Honkai Impact 3: Deadwood

So, after putting all the pieces together, the captain also shared the part of the facts he knew with Himeko.

From the arrival of the inspector, to Kiana's strange dream, and then the emergence of the consciousness of the "Second Herrscher"... Except for Fu Hua and the two "Keys of God", he ignored all of it. He told her without reservation.

It's not that the captain doesn't trust Ji Zi, nor does he want to hide it deliberately, it's just... Fu Hua once asked for this. Moreover, the information about the two was not necessary for the overall incident, so the captain cleverly omitted the relevant content.

But for the captain himself, he doesn't mind revealing or being known, because he can feel that one day, everyone will know... no matter whether it is voluntary or not.

"Himeko, if you get drunk, you won't be the only one the principal will criticize..."

Perhaps the topic was a bit heavy, and the atmosphere in the store had changed somewhat despite the dim lighting. The captain warned like this, hoping to end the topic in time, and by the way, he also hoped that Himeko would not really get drunk.

However, Jizi just lowered her head and looked at the wine glass on the table, as if searching for something in the dark golden liquid in the glass.

Just as the captain lowered his head to look at the wine glass, Ji Zi, who was already a little tipsy, suddenly spoke.

"Captain, what do you mean by growing up?"

The captain raised his head, but the person who spoke did not look this way.

She just picked up the wine glass in her hand and played with it casually. Amidst the clear sound of the ice cubes hitting each other, there was a slight loneliness on her face.

Maybe it's because of the topic just now?

"What's wrong, asking such a question suddenly? It's not like you to be sentimental."

"Sentimental... Maybe I have reached this age. Watching the children around me grow up day by day, I sometimes have mixed feelings in my heart."

"Children...like this..."

The captain suddenly thought that Kiana was not the only one who was special in that academy... It seemed that those children had inadvertently given their teacher a difficult problem that he was still trying to figure out.

"They are a special group of children. Everyone has a past that they don't want to touch. Captain, even you are the same at this point, right?"

"…Um."

The captain did not deny it, but he was very calm. Even if thousands of memories flashed before his eyes, he would never flinch back when faced with what had already happened.

"As their educator and guardian, I always repeat the high-sounding words 'I look forward to your growth.'"

"Fine-sounding...?"

“That day, Kiana asked me: “What does it mean to grow up?” "I thought about it for a long time but could only tell her: "I can't escape."

"Well, there doesn't seem to be any problem. Human beings survive with the help of other people, and no one can completely cut off the ties with others. But no matter who you are, sometimes you think that when you are alone The most relaxed, I feel that is the real me..."

"Yes."

Himeko smiled and nodded.

"You're right, Captain, because others are a mirror. The deeper the relationship, the more you will realize your cowardice and disgusting self... If you don't fall into self-loathing, you can't talk about growth and beyond. s things."

"But, if that's the case, it might be easier to escape directly. I don't think escaping is a despicable act, but..."

"but?"

She smiled and looked at the boy opposite her.

"If one day we are faced with a situation that is so desperate that we should choose to escape, then if it were you, you would probably choose to stand up and resist in the end, right?"

What a desperate situation that will be... The captain doesn't know, but every time he imagines such a scene in his mind, there will always be someone like Himeko who is willing to choose to use his body as a torch for the sake of peace. The people behind illuminate the way ahead.

But then, how will I choose? In other words, what have you been doing during this long journey?

While the captain was thinking, Jizi picked up the ice pin and added a small piece of ice to the captain's cup.

"Captain, sometimes it is more difficult to keep your head down and endure than to stand up and resist. Everything those children will experience in the future is their own thing. It cannot be handed over to anyone, and it cannot be given up after all."

"Well, I know that whether it is pain or joy, it is all their own "wealth". "

"Yeah, so...after you've had enough of escaping, you have to bear it all."

"But their life experiences are really special, especially Kiana. Could it be that you are worried about the future..."

The captain didn't finish what he said. Of course Jizi understood, but she just shook her head slightly.

""It is their temporary right to allow escape, and it is their life obligation to accept everything." I just wanted to tell them about it. "

"Accepting everything does not mean that the problem will be solved. Many times, the closer people are in the process, the easier it is to get hurt and gradually drift away."

"However, we keep approaching and staying away from each other again and again, and then find a distance that can make each other less hurt. This is a "topic" that we still have to explore after we grow up. "

Saying that, Ji Zi raised the wine glass in her hand: "Isn't it the same even for you and me now?"

"Jiko..."

There was a crisp sound from the dark corner, and the two glasses clinked lightly, and then the captain and Himeko drank the wine in their respective glasses.