Work Text:
The sound of paper being rolled up preceded the sound of it colliding with hair as the silver-haired girl cried out with surprise and just a little pain.
“Kiana…how many times have I told you? You’ll never become an A-rank valkyrie with abysmal grades like these!” sighed the exasperated redhead.
Kiana turned her gaze downwards, too ashamed to meet her gaze. Her hands hid themselves behind her back as she nervously swayed side to side.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Himeko…I did my best, I swear, but…”
“I’m not your ‘aunt’, Kiana. Right now, I’m your professor. And I don’t want to hear any excuses! They’re not going to help you pass, and they certainly won’t work on me.”
Himeko sighed before unrolling the sheet of paper she had just smacked Kiana on the head with and held it in front of her face. The offending numbers etched on it were plain to see.
“Math: thirty. Science: twenty. History: I don’t even want to say it. I know you can at least read, so let me promise you that what you’re reading right now is your future at this rate. No valkyrie can stay a valkyrie for long with these grades. Oh, wait - they’ll still be valkyries, but C-rank, D-rank, or less, and at that point, that’s hardly even a valkyrie anymore. Do you understand what I'm telling you? Do you want this to happen to you, Kiana? Is this your future?”
She couldn’t respond for a while. Her eyes were tightly shut, and she even stopped her nervous swaying.
“N…no, Professor Himeko. No way. I won’t let that happen! I promise you that I’ll pass the winter exams and get closer to my goal at becoming an A-rank valkyrie!”
Himeko stared at the determined girl standing in front of her desk. She shook her head.
Everyone had their weaknesses, and Kiana’s was her academic performance. She had never been very strong at it no matter how much she tried. She was an exceptionally gifted combatant, but there was so much more to being a valkyrie than just fighting. St. Freya, the only school in the world established for training up and coming valkyries, made it its mission to teach all of its students this vital lesson. So far, Kiana didn’t seem to get the memo.
Himeko sighed again. She wasn’t just angry and disappointed at Kiana, she was worried. Worried for her future, the future that she wanted to see come to pass as much as Kiana did herself. She considered various solutions, analyzing and discarding them before finally settling on one.
“Kiana, I’m only going to tell you this once. You already know that the winter exams are coming up, and right now, they’re the only thing that could stop you from dropping out of this school. If you can pass them, then you can stay for a while longer until your grades improve. And you can already guess what will happen if you don’t.”
Kiana stood up straight, determined as ever. “I know, Aunt Himeko! I’ve been studying so hard for them for weeks. But everything is so confusing…I just don’t get any of it…but I’ll definitely find a way to pass!”
Himeko smiled. She knew Kiana couldn’t do it alone. Fortunately, she wasn’t alone.
“I hope that attitude of yours keeps up, since you definitely won’t pass without it, Kiana. And don’t worry - I’ll find a way for you to get help. You certainly need it.”
Kiana, embarrassed, thanked Himeko before turning around and leaving when she was dismissed from her office.
The fiery redhead sat back in her chair, worried sick. She looked outside the window of her office. Countless gentle particles of snow descended onto the world. It was a beautiful reminder of the two important events that were soon approaching. The first were the winter exams that all St. Freya students had to take if they wanted to remain students. The other was something much happier. As she thought about it, it also gave her hope and something to look forward to.
Himeko was still worried, but she now had hope, too. And a plan. She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
“Pick up…pick up, you little nun…this is about your niece…”
-
The violet-haired girl gently placed a rectangular container on the cafeteria table before opening it for her captain to see.
“This is the bento I made for you today, captain. I made sushi, tonkatsu, and of course, onigiri,” she said with a smile.
He took in the beautiful sight of the food made by its beautiful creator. He always looked forward to whatever meal Mei made next, and from the sight and smell of her handiwork alone, he knew he was in for a wonderful time.
“Thank you, Mei. It looks and smells amazing. It must have taken you a while since you always make everything as perfectly as possible,” he said.
Mei laughed. “Oh, captain, there’s no need to say things like that. None of these take that long after you get used to making them. I’d be glad to teach you later…aside from the onigiri that you already know how to make, of course.”
“I look forward to it, Mei.”
He longed to devour Mei’s mouthwatering meal as soon as he saw it, but he waited because he was about to be presented with another equally delicious lunch.
The grey-haired girl with drill-like braids sitting next to Mei politely waited for her to finish speaking before taking out a container of her own and presenting it to the captain. He could smell the aroma coming from within it already.
“It smells great, Bronya, and also like something new.”
Bronya nodded. “That’s correct. Today, I have created pelmeni for subject captain’s gastronomic pleasure. This is a traditional Russian dish made from minced meat, mushrooms, and spices wrapped in a casing made from dough. It can be eaten with various different toppings. I have provided sour cream, mayonnaise, and vinegar as options for subject captain to choose from as he wishes.” She opened the container, revealing its contents.
Bronya’s pelmeni looked irresistible, and he was heartened that she’d brought different toppings to cater to his preferences. Of course, he enjoyed all three.
“Thanks, Bronya. These look irresistible. What you make is always worth looking forward to…and your pelmeni seem a little familiar…they remind me of…Fu Hua’s dumplings?”
Did he say something wrong? Bronya’s reaction to the mention of Fu Hua and her dumplings seemed a little strange. But the moment passed quickly, and she responded honestly.
“Yes, captain. Pelmeni are another type of dumpling. Fu Hua is not the only valkyrie who can cook dumplings. And she doesn’t even make the best dumplings, which you’ll find for yourself once you taste mine…” she said in a deadpan tone, staring at him.
He smiled at her, not knowing exactly how to respond, before taking out the meal he’d prepared for both of them. It was the result of his own improved culinary prowess that had been steadily improving thanks to Bronya and Mei’s guidance.
The two valkyries looked at it with approval. He’d made a combination of both Russian and Far East cuisine, blending the two cultures together into one delicious result.
“Wow, captain…you’ve done an incredible job,” said Mei, amazed at how quickly he’d learned already.
“Subject captain has exceeded previous possibilities at how aromatic a meal can smell and taste,” said Bronya without a hint of sarcasm.
He smiled before taking a bite out of the lunch the girls had made for him.
“I couldn’t have done this without two incredible teachers like you, Bronya and Mei.”
They did the same, enjoying one of the best lunches they’d ever had together. They talked about various subjects, including the upcoming winter exams before winter break started.
“So, I’ve heard that a big exam is coming up, and it’s one of the most important ones St. Freya gives?” he asked.
Bronya nodded. “Yes, captain. The winter exams cover all subjects a valkyrie has learned up to that point, and it’s one of the major deciders of a valkyrie’s future here,” she said before eating one of the captain’s handmade pirozhki stuffed with rice.
“Bronya’s right. We’ve been studying our hardest for it on every subject it’ll be testing. Mathematics, science, history, and so on…and then there’s the combat portion…” Mei said with a worried shake of her head. “I’m confident that we’ll be fine, but…”
He raised an eyebrow. “But…?”
“It’s just…it’s because of Kiana…she’s never done well with her grades, and I’m just so worried if she’ll be able to pass or not…and if she doesn’t…”
The captain didn’t want to hear what would happen, but he could already guess.
“Then nothing good would come out of it, I’m guessing.”
Mei didn’t answer. She kept her eyes closed and stopped eating. Bronya seemed at a loss at how to respond.
The awkward silence continued until he decided to break it. He refused to allow such negativity to cloud what had been a perfect lunch.
“Have either of you tried helping her? Maybe you can teach her what she needs to know,” he suggested.
“...I have. And even Bronya tried to. But it didn’t seem to help, and besides, we’re both busy with our own schedules and studying…and not only that, I feel like that when I’m sitting so closely to her, she’s just distracted instead of paying attention to what I’m saying… ” Mei said, her eyes still shut tight.
“Oh…then…” He didn’t know what he could say to reassure her and cheer her up.
“Then you’d be happy to help out and tutor Kiana yourself, wouldn’t you, captain?”
The three of them turned their heads to the sound of the high-pitched voice. It came from a diminutive silver-haired girl dressed in a nun outfit walking toward them.
“Good afternoon, Principal Theresa,” Bronya and Mei said as she stopped next to their table. They were very interested in what she had just said.
Theresa smiled at them before turning her blue eyes to the captain.
“Good afternoon, Headmaster. I’m sorry because I didn’t hear exactly what you just said. Could you say it again?” he said.
Theresa laughed a little. “Don’t play dumb with me, captain! I know you heard exactly what I said. But just in case, I’ll say it again: you’ll be glad to help tutor Kiana yourself so she doesn’t drop out of school. As her captain, you have a responsibility for her, and I know you won’t shirk it.”
He stared.
“Uh…Theresa, I…”
“I sincerely hope that you aren’t going to say no. After all, you have a lot of free time on your hands, being on vacation here and all that. You might as well make yourself useful again, especially for something as important as one of your valkyries.”
“Why me, Theresa? While I’d hate for Kiana to fail, I don’t see how I could do any better than Bronya and Mei, who’ve already tried. They’re both valkyries like Kiana, and they understand what it’s like to be one. And well, I’m not…” he said quietly. He was telling the truth; he wanted nothing more than for Kiana to do well on her exam, but he didn’t feel like he was the right person to help her. And Kiana used to have trouble listening to him. Their relationship had started off on a rocky start, but it had improved immensely since. Whether it was enough, he wasn’t sure.
Theresa closed her eyes and sat down next to him. She didn’t even come up to his shoulders.
“Captain, do you remember what you had to do in order to become a captain and a commander?” she asked.
“I could never forget. It was…gruelling. I had to go through test after test, exam after exam, and a lot more…Theresa, why are you asking me this?”
“Valkyries and captains aren’t so different. They both require so much hard work to get where they are. And they need to understand each other. I’ve seen you spending time with Kiana before. Neither of you understood each other at all at first. But it was because of you, captain, that Kiana can fight so well with her squadmates now. Besides, I’ve seen copies of your captain exams. If you were to take St. Freya’s winter exam, you’d pass with flying colours…aside from the combat portion, of course! But that’s the one part where Kiana doesn’t need much help anyways.”
He looked at her. He didn’t expect Theresa to feel this way about him.
“Uh…thanks, Theresa.”
“So, captain, I hope you understand why you’re the best choice for Kiana now. Bronya and Mei are good at what they do, but they aren’t the best teachers. But you’re different. So please, captain. I’m asking you on behalf of Kiana. Can you please do this for her?”
Bronya and Mei are the best teachers when it comes to cooking, Theresa…
But he smiled.
“I get it, Theresa. Kiana needs help, and I’m the only one who can. I don’t want to see her drop out any more than any of us do, so you have my promise that I’ll do my best to give her what she needs.”
“Thank you so much, captain!” Theresa, Mei, and Bronya all said at the same time.
“Theresa, would you care to stay and have lunch for us? There’s plenty left for you,” he offered. “We don’t have any bitter melon juice, but the milk tea is just as good.”
She seemed to notice the food for the first time. Suddenly, they all heard a loud rumbling noise coming from her. Embarrassed, Theresa began wolfing down their handiwork. The three of them resumed eating, too. After a while, a question came to his mind.
“Theresa, how does Himeko feel about Kiana’s recent…performance?” He knew that Himeko cared about Kiana’s wellbeing as much as he and Theresa did.
Theresa laughed. “Himeko? That woman’s actually the one who asked me to ask you to tutor Kiana! She seemed convinced that you were the best choice, and it didn’t take long for her to convince me, too. A lot of people are counting on you, captain, so don’t let us - and Kiana - down.”
“Eh? Himeko wanted me to do this?”
“Who else? She’s Kiana’s teacher. She may want her to pass more than any of us.”
“Right…”
Mei and Bronya both listened in. Mei pulled out her phone and called Kiana to ask where she was. When Kiana answered that she was in her dorm, Mei told her to wait there before ending the call. She and Bronya finished eating before they stood up and prepared to leave.
“Captain, I told Kiana to wait for you in her room. Hopefully she’s in the right mood to start taking things seriously. We’ll see you soon,” Mei said.
Bronya looked him in the eye before saying “Next time, my meal for you will be superior to this one. Please patiently wait for it,” she said.
“So will mine for you, Bronya. I look forward to it,” he replied. Bronya and Mei both smiled before heading off.
Theresa watched them leave. Her face then took on a more serious expression. He noticed this.
“Theresa, is something bothering you?”
“No, it’s just that I’m still worried for Bronya. At least she seems to be getting better…captain, do you remember our conversation about getting her a therapist to help her a few weeks ago?”
He nodded. The headmaster had called him to her office to ask him to speak at a school assembly that had occurred a week afterward. During that same meeting, he had revealed that Bronya was in serious need of therapy and psychiatric care, which prompted Theresa to summon a Schicksal-employed one to St. Freya. He’d heard no more news about this until Theresa brought it up now.
“The therapist should be arriving tomorrow in an airship. And for some crazy reason, they’ll be escorted by Durandal…ugh, why did it have to be her?” she groaned.
His eyebrows went up in surprise. “Durandal? Schicksal’s strongest S-rank valkyrie? Why would a therapist need her protection?”
Everyone in Schicksal, and all of Schicksal’s enemies, knew who Durandal was. Her simply visiting St. Freya would cause an uproar at the school due to her popularity among its students…Kiana included.
“Either they’re someone extremely important or Durandal just happens to be visiting on unrelated business. Either way, you should probably be there to greet them when they arrive tomorrow. It’s only polite,” Theresa said.
He nodded again, glad that Bronya would finally get the help she needed. He also admitted to himself that he looked forward to meeting Durandal. Despite her strength, she was also known to be easy to get along with. He finished his lunch and stood up, about to head to Kiana’s dorm for a much-needed tutoring session.
Theresa said one last thing to him before he left. “Remember, captain: Kiana needs you. Never forget this.”
-
The door to the dormitory opened after knocking twice. The one who opened it stood in front of him. She had silvery hair tied into two long braids, bright blue eyes, cat-themed pajamas, and an annoyed attitude.
“Oh, it’s you, captain…Mei told me you were coming to help me study for the exams…”
“Yes, Kiana. That’s why I’m here. Are you ready?” he asked.
She sighed before stepping aside and letting him in. Her room was adorned with countless cat-themed materials. She seemed to like cats as much as Bronya liked HOMU.
She led him to her desk before sitting down. He sat down next to her and waited as she took out the homework she’d been procrastinating on.
“So, captain. As you can see, I haven’t been able to answer a single question. If you want to laugh at me, don’t, because you’ll regret it…”
He shook his head. “I’m here to help you, Kiana, not laugh at you. Can you tell me why you’ve had so much trouble with these? You should have learned them a while ago.”
She shrugged and faced away from him before answering. “None of the numbers make sense. They just swim in front of my eyes away from me. Why do I even need to know how to do math to be a valkyrie, anyways? It won’t help me kill Honkai beasts.”
He picked up the problem sheet and quickly read it over. They didn’t seem too difficult. Maybe this wouldn’t be so hard after all.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Kiana. Math isn’t just solving questions about numbers. It’s a lot more than just that.”
“Like what, captain?” she asked, unconvinced.
“...Kiana, do you know what it means to be a valkyrie?”
“Of course I do! I’m already a valkyrie. It’s all about getting rid of Honkai beasts and protecting people from them. That’s all I need to do…that’s what’s important, so learning this math is just a waste of time.”
He gazed into her eyes. He had met valkyries like Kiana before. They eventually learned the true meaning of being one, and he was determined to teach Kiana the same.
“Kiana, being a valkyrie is so much more than just fighting monsters. Well, let me ask you this: why do you fight monsters?”
“To protect all that’s beautiful in the world, of course. Every valkyrie knows this.”
“And how can you protect what you don’t understand?”
“Huh? What do you mean, captain?”
He placed the sheet on the table again in front of her. He pointed to the first problem.
“This…is the world. These aren’t just numbers on paper designed to confuse you. They’re a language of their own…the language the world uses to speak to us. And it’s important to be able to understand them. Do you understand what I’m getting at, Kiana?”
She shook her head.
“Well…think of it this way. When you fight Honkai beasts, what do you use to defeat them?”
Now, this was a question she could answer.
“My gun kata and my Neko Charm, of course!”
He grinned. Maybe he was finally getting somewhere. “And what do you need to use your gun kata and Neko Charm, Kiana?”
“My dual pistols and White Comet battlesuit, obviously. Can’t exactly do it without them.”
“And do you know how they were made and who made them?”
She stared at him blankly again. “Umm…nope.”
He reached up and gently placed his hand on her head. She glanced at him but didn’t resist.
“They were made from an understanding of math - of how the world works. Those Schicksal scientists who made your equipment couldn’t make them out of thin air. They needed to find the exact measurements, understand the reasons why these measurements were the best choices, and determine the exact functions needed for them to work. If they didn’t, your guns would never fire and your battlesuit would never be able to activate Neko Charm. You get it now, don’t you?” he asked, patting her head lightly a few times. She blushed.
“Um…captain…when you put it that way, I guess so…but this still doesn’t help me with the first problem…”
He took a closer look at it.
There are 30 Honkai beasts converging on a city. 10 of them are Chariot-class Honkai beasts, 15 are Angel-class, and the remaining 5 are all Templar-class. The valkyrie squadron that will engage them consists of 3 B-rank valkyries and 1 A-rank valkyrie. If each B-rank valkyrie can eliminate any combination of 5 Angel and Chariot-class Honkai beasts per minute and the A-rank valkyrie can eliminate 1 Templar-class Honkai beast per minute in addition to eliminating the other classes twice as quickly, how long will it take the squadron to eliminate the entire threat assuming all valkyries are performing optimally?
He laughed to himself. This would be fun.
“Kiana, here’s how to approach this…”
She groaned. “Fighting Honkai beasts for real is so much easier than fighting them in a math problem…”
-
The clouds parted in the dull grey sky as an airship gradually descended onto the courtyard of St. Freya. It landed onto the soft snow that blanketed the ground as three figures stood nearby and watched it arrive.
The captain looked to his right, where Theresa stood in a warm winter coat version of her nun uniform. Winter had already gripped St. Freya, and it became necessary to wear warm clothing when outdoors. He himself wore a dark-coloured coat and hat that contrasted with his bright red hair.
To Theresa’s right stood Fu Hua, the class monitor. He was pretty sure that she was there to greet the newcomers not because of her status as a class monitor but instead because she was an A-rank valkyrie.
“Theresa, why do I need to be here again? It’s so cold, and it only takes one person to welcome them…”
She looked at him as if he were an idiot. “Because, captain, you’re one of the highest-ranked members of Schicksal here, and it’s your responsibility to greet guests as important as ours. I’m surprised that you forgot.”
He shrugged. He’d focused so much of his brainpower on getting Kiana into academic shape. Maybe too much.
“I guess so…I’ve been so busy tutoring Kiana that I must have forgotten about other things.”
Theresa smiled. Fu Hua glanced at him but stayed silent.
He shivered slightly in the cold and buried his hands deeper into his pockets as a door on the side of the airship opened and two women walked out.
One was dressed in an elegant military uniform - a dark brown top with a skirt that ended above the knee, covered with four gold buttons. Along with these, she wore dark tights, long boots, and a cap on top of her flowing peach-coloured hair.
He recognized her instantly. She was famous. And not just for her beauty.
Accompanying her was a woman who appeared to be wearing a maid uniform, coloured in equal parts white and black. Like her companion, she also wore dark tights over her legs, but instead of gold buttons, red roses decorated her uniform throughout. Most strikingly of all, she sported two horns on the sides of her head, which must have been accessories to go with her maid bonnet.
Neither of the two women seemed bothered by the biting cold despite their decidedly non-winter clothing. They walked toward them as the captain and his companions did the same. The five of them met in the center of the courtyard. The woman wearing the military uniform spoke first.
“It’s good to see you again, Theresa. I hope you and St. Freya have been working your hardest.”
Theresa stared at her blankly before smiling and extending a hand. “Thank you, Durandal. We’ve all been doing our best. And you?”
Durandal smiled and shook Theresa’s hand. “I haven’t visited St. Freya for over five years, but the courtyard we’re standing in is just like I remember. I’m happy to be here again.”
Theresa looked at the woman standing next to Durandal. The maid bowed.
“Rita Rossweisse at your service, Master Theresa,” she said, her sultry voice one of the most calming and soothing the captain had ever heard.
He also recognized the maid. Rita Rossweisse was another one of Schicksal's few S-rank valkyries. She was famous for seemingly being able to do anything asked of her. Like Durandal, she was a hero. A year or so ago, she had saved at least an entire city from a dreadful threat.
“Good day, Rita. I didn’t expect you to come too. Surely one therapist doesn’t need two S-rank valkyries to escort them?” Theresa asked, puzzled. “And I don’t see a pilot in the airship you arrived in…don’t tell me that you flew here yourself?”
The maid smiled and laughed softly.
“A maid must be able to do anything her master asks of her, and flying an airship is one of them. You’ll find that I can do many things…and providing therapy to a troubled valkyrie in need is another one of my many duties and talents.”
Theresa and the captain's eyes both widened.
“Miss Rossweisse,” he said, “I apologize. You’re saying that you’re Bronya’s therapist?”
Rita looked at him. She stared at him for an uncomfortably long time. He couldn’t make anything out of her unreadable facial expression. Finally, she bowed to him and answered.
“It’s delightful to meet you, Master Captain Hyperion. That’s correct: I’m here because a valkyrie at this school, Bronya Zaychik, is in need of my care. Rest assured that she will receive all of the help I can provide, since only a valkyrie can truly understand another valkyrie. And please, you may just call me Rita.”
She seems to call everyone Master. I guess it’s because she’s a maid.
“Then thank you, Rita. As Bronya’s captain, I’m so grateful you’re here to help her. She’s needed it for so long.”
Rita looked him in the eye before turning away. Something about the way she had reacted to the way he said Bronya’s name seemed a little off. Durandal didn’t seem to notice, though, and she walked in front of him. He extended a hand.
“It’s an honour to meet you, Miss Ataegina. I’ve heard so much about you and your accomplishments. Your arrival is an unexpected, but welcome surprise.”
Durandal shook his hand before smiling a little awkwardly.
“Not many people call me by that name, Captain Hyperion. I’m just Durandal to everyone else. But the honour is all mine. I’ve heard so much about you and your squadron who have accomplished so much in just a year. In fact, I’ve been wanting to meet you all. And now I finally have the perfect opportunity to.”
Theresa groaned inwardly. “What do you mean by opportunity, Durandal?”
“The Overseer decided that St. Freya Academy was in need of institutional improvement. He decided to send me to attend its classes as if I were a student so I can report back on what needs to be changed. I’m glad, because I missed it here and because I heard that Captain Hyperion and the Fifth Valkyrja Squadron were here, too. I’ll only be staying for a month; my duties make me a very busy valkyrie, and I can only leave the rest of the world behind for so long,” she explained.
Theresa was incensed. “WHAT! Grandpa thinks he can just go behind my back and decide that MY school is in need of fixing?! And he sent you to fix it? Ugh!” she growled as she stamped the ground. Still, she seemed relieved upon hearing that she’d only be staying for a month.
The captain spoke again. “Please don’t take any offense from the Headmaster, Miss Ataegina. She’s just surprised, that’s all…Kiana, Bronya, and Mei would be delighted to meet you. I’m sure they’d be glad to help you catch up with the changes at St. Freya in the five years since you attended. I’d be happy to show you around myself if you want.”
Durandal laughed. “If you must call me by my real name, Captain Hyperion, then please just call me Bianka. And thank you for the offer…”
As Bianka and the captain continued getting to know each other, Rita and Fu Hua slowly made eye contact. For several tense seconds, they stared into each others’ souls. Fu Hua slowly shook her head, causing Rita to look away. Then Fu Hua stepped forward, interrupting them.
“We’ve been standing in the cold for long enough, I think. Durandal, Rita, I’ll be escorting you both to your residences now. Please follow me.”
Both S-rankers nodded and bade farewell to Theresa and the captain before following Fu Hua as she led them in a different direction from the way Theresa and the captain had arrived. They watched them leave.
“That went pretty well as far as first impressions go, I think,” he said. “And I’m so relieved that Bronya can finally receive the help she needs.”
“If that’s your definition of ‘well’, then I don’t want to know what you think not well is,” Theresa grumbled.
He reached down and patted her on her head. Unlike the other valkyries, she only rarely allowed him to do this for her, which meant that her headpats were saved for important occasions like this one. She claimed that too many headpats would mean that she wouldn’t be able to grow taller.
“I got the impression that you don’t seem to like Bianka very much, Theresa,” he teased with a smile as he gently ran his hand through her silvery hair.
Theresa laughed. “That’s a story for another time. For now, just keep doing this, captain. It'll help me prepare for lifting that airship out of the courtyard."
-
He cleared his throat before he read the prompt aloud: “Describe, using a minimum of a thousand words, the events of the Second Honkai Eruption in the year 2000, the individuals who contributed to the war effort, and the aftermath of the Herrscher of the Void’s defeat.”
Kiana didn’t seem to react. He looked at her, wondering what she was thinking.
The winter exam was less than a week away, and although Kiana had noticeably improved thanks to his tutoring over the past few days, she still had a lot to work on. Sometimes she had tried to avoid his lessons by hiding behind a bush. Since she always used the same bush, he always found her before long.
They were currently going over her history homework, which was not one of Kiana’s strong suits. She had a basic understanding of the events, but delving any deeper meant she quickly lost interest and began thinking about more interesting topics, much to his frustration.
“Kiana, are you listening? Don’t tell me you started thinking about Mei again…”
She seemed to snap out of a trance. She looked at him and then the prompt.
“Sorry, captain. No, I wasn’t thinking of her…I was thinking of…”
“Who were you thinking about, Kiana?”
She didn’t answer. She picked up a pencil and pressed it to the page. It stayed still, because she was unable to write a word.
“...Kiana?”
He looked at her, concerned. Then he saw the pencil in her hand trembling slightly. Worried, he placed his hand on hers.
“Kiana, are you alright?”
He saw a dark stain spreading on the paper below her face. Then another dripped onto it, joining with it. And still another.
“Kiana, you’re…”
She turned away, not wanting him to see her tears.
“Who was I thinking about, captain? They’re answers to the question you just read. You know. The heroes of the Second Honkai Eruption. My parents.”
“...”
She was right. Both of Kiana’s parents had been major players during that war. Her mother, Cecilia Schariac, was an S-rank valkyrie who wielded the Abyss Flower - the same Divine Key Durandal wielded now. She had left her daughter behind to fight against the Herrscher of the Void, sacrificing herself in the process so that her daughter could live.
Kiana’s father, Siegfried Kaslana, had played a smaller but still significant role. He was a rare knight of Schicksal, since stigmata compatibility among males was exceedingly rare and nearly unheard of. This didn’t stop him from fighting as well as any valkyrie.
Like with Bronya, the subject matter must have triggered painful memories for her.
And like with Bronya, he refused to let Kiana suffer.
He placed his other hand over hers.
“That’s right, Kiana. Both of your parents fought so hard against the Herrscher of the Void. Both of them saved so many people through their bravery.”
“But there was one person mom couldn’t save…and that was herself…”
“Kiana, your mother did what she had to do to save the world. During that critical moment, she had a decision to make. To save the lives of millions of people with her own or not. And she made that decision and kept with it, even if it meant that she would never see her daughter again. She did it for you, Kiana. She wasn’t a Kaslana by blood, but she believed in the Kaslana ideal just as much.”
“But I don’t WANT her to have acted like a Kaslana, captain! I want her with me here! It’s what I’ve always wanted! All my life, I’ve missed her so much. I only have the faintest memories of her from when I was little…and I’ve always wanted to meet her…”
He looked at her sadly. She was crying even harder now.
“Kiana…”
“And dad…I don’t even know what to say about that stupid old man. He may have raised me after mom died, but then he just left me. He abandoned me and forced me to fend for myself. What kind of father even does that to his daughter?”
He reached forward and put his hand on top of her head. She turned back to look at him, which was when he embraced her with all of his might. She cried out with surprise.
“W-what are you doing, captain?”
He hugged her even tighter as he ran his hand through her soft, silver hair. She was tense at first, but he felt her relaxing in his arms as he refused to let her go.
“Kiana…if you have anything more to say, then say it. I’m here to listen. You can tell me anything, Kiana. That’s what a captain is for.”
She stayed silent and didn’t move. She didn’t seem to know what to do. But ever so slowly, she raised her arms, crossed them across his back, and embraced him back.
“Captain…I…”
“Don’t think about it, Kiana. Just let the words flow out as they come to you. I won’t mind.”
Silence.
Then, she pushed her body closer to his and rested her head on his shoulder. Her words flowed out of her, and she could not stop them any more than she could stop her flow of tears.
“M…mom…I miss you so much…I think about you every single day…I think of you and wonder…what would you think of your daughter? Would you be proud of her? Would I be a disappointment to you…? And I…I wonder what you were thinking before…before you sacrificed everything…did you think of me, mom? Did you regret what you were about to do? Did you wonder if I would be angry at you when I grew up, if I wouldn’t understand why you did it…?”
Teardrops flowed onto his shoulder from her face. He felt her body trembling in his arms as she gasped and tried to hold her sobs in and failed.
“And dad…you stupid idiot…I know I should hate you, but…I can’t…I miss you so much, too, and I don’t know why…is it because of how much you cared for me when you finally accepted me? Is it because of how happy I was when you finally gave me my name? Is it…because I still want to see you again, even after all these years…?”
She buried her head in his chest as she sobbed even harder, dampening his uniform with her tears. But he didn’t mind. He would do anything to make his valkyrie feel better. He continued softly stroking her hair as he cradled her in his arms, and soon, he felt her gradually calming down.
When her breathing was slow and steady again, he knew he had done his duty.
“Captain…I’m sorry for being so much of a bother for you…being so bad at school, forcing you to take time out of your own vacation just to tutor me…I…”
“Why are you apologizing to me, Kiana? You’re never a bother. I’m glad I can be here with you, helping you with anything you need. Theresa and Himeko may have asked me first, but if I’d known, I’d have gladly offered to do it myself. It’s what a captain is for.”
She looked up. She smiled. Her blue eyes were two beautiful rings of light, expressing her happiness to him. She rested her head in his chest again.
“Captain…do you think that…mom would be proud of me if she were watching me right now?”
“I can’t answer that, Kiana. But think about this: your mother was a valkyrie, one of the greatest valkyries who ever lived. And like any valkyrie, she fought for everything beautiful in this world. What was the beauty in her world, Kiana?”
“Umm…”
He smiled and tapped her on her nose.
“The beauty in her world was you, Kiana. Cecilia Schariac loved you, Kiana. She gave her own life for you so that you could live yours. And you have. Look at what you’ve accomplished with your life. Now you’re a valkyrie too. And just like your mother, you’re also fighting for all that’s beautiful. Would she be proud of you, Kiana? I think you can answer that for yourself.”
She smiled.
“Thank you for saying that, captain…”
“Of course, Kiana.”
“Dad wasn’t as proud, though…why else would he abandon me when I was only twelve? One day, he just got up and left…I’ve wondered why for so long, but I could never find the reason…”
“What kind of man was he like, Kiana?”
“…at first, he wasn’t even a father at all. He tried to be nice to me. He got me anything I wanted. He always got me presents for my birthday, but he never celebrated them with me or even smiled. In fact, he’d just get drunk. He did his best to ignore me and pretend that I didn’t exist.”
He felt his anger flaring up at the pitiful excuse of the man who had pretended to be Kiana’s father.
“But one day…he suddenly became a different person after I tried to save him from a Honkai beast. He accepted me as his daughter. He started loving me as he should. He taught me his gun kata and everything Kaslanas stood for. For the first time in my life, I was happy…”
She looked him in the eye again.
“And that’s when he left me.”
He tightened his embrace around her.
“Kiana, I don’t know why your father acted the way he did. I don’t have the answers to these questions. Siegfried Kaslana may not have been the best father, but what you said to me just now proved that he did love you in his own way. I want you to ask yourself one thing: what would you say to him if you found him again?”
To his surprise, she laughed. She laughed as loudly as she could, filling the room with her clear voice before finally answering.
“I wouldn’t say anything. If I met him again, the first thing I’d do is kick him in the groin with Neko Charm as hard as I can. That’ll teach him how I feel more than any words. And then I’d ask him why he abandoned me like I meant nothing to him!”
He grinned, glad that she was regaining her usual self. “That sounds great, Kiana. Only thing is, make sure to kick him without Neko Charm. I want him to still be conscious when I kick him in the groin myself after you.”
Both of them laughed, enjoying their close moment together. After a while, they turned their attention back to the prompt. This time, Kiana knew exactly what to write.
-
“Oh, yay! Sixty-one percent! I passed!” Kiana happily exclaimed upon receiving her exam scores.
Mei stared at the bright red number on the sheet of paper Kiana held. She sadly shook her head before smiling.
“Well, you passed, Kiana. Maybe not ideally, but now you can stay at St. Freya with us for at least another year.”
Bronya stared at Kiana with disapproval. “As expected, Kiana Idiotka has met my expectations. Sixty-one percent may be passable by St. Freya’s standards, but it will always be an abject failure by mine. I no longer view subject Kiana as a worthy comrade.”
“Oh yeah? What did you get, Bratnya?” Kiana retorted.
Bronya held it up. One hundred percent. Kiana humphed and pretended she never saw it.
“I think you’re being just a little harsh on her, Bronya…see? I only got an eighty-five…” Mei said, showing them her scores.
“Mei, although you have room for improvement, your performance has so far been exceptional nevertheless,” Bronya replied. Mei laughed a little.
“Hey! You don’t get to praise Mei, Bratnya! Only I get that right!”
They were in Himeko’s residence again. They often spent their free time there, and today was a special day in more ways than one.
Kiana and Bronya continued arguing in the background when Mei heard a knock on the front door. She walked over and peered through the peephole. When she saw the captain standing behind it wearing a dark-coloured coat and a red scarf that went well with his hair, she happily let him in.
“Welcome back, captain. We were waiting for you. Kiana, especially - she couldn’t wait to show you what score she got.”
He smiled at her after stepping inside. “Thank you, Mei. I can hear her arguing with Bronya from here,” he said with a chuckle.
The two of them finally stopped bickering when they heard him step into the living room.
“Captaaaaaain! You finally made it! See how well I did on the exam!”
“K-Kiana, at least let me sit down first.”
She sat down on a couch next to him and practically shoved the sheet in his face. He observed it carefully.
“Math: sixty-one. Science: sixty-one. History: sixty-one…” He continued down the list of subjects until he came to Combat Proficiency. “Ninety.”
“Do you know what sixty-one means? It means that I passed! I get to stay here with you and Mei and Theresa and Himeko and even Bronya and Fu Hua!”
“Uh…it’s absurdly impressive how you managed to score just above the passing grade on so many subjects, Kiana…but well done. You earned it. Especially when it came to the simulated battle portion.”
“Yup! And I never could have done it without your help, captain! Thanks so much!”
“You’re welcome, Kiana. I’m happy for you.”
I’m glad all that time and effort helping her didn’t go to waste…and after all that, I really need a drink…
They heard footsteps coming down the stairs. An annoyed red-haired woman stepped into the living room.
“What’s all this commotion about? Kiana? I knew it was you. Give me that,” she said as she snatched the paper out of Kiana’s hands and read it disapprovingly. “...you passed, at least. You managed to buy yourself some more time. Next year, I expect at least a seventy-five. Am I understood, Kiana?”
She determinedly nodded her head. “Yes, Aunt Himeko. Captain can definitely help me with it again when the time comes.”
He groaned to himself. Himeko seemed to notice him for the first time. She grinned at him.
“You certainly look like you could use a drink or two. It’s a good thing that I have plenty upstairs and in the kitchen. Are you interested, captain? You’ve certainly earned it after everything you did for Kiana. I knew you were the right man for the job.”
“That…actually, that sounds great, Himeko…it looks like I’ll finally take you up on your offer from back then…”
Himeko was about to respond when Kiana spoke first.
“Captain, can I speak to you for a moment? Privately?”
The other women looked at her. Then they nodded and left the room, leaving Kiana and the captain in peace. He looked at her, waiting for her to speak.
“...Captain, can you come outside with me for a bit?”
“Sure, Kiana. I was actually about to ask you the same thing. Where do you want to go?”
“Just follow me.”
She stood up and walked to the front door. He expected her to put on a coat, but she simply opened the door and stepped outside.
“Kiana? Aren’t you cold? Don’t you have a coat to wear? You might get sick,” he asked her, worried. It was snowing outside, and he didn’t want her to get sick since she only wore a blue tracksuit.
“I’ll be fine, captain. Besides, we won’t be out for that long. Hurry up and come out already. The snow’s getting in,” she replied.
Still worried, he stepped outside and shut the door behind them. Kiana took him by the arm and began leading him to their destination. Whatever he would find, she clearly wanted it to be a surprise.
“Is it very far, Kiana?”
“No, it’s still in St. Freya. We're almost there already.”
They walked through the streets covered in snow as more of it fell onto them, covering up their footprints. It got in his hair, the white colour contrasting strongly with it. When he looked at Kiana, though, the particles of snow in her hair made her even more beautiful.
Finally, they stopped at a fence near the boundary of the island that the school was built on. Before they arrived, she had stepped behind him and covered his eyes with her hands, carefully guiding him where she wanted him to go.
“Guess what you’re looking at, captain…”
“Um…is it something you found?”
“Nope!”
“Something you made?”
“Yup!”
“Is it made out of snow?”
She laughed and uncovered his eyes.
“You’re a great guesser, captain. Now see for yourself.”
He opened his eyes. In front of him, beneath the falling snow, were several snowmen huddled together.
Kiana walked next to him. She pointed at the snowmen one by one as she told him who each one represented.
“The tallest one is you, the next tallest one is Mei, the two tiny ones are Bronya and Aunt Teri, the one wearing glasses is Fu Hua, and the one next to her is Aunt Himeko.”
He smiled. They were true to their names. “You put a lot of heart into making them, didn’t you, Kiana?”
“Yes, I did. Look closely and you can see Bronya’s twintails, Aunt Teri’s bow, and Fu Hua’s glasses…and of course, your captain’s cap!”
“They’re great, Kiana. But why are you only showing them to me? Don’t you want everyone else to see them, too?”
“Um…I wanted you to see them first, captain. Maybe I’ll show them to the others later…”
He smiled as he continued looking at them. Even if Kiana hadn’t told them which was which, he could tell anyways.
But something felt missing from them.
He walked forward and stood in front of them.
“Captain?” she asked.
Without saying a word, he piled up the snow and created a new snowman from them. He carefully sculpted two instantly recognizable twintails on it before adding some twigs as its arms and eyes. He stepped back and examined his handiwork.
Kiana walked next to him again. She looked at what he had just made for her.
“Wait, why does this snowman…look like me?”
“I’m glad you can recognize who it is, Kiana. This snowman belongs next to the rest of them just as much as you belong with the real Himeko, Theresa, Bronya, Mei, and Fu Hua. And just like the snowmen here, they aren’t complete without you. They’re…your family now, and you’re an inseparable part of it.”
She hugged him hard.
“Thank you so much, captain…I had a feeling that something wasn’t right about them, and I never saw that it’s because my snowman wasn't there with them an-a-a-a-CHOO!”
Her sneeze echoed across the area. He wasn’t surprised, though.
“I told you this might happen, Kiana,” he sighed before unwrapping the scarf from around his neck and putting it on Kiana, surprising her.
“Huh? Captain? I’m fine! The cold doesn’t bother me!”
“Stay still, Kiana, so I can get it right.” He carefully tied the scarf around her neck and wrapped it around her hair like a headscarf despite her protests.
“I’m way too tough to catch a cold! Put your scarf back on! You need it a lot more than I do!” she complained.
“You say that, but why is your nose so red?”
“My nose isn’t red! And…oh…I’m so warm now…”
He finished up and looked at Kiana wearing his scarf. It had a plaid pattern in varying shades of red, and it went surprisingly well with her blue tracksuit and silver hair. He smiled and patted her on her head, causing her to blush.
“You look great in it, Kiana. And more importantly, now you’re warmed up and safer from the cold. And speaking of that, here. This is for you.”
He took out a plastic cup with a straw sticking out of the lid and gently placed it in her hands. She glanced at the HOMU design on the lid before taking a sip.
“Milk tea? It’s still warm…and it tastes delicious…thank you, captain.”
“I brought it from the cafeteria before I went to Himeko’s place. And speaking of which, let’s head back now. They’re all waiting for you.”
She nodded. They started walking back, but to his surprise, she suddenly linked her arm with his and held his hand, refusing to let go.
“It’s so warm close to you, captain.” With her other hand, she gratefully held the container of milk tea as she drank from it with her eyes closed. He smiled, glad that he could be the warmth in her life whenever she needed it.
The walk back was calm and serene. Falling snow seemed to caress them as they walked together in silence, looking forward to seeing their friends again. When they reached Himeko’s house again, he knocked, but no one answered. He knocked again, only to be met with the same result.
“That’s strange…did they go out after we left?” she asked.
He had one more option, though. He took out his master keycard from a pocket and swiped it over the lock, unlocking it. He pushed the door open before they both stepped inside. To her surprise, the house was completely dark with all the lights turned off.
“This is weird, captain…where did everyone go?” Kiana asked, straining her eyes.
“Hmm…maybe they’re just waiting for you, Kiana.”
“What do you mean?”
Instead of answering, he led her further into the house into the kitchen. By now, they could navigate their way there with their eyes closed. They stopped at the threshold that connected the kitchen to the rest of the home. Suddenly, all the lights turned back on.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIANA!”
Mei, Himeko, Theresa, Fu Hua, and the captain all yelled as loudly as they could. Except for Bronya, who said it in her normal deadpan voice.
“Wow, everyone! I totally forgot that today was my birthday! I’ve been so busy studying for the exam that…” Kiana exclaimed, overjoyed.
“You may have forgotten your own birthday, but none of us ever could, Kiana,” Mei said as she stepped forward and was about to hug her before she noticed her arm entwined around his. Then she noticed her wearing his scarf. A strange expression came across Mei’s face. The captain very wisely let Kiana’s arm go, and Kiana happily hugged Mei back. Then Mei turned to him and hugged him, too.
“Thanks for helping us arrange this for Kiana, captain,” she said as he returned her hug.
Bronya stepped forward. “Subject Kiana is now seventeen years old, yet she is already as forgetful as a dementia patient. Even so, happy birthday. May your insufficient mental capacity increase with age.” She very quickly hugged her before nodding at the captain in acknowledgement. She seemed to regard Kiana’s scarf in the same way that Mei did, though.
Himeko, Theresa, and Fu Hua were next. They each had something important to say.
“Happy birthday, and well done on the exams, Kiana. I know you’ll do even better next year,” Himeko said.
“You look more and more like your mother every year, Kiana. She’d be so proud of you,” said Theresa. Kiana wasn’t sure how to respond to this, but she thanked Theresa anyway.
“Continue improving yourself and you will find that not only will your initial goals be reached, but you will have created new ones to strive for along the way,” said Fu Hua as she eyed the scarf still wrapped tightly around her hair.
Kiana thanked them all. Then they presented her with her birthday cake. It was shaped like a cat’s paw and had a number of raspberries lining its edges.
“Your presents are in the living room, Kiana. But first, here’s your birthday cake. It’s a Neko Cheese Cake,” said the captain. “Since you use Neko Charm so much, it felt like the best choice for you.”
“It looks delicious. Thanks so much captain, everyone,” Kiana thanked him before hugging him again.
"No, Kiana, we should be the ones thanking you. You're always making trouble, but then you always make things better again. You're always doing your best no matter how hard things get. You're the light in our lives, and we'll never let that light go out. So on behalf of all of us: Happy birthday, Kiana Kaslana," he said softly, embracing her back as gently as he could. When she heard his words, she had to fight to hold back her tears.
Everyone sat down at the table and watched as Kiana closed her eyes and made a wish.
“What did you wish for, Kiana?” asked Mei.
“That’s a secret! But I’ll tell you when it happens, okay?”
“Alright then, Kiana,” Mei laughed.
Even in the warmth of Himeko’s house, Kiana had no desire to take off the scarf wrapped snugly around her. It made her feel warm in a way she couldn’t describe, warm in a way more than just any scarf could make her feel. And it was a birthday gift she would always remember from her favourite captain in the entire world.
Outside the window, the snow fell softly, gradually covering up a family of snowmen huddled closely together.
