[Begging for Flowers!!!]
Outside the screen—
Silence.
Utter silence.
The chat group, too, was struck speechless by The Final Lesson, shaken and deeply moved, unable to say a word for a long time.
Aboard the Astral Express.
March 7th had cried herself into a mess, clinging to Himeko—who shared the same name—as she vented her grief.
And Himeko, shaken by the sacrifice of someone who was almost her counterpart, silently allowed it.
Not far away, Welt Yang stood without a word.
Inside the Opera Epiclese.
Neuvillette shook his head slightly, his gaze calm as water.
What he didn't notice—
Was Furina, turning her head away in the distance, rubbing her eyes hard, as if wiping away something crystalline and shining.
A gleaming black spade coin flipped deftly between slender fingers.
A pair of triple-ring, concentric pupils shimmered with dreamlike colors.
A light, magnetic voice sounded.
"Otto? Himeko?"
"What an interesting world."
Yet within the chat group—
There was still nothing but silence.
But at that very moment—
When everyone felt as if a stone were lodged in their hearts—
The scene on the screen continued.
As white light swallowed everything,
A St. Freya Academy appeared—
beautiful as paradise.
The scenery glowed faintly, bathed in warm sunlight.
Like a dream.
Unreal.
And perhaps—
Reality itself was just as unreal.
[Inside the Gem of Haste: Consciousness Space]
Kiana and Himeko walked one after the other across a bridge.
This was merely a residual projection of Himeko's consciousness.
And this—
Would be the last conversation,
the last meeting,
between Kiana and Himeko.
In the distance stood a lonely gate.
The only exit.
"Are you ready, Kiana?"
"I am, Himeko-sensei."
Kiana spoke as if she had steeled herself.
Himeko smiled with quiet relief.
"Come on. Let's walk a little more."
Under the bright sunlight,
They walked slowly.
As if neither of them wanted to break this final moment of lingering warmth.
And Himeko—
Spoke gently, nostalgically.
"Yesterday at St. Freya still feels vivid."
"I remember when you first enrolled, shouting about becoming the strongest Valkyrie."
"And in the blink of an eye, you've grown so much.
Honestly, I really wanted to watch you all grow up."
"I wanted to go back to St. Freya…
to keep teaching you, training with you…"
"To write on the blackboard again,
to go back to my room and have a drink."
"That time at St. Freya was my most precious memory."
"But… I can't do that anymore."
"The road ahead is still very long, but I think…
I won't be able to walk it with you."
"But that's okay, Kiana.
You've never disappointed me."
"Always remember—
there are many people by your side, supporting you, protecting you."
"Myself included."
As she said this,
Himeko slowly stopped.
At some point, Kiana had already caught up to her.
So Himeko no longer moved forward.
She stood still, looking at the student she was most proud of.
"My journey ends here.
From this point on, Kiana—this is your road."
"Once I go through that door… everything here will disappear, right?"
Kiana stared straight into Himeko's eyes.
Her voice trembled.
Himeko sighed softly.
"I don't know… but probably."
"…I see."
"Remember to say goodbye to everyone at St. Freya for me."
"Okay."
"Tell Mei I support her choice, but next time, she shouldn't hit her friends so hard."
"I will."
"Tell Bronya I'm happy to see how much she's grown.
She'll definitely become an excellent leader someday."
"I think so too."
"Tell Fu Hua—even if I can't come back in the future,
whether St. Freya still exists or not, she'll always be everyone's class president."
"Mhm."
"From now on, Theresa will be the only one taking care of you all.
Be good kids—don't make the principal angry."
"Try to help her more.
She acts tough, but she's actually more tired than any of us."
"I know."
"And finally—tell yourself this, Kiana…"
"I'll always be by your side."
Kiana fell silent at last.
Himeko smiled gently.
"Kiana… don't take it too hard.
Just think of this as a dream."
"When you wake up, everyone still has to keep moving forward."
"…Don't be afraid of goodbyes.
Saying farewell to the past is how we walk toward the future."
Kiana took a deep breath, clenched her fists—
But she still couldn't suppress the surging tears.
Himeko smiled warmly and patted her head.
"I'll keep protecting you.
This may be our last meeting, but it's not goodbye forever."
"Be brave and move forward, Kiana.
My heart will always be with you."
"I'll keep watching you all grow.
Maybe we'll meet again in a dream someday."
"It's normal to feel lost about the future—there's nothing wrong with that.
Just do what you want to do."
"But no matter how busy you get, make sure you eat properly.
Though… for you, Kiana, that probably won't be a problem."
"Why is it that at times like this,
I start thinking about the smallest, most trivial things?"
"I suddenly miss Mei's cooking.
I was never good at anything but simple meals."
"Oh, and speaking of that—
Fu Hua once made me noodles too. I think it was called cha siu egg noodles, a Shenzhou specialty."
"I haven't had it in a long time… I really want to try it again."
"Back at St. Freya, Theresa was always nagging me about this and that."
"I knew I should've acted more like a teacher,
but wasn't she the one hiding snacks in the very bottom drawer under the files?"
"I wonder if she ever noticed I stole them a few times.
Shh—don't tell her."
At this point,
Himeko's voice couldn't help but choke with tears.
Memories surfaced one after another, emotions spiraling out of control.
She forced a smile and sniffed.
"Alright, alright.
If I keep talking, I'll end up exposing everyone's secrets."
"There are so many things we think we'll always have time for,
so many chances we think will always be there—
but in the end, we never manage to do them."
"If there's something you want to do,
be brave and go for it."
"Kiana… I don't have anything left to teach you."
"No matter what difficulties lie ahead, you'll overcome them.
You'll always make the right choice."
"I believe in you. Always."
"When you're lost, look up at the stars."
"I'll be there—
lighting up the entire night for you."
"…Thank you, Himeko-sensei."
Kiana wiped away her tears.
"Himeko-sensei…
I'm so happy I could be your student!
Meeting you was my honor!"
"It was my honor as well."
At last, Himeko smiled brightly—just like always.
"Go, Kiana."
As white light swallowed everything—
Kiana clenched her teeth, vision blurred by tears, and stepped through the gate.
After this step—
Everything here would disappear completely.
But at that very moment,
Himeko's final words reached everyone's ears.
"Kiana—
you are my pride."
In that instant—
Countless people could no longer hold back.
Tears streamed down freely.
Before the screen,
faces stained with tears filled the room.
[Nahida: Wuwuwu…]
[March 7th: Himeko…!!!]
[Star Rail · Himeko: Even at the very end, she never forgot to pass on that hope…]
[Bailu: Why are you tricking this lady's tears!!]
[Xianyun: Is this… the resolve of one who teaches others?]
[Shenhe: Master… I suddenly miss you.]
[Fu Hua: Otto… the other me should've seen through your true nature sooner…]
[Tesla: Fool… such a fool! Just like that person!]
[Tesla: And that damned Otto—when will he finally disappear for good?!]
[Einstein: This was a victory for humanity against Honkai… and also a disgrace.]
[Herta: Awakening the original consciousness through powerful bonds to suppress a Herrscher… I have to admit, Otto truly is a genius.]
As messages flooded the chat—
Inside Himeko's room.
Knock, knock, knock!!
Rapid knocking echoed at the door.
Himeko, her chest still feeling tight, let out a long breath and opened it.
The next second—
Kiana threw herself straight into her arms!
The damp warmth of tears soaked into Himeko's chest.
"Himeko… Auntie…"
Kiana clung to her, sobbing uncontrollably.
Himeko froze for a moment—
Then smiled bitterly and patted Kiana's back.
At the doorway,
Mei and Bronya had rushed over as well, worried about Kiana.
Himeko shook her head helplessly.
"Silly girl… none of that has even happened yet, has it?"
Even so—
The faint redness in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.