«M-Mei… Mei-senpai…» Kiana was at a loss for words. She didn't know who she was expecting on the other end of the call. Perhaps Bronya? Definitely not Mei.
«Kiana-chan! I've been so worried! How have you been? Have you been eating well? Sleeping well?»
DEFINITELY not Mei.
«Mei-senpai, I'm not some kid that just left their parents' house for the first time. I can take care of myself.» Kiana then replied with a pout. Mei sighed.
«Yes of course… It's just… I…»
«Don't say it, don't say it, don't say it…»
«Kiana-chan, I miss you.» Mei finally stated.
Kiana lifted a hand to muffle her voice, in fear of what she would probably say if the conversation kept up on this path. She then figured she should change the topic.
«H-How is everyone else? I'm sure Bronya is thrilled about finally getting some shut eye. With me snoring every night and all…»
«Don't say that! She's worried about you. We all are. She's the reason we can even speak to each other right now.» Mei replied sternly.
«Yeah about that…»
Mei stood silent in anticipation. She didn't actually believe it was better for them to not be talking to each other, right?!
«I think it'd be for the best…if you didn't call again…»
«…»
«I mean it's nice to hear you're all doing well but if I wanted to let you guys keep tabs on me, I wouldn't have left in the first pla-
«No.»
Kiana gaped in shocked silence. No?
«What do you mean no?»
Mei gripped the device harder in anger. She could barely mantain her composure but she pressed on. She had to stay calm to get her point across.
«Kiana-chan. You're lying.»
«Huh?»
«You put on this act, trying to stay away from us, telling yourself it's for our protection. That the path you're walking is too dangerous for us. But it's because it's dangerous that I can't leave you alone!»
Kiana patiently waited for Mei to say anything else. She hoped it wouldn't come to this, truly. But if that was the price she had to pay to keep her out of harm's way, she'd gladly pay it.
«Mei, I had hoped you could understand me as you always did. Understand why I needed to leave. But you're mistaken. I'm not protecting you all from Schicksal or anything I might find out here. I'm protecting you from me.»
Mei's eyes widened and she realised why Kiana was acting like this. She knew.
«There is absolutely nothing in the world that would make me be afraid of you. Nothing to make me think you'd hurt me. Nothing to make me believe you'd be happier on your own. I know all this because I know you.»
«You're wrong… I-I hurt you Mei-senpai…» Kiana struggled to form words as soft sobs finally were released and she tried to hold back her tears.
«Kiana-chan, please, that wasn't you-
«Don't you see?! It doesn't matter! Even if that wasn't me, there's nothing to guarantee it won't happen again! You aren't safe around me…»
«Then, that letter you left, was also a lie wasn't it?»
«I…»
Mei shook with rage and grief at this point. She had heard enough.
«You said we would be together once you were finished with your mission. But if you truly believe that you're better off on your own, you never planned on coming back in the first place!»
«Mei-senpai, you know what I-
«No, Kiana. You clearly haven't thought this through. You're putting yourself in danger to accomplish something that won't give you happiness, keeping everyone that cares about you away in the process. So I've decided that I'll bring you back. Even if I have to use force. I'll definitely bring you back!»
Kiana spent a good while processing what just happened. For all her intents and purposes, her plan to cut herself off from everyone had backfired. Suddenly, she was running out of time and she didn't even know where exactly to go from that point. It felt as if she was stuck inside a 4-wall room and everything was closing in around her. Her breathing was labored and she felt consciousness start to slip away, panic rising up inside her. But instead of the usual feeling that accompanied someone passing out, Kiana felt as if she was being pulled away, staying in place but not quite being able to move even if she wanted to. That was when she realised she wasn't in control anymore. The Herrscher was free.
Celine regained her composure as she struggled to keep her vessel standing. The transfer was much more sudden than she anticipated. No matter. She didn't plan on staying anyway.
«Human, are you still there?» Celine called out to the device. Her voice was low and unsure.
Mei's stern expression fell once she heard that voice. Unmistakably Kiana's but distorted. Distant. This was the 2nd Herrscher.
«Yes. What do you want?» Mei replied cautiously. It would be for the best if she was kept calm. For everyone's sake.
«This pathetic excuse for a Herrscher is currently stationed in Shenzhou. If you send a retrieval squad you may be able to catch up to her.»
Mei's eyes widened in surprise once more. This had to be a trick.
«Why are you telling me this? You can't have anything to gain from her capture…»
«The girl will fail. When she does, that man will get a hold of her again and then it will all be over. Even for me. Her retrieval would prevent this.»
«Why not keep control of her and avoid this? Surely you would want to be the one calling the shots.» Mei replied in turn. She heard Celine scoff from the other end of the line.
«Please. My mere existence is a beacon. The raw power of the Honkai would alert them of my location instantly and I would be forced to fight back. One day I will reclaim my right to this world and return it to the Honkai, but that day is still far away. For now, I'd prefer it if things were allowed to, calm down, as you'd say.» Celine explained calmly. Mei processed this.
«Is that all?»
«Well, you still have a part of me I'd very much like back. But for now, yes that is all. Refrain from releasing this information to this brat once I am gone.»
Celine then vanished from Kiana's consciousness without another word and she instantly fell to her knees in shock. She looked around her noticing the communication device that had fallen from her hands on the ground beside her. Picking it up, she inspected it for any damage before noticing the call was still going.
«Mei-senpai, are you still there?» Kiana called out, clutching the device in anticipation.
«Yes, I am.»
«D-Did she…»
Mei pondered this for a moment. Should she really keep that conversation a secret from Kiana? What would Kiana do if she found out?
«She talked to me.»
Kiana gulped as her fears came to pass.
«No, no no no no this is exactly the thing I was talking about!»
«You've talked with my Herrscher form in the past. How is this any different?» Mei questioned the girl.
«SHE is different! She's not like yours, she only cares about what happens to herself. What did you talk about?»
«You. She said you were being stupid.»
«Figures. Is that all?»
«She also told me you shout out my name in your sleep…» Mei boldly teased and Kiana blushed hard.
«S-She really told you about that?» the young knight asked embarrassed.
«No. But you just confirmed it.» Mei said grinning and Kiana was dumbfounded.
«I-I….w-well whatever! It's not like I didn't do that back at St. Freya's. You guys just never heard me…» Kiana finally admitted and it was Mei's turn to blush fiercely as her teasing backfired.
«Mei-senpai…» Kiana called out softly.
«Mm? What is it?»
«Despite everything I said, I am really glad I got to speak with you. And I'm sorry for what I said. But I have to ask one more time. Please, please pleaseeee don't try and find me.»
Mei, stood silent for a moment, deciding upon her next words. After a while she responded.
«Only if you promise me to come back…»
Kiana's sad face brightened up as a wide smile adorned her features.
«You bet! I'll be done with this business and back home to eat your cooking before you even know it!» she responded with a huge grin and Mei smiled.
«You better…»
Kiana then stood up and put on her backpack as she prepared to leap off the roof she was on. She turned to the device one more time as she happily called out.
«I love you, Mei. More than anything.»
Mei, surprised at the sudden affection, teared up slightly but she wiped the tears away with her finger and she too smiled in return.
«I love you too Kiana. Be careful.»
She then reluctantly ended the call as she noticed Bronya had just entered the Dorm room.
«The Bronya assumes the device worked?»
«Yes, it worked great Bronya, thanks.» Mei responded as she handed the smaller girl the HOMU-themed communicator and turned to leave the room.
«Did Mei-nee-sama acquire Kiana's whereabouts?»
Mei stopped dead in her tracks as she slowly turned to look at Bronya.
«No. No I didn't.»