Sunday.
The commercial district of Nagazora City was livelier than usual.
As promised, Liang Wu led Kiana through the crowd to the entrance of a well-decorated clothing store.
This was a shop popular among the wealthier students of Chiba Academy, with a considerable customer base on any given day.
“Hmm…
How about this place?
I’ve noticed it’s quite popular.” Liang Wu pushed the door open and gestured for Kiana to enter.
However, upon hearing Liang Wu’s words, Kiana hesitated.
Back at St.
Freya, thanks to her aunt’s care, Kiana had never worried about food or clothing.
But as a Kaslana who had traveled across continents since childhood, Kiana was particularly sensitive to prices.
There was no doubt that this store’s average price range was far from cheap for a high school student.
Kiana stood at the entrance for a moment, but eventually stepped inside.
After all, she really did need clothes.
Liang Wu’s T-shirt was clean, but wearing some strange guy’s clothes made her feel uneasy.
…She would find a way to pay him back eventually.
Soon, the two entered the store.
The lighting inside was soft, with all kinds of garments on display.
As soon as she entered, Kiana’s attention was drawn to the ordinary customers around her: mothers with children, female students shopping together.
These people were alive, living ordinary lives in this world.
They knew nothing of Honkai, nothing of Herrschers, nothing of Schicksal.
Kiana looked at this mundane scene and felt oddly dazed.
The everyday life she had once taken for granted now felt like something from a century ago.
While Kiana was lost in thought, Liang Wu’s voice came from behind: “How about this one?”
Liang Wu had already made his selection.
He was holding a light blue pleated skirt, eyeing Kiana with a serious expression.
“I think this color suits you.”
To be honest, for Liang Wu, this kind of experience—picking out clothes for someone else—was quite novel.
For some reason, he felt like he was being a bit too enthusiastic today.
He had mocked Kevin for similar behavior before.
Could it be that he was also the type to be swayed by appearances?
But judging by how he felt right now, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“…” Kiana took the skirt from him blankly.
The fabric was soft, a very plain style with no flashy designs, but it did look quite nice.
did you know my size?”
Liang Wu: ?????
Wow.
That was a surprisingly sharp question.
While it was true that the measurements of various Valkyries were recorded in the game from his previous life, who in their right mind would actually memorize that?
“Eyeballed it.” Liang Wu replied without changing his expression.
“I roughly estimated it when I helped you change earlier.
Shouldn’t be too far off.”
“…!” Kiana’s face turned crimson.
The sales assistant nearby chuckled: “Your boyfriend is really attentive.”
Here it came again.
The classic “shopping couple mistaken for lovers” scene.
Without turning his head, Liang Wu answered almost reflexively: “You’re mistaken.
She’s my daughter.”
No problem with that, right?
Kiana had admitted it herself last night.
Sales assistant: “…”
Kiana: “…”
“I…
I’m going to try it on!” Kiana practically fled into the fitting room.
Liang Wu watched her retreating back and could not help but smirk slightly.
Then he casually turned to the still-stunned sales assistant and added, “Could you bring me a few more of the same style in different colors?
Thanks.”
The assistant quickly brought over several pieces.
But after doing so, she could not help leaning in and lowering her voice: “Um…
sir, if you don’t mind me asking, are you and that young lady really…
father and daughter?”
Liang Wu turned to look at the assistant, his expression one of sheer disbelief.
Sister, are you serious?
He was just messing around.
Anyone with eyes could tell, right?
How could anyone take that seriously?
Seeing his reaction, the assistant quickly explained, “I didn’t mean anything bad by it!
It’s just…
you look so young, I was just curious about how you maintain your skin.”
the way you two interact reminds me of some…
mother-daughter pairs I’ve seen before.”
“…Mother-daughter?” Liang Wu raised an eyebrow.
He felt slightly offended.
“Yes, yes, exactly that kind of vibe.” The assistant grew more animated.
“You know…
a daughter who’s a bit sulky and won’t talk much because of some small issue, but the mother is always so understanding, taking care of everything down to the smallest detail.”
Liang Wu fell silent.
He carefully reviewed all of his behavior today.
Wait, something was definitely wrong!
So that was why he had felt off all day.
Could it be that he was being influenced by Cecilia’s Stigmata?
The more Liang Wu thought about it, the more unsettling it became.
“Sir, are you alright?” The assistant noticed his expression and asked with concern.
Liang Wu simply waved his hand: “…I’m fine.
I just thought of something pleasant.”
Well, the atmosphere had become awkward.
But just as Liang Wu was speaking with the assistant, the fitting room curtain was pulled open, and Kiana stepped out in her new outfit.
The light blue pleated skirt fell just above her knees, making her long, fair legs stand out strikingly.
She had casually swept her white hair to one side, revealing the elegant curve of her neck and collarbone.
Perhaps because she was used to wearing combat suits and school uniforms, Kiana seemed a bit uncomfortable, tugging at the hem of the skirt.
The sales assistant had already stepped aside, leaving the space for this “mother-daughter” pair.
As for Liang Wu, looking at Kiana before him, even he had to admit that as the protagonist of Honkai, Kiana was a natural clotheshorse.
Just as Liang Wu was about to say something, a crisp female voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
“Ah…
that’s my Kiana.
Just a little dressing up and she looks so beautiful!”
???
Liang Wu quickly turned his head, only to find that a white-haired woman in her twenties had appeared beside him.
And this woman, Liang Wu naturally recognized her.
Cecilia Schariac, the Schicksal saint who had sacrificed herself during the Second Herrscher war.
Liang Wu: ?!
A ghost?!