Honkai Impact 3rd: Catching the Herrscher of Sentience at the Start

"I can hear you, Kiana!" Himeko glared at Kiana, her eyes blazing with anger.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Fu Shi extended her tiny hands and leaped from Himeko's arms to the ground. She couldn't help but clutch her stomach in laughter as she watched Himeko scold Kiana.

Bronya floated over to Fu Hua, murmuring as she looked at Fu Shi, "This name… it sounds familiar…."

"Bronya remembers now! There was someone named Fu Shi in the livestream chat!"

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Fu Hua shook her head in denial, saying, "But she's too young, it might just be a coincidence."

At this moment, Mei also came to Fu Hua's side, looking at the Fu Shi on the ground with an expectant expression. She asked, "Class Monitor Fu Hua, can I hold Fu Shi?"

"...Sure." After thinking for a while, Fu Hua nodded in agreement. Before Fu Shi could object, she was already in Mei's arms, helplessly experiencing that overwhelming sensation again.

"Mei, I want to hold her too!" Kiana said, fending off Himeko's attacks while enviously eyeing Fu Shi.

Fu Shi, "..." That's right, the one being held in someone's arms, looking utterly despairing, was none other than the Herrscher of Sentience. As for why things had come to this...

It all started this morning...

As the sun began to rise and birds chirped on the branches, the sleeping Fu Hua felt a stir in her arms. In a daze, she opened her eyes and blankly stared at the unadorned ceiling above.

Coming to her senses, Fu Hua lifted the blanket covering her. Seeing the Fu Shi, who bore an uncanny resemblance to herself, she was immediately at a loss.

After silently reciting a section of the "Blade Mantra," Fu Hua regained her usual composure, got up, changed her clothes, and sat by the bed, staring at the Fu Shi in deep thought.

Where did this little one come from? I've never even touched a man. How could I wake up to find a child here?

"Good morning~" At this moment, Fu Shi opened her eyes and looked at the flustered "Lin" (Fu Hua's nickname). Stretching lazily with a satisfied expression, a tender voice escaped her lips.

"Awake now... Little one, why are you in my bed?" Fu Hua, seeing that the child had awakened, sighed in relief and sternly asked with a serious expression.

"Huh?"

"Of course, I am..." Fu Shi stood up but failed to react immediately. Upon realizing she was face-to-face with the "antique" (Fu Hua), cold sweat began to bead on her forehead.

Memories of last night flashed through her mind. As she recalled what she had done, she was overcome with embarrassment and fidgeted awkwardly, unable to look at Fu Hua.

Because of a momentary pang of sadness, she had impulsively sought the old antique's company. That was so childish of her! Wait, I am in the form of a child now...

Then she remembered the scene where Fu Lin fed Kiana, and a wave of defeat washed over her. Feeling aggrieved, she slumped onto the floor with a pitiful expression.

Perhaps it was because her mother figure was present, or maybe because she currently looked like a child and didn't have to worry about being laughed at, but she burst into tears.

"Lin went off with someone else! He abandoned me! Waaaah!"

"He promised to stay with me, but after just one trip, he dumped me! Waaaah!"

Fu Hua, seeing Fu Shi suddenly crying, was at a loss for what to do. Then, recalling content from the "Parenting Guide," she panickedly picked up Fu Shi and comforted her.

"There, there~... Don't cry, don't cry. Also, who is Lin?"

"Mom! My Lin is gone, someone lured him away..." Fu Shi clung to Fu Hua, blurting out shocking words.

After hearing her call her "Mom," Fu Hua's mind went blank. She froze, sitting by the bed, but her hands continued to soothe Fu Shi instinctively.

"Hic! No, wait, I wasn't crying!"

"Forget everything that just happened!" Having vented her frustrations, Fu Shi suddenly realized what she had done and turned away with a tsundere expression, rebuking Fu Hua.

But seeing the old antique, who had been comforting her, made her wonder if she was hallucinating. Since when was the old antique so gentle?

"Finally, it's quiet... Wait, we're going to be late for class!" Fu Hua snapped out of her daze but, upon seeing the hands of the clock, her expression changed. She tucked Fu Shi under her arm and rushed out.

"Wait, why are you carrying me to class?" Fu Shi kicked her legs, looking up at Fu Hua's chin with exasperation.

"Until I figure out your origins, I won't let you out of my sight," Fu Hua adjusted her glasses, glancing at Fu Shi under her arm with an expressionless face.

"I didn't even do anything. Is all this caution really necessary?" Fu Shi waved her fists angrily, unable to believe that her first formal meeting with the antique was turning out like this.

Fu Hua replied with a kind expression, "Precisely because you haven't done anything, I haven't acted. Otherwise, you'd already be lying in a hospital bed."

"..." What an exaggeration. Who ends up in a hospital bed still isn't certain.

Fu Shi stopped struggling and, with black lines across her face, stared at the old antique. So this was the familiar Fu Hua she knew. The earlier gentleness must have been an illusion.

The two then fell silent. Fu Shi looked at the harmonious and warm St. Freya Academy and suddenly covered her mouth, giggling.

'If Fu Lin comes back and can't find me, he'll realize how important I am. Then I just won't go back for now. Staying with the old antique isn't so bad.'

'It's decided. I'll wait for Fu Lin to come and redeem me before deciding whether to go back.'

Fu Hua glanced down at Fu Shi and asked with some confusion, "What are you laughing at?"