Honkai Impact 3rd, a simulator of lifelong regret!

Since it was I who made this offensive request, I should pay for today's expenses. I absolutely cannot let this cause trouble or distress to Jiangcheng.

The money I've saved up during this period should be... enough, right?

……

160. Prelude to a One-Day Date

what……

Jiang Cheng gently pressed his forehead, massaging it in the way of Wilvi, trying to sort out the chaotic and unstructured cries stuffed into his brain. He let the blanket slip off his body, and the light from the morning sun seeped in through the curtains that had been blown open by the wind, reflecting through his hair into his dark eyes.

Becoming a Herrscher's physical body grants a certain degree of resistance to Honkai energy, allowing the body to absorb Honkai energy and enhance its strength. Theoretically, half a month is enough time for the body to reach a level that ordinary people cannot achieve.

Unfortunately, the dark circles under my eyes are getting worse every day, and they've become so deep that I can't sleep well every night. It's as if I've become so used to having other people around that I can't accept lying alone in a cold bed.

what is the problem?

Why do I feel like someone keeps talking about me?

More than half a month has passed, and the plot has not only not faded, but it feels like it has increased a lot. What was originally talked about by one or two people has become many people.

I still don't understand. It can't be that the simulator isn't actually simulating based on data, but rather it's directly piercing through flesh and using the body to simulate the process, right?

--How can it be?

It's pointless to waste an entire day on this, although it's not impossible to do so, and exploring the root of a problem can be very useful in many cases, but I have other things to do today.

Jiang Cheng threw off the covers, got out of bed, put on his socks, and headed straight for the bathroom—in the Far East, wearing shoes indoors is considered very impolite.

My daily routine of washing my face and brushing my teeth has changed. Now, I also have to pick up the face cream provided by the school and use a finger to pick up some to slightly cover my dark circles.

Once everything was done, the morning preparations were complete. As for clothes... well, let's just stick with the school uniform.

Anyway, the design of the dress was very similar to that of a formal dress.

It should also have the effects of regular wear.

I wonder what time Mei will leave today?

I mentioned the time we would meet before, but I always feel like she arrives earlier than usual, just like how she always gets there first after class.

Jiang Cheng was lost in thought, trying to calm his emotions. He had already changed into his sneakers for easier movement, and then stepped out of the dormitory.

The sun was shining just right today, neither too cold nor too hot. The air still carried the fresh, natural scent of yesterday's light rain pattering on the green leaves. The sunlight filtering through the gaps in the trees formed a dappled net, which looked like countless pillars falling from the sky to the ground.

The sneakers didn't have very strong grip, but fortunately, the light rain last night didn't leave too much water on the floor, so it wasn't too slippery.

The journey wasn't long, just a bit narrow. The ancient bluestone path was surrounded by overgrown weeds and even some drooping willow branches.

Perhaps wanting to replicate her experience at the academy, Raiden Mei chose a location very close to the usually deserted, hidden exit.

Just like their first encounter, which happened in a forest where almost no one ventured, the boy met Raiden Mei, a girl disliked by everyone. Every subsequent tour of the school started from that forest, ensuring that he wouldn't be disturbed while introducing the environment.

Being interrupted or stopped by others when you're with them, even if you're not bullied like before, is still a very damaging thing to your dignity and face, as it involves being belittled and hurt in front of your friends.

Thinking about it this way, I realized that I did need to teach those guys a lesson. They would all die eventually, and it had nothing to do with me beating them up now.

Although in reality, Kiana would have solved these problems by the time she arrived in two days.

There's no point in thinking about all this nonsense now.

Let's talk about it after today is over.

Jiang Cheng quickened his pace, easily traversing the somewhat steep path. He tore apart withered branches, revealing an entrance overgrown with vines due to its long period of neglect, and opened the gate with his student ID.

With a creak, as if a forbidden door had been opened unintentionally, the original silence of the woodland vanished without a trace, replaced by an overly noisy world, filled with the clamor of people coming and going and communicating.

The vendors with their carts lined up tightly, stopping wherever they found a spot on the bustling street, like hermit crabs.

The elegant sedan drove over the accumulated ditch, and the tires that suddenly appeared, carrying the pressure of almost half the car, splashed water up to ten centimeters high.

At the far end of sight, touching the edge of the bustling street, amidst the noisy prosperity, there was only one area isolated from the world. It was decorated with pale purple lilac flowers wrapped in purple fabric, and the girl's long, smooth, purplish-black hair flowed naturally in the wind. From the edge of her long skirt, one could clearly see the girl's delicate calves encased in black stockings.

——Raiden Mei.

Not her previous school uniform, she specially changed into a white long dress, completely different from her usual one. The white was adorned with blue ribbons, and the off-the-shoulder design revealed her swan-like neck and delicate collarbone.

Perhaps it was because she had changed into clothes more suitable for going out, but the edges of the fabric seemed exceptionally light, and a corner of the skirt was blown open by the breeze, as if one could see some enticing scenery from the shallow puddle below.

The weather is still not very dry. The Far East is like another island nation isolated from the mainland, with plenty of water except for earthquakes.

The humid air reflected a rainbow-like glow at the end of the road, as if showing some favoritism, evenly showering the girl with light.

In a sense, the light of the rainbow also happened to provide a little reflection for the water pool on the ground, and this preference also had a touch of wicked humor.

Ultimately, the water contained impurities, and even the lines of a Herrscher's body were not clear enough. Jiang Cheng had absolutely no intention of becoming a pervert.

His gaze lingered for less than a moment before shifting to her slightly lowered head, her eyes deep and thoughtful, as if she were pondering something.

Are you thinking about where to go today?

never mind.

Jiang Cheng stepped forward without hesitation, until his waving hand was clear enough for anyone to see—at this point, all he needed to do was speak like a fairy.

"Finally, I can say good morning to you."

"Mei."

"I'm sure I'm not late today, right?"

……

Will they come?

It definitely will, right?

Jiang Cheng has never lied.

Her heart trembled slightly as she cautiously rummaged through her young mind, trying her best to smooth out all the chaos and unease. In reality, this manifested as her slender fingers gently stroking her hair, her long purple hair falling from her side and brushing against her delicate collarbone, which was deliberately exposed at the opening of her off-the-shoulder dress.

Just like more than half a month ago, after making a promise with the boy, I was alone under the tree the next day, waiting for the boy to arrive. I was worrying unnecessarily, indulging in meaningless self-pity and self-pity.

I always find myself falling into the same old traps without even realizing it. It's happened countless times. It seems to be because I've never moved forward since that day, so I've subconsciously etched the idea of ​​never moving forward into my very being.

They remain stagnant, staying in the same place while everyone else is moving forward, knowing it's not good but almost unable to stand up.

The idea that if you don't have expectations, you won't encounter anything is outdated, yet this mentality remains so stubborn and resilient.

Until that clear voice was right next to him, with a playful tone that seemed to be deliberately enlivening him, and just a slight turn of his head could bring the blurry boy to the very center of his vision, the response came before all the suppressed emotions and the trust and expectations that had been blocked by long-term betrayal could rise up.

Her tightly pursed lips opened and closed naturally, the sound that escaped her lips being preserved more deeply within her than anything else...

"—You're not late, Jiang Cheng."

"It never has."

what……

I knew it!

……

"Let's start with that street today."

"Although it's relatively unpopular and not as bustling as the city center, it still has some things that are no longer relevant and belong to the memories of the past."

"The campus has already prepared advanced activity and entertainment equipment, but these are things that even the campus cannot keep."

Raiden Mei gestured towards the distance, using her swordsman's keen eyes to capture distinctive landmarks, comparing them with the map she had stayed up all night to memorize, and planning off-the-beaten-path routes.

Compared to more remote places, it's less likely to run into classmates from the college, and it also ensures that this trip won't be disturbed by anyone.

Her unrestrained steps were restricted by her ladylike manners; every calculation she made before moving forward, even the movement of her skirt, was intentionally controlled.

No longer needing to bow her head, she silently spied on the boy, her purple eyes slightly raised, seemingly looking ahead, explaining the unique environment of this street, but her mind was completely elsewhere from normal tourism and explanation.

No longer needing to bend over or avoid eye contact, she had clearly achieved freedom. In this secluded place, she no longer had to worry about encountering those who would harm the girl. Raiden Mei, who had always been the one being spied on, now spied on others like everyone else had in the past, trembling with fear like a thief or criminal.

"Indeed?"

The boy reflected in his pupils, which flashed like thunder in the sky, nodded slightly, his gentle, slightly drooping eyebrows confirming everything.

"We've seen too much high technology and advanced technology. I've seen too much of it before. I encounter it almost every time I open my eyes. Occasionally, a different flavor is a way to balance out this extreme."

Although these aren't exactly high-tech gadgets.

Whether it's those seemingly expensive purchases at school or the technology streets elsewhere that symbolize advancement and progress, they're actually not even as good as the junk that Wilvi casually made in less than two minutes.

……

"Jiang Cheng...doesn't he like crowded places either?"

What came out casually was just a chat between the two of them, which had been going on for more than half a month. It was because they were so familiar with each other and it happened so frequently that Raiden Mei only realized her problem after she opened her mouth.

— Undoubtedly nonsense.

That's nonsense.

The girl, who was secretly watching, was like a little rabbit, ready to jump up at the slightest breeze. Her excessive focus made even her questions seem mindless.

They had already exchanged ideas when they first met, and now they were simply asking the same question in a different way, revisiting the answer the boy had once given.

This could either prove that the girl wasn't paying any attention during the conversation, or it could mean that the girl had forgotten the communication between the two of them.

The reason is irrelevant, as is one's own thoughts; any possibility is enough to drive a sensitive person crazy on the spot.

People with softer hearts are always able to sense subtle problems more than others, and every emotion and action is perfectly captured.

An unintentional mistake can be easily noticed by a carefree person, who may not even realize it, but a sensitive person can easily sense it.

If a rhetorical question used for attack were uttered, the extremely fragile Raiden Mei would likely be instantly defeated, hiding in the shadows to escape.

At such a crucial moment, a tiny mistake was overlooked, a mistake that could still haunt you in the dark of night, even years later.

Even a year, five years, or ten years from now, the girl will probably suddenly think of this in her sleep and feel crazy with regret and remorse.