As the war concluded, dawn peeked over the horizon.
For many, this sunrise felt profoundly different from any other.
Zeke fell asleep inside a hastily erected wartime tent.
With specialized teams handling the ongoing recovery and stabilization efforts, there was no need for Zeke to oversee everything personally anymore.
By dusk, as sunlight filtered through the transparent fabric window onto his face, Zeke stirred. His eyelids fluttered open slowly.
"Zzz..."
As he sat up, unsurprisingly greeted by familiar sounds of deep slumber, Zeke looked down to see Kiana resting beside the bed, her hand clasped gently around his own.
The sight of her long silver hair draped across the edge of the bed brought warmth to his eyes, softening the curve of his smile.
"Mm... Zeke, you're awake!"
The girl must not have been sleeping deeply; she roused quickly with a radiant grin brighter than sunshine, throwing herself into Zeke's arms.
A warm smile spread across Zeke's face as he wrapped one arm around her waist and gently stroked her soft silver hair with his other hand.
"How is Wendy?"
"Dr. Ein took her away for a full medical examination, including testing her powers and such."
"And Bronya and Sin?"
"They're at the makeshift hospital nearby. They participated in many battles too, but their injuries aren't severe; you don't need to worry much."
"What about Seele, Rozaliya, and Liliya?"
"They're all fine. Seele mentioned she accidentally ran in the wrong direction before losing consciousness, possibly due to excessive Honkai energy exposure... Anyway, they're unharmed and currently helping out in the vicinity."
"Hmm... And how about you?"
"Me? I'm perfectly okay, of course! Full of energy!" Kiana lifted her head from Zeke's chest, grinning widely, revealing a row of neat, white teeth that added to her charming innocence on her fair, delicate face.
Zeke lightly tapped her forehead, smiling softly.
"You don't feel guilty for not participating in the battle, do you?"
"Ah... A little bit, yes."
"There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Given your unique situation, it's important to be kind to yourself."
"Alright, I'll do as you say, Zeke." Kiana nodded, tightening her embrace around him even more, greedily breathing in his scent with a loving smile.
In that moment, the girl looked up at him, her cherry-like lips curving into a grin, exuding a captivating radiance that left Zeke feeling slightly parched.
Following his impulse, he gently touched Kiana's lips with his finger. The sensation was softer and smoother than anticipated, akin to perfectly made egg custard but far more alluring.
Under Zeke's focused gaze, Kiana blushed before bravely quipped, "If you want a kiss, just go for it—I won't resist, ohh~"
"You're quite precocious!"
Zeke playfully flicked her forehead, eliciting an adorable giggle from her, followed by a delicate burst of laughter.
Smiling, Zeke wrapped his arms around the girl, leaned close to her fragrant hair, and mimicked her action, taking a deep breath.
The sweet aroma filled his nostrils, reminiscent of past moments, yet now it felt exceptionally delightful, lifting his mood effortlessly.
He seemed to grasp why Kiana liked clinging to him so much. Just like his current state, simply embracing her first thing after waking up felt incredibly comforting.
"Let's go; there's still plenty of work to be done."
"Take a little more rest. You've already accomplished much; don't exhaust yourself," Kiana gently stroked Zeke's cheek, persuading him tenderly.
Zeke paused, composed himself, then took hold of Kiana's hand and said:
"...Alright, the major issues are resolved. The remaining tasks shouldn't overwhelm them."
"Hmm, I'll stay with you."
"Are you hungry?"
"A bit... But let's talk about that later. Right now, I just want to be with Zeke."
"What would you like for dinner?"
"It doesn't matter. Zeke, please don't think I'm overly pampered... although you do spoil me quite often. Anyway, everyone has been through tough times, so having something to eat is enough." Kiana blinked, speaking maturely and understandingly.
Zeke gently stroked Kiana's smooth back, feeling oddly melancholic.
Kiana seemed to have matured somewhat, but Zeke found himself wanting to see her cling to him, throwing tantrums and making all sorts of demands without restraint.
"Considering...all the tragedies you witnessed this time, must be hard for you, isn't it?"
"...Yes. It even makes me wonder if things were similar during the Second Major Honkai Eruption."
"Don't bottle up your emotions; remember to come talk to me, whether it's venting or crying—it's okay. Please don't worry me like that again."
"Mm-hmm. With Zeke by my side, I'm never afraid. I love you so much... Wait, no—I mean, I really adore you, Zeke!"
"You goofball."
"Hehe, I only act silly around you, knowing you won't mind."
Kiana chuckled blissfully, pressed against Zeke's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. Without having consumed any alcohol, she felt utterly intoxicated, unable to move.
Zeke said nothing more, just smiling softly as he tightened his embrace around Kiana.
In Kiana's mental world, Sirin, bound by golden chains, felt wave after wave of intense and overwhelming sweetness surging within her chest.
"Agh!"
"Impossible! Impossible!"
"Agh!"
She materialized a brick and forcefully smashed it against her head—but to no avail; she couldn't stop her lips from curving upwards.
Summoning another brick, she repeatedly bashed herself multiple times before ultimately clutching her skull and slamming it against the dark floor again and again. Yet, despite all this, she remained powerless against the onslaught of Kiana's strong emotions.
"Agh!"
"All those foolish humans... Fools... Fools..."
"How could I possibly?! Never!"
"Aaahhh!"
Wham! Wham! Wham!
"Achoo!"
In the real world, Kiana sneezed just as she stepped out of her tent.
Zeke raised an eyebrow and asked, "Caught a cold?"
"Nope. You know I never get sick."
"Typically, only the most hardcore idiots are immune to catching colds."
"Huh? Are you mocking me again?! Someone must be talking about me! Let me tell you, there's no shortage of people smitten with a fine young lady like myself! Even though I may have eyes for you alone, you need to learn to appreciate it, got it?!" Kiana defiantly declared, tilting her head and placing hands on her hips.
Suddenly, a small figure collided with her, sending her flying.
"Zeke~"
Zeke looked down to see Sin wrapped in bandages tightly clinging to his arm, gazing up at him with hearts seemingly sparkling in her eyes.
Zeke covered his face with one hand, letting out a resigned sigh.
What should he do with this girl?
If he told Sin that he had accepted Kiana, she would either intensify her relentless pursuit of Zeke or directly challenge Kiana to a life-or-death duel—or possibly both.
Soon enough, Kiana and Sin were engaged in a fierce standoff. The two girls, one tall and one short, fought intensely as if vying for some priceless treasure, refusing to yield even an inch.
Zeke felt a dull ache forming between his brows.
Having navigated this immediate hurdle, he suddenly realized there might be numerous other issues to address—Sin being a prime example.