Chapter 2: Ren Fujii
Thankfully attending Tsukinosawa High has its benefits such as this school doesn't really care much if you come early late or didn't attend school at all. Making it perfect for Kiana and Bianka to just barge into school in the middle of noon and the teachers wouldn't make a fuss about it. Though their attendance score would most likely be affected at the end of the day.
Unfortunately for the sisters they both are in different classes, since Bianka is an upperclassman to Kiana. At least free time exists and it's not uncommon for them to meet up during that time.
Free time or not for Kiana school has always been the perfect place for her to take a short nap just like now.
"REN!"
Or not, "Ugh~ dammit. My ears hurt." Groggily Kiana tilts her head to the direction of the sound. As expected it is Kasumi again, the light brown haired girl with an excitable and short tempered personality.
With her is a boy named Ren Fujii, a fairly typical boy with blue hair and a pair of blue eyes. He's a pretty crude and straightforward dude who wants nothing much but peace and serenity.
"You're so loud dammit, I can hear you clearly." The boy groaned.
"But you're not responding to anything I've said! Come on, you gotta socialize more."
"I don't need it." Ren looked over Kasumi's shoulder and saw her friend talking about something. Though he knows it is most likely about him since his fight with Yusa Shirou had become a hot topic especially since the mad man Shirou apparently escaped from the hospital he was held at.
"For once you should look at it from my perspective, Kasumi."
"That's why you should socialize more." Adamant the girl holds her statement. She's always been like this, stubborn and persistent. Now that Kiana thought about it, that feels strangely familiar. Has she always been this annoying to deal with? She wonders if Mei and Theresa ever get tired of her antics, Bronya seems annoyed although she couldn't really tell because of the Russian girl's emotionless attitude.
"That's not the point Kasumi. Just look at them, do they want me to be around them?" Ren nods over to Kasumi's friend group.
"They'll warm up eventually."
"…" Ren sighs, it seems like he couldn't really put his voice into this girl's thick skull.
"Hehe, have you finally accepted my suggestion?"
"Nope, I just gave up on listening to your uncomfortably weird suggestions." The boy plugs his ears to prepare himself for the incoming outburst.
"Argh! You're always like this! Why do you like to be alone so much!" And it finally happened that the short fuse Kasumi is fuming again. Those two are really like cats and dogs yet somehow their bond is unbreakable despite them acting like this.
"Because it's not a hassle and I don't want to deal with a 2nd Kasumi."
"Why!?" Kasumi pouts. "Are you saying I'm annoying huh!?"
"Loud and least you're self conscious." Ren Shrugs his shoulders. " Well I'm going out. Kasumi tone your voice out a bit. It is breaking everyone's ear drums." And just like that the boy left his class leaving the fuming light brown haired girl in the class by herself and her class friends.
"REN! Ugh fine~ Hmph. Shouldn't have made him breakfast." The girl grumbled to herself.
"Finally some peace." Kiana sighs, She should've brought her earphones with her if she knew they're going to fight like that again.
Though their dynamics made her think of "Kiana's" dynamic with Bronya. It is weird to have memories of a different version of yourself but what's weirder is that she does remember seeing them from both a 3rd person and 1st person point of view.
One from her memories of her playing Honkai Impact and one from her memories experiencing those real events from the Honkai Impact world.
She looked at her phone and on the screen she saw the Herrscher of Flamescion staring back at her from the main menu of the game.
"But why do people think I'm playing a different game when I showed them this phone's screen?" Kiana straightened her back and crossed her arms. "I wonder what would happen if Nee san saw it. She does appear in this game too."
Kiana was curious enough that she wanted to show her sister the game right now but then she remembered what happened to her a few days ago. What if Bianka experienced the same experience she did? Or what if she experienced something worse?
"Nevermind. Whatever, let's just clear the Elysian Realm." Kiana picked up her phone and played the game for the rest of her school lunch break. Despite being raised in different environments the two ultimately are still gamers in the end.
_
School eventually came to an end and somehow Ren Fujii didn't return back to his class. Presumably he fell asleep on the roof area where he usually hangs out.
Though it isn't Kiana's problem so the girl didn't bother looking for him, instead she waits for her sister in front of her class. Even though she is friends with him to a certain extent it was mostly because he's friends with Kasumi than anything else.
"Sorry I'm a bit late Kiana, class meeting took longer than usual." Bianka sigh as the blond haired girl walks out of the classroom to find her sister playing a game on her phone.
"It is fine." Kiana put her phone away. "So we're heading to the church? I'm getting hungry."
"Yeah. Me too." Though the two aren't the most religious, the nun in Suwahara's local church occasionally gave them a free dinner and to them free food meant that they could save up more of their monthly income.
Besides that her cooking also tasted better than what the two sisters can cook themselves. So either way this eventually became a routine for the two of them.
It is also how Kiana and Bianka met Theresia although she's more commonly known as Rea Himuro, a short white haired girl who's the same age as Bianka and is actually her class mate though she isn't as active in class as the blond haired girl.
She is quite reserved and only really open up to the people she's close with but she still retains that mysterious aura around her. Just like Bronya she barely expresses herself, though from time to time you could see her more playful nature and Ren is usually the one that she likes to bully.
"Sister Riza! We're here!" Kiana excitedly opened the big double doors of the church as soon as they arrived.
"Oh my. Where have you two been?" The nun was nowhere to be seen in the main area of the chapel though her voice can be heard from one of the rooms on the side.
"Ah! I'm still cooking, you two can wait in the dining room. Sorry that I couldn't greet you right now."
The two sisters didn't think much of it and decided to sit down in the dining room as they waited for their dinner. Though it is a bit weird seeing Rea/Theresia haven't arrived back at her house yet usually she would already be here before them.
But probably the girl just has some things left to do at school. The two could just hope that she'll arrive back safely and not become the next murder victim.
Though as they waited, Kiana couldn't help but to feel uneasy as soon as she got here. The kaslana didn't understand why she felt like that. Never once has she felt this much anxiety, she didn't even know why she suddenly felt anxious.
Something here just doesn't feel right. An enemy maybe or a secret room? Something like that. Now Kiana started to question her own sanity as after she got that phone weird things started happening.
"Dinner's ready!" Sister Riza carried with her a tray of food. "So where have you two been? It gets a bit lonely when you two aren't eating with us." The nun asked as she gave Kiana and Bianka their share of food.
"Ah it is nothing. Kiana got sick and I had to take care of her, that's all."
"You could've asked for my help if you wanted Bianka."
"You're the only sister in this chapel I couldn't possibly ask you that." Bianka frowned a little "I can take care of my sister myself."
"At least you two are okay now. Kiana what are you thinking about? Your eyes don't seem to be focusing on anything."
"I-It's nothing." The white haired girl looks away. Perhaps she could hide her expression a bit better but sister Riza always seems to pick up any subtle expression difference she or her sister makes.
Kiana just felt a sudden wave of nostalgia that's all. The food tasted like what Raiden Mei used to make. Though the tense atmosphere she's feeling really doesn't help. She didn't want to be rude to sister Riza either for being so tense and anxious.
"I see… Ah right tonight you might be able to see father trifa if he doesn't get himself lost that is."
"Is that the priest that you sent to Madagascar to help with a church related affair there for a couple of months?" Kiana asked though for some reason she felt like they had met beforehand. What's with this sense of foreknowledge that the Kaslana kept getting anyway? The two of them haven't met the priest yet as he was already away when they just moved here.
"Mhm~ Maybe Theresia met him on the way. He has a bad sense of direction sometimes."
"I see." Kiana continues to munch on her food. This weird sense of nostalgia with her in game self is driving her nuts. Just what exactly is the phone that she suddenly got?
A couple minutes later as soon as they finished eating the priest that they were waiting about finally came. Alongside him was Rea Himuro and 2 other people.
Wait 2 other people? It also had to be Ren Fuuji and Kasumi Ayase of all people. "It is a surprise for you to visit here." Kiana commented
"Blame Kasumi for it. I wanted to go home but she dragged me here." The boy crossed his arms.
"My my no need to fight. Ah Riza I'm very sorry for being late. This city of Suwahara changes faster than I originally expected." The blond haired priest said with a sad smile on his face as he knew he missed his chance to get something to eat already.
Though something about Priest Trifa seemed off to Kiana. It is as if he is renting something important but uses it irresponsibly. Not to mention the ominous golden aura that only she could feel. An aura of the dead.
"Just say you're bad with directions, Trifa. No need to make excuses. Now, now you still have some leftovers, that is if these two didn't get any share." Riza smiled playfully.
"Ah, that's just too cruel sister Riza. Did you perhaps still hate me?"
"If you stop pampering Theresia so much, then yes. You look like a lolicon you know? There's instant noodles if you're hungry. The food is only for our new guests here." Riza pulled the two students away from the priest's side. Who is only left there to frown.
Even though it looked genuine. The frown on his face felt very fake. Kiana could only sigh at the strange feelings she's experiencing at this point as she doesn't have the brain cells to process them anymore.
"Oh what are you playing a game miss?" Kiana jolted and almost dropped her phone when the blond haired priest suddenly stood behind her.
"Y-Yes."
"Ah. I'm sorry for startling you, Miss."
"I-it is fine. My name is Kiana Kaslana, you can call me Kiana and this is Bianka Nee san." Kiana tap the shoulder of her sister who was sitting right beside her. "Ah hello father trifa." Bianka bowed slightly showing her respect. "My name is Bianka Ataegina but you may call me Bianka."
"I see. Say, did you two perhaps come from Germany?" The priests asked. It was certainly an odd question but Kiana is German though her adopted sister isn't.
"My parents were but I never lived there so we moved her to Japan after dad got a better job." Kiana explained her situation.
"I understand." The priest seems to be scanning the two of them as if he was confirming something. It really gives her the creeps, is what Riza said true about him being a lolicon? No she shouldn't have made this kind of assumption first, especially to a priest.
"I hope you two enjoyed your stay. Riza's cooking is truly a blessing. You two can continue whatever you're doing. Now if you excuse me I unfortunately have to make instant noodles for myself."
Kiana and Bianka giggled at those words. Those two are like husband and wife, Well at least they get along well acting as Himuro guardians. "Ah Miss Kiana I forgot to mention. The game you are playing is Honkai Impact 3rd correct?"
"A-ah i- it is." He knew!? Many questions ran through Kiana's mind. Perhaps he's just lucky but so far not one person has guessed the game correctly and everyone always has a different description of what kind of game they say on Kiana's phone screen.
But this priest could see and even guess the game correctly? It couldn't be just pure dumb luck right? And as far as Kiana knew. Hoyoverse the game company that made this game didn't actually exist in this world. So there should only be 1 copy of the game itself and that is on her phone.
Yet the priest somehow knew despite all of that. "Kiana? What's wrong?" Bianka gently shakes her sister back to reality.
"A-Ah nothing. I'm just thinking about mom and dad, that's all. I think my nausea is coming back too." Kiana put her hand on her head. She isn't lying about her nausea as her head is starting to sting from thinking too much.
"Then we should head home. Let's go Kiana." Bianka stood up and offered her sister a hand. "Ah Sister Riza sorry but we're going home early. Thanks for the food!" Bianka shouted while holding onto Kiana's hand as she guided her back home.
"Mhm. Stay safe out there!" The nun answered. It was unfortunate that she couldn't see them leave as Bianka was in a hurry.
Though they weren't the only one who the blonde haired priest asked that vague question to. Ren and Kasumi were eventually asked the same question as well, when the two were just about to leave.
For Ren who didn't know who his real parents were or look like. He of course couldn't answer it but it is a possibility for Kasumi Ayase. The two close friends didn't know if her grandparents or great grandparents were German or not.
They were tempted to ask Kasumi's mother about it but ultimately they kept that question in the back of their heads instead.
"Let's go Kasumi." Ren dragged his normally ecstatic friend this time around.
"O-Oh right. Ren~ I can walk by myself! Hey! Listen to me!" Even at night, the girl is still as loud as she was in the day.
"We've wasted too much time. Kasumi, there's still that murder case, do you want to be the next victim?"
"N-No."
"Then hurry up and don't drag your feet." The girl pouts and eventually picks up the pace. Kasumi wonders why this boy likes to be so rough all the time. Even during their childhood with Shirou, the two boys always like to do things their way and sometimes leave her alone.
But at least they're still sensible enough to protect the damsel. Even if Kasumi could technically smash someone's skull open if she had a weapon like a bat because of her daily kendo practices. She still wants to be spoiled like how a normal girl would.
"Ugh, Sorry for the trouble Nee san. I think my head has calmed down a bit." Kiana said while her sister gave her some water to drink.
"You've been getting headaches lately. Are you sure you're okay?" The blond haired girl asked. Concerned about her sister's worsening condition, maybe she should take her to the hospital to get her checked.
"I'm okay."
"You sure? Maybe it is because you kept playing that Honkai impact game that you keep getting this nauseating feeling."
"…" Kiana was shocked to hear that from her sister. Father Trifa and now her too? Wait, maybe she just overheard what the priest said. Kiana mentally shakes her head, should she just play dumb?
"Kiana you don't need to be shocked you know. I can clearly see what game you were playing on your phone every morning." Her older sister sigh.
"Oh. Ehehe, I see." So she's just overthinking it. Maybe there's other conditions that Bianka has to fill before she could retrieve those memories.
Kiana felt like she knew her sister would fill those conditions in the future. Knowing her sister it wouldn't be long until she would eventually caught up to her.
"Is it fun?"
"Well… I guess?" Can it be considered fun when you're playing yourself in a game? Thinking more would just give her a headache, So Kiana just gave up on trying to rationalize it.
"Just remember to sleep early next time so you won't get sleep depravation. Seriously Kiana you should take care of yourself better."
"I-I will Nee san." Kiana smiled a little. Why does she feel happy when Bianka is scolding her? Usually she would be irritated. But ever since then, it felt nice to have her around.
A reliable big sister who would take care of her and whom she could look up to. They may not be blood related or a clone, but Kiana now understands a little bit more about her sister's affection towards her.
"At least you're not being stubborn now." The blond haired girl sit down beside her on the sofa. She gently pulled Kiana's head and let her younger sister rest on her shoulder. "I know you don't want to go to bed yet. So just use my shoulder for now."
"…" The white haired girl was embarrassed naturally but in the end she laughed. It felt really nice, she should've repaid it somehow. "This feels nice. Say Nee san you're surprisingly clingy today. Want me to sleep with you?"
"Ki-Kiana!" The blond haired girl blushes. Well her sister isn't wrong, though she didn't expect Kiana to be the one that asked for them to sleep together in one bed. "Alright." Bianka calmed herself down. Though there's still a flash of pink on her cheeks.
Kiana laughed it off, Her older sister is always embarrassed whenever they do sleep together as kids. So it isn't surprising to her like that. "Mhm, now you can be as clingy as you want! Don't worry too much Nee san."
"Yeah. I guess I'm just overthinking it." The two sisters smiled. 'Maybe this isn't too bad.' Kiana thought, It has been a while since the two of them did this together.
"Say Nee san do you want to play the game that I'm playing?" Kiana asked. Maybe she should stop worrying about this too much. Perhaps with Bianka regaining her memory back the two of them could be a lot closer than they were ever before.
"Maybe later Kiana." Kiana sighs, disappointed at the answer her sister gave. Well she can ask about that next time.
In the middle of the night as the crescent moon shone above the city of Suwahara. 2 figures stood on top of the building looking down at the night life below.
"Hoo. It has begun, but why do we have to watch over this?"
"Hee? Are you scared of this height? Sorry but our job is to observe, We can't let it open up a swastika yet."
"Tsk. Bug off witch. Zarathustra, I want to fight him."
"You can always do that later Bey. After all, he still isn't aware yet."
"… It is taking too long."
"Impatient as always." The red haired witch giggles at the man.
And unfortunately for the residents of this city. This night new victims would pile up onto the ever growing mystery that surrounds this city.
Sorry for the very late update.
As of late i don't have any holiday yet so my free time is limited. Also i am focusing more on my main story rather than this one so it made me have no idea on what i should write sometimes. I do have the general plot for the story in mind already but fleshing it out would be a different story.
Anyway thanks for reading and for being patient. Hopefully i could update this story monthly, we'll see.