MGSFV?! Chapter 430. Momentary Joy from Hurting Kiana; Redemption Arc in Flames; Mutual Devotion
The "wormhole"...
was actually just the rooftop of Qianyu Academy.
It was here, once, that Kiana and Mei fought.
With one fierce hand strike, Mei had sent Kiana flying—
causing her to crash through the rooftop's chain-link fence.
The hole left behind was what became known as the wormhole.
A hole smashed through by "Bug."
In any case, the two had returned to a turning point that wasn't just important to them—
but to all of Honkai Impact 3rd.
"Mm… This is Qian—"
Looking around at her surroundings,
Kiana quickly realized where she was.
But unlike that day—
The sky now had no thunder.
Sunlight even pierced the clouds, casting a romantic light upon the rooftop where the two stood.
Sure, it was sunset—
but still, enough to fill one's heart with satisfaction.
That day, thunder split the sky, and Kiana and Mei parted ways.
Now, the setting sun broke through the gloom—Kiana and Mei reunited.
…What more could one ask for?
For the players who had never let go of "Everlasting Promises,"
they were already spiraling out of control.
[So beautiful.]
[See? Anything lost can be found again!]
"This composition—is the morning light shining on Mei?"
"But isn't this scene clearly a sunset?" Hokuto retorted from the side.
"Mm, true… but—"
Elysia studied the composition closely:
"Don't you think if it were sunrise, it'd have a stronger symbolic meaning?"
"After all, the dawn symbolizes a new beginning, right?"
"Well…"
Some things Hokuto couldn't just say outright yet.
Using the sunset here wasn't just to echo the ending of "Everlasting Promises,"
where Mei said goodbye to Kiana.
It was also to leave room for the future.
Because—just when players thought this would be Kiana and Mei's last sugary scene on Qianyu's rooftop…
He planned to drop one more major surprise.
"Otto-san? Hm?"
"Maybe the artist had their own reasons for the choice?
Who understands Kiana x Mei sugar better than Mei herself, right?"
Mei: ???
It was clearly you who made the request…
But…
With Mei absent and no one to refute it,
Hokuto's confusing explanation managed to convince Elysia.
"Mm… makes sense, I suppose."
...
Back to the story.
Kiana and Mei realized they had arrived at Qianyu Academy's rooftop.
They discussed why they'd suddenly jumped from St. Freya to Qianyu.
According to Mei—
Kiana had suddenly gone unresponsive like a statue.
Then, St. Freya disappeared into darkness—replaced by Qianyu Academy.
A very stiff, matter-of-fact explanation.
Which made Kiana scratch her head:
"Mei, why are you suddenly talking like… that?"
Mei: "..."
Wasn't it obvious?
Coming back here—
She could only think about the "lesson in love" she'd delivered to Kiana that day.
Maybe, back then—
in that moment, on that rooftop—
their battle hadn't been entirely wrong.
But…
Still, the awkwardness in her heart was overwhelming.
Now, she hesitated at every step.
What words should I say?
What actions should I take?
What emotions should I show?
It could only be said...
Hurting Kiana feels good in the moment—
But chasing her down is pure flames.
A silence fell over them,
separating them by a not-so-small distance.
Bug… if only you'd hugged her now—that would've been a finishing move!
But unfortunately—
Kiana only changed the subject:
"Doesn't seem like the mental shackle is here."
Mei quickly followed up:
"Yes. Besides us, there's nothing else here."
"Just like that day…"
As she spoke, her voice started to trail off again:
"Exactly the same."
Seeing this, Kiana quickly jumped in to ease the tension.
"Not everything's the same—like, for example… the atmosphere?"
She walked toward the railing.
"Ah, Mei, look! There's a hole in the chain-link fence here. Perfect for viewing the scenery."
"Though… how'd such a big hole even get there…"
Mei: "..."
She didn't dare approach.
[Right? How did that hole get there?]
[Hahaha I can't—]
[Kiana you literally smashed through it. You forgot already?]
[Classic Bug behavior—asking about the very pot that's boiling over.]
Even Hokuto couldn't help but smile again when he saw this part.
It had that same theatrical irony as—
When the one pressing the "megaphone" button wasn't Elysia but Mei—
and the broadcast played,
"I want to touch Mei's horns…"
And Mei turned to Elysia and asked:
"What did you record into the speaker?"
This kind of twist—
That's what made the whole scene unbearably funny.
Of course—
While the stream chat was overflowing with joy—
In-game Mei was dying of secondhand embarrassment.
"Uh…"
"Um…"
She stammered her response:
"It's probably… the time when I… hit you and you… fell through…"
"Ah, haha."
Kiana laughed awkwardly when she heard it.
"That makes sense. No wonder I don't remember."
[Got knocked out cold, huh?]
[Bug just brushed it off like that… she's so good to Mei.]
[Kiana x Mei forever!!]
Then Kiana, with absolute emotional intelligence, said:
"But hey, maybe it boosts Qianyu Academy's observation deck rating?
I mean, it does give a clear, unobstructed view!"
[Official easter egg? The wormhole—Honkai 3's scenic heartbreak landmark?]
[Two Herrscher battlefield site, five-star location!]
[Writers truly are deep into meme culture.]
[Writers, please log off. We beg you.]
...
"Pfft~~"
Mei was finally amused by Kiana's teasing.
She softly responded:
"Hehe… that's just like you, Kiana."
The awkwardness began to ease.
She stepped forward, stood beside Kiana, and listened as she continued:
"Ah… Not only is the view nice, but the breeze feels really pleasant."
Then, following Kiana's lead, she sighed:
"It's just a shame…
Back then, we didn't have the mindset to appreciate these things."
They did now—
But unfortunately, they didn't have the time.
You really can't have everything in this world, huh…
Elysia, hearing Mei's wistful tone, suddenly became hopeful.
"I wonder when Mei and Kiana will get to return to Earth…
You know, really go out and see the world, living happily and peacefully every day?"
"Uh…"
Hokuto wanted to say something, but stopped.
Luckily, his reaction was small enough that Elysia didn't notice.
She just continued focusing on the story—
interacting with chat, talking about her hopes for the future of Kiana x Mei...
True ship captain.
Back to the game.
Kiana followed Mei's thought.
"Then let's make up for it all at once!
This kind of space transition… probably won't happen again soon."
[Make it up! Make it up hard!!]
[Not just here—when they get back to Earth too!]
[What if Kiana—]
[Drag that guy out and gank him.]
"If I'm right, the shifts are tied to my emotional fluctuations.
Whether it's about emotion itself or intensity—I'm not quite sure."
"It's fine," Mei replied, her voice growing gentler:
"Since we're inside your mental space, maybe going with the flow is best."
They were inside Kiana's mental space, already fused into one...
This chapter's sugar wasn't the only thing rich in content, huh?
Tsk tsk tsk…
Criticize it... and then ask for more!!!
But—
Kiana and Mei fell into a natural silence,
quietly gazing into the distance together.
Normally, people avoid silence—
as if it were a blade that cuts bonds apart.
But for these two—
Silence was a place where their thoughts could intertwine—
and their hearts could fully understand each other.
"Mei."
"Hm?"
"Nothing.
I just suddenly felt like calling your name."
"Then… Kiana?"
Players: !!!
[Put all that sweetness into the chat box!!]
[Where's my insulin??]
[Sweet madness.jpg]
[These writers really know what they're doing.]
[Honkai 3 is too good!!]
With that natural call from Kiana—
and Mei's soft, sweet reply—
The sugar level exploded to 1000%.
They did it!!
Their bond now surpassed normal limits.
No fear of silence,
no need for topics,
no worries about where the next line might lead—
Kiana and Mei were already heart to heart—
merged as one.
"Mei… I know that,
when it comes to things involving me—
your emotional reaction is often stronger than others."
"But you rarely show it.
You simply endure, accept everything about me—
guiding and helping me when I need it.
From our first meeting to now… you've always been like this."
"To fight for all that is beautiful in the world—
That is my belief.
It's also my promise to Himeko-sensei."
"And in my heart—
Mei, you are the most special part of that beauty."
Players: ??? Straight shot confession???
A favorite line of Honkai fans:
"Huh??"
How do they keep getting caught off guard?
They don't even know.
"Because you're so special—
I hope that, more than me or even the world—
you'll start putting yourself first."
After saying that, Kiana let out a quiet breath.
Then, a few lines of soft narration—read by Kiana herself—played in-game.
After all—she once received words that weighed more than anything.
"Compared to this world—you matter more."
She had always been waiting for the right moment to respond.
Not because she had to—
But because she wanted to.
Even if she knew that expressing her heart like this
might not be what the other person wanted most…
At this moment—
She still wanted to speak it aloud.
Elysia: "..."
Normally, she'd read narration aloud for the viewers—
But Kiana stole her job this time.
Still… that was fine.
No—that was amazing.
Let Kiana deliver her own sweetness.
Ah…
Just let it kill her.
No need to hold back!
Elysia gave up trying to hide her huge auntie-smile.
Eyes sparkling, she clicked forward—
...
"——So, Mei, what do you think… now?"
Faced with Kiana's question,
Mei seemed to be internally composing her reply.
While she was thinking—
Chat filled with massive walls of messages:
[Mei: I do!!] *n
[Mei don't hesitate! Don't hold back! Say it into a megaphone!!]
[If it's not Elysia-branded, I don't accept it.]
[Kill me and offer me to the ship.]
[Guys, please, calm down…]
And finally—
Mei's response arrived.
"I think...
often, what people think and what they do are inconsistent—
because the world doesn't always allow us to choose the thing we want most."
"Maybe in the near future,
I'll again face a difficult choice…
one that could change both our fates."
Huh? What's this?
Is that a flag?
Who's not allowing it?
HoYoverse? Would they dare?!
We all allow it!!!
"At that time,
I might not be able to answer as decisively as before.
I'll hesitate. I'll think. I'll weigh my options."
"Because everything in this world has gained more weight in my heart—
as we've walked this journey together."
"But in the end—
the one who gave me that chance to grow,
the one who made me start to love the world—
Kiana… it was you."
If Kiana's growth began with the world and reached those beside her...
Then Mei's growth began with those beside her and reached the whole world.
Mutual devotion.
"It was you who made me start looking forward to this world."
Sweet.
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