Herrscher of Dominance in Honkai, starting with the abduction of Kiana

A few days later…

"ID card, passport, phone, change of clothes…"

"Himeko-sensei, isn't that enough already?" Kiana pressed a hand to her forehead, watching as Himeko continued to stuff things into the already overflowing suitcase. She couldn't understand how the once valiant Valkyrie had transformed into this… mother hen.

"Not yet! This is a long trip, after all. Who knows when you'll be back. You're such an airhead; it's better to be overprepared. Oh, and this, you might need it."

Seeing Himeko about to add a rather suggestive set of lingerie to the suitcase, Kiana quickly slammed it shut and, with a flick of her wrist, sent it vanishing into a spatial portal.

Kiana sighed, relieved, then turned to Himeko with a slightly exasperated tone. "Himeko-sensei, please don't put things like that in my luggage."

"Heh, still shy, are we?" Himeko chuckled, holding the lingerie up against Kiana, nodding in satisfaction. "See? I guessed your size correctly. I picked this out especially for you."

"I… I don't need that kind of thing!"

"Oh, but you do." Himeko wagged a finger, adopting a worldly-wise tone. "Kiana, you're eighteen years old, a grown woman. It's time you learned how to dress to impress, to capture a man's heart. You're at the perfect age; don't let this opportunity slip away."

She then gestured dramatically at herself, her voice laced with mock lament. "Look at me. If I had been more proactive, found a good man sooner, I wouldn't still be single."

Kiana blinked, completely bewildered. She couldn't understand the connection between her love life and the lingerie.

"So, when you find him, be brave, put this on, and sweep him off his feet."

"Sweep him off his feet? I'm just going to see Ren. Why would I need to… capture him?"

Looking at Kiana's confused expression, Himeko felt a pang of something akin to guilt. This wasn't an eighteen-year-old; this was practically an eight-year-old. Expecting this naive girl to understand the intricacies of romance was clearly wishful thinking.

She dejectedly put down the lingerie, like a mother looking at her hopeless daughter.

As Kiana's teacher and Ren's first independent puppet, Himeko had witnessed both of their growth. However, every time their relationship seemed to be progressing, something would interrupt them.

Worse, neither of them seemed to have any concept of romance. Even if they had feelings for each other, they were completely oblivious.

As their self-proclaimed guardian, Himeko was worried. It was like reading a romance novel and having the chapter end right before the confession.

Frustrating!

The pressure of the frequent Honkai eruptions and Ren's death had finally lifted after the concert. Ren was alive, Kiana was maturing, and the weight on Himeko's shoulders had been lifted, allowing her to finally relax.

After a few days of well-deserved rest, however, the familiar restlessness returned. Seeing Kiana moping around the house, constantly staring at Ren's empty room, Himeko decided to take action. She wouldn't let this opportunity slip away.

"Kiana," she said one morning, a determined glint in her eyes, "you're going on a trip."

"A trip? Where to?" Kiana asked, surprised.

"To find Ren, of course! That boy needs a good talking-to. And you," she poked Kiana playfully, "need to finally confess your feelings!"

Kiana blushed, sputtering, "I-I don't know what you're talking about! We're just friends!"

Himeko chuckled, not believing a word of it. "Sure you are. Just friends who happen to stare longingly at each other's empty rooms and cry during concerts. Just friends who risk their lives for each other without a second thought."

Kiana's blush deepened, but she couldn't deny it.

"Pack your bags. I've already booked your flight and arranged everything. You're leaving tomorrow."

And so, Himeko, armed with a carefully curated selection of "helpful" items and a heart full of hope for her clueless student, began packing Kiana's suitcase, much to Kiana's embarrassment and flustered protests.

Himeko was growing increasingly anxious with her newfound free time. More than once, she had tried to subtly pry information from Kiana about the status of her relationship with Ren, but she was met with either vague responses or deflections.

She couldn't directly intervene; with Ren, any meddling would be met with swift and merciless retribution. She had finally found an opportunity with Kiana, only to be discovered and thwarted.

Feigning annoyance, she pinched Kiana's cheek playfully, adding a touch of threat to her voice. "If you don't seize this opportunity, you'll regret it when some other girl snatches Ren away!"

However, Kiana, her face squished by Himeko's pinch, simply shook her head resolutely. "He won't."

"..."

Himeko felt a pang of something akin to jealousy, a sharp stab of longing. Such unwavering confidence! It reminded her of her own futile attempts to find a good man and settle down, a dream unrealized even in death.

"Himeko-sensei?"

"It's nothing, nothing." Waving her hand dismissively, Himeko looked into Kiana's eyes, a warm smile spreading across her face.

Wasn't this what she had hoped for?

From the moment she had heard that recording, back when Ren had found her in imaginary space, she had known their fates were intertwined.

Like tangled earphone cords in a pocket, they would inevitably become more and more connected.

The trust Kiana had shown towards Ren in that recording had been the seed, the starting point of their relationship.

Seeds would eventually sprout and grow, weathering storms and sunshine, before finally blossoming and bearing fruit.

"Alright, alright, I'll stay out of your affairs. It's not like I can do anything anyway."

Over the past few days, Kiana and Himeko had recaptured the easy camaraderie they had shared at St. Freya, walking the paths they hadn't had the chance to before the Great Eruption.

Kiana's guilt and regret over Himeko's death had finally begun to heal under her teacher's gentle guidance and reassurance. The void in her heart was slowly filling.

But peaceful moments were fleeting. Kiana had her own path to walk, people to save. She couldn't stay here forever.

Himeko, meanwhile, was gradually taking over the Obsidian Concord's administrative tasks, becoming Ren's support system, likely remaining in ARC City, their base of operations.

Himeko's Flamescion had been passed on. Now, it was Kiana's turn to grow.

"Kiana," Himeko said, unable to contain her emotions as she pulled Kiana into a tight embrace, "remember, no matter what happens, Himeko-sensei will always be your safe harbor. Even if Ren gives you a hard time, I'll always be on your side."

"I know, Sensei."

They held each other for a long moment before finally separating, both trying to compose themselves.

"Oh, and one more thing." Kiana opened her hand, a red feather spinning gently above her palm. Fu Hua was still slumbering within, and Kiana didn't know when the Edge of Taixuan would gather enough energy to awaken her.

"This is Fu Hua's consciousness. She helped me a lot, and she's been injured. I need her to rest for a while, until I can find a way to restore her. I'm entrusting her to you, Himeko-sensei."

"Don't worry. Fu Hua and I will be waiting for you, waiting for the day we can all be reunited with Bronya and the others."

As the sun rose, Kiana stepped into the portal, embarking on her solitary journey to find Ren.

Himeko stood there for a long time, watching the portal close. Finally, as Wendy's voice called her from inside the house, a smile touched her lips, and she returned indoors.

No matter what, the two children were finally on the right path. Now, all she could do was let them find their own way.