Honkai Impact 3rd: Catching the Herrscher of Sentience at the Start

"Yay! Look, I won!" Fu Shi tossed the controller aside and leapt into Fu Hua's arms to show off.

"Lost. Bronya actually lost to a little kid." Bronya slumped to the floor in defeat, staring blankly at the "K.O." on the TV screen.

"What was that flash of familiarity just now... Fenghuang Down?" Fu Hua looked at the triumphant Fu Shi in her arms and fell into deep thought. Could Fenghuang Down have come to life?

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The school bell rang, and the exhausted Kiana finally returned to her beloved little apartment...

"Mei, I'm back."

"Huh? It smells so good~ Let me see what delicious food Mei is making again."

Kiana weakly pushed open the apartment door, but as soon as she smelled the aroma wafting from the kitchen, her energy returned instantly. She snuck into the kitchen quietly.

But upon seeing Fu Hua cooking, she asked in confusion, "Class monitor Fu Hua, why are you cooking? Where's my Mei?"

"Mei is keeping Fu Shi and Bronya company. I'll be in charge of lunch today," Fu Hua said as she placed the wrapped dumplings into a pot, covered it, and let them simmer for 5–10 minutes.

"Class monitor Fu Hua, what are you making? It smells so good," Kiana leaned closer, eyeing the pot of dumplings while swallowing hard.

"Dumplings and noodles. I promised to make them for you a while ago, but I kept delaying it. I'm sorry about that."

Fu Hua took a few bowls from the cupboard, neatly arranged them on the table, and poured the cooked dumplings into the bowls one by one. She also looked at the noodles, white and silky, with satisfaction.

"Can we eat them now?"

"Hot! Ah~ It's hot! Huff~" Without waiting for Fu Hua to respond, Kiana grabbed a spoon, scooped up a dumpling, and stuffed it into her mouth, only to burn herself red-faced. She looked at Fu Hua with teary, pleading eyes, sticking her tongue out in discomfort.

"Seems like it's missing something... Oh, I've got it!"

"Wait a moment, Kiana." Fu Hua fetched a cup of cold water and handed it to Kiana. Then, after looking at the plain dumpling on the table, she thought for a moment before rushing out of the room.

A few minutes later, Fu Hua returned to the kitchen, sweating, carrying a jar. She wiped her forehead and said, "Adding some pickled vegetable, this makes it a true delicacy."

"Mmm~ Crispy, refreshing, with a spicy kick that fills your mouth. I can't stop eating it!"

Kiana picked up a pickle and put it in her mouth. After savoring the taste, she reached for more.

"Kiana, these pickles goes best with steamed buns, or noodles," Fu Hua said as she smacked Kiana's hand away. After sprinkling a bit onto each bowl of dumpling noodles, she sealed the jar again—it was all she had left, after all.

"Alright, I'll go call everyone over."

Kiana eagerly ran out of the kitchen and saw Mei playing games with Fu Shi on her lap. Feeling jealous, she said, "Mei~ You've never played games with me before."

"Hmm? Oh, you're back, Kiana," Mei said, turning around after hearing Kiana's voice. That's when she realized it was already after class.

"I've been back for a while, and I even called for you, Mei..." Kiana widened her eyes in disbelief as if struck by lightning, clutching her chest dramatically as though she'd been abandoned.

"Sorry, Kiana. I got a little too absorbed in playing games with Fu Shi." Mei, seeing the K.O. on the screen, put down the controller and stood up, holding Fu Shi with an apologetic look.

"Mei, you don't usually play games. What's up with today...?"

"Oh, by the way, where's Bronya?" Kiana, puzzled by Mei suddenly gaming, started looking around for Bronya.

Mei recalled Bronya's earlier expression and couldn't help but stifle a laugh. "Bronya refused to play anymore because she lost to Fu Shi. She said there was 'bad luck' and wouldn't keep playing."

"So I reluctantly decided to play with Fu Shi."

"No way, Bronya lost to this little kid?"

Kiana looked at Fu Shi in disbelief. The Bronya she could never beat actually lost to a child?

"You got a problem? And who are you calling a little kid?"

"Also, Mei, what do you mean by 'reluctantly'? You're the one who begged me to... Mmph!"

Before Fu Shi could finish, Mei, her face gradually turning red, covered Fu Shi's mouth. Fu Shi looked at Mei indignantly—it was clearly Mei who begged her to play together.

Kiana crossed her arms and said smugly, "Isn't it obvious who the little kid is here?"

"You! You...!" Fu Shi flailed her fists in anger, but being in Mei's arms, she couldn't even touch Kiana.

"Alright, Kiana," Mei said helplessly as she watched Kiana bicker with Fu Shi.

Kiana turned away with her hands on her hips and said haughtily, "Hmph~ I still haven't forgiven you, Mei. Unless you give me a big hug."

"Kiana, will you forgive me?" Mei sighed, putting Fu Shi down and hugging Kiana from behind to comfort her.

Fu Shi, "..."