That night, Kiana felt something heavy settle on her stomach.
She opened her eyes, a bit exasperated, and woke up.
She knew exactly who it was.
Jyahnar always liked sneaking into her bed, but it was better now than before.
Back at the start, she'd always go straight for the face.
And she never adjusted her size or weight.
It really felt like being run over by a truck.
Not that it was a big deal for Kiana, but it could still be pretty annoying. Being woken up like that was just irritating.
"I'm sorry... Kiana..."
Jyahnar's timid voice drifted softly through the dark.
Even without the light on, you could feel the stingray girl's unease.
Just as Kiana had known about this habit of Jyahnar's from the very beginning, Jyahnar also knew perfectly well that Kiana was aware of what she'd done.
But Kiana never mentioned it, and Jyahnar played along. A little unspoken understanding—no words needed.
That was Kiana's kindness, and it made Jyahnar happy.
But this time, she'd deliberately made a bit more noise than usual. Just enough that Kiana couldn't ignore it and had to open her eyes.
The stingray girl rustled softly, shifting back into human form.
The blankets shifted and bunched, carrying a cozy, comforting warmth.
Soon, she and Kiana were face to face, Kiana having turned slightly onto her side.
Time itself seemed to grow tender in that moment.
"I'm sorry... Kiana..."
Jyahnar murmured, sounding genuinely upset. "I can't learn what Elysia taught me."
"It's okay... It's fine if you can't learn it." Kiana had been expecting something serious, but the moment Jyahnar spoke, she almost couldn't hold back a chuckle.
Because she knew exactly what Elysia had been teaching her.
It was a bit silly, but you couldn't exactly say Elysia was leading her astray.
After all, there was some logic to it.
If Jyahnar could really model herself after those popular anime heroine archetypes, Kiana would definitely be into it.
But forcing herself to become someone else... that was never realistic.
So Kiana hadn't expected much to begin with.
If anything, she'd hoped this whole learning process would help Jyahnar discover something meaningful for herself.
That was what really mattered!
"I can't make glowing food..."
"I'm so clumsy... I still don't get how to make the floors and cabinets shine just by cleaning..."
"And without using Honkai energy or any powers... is it really possible to move your hands so fast they leave afterimages, mending clothes in the blink of an eye, even embroidering flowers...?"
"I don't get it..."
Miss Jyahnar's voice was soft and mumbly, clearly still hung up on all of it.
She burrowed deeper into Kiana's arms.
And her rather substantial front armor gave Kiana a rather… exquisite sensation.
Now that she thought about it...
Aha!
She was kind of small, yet soft, and lovely to touch. Made for a pretty great cuddle buddy, didn't she?
As she listened, Kiana gently patted Jyahnar's back, comforting her, while her own thoughts drifted a little.
"I'm sorry... Kiana... I've let you down..."
"Not at all~ Jyahnar." Kiana shook her head slightly.
The dim light didn't hinder a thing.
She could still see the girl in her arms timidly lift her head and look up at her, wearing that pitifully adorable expression.
So full of unease and worry.
It made Kiana's heart soften even more, her voice dropping to a whisper, as if coaxing a child.
"Actually..."
"You don't have to force yourself to be like anyone else."
Kiana's voice was tender.
"What I like is the real you, the you as you are. Not a version of you straining to carry someone else's shadow..."
She'd initially thought her Jyahnar would be like the one from GGZ.
After all, she really liked GGZ's Jyahnar.
But who knew? She herself was a newborn Finality, and Jyahnar was a newborn Honkai Beast.
Her mind wasn't exactly mature. Having her around felt a bit like raising a daughter.
But!
Was that such a bad thing? Kiana didn't think so.
If she really had to have the GGZ Jyahnar, maybe someday, if they ever found the GGZ world, they could just go there for a visit.
They could even hang out with God Kiana, God Mei, or some of the other girls... wouldn't that work?
Why force her own Jyahnar, who wasn't the GGZ version, to become something she wasn't?
The Sky Screen was the Sky Screen; reality was reality.
She went on, "When I... asked you to learn from Elysia, it was because I wanted you to learn to think more, to understand humans, society, and the world we live in now..."
"Not everything has to be forced."
"Kiana..." Jyahnar mumbled.
Kiana spoke gently. "Don't forget~"
"You, Jyahnar! Are the first character I, Kiana, ever confessed to proactively. That fact alone makes you... one of a kind in my heart."
"Nothing else matters."
"It doesn't matter if you're a companion Honkai beast, or whether we share some special bond...I confessed because I like you."
"It wasn't a tactical move, and there's nothing else mixed in... I like you. Whatever form you take, it's fine..."
"Understand?"
"Mmh..." Jyahnar let out a soft, almost mournful sound, like a little animal whining.
She was both embarrassed and happy.
The small hands clutching Kiana's pajamas tightened their grip.
She lifted her head, her moist eyes unable to hide the joy in her heart—glistening, shimmering, like rippling water, overflowing with happiness.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Really, really, really?"
"Really, really, really."
Kiana didn't mind the repetition.
She played along with Jyahnar in this slightly childish little game.
They weren't holding each other as tightly now, but their hands were firmly linked.
As if sharing the warmth of their hearts.
"If I'm the first one you confessed to... then what about Elysia?" Jyahnar asked.
"Elysia was the first one to confess to me... It's different~" Kiana didn't hide it, answering with a smile.
One was confessing to her.
The other was her doing the confessing.
In a way, maybe that meant they were on equal footing?
"Then... can I stay just the way I am now... forever?"
Jyahnar paused, seeming a little conflicted.
"That version of me in the Sky Screen videos... felt so unfamiliar..."
"At least right now, I don't understand why my future self would be like that..."
"It's fine," Kiana reassured her.
"Jyahnar just needs to be Jyahnar."
She paused briefly, then added in a playful, teasing tone, "Ah, but! You still can't hog me all to yourself... because Kiana belongs to everyone."
"Mmm... okay..."
Jyahnar hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"I... understand..."
--+--
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