"Bronya, don't stand that close to Mei. I'm warning you."
"Bronya is doing what Mei agreed she could do."
"You know how annoying it is that you keep talking in third person! Can't you speak normally for once?"
Mei turned around. "Calm down, Kiana. I'm fine with Bronya walking with me. And she can speak however she wants to." She turned around and resumed walking without waiting for Kiana to reply. Kiana grumbled and followed them.
They were supposedly returning to Nagazora City. Bronya had assured them with her map that they were not far from it, but now that they had a concrete destination in mind, it seemed to Kiana that their progress was incredibly slow and tepid. Seeing Bronya and Mei so close to each other only worsened her temper.
Control yourself, Kiana, her father's memory told her. Your anger can be your greatest strength, but it can also be your destruction if you don't learn to control it.
Kiana inspected their surroundings and found only abandoned buildings and abandoned vehicles. Their increasing numbers suggested that they were nearing Nagazora. What they would find there, Kiana could not say. Nor did she know what they would do after they arrived, if there was anyone they could call for help. They would address that problem when they arrived. At the moment, they had more immediate concerns.
The roars of several Honkai beasts grew louder. Five of them, roughly in the shape of a horse, charged at the three girls. A Honkai zombie rode on the backs of each, wielding a lance formed out of the same material as the Honkai beasts' armour. Appropriately, the combination of rider and steed were called Knights. Kiana's father had taught her the different categories of Honkai beast and their strengths and weaknesses, so Kiana knew these were among the most dangerous because of their speed and mobility.
"These ones are fast! Keep your distance!" Kiana yelled to Mei and Bronya.
Bronya summoned Project Bunny, whose impenetrable shield blocked the lance charge of one of the Knights before performing a counterattack. The Knight was fast and moved out of the way before the blow could connect. When another Knight lunged at Kiana, she jumped onto its back and used all her strength to kick the zombie off its steed before stomping its head in. The now riderless Honkai beast circled around only for Kiana to shatter one of its legs with another kick, leaving it helpless as she finished it off. Then a third Knight charged at her from behind. Kiana barely managed to move out of the way in time to avoid being impaled.
Bronya waited for the first Knight to charge again before having Project Bunny unleash its own blade and meet the Knight's own. It was a clash of brute strength that Project Bunny soon won. Then another knight nearly ambushed Bronya from behind if not for Mei's warning. Project Bunny turned around in time to block its strike as Mei confronted the fifth and final Knight.
Mei was terrified. This was the first battle that forced her to fend for herself. Kiana and Bronya had always protected her before, making Mei felt like a useless burden to them. That time was past. She seized that intense emotion and used it to strengthen herself. Now was the time for her to prove herself as their equal.
The Knight charged at Mei at top speed. Her father's training came to life and guided her body and limbs to intercept the zombie rider's lance and claim it as her own. She had little experience with it, but her intuition was enough. She ran forward, yelling in rage, and defeated both rider and steed with their own weapon. It was a good weapon. She kept it.
"Mei, are you alright?" Kiana asked her as she rushed to her side, having defeated the other Knight at the same time.
"I'm alright. More than alright," Mei said, not that words could fully describe how she felt. The adrenaline coursing through her veins made her feel more alive than she could remember. This was her purpose in life. This was what she wanted to be. The Honkai was a menace to all of humanity. Mei owed it to humanity to defend it. It was the very least she could do to atone for all the deaths she caused.
Only one Knight remained. Perhaps driven by its instinct of self-preservation, it turned tail and fled. Bronya would not permit her prey to escape from her.
"Cannon charging to maximum output. Fire."
The laser beam that surged from Project Bunny's cannon arm not only annihilated the Knight and its rider but continued to travel through them until it met the ground with a resounding explosion. A massive cloud of debris filled the air. When it finally cleared, they saw a large crater in the ground where the Knight used to be.
"Wow…" Kiana said. She had no idea that Project Bunny was capable of this much firepower. She had underestimated them.
Mei stared at the crater. "Bronya…I don't think you needed to go that far…"
"The enemy was about to escape. To maximize the chance of preventing its escape, Bronya maximized her firepower."
Mei laughed. "I can't argue with that."
The three of them walked over to the crater. It was several meters in diameter and deep enough for them to fit inside. Then Kiana noticed it was filling with water at the base. "Where's that water coming from?" she asked.
"Bronya must have broken through to an underground layer of water," said Mei, who had read about subjects like this one in books. "It's welling up to the surface now."
As Kiana watched the crater gradually fill with water, a thought came to her mind. "Oh, this is perfect. We can use this as a hot spring!"
Mei laughed a little. "A hot spring? I wouldn't mind one, but I don't think this is the right time or place for it…"
"Just think about it, Mei! We're all hot, tired, and sweaty after that fighting. I think we earned a little reward…" Kiana had an additional reason to want a hot bath, which she chose to not mention aloud.
Bronya listened to them. Then she asked, "What is a hot spring?"
"You don't know? This country is famous for them," Kiana said. "It's a naturally heated water source in the ground. It's basically a hot bath, and I could really do with one right now."
Mei stared at the crater, which was now halfway filled with water. "I wouldn't mind one…but here, out in the open? With the Honkai around? Kiana, don't you find this a little dangerous?"
"Bronya will stand guard with Project Bunny," said Bronya. "Bronya will not allow Mei to come to harm."
"Are you sure? You deserve this, too," Mei told her.
"Bronya is sure. Bronya does not require cleaning at present."
Kiana dipped her hand in the water. They heard her complain about how cold it was.
"Kiana Idiotka, observe the utility of Project Bunny." The robot fired its laser into the pool of water, quickly heating it to a warm temperature.
"...Thanks," Kiana said.
"Bronya will patrol the surrounding area for danger and leave Mei in privacy." Bronya and Project Bunny turned and began to patrol the perimeter, leaving Kiana and Mei alone.
Mei stared at the steaming water and dipped her hand into it. It was very warm. After that exciting but gruelling battle, immersing herself in a hot bath was the only thing she wanted. Before she could move, she heard a sound that made her face burn. Kiana had quickly undressed herself before sliding into the hot spring. Mei stared at the pile of Kiana's discarded school clothes with her guns lying on top of them, unable to bring herself to look at their owner.
"Hurry up and come in, Mei! The water is so warm!"
Mei's face turned even redder. She started to sweat before she scolded herself. It's only Kiana. I don't have anything to worry from her. What's so wrong about sharing a bath with her?
"Okay…just…turn around and don't look!" Mei told her, peeking at Kiana in the corner of her vision.
"I promise."
When she saw Kiana turn away, Mei carefully took off her own clothes and rested her lance on them. She carefully dipped herself into the water. The sensation was all that she expected and more. She inclined against the wall of the crater, which was deep enough that only her head was above the water. Kiana was right; the water was warm and felt better than any hot bath she had before, even in her family's mansion.
"This is really relaxing," Mei said to herself, closing her eyes. Only now did she realize how much she needed a way to forget the worries of the world and lose herself in calm, soothing bliss.
"I told you, didn't I?" Kiana called from the other end of the hot spring, whose eyes were focused directly on Mei. She may have promised to not look at her before she got in, but she made no such promise now.
"You did," Mei agreed. "I never thought I'd be using an onsen somewhere like this, but I can't complain. I just wish Bronya were here to enjoy this with us. She deserves to relax, too."
Kiana made a dismissive gesture. "If she doesn't want this, she doesn't want this. It's her choice and not our problem."
Mei felt an emotion upon hearing Kiana's words. She was uncertain what it was. It could have been anger. She took a deep breath and calmly let it out. "Kiana."
Kiana winced at the sternness of her voice. "...Yes?"
"Why do you dislike Bronya so much?"
"I-I don't dislike her. I just…don't trust her. Not completely. Remember, she attacked you first."
"And she didn't remember any of it, and neither has she done anything to us since. She's been nothing but helpful to us."
"It could just be an act. People can be good at pretending to be something they're not. Trust me. I met a lot of people like that before I met you at Senba. And even at Senba. You should know. The people you thought were your friends were anything but." Kiana rarely spoke of her past before she met Mei. She was someone who looked to the future instead.
"You're right...but you met people like that before? What do you mean?" Mei asked. Her pain at losing who she thought had been the light in her life and her best friend in the world still stung. Her name was Hikari. She was kind, caring, and always made Mei feel happy. After her father was arrested and her former "friends" began to torment her, Hikari was the last to abandon her, but abandon her she did. Hikari's light went out long ago. She was dead now along with the rest of Nagazora and everyone in it. Then Mei heard the unmistakable sound of moving water and Kiana making her way closer to her. She came to a stop directly next to Mei, who diligently kept her eyes shut.
"Yes. There were people who pretended to be nice to me because they wanted things from me. Things I'd rather not say. There were people who pretended to be kind and helpful to gain their victims' trust before stealing everything from them. I had to learn how to tell when people were lying or not and how to avoid them."
"And is Bronya like them?"
Kiana was quiet. "I'm not sure. I've never met anyone like her before."
"I haven't, either. But there's something about her that…that makes me want to protect her. I appreciate your concerns, Kiana. Don't worry. I'm not blind to danger. I'll keep an eye on her, for her sake and for ours."
After that, they were silent for a minute, resting peacefully in the hot spring as they lingered on the discussion they just had.
"We really ought to thank Bronya for what she's done for us," Mei said. "This is only the latest."
"Pfft. She made this crater by accident! I didn't expect it to be a blessing in disguise, though." Kiana took a deep breath and calmly let it out. "There's so many things like this. Things I never expected to happen, but I'm glad they did…and meeting you was one of them."
Kiana and Mei recalled their first meeting and how abruptly it had ended. So much had changed since. Most of it was for the worse, but this one thing would always be for the better.
"Kiana, I feel the same way for you. I'm so happy that I met you. I'm happy that we met Bronya, too."
Kiana's mood took a sour turn at the mention of Bronya, but then she remembered that the warm water she was enjoying herself in was only because of her. So she only said, "She's useful, I guess."
Mei laughed. The sound warmed Kiana's heart as much as the water did. So warm that it hurt her. A beautiful pain was Kiana's feelings for Mei. From the moment Mei took her hand and let her pull her back up from her fall, Kiana saw her as more than only a close friend. Mei was the shining star in her life. She was someone Kiana wanted to always protect, someone she wished to spend the rest of her life with. No other person in the world meant what Mei did to her, and it hurt.
Did Mei feel the same for her? Did Mei understand the bond they had? Would she turn Kiana away if she confessed everything she meant to her? Kiana did not know, and she was scared to know. Mei may not have been ready for more. Kiana did not think herself ready.
But being so close to her now, vulnerable, bare, and separated by nothing but a small amount of water, made Kiana's heart race with anticipation. She had never met anyone as beautiful as Mei, with her violet hair drifting gently beneath the water and her peaceful face so worth protecting. Kiana's gaze moved lower. Unbidden, her thoughts turned to a less modest direction, showing her the rest of Mei's body that was hidden from her. Kiana's vivid imagination left her feeling excited, flustered, and desiring more, but she forced both her eyes and her thoughts away from Mei before she could notice anything amiss. With Mei out of sight and out of mind, Kiana refocused only on the warmth of the water around her.
"Kiana…"
"What is it?" Kiana answered, her eyes still closed.
"Back there, during the fight we just had against those Honkai beasts…I realized something. Something about what I want to do."
Kiana did not dare to hope what she meant. "That's good. What did you realize?"
"For all of my life, I never really had any ideas what I wanted to do with it. I was the heiress to my father's company, and even though I was going to run it one day, I never saw myself doing that. It felt too far away, too separated from the life I had. And then our company was taken from us. I was lost. I didn't know what to do." Mei looked at the lance she took from the Knight's rider. "I thought the same about the Honkai. It was always just horror stories in the news, nothing that ever happened to me or anyone I knew. Until now."
"Mei…"
"During that fight, when I had to protect myself because you and Bronya were already occupied with fighting them off, I knew. I know what I want to do from now on. I will find and join Schicksal and become a valkyrie to fight the Honkai. So this doesn't happen again."
The strength in Mei's voice was something Kiana rarely ever heard. She smiled at her. Mei smiled back. "I'm glad to hear you so determined," Kiana said. "I said before that whatever you do, I'll be there for you. If you join Schicksal, so will I. I'll be fighting the Honkai right beside you like we are right now. It's not like I have many options, either."
"Thank you, Kiana. I only hope Bronya can also join us at Schicksal, too."
"Well…I'm sure they have a place for everyone. Even her."
They fell into another silence. Time passed peacefully. The hot spring remained just as warm and comforting as when they first entered. They could have easily fallen asleep in it if not for the loud noise they heard in the distance.
Mei was immediately alert. "That could have been Bronya! We need to go now!" She leapt out of the water, grabbed her lance, and was about to run in the direction of the sound before she heard Kiana shouting at her to slow down.
"Wait, Mei! At least get dressed first!"
Mei blushed. She quickly pulled on her clothes as Kiana did the same. Together, they ran until they found Bronya and Project Bunny fending off a number of Honkai beasts and zombies, including more Knights. Mei buried her lance into them as Kiana dispatched them with bullets and physical strikes. Every foe soon lay still at their feet, but to their alarm, so did Bronya.
"Bronya!" Mei cried out, falling to her knees and cradling her. Bronya bled from several injuries. None looked serious, but the most blood poured out of a wound on her back. She seemed incoherent, but Mei thought she was trying to apologize.
"We need to get her back to the hot spring where our first aid supplies are," Kiana said. "Let's go."
With Bronya in her arms, Mei ran with Kiana back to the hot spring. Along the way, she heard Bronya's quiet voice speaking to her.
"Bronya is sorry for being such a burden…"
"No, Bronya. Don't say that."
When they returned to the hot spring, they immediately retrieved their bandages and other medical supplies and used them to treat Bronya's wounds to the best of their ability. There was a gash on her left cheek and more on her arms, but the deepest was on her back. When they removed Bronya's shirt, Mei gasped in horror and covered her mouth.
Bronya's back was covered in scars. Few areas had been spared. Two scars were crossed near her right shoulder. Even more were lower near her waist and hip. The longest started at her right shoulder and travelled across her entire back before ending at her left hip. Mei could not avert her eyes until she felt Kiana's hand on her shoulder.
"Let's get that looked at," Kiana said, pointing to the newest wound.
They cleaned and dressed her wounds before covering it in a bandage. They had Bronya rest on her side with her head in Mei's lap. Mercifully, she had drifted asleep. Mei gently stroked Bronya's hair. "Bronya…what happened to you?" she whispered as she blinked back her tears.
"...Will she be alright?" Kiana asked, not knowing what to do.
"From her most recent wounds, yes. They fortunately weren't that serious. But I'm not so sure about the older ones."
"Should we ask her about her scars when she wakes up?"
Mei shook her head. "She didn't want to tell us for a reason. They're her business alone. Let's not bring it up until she chooses to."
They were silent. Kiana stood guard, watching for any threat. When Bronya finally stirred, Mei burst into tears.
"Bronya…I'm so sorry…I never should have left you to go fight alone. You're hurt because of me…"
"Mei is wrong. Bronya went alone because she wished to protect Mei and let Mei enjoy a hot spring. Do not apologize."
Kiana made an annoyed sound. "Hey, I was protecting Mei, too. I was never going to let anything come close to her since I was there with her all the time."
"Bronya is grateful to Kiana Idiotka for protecting Mei."
It was the closest to a compliment Kiana was likely to receive from Bronya, so she accepted it in stride.
Mei wiped away her tears. "Bronya, from now on, none of us goes anywhere alone. Whatever we do, the three of us will do it together. Let's promise this to each other."
"I already promised her that a while ago, but I'll promise it again. This time to you too, Bronya," Kiana vowed.
Bronya looked both of them in the eye. "Bron… I promise."
For the first time since meeting them, Bronya smiled.