Honkai impact 3rd: [The Mission - System]

Ayin brain short-circuiting, blinking rapidly

"...Huh?"

Kiana's grip on the bat tightens as she takes another step forward. The air between them is thick, charged with unspoken tension.

Kiana's eyes narrowing. "Don't play dumb. You've been tailing me for days. Sneaking around my camp, watching me from a distance... and now I finally catch you red-handed? Tied up or not, you're not fooling me."

Ayin still struggling to process

"...I'm sorry, what?!"

Kiana doesn't falter. Her eyes hold nothing but cold determination, her posture tense, ready to swing if he makes a wrong move.

Kiana pointing the bat directly at him

"You heard me. You're the stalker. I don't know what sick game you're playing, but it's over. Now start talking. Who the hell are you, and what do you want from me?"

Ayin stares at her, mouth slightly open. His thoughts are in a complete meltdown.

Ayin in his mind was internally screaming

_WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?!_

He breathes in sharply, his mind scrambling for a response. He could tell her the truth but no. That would open an entirely different can of worms. And right now, this girl is one second away from cracking his skull open.

Ayin, raising his bound hands slightly as his voice cautious. "Okay, okay, first off WHAT?! Stalker? ME? I literally just woke up tied to a damn chair, and now you're telling me I've been following you?"

Kiana doesn't flinch. She keeps her stance firm, eyes locked onto him like a predator watching prey.

Kiana said flatly "Convenient excuse."

Ayin was exasperated his voice was rising.

"It's not an excuse! I have zero idea what you're talking about!"

Kiana huffs and was unimpressed by Ayin's acting. "Oh, really? Then how do you explain showing up inside my shelter? In the middle of nowhere, in a storm all alone?"

Ayin opens his mouth pauses. _Okay. That's fair. That does look bad_ But he genuinely doesn't know how the hell he got here!

Ayin was frustrated and sigh, trying to keep himself calm.

"Listen, I get how this looks, but I swear I wasn't stalking you! I don't even know how I got here! Last thing I remember, I was-"

He stops. Saying "fighting Zombies" wouldn't help because that would just raise more questions. He looks at his School uniform, it was still look new even though it has some dusts at some other parts.

Ayin just Instead groans, tilting his head back against the chair.

Ayin muttering lowly "God, this is ridiculous..."

Kiana's expression doesn't soften. She studies him carefully, trying to gauge if he's lying.

Kiana still looking at him with a skeptical expression plastered at her face. "Right. And I'm supposed to just believe that?"

Ayin looks at her with a deadpan expression and then looks her straight in the eyes "...You tied me while I'm still asleep in this bed, ate half a fish, and called me a stalker. If I was actually a threat, do you really think I'd just sit here and let you do all that?"

Kiana blinks. She glances at the fish still hanging awkwardly from her mouth, as if just realizing it's there. She quickly bites off the last piece, chewing fast before speaking again.

Kiana clears her throat and was gripping the bat tighter. "Nice try. But that doesn't prove anything."

Ayin groans, slumping slightly to the pillows at his back. His patience is hanging by a thread. This girl is ridiculously a pain.

Ayin muttering under his breath so low that only him can hear. "Jesus Christ, I should've just let the Zombies kill me…"

Kiana noticed this and give him sharp glare.

"What was that?"

Ayin quickly shaking his head. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

Kiana stares at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. The rain continues to pour outside, the wind howling through the cracks of the shelter. Finally, she sighs, lowering the bat but only slightly.

Kiana then adjusted her body, crossing her arms. "Fine. Let's say for a second that you're telling the truth."

Ayin heard this and his expressions turns into hopeful one while nodding quickly.

"Yes! Thank you!"

Kiana then pointed at him again "That doesn't mean I trust you."

Ayin groans loudly. "Oh, come on!"

Kiana just shrugs and was unimpressed.

"Prove you're not a stalker, and maybe I won't leave you outside as bait."

Ayin staring at her, disbelief hitting MAXIMUM. "...You're joking."

Kiana grinning slightly, then tilting her head and said to him. "Do I look like I'm joking?"

Ayin stares at her, genuinely considering if this is karma for something he did in a past life.

Ayin muttering, exhausted

"...I hate this apocalypse."

The small fire flickered weakly in the cramped bathroom, casting shadows that danced along the cracked tiles and peeling walls. The rain outside had lessened to a steady drizzle, the rhythmic tapping against the broken window filling the silence between them.

Kiana stood at the doorway, leaning against the frame, her arms crossed as she absentmindedly chewed on a piece of fish. The warmth from the fire barely reached the main room where Ayin was still bound, sitting awkwardly on the bed. His stomach churned, a deep gnawing hunger making itself more and more unbearable as he stared at Kiana, who was enjoying her meal without a care in the world.

Ayin sighed internally.

_Here I am, tied up, hungry, and stuck in some abandoned place, while she's just standing there, eating._

His stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl, and he clenched his jaw. He hated feeling pathetic, but at this point, his hunger outweighed his pride.

He coughed slightly, trying to get her attention. "Uh... hey. Kiana."

She didn't react.

Ayin frowned. He knew she heard him, there was no way she didn't. Her ears twitched slightly, a dead giveaway.

"I'm hungry," he said, making it clear this time.

Kiana finally turned her head toward him, but instead of responding, she just blinked, then turned away, taking another bite of her fish.

Ayin's eye twitched.

"Oi. Did you not hear me?" He tried again, a little louder.

Kiana chewed slowly, finally speaking without even looking at him. "I'm hungry."

Ayin blinked, confused. "Yeah, I know that. But so am I."

Kiana swallowed and shrugged. "Then go look for food," she said casually, pointing toward the broken window that led outside.

Ayin stared at her, completely dumbfounded. "...Excuse me?"

She finally glanced at him again. "You heard me," she said. "If you're hungry, go find something to eat."

For a moment, Ayin just sat there, processing what she had just said.

Then his frustration boiled over.

"HOW?!" He yanked at the ropes binding his wrists, his irritation evident. "I'm TIED UP, in case you didn't notice! And not to mention, it's dangerous outside!"

Kiana gave him a lazy look, then shrugged again. "That sounds like a you problem."

Ayin's mouth opened, then closed.

_What kind of unreasonable nonsense…_

He exhaled sharply through his nose, biting down a string of curses as his stomach twisted in protest. He glared at her, watching as she took another bite without a care in the world. The warmth of the fire cast a soft glow on her face, but the scene was anything but peaceful for Ayin.

He narrowed his eyes.

Unreasonable, stubborn, and completely oblivious to how ridiculous she's being.

_...Wait_

_Oh yeah, from what I remember while still playing the game that Kiana on the screen had always been a bit... well, idiotic. She'd charge headfirst into danger, make terrible decisions, and act as if she was somehow in the right the whole time_

His shoulders slumped as realization. _She's always been like this_

Even in this situation, tied up, starving, and dealing with one of the most unreasonable people he had ever met, he couldn't even be mad anymore.

His gaze softened as he sighed heavily, looking at her in a way that was a mix of exhaustion, pity, and sheer disbelief.

Kiana, still chewing, noticed his weird look. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "...What?"

Ayin shook his head. "Nothing."

She squinted at him, not convinced.

Ayin exhaled again, muttering under his breath, "An idiot is still an idiot."

The moment those words left his lips, Kiana's chewing slowed. She blinked once. Twice. Then, very slowly, her gaze turned toward him, her expression unreadable.

Ayin felt a shift in the air, and he immediately knew that he messed up.

Kiana swallowed the last bite of her fish, set her plate down with an eerily controlled movement, and then stood up. She walked toward him with deliberate steps, her presence suddenly feeling much heavier.

Ayin, now painfully aware of his mistake, tensed. "...Uh, Kiana?"

She stopped right in front of him, arms crossed, staring down at him.

"You wanna say that again?"

Ayin gulped, feeling the temperature drop despite the fire still burning behind her. He quickly backpedaled. "I-I meant it in an affectionate way!"

Kiana raised an eyebrow. "Affectionate?"

"Yeah! Like, uh… 'Oh wow, Kiana, you're so charmingly clueless and'"

Kiana cracked her knuckles.

Ayin flinched. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry!"

She leaned down slightly, still staring at him with narrowed eyes. "You don't sound very sorry."

Ayin sighed. "Because you're still being unreasonable."

Kiana's eye twitched. "Excuse me?"

"Are you seriously mad about this?" He couldn't hold it in anymore. "I'm tied up, hungry, and you're telling me to just go outside and find food while I'm literally stuck here? How is that fair?"

Kiana scoffed. "It's fair because it's your fault you're in this situation."

Ayin gritted his teeth. "How is this my fault?! I don't even know what's going on!"

"You were following me!"

"I WASN'T!"

Kiana folded her arms. "Then why were you suspiciously lurking around me the past few days?"

Ayin stared at her in pure disbelief. "I wasn't lurking! I don't even know where I am half the time! You think I wanted to get tied up and starve?!"

Kiana didn't answer immediately, instead tilting her head slightly as if contemplating his words. Then, with absolute confidence, she simply said, "Yes."

Ayin let out a sound that was a mix between a laugh and a groan. "You! " He cut himself off, inhaling deeply before exhaling through his nose. "You are Unbelievable."

Kiana smirked, looking smug. "Thanks."

"That wasn't a compliment."

Kiana ignored him, instead reaching for another piece of fish. Ayin just stared at her, completely exasperated.

Finally, he gave up, dropping his head back against the wall. "You know what? Fine. Just eat. Ignore the starving prisoner. It's not like I need food to live or anything."

Kiana glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but she didn't say anything. The only sound was her chewing.

Ayin sighed, shaking his head.

_This.. is going to be a long night_

Honkai Impact 3rd: [The Mission - System]

Ayin barely got any sleep.

Every time he dozed off, the uncomfortable ropes made his body ache, forcing him awake again. He turned to the right, then to the left, trying to find a somewhat decent position, but it was useless.

With a tired sigh, he shifted again but this time he rolling onto his left side.

And that's when he saw her, Kiana who's sleeping right next to him.

Ayin's body stiffened. His brain short-circuited for a solid five seconds as he processed what the hell he was looking at.

_Why the hell is she sleeping this close to me?!_

Panic started creeping up his spine, but his eyes involuntarily drifted to her face.

_She looks… different._

Gone was the loud, unreasonable idiot he had been arguing with all night. Instead, she looked peaceful. Vulnerable, even. The dim morning light cast a soft glow over her features, highlighting the small bruises on her cheek.

Ayin swallowed.

_For an idiot, she sure looks…_

His thoughts trailed off. He wasn't even sure how to finish that sentence.

His gaze lingered, taking in the details of her face. The way her white hair framed her features, the way her lips parted slightly as she breathed. It felt unreal, almost like he was looking at something rare.

_Like a wild animal you'd only ever see in a documentary._

That thought made him pause.

_Wait_

Now that he thought about it this was the first time he had ever seen a real white-haired girl in person. He had only ever seen her in the game. And now, she was here. Right in front of him. A living actual person.

The realization sent a strange shiver down his spine.

But then his brain kicked back in, snapping him out of whatever weird admiration he was falling into.

_Hold up. This is still Kiana._

_The unreasonable, crazy idiot who tied me up and left me to starve._

And she had Mei.

_Yeah. Yeah, that's right. She has Mei._

That fact alone should've been enough to reset his brain. But then he noticed something that threw him off completely.

Her eyelashes were wet.

Ayin blinked.

_Was she crying?_

His body moved before he could think. He reached out, still tied up, and carefully extended a finger.

Slowly, he wiped away the tear from the corner of her eye, making sure not to wake her. His touch was as light as possible, barely grazing her skin.

She didn't move.

He exhaled quietly and wiped another.

For some reason, seeing her like this made something stir inside him. Not pity. Not sadness. Just… something.

But then, a completely different thought crossed his mind.

_Why does she not care that I'm a guy?_

She just tied him up and went to sleep next to him like it was nothing. Was she not worried at all? Even though he had no intention of doing anything, shouldn't she at least be cautious?

Ayin frowned slightly. _Does she not even see me as a man?_

It was like she was mocking him without even realizing it.

He sighed, shaking his head. _Forget it. It's not worth thinking about._

He reached out again to wipe away the last tear.

But just as he did, his finger accidentally pressed against her cheek.

The softness under his fingertip sent a jolt through his entire body.

And then, her eyes fluttered open.

Ayin froze.

His mind went blank as he locked eyes with her.

For a moment, neither of them moved. His finger was still on her face, his brain screaming at him to DO SOMETHING, but his body refused to cooperate.

_This is bad. This is really bad. This is beyond bad._

_She's going to think I'm a creep._

_She's going to think I'm a pervert._

_She's going to think I actually AM a stalker._

His lips parted, and he forced out the only words he could manage.

"…G-Good morning?"

His voice cracked slightly.

He immediately regretted everything.

Kiana just stared at him for a second.

Then Kiana spokes up and said. "Hentai"

Kiana and ayin are blinking to each other, her expression unreadable. Then, without a word, she slowly sat up.

Ayin's soul left his body. "W-WAIT! IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!"

Ayin watched her cautiously, waiting her next reaction. But instead of getting mad, she simply stretched and looked toward the window.

"You were touching me just now."

Her voice was calm, almost stating a fact rather than accusing him.

Ayin panicked internally. "I-I wasn't staring! You had tears in your eyes, so I just "

Kiana turned her head slightly, finally looking at him. "…Tears?"

He nodded quickly. "Yeah. I was just wiping them away. That's all."

She hummed quietly, as if considering his words. "I see."

Then, without another word, she walked toward the window, grabbing her baseball bat along the way.

Ayin blinked, utterly confused.

That was it? No accusations? No yelling? No threats of hitting him with the bat?

He had been bracing for some kind of outburst, but Kiana's reaction was… strangely calm.

She just simply ignored him like nothing happened.

Ayin slumped against the pillows, his face pale. "It's over. My life is over. She's going to label me as a pervert forever."

But then, something weird occurred to him.

_…Wait a second._

His brows furrowed.

_She called me 'Hentai.'_

That was Japanese.

But Kiana was supposed to be Chinese?.

Ayin's brain started spiraling.

_Hold on. She's Chinese… right?_

At least, I THINK she is?

_The game was made by a Chinese company, but…_

He paused, and then his expression turned even more confused.

_…Wait. If she's speaking Japanese… and I understood it perfectly… then…_

His eyes widened.

_Why can I understand two different languages at the same time?_