visits…"
Sora: "Sensei pulled a lot of strings to salvage all these fragments of my life."
Sora smiled faintly.
Sora: "To be honest, my life was more honest than I had imagined."
Sora: "But… it is still what it is. It's my life."
Sora: "It was the firm time that I learned my name, birthday, where I lived, and what I dreamed of."
Sora: "I found out that I was loved and loved in return. I had hobbies and there were things that I hated."
Sora: "Though my memories didn't return, the text made me feel that I actually had a life in the past…"
Mei continued watching the holographic display. Each fragment of information represented something Sora had lost, but also something her Sensei had worked hard to give back to her.
Sora: "Sensei said I couldn't "live well" without a past."
Sora: ""Live well"… she always says that."
Sora looked toward the distant ruins of Nagazora.
Sora: "Nagazora was destroyed, but we're still here. We'll live on and live well in our fight against fate."
Sora: "One day will come when we leave this place, go to the other side of the great sea, and bask in the sun."
Sora: "The story of our struggle will inspire others to live on and live well in the future."
She hugged Mark II against her chest.
Sora: "I believe that's why Sensei built the Roost and gave me Mark II and my past on my birthday."
Mei looked at the girl with a gentle expression.
Her words reminded Mei of someone else.
Someone who had once reached out to her when she had lost everything.
Mei: "A reason to live on…"
Mei thought about Kiana, about how she had helped her find a reason to keep moving forward even when everything seemed hopeless.
Mei: "After that disaster, your Sensei changed you just like how Kiana changed me."
Sora glanced at the sky.
The sun was almost gone, and the evening shadows had begun to stretch across the settlement.
Sora: "…Ah, it's getting dark. I have to head back to my room. You should also head back, Mei."
She gave Mei one last cheerful smile.
Sora: "We'll definitely find Kiana tomorrow."
Mei smiled back.
Mei: "Of course. See you tomorrow."