"Look! Mei made so many chicken legs—three whole plates! I can see them! I can practically smell them without even trying!"
Kiana carefully crouched under the dining table, reaching up slowly. Xia Qi watched eagerly as Kiana managed to grab two drumsticks.
"Here, one for you, one for me!"
Kiana happily took a bite from the one in her left hand. Next to her right hand, a tiny tear in space appeared. Xia Qi reached out, and under Kiana's watchful eye, took the drumstick from Kiana's right hand before pulling back quickly.
"Crunch~"
The sound of Xia Qi biting into the chicken leg echoed in Kiana's ears.
"Hehe."
Hearing it, Kiana felt a sudden rush of satisfaction and smiled.
"It tastes amazing…"
Eating the chicken leg, Xia Qi's voice became much lighter and more relaxed than before, full of life.
"Exactly the same as I remember…"
"Ehehe."
Kiana ate happily too, not too fast, savoring each bite while asking in her mind:
'You and Mei used to hang out like this too?'
'Yeah, but back then… I didn't have a future me keeping me company. So I was just following my whims, being pretty silly. I think I got dead last on this exam…'
"Pffft—HAHAHA!!!"
Kiana couldn't help it and burst out laughing, accidentally coughing out the chicken in her mouth.
"Cough! Cough! You were so bad! Ahahaha!"
"Ki~a~na~~"
Right as Kiana was cracking up, Raiden Mei's voice came from behind her. Her whole body went stiff. Slowly turning her head to look, she saw Mei crouched behind her, watching her with a gentle, tired smile.
"Eating on the sly again, really. I made so many chicken legs this time, you could eat them until tomorrow and still have some left."
"Eh~ Ehehe~"
Kiana couldn't stop herself from scratching her head and giggling foolishly, before Mei grabbed her hand.
"Really! Touching your hair before washing your hands. Go wash up, quick. I'll call you when dinner's ready."
"Okay~"
Kiana quickly scrambled out from under the table and ran to the bathroom.
Raiden Mei slowly stood up, watching Kiana run off with a mix of annoyance and fondness. But then she glanced around with a hint of confusion.
'Was Kiana… talking to someone just now?'
"Sigh. Got caught by Mei."
In the bathroom, Kiana walked over to the sink, sounding resigned. "When dinner starts, I'll grab a few more drumsticks for you! Don't worry, there's definitely enough for both of us this time!"
"Then thanks."
Xia Qi chuckled softly, but then went quiet for a moment before saying to Kiana:
"Kiana, I'm going to be leaving for a while soon."
"Huh?"
Kiana's hands, which were taking down her ponytail, froze. She looked up at the mirror, shocked.
"W-why? Did I not do well enough somewhere?"
"You've done great, Kiana. You've improved way faster than I did back then."
Xia Qi looked at Kiana, a soft smile on her face.
"But I need to go check out other places in the world. Ever since the Third Eruption started, Honkai disasters are happening more and more all over. I… need to go stop them."
"..."
Kiana was speechless for a moment.
"B-but aren't there other branches, and… and that strongest Valkyrie, Durandal?!"
"Kiana."
Xia Qi didn't explain right away. Instead, she just said her name softly. Seeing Kiana, who had just gotten a little worked up, calm down instantly, though she now looked a bit hurt and reluctant.
Has it only been a month… and Kiana already feels this close to me?
Xia Qi felt a warm feeling inside.
After all, this whole month, even though they'd talked more, she'd never gone easy on Kiana during training. In fact, as Kiana got better, her attacks had only gotten tougher.
"Even with the other branches and Durandal… there are still people suffering because of the Honkai."
"..."
Kiana's expression dimmed a little, but she pulled herself together fast.
"Yeah! I get it. Don't worry, I'll keep working hard while you're gone!"
"Okay."
Xia Qi smiled and nodded.
"Then I'll feel better about it. Tonight, just get some good rest."
"Yeah…"
Kiana nodded. She'd gotten used to studying during the day and training at night. Her days were packed, and she could feel herself getting stronger every day.
Plus, there was Mei, Bronya, Himeko, and Theresa, and the constant company of another version of herself.
She didn't want her to go, but she knew the other her was right.
"Alright. After you wash up, go back and eat. Save a couple extra drumsticks for me. Might be a while before I get to taste something like this again."
"No way! From now on, if there's a plate of Mei's cooking for me, there's one for you too!"
Kiana said urgently.
To her, the other her wasn't someone she resisted anymore.
She could tell the other her really wanted her to get better fast, and besides…
The other her seemed to have already lost her Mei. Her voice was full of tiredness and loneliness, and even though her blue eyes were still bright, they were very, very different from her own.
Even if the other was also herself, Kiana's heart ached for her.
If… if she ever lost Mei too…
Kiana couldn't imagine what she'd do.
Soon, Kiana finished washing her hair and went back to the dining table, pretending to be happy as she ate her chicken legs. She even snuck a few under the rice in her big bowl now and then, then ran back to her room saying she forgot something, only to come back later with an empty bowl claiming she was still hungry.
During all this, Mei, Bronya, and the others kept exchanging looks, their eyes full of confusion.
Soon, it was fully dark.
After everything was cleaned up, Kiana and the others finished their routines and went to their bedrooms.
Kiana only said a few words to Bronya before immediately getting into bed to sleep.
Bronya lay on her own bed, eyes closed. Once Kiana was asleep, she immediately started texting Mei and the others, talking about Kiana's weird behavior today and over the past month.
Kiana, meanwhile, went straight into her dreams, eager to see Xia Qi.
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A/n: New content and Story posted on my patreon go check it out!
patreon.com/deadlygoober