University of California, classroom.
Welt's lecture had just ended.
"Natasha, I heard a group of little ones are coming to visit today. You going to check them out?"
The visit wasn't just known on the Academy City side, the university had heard about it too.
Natasha lounged lazily in the back, her long legs stretched out straight under the desk. If it weren't for the classroom setting, she'd have propped them up on the table.
She looked completely indifferent. "It's got nothing to do with our major."
Come on, this easy college life of studying, shopping, eating good food, and occasionally playing the urban hero on the streets was exactly the script she wanted.
"I heard a new pastry shop opened on the street—" Before she could finish, her phone started buzzing.
Natasha glanced at it, it was Grey Serpent.
Natasha: ….
She hung up. Her classmate was still looking at her expectantly. "Yeah, John said that place is supposed to be really good. Natasha, you want to come?"
It was hard not to like Natasha, she looked like she could do anything. After all, she'd taken down a knife-wielding robber barehanded.
Natasha shook her head. "You guys go ahead, my little brother and sister are coming today."
Her fake little brother Shiraha, and her fake, but technically real, little sister Bronya.
She suddenly paused. "Oh, I think Shiraha's school is Chiba Academy."
She'd almost forgotten she went there for high school. Tch, if she'd known, she'd have grabbed that reception gig. Free credits were free credits.
But now it didn't matter, she'd go check them out anyway.
The airport was busy. The students visiting might not all become Anti-Entropy reserves, but those who showed promise in middle school often went on to do better in the future.
Grades might not mean everything, but they did show your baseline learning ability.
Shiraha looked around. Under the University of California sign stood a pair of tall upperclassmen, not the delinquent senpai.
He felt a little disappointed.
"The delinquent senpai really didn't come to pick us up, even though she knew we were coming."
Shiraha sighed, not truly disappointed, but he realized he hadn't built much affection with Natasha.
Given her personality, she was probably enjoying her full college life right now.
"Over here, kids."
The welcoming big sister waved enthusiastically. Mei led the wave in response.
Though there were many visitors, they were split into groups visiting different universities, so not too many were at the same place at once, to avoid overcrowding.
"The Americas don't seem that different from the Far East."
"Since it's all Anti-Entropy territory, there's bound to be some common ground."
Shiraha was about to explain when he spotted the delinquent senpai leaning against the wall at the corner.
He blinked, a smile spreading across his face. "Senpai! Long time no see!"
Kiana glanced over, she wasn't that close with Natasha.
Natasha looked at the two greeters first, then smiled, showing a hint of her fang. "Why didn't you message me before coming?"
Because Grey Serpent would let her know.
Shiraha's thoughts spun. "Because it's too cold out, didn't want you to freeze, senpai."
Natasha's lips curled up, as expected of Elysia's student. Whether it was sincere or not, it sounded good.
"The welcome team isn't me, I can't exactly step in."
"But…" Natasha's tone shifted. "Little Shiraha, I haven't petted that little fox in a while."
Shiraha blinked, lifting his bag in confusion.
Rin looked dazed, a bit of breadcrumb still on her nose, the next moment, Natasha gently lifted her out.
"Alright, you guys go on the tour. When you're free, I'll take you out."
Natasha looked satisfied, then glanced at Bronya, her nominal little sister.
"Be good, Bronya."
And that was it.
Bronya's lips twitched, this was the "Natasha-senpai" Grey Serpent talked about? She seemed a bit… indifferent.
Mei looked up at the delinquent senpai, then at Bronya.
"It feels like, if we hadn't brought the little fox, she wouldn't have come at all."
On the bus, Mei muttered quietly.
Shiraha's expression didn't change. "But when she came to pick us up, she didn't know we had the little fox with us."
Mei thought about it, that made sense. Her eyes curved. "Speaking of which, what was her rank in school?"
Natasha's tone was casual. "Top twenty."
She wasn't as obsessive as Himeko, but for someone who craved this kind of life, her hard work paid off in decent grades.
Oh. Mei fell silent.
"By the way, wasn't it supposed to be ten students per grade? How did your class end up with so many?"
Natasha absentmindedly stroked the little fox, then looked at Mei and Shiraha, the first two she'd known.
Mei: ….
When Mei didn't answer, Natasha pressed, "Did you work hard enough to catch up to Little Shiraha?"
Mei stayed silent.
Damn old man, finding ways to humiliate her.
After a moment, she lifted her head. "I believe a person's worth can't be measured by grades."
Kiana cut in. "We got in through the back door."
That was why the Chiba Academy first-years only had twelve people and weren't grouped with other grades or schools.
The school board president's daughter wouldn't travel with a huge crowd.
Natasha gave a soft "oh." Shiraha leaned over the seat. "What about you, senpai?"
His expression was clean. "I checked, it's still half an hour to UC. Tell us about yourself, Mei-nee and I are curious."
There was always an empty seat beside Shiraha, for the Sovereign. Natasha paused, then picked a few interesting stories, embellishing them.
She didn't mind telling them, Shiraha always looked like he was listening intently, which made the storyteller feel satisfied.
Shiraha also took the time to calm down. When they got off the bus and it was time for the tour, Natasha didn't follow.
She glanced at her phone. "I'll pick you up when the tour's over, there are plenty of fun places around here."
With that, she left, gently stroking the little fox.
The real challenge was yet to come, the Herrscher of Corruption, capable of sensing emotional inclinations, an ability second only to mind-reading.
Mei walked with the rest of her class, muttering, "If I'd known the first day was just touring UC, I'd have taken a day off and come tomorrow."
She and Shiraha had visited here a few years ago, with Dr. Tesla showing them around.
Shiraha considered, "Well, since we're here as good students…"
Mei cut him off quickly. "Alright, don't say anymore. Looking at it from a student's perspective does give it a different flavor."
Shiraha mimed zipping his lips.
Then he slowed down to walk beside Bronya.
He lowered his voice. "You can talk now."
Bronya spoke quickly. "Regarding Rin, the Sovereign has made a bold decision."
"Sakura-senpai might come out and talk to Rin personally."
It was a crazy idea, but Rin had been with Shiraha for so long without going dark. Sakura felt her sister had returned to being that lively girl, not the terrifying Herrscher of Corruption.
Shiraha was quiet for a moment. "They're choosing the Americas?"
Bronya shook her head. "For now, Sakura-senpai respects Elysia's wishes, she wants to hear your teacher's opinion."
Elysia was a good person. Sakura had a simple moral compass, and Elysia had helped her a lot, even her student was still helping this unfortunate pair of sisters.
Sakura didn't want to interfere with Elysia's plans.
Shiraha glanced at his distracted Nee-chan, her long hair drifting in the breeze, her starry eyes half-lidded, as if in a daze. He pretended to be listening.
Elysia suddenly spoke. "What does Aponia say?"
Then her face showed a knowing smile, Little Shiraha, did you really think your Nee-chan's attention was that bad?
Shiraha repeated, "What does Aponia say?"
Bronya answered quickly. "She can't see clearly."
Of course, Bronya had never been to the Elysian Realm, so she didn't know what "can't see clearly" meant.
Elysia fell into thought. She wasn't very keen on agreeing to this.
Rin was passably well-behaved, but she never hesitated to use her authority.
If Shiraha didn't have such high resistance, he'd have become Rin's devoted follower by now.
But Sakura was Rin's sister, and Rin had endured fifty thousand years of loneliness…
The question came back to the simplest and most familiar dilemma.
Should they trust reason, or emotion?
If Honkai were an exam, this question had been tested many times in the Previous Era, and every time, they got it wrong.
There was no correct answer.
Elysia instinctively looked at Shiraha, and he'd been waiting for her to look.
After a moment of eye contact, Shiraha asked directly, "Can Sakura disconnect from the Elysian Realm?"
"Can World Serpent's Soulium create a perfect body?"
"And finally... would this affect Aponia?"
Whether Sakura came out or not didn't really matter. Emotionally, reuniting sisters and trusting the power of the heart was nice.
But rationally, Sakura herself didn't have high value. Her swordsmanship was something Shiraha had already abandoned, so it didn't matter.
Even if it seemed a little cold.
Bronya noted the questions, ready to relay them and get answers.
Shiraha added, "In a few days, have Natasha take Rin away for a while, we'll talk then."
"I want to ask Rin what she thinks."
Rin was, after all, the Herrscher of Corruption, worthy of Shiraha's attention.
After saying that, Shiraha looked at his Nee-chan. The fairy girl thought it over and felt this was the right call.
Mm yes. After all, Elysia had always been good at hindsight.
"Shiraha!"
Mei called out softly from ahead. Shiraha quickly caught up with the group. Bronya stayed at the very back, contacting Grey Serpent.
For some reason, the network was a little laggy today.
The tour lasted until 3 PM. There was more tomorrow, but the rest of the time was free for the students.
Other grades might have had their own complications, but the twelve first-years from Chiba Academy were surprisingly easy to manage, after all, there weren't many of them.
Natasha was already waiting at their lodging. She was lounging lazily on the table, just like she used to do in the club when she was napping.
Shiraha stood on tiptoe and waved enthusiastically.
"Ah—you're here." Natasha fiddled with the little fox, stretching lazily.
"Come on, I'll take you guys somewhere fun."
She let out a small laugh as she said it, her fang faintly showing, which made Mei a little excited. If even the delinquent senpai thought it was fun, it must be good.
But soon, the smile on Natasha's face faded.
She counted on her fingers. "Mei, Shiraha, Kiana, Bronya, Fu Hua, Yuna… how many people are in your class total?"
Shiraha answered obediently. "Twelve."
And your little group makes up half of them.
Natasha's lips twitched. Fu Hua had been observing her surroundings the whole time. This was Anti-Entropy's home turf, she'd only been here once before, after the Second Eruption, when she was traveling the world looking for an organization that could fight Honkai.
But back then, Welt's fate was unknown, the main branch had declined, and the executives were in their "human-stars-shining" phase, which had certainly been an eye-opener for her.
Just then, Shiraha exchanged a glance with the little fox. He tilted his head, but today, Rin didn't meet his gaze. She lowered her eyes and stayed curled up in Natasha's arms.
Shiraha had a vague sense of unease. He hurried over and tried to take the little fox into his own arms, and Rin didn't refuse.
Soon, Natasha led them to a tall staircase with hundreds of steps.
She put on a mysterious air. "Anyone up for some thrilling skateboarding?"
Shiraha's lips twitched, this is it? This is what a college student does for fun?
But now wasn't the time to complain. He sat down on a flowerbed with the little fox and found Yae Sakura's contact info on his phone.
Even though the contact was labeled "Rin-nee."
Shiraha decided to keep up the act, whether or not Rin had noticed anything.
Soon, the call connected.
"Rin-nee… Sakura wants to come out and see you. What do you think?"
There was a long silence on the other end, about half a minute, before a voice finally came through. It wasn't Yae Sakura's. It was younger, yet strangely hoarse. "I want to see my sister."
It was Rin.
Shiraha's expression stayed calm. "Got it, I'll let them know. Take care of yourself, Rin-nee."
The call ended.
Shiraha looked down at the little fox in his arms. Rin was curled up, her head buried in her tail, only her slightly trembling ears visible.
She was trembling with anger, that wicked Elysia! So that was why, even after all this time using her authority, Shiraha's feelings toward her remained so ordinary.
It turned out Elysia had been warning him all along to be wary of her. Such a wicked Elysia!
First, she'd see her sister. Then, she'd teach that disobedient child a lesson.
Elysia!
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