"..."
Hearing Bai Ming's words, Himeko fell silent for a long moment before smiling and saying:
"Although I might not have the right to say this. I think... the person who lived that life was perhaps lucky enough."
"...Lucky enough?"
Bai Ming blinked her beautiful golden eyes, clearly somewhat puzzled by this.
Seeing her like this, Himeko suddenly asked a question.
"Bai Ming, what do you think is the unluckiest thing that can happen to a star in its lifetime?"
"Huh?"
Suddenly being asked such an unrelated question, Bai Ming was a bit stunned.
Still, she thought for a moment, then said:
"Well... maybe going 'boom' and disappearing?"
As she said this, Bai Ming even very seriously gestured with her hands, clearly trying hard to show Himeko that she was thinking earnestly.
"Mmm~"
Himeko chuckled charmingly.
"A very vivid gesture, I understood it."
"But I think the end of life isn't actually the unluckiest thing for a star."
"Because that day will come eventually, right?"
"Ah... that's true." Bai Ming nodded thoughtfully.
"Then, Sister Himeko, what is the unluckiest thing for it?"
"Simple."
Himeko raised an arm.
"It's never having been discovered."
"If its light was never seen by anyone, then no matter how brightly it shone, it would still be a lonely life."
"But if someone could notice the star's radiance, and praise it, sing of it, or even..."
Himeko looked at Bai Ming before her, seeming to weigh her words.
"...feel sorrow for it."
"Then even the tiniest light can find a place in the cosmos."
"So, as a star that tried its best, if it knew it had been noticed and recorded by someone light-years away, it would probably feel its journey was worthwhile."
"Though the star is small, its light is hard to conceal."
"This is what I call luck."
"Bai Ming, can you understand what I mean?"
"..."
Bai Ming looked at the answer from this other version of her, her expression gradually clearing up like a sunny day.
"I understand, Sister Himeko!"
"Good." Himeko smiled slightly.
Almost simultaneously, a reward screen popped up before Bai Ming's eyes.
[Heartfelt Event Completed]
[Evaluation Score: 1/100]
[Reward Obtained: Crystal*10]
[First Time Favorability: Additional Crystal*100]
"Huh?"
Bai Ming was somewhat surprised.
She hadn't expected to unlock something new at a time like this.
After all, the Himeko before her didn't seem particularly moved.
Bai Ming quietly swiped to another interface of the dating system and saw the section belonging to Himeko.
[Encounter in Another World - Another Himeko's Appreciation]
[1/100] ☆
Bai Ming was puzzled at first, but soon understood.
This was an exchange system from Honkai Impact 3rd, after all.
Having things like this wasn't strange at all.
It's just—
What did this star mean?
"Alright, alright!"
March 7th reached out, pushing both Himeko and Bai Ming apart.
"You've been talking for ages! No more being cryptic!"
"Dan Heng and I are about to grow moss on our heads!"
"No." Dan Heng replied almost instantly. "I don't mind. Listening to others' stories is itself a way of writing our own."
"Eh?! How can you say that?!"
Seeing March 7th's flustered expression, Himeko laughed and turned her gaze back to Bai Ming.
"On the way here, did Little March cause you any trouble?"
"Mmm—"
March 7th whipped her head around, her gaze also falling on Bai Ming.
"Choose. Your. Words. Carefully."
"..."
This feeling was all too familiar to Bai Ming.
A classic trap question.
If options popped up now...
Bai Ming could even guess what the answers would be.
Option one would definitely be the snarky response.
Something like "I've never seen such a clumsy girl."
Probably no one would pick that.
After all, March 7th was really cute.
Option two would probably be the milder, teasing response.
Like "I've never seen such a lively girl" – much gentler in tone, but carrying another layer of meaning.
This choice would be relatively more popular.
Because it's less aggressive.
As for option three, it would almost certainly be the same as Kars's famous solution.
Meaning, to stop thinking.
Something like "I think I'll pass on answering" would be perfect here.
As long as you don't answer, you can't lose points!
But...
Bai Ming rejected these answers.
She had her own ideas.
Bai Ming wiped the corner of her eye, putting on a pitiful, tearful expression.
"No."
"Ah March didn't cause me any trouble."
"Then why are you like this?" Himeko couldn't help but ask.
"Because..."
Bai Ming looked at March 7th beside her and sniffled.
"Just thinking that March is a woman I can never have... it breaks my heart."
"???"
Himeko didn't say anything, but her eyes revealed that her mind had been blasted to another dimension.
Hearing this, March 7th quickly spoke up:
"Hey! What do you mean 'a woman you can never have'! Am I really like that?!"
"So you're saying you're allowing me to have you now?!" Bai Ming rubbed her hands together, saying happily.
"Eh? You..."
Realizing she had fallen into Bai Ming's trap, March 7th blushed, unable to speak for a long time.
Seeing March 7th like this, Bai Ming took her hand and continued with a smile:
"Just kidding~"
"How could March 7th cause me trouble? She is my greatest treasure!"
"That's not funny at all!" March 7th pouted.
Watching the two of them, Dan Heng furrowed his brow, as if he wanted to say something.
"Dan Heng, what did you want to say?" Himeko, noticing, asked.
"Nothing, pretend I'm not here." Dan Heng covered his forehead and replied.
"Haha~"
Himeko laughed at the scene.
"Young people really get along quickly. It seems you're already quite familiar with each other."
"Let's go, Asta is very worried about you."
With that, Himeko turned around, ready to lead the way.
Just then, Bai Ming spoke up again:
"Um, Sister Himeko!"
"What is it?" Himeko turned back.
"Well..." Bai Ming said cautiously, "Can I hold your hand while we walk?"
"This..."
Himeko reached out her hand and smiled slightly.
"Of course."
"Ah, wonderful!"
Bai Ming said happily to March 7th beside her.
"March, I'll come back to you later!"
After saying this, Bai Ming grabbed Himeko's hand and walked side by side with her.
Watching the two chatting and laughing, March 7th puffed out her cheeks and muttered under her breath.
"But, I was here first..."
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon.
patreon.com/deadlygoober