Author's note: First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge the profound influence of renowned Honkai and Persona fanfic authors on my writing style and approach. To begin, I've chosen the name of the protagonist from a notable Honkai fanfic, as it resonates seamlessly with the character and storyline. Furthermore, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the dedicated Honkai and Persona fanfic writers, with a special mention to LordChaldea, for crafting exceptional fanfics that have enriched my reading experience. While drawing inspiration from their work, the majority of this story is my original creation. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the talented writers in the Honkai Impact and Persona fanfic communities, both in the realm of crossovers and traditional fanfics. Your creativity and dedication are truly commendable. Now on to the first chapter!


Chapter - 1 - Part 1

A pair of orange-alloy eyes belonging to an unknown figure awoke from their slumber.

Looking around, he discovered that he was smoothly descending what appeared to be the interior of a sizable, transparent bridge of a vessel that was covered in soft blue velvet. Underneath him, the stand, the carpet, and the handles were all a soft, soulful shade of dark blue.

In addition to steering equipment, navigation charts, communication systems, engine control, and other miscellaneous features, the bridge's control room was decorated with intricate buttons and dials that reminded one of a science fiction control panel rather than a normal control room.

A command board with various switches and buttons was to his right, which was off at the time, and was positioned in the center of the glassware rack.

Overhead lighting from a multi-tiered fixture casts a calming blue-white glow throughout the room as hidden speakers began to play an ethereal song with a woman's voice singing to the sound of a piano.

He also realized that he was not on the bridge by himself. Two others were on it with him, both of whom had apparently been looking in the opposite direction across from him.

The first was thin, almost skeletal, dressed in a perfectly pressed black and white suit with white silk gloves, and clearly not human. With the exception of fringes of fine white hair on the sides and back of his head, he was bald and hunched over. His nose was even longer than his ears and resembled a flesh-colored beak more than anything else. His ears were pointed and nearly fifteen centimeters long. He was sitting in a chair behind a desk, and his hands were resting on its surface as he stared at him with a look of anticipation and delight.

The person at his side was a young, white haired woman wearing a mixed high neck blue long dress that with an elegant yet simple design. Her hair was as white as fresh snow, and she was pale. Her hands sat softly on a large briefcase, her knuckles creasing the smooth leather surface as if it held something important. Soon after he regained consciousness, they both turned to face him; the man's eyes were bloodshot and bulbous, while the woman's were an unsettling yellow-gold.

The imp-like man said in a smooth, gentlemanly voice, "Welcome to the Velvet Room."

For a brief moment, a sense of fear enveloped the unknown figure, as he did not know how he appeared here but it quickly faded away as the man's words stirred a sense of curiosity within him.

"Where am I?"

He asked the man hesitantly, his gaze shifting from the strange man to the unfamiliar room around him.

The bridge appeared to be completely alone in its own small world because the sky outside was so dark and it was obvious that it was night. Its exact location was also hidden by the clouds.

"What exactly is this place?"

The unknown figure was nervous when he asked this question as it seems that he was in completely unknown place.

"This is the realm that exists between dream and reality, between mind and matter," the man replied. "It is a room where only those bound by a "contract" may enter."

He gave a quick blink.

"What do you mean "bound by a contract"? More so, what do you mean by mind and matter?"

"My, my." The hunched back man chuckled. "You ask a lot of questions, don't you?"

The figure in front of him nodded hesitantly, a sheepish smile on his face.

"Sorry," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's just that I've never seen anything like this before, and I'm a bit curious as to where I am." He said trying to be polite.

The imp like man chuckled and replied. "There is nothing to worry about, dear guest." He says it with a tone of delight and anticipation. "Your quest for knowledge will soon be rewarded, for the answer to your questions lies in a place far from here."

With a wave of a gloved hand, a small stack of blue cards appeared on the table before him. "My name is Igor, and this is my assistant, Safie."

"Tell me, do you believe in fortune telling?" he posed rhetorically before continuing with a knowing smirk. "If you choose to trust in their power, these cards can reveal a lot about your future."

Taken aback by the sudden appearance of the cards, the unknown figure warily glanced around the room, unsure of how they had appeared so quickly.

"Tarot? Where did these cards come from?" The figure began to question themselves, wondering who had placed them in the room and how they had done it without being noticed, as the cards appeared out of nowhere. He looked at Igor warily and gazed at the cards, feeling a strange, almost magical energy coming from them.

Igor flicked his hands, and the cards blurred with movement where they sat, shuffling themselves at astonishing speeds. The top cards then reorganized themselves into seven face-down spots on the table. The backsides of the cards all shared the image of a drama-like mask, half white and half black, decorated with vines and what seemed to be harps at each corner.

Seeing the magical display, the figure at the table gasped in awe at seeing the cards shuffle themselves.

"There is no need to be so amazed, dear guest." Igor said, stretching his grin even more at seeing his expression. "As I previously stated, this is a realm that exists between mind and matter, between dream and reality."

"It is a place of wonder," Igor continued, "where, if one has enough resilience in their heart, the impossible becomes possible." He raised his hand in the air and waved it.

"Let's see what your future has to say about it, shall we?"

Before the unknown figure could ask any questions, Igor motioned his hand in the air as if flipping a card. As he did so, the card on the lower right revealed a picture of a man holding a stick with cloth tied around one end and carrying items, with the entire array being carried over the shoulder, at the edge of a platform, accompanied by a dog at his heels. A number was written at the bottom, "0." Igor repeated the process again and revealed the identity of the lower left card: a sword with two bowls suspended, each at either side of its hilt, at equal distances from its center, positioned in the middle of the card with chains atop it, all being split in half with the right side being red. Roman numerals were written at the bottom: "VIII."

"Hmm. The fool in the upright position foretells new beginnings, the beginning of a journey in the near future, and the justice in the upright position indicates the truth being revealed and the consequences that come with it. Hmmm... how intriguing."

The person sitting in front of Igor decided to put aside his curiosity about the mysterious cards and pay attention to the two cards that were dealt in front of him.

"What does that mean?"

"It means that a new beginning is coming soon," Igor explained with a subdued theatrical flair. "And when it does arrive, the truth of a situation will be revealed, along with its consequences, which could be either good or bad depending on the circumstances."

Despite the fact that Igor was vague about the new beginning he was referring to, the tone of his voice and the expression on his face were enough to make it clear that it was an important moment of some kind.

Wondering what he was talking about, the unknown figure looked on expectantly, as if expecting Igor to provide further insight into his cryptic message.

"Do not worry, dear guest." With a reassuring smile, Igor concluded, "The future is always uncertain and full of surprises. No matter what happens, we of the velvet room will always have our doors open for you."

As the words left his mouth, a sense of dizziness overtook the man sitting in front of Igor.

Somehow he knew that his time in this strange place was nearing an end, so he tried to ask as many questions as he could in the little time he had.

"I understand that you must have more questions," said Igor. "However, it appears that our time together has come to an end for the time being." Igor smiled knowingly as sleep slowly overtook the guest. "If you ever find yourself in need of help, remember that the velvet room is always here, waiting to provide its solace and comforts."

"For now, farewell."

Before the unknown figure could say anything, his vision began to swim tiredly and fade to black.


? POV

Nagazora City,

At the train station

CE, January 10th, 2014

At the bustling train station, amidst the hurried commuters and the rhythmic clatter of departing trains, stood a striking woman. Her fiery red hair cascaded like molten lava, framing a face of ethereal mature beauty. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of orange, held an enigmatic allure. She exuded an air of quiet confidence, her presence commanding respect.

A long sigh escaped her lips as she glanced out the window, lost in meditation. She couldn't help but wonder whether things might have turned out differently if she had made a different decision.

Himeko Murata wondered whether she had made a mistake by not staying in her house and calling it a day for today.

She stood at the railway station, where her now-found nephew was expected to arrive, in her mid-twenties, with brilliant red hair and orange eyes. It began so simple: wake up, get ready for a date, attempt to locate a man who feels good enough for her, go home and take a long-deserved bath, then drink a beer and get intoxicated.

Nevertheless, fate had other plans for her, as she received a call from her boss alerting her of the arrival of her nephew.

She'd always been told to follow her instincts, but she couldn't escape the sensation that she wasn't prepared for this. She genuinely wished she had done more planning ahead of time, but it was too late now.

"Haaaaah… How could this have happened to me?" She inquired as she felt nearly all of her energy leave her for a brief while, leaving her fatigued from the present struggle as she considered why she was here.

Himeko had been raised in a loving and caring household of relatives. She had been living with them while attending the California Institute of Technology and was developing a deep relationship with her cousin, who was also a student there. But she had to go to the East Coast for employment after graduation and eventually lost contact with her relatives. She didn't want to bother them with her issues at first, but as time passed, she realized that they were actually concerned for her and wanted to assist her with what she was going through.

She had been working furiously to obtain a doctorate in order to fulfill her ambition of becoming a scientist like her father, and she hadn't been getting enough rest for the time being. Her relatives were concerned that she would pass out in the middle of her work, so they attempted to assist her in getting some rest and adequate sleep on occasion.

It took some time, but with her father's and relatives' guidance, she began to open up to them and found comfort in their support, which helped her overcome the problems she had during her studies and gave her the determination to keep going. She was able to successfully defend her thesis and realize her goal of becoming a scientist thanks to their encouragement.

It almost felt too wonderful to be true, as if she had accomplished something precious in her life that would stay with her for the rest of her life. And she wished it to remain like that for the rest of her life.

Then there was the honkai.

It sprang out of nowhere in her eyes. She could see perfectly one day, but the next, her vision saw red dots descend from the sky.

Some claim that the stars dropped from the sky that day; some believe it was a sign of approaching catastrophe, while others believe it was a celestial occurrence that science has yet to explain.

Yet the rest of the world would soon learn that horror had emerged that day.

She took a long breath and cooled her fury, attempting to conceal the pang of emotional sorrow that had appeared in her heart.

The Second Honkai War had killed more people than practically anything else in human history, the first being the plague, which had killed more than 50 million people in Europe and other nations.

The second honkai war was initiated because of the birth of the second herscher, during the Second Honkai War, chaos had reigned unchecked. The world had plunged into a nightmare as the Honkai, a malevolent force unleashed its devastating power upon humanity.

Ten million people died that day. Her relative and her family were among them.

She sighed as she gazed towards the railway station, anticipating the arrival of her nephew.

She agreed it was hard; it was much sadder when she grasped the full scope of the situation: her nephew was coming to live with her permanently following his parents' untimely deaths and after having been placed in an orphanage for the previous ten years.

He didn't know he had a family left, had likely lived along and fend for himself for the next 10 years after the incident.

She knew she couldn't erase the past, but the fact that she hadn't spoken to him in 12 years and had no idea he'd survived made her feel terrible and responsible for his present condition, adding to the weight of the obligation she now had to bear.

She inhaled deeply and urged herself to be in the moment and make the most of what she had. She was worried and apprehensive as she stared at the train slowly approaching in the distance, anticipating the arrival of her new nephew.

She hoped that their time together would be fruitful and that she would be able to provide him with the advice he required.

She was aware that he had been dealing with personal troubles and wanted to be there for him as a supporting family member, just as the majority of his family had been for her.

Himeko took a deep breath as the train drew to a halt and prepared to embrace him with wide arms.

The train door opened, and Murata Himeko braced herself for the long-awaited reunion with her long-lost relative. She was excited and worried as she searched the throng for his familiar face, wondering how much he had changed since they last saw each other. Seeing a hair of red like hers, she tried to get his attention. As their gazes connected, she couldn't help but grin and cry out to him.

"Hey, look over here."

When he looked around, he noticed her beckoning him and smiled warmly. When he approached her, he looked to be in a daze, staring at her hair and appearing lost in contemplation for a time before recomposing himself. Himeko saw his attention and giggled at his reply, feeling both amusement and flattery.

She wondered if it was because of her hairstyle or something else, but she decided to just enjoy the moment and not overthink it. She broke the stillness by tucking a piece of hair behind her ear and asking him if he needed anything.

He shook his head and sighed. "Your hair is just like hers." He stated it sadly, his voice falling off as he reflected on something.

Himeko winced as she recognized who he was referring to. She could tell the experience was terrible for him, and she didn't want to probe, so she merely nodded in agreement. She was aware that her nephew would need time to open up to her, but she was determined to be patient and supportive.

"Let's go home," she whispered as she rested her hand on his shoulder.

"We have a lot of things to talk." He nodded and followed her, and Himeko couldn't help but reflect on how much her life had changed in a single day as they walked away from the railway station.

She had lost her family many years ago and faced many challenges as time went. She fought many things that would make others cry and fall to their knees as they await their death. She fought so much and succeed where others failed despite the costs and now had a new responsibility and family to take care of.

Himeko felt a wave of peace and relief rush over her as they walked. While things had not gone as planned, she had found a new purpose and a new family in her nephew. And perhaps, just perhaps, there was hope for a better future ahead.


Haruto seems to have begun to adjust to his new circumstances after some effort with the bags. Himeko, seeing his sorrowful expression, tried to say something to him but ended up just stroking her nephew on the back, hoping to bring him some comfort.

She knew they still had a long road ahead of them, but she was determined to be there for him every step of the way. "Let's gather your stuff and head back to my apartment," she replied, motioning to the suitcase he'd brought with him.

He nodded, and the two of them walked to the exit. Himeko couldn't help but notice her nephew's anxious demeanor as they strolled through the station.

"Is everything all right?" she said, anxious. He paused for a beat before answering.

He shook his head then said. "It's nothing…. I'm just simply not sure whether I'm ready for this," he said. Himeko came to a halt and turned to face him, a calming hand on his shoulder.

"I know it's a lot to take in," she quietly whispered, "but we'll figure it out together. You are not alone in this situation."

Her comments appeared to console him, and he offered her a little smile.

"Thank you," he said. "I'm grateful."

They continued heading towards the exit, and as they walked outside, Himeko inhaled deeply. She felt a wave of relief rush over her as they left the station's buzz and bustle behind them.

"Well," she asked her nephew, "what do you want to do first? We can go out to dine, or I can show you around the city."

He shook his head. "I'm not sure," he said. "I believe I'm simply tired from the journey."

Himeko gave a nod. "Yes, I can see that. If you choose, we may take it easy today. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you."

He nodded, and they proceeded to Himeko's car. Himeko couldn't help but feel both excited and nervous as they drove back to her flat.

She was well aware that it would be difficult to take care of him, but she was determined not to show it on her face. Himeko brought her nephew up to her apartment as they arrived at her apartment building.

"Make yourself at home," she added, motioning to the living room. "I'll brew some tea for us."

She couldn't help but feel nostalgic as she turned on the kettle. She hadn't had to care for someone else in a long time, but she was up for the task. As she returned the tea to the living room, she noticed her nephew lost in contemplation, looking out the window. She took a seat next to him and offered him a cup.

"Is everything all right?" she said, anxious.

He turned to face her, his face solemn. "May I ask you a question?"

"Of course," she responded.

He paused for a beat before speaking. "Why did you took me in?"

Himeko inhaled deeply. She knew this was a question that would come up at some point.

"You know, at first I thought the same thing too." Himeko said with a wistful expression. "I had never had to take care of a person or had the mind to do so for a long time…"

She then looked at him "But now… I think it is nice to have somebody to look out for."

Haruto looked at her with an unreadable expression then asked. "Why?"

"Because you're family," she simply stated. "And family looks out for one another."

Haruto seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding. "All right," he responded as he sipped his tea.

Himeko reclined back on the couch, pleased with herself. Himeko felt a sensation of calm rush over her as they sipped their tea. She was aware that tough times lay ahead, but she was prepared to confront them head-on.


Himeko's Apartment,

Haruto's new room

3rd Person POV

"It was an odd feeling."

Haruto Nakamura believed he had been alone since that tragic day. In fact, he was astounded by how much his life had changed after the tragedy. He sat on the side of his bed, surveying his empty room, which had yet to be filled with the items he had brought with him.

He'd lost all he cared about twelve years before. His parents, small sister, neighborhood, and nearly everyone he had known since infancy had all died during the second eruption and the subsequent Honkai War. He has been living alone since then, attempting to find purpose in his life, trapped in his own pain and anguish, fending for himself from childhood.

He used to be a happy, extroverted person who was often surrounded by friends and family. But suddenly he felt as though he were on a whole different planet. A world devoid of happiness, laughter, and love.

Despite his best attempts, he couldn't banish the recollections of what had transpired. He was taken back to that day every time he closed his eyes, reliving the pain and misery all over again that was like a never-ending nightmare from which he couldn't awaken.

Haruto did his hardest to put on a brave front and try to seem as though everything was OK. Yet he was straining to keep his head above water on the inside. He felt as if he were drowning in his own sorrow and anguish, trying to find some kind of relief in what he did.

He sat alone in his room, staring at the empty walls and wondering whether he would ever be happy again. Was he ever going to be able to live a regular life again, free of the constant worry and anxiety that had taken over his mind?

When he looked outside, he noticed a group of people playing music in the park across the street. They were smiling and having a good time, and their music was filling the air. Haruto felt a twinge of jealousy. He wanted to be carefree and cheerful like them. Yet he was well aware that it was impossible. He had lost too much, and he would never be the same again.

Haruto liked music. He used to play the guitar and have a nice singing voice. His parents had always told him that he had a natural ability for music and that if he followed it, he would become a great musician. Yet everything felt worthless today since he seemed to have forgotten how to play his guitar.

He took up his guitar, which had been handed to him many years ago and had been sitting unused in the corner of his room all day. He attempted to play a few chords, and the music echoed around the room. It felt fantastic to grasp the guitar again, but he couldn't play it as well as before.

Sighing slightly, he put on his headphones and closed his eyes, allowing the music to transport him away from his worries and into a world of song and rhythm. When he began to listen to the song through his headphones, he proceeded to unpack and arrange his possessions.

It took some effort and time, but he eventually got everything back in place. He noticed the music had stopped as he concluded. He removed his headphones and looked down at his phone.

It was late, and he had been immersed in his thoughts for some hours. Haruto decided to retire for the night and went to bed. When he closed his eyes, he promised himself that he would keep living, keep going forward, and trying to drown the pain and memories of that day.

He was well aware that it would not be easy and that there would be days when the suffering would be intolerable. But he also realized he had to give it a go. He had to keep going the following day and the day after that until he finished his degree and accomplished what he wanted, despite his history.

Haruto attempted to sleep with that notion, resolved to face whatever the day brought.

Yet, before falling asleep, he remembered the strange dream he experienced in the middle of his voyage to Nagazora City. He couldn't recall it as well as he had before arriving in the city, but he had a faint memory of a song and the sound of a woman singing in a blue chamber.

He was curious, what was the point of that dream? Despite remembering little about it. He knew he had seen something incredible and had been informed about some type of truth being revealed, but as far as he knew, the dream he saw that day made him feel like he was grasping at thin air.

Haruto eventually settled into bed, closing his eyes and sighing deeply. He was fatigued after a hard day today and had been anticipating this moment all evening.

As he gently drifted off to sleep, the last thing on his mind before losing awareness was about the dream he had in the train and how the "truth" told in his dreams may potentially impact his life forever.


?

?

3rd person POV

… Hm?

... Hm? 'It feels odd.' In his dream, Haruto pondered as he looked around and tried to walk carefully. The area he was in was surrounded by a bizarre orange and purple hazy outline shrouded in haze, making it difficult to see anything clearly. Yet when his eyes adjusted, he realized he was in a place that was both familiar and foreign to him. He observed buildings that resembled those in his hometown, but they were deformed and twisted in strange ways. Others surrounding him wore dark shadows and shade over their entire bodies instead of revealing their features. They walked aimlessly from one location to another as they walked past each other without interacting much with each other.

Haruto took a few steps ahead, his steps slowed by the sensation of walking in molasses. As he proceeded, he saw that the landscape and buildings appeared to shift and alter in front of his eyes.

They twisted and spun, their forms growing increasingly dissimilar until they bore no resemblance to anything he recognized. When he gazed around at the weird, warped environment he was in, he felt a sensation of anxiety rush over him. He felt stuck, unable to leave this strange realm, no matter how hard he tried.

Haruto continued to walk when he heard a voice scream out from someplace in the distance. He shifted his gaze to the sound, struggling to see through the thick cloud.

"Please," the voice said again, louder and more insistently.

"Anybody, anyone! Please assist me!" The voice became a little clearer.

"Fath%(! Kia&*! Kia&*! Please! Please help me!" The voice became distorted suddenly before getting clearer at the conclusion.

"Please!" Haruto was startled awake as he awoke from his dream. He sat up in bed, opened his eyes, and took deep breaths to calm his beating heart.

"Such a strange dream," he whispered to himself, still uneasy from the warped reality he had just witnessed. Yet when he laid back down, he couldn't escape the sensation that something significant had happened in his dream. Something he needed to keep in mind.

His alarm clock sounded as he looked at the clock and realized it was already daybreak. Haruto muttered as he pulled himself out of bed to face the day. He couldn't stop thinking about his dream while he went about his everyday routine.

He couldn't exactly place it, but he had a strange hunch that it was significant. Throughout the time it took Haruto to get ready in the morning, he was captivated by the recollections of his dream. He replayed it in his thoughts, trying to figure out whether there were any hidden meanings or connotations. But every time he tried to grasp it, the facts went through his fingers like sand.

Haruto had almost given up on attempting to interpret his dream by the time he finished putting on his clothing. He assumed it was merely a random collection of images and thoughts with no actual meaning.

He took a deep breath and readied himself for the day by going to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Imagine his surprise when he saw breakfast on the table and his aunt getting ready to go to work.

"Good morning, Haruto," she remarked cheerfully. "I prepared breakfast for you. And don't forget, we have a lot of work to do today to get you enrolled at school."

Haruto looked at his aunt, then back at the food on the table, as he realized he would be living with her starting today. When he glanced at his aunt, Haruto felt a flood of emotions pour over him.

The reality of his new living conditions hit him like a ton of bricks. After 10 years of living alone, he would suddenly be living with someone. He couldn't help but feel apprehensive about the prospect. He'd become used to living alone, cooking for himself, and doing everything alone. Living with someone else, especially a relative, would be a major change.

Yet as he glanced at his aunt's happy face, he felt a sense of warmth and comfort he hadn't felt in a long time. Even though they hadn't seen each other in years and only met yesterday, Himeko had been a supporting figure in his new living arrangement.

Haruto thanked his Aunt, his voice somewhat raspy. "Thanks… Aunt Himeko."

Himeko's grin broadened. "Oh, certainly," Himeko says. "You are now my family and my responsibility." Himeko took a pause. "And family looks out for one another." Himeko added it after a moment.

Haruto nodded, a knot forming in his throat. It had been a long time since he had been cared for. He had a family for the first time in a long time. Haruto was grateful to his aunt for taking him in and giving him a sense of belonging he hadn't had in a long time. He knew it would take some time to adjust to his new life, but after witnessing how nice and compassionate his aunt was, he was starting to get used to it.

Himeko inquired about Haruto's interests and hobbies during breakfast, and they discussed his forthcoming school enrollment. Himeko appeared sincere in her desire to learn more about him and assist him in any way she could. Haruto realized he had been so preoccupied with his own troubles and challenges that he had forgotten what it was like to have someone on whom he could rely. He smiled and replied with happiness after she had asked him.

Following breakfast, they spent the rest of the day preparing Haruto for school. Himeko accompanied him to the store to get new school clothes and supplies, and they spoke about his schedule and extracurricular activities. As the day progressed, Haruto began to feel more at ease with his aunt and his new living arrangement.