Honkai Impact 3rd: Will Of The Universe

(S2) - Grape Drops

Morning came, casting a fresh, crisp light through the hallways of the base at Salk Lake.

Seele stood quietly near the entrance of the dormitory, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as she checked the time. "Er, maybe I'm a bit too early... Looks like Kiana is not here yet."

To pass the time, Seele leaned against the wall, closed her eyes, and let her consciousness drift inward. Within moments, she was standing inside her own mental world. A vast, surreal expanse where her other self, Veliona, sat elegantly upon a dark throne.

"You've been silent since last night. Is something wrong?" Seele asked gently, stepping forward.

"That is none of your business," Veliona replied, her tone sharp and uncharacteristically dismissive as she leaned her chin on her hand.

"Huh? Not in a good mood?" Seele tilted her head, offering a soft smile. "You can talk to me about it."

"It's nothing," Veliona declined again, coldly shifting her gaze away from Seele to look into the void of their shared mind.

"When Bronya onee-chan told me that sometimes close friends aren't able to open up to each other, I was reminded of us," Seele persisted, her voice laced with earnest worry. "We know each other too well to be completely honest with each other, and you won't tell me your worries..."

Veliona's fingers twitched against the armrest, her patience clearly wearing thin under the gentle interrogation. "I said it's nothing! Look, your new pal is here anyway. Don't waste your time in here."

"Mhm... If you want to talk, I'm always here," Seele said softly, her shoulders slumping a bit as she began to pull her consciousness back to reality.

As Seele's presence faded from the mental world, Veliona let out a long, heavy sigh of relief, dropping her cold facade the moment she was truly alone.

Seele blinked her eyes open, returning to the brightly lit school hallway just as the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from around the corner.

"Sorry I'm late, Seele!" Kiana called out as she jogged up, stopping to catch her breath. She scratched the back of her head with a sheepish grin, but her blue eyes quickly blinked in confusion when she noticed Seele's lips still subtly moving. "Wait, were you talking to yourself?"

"Er, nothing! I was just thinking about something, that's all," Seele stammered, her cheeks dusting with a faint pink as she gently laughed to cover her embarrassment.

Kiana stared at her for a second, then shrugged it off with her usual cheerful energy. "Hmm. Alright then, let's go!"

With a bright smile, Kiana turned on her heel, and the two girls departed from the base, heading side-by-side toward the bustling streets of the city.

The commercial district was teeming with life. Massive colorful banners fluttered between the buildings, and street vendors were already setting up stalls, filling the air with the rich scents of roasting food and sweet pastries.

"That's a lot of people! And it looks like a big festival is coming," Seele commented, marveling at the vibrant crowd as they came to a halt at a pedestrian crossing, waiting for the traffic light to turn red.

"Dr. Tesla said the next 4th is Independence Day, and there will be a big celebration," Kiana explained, folding her arms behind her head with a relaxed grin. "You should bring Bronya here and hang out when it starts!"

"Oh, no wonder," Seele said softly, her eyes wide as she soaked in the sights. This was the first time she had really been out in a major city like this, and the sheer scale of it was breathtaking.