"When was it that I started to harbour feelings for him?" Kiana whispered. It was five in the morning, and most of the inhabitants of her dorm, namely Bronya and Sal, were still asleep. After her enigmatic dream nearly an hour ago, Kiana wasn't feeling sleepy at all. Rather, she was filled with newfound energy, which led to her running across the cosy and warm room of hers. Then, opening up the meticulously designed mahogany closet and finally pulling out her favourite blue hoodie along with the brown muffler that Sal had gifted. It was very early to start her day, but who was going to stop her.

As she slowly tip-toed down the stairs and into the kitchen. Her mind wandered towards the question she had asked herself: 'When was it that I started to harbour feelings for him? '

Kiana sighed; her pink-tinged fingers held the third upper closet in their open kitchen as she pulled it open. Her sapphire blue eyes carefully gazed at the well-arranged boxes and containers inside. Each of them had a paper over it denoting their content. She was looking for coffee powder, her eyes masterfully glossing over the names until she saw the tiny glass container.

"There you are." She announced triumphantly. "Bronya and Sal have been really trying to keep you hidden away from me."

Ever since Kiana returned from Nagazora, she has become an avid coffee drinker. And not just any coffee but bitter black coffee. However, if anyone was to blame for her newfound addiction, then it has to be Sal. During their run across South Asia after Himeko's death, Sal introduced Kiana to this abomination of a coffee. In the beginning, it was a means to keep her awake during night watch, but later, it became a habit, and as more time passed, it evolved into an addiction.

As Kiana quietly boiled some water, she couldn't help but gaze at her reflection on it . For a moment, the world around her stood still as a distant memory from over two years ago resurfaced.

It was the summer of her third year in St. Freya. Kiana had just completed her first real solo mission, though it wasn't anything as flashy as defeating Honkai. Rather, it was a simple task of finding lost cats for a lady downtown. But still, it was a mission Himeko had assigned her, and that is why she completed it with utmost diligence. As she entered Himeko's office, Kiana didn't bother to knock, which led her to disrupt an important meeting that was ongoing. Was it fate or simply Kiana's carelessness? She would never know, but that was the day when she met him.

Sal Apocalypse stood inside clad in an 'A' rank shicksal uniform, his Raven hair groomed neatly along with his white shicksal issued overcoat properly ironed. There was an elitist aura around him that Kiana normally detested, but for some reason, she didn't really mind it. As her blue eyes met his sea green, she could see her reflection in them. Her expression was that of shock and confusion, but at the same time, there was a speck of curiosity, too.

As Kiana broke the eye contact, her gaze fell upon his neck, which had signs of Honkai corruption, and that is when she regained her senses. On further examination, Kiana could also feel the energy that a stigmata produced radiate from him. This made her even more sceptical and curious.

And before she knew it, her hands went for her gun while Sal brought out his long sword, engaging in a fight right inside Himeko's office.

Afterwards, both of them were cordially punished and suspended from classes for over a month. For Kiana, suspensions were nothing new, but for Sal, the first-ever male Stigmata user, this was a disaster. As the rumours started, 'The new boy has anger issues; he started fighting with a lowly ranked Valkyrie just because she didn't like his face. Oh, and I also heard he was suspended. What a great way to start your academy life.'

Girl's gossiping energy is vicious, that is what Kiana had heard, but after that one event, she experienced it first hand. Though she didn't really mind the gossip all that much, she was sure for the lone boy of St. Freya Sal, it would be a psychological trauma. Thus, she decided that she would do the honour of becoming his very first friend. It wasn't every day that you made friends with the great Kaslana.

However, she was beaten by Fu Hua and Bronya to it. As they were already having a conversation with Sal, where Bronya was mostly making fun of Kiana and her short temper all the while, Fu Hua apologized for her behaviour. Not able to handle the embarrassment, Kiana once again, albeit this time illogically, took to violence as yet another fight erupted between the two. It was only their second meeting, and once again, they were at each other's throats.

"We really did nothing but fight each other in the beginning." Kiana giggled as she slowly poured two teaspoons of coffee powder into boiling water before dialling the temperature down by a bit. As the minuscule particles of coffee mixed with the water, it produced a faint caramel, almost nutty fragrance that Kiana had grown fond of, but it wasn't like that when she had first smelled it.

'Why are you making something that looks like black gooey liquid?' Kiana, from two years ago, asked Sal, who gave her an exasperated look.

'It's called coffee.' Sal had replied grumpily. 'And it helps me stay awake.'

'You need drinks to stay awake.' Kiana smirked as she slouched over the yellow couch of the old St. Freya dorms. 'Use your willpower, Sal, just like me.'

'Yeah, sure,' He shot her a dirty look. 'And then end up sleeping and miss completing my homework.'

'That was just one time.'

'Seven.'

'Fine, seven.' Kiana grumbled. 'But hey, don't drink that stuff. I really don't like it.'

'You have never tried it.'

'Fine', She said and, without warning, got up from the couch and leapt towards Sal, stealing a sip from his mug. As the coffee made contact with her tongue, she felt an urge to vomit. It was the worst thing she had tasted in her life. It was bitter. There was nothing else.

'Why do you drink this? Are you trying to torture yourself? Or are you a Masochist?'

Sal, in return, had just laughed. His serious sea-green eyes were soft as he gazed at her antics. This had made Kiana confused. 'What?' She had asked.

'Nothing.' Sal replied, still smiling.

'Hey, are you trying to make fun of me?' Kiana pouted.

'No, not really.' He said as he took a sip from his mug, and unlike her, he didn't even bat an eye. 'It's just that you looked cute when you were mad.'

At present, Kiana was done making the black coffee and was now pouring it into the white mug, which was part of a set that she had forced Sal to buy after Nagazora. She had felt as if they were not close friends as the two didn't have any matching items. Thus, the matching black and white mug was bought, with the white one printed with a cute cat head and the black one with a dog head.

After she had poured in the coffee, she placed the utensil under the sink and then picked up her mug, tip-toeing towards the couch on the opposite edge. However, before sitting, Kiana went ahead and opened up the curtains in order to gaze at the snowfall outside and, in a few hours, the sunrise, too.

As she took her first sip, she smiled. "I really don't mind this taste anymore. Had it been over a year ago , I would have screamed my lungs out."

The past, which now felt as if it was an eternity ago, made Kiana feel warm as she gazed outside. The snowflakes that slowly fell down reminded her of the first time she had encountered snowfall. It was nearly a decade ago, but it was still a memory that would be etched in her heart forever.

"I wish this place had Aurora as well." She said as she remembered a scene from her childhood. It was almost thirteen years ago from the present. Her father and Kiana were celebrating her fifth birthday when Siegfried had forcefully taken her outside. Despite her constant complaining, he wasn't listening to her, and then, after ten minutes, they stood on a small elevated ground five hundred meters from their cottage. And it was there that Kiana was gifted with the most beautiful scenery of all. The Aurora Borealis.

As the curtain of neon-green mixed with the dark of the night, a seven-year-old Kiana's eyes widened in awe. She had never seen anything like this before. Her tiny arms were stretched upwards as if trying to reach for the Aurora above.

'You like it, Kiana?' Siegfried asked, his arms holding Kiana, who sat as a queen, on his shoulders.

'Papa,' She replied, with her eyes still on the majestic scenery above. 'I love it.'

'You are just like Cecilia,' Siegfried chuckled. 'Even she loved the Aurora, even though she saw it almost every day.'

'Mama loved it too?'

'Yeah,' Siegfried nodded. Kiana couldn't see what kind of expression he was making, but his tone held a tinge of nostalgia. 'She would never stop talking about how beautiful they were.'

'I see,' Kiana smiled triumphantly. 'That means Kiana and Mama really are similar.'

Siegfried bursted out laughing. 'Yes, down to the very core.'

'Hehe,' Kiana took a deep breath as she gazed downwards. 'Then, one day, I will grow into a fine Valkyrie like her.'

'You sure will', Siegfried smiled.

Kiana, in the present, took a final sip before placing the mug on the glass table. She then stretched and closed her eyes.

Now that I think about it. Kiana thought as her fingers played with the drawstring of her hoodie. I believe the first time I felt even a tinge of attraction towards Sal was when he called me cute. However, I would never tell him that. Kiana chuckled. To think my feelings for him ran so deep. Back then, I was still infatuated with Mei-senpai. And yet, that idiot found a way to enter my heart. It's so aggravating that I want to push him down on the snow outside and leave him for a while to freeze. Though I shouldn't don't want him to catch hypothermia. Ah, the duality of life when you love someone.

While Kiana was lost in her thoughts, someone had turned the doorknob of the main door from outside. And as they pushed the door open, Kiana was abruptly dragged back to reality, and she stood up alert. She was ready to tackle the intruder as she drew her powers of flame, only for her to see the object of her adoration enter.

He was drenched in sweat, and his eyes were sunken. He was still clad in his brown overcoat from a day before, which, too, was dripping with sweat. Though Kiana debated if it was melted snow. From the looks of it, she made out that he was out training. This made her very angry, as she crossed her arms and glared at him.

"On a scale of one to ten," He asked sheepishly. His hand scratched the back of his head. "How mad are you?"

"You tell me."

"One?"

"What were you doing outside at this hour?" Kiana asked as she quickly rushed towards the fourth closet of the kitchen and got him a warm, clean towel. However, instead of giving it to him, she started rinsing his hair.

"Technically, it's not super late." He replied quietly, letting Kiana do her work. "Rather, it is super early."

That reply earned him a tight grip over his head, along with a jab on his sides.

"You want me to believe that you had left home before four?"

"No... It was one." He confessed.

"Whatever am I gonna do with you." She grumbled as she stopped the rinsing and took his coat before holding him by his wrist and dragging him towards the heater in the living room.

"Your arms are super cold," Kiana exclaimed as she clasped his hand with hers in an attempt to transfer heat. "What were you even doing, Sal."

He didn't reply. As Kiana made him sit on the couch, she quickly went towards the kitchen, where she took out the Thermus, which she had stored the excess hot water from when she had made the coffee.

"Here, drink some warm water."

"Thanks." She murmured as he drank the water from the black mug.

"So, are you planning on telling me what you were up to, Sal?"

Sal once again remained quiet.

Kiana sighed. What will I ever do with you, idiot? "By any chance, were you trying to master your Hersscher powers?"

Sal grimaced as his eyes wandered towards the red carpet below.

Yeah knew it.

"You know," Kiana knelt in front of him as she held his cold hands tightly, trying to transfer some of her warmth to him. She was still not able to use her Hersscher powers, but this was enough. "I understand your impatience towards learning everything about these powers, but if you keep pushing yourself too hard. You will only end up hurting yourself."

"I know," He replied. "But we are running out of time. I need to-"

"There you go again saying, I. It's 'We' dork." Kiana shushed him. "Like we promised to each other in Manila, you and me, a team till the end."

Sal gave her a small smile. "Sorry."

"Well, as long as you promise to not run out of home in the middle of the night while it's freezing cold," Kiana smiled back, but her grip on his hands was tighter than ever. "I will accept the apology."

"I will try?"

"Sal." Kiana gazed at him authoritatively.

"I promise."

"Good."

Sal sighed. He really can't win against her.

"Once winters are over," Kiana got up and started walking towards the kitchen. Her heart was beating fast. "I will help you with training. So until then, just rest a bit. I believe doing that will do both of us good. After Kolosten, I think both of us are exhausted."

"You will?"

"Of course." Kiana folded her arms. "Who else do you think knows the dealing of a Hersscher."

"Um, Bronya," He replied earnestly. "And after Mt Taixuan, to some extent, even Fu Hua?"

That wasn't the answer Kiana wanted to hear. Her cheeks were puffed out as she pouted and glared at Sal. "Idiot."

"But I don't need them." He quickly made a comeback. "After all, I have your guidance."

As Sal completed his words, Kiana gazed at him with a teasing grin on her face . This made Sal's face heat up.

"My guidance," Kiana said teasingly.

"Not a word." Sal stood up and started walking towards his room. His face was flushed as he hid his embarrassment.

"Sure, dork." Kiana teased him yet again. "Oh, also, what would you like for breakfast? Pizza toast? Or sunny side up?"

"You are cooking?"

"Why? Yes." She replied as she folded up her sleeves and took out the blue snowflake embroidered apron from the fifth closet.

"Um, okay, wow." Sal was stunned, but soon his expression changed into that of a mischievous kid. "Didn't know our dumbo could cook."

"Hey, I have been learning, okay."

"Sure." He walked towards the stairs. "Just make sure you don't burn up the kitchen like you did on Mei's birthday at St Freya."

"Geez, that was just one-time dork."

"Sure, dumbo."

"You are impossible."

"That is why I can keep up with you."

"Yeah, whatever."

"Also"

"Hm?" Kiana replied as she gazed towards the stairs where Sal stood.

"Pizza toast sounds good."

Kiana simply smiled and nodded. As the sun rose over the horizon, Kiana hummed a lullaby, preparing breakfast for the person she truly loved.

A/N: Well, here we go. After the existential crisis and the fight in the previous chapters, I thought it was time for some 'Wholesome' interaction between our duo: 'The Dork and the Dumbo Tuna.' I have also added a small reference from the Honkai lore which I hope the readers can find out hehe.

Anyways Happy Reading as always.