Old Friends

Su stood before the mirror, nervously adjusting his tie, worried about his appearance.

"My, my, Su, I never thought I'd see the day you'd fuss over your reflection." Dr. SPACY, holding a flask, appeared at the doorway, a teasing smile on his face. "The little peacock, usually so cool and collected, is finally showing off his feathers."

"Ahem, Doctor, I just want to look presentable." Su coughed awkwardly. "This is my first time at Fire Moth HQ, and I'm meeting Dr. Mobius, the leading expert in human genetic science. It would be rude to appear disheveled."

"Is that really the reason?" Dr. SPACY's smile didn't waver. "I have a feeling someone's eager to see his little girlfriend."

"Cough, cough, cough! Doctor, please!" Su coughed even harder. "Not yet, anyway!"

"Not yet—meaning you hope it will be 'yes' in the future?" Looking at Su's blushing face, Dr. SPACY gave a knowing smile. "Youth is wonderful, full of vigor… Setting your sights on that former hero, you have high standards."

"Alright, let's go. Dr. Mobius has high hopes for you." Dr. SPACY turned and gestured for Su to follow. "After the meeting, you can go find your dream girl—I seem to recall she was affiliated with Mobius' lab."

Following Dr. SPACY, Su could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

Six years.

It took him six years to finally stand on the same ground as Lee!

He lacked Kevin's raw power and Mei's genius intellect, but through hard work, he'd finally reached their level.

He might be late, his status still lower than theirs, but he was finally close to Lee.

It's been so long… I wonder how she is… Will she even recognize me?

He was on his way to meet Mobius, a leading figure in his field, but his mind was entirely occupied by Lee.

She used to contact him regularly, but after—yes, it was after the Sixth Honkai Eruption—he hadn't heard from her. She even stopped updating her social media.

He didn't want to pester her, then he saw the news of her injury.

His initial reaction was pride—his beloved upperclassman was so radiant, even in a global organization like the Fire Moth, she still shone the brightest. But then came worry. She's injured. How is she now?

Such confidential information was inaccessible to him before joining the Fire Moth. Even after joining, all he knew was that she had been transferred to Australia, then back to HQ after the Seventh Eruption.

Su's Fifth Lab wasn't at HQ, so he hadn't had a chance to see her—until today!

His mentor, Dr. SPACY, believed he was ready for a promotion within the Fire Moth, and with Mobius' recommendation, he was transferred to HQ, where he could even start his independent research.

Research wasn't Su's primary motivation. The world didn't lack doctors. But being close to Lee… that was important.

As Su contemplated how to approach Lee, Dr. SPACY stopped before Mobius' lab.

"Go talk to her. She wants to see you—" Dr. SPACY paused, giving Su some advice. "Mobius has a… peculiar personality. Don't argue with her, and don't eat or drink anything she offers you."

"Yes, I know." Su nodded.

Even though he'd never been to HQ, Mobius' reputation as a mad scientist preceded her.

Taking a deep breath, Su opened the door.

Cold, sterile lighting, a vast, empty lab, specimens and experimental materials that would be censored on TV—it was everything Su expected of Mobius' lab.

But strangely, the infamous scientist was nowhere to be seen. The only person present was a green-haired girl who looked no older than sixteen.

Mobius had green hair, but she should be over thirty… Was this her younger sister, or perhaps her daughter?

Confused, Su approached the girl. "Excuse me, Miss, do you know where Dr. Mobius is?"

To his surprise, the girl simply glanced at him, then scoffed. "Dressed so smartly, which little birdie are you trying to impress?"

Such an impolite child…

Though slightly exasperated, Su maintained his composure. "Excuse me, I'm here to—"

"No need for introductions. I know you, Su." The girl—or rather, Mobius—sat down in her adjustable chair, raising an eyebrow. "I've read your publications. Impressive. You could become a scientist like me, even surpass me—if you abandon those laughably weak ethics of yours."

"…I see. So you are Dr. Mobius. You look… very young." Su quickly caught on, forcing a smile. "Thank you for your praise, but I believe harming humanity to save humanity is… counterproductive."

"In science, morality is meaningless—perhaps your old classmate Mei would be more persuasive on that point."

Mobius scoffed, then fell silent, picking up the documents on her desk. "Alright, you can go."

"?"

Su was confused. He'd prepared for a grilling on his research, or a debate on ethics, but it was over just like that?

"You should go find the person you're looking for." Mobius didn't look up, her voice muffled. "Seeing an old friend might cheer her up… She should be in the library."

"As for the rest… we'll talk later."