Honkai Impact 3rd, a simulator of lifelong regret!

[You still remember this from a month ago, when you received an invitation from Mebius to visit the Honkai Beasts. After a bunch of discussions you didn't understand, the girl became worried.]

It seems that ever since that day, Vilvie has become increasingly tired every day.

……

"Jiang Cheng...you said that if one day we can't be together because of some special factors, and we have to be separated for a long time."

Turning her head as if on a whim, the girl gently poked her soft cheek.

"Of course I'm not saying we'll break up or anything, and it doesn't have any special meaning."

"I just want to know, if that day really comes..."

"--what would you do?"

"how can that be possible?"

Jiang Cheng simply smiled gently, gazing tenderly at his lover.

"I will never leave you, you can believe me, there is absolutely no chance of that, and... actually you can't live without me either, can you?"

"..."

"Yes."

Vervi was silent for a moment, then smiled back, slightly raising the corners of her lips.

The boy at the time was unaware of this.

In that smile...

It contains concerns.

Worries about one's lover's foolishness and ignorance, worries about the uncertainty and cruelty of their breakdown, worries about the sweet affection that has made them so inseparable that they can no longer live alone.

……

[Or even earlier, on the day you and the girl first went on a nighttime outing together after you and the girl arrived at the Firemoth as dispatched agents.]

Her silver-gray pupils were still so beautiful, with a touch of pink in the middle as if a cherry blossom had fallen into them that day, leaving behind a trace of past brilliance. Yet, hidden within that familiarity was an expression that was hard to understand.

At least at this moment, the boy, who prided himself on knowing the girl very well, couldn't understand the overflowing emotions contained in her pupils.

"Among the people you know, is there anyone whose disappearance would make you feel so sad, so very sad, that you might never recover from it in your lifetime?"

Back then, you didn't understand anything. You only thought that this sentence stemmed from a young girl's unsettled heart and lingering feelings of insecurity.

[They casually ignored the slightest flaw or slip-up that was finally revealed.]

"Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Wilvi shouldn't be the kind of girl who likes to test others' trust, gets jealous, or overthinks things like ordinary people.

Saying I don't get jealous is probably going too far.

But now the vow has been made.

The girl should absolutely not doubt her feelings anymore.

This heartfelt connection brings warmth to both parties without any falsehood or fabrication, something that even the most skilled actors and playwrights could not replicate.

Even if one feels extremely insecure, they will no longer continue with such clumsy explorations.

Moreover, this problem is quite strange.

Asking knowingly.

In this world, there is someone he absolutely cannot lose. If he loses that person, he may never recover from it in his lifetime, and might even do things that no one would want to see, or pursue some extreme things.

"—Isn't it right in front of me?"

……

……

what……

what……

The girl's starry eyes, which had been blinking gently, finally focused, and the shimmering light returned to calm, as if she wanted to etch this moment deeply into her heart.

really……

It hasn't changed at all.

It was still so dazzling, even more dazzling than the sun, shining even in the dim night sky.

This is something I couldn't even imagine; it's like something out of a fairy tale, a kind of beautiful and dreamlike care and trust.

anyway.

No matter what we go through.

This beautiful thing must be protected.

"No matter what happens in the future, no matter how the Honkai develops, we must never be separated, and we must stay together forever."

"I……"

"I will definitely protect you."

This resolute, knightly oath, seemingly tinged with the warmth of cherry blossoms, accompanied the girl's tight grip on the boy's fingertips.

It was as if time had been transcended, following closely on the boy's vow at that birthday party, a promise that belonged only to the girl and would never be broken.

Even with small scars and roughness, the slender fingers of her hands remained as delicate as cherry blossoms falling on a hillside.

You initially thought this would be just a minor incident, and indeed, the rest of your trip didn't involve it.

This was merely a casual question, but from any perspective, it seems abnormal and should be taken seriously.

[Vilvie has never been the straightforward type. She won't ask questions that might hurt you. Even if she does have doubts, she'll just silently shut herself off.]

Although this talent will never be used to harm you, it doesn't mean that a young girl can abandon this innate talent from her very nature.

It looks so strange from every angle.

This is highly abnormal.

[But you didn't notice at the time—the girl's voice was slightly hoarse, and her fingers had some small cuts.]

original……

Did it start from that time?

really……

He truly is a genius...

Even in the face of a disaster of Honkai, the danger can be detected and anticipated immediately, leaving behind backup plans to be activated when necessary.

Why didn't Vilvi, who is so smart and talented, leave behind a backup plan to save her life?

Why……

why.

why? !

……

The girl is indeed an undisputed genius.

[A somewhat pessimistic genius, yet always able to foresee everything.]

She even foresaw the horror of the Honkai before Mebius did—an unpredictable catastrophe, a despair that could strike at any moment.

Its impact on humanity is like the impact of nuclear weapons on war, making even those who originally controlled everything vulnerable to mutual destruction.

Contrary to your expectations, the girl is a true all-rounder, without any weaknesses, even in her understanding of psychology; she knows everything about your psychology.

[If she wanted, she could manipulate people's minds at any time, becoming the most terrifying demon.]

But she will never use it, especially not to you.

【only……】

It's pointless now.

……

……

……

……

[Vilvie is dead.]

There is no other possibility.

You sit on the ground with your eyes closed, your back against the pile of dust and ruins beside you.

The astronomical clock wasn't put away; it remained on the ground, as if the girl wouldn't die unless Wilvie's belongings were taken away.

【…】

【…】

The girl had no regrets in her life.

She has met you, been rescued from darkness by you, and is overcoming her own flaws for you, striving again and again.

[Originally, she was extremely withdrawn and had low self-esteem, afraid of communicating with people, and also afraid of being alone.]

The path ahead is almost crystal clear: either you drive yourself to the brink of collapse, or you use your talents to do things that amount to splitting yourself, such as wearing a mask and pretending to be someone else.

Because of your appearance, the girl avoided such a tragic end and was able to live on as Velvi, her bleak life finally seeing a glimmer of light.

In her final moments, Virvi was undoubtedly happy; for her, you did nothing wrong.

[Was there no regret in the girl's life...?]

"No...?"