Honkai Star Rail Simulation: I'm Surrounded By Characters

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The location for their date this time was the Stellar Exhibition Hall.

Not only did it feature various corridors and galleries dedicated to stars, but its most renowned attraction was the massive and awe-inspiring starry sky projector.

Su Qing and Himeko first strolled through the different exhibits. Once their ticket time arrived, they entered the projector gallery.

They purchased couple tickets, which included two adjacent seats set apart from others for privacy.

The pair reclined comfortably in their seats.

Soon, the lights dimmed, and the vast expanse of the starlit sky was projected onto the ceiling and walls.

Now, surrounded by stars and lying back in their chairs, it felt as though they had truly ventured into space.

As the guide narrated, the star chart continuously changed and zoomed in, providing both a visual spectacle and educational insights.

While Su Qing and Himeko enjoyed the experience, after a moment, he felt his hand being gently held.

Recalling the purpose of this date, Su Qing turned to look at Himeko beside him.

Himeko also gazed at him, her face filled with a sweet smile.

Su Qing pondered briefly before leaning closer. "What do you see?"

Himeko replied, "You and the starry sky."

He leaned in further. "And now?"

Himeko's breath quickened slightly. "I see... just you."

Her cheeks flushed, likely thinking that Su Qing intended a secret kiss.

Looking at her captivating features, Su Qing's eyes reflected tender affection. "Can you still see the stars?"

"Yes, I can... What do you mean?" Himeko, immersed in the joy of closeness with Su Qing, needed a moment to shift her thoughts and comprehend the significance of his question.

Can you still see the starlit sky?

The star projector was casting it onto the ceiling and walls, wasn't it? By simply shifting her gaze away from Su Qing, she could behold the stars.

But what did Su Qing truly mean...

Ah...

In that moment of realization, Himeko's golden eyes widened, her thoughts instantly becoming tumultuous.

Strangely, her first reaction was to apologize: "I... I'm sorry..."

Following their date, they naturally didn't visit any other places. On the way back, walking side by side along the campus lake, Himeko, being exceptionally intelligent, quickly comprehended Su Qing's message after brief contemplation.

In truth, she had already been aware of this issue before.

Yet, despite knowing it stemmed from being overly consumed by love, her immediate response was to apologize to Su Qing.

Her subconscious worry, surprisingly, was not about potentially affecting her studies or hindering her dreams. Instead, it was...

Himeko slightly lowered her head, realizing just how deeply entrenched she had become. She understood that prioritizing romance over everything else was wrong, yet couldn't help but be entangled by these anxious thoughts, unable to prevent herself from dwelling on them excessively.

Himeko feared Su Qing's disappointment and worried he might leave her because of this.

She lowered her head slightly.

Deep down, she knew she had indeed become too deeply immersed.

Despite understanding that prioritizing romance over everything was not right, she couldn't escape the grip of these anxious thoughts, constantly plagued by insecurities.

Such romantic dilemmas are hard to overcome once entangled within them.

"Himeko?" As Su Qing approached the pavilion, noticing her standing frozen on the steps, he gently called out her name.

In the past, or perhaps from others' perspectives,

Himeko was known for her calm rationality, exceptional intelligence, gracefulness, elegance, and could be considered goddess-like in demeanor.

But now, caught up in love, she grappled with myriad thoughts, complex emotions, self-doubt, and fear of disappointing her lover.

Just hearing Su Qing call her name caused Himeko's eyes to well up, feeling an urge to cry.

[Natasha: Sigh...]

[Natasha: Love truly makes one so sentimental.]

[March 7th: Sister Himeko?]

Su Qing walked closer and took her hand with his right. With his left, he tenderly brushed away strands of her hair. He then lifted Himeko's chin, meeting her gaze, conveying his deep concern and care through his eyes.

These were all small gestures.

This gesture managed to slightly calm Himeko's agitated state of mind.

Despite her outwardly elegant appearance, beneath it all, she looked like a young girl who had just done something wrong.

Su Qing picked up on this and displayed considerable tenderness and attentiveness...

[And Kafka finds it strikingly familiar.]

[Typically, men at Su Qing's age wouldn't exhibit such warmth.]

[Where exactly did these exceptional qualities in Su Qing originate from?]

[...Undoubtedly, they were cultivated through his interactions with Kafka.]

[Kafka realizes that once upon a time, this gentleness was entirely, without reservation, dedicated solely to her.]

[But now...]

[Painful, Kafka clutches her heart.]

[So agonizing!]

[Is there anything more tormenting than this?!]

Others also noticed this sentiment.]

Black Swan: With each simulation, Su Qing genuinely shows growth.

Black Swan: The fatherly tenderness he showed towards Kafka last time is now applied to romance, effectively giving him an edge—it's remarkably impactful.

[Silver Wolf: It seems this floating banner for "Self-Sacrificing Good Teammate"... wait, no, should it be "Self-Sacrificing Good Opponent"? Truly deserves to be awarded to Kafka.]

[Silver Wolf: @Firefly, I know you're reluctant, but you must hand it over now.]

[Firefly: (tosses away) I never wanted it from the start!!]

However, Kafka was already too drained to send any more comments.

She clutched her heaving chest, slightly bending forward, genuinely feeling overwhelmed.

[Firefly: Honestly, watching this scene doesn't bother me much.]

[Himeko: Perhaps it's because neither you nor Su Qing have reached this level yet; you've never experienced such tenderness.]

[Firefly: ...]

[Firefly: (sinking sound - completely defeated on the spot!)]

[Silver Wolf: Enjoying every bit of it.]

[March 7th: Sister Himeko, don't kill them! Don't!]

[March 7th: Leave them at least a breath, okay?]

[Sparkle: Enjoying indeed! That's how you deal with rivals in love!]

[Fu Xuan: By the way, which side is March 7th actually on?]

[March 7th: I'm not on any side; I just want everyone to be happily together, isn't that great?]

[Fu Xuan: ...Why does this venerable one feel there's something off about your words?]

Su Qing and Himeko sat down at a lakeside pavilion.

"Actually, I'm just like you," Su Qing said, holding her hand gently. "I am also affected, constantly thinking about your well-being and sharing your worries."

"Really?" Himeko looked at him with a vulnerable expression, her ability to discern compromised.

"Of course." Su Qing intertwined their fingers, palm to palm. "Since we started dating, we've always been together, haven't you noticed?"

"Mm-hmm..." Feeling the genuine affection between them in everyday moments, Himeko quickly believed his words despite her emotional state.

Seeing that she had calmed somewhat, Su Qing continued, "What I said at the Astrology Hall wasn't meant to blame you. We share this love and these concerns, so naturally, we should overcome them together. Don't you agree?"

Throughout their conversation about the issue, Su Qing consistently used the pronoun "we."

Himeko responded softly and compliantly, "Yes, I feel the same way..."

Her mental defenses were completely lowered; now, whatever Su Qing said, she would believe without hesitation.

Fortunately, Su Qing was genuinely responsible and dependable: "We share the same dreams and aspirations. Both of us understand that love and dreams aren't mutually exclusive choices."

Himeko softly nodded.

He carefully expressed his thoughts, "Therefore, I believe we should balance our love with academic pursuits. Only by attending to both can this relationship become healthier and more enduring."

"I know, I understand what you mean, and I feel the same way!" Himeko's tone turned urgent. "So, if you could just give me some time, Su Qing, please trust me. I will definitely change; I'll ensure to devote more attention..."

"No, there's no need to rush."

Su Qing looked at her, sharing his final thoughts from the heart: "I'll be here for you, Himeko. My intention isn't to pressure you. I simply want to convey that I'm with you every step of the way. We'll face these issues together."

"I-I..." Himeko opened her mouth, wanting to respond, but instead, tears welled up uncontrollably.

Su Qing's words were like pebbles cast into the lake of her heart, creating ripples that spread endlessly.

With tears welling up and emotions barely contained, Himeko tried to compose herself. "I'll change later, but right now..."

"Shh, I understand," Su Qing gently embraced her. "There's no need to rush. Take it easy, let yourself cry if you want to."

"I'm sorry, Su Qing..." Himeko buried her face against his chest, her body slightly trembling, "I know my issues, but truly..."

"It's alright, I understand. And I love you too."

Himeko could not utter another word.

Her face pressed against Su Qing's chest, tears streamed down relentlessly like a continuous thread.

On their way back to the Lighthouse, whispers of passion had filled Su Qing's ears. Himeko never imagined she would experience such intense affection for someone, loving them so deeply. At that moment, she couldn't resist expressing this fervent emotion.

Now, her rationality also affirmed it-Su Qing was entirely deserving of her feelings. His reliability, sincerity, and the warmth of his accepting love brought uncontrollable tears to Himeko's eyes.

Emotion and reason converged...

Himeko lifted her head, gazing at Su Qing.

Su Qing gently wiped away her tears.

For now, all concerns about various matters, their future, aspirations, worries... everything took a backseat.

In this moment, Himeko only wished to reciprocate. She tilted her head, closed her eyes, and offered him a kiss filled with immense sincerity.

Su Qing leaned down, kissing her tenderly.

Shallow trails of tears streamed down Himeko's face, but they were tears of happiness.

Her emotions and affection reached their zenith at that instant.

The word "love."

From now on, within her heart, it had a definitive and singular meaning.

***

[Firefly: (silent)]

[Kafka: (quiet)]

[Himeko: (speechless)]

[Although none spoke, the reasons behind their silence varied significantly.]

[March 7th: Blissful?!]

[March 7th: Perfect score!!!!!!]

[Himeko: (slightly composing herself)]

[Himeko: Make it ten thousand points.]

[March 7th: Isn't the perfect score just one thousand?]

[Stelle: Honkai-level power-up again...]

[Stelle: Now Sister Himeko is completely won over.]

[Himeko: Mm-hmm.]

[Stelle: And she admits it herself!]

[Seele: ...I wonder, could I ever find such a wonderful boyfriend?]

["March 7th: Yes! It's right there before your eyes!"]

Inside the lakeside pavilion...

The flames of desire may temporarily extinguish over time.

But at this moment, Himeko felt an unparalleled emotion—a genuine blend of reason and passion—that would never fade, forever etched in her heart.

["Watching this scene unfold on the live stream..."]

[Himeko: (Blissful)(Sweet)(Joyous)]

[As she relived these emotions, Himeko even developed a sense of admiration towards Su Qing. This beautiful mix of love and admiration filled her heart.]

[Kafka: (Angry)(Sad)(Helpless)]

[How could the closest person who had been by her side for so many years be completely swept away by another woman in the blink of an eye?!]

[Firefly: I'll bear with it...]

[Firefly: Just one more time...]

[Firefly: No, I can't take it anymore!!!]

[Black Swan: People's joys and sorrows are not shared equally.]

[Kafka: ...]

[Sparkle: @Kafka, did you forget your clown mask?]

[Kafka: Get lost!! (shatters the mask with a gunshot)]

[Bronya: Sparkle really knows how to court disaster.]

[Silver Wolf: Kafka seems unusually furious!]

[Sparkle: Kafka: Why is Himeko's romance so sweet while I haven't even entered the race?]

[Himeko: Who can you blame for not making a move?]

[Seele: Well, she never had much of a chance from the start, being adopted and all.]

[March 7th: But, how should I put it... Considering Su Qing's character, even if he wouldn't fully accept her, wouldn't he at least respond somehow?]

[Seele: That's true.]

[Bronya: Indeed.]

[Qingque: At least she wouldn't have been completely shut out.]

[Kafka: ...]

[Kafka's morale has significantly decreased.]

[Firefly: If only I hadn't held back so much back then; instead of just a hug, could I have also...]

[Firefly's morale has significantly decreased.]

[Silver Wolf: Oh no! Our forces are utterly defeated!]

[Silver Wolf: So tragic, truly devastating.]

[Silver Wolf: The Stellaron Hunters were completely dominated by Astral Express's Himeko!, unable to retaliate and deeply humiliated—utter defeat awaits them!]

[Fu Xuan: Aren't you part of the Stellaron Hunters too?]

[Silver Wolf: I know, but...]

[Silver Wolf: Ha ha ha ha ha! Why can't I help laughing?]

[Silver Wolf: Poor teammates.]

[Stelle: Because you're always the one watching from the sidelines.]

***

Since their visit to the Starry Sky Pavilion that day, Su Qing and Himeko's relationship underwent a new transformation.

Undeniably, their bond had reached a higher level. However, transitioning from uninhibited expressions of affection to the now restrained ones required some time for both of them to adjust.

Summer gave way to autumn.

As their academic workload increased and research progressed steadily, the temperatures gradually began to drop.

This cooling period might also help temper their emotions, fostering greater calmness and rationality in their relationship.

Even the sun, if it burned relentlessly, would eventually run out of fuel someday. Appropriate restraint and balance would ensure their romance endured longer.

One day, as Su Qing walked along, heading to a study group discussion meeting, someone called out to him, "Excuse me, classmate, could you tell me how to get somewhere?"

Su Qing turned to see a refined middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, exuding warmth and approachability. At a slight distance behind him were several burly men resembling bodyguards, dressed in black suits with noticeable bulges at their waists, likely indicating concealed weapons.

Su Qing stopped and responded, "Of course."

Although ostensibly asking for directions, the middle-aged man carefully studied Su Qing before continuing, "Do you happen to know where Professor Xu of Interstellar Aerodynamics has his office? The one named Xu [Xxx], Professor Xu."

"I know; Professor Xu is our teacher." Su Qing pointed in the direction, informing them of which building and room it was.

"Thank you, very much appreciated," the middle-aged man expressed his gratitude. "What a coincidence! You're one of Professor Xu's students? Then I imagine you must have conducted considerable research in Interstellar Aerodynamics as well?"

Showing humility, Su Qing responded, but the middle-aged man wasn't in a hurry to leave. Right there on the spot, he proceeded to ask him several questions related to Interstellar Aerodynamics.

Su Qing answered each question systematically.

He felt that this person genuinely seemed to be acquainted with Professor Xu, as the queries were of high caliber and cutting-edge.

"Excellent, truly excellent! As expected from a young prodigy!" The middle-aged man highly praised Su Qing's responses. "Professor Xu must be incredibly delighted to have a student like you!"

Finally, after observing Su Qing closely once more, he handed over a business card. "I've always been keen on connecting with talented young individuals. Allow me to introduce myself - I am the Chief Scientific Advisor for Cyan Ring Group, Lin [XXX]."

Su Qing accepted the card.

Cyan Ring Group... Isn't that the most renowned company on Water Blue Star?

Originally, it was just one among many large companies on Water Blue Star. However, in recent decades, as if experiencing an epiphany, they suddenly developed and mastered numerous advanced technologies across various fields.

With its absolute technological lead, the Cyan Ring Group rapidly expanded and now stands as Water Blue Star's largest company. Rumored lobbying and bribery efforts even rendered anti-monopoly laws ineffective in curbing its growth.

Su Qing examined the business card in his hand, recalling the information shared by the scholar during their vacation...

He looked up and responded politely, "Advisor Lin from the Cyan Ring Group? It's a pleasure to meet you."

Advisor Lin, slightly taken aback by Su Qing's reaction, raised an eyebrow but asked no questions. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he departed with his bodyguards.

In the office,

Professor Xu was preparing for his class when he heard a knock on the door. He replied, "Come in."

The door opened, and a middle-aged man entered.

Advisor Lin greeted him with a friendly smile, "Hello, Junior Brother, long time no see."

Initially amiable, Professor Xu's face turned grim upon seeing Advisor Lin. "...What brings you here?!?"

Meanwhile, in a meeting room within the academic building,

Su Qing took out documents from his backpack and began, "Regarding the topic we're discussing, there have been new developments..."

Anna and Kahn lowered their heads, attentively reviewing the materials.

Only Himeko, after accepting the documents, couldn't resist stealing extra glances at Su Qing.

Noticing her gaze, Su Qing blinked quizzically.

Himeko smiled shyly and started examining the materials as well.

She knew—it was their secret agreement. By maintaining restraint for certain periods, she would receive rewards. And calculating mentally, once this discussion concluded, it would be time for her reward...

This was their secret pact.

By maintaining self-restraint for a certain period, they would receive a reward.

And upon calculation, after this discussion session, it would be time to claim their reward...