Honkai Impact 3rd, a simulator of lifelong regret!

"Well……"

"still……"

Was it too abrupt?

Raiden Mei looked at her deliberately ignored fingertips, biting her lip lightly. The breath she should have swallowed unexpectedly seemed somewhat unwilling.

This is an undeniable rejection. The outstretched hand has gone unanswered, and there's no way to brush it off with something like "I don't know."

Even the most detached person, who only wants to study the classics, should know that a girl extending her hand is an invitation when she does.

what……

It is enough.

That's more than enough.

Today's progress has exceeded expectations.

For a 'coward' to be able to do something like this is already quite commendable.

Eh……

coward……

It was as if someone had forcibly inserted a somewhat intimate yet insulting word into my mind. Although I subconsciously ignored this inexplicable thing, it stirred up the urge to give in to my own depravity.

It was as if a stone had been forcibly thrown into a calm lake, causing the stagnant pond to ripple with waves that only exist in a living ocean.

Why……

I do have a little courage.

……

A sudden surge of courage made the girl gently grab Jiang Cheng's hand and forcefully shove a ticket into his hand. It was only for a moment, but it gave her fingertips a chance to touch it.

Unlike before, this was actual contact.

Body temperature was transmitted from his clean, dry palms.

Contrary to the previous lighting, it wasn't very hot. Perhaps it was because the wind, carrying the dampness of yesterday's drizzle, had been blowing for a long time since early morning, or perhaps it was because, physiologically, males naturally have lower body temperatures.

The warmth before was just a self-deceptive feeling to comfort oneself. It didn't even qualify as holding hands, let alone touching. It was just a cautious rubbing. Even with such a slight touch, every time was nerve-wracking. The moment the touch occurred, the heartstrings were pulled to the limit. Only after carefully looking at the boy's profile and making sure that no one had been discovered could one breathe a sigh of relief.

No matter how cold or unwarm it may be, it is still like the sun... no, it is warmer than the sun in the sky, able to illuminate all the dark corners and even bring a ray of light to the abyss.

The touch of fingertips, that perfect, heart-stirring warmth, was like the final weight on a scale, finally calming the girl's heart.

"The tickets from that shop need to be checked separately."

"let's go."

……

Without hesitation, she turned around, her long purple dress blooming like lilacs in spring. Her long, dark purple hair, simply combed and not styled, flowed through the air, trying its best to show its smoothness, using this moment of flowing hair as a cover to hide the girl's blushing face.

Despite her seemingly powerful aura and ability to decide the final outcome of the date with the decisiveness of someone once known as the "Thunder Queen," she is ultimately just a desperate struggle of someone who has fallen to the bottom, grasping at straws.

This simple act alone was enough to make the once-famous 'Queen' so shy that she dared not utter a sound, and her slender fingers trembled uncontrollably if they were not placed in front of her.

If she were to open her mouth, her once gentle tone as a Yamato Nadeshiko would definitely turn into a shy, stammering voice like a fertilized rabbit, unable to utter a single word properly, and each character would be broken into three parts.

Only when you completely turn around and hide everything, concealing all your expressions and postures on the other side, can you quietly relax and stop suppressing the fact that your face is about to transform into the neighbor's Pochi-chan's.

So exciting.

It was so exciting.

The title of "Queen of Thunder" and such...

Actually, it was just because the act of rejecting the confession was too swift and decisive that someone else added it without permission.

Such a forceful act—forcing the boy to give him the item even after he had clearly indicated he would ignore it—was something the girl had never done before. She couldn't even imagine it, and she couldn't understand what had gotten into her to do something so obviously wrong.

Reckless actions taken in the heat of the moment, without any thought or consideration, will inevitably be met with harsh reality if things don't go as planned.

If Jiang Cheng rejects me...

I would definitely not be able to live in this world then, right?

As if possessed, the fingertips that had once touched the boy unconsciously moved upwards, carried by the girl to her nose, where she gently inhaled them.

Hmm... it has a very distinct Jiangcheng scent, without the pungent smell of photinia that some teenage boys carry. Instead, it has a strangely serene and refreshing quality.

This is a perverted act.

This is something only a certain paramecium would do. A woman of extreme ○ should obviously not exist, at least not in Raiden Mei, who is a young lady and a typical Yamato Nadeshiko.

It doesn’t matter anymore.

what……

Anyway, they might 'die'.

Let's just let loose and be ourselves.

Perhaps because she could already foresee the answer Jiang Cheng would give her, the girl now even felt a bit like she had given up and was on the verge of collapse.

No matter how much you comfort yourself, how much you persuade yourself, or how much psychological counseling you receive, the fixed mindset that you develop over a long life—thinking about everything in the worst possible way and always expecting the worst possible outcome for anything related to yourself—cannot be changed quickly.

The despair and darkness I experienced overwhelmed my life for more than a decade, leaving my memories almost entirely confined to the day the disaster struck. My once strong and upright father was sent to prison, and my ordinary and happy life suddenly collapsed.

Even memories cannot reach the place before darkness, so how could the body, out of its instinct for self-preservation, presume to give undue hope?

A fleeting hope is nothing more than a new despair.

Bubble-like light is worse than no light at all.

This despair, which still arose after the denial of the cowardice, was extinguished when the boy's voice beside her remained as gentle as before, unchanged by the girl's reckless behavior.

"--All right."

……

165. A bland and quiet dessert shop

Still staring at the receipts forcibly handed to him, and still faintly smelling Raiden Mei's perfume, the boy nodded subconsciously. After recovering from his dazed state, he could only follow the girl's steps—there was nothing more to say now.

There were no other options.

The only value of Changkong City is Raiden Mei.

Perhaps there's another one, Kiana, who could be revealed at any time.

These two Herrscher girls combined are the only value of this city, and the reason why he chose to stay in this school instead of throwing away his schoolbag and hiding in a corner of the planet, a secluded place that no satellite in the world can find, to cultivate in seclusion.

Although, in reality, the only truly valuable person to him right now is Raiden Mei, the reason for her value is simply because of the more than half a month they've spent together, not because of the abilities she possesses as a Herrscher.

As a simulator that acts as a cheat code, it may have some hidden dangers, but at least in terms of providing strength, there is no doubt that it can do so. Just one simulation is enough to give you enough power to do whatever you want, without needing to do anything extra.

Now that he has already entered Raiden Mei's life and unintentionally become a lifeguard, he should at least save the drowning girl and prevent her from actually drowning here.

Regardless of whether I was overthinking things, Raiden Mei has now confirmed that the dessert shop is a must-visit place.

What's there to doubt? Just follow the girl's lead and enjoy the desserts. It's not like you're going to be drained dry by Alicia.

But could there really be something wrong with this wisdom that comes from Vervier?

I feel like my emotional intelligence has inexplicably decreased after using it.

It must be an illusion.

Vervi's emotional intelligence should be fine.

……

The solid and heavy wooden decor, with warm tones, creates a cozy and luxurious feel. The small space brings a sense of refinement and security. The walls are decorated with dried flower wreaths from Europe, and the unique seating for two people facing each other has been specially decorated, like a private room, decorated in pure pink that feels like stepping into a dream.

The seven colors of the desserts are like a rainbow, and they are changed every hour to ensure that the sweetness and fragrance are kept at their most beautiful.

The dining table is semi-floating, shimmering with a dreamlike glow, and even the fully enclosed curtains used for separation are designed like the doors to a paradise.

The suspended silk ribbons, the heart-shaped decorations, and the lit candlelight added a touch of sweetness and romance to the room.

The long bench with cushioned backrests sandwiches the dining table in the middle, providing ample privacy for each seat and partially isolating it from external distractions. It creates a haven for two, perfectly embodying the European style of afternoon tea.

In fact, even the same room or the same shop must have different decorations and furnishings to satisfy the preferences of all possible people.

If the boy were to give his opinion on this particular spot, it would be that it was a reserved seat that Wilvi would take him out in advance.

The spacious two-seater sofa is uniquely designed here to accommodate only two people facing each other, with just enough room to fit their entire buttocks. The most graceful posture it offers is a slight forward tilt, and even the table is designed to ensure that one can enjoy dessert while having the clearest view of the person opposite them in this position.

Aside from the hanging gemstones that provide reflection and a touch of brightness, the candlelight, as the sole lighting tool, has an indescribable appearance, like the color of candy, or as if it ignites a luxurious, jewel-like glow.

Although not as dim as a candlelight dinner, the candlelight, which is somewhat dimmer than regular lighting, carries a different meaning as a decoration for dinner, except for emergency use during power outages.

Especially with the seating arrangement, you can enjoy your meal with your chest out while looking at your partner so close by in the dim lighting.

Thinking about it this way, even the pink decorations on the seat and the silk ribbons folded into the shape of hearts are given some improper meanings.

As a waiter guiding guests to their seats, she wore an elegant dress, even though it was not designed to be eye-catching or attention-grabbing.

The black and white outfit, which was supposed to be a backdrop, actually made the boy, who was the only one wearing a school uniform, seem somewhat indifferent to the date.

Despite being the female lead and the one who initiated and funded the date, Raiden Mei didn't care at all, even though she was wearing an elegant dress, a precious gift that her father had given her as a birthday present.

Even if it weren't for the need to conceal her gaze, the shame she felt after her previous excessive actions, coupled with her nearly powerless body, wouldn't have supported any further actions that required courage as fuel.

And you should try your best to suppress and cover up your true intentions. It's barely acceptable to leave a frivolous reputation, but you should never scare Jiang Cheng because of it.

At this moment, the only thing the girl could do was to rest her chin on her hands, staring intently at the boy in the dim candlelight before her, scrutinizing him until she had imprinted his figure in her mind forever before finally pausing.

"The first course is the coffee-dipped madeleine cake, an unshakeable classic in the dessert world, topped with a touch of vanilla cream."

"Secondly, there's the puff pastry as an appetizer, with a vanilla caramel cream filling that should suit the tastes of most people in Jiangcheng."

Raiden Mei will introduce the desserts as appetizers one by one. Small, soaked cakes, served on round white plates topped with transparent saucers, will be gently handed over as the first ceremonial performance by the inviter to the invitee.

Although this behavior is now more about calming down my emotions, at least so that I don't make any mistakes when I'm giving a presentation.