"Anti-Entropy?"
Himeko repeated the word under her breath. She smiled and asked, "Then, little guy do you know about Schicksal?"
Schicksal. She'd discovered that colossal organization a year ago while sorting through her father's belongings. The documents and files had opened a door to a whole new world for her.
Actually, when it came to Himeko's case, Otto could even be called "generous." Just a year after her father had stabbed him in the back, costing him the Fourth Divine Key, Otto had recruited Himeko the very next year.
And so Himeko joined the Assault Squad. They implanted her with an artificial Stigmata. Her lifespan began to tick down.
"Now that you already know, I might as well tell you myself."
The moment Welt heard the word "Schicksal," his earlier frustration was instantly supplanted by a sharp wariness. Even his voice grew heavier.
If Himeko already knew something about this world, then she should join Anti-Entropy. At the very least, they wouldn't make things hard for her.
Otto was petty. Even now, Dr. Einstein still went on and on like some broken record: Otto couldn't tolerate dissent. The whole disaster back then happened precisely because Joyce refused to accept his ideology.
"Shiraha, the way you scurry right up the moment you see another pretty older sister, you really do look just like a little puppy."
Elysia had drifted over to the stairway corner at some point, arms crossed, leaning against the wall. One leg stood straight, the other bent slightly. Her voice carried an unplaceable flavor.
Shiraha ignored her.
But soon enough, the living room was just the two of them. Welt and Himeko had gone into the study. The incident from a year ago was too complicated and moreover, it was Himeko's family matter. Not appropriate for Shiraha to overhear.
"You've never been that enthusiastic with me."
Elysia continued to complain, her voice drifting and plaintive, like a neglected cat.
She'd never seen Shiraha pay this much attention to an older girl before. Sure, that young woman did resemble 'Himeko'... but 'Himeko' and the MANTIS had never had any intersection, either.
This Himeko didn't look wealthy. She obviously had no clue about the Honkai world. Aside from being pretty and vaguely resembling previous era Himeko, Elysia couldn't pick out a second redeeming quality.
Shiraha mulled it over for a moment. He honestly couldn't find a good excuse. His mouth opened, then obediently shut again.
"Can't come up with a reason?"
Elysia suddenly leaned in close, Shiraha's small face reflected in her starry eyes.
Shiraha looked into those starry eyes. In a flash of desperation, inspiration struck. "Uncle Ryoma mentioned Himeko. He was complaining once that as the CEO of ME Corp, he still had to personally rush to Mexico in the middle of the night to clean up the scene."
Elysia blinked, searching her memory. Had that actually happened?
Shiraha kept going, words flowing smoother now. "Uncle Ryoma also said that Anti-Entropy really does care about people. That they'd go to so much trouble even for an outsider."
Ah. Elysia remembered now the Anti-Entropy Little Anecdotes!
She fell silent for a moment. People actually believe those things? They're basically Chicken Soup for the Soul.
"So..."
Elysia chose her words carefully. She still felt the reasoning was a little thin.
Shiraha confessed frankly, "Honestly, I just thought it'd be fun."
He paused, then continued counting off on his fingers. "From what I observed, that older sister just now was really young. Probably around twenty. Maybe even younger."
"Even if something like this did get exposed, with her talent, it wouldn't exactly be a bad thing for Anti-Entropy. At the very least, it wouldn't cause trouble."
Elysia: ....
Now that reason was plenty sufficient. So it wasn't just her, Shiraha was getting a little bored here too.
What the final outcome was, Shiraha didn't know. Himeko had left in a hurry.
It was only during dinner that evening that Einstein suddenly spoke up. "Shiraha, Mei. Do you ever find yourselves curious about the stars at night?"
Mei hesitated, then nodded.
Her mother had passed away early, and her father was always busy with work. At night, she would often hug her knees and gaze at the stars from the balcony.
Though she'd stopped after Shiraha arrived. Stargazing time was better spent playing together.
Shiraha nodded as well. "Curious. The starry sky is so vast and boundless. A lot of the time, I wonder... if friends who've passed away might come back to life on some other star."
Few people in the Honkai world ever set their sights on the stars. Otto was utterly indifferent to them. Anti-Entropy cared a little, but in the Americas and the Far East, what lay underground was far more valuable than anything overhead.
In the entire Honkai world, in these early days, there was probably only one person truly, genuinely curious about the stars, Ryusuke Murata. The man who abandoned his wife, ruined his daughter, and murdered his friend.
Einstein lowered her gaze. Deceased loved ones and friends turn into stars, watching over you from the night sky... what a childish lie.
She spoke softly. "I've found an older sister for you two. She likes stargazing just as much."
Shiraha: ....
Mei was still eating, as if she hadn't heard. A beat later, she looked up blankly. What do you mean, "found us an older sister"?
"There's no pressing need for a stellar navigation dynamics specialist here in the Americas right now."
Einstein's voice was calm. When it came to Welt's decision to deceive Himeko with a lie a year ago and then, a year later, having the truth spill out because of little Shiraha, Einstein had no strong opinions. She respected it.
But the simple fact was, the Americas genuinely had no need for a stellar navigation dynamics specialist at the present time. Let her go to the Far East. To ME Corp. There'd be a place for her there. It would serve as an anchor, allowing Himeko to slowly ease into this world.
As for what Himeko chose to do in the future... that was up to her. Anti-Entropy truly did put people first. At least, the original core of Anti-Entropy had always been that way.
"Is it that older sister from this afternoon?"
Shiraha spoke up suddenly, as if just remembering.
Einstein nodded. "Himeko is very bright. Who knows, she might even become someone important at ME Corp someday."
Himeko... was bright, in her own way. Entered UC at fifteen. Earned her doctorate and graduated at nineteen. But compared to her father, she still fell woefully short.
Though a lack of talent wasn't the real issue. The important thing was that she didn't end up like Ryusuke, abandoning his wife and daughter for the sake of his ideals. Even going so far as to sacrifice their very lives.
Shiraha nodded obediently. "So is she part of Anti-Entropy now too?"
Einstein thought for a moment. "In a manner of speaking."
Tesla ate in peaceful silence. She wasn't particularly close with Himeko, Himeko had never taken her courses, after all. Welt was clearly still lost in thought.
Sitting off to the side, Elysia suddenly felt a bit uneasy. One playful whim from Shiraha in the morning, and he's already gotten himself another older sister?
"Shiraha... was this part of your plan too?"
Shiraha didn't quite get it. Elysia-nee's mind seemed to be running little trains, her thoughts were moving so fast he could barely keep up.
The year remained peaceful.
When it was time for Shiraha and Mei to head back, the three giants of Anti-Entropy took a day off to see the two children off.
"So bright!"
Tesla suddenly spoke up, her voice a little loud.
Einstein glanced at her, puzzled.
Tesla declared loudly, "Anti-Entropy's future! It's so bright!"
She paused, then remembered Mophead probably didn't know about the Siegfried matter yet. She added, "That barbarian Siegfried contacted Joachim yesterday too. Schicksal's apparently running some pretty appalling experiments, using Kiana's genes."
"Siegfried seems to be leaning toward abandoning darkness for the light."
Einstein drifted in a daze for a long moment. This news was simply too good. So good it even stirred a flicker of unrealistic hope inside her.
Schicksal's iron grip... looked like it was starting to crack.
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