Fu Hua: "Save Me, Save Me..."
Unlike the Herrscher's descent, which had evoked shock and awe, The Last Lesson left them with a different feeling entirely. It was, as the title suggested, a final, brilliant flash of light from a dying flame, illuminating the path forward for her lost students.
As the video ended, the melancholic music deepened the emotional impact. When the projection faded, everyone turned to Himeko.
"Hey, I'm still alive and kicking. Stop looking at me like that, or I'll get angry," she said, her eye twitching.
Excluding Otto, the master of emotional detachment, and Shu, the seasoned manipulator, Himeko, the "star" of the show, was probably the least affected. While the others were moved to tears, she felt a strange mix of moved and bewilderment.
"Himeko-sensei!!" Kiana, ignoring the warning, launched herself at Himeko, burying her face in her chest.
"You're so good to me!" she wailed, wiping her tears and snot on Himeko's clothes. Himeko tried to pry her off, but Kiana's grip was like iron.
"Let go!" she said, her efforts proving futile.
"No!" Kiana insisted. "I need to feel your warmth! And I want you to pat my head!"
Yes, yes, this is exactly what I wanted to see! Shu struggled to contain his grin.
Himeko sighed, then slowly raised her hand, placing it on Kiana's head.
Thump!
Kiana released her grip, returning to her seat, clutching her head. Himeko blew on her slightly bruised hand, glaring at Shu, who hadn't quite managed to suppress his smile.
He quickly schooled his expression, resuming his role as the impassive projectionist.
The scene shifted to ARC City. Kiana watched her lost, confused in-game counterpart, seeing a reflection of her own time in the Shanghai shelter, though the game Kiana seemed even more helpless and bewildered. Kiana couldn't imagine how she'd endured.
She looked at Theresa and the others, searching for her, her heart filled with gratitude, then noticed Theresa giving her a warning look. She suddenly felt even more aggrieved.
Then, a character who had only appeared briefly in the manga entered the scene.
Kevin Kaslana. Shu paused the video, giving a serious lecture about this character, a human who, by all accounts, was the strongest, even capturing Otto's attention.
The Stigmata Project, the Sky People, Project STIGMA…the story unfolded, the tension and urgency palpable. As the meteor reversed its course, the story returned to its starting point: Nagazora.
Kiana's escape, Mei's decision…everyone in the carriage understood. Would they have done the same?
Yes! Absolutely!
After a self-indulgent rewatch of Reburn, Shu observed Kiana and Mei, huddled together, watching the battle in Lament of the Fallen, a strange feeling stirring within him. It was like watching actors, after a successful performance, viewing their own work, a distinct separation between the character and the performer.
This transcended mere manipulation.
As Lament of the Fallen ended, Kiana took Mei's hand, her gaze soft and filled with emotion, as if trying to envelop Mei in her feelings.
"Mei…" she began, her voice serious.
"Kiana…" Mei blushed under Kiana's intense gaze. She wasn't the confident Herrscher yet.
"Mei…you…" Kiana leaned closer. Mei, flustered, closed her eyes.
Theresa, Fu Hua, and Himeko, who had been discussing the story, fell silent, watching them with wide eyes. Even Kallen stopped tormenting Otto, covering her mouth with her hand, staring.
"Can you say that line again?" Kiana asked, oblivious to Mei's anticipation, and the expectations of the audience, who were clearly hoping for something else entirely.
"Huh?" Mei opened her eyes, looking at Kiana, puzzled.
"That line!" Kiana gestured wildly, then cleared her throat, lowering her voice. "'I will descend into darkness, so you may return to the light.' So cool!"
"Mei, say it, please?" she pleaded, her eyes shining.
Mei: "…"
Everyone else: "Boo!"
"What? It was cool!" Kiana protested, bewildered by their sudden disapproval.
"Kiana, it's not about whether it's cool or not…" Fu Hua began, but Himeko and Theresa quickly covered her mouth.
"Nothing! Shu, continue, continue!"
Shu, rolling his eyes, gave them a look of disdain, especially the golden-haired instigator, and resumed the video. By now, they were treating it like any other story, as he'd intended, like watching a movie they'd starred in, except they didn't know the script.
The appearance of the perpetually three-year-old Herrscher of Sentience plunged Fu Hua into deeper silence. The whole thing felt…unreal.
Had she really been that…uh…
During a scene transition, she looked at the others, bewildered.
"Class monitor, you've worked hard." Kiana, the most immersed in the story, bowed respectfully, deepening Fu Hua's unease.
That's not me. I didn't do that. I don't deserve this.
Only Otto's gaze was different, prompting her to look at him, seeking some sort of reassurance. He stroked his chin, his tone teasing, making Fu Hua's vision swim.
"Old friend, I'm flesh and blood now. You can't hear my Honkai cores creaking anymore."