Restore me to my peak...
A flicker of light passed through Fu Hua's eyes, but she remained silent.
In all of Schicksal, she was the one who had known Otto and worked alongside him the longest.
Fu Hua understood Otto.
This man would not lift a finger unless there was something in it for him.
For him to raise this possibility meant he was likely capable of achieving it.
But Fu Hua knew he wouldn't do it. The moment she was restored to her peak, the pact between them would become meaningless.
Moreover, if Otto truly did help her recover, Fu Hua would be even more wary.
Because it would mean Otto already had designs on her.
No, perhaps he has designs on me right now.
Fu Hua took a deep breath. No matter how many centuries passed, she could never get used to dealing with a man as rapacious as Otto.
"At my peak, I wouldn't need to burn my memories to deal with the Third Herrscher," Fu Hua stated plainly. Although she couldn't remember exactly how strong she had been, she had a distinct feeling that she was second to none.
"Oh."
Otto's response was simple. The matter of restoring Fu Hua to her peak required careful consideration. He didn't need Fu Hua to fight a Herrscher; he needed her to fight the Will of the Honkai.
"The Edge of Taixuan burns memories. What if I were to copy all of your memories and upload them to a database? Then, after you've burned them away, I could instill the copied memories back into you. Could you use the Edge of Taixuan relying on those memories?"
Fu Hua shook her head. That kind of method was indeed in line with Otto's character.
"No. If they are merely copied memories, they lack a heart. No matter how many copies you make, it would be useless."
"To burn one's memories is, in truth, to burn one's own heart."
Otto felt a tinge of regret. If it were possible, he could have used Fu Hua like a weapon with a long cooldown, reloading her memories after each ultimate attack.
"Alright, then." Otto's peripheral vision caught a familiar figure inside the women's restroom. "She's coming. For now, you'll be on standby in Nagazora City. Also, be wary of Anti-Entropy. Their people are likely searching frantically for me and the Third Herrscher."
Fu Hua nodded, casting a meaningful glance at Mei as she exited the restroom.
Though she is the Third Herrscher, to be targeted by a man like Otto... how tragic.
She said nothing more. Fu Hua was someone who understood how to do her job and mind her own business. She turned and departed without another word to Otto.
Otto didn't watch her leave. Instead, he stared at the floor, his brow slightly furrowed. Although Fu Hua hadn't sensed that the person inside him had changed, Otto didn't feel happy.
Because, as she was now, Fu Hua couldn't knock the Will of the Honkai offline.
If the Will of the Honkai came online again, Otto didn't think it would fall for the same trick twice.
He was, after all, playing chess with a god.
But he quickly smoothed the worried expression from his face. Mei was approaching, and he couldn't let her see him like this. It would spoil their date today.
"Did I keep you waiting long?"
Mei came up to Otto, her hands clasped behind her back, and asked timidly.
To her, Mr. Otto was a mysterious person. She felt that if she made him angry, something terrible might happen.
"Not at all. It's just noon now. Shall we get some lunch?"
"Okay."
---o---
The sun rose high, and then it fell, leaving only the afterglow of sunset.
Kiana, holding a crepe in her hand, spoke to Asakura Miyuki beside her.
"Well, that's it for today. I had a lot of fun."
"Does this... does this mean we're friends now?"
Kiana asked, looking intently at her second friend.
Long, raven-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Her eyes were as captivating as the night sky, and her skin was as pure and white as snow. With her elegant and graceful demeanor, she was, without a doubt, a true young lady.
So different from herself.
"Yes, Kiana-san." Asakura Miyuki looked at Kiana and smiled. "We are already friends."
"I'm so glad you came out with me today. Actually, I'm a transfer student too. I just arrived a month before you did."
"It's truly an honor to have met you."
The girl was poised and elegant. Kiana raised an eyebrow slightly.
Oh? So she was getting bullied right after she transferred?
Kiana thought of the defaced desk. But now that she was here, she wouldn't let them get away with it.
Besides, the reopening of Senba Academy seemed a long way off.
"Well, bye-bye then. Someone's waiting for me at home."
As Kiana spoke, a flicker of envy and loneliness crossed Asakura Miyuki's eyes. Her voice was almost inaudible.
"How nice... to have family waiting for you when you go home."
Kiana didn't hear her. She waved to Asakura Miyuki, then turned and walked away.
What a carefree girl.
I'm so envious of her.
Asakura Miyuki watched Kiana's departing figure until it was out of sight, then she started on her own way home.
But a shadow fell across her path.
The girl struggled, but it was useless. Several men dragged her into a secluded alley, the exit now blocked by their figures.
"Idiot! Did you really think you could escape just by transferring to a girls' school?" one of the men sneered, shoving Asakura Miyuki roughly. The girl's back slammed against the wall, and a pained cry escaped her lips.
"You're not getting away from us until we're tired of you! Stupid woman!"
He was lying.
Once they were tired of playing with her, they would force her to earn money for them to squander. Her life and her future were of no consequence.
The men began to tear at her clothes.
The girl's head lolled limply to the side, her empty eyes staring up at the sky.
Tears and struggles were meaningless. She had been trapped in this nightmare long before she came to Senba Academy.
She understood now. Transferring schools was pointless. Hell was everywhere.
An image of Kiana's face surfaced in her mind.
Her body trembled slightly. Her faint resistance only served to excite the men more.
The already broken doll was struggling.
But... I'm different now.
A strange smile touched her lips. The men, unnerved by it, struck her across the face.
"What are you smiling at! A toy should act like a toy!"
Her cheek swelled, and a drop of blood trickled down.
At that moment, an furious roar echoed from the alley's entrance.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!!"
"Let go of my friend, you bastards!!!"
Kiana stood at the mouth of the alley, her eyes wide with rage as she took in the scene. A fire ignited in her chest.
She could not tolerate this.
The men saw the sudden appearance of the beautiful, white-haired girl. Before lewd expressions could form on their faces, a white meteor shot into their midst.
A flying kick sent the man pinning Asakura Miyuki down flying. He crashed into the wall, his body twisting at an unnatural angle before slumping to the ground.
He was no longer breathing.
Kiana had forgotten. She was wearing her White Comet battlesuit.
The other thugs stared at the contorted body and screamed. Some were so terrified their legs gave out, and they began to crawl out of the alley.
Kiana ignored them, helping Asakura Miyuki to her feet and asking with concern.
"Are you alright?"
Asakura Miyuki looked at her savior and smiled.
If only...
If only I had met you sooner.
"I'm... fine."
Looking at the valiant Kiana.
Asakura Miyuki felt that she had fallen in love.
Seeing that Asakura was unharmed, Kiana breathed a sigh of relief. But then, she smelled the scent of blood.
The rage began to subside, and reason returned.
Kiana's breath hitched. She looked at the twisted corpse she had kicked. The thug who had been assaulting Asakura Miyuki was deader than dead.
Killed by a single kick from Kiana.
Leaning against the wall, Kiana shakily took out her phone and dialed a number.
"Otto... I've killed someone."