Mei
The world around Mei was a roar of wind that swallowed everything in her sight. Mei reached out, her fingers brushing against Kenji's battlesuit, but her grip closed on empty air.
She saw his face, twisted in a grimace of pain and determination. She saw his hand raise, not to catch her, but to push her away.
"KENJI!"
The scream tore from her throat. The blast of air hit her, pushing her and Kiana away. She was caught in Wendy's grasp and watched helplessly as he shrank into the distance. He was falling and falling into the swarm of black metal and red eyes.
"NO!"
Mei woke with a gasp, her body jerking upright in bed. The scream died in her throat, leaving her choking on air.
Her chest heaved, her heart hammering against her ribs. She looked around frantically, still panicked from the nightmare.
She was in her dorm room. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows across the floor.
"Haahh…" Mei curled in on herself, her knees drawn up to her chest, her hand clutching the fabric of her shirt over her heart.
She could still feel the phantom sensation of the wind pushing her away, the ghost of Kenji's touch.
A tear slipped down, stinging her cheek. Then another. And another. She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
She felt utterly useless. Her teammate, her friend, threw himself into the fire to save them. And she could only watch, unable to do anything.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" She said repeatedly, as if Kenji were there to hear her words.
"He is gone."
A voice whispered in the back of her mind. A cold, mocking, and intimately familiar tone. It was similar to hers yet felt so foreign.
"He is gone because you were weak."
"Shut up," Mei whispered, her voice trembling.
"You let him fall. You let him break himself for you. Just like you let everyone else get hurt. You are nothing but a burden, Raiden Mei."
Mei squeezed her eyes shut, pressing her hands over her ears as if she could block out the voice inside her own head.
The Herrscher of Thunder. It had been quiet for months, subdued by her time at St. Freya, by the happiness she had found with Kiana, Kenji, and Bronya.
But now, in the silence of her grief, it was back. Taunting her louder than ever.
"If you had embraced me... if you had used my power... You could have saved him. You could have destroyed them all."
"Stop it!" Mei gasped, her breath hitching.
"But you didn't. You were afraid. And now he is paying the price for your cowardice."
The voice faded into a cruel, lingering laugh, leaving Mei alone in the dark.
She unwrapped her arms from her legs and stared at the empty room. Her gaze drifted to the calendar on her desk.
Three days.
It had been three days since the battle at the Oceania Branch—three days since she had watched Kenji fall from the sky.
She remembered the landing. Wendy catching them, her face pale with exhaustion. The frantic scramble as they rushed away towards the Hyperion.
She remembered Himeko's arrival. How Durandal arrived minutes later, eliminating any leftover Anti-Entropy machines.
But it was too late.
By the time Himeko's team had reached the garden, the Anti-Entropy fleet was gone. They had vanished into the clouds, taking their prize with them. There was no trace of Kenji. No trace of Bronya.
They had lost.
Mei wiped her face, her hand coming away wet. She looked at her palm, half-expecting to see blood, but there was nothing—just emptiness.
She felt hollowed out. A shell of a person. She had promised that they would watch each other's backs. She had promised they would be a team.
And she had failed. She failed because she was a coward. Because she couldn't take the extra step to save her friends, and now they could be—!
Knock, knock.
A soft, hesitant knock broke the silence of the room, pulling Mei from the edge of her spiraling thoughts.
She flinched, hastily wiping the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. She took a shaky breath, trying to smooth the tremor in her voice, trying to rebuild the mask of composure she had worn for three days straight.
"I'm... I'm awake," she called out, though her voice cracked, betraying her.
The door handle turned slowly, and the door creaked open just enough for a sliver of light from the hallway to cut across the dark floor.
Kiana peeked inside. Her usual exuberance was dampened, her blue eyes soft and filled with worry as they scanned the room before landing on Mei.
"Mei-senpai?" Kiana whispered. "Are you ok? I heard a scream."
Mei looked away, pulling her knees tighter to her chest. "I'm sorry, Kiana. It was just a nightmare. You can go back to sleep."
Kiana didn't leave. Instead, she pushed the door open all the way and stepped inside. She was wearing her oversized pajamas, her hair a messy white halo around her head, but her expression was unusually serious.
She didn't say anything at first. She just looked at Mei—really looked at her—taking in the puffy eyes, the trembling shoulders, the way Mei seemed so small in the center of the bed.
"You're not okay."
Mei opened her mouth to deny it, but the words died on her tongue. She wasn't fine. She felt like she was bleeding out, like she had an invisible wound that wouldn't close.
"I..." Mei started, but her voice broke again.
She couldn't get another word out as Kiana crossed the room in long strides and climbed onto the bed.
Before Mei could protest, Kiana wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a fierce, crushing hug.
It wasn't a gentle embrace. It was a grounding, desperate feeling she desperately needed. Kiana smelled of shampoo and warmth, the complete opposite of her nightmare.
"It's okay," Kiana murmured into her hair, her chin resting on Mei's shoulder. "I've got you. I'm here."
Mei stiffened at first, her muscles locking up as she tried to hold back the tide of emotion. But Kiana held on tighter, making circles on her back to make her relax. Slowly, painfully, the tension began to bleed out of Mei's body.
Mei slumped against Kiana, her forehead pressing into the crook of the other girl's neck. She let out a long, shuddering breath, and her hands came up to grip the back of Kiana's shirt, clutching the fabric like a lifeline.
"I miss them… It's so quiet."
"I know," Kiana said, her voice thick with her own suppressed grief. "I keep expecting Kenji to walk in and complain about my cooking. Or Bronya to tell me I'm being an idiot."
Mei let out a watery, broken chuckle. "You are an idiot."
"Hey!" Kiana protested weakly, but she didn't pull away. "I'm trying to be comforting here."
They sat like that for a long time, tangled together in the dark, the dorm's silence no longer feeling quite so oppressive.
The warmth of another person, the simple proof that she wasn't alone, did more to silence the dark voice in Mei's head than any amount of logic could.
"We're going to get them back," Kiana said suddenly, her voice fierce. She pulled back just enough to look Mei in the eye. "I promise you, Mei. We're not leaving them there. We'll find Cocolia, we'll kick her butt, and we'll bring them home."
Mei looked into Kiana's blue eyes. They were burning with a determination that refused to accept defeat. It was the same fire Kenji had shown, the same stubborn hope.
Mei nodded, unable to speak, her throat tight.
Then, moving on an impulse she couldn't name, Mei leaned forward and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to Kiana's cheek.
Kiana froze. Her eyes went wide, her mouth popping open in a silent 'O' of surprise. A bright, furious blush erupted across her face, visible even in the dim moonlight.
"W-when did you get so bold!"
Mei pulled back, a faint, genuine smile touching her lips for the first time in days. "Thank you, Kiana," she said softly. "For always being there. For cheering me up."
Kiana stammered, her brain seemingly short-circuiting. She touched her cheek, blinking rapidly. "Uh... y-yeah! No... no problem! Anytime! I mean—that's what partners are for! Right?"
She coughed loudly into her fist, scrambling off the bed as if the mattress were suddenly on fire. She stood there, fidgeting, her face still burning red.
"Anyway!" Kiana squeaked, her voice an octave higher than usual. "S-since we clearly can't go back to bed. We... uh... we should probably get ready."
Mei tilted her head, confused by the sudden shift. "Get ready? For what? Classes were canceled for the week."
Kiana blinked, her embarrassment fading into a more somber expression. "You forgot? Today's the day Himeko cleared us for a visit."
She gestured vaguely toward the door.
"We're going to see Wendy in the Containment Bay."
The name hit Mei like a splash of cold water. Wendy. The girl they had saved, but who was now locked away, just as alone as they were.
The living reminder of the price Kenji had paid.
Mei shook her head and took a deep breath, "R-right," Mei said, her voice steadying, "I'll get changed. Wait for me?"
Kiana grinned, "Always."
/ — /
Theresa
The air in Theresa's office was tense, heavy with the scent of alcohol and unvoiced rage. She sat behind her desk, her hands clasped so tightly that her knuckles had turned the color of bone.
She wasn't looking at the reports about their new Herrscher in captivity, nor at the damage assessment for Durandal's engagement with Anti-Entropy.
She was staring at a blank spot on the wall, her mind replaying the last seventy-two hours on a loop.
Her heart still thrummed in her chest, panicked. It had been so for three days. Three days since she had made the call to leak Durandal's position. Three days since she had gambled everything to keep Kenji safe.
Only to lose her most prized asset.
She clenched her fists harder at that train of thought. After everything, she was turning more and more like Otto. How did she even let this get so far? Where did she go wrong?
Across the desk, Himeko sat in the guest chair. She was slumped forward, her elbows on her knees, her head in her hands.
She hadn't touched the glass of water Theresa had poured for her, not even the wine.
The fiery, confident Major who had stormed into battle was gone, replaced by a woman who looked like she had aged ten years in a single weekend.
Himeko was furious, Theresa knew. But not at her. Himeko's fury was directed entirely inward, a burning coal of guilt for arriving seconds too late.
"Stop it, blaming yourself won't bring them back."
Himeko looked up. Her eyes were red-rimmed, dark circles bruising the skin beneath them. "I was the commander, Theresa. I was so close. I saw him fall." Her voice was a husk.
"I should have been faster."
"We all should have been faster," Theresa snapped, the anger flaring up before she could stop it. "But wallowing in guilt is a luxury we can't afford. Not when we finally have a lead."
Himeko stiffened. "A lead? You found them?"
Theresa turned back to the desk, tapping a command into her holographic terminal. A map materialized in the air between them—a schematic of a massive, fortress-like industrial complex that was all too familiar to Himeko's eyes.
"I was... given this."
She didn't mention the encrypted channel the message had come from. She didn't mention the simple, elegant equation that only one person in the world used. Einstein. The co-founder of Anti-Entropy, who was working behind Cocolia's back, likely for her own inscrutable reasons.
"ME Corporation," Himeko breathed, standing up as she recognized the layout. "To think that this was where she would bring him…"
"Then you should already know what we're dealing with," Theresa said grimly. "Shielded against aerial attacks, reinforced strong enough to give even experienced Valkyries trouble, and staffed by an army of mechs."
"I don't care if it's guarded by the devil himself," Himeko growled, her hand instinctively going to where her greatsword would be. The fire was back in her eyes, burning hot and vengeful. "I'll go there and bring Kenji and Bronya back."
Theresa looked at her friend. She saw the desperation, the need for atonement.
"Not happening."
Himeko froze. "Excuseme?"
"I said no. You are not going."
"They are my students, Theresa! I lost them! I am going to get them back!"
"You'll die!" Theresa shouted, her composure cracking. "ME Corp isn't some field outpost! It's Cocolia's stronghold! Especially now that she has Kenji, who knows what kind of machinations she put in place?! You walk in there alone, and you don't come out. I am not losing my Major and my student in the same week!"
Himeko slammed her hands onto the desk, leaning over it. "Then give me backup! Send Rita! Send the whole damn Immortal Blade if you have to! We have the location. We sure as hell have enough power. Why are we sitting here?!"
Theresa looked away, her jaw tightening. "We can't send Rita."
"Why not?!" Himeko demanded. "Rita is S-Rank! She could infiltrate that place in her sleep! If we strike now, we can—"
"Because she reports to HIM!" Theresa screamed.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Himeko slowly straightened up, her eyes narrowing. The rage was still there, but now it was cold. She looked at Theresa not as a friend but as an Overseer burying a body.
"Him," Himeko repeated quietly. "Otto. You're afraid Otto will find out."
Theresa said nothing. She sank back into her chair, feeling small.
"Theresa… You leaked Durandal's location to prevent her from reaching Wendy, but I know damn well you did it so she wouldn't meet Kenji. You started a fleet battle to keep her away from him. Now you're refusing to send a rescue team because you're afraid of HQ getting involved."
She paused before her eyes glared accusingly at her. "Ever since Kenji came into the picture, you've been acting a lot like Otto."
Theresa flinched and turned her head, not wanting to show how much those words actually affected her. Himeko didn't take her reaction well and walked around the desk. Stopping right next to Theresa's chair, looming over her.
"What is he?" Himeko asked. "He's not just an anomaly. I saw him clear the sky. I saw him regenerate a damn hole in his chest. I've played along with your secrets because I trust you. But I am done playing."
She grabbed the arms of Theresa's chair, trapping her.
"What. Is. He?"
Theresa looked up. She saw the betrayal in Himeko's eyes. She saw the exhaustion, the grief, and the absolute refusal to back down.
She realized, with a heavy, sinking heart, that she had run out of moves. She couldn't protect Kenji's secret and save his life at the same time.
Theresa closed her eyes. She let out a long, shaky sigh, the fight draining out of her.
"He's not just a Knight," Theresa whispered.
She opened her eyes, meeting Himeko's gaze with a look of profound guilt.
"I never lied about not knowing more of his energy… But the reason I couldn't let Durandal see him..."
Theresa swallowed hard.
"It's because he also has a Herrscher Core inside him."
/ — /
( ME Corp )
Cocolia
The air in the containment sector of ME Corporation was scrubbed clean of all life, with a faint smell of old blood that no amount of bleach could fully erase.
Cocolia stood behind the reinforced glass of the observation deck, her reflection ghosting over the scene below.
Below her, in the center of the white-tiled room, stood a massive, cylindrical containment pod. It was filled with a translucent, viscous green fluid, lit from below by harsh white lights.
Suspended within it was the boy.
Kenji Aoyama floated weightlessly, his arms spread wide, held in place by thick metal cuffs clamped around his wrists and ankles.
Cables and tubes snaked into his skin like parasitic vines, pumping fluids in and drawing samples out. He looked small against the heavy, industrial machinery that surrounded him, like a broken specimen in a jar.
His body was still filled with fresh scars from the battle, the lingering burns from the electrocution chip, and new, angry welts where the tubes entered his flesh.
"Vitals are stabilizing," a researcher announced from a nearby station, his voice a dry monotone. "Heart rate is normalizing, and cellular degradation is increasing."
Cocolia's eyes narrowed, a flicker of interest sparking in her cold gaze. "Is the suppression agent working?"
"Yes, Director. We are currently injecting a concentrated Honkai-corrosive solution directly into his bloodstream. It is designed to break down his cellular structure at a rate that matches his regeneration factor."
On the monitor, a schematic of Kenji's body flashed red and green. The red represented cellular death. His tissue dissolving, muscles tearing, bones melting under the chemical assault.
The green represented his regeneration. His cells knitting back together, fibers reweaving, the body fighting a desperate, endless war against its own destruction.
"It's a stalemate," the researcher noted, his voice tinged with awe. "He is dying and being reborn every second. His body is exhausting its energy reserves just to survive."
A sadistic smirk formed on Cocolia's face. "Perfect. If he has no energy to spare, he has no energy to escape. Let his own biology be his prison."
She leaned forward and pressed the intercom button. "Prepare the neural interface. His body is occupied. Now, let's see what we can extract from his brain."
Inside the pod, Kenji's finger twitched.
It was a small movement, a spasm against the fluid. Bubbles rose from his nose mask as his chest hitched.
A low, guttural sound vibrated through the liquid. It was not a groan of pain, but something more profound, a resonance that shook the glass walls of his prison.
"Director," the researcher said, his voice tightening. "Energy readings are spiking. The containment field is registering a fluctuation. The corrosive agent... It's being neutralized."
"Increase the dosage," Cocolia ordered, not looking away.
Kenji's body went rigid. The muscles in his arms bunched, straining against the metal cuffs with a sudden, terrifying strength. The liquid in the pod began to churn, boiling around him.
He stopped breathing. The rise and fall of his chest ceased entirely.
For a long, suffocating second, the room was dead silent.
Then, slowly, he lifted his head.
His movement wasn't the groggy, disoriented struggle of a waking prisoner. It was too fluid. He didn't even show any signs of pain from the corrosive agent.
He opened his eyes.
They were not the brownish hue she had seen before. They were not the eyes of the boy who played hero in the streets of Nagazora.
They were a deep, glowing red.
A slow smile spread across his face behind the breathing mask. It didn't reach his eyes. It was an unnerving smile that actually sent a chill down her spine.
"Now isn't this interesting~."