Honkai Won’t Stop Chasing Me

"Whaaaaat~~~~~"

Hearing Stelle's voice suddenly, Serval jolted in surprise. "You scared me!"

Stelle put on an all-knowing expression.

"What's wrong with you? Ever since leaving the Supreme Guardian's office, you've been distracted."

"Ah, it's nothing! Were you just asking me about the story behind this guitar?" Serval stood up, pulling Stelle to sit on a chair.

Meanwhile, Gepard paused his luggage-packing and stood nearby.

"Actually, this guitar was a birthday gift from Cocolia.

I designed the blueprint myself, but the materials were too expensive, so I never built it.

Yet she turned this concept into reality."

Recalling this memory, Serval laughed heartily.

"Swift and decisive, true to her word—that was her ninja way!"

"Ninja way?" Stelle was puzzled by the unfamiliar term.

"Sorry, sorry, I meant 'her style.' Poor phrasing.

Anyway, back then... I really thought we'd be friends for life."

Gepard stroked his chin. "If it was a gift, why was this guitar in Lady Cocolia's office?"

Serval smirked teasingly at him. "There's a lot you don't know, little brother! Back then, we were so close we shared everything—no possession was off-limits."

Stelle's eyes lit up. "What about boyfriends?"

"Huh?" Serval stared at Stelle in disbelief. Was this little gray-haired troublemaker picking a fight?

"Keep interrupting, and I won't say another word!"

"Sorry!" Stelle immediately mimed zipping her lips shut.

Serval closed her eyes in thought.

"Where was I? Ah, right...

We lived in the same dorm, went to school together every day, used the restroom together, ate together, killed time together.

Sometimes we even talked about music—though she was tone-deaf, a complete musical idiot.

This went on for years, until the day we had our big fallout.

Her office still has plenty of things we used to share..."

Suddenly, Serval laughed at herself.

"I kept hoping that maybe one day, she'd personally return the guitar to me and apologize, just like before.

But now I realize—'I overthink, you always say.'

Maybe she's long forgotten there's even something like this in her office.

That's Supreme Guardian Cocolia for you—always steps ahead of everyone, never looking back, not even once.

Leaving me, and every memory tied to me, far behind."

Stelle immediately comforted her: "You didn't do anything wrong, Serval!"

Serval realized that whenever Cocolia came up, the mood turned heavy.

She quickly shifted focus to "fixing machinery."

"Stelle the Trailblazer, since we've got time, wanna help me repair this old relic?"

Gepard shook his head. "Here we go again..."

Stelle spotted the key detail. "Little Geppie, does she always boss you around like this?"

"A past I'd rather not revisit."

Unable to sit still, Stelle wandered around the workshop.

She also noticed a plant specimen displayed—sent by the youngest Landau sibling.

Before long,

Serval finished packing her luggage, wiping sweat from her brow.

"Finally done!"

However, Gepard, who had planned to stay silent, asked Serval one last time.

After getting a firm answer, he stopped insisting—only requesting that his sister accompany him on one final task before leaving.

"The Underworld has many outdated energy cores. You're probably the only one in Belobog who can thoroughly inspect those systems.

Since you're leaving anyway, why not help the city's people one last time?"

Serval covered her mouth, laughing. "Haha, even now, your head's still full of 'the people,' huh?

Fine! I'll do you this favor."

Gepard nodded seriously, then turned to Stelle.

"If possible, could you come with us? Even though the Overworld and Underworld are reconnected,

it's been years—there's bound to be resistance.

Having a hero like you with us would make the trip much smoother."

For once, Stelle didn't demand anything and readily agreed.

"Thanks for helping me with all this, you two! Ah~" Serval yawned. "Why do I suddenly feel so sleepy?"

At this moment, Stelle acted unusually, her gaze sharp. "Are you really set on leaving?"

"Huh?" Serval was taken aback. "What's up with you? You don't seem like yourself right now."

"Just answer the question—don't worry about the rest. I'm still me, a firework unlike any other!"

"Uh, pretend I didn't say anything.

I've been mentally preparing for this. Backing out now would be such a waste!"

"Won't you miss your brother?"

"You think you'd believe me if I said no? But I don't have a choice. Besides, it's not like I'm never coming back. If I want to reach out, there are ways, right?"

Stelle glanced toward the guitar. "I think your reason for leaving is more complicated, isn't it?"

Serval didn't deny it. "You saw through me. But I'd rather not talk about the reason—hope you understand."

Stelle said nothing more and left the workshop, spotting Gepard sitting on a bench in the plaza.

"Ah, you two siblings!" She plopped down beside him without hesitation.

"Doesn't sound like something you'd usually say."

"I just wanna ask—how do you feel about Serval boarding the Express?"

"How do I feel? All I can say is that leaving on a whim is just like her. She's always been this willful, never hesitating to trouble others.

Maybe next time we meet, she'll have outgrown that habit!"

"You'll miss her?"

Gepard glanced toward the "Everwinter" Workshop.

"Guess I can't hide it, huh? She's my older sister—we grew up together. You think I'd say no?

It's not about loneliness. Since joining the Silvermane Guards, we've spent more time apart than together—sometimes not seeing each other for months. Plus, there's this thing you guys popularized."

He pulled out his phone. "If I miss her, I can just text her.

I'm just worried... whether she can take care of herself alone out there.

But with someone as capable as you—" Gepard hesitated briefly.

"Actually, with all of you on the Express, my worries are probably unnecessary."

Stelle frowned.

"Hey! That hesitation, seriously hurt!"

Gepard smiled, the gloom on his face vanishing.

"It's getting late. I'll make preparations, then we'll head to the Underworld."