OFA In The World of Honkai

After tidying up his things with Kiana, Bronya, and Mei, the group finally had some time to relax. The dorm was quiet now, each person settling into their usual routines. Bronya, as expected, had retreated to her room, the faint sound of keyboard clicks suggesting she was deep into another gaming session. Kiana was sprawled out on the couch, a bag of chips in her lap as she flipped through channels with rapid impatience, grumbling whenever nothing caught her attention.

In the kitchen, Mei and Kenji stood side by side, washing dishes from their earlier meal. The soft clinking of plates and the steady stream of water filled the space, creating a peaceful rhythm.

"You know, you don't have to help me with this, right?" Mei said, her voice calm but firm as she finished rinsing another plate and set it on the drying rack. "It's my turn to wash the dishes, after all. Oh, and remind me to revise the weekly chores to include you." She glanced at Kenji, her tone light but thoughtful.

Kenji, still scrubbing his plate, shook his head. "Hey, I just got here, so it's only right that I help out. Besides, I'd feel bad if I wasn't doing anything."

Mei chuckled softly, a small smile playing on her lips. "I guess that's fair. You do seem like the type to keep busy," she said, her tone warm.

The conversation lapsed into a comfortable silence.

...

(1 hour later)

"I'm booredd!" Kiana whined, her voice dragging out dramatically as she lay sprawled across the couch. Her arms and legs hung over the sides as though she were a marionette whose strings had been cut. "There's nothing to do!" she added, her tone exaggerated for effect.

Kenji, sitting next to her, barely glanced in her direction before returning to scrolling on his phone. "Then go do something," he said flatly, his tone completely indifferent.

Kiana's response was immediate. A pillow flew straight at his face. Kenji leaned to the side effortlessly, dodging it. The pillow landed behind him with a soft thud against the back of the couch.

Kiana sat up with a groan, glaring at him. "You're impossible!" she said, throwing her hands up before her eyes scanned the room for inspiration. Her gaze locked onto Bronya's console by the TV, and a mischievous grin spread across her face.

She jumped to her feet, dashed over to the console, and powered it on with a flourish. Grabbing two controllers, she turned back toward Kenji with determination in her eyes. Marching over, she thrust one controller into his hands.

"Here. We're playing a game," she declared confidently, her grin practically daring him to refuse.

Kenji didn't even look up from his phone. "Don't wanna," he replied, his tone as flat as before.

Kiana wasn't having it. Without warning, she snatched his phone right out of his hands.

"Hey!" Kenji shouted, lunging to grab it back. But Kiana held it just out of his reach, using her other hand to push against his face and keep him at bay. The whole scene looked more like a sibling squabble than anything else.

"Come on! It's better than scrolling on your ancient phone!" she teased, her grin widening as Kenji's attempts to reclaim his phone became more desperate.

Kenji finally gave up with an exaggerated sigh, slumping back into the couch. "Alright, fine," he muttered, crossing his arms. "I've been scrolling too long anyway. But for the record, my phone is not that old."

Kiana snorted, clearly unimpressed by his defense. Instead of responding, she flopped back onto the couch beside him and started navigating the console menu. The title screen for The Mortuary Assistant flashed across the TV, the eerie visuals immediately setting the tone.

Kenji's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Kiana, what exactly is this game?"

Kiana's grin grew even wider, the gleam of mischief unmistakable. "Oh, it's just a normal horror game," she said far too casually. "Well, I'm not really sure, but it looks cool! There's no splitscreen, though, so we'll have to share a controller."

Kenji's skepticism deepened as he stared at the screen. "I don't know about this..."

Kiana's eyes lit up with mock innocence as she leaned closer. "What? Are you scawed of pwaying a widdle horror game?" she asked, her voice dripping with exaggerated baby talk.

Kenji's jaw tightened, and he snatched the controller out of her hands. "Alright, let's play," he said, his pride clearly stung.

"Woohoo! Game time!" Kiana cheered, throwing her arms into the air.

"Ew don't say that, gross."

"Screw you, Kenji,"

...

Mei was relaxing in her room, the soft glow of her desk lamp illuminating the pages of her notebook. She was tidying up her notes from today's classes, her pen gliding smoothly across the paper.

As she continued, a small smile crept onto her face as she thought about how funny life could be. Her former student-turned-friend, now a vigilante who had literally punched the sky clear, life certainly had its surprises.

Her mind wandered as she adjusted her notes. What's life going to be like now that Kenji's staying with us? she mused. Him and Kiana together in the same dorm? That's a recipe for disaster. She couldn't help but chuckle softly at the thought. Shaking her head, she turned another page, deciding to finish just one more before calling it a night.

Her focus was abruptly shattered by a loud scream followed by a crash from the living room. Mei's head shot up, her eyes wide.

"That sounded like Kiana and Kenji," she muttered, quickly setting her notebook aside. Without hesitation, she rushed toward the living room, her heart pounding slightly from the sudden noise.

When she arrived, the scene that greeted her was… odd, to say the least. Kiana was standing on the couch, looking sheepish, while Kenji was halfway draped over the back of the couch, his legs dangling awkwardly. One of Bronya's controllers lay abandoned across the room.

Mei blinked, unsure if she should be worried or exasperated. "What are you two doing?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of both emotions.

Kenji rolled backward off the couch, landing on the floor with a soft thud before springing to his feet. He pointed an accusatory finger at Kiana. "She told me to play a horror game," he said indignantly.

Mei's gaze shifted to Kiana, who gave a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of her head. "Things kinda got intense," Kiana admitted with a nervous chuckle.

Mei sighed, though she couldn't hide the amusement in her expression. Walking over, she bent down to pick up the abandoned controller. "I thought you didn't do well with scary things?" she asked, glancing at Kenji.

Kenji crossed his arms, his tone defensive. "I can handle horror just fine."

Kiana, still standing on the couch, reached over to pat him on the back before plopping back down. "Sure you can" she said, her grin wide.

Kenji sighed, knowing he'd lost the argument before it even began. He dropped onto the couch next to her, slouching slightly. Turning his attention to Mei, he asked, "Wanna play?"

Mei smiled, holding the controller for a moment as if considering it. "Hmmm, maybe not now." she said after a pause, handing it back to him.

Kiana let out an exaggerated "Aww," clearly disappointed that Mei wasn't joining in. Kenji, on the other hand, just gave Mei a thumbs up. "Fair enough," he said.

As Mei turned to head back to her room, a thought struck her. She stopped mid-step and spun back around. "Oh, right!" she said, catching both Kiana and Kenji's attention.

The two paused, controllers in hand, and looked at her expectantly. "Can everyone gather in the living room around 8?" Mei asked.

Kiana tilted her head. "Sure, but what for?" Kenji added, his curiosity piqued.

Mei clasped her hands together. "Oh, just some bonding time. Since we're going to be living together, i thought we should get to know each other better. Even though Kiana and I already know you, Kenji, it has been a while since we've all spent time together properly."

Kiana nodded enthusiastically. "Got it, Mei!" she said with a grin.

Kenji gave her a thumbs up. "Sounds good to me."

Satisfied, Mei smiled and turned to leave. As she walked back to her room, a lingering thought crossed her mind. How did Bronya not hear any of that commotion?

---

The group sat together in the living room, the warm light from the ceiling casting a soft glow over their faces. Mei sat in the center, her posture calm and composed as she glanced around the room. Kiana was leaning back on the couch, a bowl of chips perched precariously on her lap.
Kenji, sitting next to her, seemed relaxed but slightly uncertain about what to expect. Bronya, as always, was quiet, her expression neutral as she watched the others. The faint hum of the wind outside added a subtle rhythm to the moment, making the atmosphere feel both intimate and calm.

"Alright," Mei began, her voice steady but carrying a hint of nervousness. "The purpose of this is for us to get to know each other better. Since we're living together, it's important to build trust and understand one another."

Kiana rolled her eyes but grinned. "Sounds like a school project." She grabbed a chip and tossed it into her mouth, crunching loudly. "Do we have to write an essay about it later?" she added with a smirk.

Kenji raised an eyebrow. "As long as there's no pop quiz, I'm in," he said with a faint smirk. His tone was light, but there was an undertone of genuine curiosity in his voice.

Mei sighed softly, "Let's start with something simple. We'll each share something about ourselves—a hobby, an interest, or just something the others might not know." She looked around the room, gauging their reactions.

Bronya, who had been silent, spoke up. "Bronya suggests that Kiana Idiotka goes first. It is the most logical approach."

Kiana groaned dramatically, slouching further into the couch. "Of course you'd pick that," she muttered. After a moment, she straightened up and crossed her arms. "Fine, I'll go first."

She paused for a moment, her grin softening into something more genuine. "Okay, so... I love action movies. The cheesier, the better. I'm talking explosions, ridiculous stunts, and people walking away from said explosions without looking back. It's my thing."

Kenji snorted. "You do realize you're not indestructible, right?" he teased"

Kiana shot him a smug look. "Says who? I'm the closest thing to indestructible!" she retorted.

Kenji cleared his throat. "Guess it's my turn," he said, leaning back against the couch. "Before all this Night Runner stuff, I was just a delivery guy. Blue Dragon Couriers. Not the most glamorous gig, but I liked exploring the city. Got to know it pretty well."

Kiana's eyes lit up and she commented. "It still baffles me that you were an overpowered delivery boy. Like, saving the day one package at a time, haha!"

Kenji chuckled. "Something like that," he said. "Though the pay was just barely enough to buy food for my vigilante diet."

Mei smiled softly, her gaze thoughtful. "It's funny how far you've come since then. From deliveries to punching Honkai beasts."

Kenji shrugged. "Guess life's weird like that."

Bronya's turn came next. She adjusted her position slightly, her gaze lowering for a moment before she spoke. "Bronya enjoys gaming. It is a way to relax and improve reflexes. Bronya also... collects small figurines from her favorite games." Her voice softened slightly, as if unsure how her admission would be received.

Kenji tilted his head, a grin spreading across his face. "Figurines, huh? That's pretty cool. Do you have a favorite?"

Bronya's was about to speak before suddenly stopping and quietly said "Not in particular."

Kenji, not realizing Bronya's change of tone. "Well maybe you could show me some of them some time." but he didn't get a response from Bronya. 

The atmosphere lightened further as Kiana leaned back, grabbing another handful of chips and tossing one at Kenji for no reason other. Kenji retaliated by grabbing one and flicking it back at her.

Time seemed to pass as they continued to chat, even making Bronya join in a couple of times.

...

"Wait, so you can regenerate? That's why I don't see any scars on you?" Kiana asked.

Kenji just smirked and shrugged his shoulders "I know, pretty cool right? Though it is a bit finnicky right now...". 

"Finnicky or not, regeneration is a freaking cheat code!"

...

Kenji stared at Kiana with a confused expression as he tried to gather his thoughts. "So let me get this straight. You joined St Freya because you want to find your father, which your aunt -who is the principal- would only tell you if you got strong enough?" 

Kiana put a finger on her chin, "Hmm yup! That's about right."

"Damn" he muttered under his breath.

Still unsure of what to say to that, "Well... I hope you find him. With you being the strong idiot that you are, I know that you'll get insanely strong in no time. Not stronger than me though."

Kiana raised an eyebrow at him and chuckled. "Having powers got you all cocky huh? Maybe I need to knock you down a peg.". But then her eyes softened, "But really thanks, Kenji, I appreciate it."

...

"So a 'Herrscher' is basically a super powerful godlike entity that can destroy countries with little to no effort." Everyone nodded.

"And you have one inside you that is kept at bay by a bom that was implanted in your heart by Schicksal that would explode if it ever awakened again." Everyone nodded again.

"Ok how, why, and what the hell?"

Mei then looked to the side, her expression nervous. " Sorry Kenji but can the explanation wait until a later date?". Seeing Mei's uncomfortable expression, Kenji knew that this was a sore subject if even Kiana looked miffed.

"Sure that's cool. You don't have to tell me everything straight away you know. Everyone has their secrets. You don't have to tell me if you're not ready. I already appreciate you telling me what a Herrscher is." He said with a smile.

Mei still looked a bit nervous and said "Now knowing that I'm... a literal ticking bomb, do you-"

"Let me stop you right there Mei. I won't think of you any differently even if you have an eldritch demon stuck in your body. You are still the same Mei to me."

her expression became lighter after that and she smiled "Thanks Kenji, that means alot. You always were a reliable friend"

That comment made Kenji put on a smug expression "Of course I am!". To which Kiana responded by looking at Mei with puppy eyes, "But not more reliable than me right?". 

"I don't know, It's a pretty close decision~" Mei said with a playful tone. 

To which Kenji joined in, he looked straight at Kiana and pointed to himself "I am the favorite now!" 

"Like hell you are!"

...

After over two hours of talking, Mei glanced at the clock and then back at the group. " It's getting late, I think it's time to get ready for bed. Thank you, everyone. I know it might have felt awkward at first, but I think this was a good start."

Kenji smirked. "I guess it was pretty neat, getting to know everyone better."

Kiana yawned loudly, stretching her arms overhead. "Yeah, yeah. We're all best friends now. Can I go back to my movies?".

"After you help me get some pillows and a blanket. I'm sleeping on the couch remember?" Kenji said as he crossed his arms, gaze fixed on Kiana. She blinked and thought for a moment before realizing. "Oh yeah! I completely forgot that you were banished to the couch."

"Banished, sure. And I can't believe you still want to watch movies when it's like 10 now." he said they walked together to get some of Kiana's spare pillows

---

Late at night, the dorm was shrouded in silence. The faint rustling of leaves outside the windows and the occasional creak of the building were the only sounds accompanying the stillness. Everyone was fast asleep, the world outside blanketed in tranquility.

Kenji, who had started the night on the couch, had rolled off at some point and was now sprawled on the floor, one arm draped over his face as he slept peacefully.

Kiana, sprawled across her bed in her room, was snoring loudly, her blanket twisted and half hanging off the bed in a chaotic tangle.

Mei, by contrast, was the picture of calm, tucked neatly into her bed with her hands resting gently on the covers, a faint expression of serenity softening her features. The dorm was still, each occupant lost in their own quiet world.

But not everyone was asleep.

Up in her room, Bronya sat cross-legged on her bed, her expression illuminated by the soft glow of her tablet. The faint hum of the device filled the otherwise silent room. Her face, usually composed and unreadable, was shadowed by the light as she stared at the holographic image of none other than Cocolia, the leader of Anti-Entropy. 

"The Night Runner or Kenji Aoyama." Cocolia began, her tone measured and analytical. "Schicksal's recruitment of him was predictable. What have you learned about him so far, Bronya?"

Bronya's voice was steady, almost mechanical, but there was a hint of nervousness in her tone. "Bronya has gathered that Kenji Aoyama's connection to Schicksal appears recent, and he lacks formal training. He also stated that he possesses some form of regeneration. Though I was unable to acquire much information, I surmise that Schicksal is planning to do something with him."

Cocolia nodded slowly, her holographic image flickering slightly as the connection wavered. "Expected. Schicksal does not waste resources on mediocrity. It is clear that Kenji is being groomed for something. Continue observing him closely. We need a full understanding of his capabilities and any potential weaknesses. Do not forget to continuously analyze his energy signature and send the analysis daily."

For a moment, Bronya's gaze flickered, her usual composure wavering. "Understood," she replied, her tone unwavering despite the slight tension in her hands as they gripped the tablet.

Cocolia's voice showed no emotion, "You are doing important work, Bronya. Your insights are invaluable. Continue to gain his trust, and ensure you gather every detail possible about Kenji Aoyama. Every piece of information matters."

The holographic projection blinked out with a faint chime, leaving Bronya alone in the dim glow of her tablet. She lowered the device onto her lap, her fingers brushing lightly over its edges as she stared at her faint reflection in the dark screen. Her stoic mask faltered, giving way to a shadow of guilt that tugged at the corners of her expression.

Her gaze dropped to her hands, her fingers curling slightly as if to hold something invisible. The weight of her actions pressed heavily against her chest, a reminder of what she was doing behind everyone's backs.

The people she was living with, people who had welcomed her, were beginning to feel less like strangers and more like... friends. It made the task all the more difficult.

She exhaled slowly, the sound barely audible in the quiet room. The glow from her tablet dimmed as she set it aside, sliding it onto her bedside table. Her hands lingered there for a moment, trembling slightly before she pulled them back. 

"It's necessary." she murmured to herself, the words feeling heavier with each syllable. Her voice lacked conviction, her tone quiet and almost hollow. But even as doubt gnawed at her resolve, she forced herself to accept the task.

This was what needed to be done.