"Wait… I might not have much time to train with you."
Griseo's soft voice poured cold water on Nijika's growing excitement.
After all, she belonged to the Honkai World.
Even if time flowed differently between worlds, she couldn't stay here forever.
"Train? What training?" Nijika blinked. "You? At your level? You still need practice? Bocchi-chan's the one who should be training more. You saw our performance...was it hard to keep up?"
"No."
Griseo answered simply.
A faint sound echoed behind her...like a heart shattering.
She turned to see Gotou Hitori melted into a puddle on the floor.
"Hitori-nee-san!"
"I'm fine!"
Hitori sprang up.
"Before the next performance, I'll at least crawl out of the box!"
"Ah, right, right." Ryo said flatly.
"Go, go." Nijika added, equally expressionless.
"…Griseo." Hitori asked, "if you play with us, what about your painting?"
"It's fine. If we're together, the colors will be richer. It won't affect anything."
"Ah… I understand every word you said, but when you put them together, I don't get it. But if you say it's fine, then it's fine."
Hitori was then whisked away by Nijika for training.
Griseo returned to her studio.
Not much time had passed, but something had changed.
Some of the fruit she'd left out for guests was gone.
And on the table sat a letter.
"Is Griseo not here? I'm competing in the Satsuki Sho tomorrow the first race of the Triple Crown G1. I'll definitely win!... Hmm, the apple was delicious. Thanks for the treat~ "
Sunny and full of life—just like its sender.
"Tokai Teio left this?"
Griseo smiled.
Since the timelines between worlds were mostly aligned, she could go watch Teio's race tomorrow.
She refilled the fruit bowl with fresh apples.
Just then, a car horn sounded outside.
Pardofelis pushed open the door.
"Griseo! I finished the plaque!"
"Thank you, Pardofelis-nee-san."
Griseo stepped outside to inspect it.
It was wooden, well-crafted… but something felt off.
"These cat paw patterns…"
"I carved them! Aren't they cute?"
"They are…"
Griseo nodded.
She realized the issue.
Though the plaque read Griseo's Studio, Pardofelis's handiwork made it look like a cat café sign.
Still, it was adorable.
"This place is really comfy," Pardofelis said, stretching. "Quiet, great lighting, perfect for sunbathing…"
"Then you can come here often to sunbathe."
"No need. I've got lots to do."
She picked up a can of strawberry jam and extended a finger.
Whoosh.
A claw flicked out like a hidden blade, slicing the lid clean off ignoring the pull tab entirely.
"See you next time!"
She waved and slipped away, as swiftly as she came.
After Pardofelis left, the studio fell silent.
Most of the surrounding area was still in ruins, awaiting reconstruction.
But even in a remote place, someone would always come.
"Griseo, you opened a studio here and didn't tell me?"
Kosma stepped inside.
A member of her father's squad.
Griseo's mother had died in the Eighth Honkai. Her father was always fighting on the front lines, which was why she lived under Aponia's care.
When Griseo wanted to focus on painting, Kosma often acted as her guardian knight.
He loved children—father once told him: "Every child born means the world hasn't given up on humanity."
And as the captain's daughter, Griseo was doubly precious.
Though Kosma's tone was teasing, his affection was clear.
"Ah- you didn't need to buy so much…"
Griseo eyed the bags he carried. Her studio wouldn't need restocking for weeks.
"It's fine, it's fine." Kosma said cheerfully.
"By the way, I noticed you don't have much defense here. Want me to send a few mechs as bodyguards?"
"They wouldn't beat me anyway. I'll be fine. Brother Kosma doesn't need to worry."
Griseo's voice was calm.
"And Aponia-mama's orphanage isn't far. If anything happens, she'll step in."
"Haha, true."
Kosma scratched his head.
He'd never seen Aponia fight, but her reputation was enough.
Otherwise he wouldn't have entrusted Griseo to her.
"The captain cares about you a lot too… it's just that he's…"
"I know. About Dad."
Griseo's gaze lowered.
Her father's "colors" had shifted.
During the Ninth Herrscher incident, he lost his wife.
If Griseo hadn't survived the MANTIS experiment, he would've lost her too.
The trauma was immense.
To Him, the Honkai had transformed—from a threat to civilization into a personal vendetta.
A broader perspective doesn't always make one stronger.
But a narrower one always makes one more extreme.
He hadn't returned to see Griseo in a long time.
He fought relentlessly, perhaps out of guilt for failing to protect his wife.
Or perhaps his mind had begun to spiral.
If the Ninth Herrscher appeared again…
He might choose to sacrifice himself without hesitation.
Griseo knew this.
But she didn't know how to change him.
"Brother Kosma… promise me. If Dad ever starts acting irrationally… you'll stop him."
Kosma paused.
Then smiled brightly.
"Griseo, don't worry. If it ever comes to dying… I'll die before the captain!"
Griseo: "…"