Honkai Impact 3rd, a simulator of lifelong regret!

—The gift from the person named Raiden Mei has been recognized.

As a way to end the date.

This marks the beginning of the second phase.

As a date game driven by selfish motives, it forcibly takes over the most unfamiliar and untouched areas of a young man's heart, and gets on track.

There was no sudden interruption, nor was there the same effort and hard work as before in trying to invite my father to a meal or trip like a normal family, only to be ruthlessly rejected with the excuse of being too busy with work.

We will not leave, we will not lose.

Like a mark etched into their souls, the gift held in the boy's hands seemed to constantly prove the depth of the bond between the two.

Ahhh...

Is this what it means to feel at ease?

It is really……

It's so wonderful!

Her skin, once slightly pale from the wind and melted away by the chill of dusk, was as flawless as white jade. In an instant, it was dyed a pink that even the most splendid and pure cherry blossoms in spring, the first petal falling in the wind, could not compare to—a beauty that even an ordinary human could, for a moment, be almost equal to that of a flawless fairy, blossoming from the emotion called love.

Slender and graceful, with a swan-like neck and lips as soft as rosy clouds, like peach blossoms falling into the air, a gentle breeze seems to seep in from somewhere, bringing the fragrance of roses that are just blooming outside the window, brushing over her well-defined, jade-like shoulders, the fragrance defying the wind, and a pink glow shimmering on her snow-white skin.

The darkness and oppression in his pupils vanished, as if everything just now was merely an illusion. A clear purple light, like thunder, gently illuminated the pupils, conveying all hope and light at the same speed as the sound.

……

"If you're thinking about my return gift, please don't be so rude as to think about it. At least give me some room to prepare a surprise."

"I never expected you to give me a gift on the Ferris wheel all day. You can't be the only one who has to do this kind of thing."

It was clearly an ordinary voice, lacking any magnetism or reliability. It was neither deep nor elegant; it was just a common, mortal voice that wouldn't stand out in a crowd, much like his merely above-average appearance.

Not to mention the flawless male protagonist in light novels, even the young masters you occasionally see at banquets can't compare to him.

But that's enough.

So satisfying.

That's all I could ask for.

Because it is almost completely 'filled'.

……

"Yes... thank you... oh, thank you!"

"Jiang Chengjun, I have received the best gift."

The girl, whose perfect curves were still clearly visible even through her long purple dress, gently pressed against his own full, fair flesh. As the giver of the gift, she showed far more joy than the boy. What should have been a quiet, silent thunderclap began to flash with dazzling traces on the horizon.

When the oppressive and suffocating clouds are dispelled, the already dazzling brilliance should at least show some of its proper form.

The thunder in the sky, no matter how gentle, should never hide in the shadows; its dancing, dragon-like form is the true symbol of lightning.

At the very least, this lightning shouldn't be constantly suppressed until the self is on the verge of collapse before being released to create the killing one doesn't want to do, and then to completely fall into darkness because of trying to pursue the one one loves.

Even if the ending leads to a bright future, it doesn't mean that the process will necessarily be as perfect as in a fairy tale like in Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

At least for the people involved, a relaxed and enjoyable experience, like a trip, is obviously more suitable than a cruel, painful process.

Although we can't achieve the fairytale-like beauty of today, at least a ray of light has appeared in the endless darkness, and a glimmer of hope has been found.

……

"Miss Mei, don't expect to refuse my gift with just that kind of talk."

—Although someone who seemed to be oblivious to romance simply shook their finger, they ruthlessly interrupted the act of expressing feelings through gifts.

If you're going to give a gift, give it properly. Even if you can't help someone in need, at least make them feel good. He doesn't accept the idea that feelings are the best gift, so there's no need to give a physical gift.

"I need to think about the specific design carefully when I get home, but I can guarantee that my gift will at least not disappoint you."

"Although I have never received a gift from anyone in my 'life,' I am quite skilled at giving gifts to others."

"More than half a month has passed, from campus to this street. Even for friends, that's a considerable amount of time spent together. Putting everything else aside, I actually have some guesses about your hobbies and such, you know?"

……

what……

Am I not number one?

that's true……

Raiden Mei lifted her slightly drooping spirits, gently patted her flushed cheeks, and forced a fantasy to revive her somewhat dormant mind.

But it doesn’t matter.

If they want to snatch even this first place, that would be too greedy.

Having already obtained the most precious thing—the first gift given to Jiangcheng—she could no longer be greedy and seek more.

At least for now, she can't be seen as a jealous girl; otherwise, she'd be completely unlovable, even in a light novel.

95

I've never received a gift, but I'm used to giving gifts to others. Jiangcheng's past is really different from mine.

The emotional fluctuations were somewhat inexplicable. Although there were these trivial matters, the second half of Jiang Cheng's sentence was what truly needed attention.

Hmm... I guessed it about his hobbies...

Are there really guys like me?

Is it really possible to have something you love and are passionate about?

For once, her deep purple eyes were clouded with confusion because of something other than the boy. She bit her lip and tried to think, but it only made her thoughts more chaotic, as if she were searching for words in a blank.

……

This is so tantalizing.

193. Mei: As for gifts, I only want you.

“Although this should be categorized as meaningless chatter, I mean it with a great deal of sincerity.” Jiang Cheng rested his elbow on the edge of the window, supporting his relaxed cheek with his clenched knuckles. “I will spend a long time preparing it. Although I don’t have much to do right now, you still need to receive something you like.”

"There is no need for unnecessary dissuasion or to feel unworthy, because I am the one who chooses to give the gift, and the decision is in my hands. Unless you think I am not worthy to give gifts to others, I am not qualified to give gifts to others with Asia Heart."

"No one is pressuring me to give you a gift, and you haven't asked me for any gifts or hinted that you want me to give you a gift in return."

"In this matter, no one else was involved at all. Someone like me would never choose to prepare a gift just to follow the crowd... because of the so-called 'not becoming an outcast'."

"If we're talking about being a loner, I'm way better than you. At least you know quite a few people. In this campus, you're the only one who knows my name. I don't even remember what my neighbor's last name is."

……

For those who like to overthink but never say a word, like a silent gourd, they put all their emotions into a container called their inner self and let them boil and change, eventually fermenting into something terrible.

Rather than secretly preparing a surprise behind your back, it's more important to show that I'm doing this for you with great care and attention.

The value of a gift and the sincerity of the sentiment are uncertain and change as the relationship deepens; the closer the relationship, the less concerned they are with the monetary value.

Although for some people who lack love, these two things can be confused, the sincerity of feelings is the most precious value in the world.

At least Raiden Mei was almost knocked down by this attack. Her whole body was weak and dizzy. Even though she was teased many times without her realizing it, she did not develop any patience for being valued.

"Well……"

As he gazed at the setting sun, which was drawing to a close, his voice was like a faint reminder, "If my gift really upsets you, please try to bear with it when you see it."

—After all, I'm going to be monitoring you just like Wilhelmy.

……

"Don't worry, it won't happen. I'll like anything Jiang Cheng gives me, no matter what it is."

The dizzy girl even subconsciously made a promise, her fingers pressed against her full breasts, her face flushed like spring cherry blossoms, as she uttered words that would normally make her so ashamed that she would faint on the spot.

Although she calmed down a little after three seconds, Raiden Mei felt like she was about to die and couldn't help but want to push open the window and jump off the Ferris wheel. In fact, if she hadn't already crossed her original bottom line today and done too many shameless things, causing her shame threshold to be raised by a huge amount, she probably would have screamed like a third-rate light novel heroine right now.

Only in the depths of one's heart, amidst countless boiling emotions, does the last vestige of purity offer a tiny space for those insignificant doubts to survive.

Jiangcheng, he...

What will they actually give as a gift?

As for hobbies... what are they?

Even in the most chaotic libraries or trash cans, there may be truth and knowledge, but you can find nothing on empty sheets of paper.

Whether it's personal preferences, hobbies, or something unique enough to be called a preference, these are things that a young girl herself could never have imagined.

It's not that she has no strengths or talents; on the contrary, the girl named Raiden Mei is an undeniable genius. No matter what she does—studying, fighting, or working—there are no flaws to be found. Among humans, she can be classified as a fantasy.

The only problem is that those skills, which can only be called special talents and not hobbies, are ultimately just strengths compared to ordinary people.

Because in essence, whether it's learning, fighting, or working, it's all about gaining the satisfaction and praise of others, obeying their orders, their demands, or simply doing what you're required to do.

She studied so that her father would pay more attention to her and praise her, rather than putting all her energy into work.

In terms of combat, it's because she wants to meet the demands of the Houmu Sword Saint and doesn't want her only confidante to be disappointed in her for a long time.

Nowadays, work is even simpler; it's just about making a living. To survive in this cruel world, you have to work and earn money, using your time and effort to get the corresponding rewards.

Perhaps the girl herself didn't dislike studying, or perhaps she actually enjoyed kendo.

But when the effort is not for oneself but for others, whether the goal is to gain approval, reward, or more attention, the final outcome is the same – because one's own interests will be buried, and naturally, it can no longer be called a hobby.

Essentially, it's the same as whether learning is for acquiring more knowledge or for passing exams. The former can be called learning, for one's own pleasure, while the latter can only be called memorization, for the approval of others.

It can even be irrelevant to efficiency, practicality, or memory, because fundamentally it means the two cannot be categorized together.

If something doesn't originate from the heart from the beginning, at least most of what's revealed is something driven by personal hobbies. If it's something that can be easily changed or even has its own ideas erased because of other people's thoughts or hobbies, it doesn't deserve to be called a hobby at all, and cannot be given the title of those two words.

Hobbies... To achieve love, one must have—this is my thing, and no one else can interfere with it at will. As long as it is my inspiration, the action I want to take, no one can rewrite it or change it.

Just as no one wants their loved one to become someone else's lapdog, to be bossed around, or to have their favorite things played with at will.

The minimum requirement for love is possessiveness. If even possessiveness cannot be satisfied, then anything that cannot generate any possessiveness cannot be called love.