Honkai Impact: The Dream Keeper

2006年8月24日00∶14∶47

A gentle breeze brushed against Long Qiao's face, stirring up countless white threads. Long Qiao watched as Ji Zi opened the beer cap and downed it again.

"Why have you only drunk so little?" Himeko asked.

"My partner doesn't let me drink too much; it's bad for my health," Long Qiao said, taking a cigarette out of her trench coat pocket, lighting it, and exhaling a puff of smoke.

"Your partner? You have a partner?"

"Yes."

"Ha... Summer! Night breeze! Beer! Life is so wonderful, life is so wonderful~" Himeko said cheerfully.

"The summer breeze caresses countless strands of silk, and a joyful summer night is born." Long Qiao couldn't help but say while looking at the night view.

Whose poem is it?

"Made on the spot."

"You're quite impressive, just like that person..."

"You're drunk."

"No, the only thing I can't lose to anyone is my alcohol tolerance."

"Qingmo and the others said the same thing when they got drunk with me before. Okay, drinking this much isn't good for your health. Let's go back, be careful not to get gout."

"...So considerate! You must treat your girlfriend very well, right?"

"...I guess so..."

"I died right after we kissed! Coombs, you son of a bitch!"

"Oh, right, that photo frame on your desk..."

"Hey! It's not a good habit to pry into other people's past."

"Do you think I want to see this? It's right there on the table, so conspicuous!"

"That's true... My father was a scientist at Schicksal, and under his influence, I always aimed to become a physicist. When I was fifteen, I got into Caltech."

"Well, you're quite a genius."

"Haha, you didn't expect that, did you? After all, I don't look like the type who's good at studying."

"...Even more narcissistic than me..."

"What do you mean by that? You really don't know how to talk! Never mind, at Caltech, I met the person who influenced me the most besides my father. You are a lot like that person. Although he didn't have power, he was willing to push himself to do things he couldn't do for the sake of others."

"whispering sound……"

"If this body weren't still fusing, I'd scare you to death if I transformed into an Orphnoch!"

"I was so stupid. I gave up my studies at Caltech and even underwent this experiment that cost me my lifespan just to become a half-baked Valkyrie."

"Destiny...?"

"Father, teacher, why did you..."

As she spoke, Himeko's voice gradually faded until it became an almost inaudible murmur. Long Qiao noticed something was wrong and quickly called out to Himeko a few times, but all he heard was her steady breathing.

"...Damn it! He actually fell asleep! You really know how to cause me trouble!"

Despite grumbling, Long Qiao skillfully carried Himeko on his back. Perhaps it was the evening breeze, but Himeko woke up several times on Long Qiao's back, talking in a disjointed manner.

"Hey, Long Qiao, after everything's over, how about we go for a drink at the beach?"

"...I...I'll think about it..."

"I'm not from this world, so why should I stay here any longer..."

"Hey, after all this is over, can you introduce me to a nice person?"

"Alright, alright, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Look around you."

"Hey, after everything's over, come back to university with me and continue teaching me, okay?"

"I'll endure it... (╬??皿??)"

"After everything is over...after it's all over..."

"Go to sleep... (╬??皿??)"

"...It will be over soon."

"Alas, what a tragedy!" Long Qiao couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in her heart.

…………

When Long Qiao woke up again, it was already late at night on the third day. The exhilarating feeling of the hangover still lingered in Long Qiao's consciousness, and a sense of excitement rose up.

"Well, I've collapsed in Himeko's room again."

Long Qiao looked around and a strange feeling suddenly rose in her heart. She picked up her phone to try to contact Ji Zi, but no one answered. Long Qiao recalled everything that had happened before, and her unease grew stronger and stronger.

"Okay, that's enough for today, but by tomorrow night..."

"...I will contact you."

"...It will be over soon."

"Strange, why do I feel uneasy... No... No, what's going on?!"

Long Qiao's head suddenly started to throb. He endured the headache, opened the window, jumped out, and ran towards the entrance of the Houmu Happy Restaurant, which was usually their meeting point.

"What the hell is going on?! I definitely still have memories that haven't fully returned... Himeko... Theresa... Natsuyo... Ahhh!!!"

When Long Qiao arrived at the restaurant entrance, she didn't see that familiar figure. Long Qiao cursed under her breath and then decisively ran to the left side of the street. Deep down, Long Qiao felt that she would find her final ending in the place where she first met Theresa.

"...Himeko...Damn it, what's going on! I still can't get through on the phone...Damn it!"

Long Qiao continued dialing the number, but suddenly stopped. In the quiet air, the faint sound of a phone ringing reached Long Qiao's ears. Long Qiao sensed everything around her and finally locked onto a direction.

"Is it over there?"

As the ringtone drew closer, Long Qiao's heart suddenly raced faster, but the ringtone stopped abruptly the next second.

"Hello?" Himeko's voice came from the phone.

"Himeko! Where are you now?" Long Qiao asked.

"...You really are...I didn't want to involve you...Goodbye, Long Qiao..."

The call ended, and this ominous farewell made Long Qiao even more agitated.

"Kabuto! Drake! Sasword! The Bee! Gatack! Come out and search!" At Long Qiao's command, five insects appeared from the void and the ground: a red rhinoceros beetle, a purple scorpion, a silver-blue dragonfly, a blue stag beetle, and a wasp. They immediately scattered and began searching after receiving Long Qiao's command.

But the next second, a gunshot rang out. Upon hearing the gunshot, Long Qiao knew that the distance was not far, so she immediately ran over.

After turning a corner, the scene that Long Qiao encountered instantly stripped him of all his ability to move.

"Hime...ko..."

Long Qiao stared in astonishment at Himeko, who had fallen to the ground, and the white-haired girl standing before him.

"..."

“She’s dead… I killed her,” the white-haired girl said calmly.

"...Fuck your grandpa!"

After Long Qiao put on the Evil Sword King Sword Driver, he inserted the Evil Flying Dragon Fantasy Book and suddenly drew the sword.

"Jaaku Read! Dark Sword Moon Darkness! Get go! Under conquer! Rather get keen! Jaa~ku~ Dragon! Moon Darkness Translation! Seize the light, the pitch-black sword ruthlessly dominates the dark dragon!"

A figure entirely purple with gold lines embellishing its body, and a silver, dragon-head-like shoulder armor hanging on its right shoulder—Kamen Rider Evil King Sword has arrived!

"you wanna die!"