Honkai Impact 3rd, a simulator of lifelong regret!

He would often suddenly space out when he was alone with himself, wondering if the girl reflected in his eyes was his childhood sweetheart or a friend.

I know nothing about it, and I understand nothing about it.

The existing information is not even enough to piece together.

and so……

Let's avoid it.

When faced with a place where it's uncertain whether it's a trap, the safest approach is to choose to bypass it. As long as you skip that unknown area, even if it really is a trap, it won't cause any harm to your relationship with Jiang Cheng. In fact, you don't even need to think about what gift to buy.

After using the process of elimination, you can naturally choose from the few remaining souvenirs on the shelf to give Jiangcheng a suitable gift.

……

Raiden Mei stepped into a nearby souvenir shop. This street, which preserves old objects, is a special tourist destination in Changkong City, although there are shops that specialize in selling old items from the last century.

The shop's interior decoration is still in a classic style, unlike the previous European and dreamy dessert shops, it exudes an old-fashioned feel, as if it were in a movie.

Because the country is located in an area prone to earthquakes, the buildings are mainly constructed of wood. The design here is also more unconventional than others, as if it has been naturally coated with an aged look. Even the wood used as pillars bears the scratches from years of wind and rain.

Perhaps to emphasize its old-fashioned and rustic nature and better highlight its own characteristics, it is clear from beginning to end that this is an antique shop. Even the smallest details are carefully depicted, which is completely different from the glitz and glamour of other shops and the elegance of dessert shops.

Perhaps because most of the people who come here are nostalgic elderly people, the only section on the shelves that is filled with souvenirs is completely full.

No need to search or ask the shopkeeper; it's placed directly in the most prominent position in the shop, next to an old-fashioned claw machine.

The souvenirs are basically the same old designs: a model of the Changkong City Bridge, postcards of this street, kaleidoscopes filled with environmental maps, photocopied stamps that have long been discontinued, and small shrines with prayer beads...

Any one of them would be enough as a memento, but if you want something that reminds you of yourself when you see it, then none of them are suitable.

Bearing the weight of history, its very existence is a record of the past. If you're just visiting for leisure, there might not be a problem.

But the girl never came to this street to reminisce about the past like the old people, or to conduct research as a historical researcher. At first, she simply had nowhere else to go.

Because of being ostracized by others, I could only choose the place where there were no other people like me, stay in the most remote place, and hide in the darkest corner.

I've come here again now simply because I hope my date with Jiang Cheng won't be disturbed by anyone, and that it will leave a lasting impression.

If he went elsewhere, he would definitely be recognized by people who knew him. Those people would not show any mercy or tact just because he was with someone else. Jiang Cheng would also get into trouble because someone would dare to bully and isolate him in a way that was different from what they did.

kaleidoscope……

I think you could change the pictures inside yourself.

Not only can you record the details of your date, but you can also upload your own photos, which can be viewed together as soon as you open the app.

The only thing that can satisfy both needs—to record the date and to remind you of yourself whenever you see it—seems to be a kaleidoscope that can be manually modified. Anything else can only satisfy one of them.

The price is within an acceptable range, and the label next to it says 24 days' worth of income, which is exactly one month's wages. In that case, the remaining funds should be enough to last until next month.

Raiden Mei made up her mind, reached out and took the kaleidoscope from the shelf, handed it to the shopkeeper to be packaged, wrapped it in a delicate little box with purple silk, tied it into a bow, and decorated it with a blooming lilac.

All that's left is to hand the gift to Jiang Cheng at the right time, and our first full-day 'date' will be a complete success.

If we can leave a good impression on Jiangcheng, perhaps we can continue to stay together like this in the future, tomorrow... or next weekend.

Definitely.

I have already received that kind of response.

……

Finally, I saw a few glimmers of light in the endless darkness, found hope for life, and finally got through the endless numbness. In the lonely fall of being all alone, I grabbed a lifeline.

Without the girl herself even realizing it, a slight smile of happiness appeared on her lips—a smile she had never shown before, a feeling she had never experienced in her life as Raiden Mei.

Without needing to take the initiative or force it, people basking in the sunlight will naturally smile; this is the instinct of human life in happiness.

Even when I tried my best in the past to win my father's praise and approval, the smile I gave was only close to this moment.

Perhaps at that time, the girl had never felt the warmth of what is called mutual attraction, or perhaps it was just that the sun after a long period of rain is always especially precious, and only after experiencing the cold can one feel the value of light, and only after falling into the abyss can one realize the peace and stability of being on solid ground.

Human life inherently possesses a void within it: the error of judging the value of things irrationally. Before losing an object, the emotions of life can never realize how important that thing was to them; it is only at the moment of separation that they feel heartbroken.

It's all in the past...

The dream has been proven to be true.

The girl bit her lip, her deep purple pupils reflecting the carefully wrapped items she carried—gifts she would give to Jiang Cheng as souvenirs.

Until the cruel voice came again, until the person who had never shown any kindness from the beginning revealed their most ferocious fangs.

"That thing costs three times the price."

……

"Eh……"

A sound like the mournful cry of a young animal had already emerged from her heart before her thoughts could even return. Raiden Mei subconsciously raised her head, and the lingering fantasy of future happiness in her crimson eyes had not yet completely dissipated, but the remaining trace was cruelly melted into misty vapor.

An incomprehensible blankness.

A confusion that one is unwilling to understand.

At first glance, the girl couldn't understand these seemingly simple characters, and her face showed a blank expression like that of a bewildered baby.

Perhaps it was because they still held onto a sliver of hope, or perhaps the past two weeks had allowed their ravaged hearts to recover somewhat, enabling them to rekindle their hope and pray that things wouldn't be so bad.

It was clearly her first date with the boy.

Everything had been going smoothly until now.

This is a time when absolutely no problems can occur.

Why……

what……

Did you hear that wrong?

Did you hear that wrong?

Probably not.

We've already hidden here, so there shouldn't be any problems, right?

The pitiful demeanor would sadden anyone, and the eyes that seemed to reflect the color of the light should be irresistible to anyone—yet there was no kindness on the face of that ordinary shopkeeper.

She only revealed, word by word, everything that the girl thought she could avoid by playing the ostrich or the turtle, and that she absolutely did not want to hear.

"Miss Raiden Mei, the daughter of a financial fraudster."

……

……

……

what……

what……

what……

I see.

There's no need for further doubt. The smile hidden in that earnest tone, the grotesque posture twisted to the point of disgust by the success of the conspiracy—everything has completely proven the final truth.

Shatter any lingering sense of complacency, any desire to escape disaster, and any remaining hope until nothing remains.

Since they actively wanted to reach out and grab a lifeline.

Since they've voluntarily moved their heads out a little bit.

Then don't blame the harsh reality for the heavy blow. Anyway, you actively wanted to be saved; you're just asking for trouble.

No?

—Raiden Mei.

Even after experiencing despair once, even after experiencing it countless times, an overly delicate heart still cannot accept the sudden fall from a blissful, beautiful paradise where one can see the light in the distance into an endless hell where only darkness spreads, forced to be pulled down by an endless drop.

It felt like the first time I was walking home alone after a school trip with the boy, and I was stopped by those malicious people.

The painting of hell reappeared, mercilessly seizing the corner of the girl's heart that she secretly peeked out, pulling her soft heart out of its defenses.

"How……"

"how come……"

……

167. You don't want Jiangcheng to be disappointed either, do you? Mei-chan

The girl, who was at the height of her happiness, was eventually caught up by the past. The world had always hated and loathed her, and did not show any mercy to Jiang Cheng. From the very beginning, there was no pity whatsoever.

This period of seemingly gentle easing, this seemingly hopeful future, is merely a prelude to knocking on the door while we are immersed in the beauty of life.

When the girl, huddled in her shell, cautiously extends a finger and lifts her head from the numb depths of the sea, despair will descend once more.

The disaster never truly ended; it simply shifted from constant knocking to standing in front of the tortoise shell, waiting for the girl to come out on her own.

It was as if everything that had happened before was coming back to haunt her. The malice from others once again laid bare the disgust of the entire city and the world, and quietly patted the shoulder of the girl who was immersed in happiness.

Do not……

Not only that.

It's not simply about having all your schoolbags thrown away, scribbling on the desks and chairs, throwing your school supplies downstairs, attaching sharp blades to them, stuffing trash into the shoe cabinet, putting nails in your shoes, being doused with cold water in the bathroom, being harassed for various reasons, or being physically beaten.

What happened this time was more terrifying than all the previous incidents combined. If she had a choice, the girl would rather have her clothes torn in the street and run home alone in a sorry state.

Because of what's in front of me...

—It's a gift.

—It is a gift to Jiangcheng.

……