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

Thus began the fierce battle for the chicken leg, with chopsticks clashing in a chaotic scramble, each contestant using every trick they had.

(A random higher-dimensional observer (the audience): Are they really fighting over a chicken leg like kids?)

Eventually, the sounds of battle died down. There could only be one victor…

--------------------------

Fu Lin waved the chicken leg triumphantly in his hand, glancing at Kiana, who was staring at him intently, and at Fu Shi (Herrscher of Knowledge), who was pretending not to care. He took a big bite, chewing loudly.

Kiana's eyes sparkled as she wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth. Although she was full, for some reason, the chicken leg in the class monitor's hand looked especially tempting.

"Class president, just one bite, please, just one!"

"You really want it that bad?" Fu Lin teased, waving the chicken leg. Wherever it moved, Kiana's gaze followed.

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm!" Kiana nodded eagerly, her eyes filled with hopeful light as she looked at Fu Lin.

"How about you meow like a cat first?" Fu Lin turned his head slightly, his face blushing as he said something rather playful.

For the sake of food, this was nothing! "Meow~ Meow Meow~ Meow~" Kiana thickened her skin and comforted herself, complying with Fu Lin's request.

Hearing Kiana's soft, cute meowing, Fu Lin, satisfied, brought the chicken leg closer to her and gestured for her to take a bite.

"…" Fu Lin watched as nearly two-thirds of the meat vanished with that single bite and glanced at Kiana, who was still chewing vigorously. He realized he had underestimated her love for food.

"Fu Lin, what about me? I want some too!" The Herrscher of Knowledge couldn't stand it anymore and lunged toward Fu Lin, trying to snatch the chicken leg.

Hit by the sudden force of Fu Shi's attack, Fu Lin felt a sharp pain in his chest, especially from her chest, which was as hard as a material capable of withstanding atomic bombs.

"Okay, okay, here you go!" To avoid further injury, Fu Lin quickly handed the chicken leg to the Herrscher of Sentience.

"Now that's better," she said as she gnawed on the leg, finally satisfied and no longer paying attention to Fu Lin.

Rubbing his chest, Fu Lin felt that he had nearly coughed up blood.

...

The neon lights of Nagazora City lit up the night, and while the bustling traffic and pedestrians made the city look lively, deep within the unseen places, Honkai creatures roamed freely.

Fu Lin and Kiana walked down the street, observing the crowds around them. Though everything appeared normal now, Fu Lin couldn't help but feel pity for the city, knowing the third Honkai eruption would strike in four days.

"Kiana, tomorrow is another school day. Have you done your homework?"

"Ah! I totally forgot about school tomorrow, and I haven't written a single word! I'm doomed. If the 'Extinction Master' finds out, she'll nag me to death."

At the mention of the strict, poker-faced teacher who spared no one, Kiana bid Fu Lin a hasty farewell and ran off.

"… Still the same careless single-celled paramecium." Fu Lin laughed, watching her run away, but then realized he hadn't done his homework either. His face fell as he let out a frustrated scream.

"Why couldn't they wait for for the original to finish the homework before sending me to this world?!"

People passing by gave him strange looks, and a mother with a child whispered, "Stay away from people like that in the future, okay?"

"I will, Mom."

Noticing the stares, Fu Lin dramatically flipped his long hair and glared back. "What, never seen a handsome guy before?"

Upon hearing that, the onlookers quickly averted their gazes, though some faces turned red. One person murmured quietly, "I think I've realized I don't just like girls—I like beautiful people. That one look from him just melted my heart; I want him."

"Same here, buddy. His looks are unreal. If it weren't for the flat chest, I'd have mistaken him for a girl—prettier than any actress."

Others nearby gave them odd looks and quickly moved away. As attractive as Fu Lin was, was it really okay to say that so openly?

Hearing their comments, Fu Lin clutched his body in shock and, like a startled cat, bolted from the scene.

When he got home, he gently picked up the Herrscher, who had fallen asleep on the couch, and carefully placed her on the bed, tucking her in before leaving the room.

The Herrscher of Sentience opened her eyes slightly, watching Fu Lin leave. She pulled the blanket tighter and murmured softly, "It feels nice to be cared for, Fu Lin."

The last bit of distance between them dissolved in that moment. What was once just a friendship had grown into familial affection, and the Herrscher fully accepted Fu Lin's presence in her life.

"People are getting weirder these days. Even guys aren't off-limits," Fu Lin muttered softly to himself outside the door, practicing Tai Xuan Sword techniques to calm his surprise.

"Homework first—if I don't finish it, I'll end up standing outside with that clumsy paramecium tomorrow morning." Fu Lin doubted Kiana would be able to finish her homework overnight and figured she might just fall asleep while working on it.

...

The next morning, Fu Shi refused to get out of bed, while Fu Lin, resigned to his fate, slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and headed to school, singing leisurely along the way, unaware that he was about to be late.

"Some deserts on this planet were oceans once…"

"Somewhere shrouded by the night, the sun will shine…"

"Sometimes I see a dying bird fall to the ground…"

"But it used to fly so high…"

"I thought I were no more than a bystander till I felt a touch so real…"

"I will no longer be a transient when I see smiles with tears…"

...

With a piece of bread in her mouth, Kiana spotted Fu Lin ahead of her and snuck up to wrap her arm around his shoulder.

"Morning, class monitor. What were you singing just now? It sounded nice."

"Morning. The song's called Moon Halo. It's about a naive girl inheriting her teacher's will and fighting for a beautiful world." Fu Lin glanced at Kiana's arm on his shoulder and her bright, smiling face, realizing the very person the song described was standing right in front of him.

"Really? Fighting for a beautiful world…" Kiana felt as if he was talking about her, but being the single-minded "paramecium" she was, the thought quickly slipped her mind.

"If we don't hurry, we're going to be late, class president." With that, Kiana dashed off toward the school, and Fu Lin followed behind her, running as well.