Honkai Star Rail Simulation: I'm Surrounded By Characters

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On the fourth day of the auction.

Today featured the scientific research item that Aisha desired.

At the auction venue, Su Qing's team sat alongside Himeko and her group.

Both sides' invitation cards had been mutually marked, allowing them to see each other's true appearances.

There seemed to be little interest in this particular research item. After Aisha made several bids, she effortlessly secured it.

Su Qing was scanning his surroundings, vigilant against potential enemies, when he heard the notification: "Faction mission completed."

Su Qing blinked in confusion.

He was growing increasingly puzzled—where were the promised high difficulties and formidable adversaries? Why hadn't he encountered any yet?

[Sparkle: Seriously, don't you see them? They're right here, one on your left and one on your right.]

Kafka and Himeko were seated on either side of Su Qing.

First, Himeko congratulated Aisha, then she leaned close to Su Qing's ear and whispered something. Acting very intimately, Su Qing naturally inclined his head to listen.

As Himeko spoke, she observed Kafka's reaction from the corner of her eye.

Kafka's response was evident; her expression showed clear displeasure, as if saying:

Ouch! That hurts too much!! Su Qing, why?!

[Qingque: Enjoying it.]

[Qingque: Yet despite being so uncomfortable, Kafka isn't causing any trouble, just watching?]

[Silver Wolf: Seems like she might be willing to tolerate anything.?]

Witnessing this scene, Himeko became even more certain that regardless of Kafka's unusual feelings for Su Qing, their relationship remained strictly that of teammates.

Otherwise, why wouldn't she react to such discomfort?

In essence, they were merely teammates, with no further entitlements.

Aisha, having obtained the research item, immediately returned to her room to begin studying it. As a result, dinner was shared by Su Qing, Himeko, Silver Wolf, and Kafka.

At the self-service restaurant, Silver Wolf and Kafka sat on one side, while Su Qing and Himeko took the opposite seats.

Silver Wolf and Su Qing sat facing each other on the outer side, while Himeko and Kafka faced one another on the inner seats.

It struck Silver Wolf as odd—wasn't Kafka not just Su Qing's ex-girlfriend but even claimed to be his current girlfriend? So why weren't they sitting together?

When Su Qing got up to fetch more food, Silver Wolf quietly asked about this during the brief moment.

Kafka put down her fork, folded her hands, and rested her chin upon them. With a smile, she replied audibly, "Sorry, Silver Wolf, I deceived you. Actually, I'm not Su Qing's ex-girlfriend; it's Himeko."

Silver Wolf's initial reaction was simply, "Huh?"

At that volume, Himeko naturally heard it too.

She set down her fork, frowning. "Kafka, were you impersonating me as well?"

Silver Wolf first glanced at Himeko, then quickly turned back to look at Kafka.

"Wait, what?!" exclaimed Silver Wolf.

[Firefly: ? Little Silver Wolf is utterly confused.]

[Seele: hhh She's reduced to only saying "Huh?" now.]

"Hold on, let me clarify," interrupted Silver Wolf before their conversation continued, holding up a hand. "So, Himeko, you're actually Su Qing's ex-girlfriend?"

Himeko responded amicably, "Yes, although let me correct that—it's not 'ex,' just some temporary misunderstandings."

[Qingque: Himeko truly persists with this point.]

Silver Wolf pondered over the information received.

So, the inherently evil ex-girlfriend was actually Himeko?!

Silver Wolf then turned to Kafka, who smiled and winked at her.

...But you, as a pretender too, aren't much better!

[Stelle: Joyful, Silver Wolf: All just troublemakers!]

[Silver Wolf: ? Are they not?]

Rubbing her temples, Silver Wolf sighed, "I can't make sense of this anymore. What exactly is going on between you two?"

She felt utterly speechless.

Her intention was simply to meet Su Qing again, continue being teammates, enjoy playing games together, and eventually find an opportunity to express her feelings.

Discovering that Kafka was supposedly Su Qing's girlfriend had already shocked Silver Wolf immensely.

Then, Himeko from the Astral Express entered the picture, claiming to be his actual girlfriend...

What kind of situation is this?!

The dynamics were shifting rapidly, becoming far too complicated!

[Black Swan: (laughs) Even after several years, Silver Wolf remains remarkably straightforward.]

[Black Swan: She thinks in straight lines; who could've anticipated such twists and turns right under her nose?]

[Qingque: Ha ha ha, indeed.]

Himeko couldn't help but ask, "Kafka, by impersonating me, does it mean you have intentions beyond friendship with Su Qing?"

Kafka's smile remained unchanged. "Indeed, I do. Just a friendly reminder—we still live together, and I possess the Word Spirit Technique. Can you guess what might happen?"

Alarm bells instantly went off in Himeko's mind.

Her gaze towards Kafka now mirrored the distrust Kafka had initially shown her: "...I strongly advise you to abandon those dangerous thoughts, immediately."

Kafka remained unfazed. "Then stop me if you can. If not, just watch quietly."

A surge of anger began accumulating within Himeko.

She noticed that today's Kafka was even more provocative and irritating than yesterday.

Upon hearing the truth, Silver Wolf intended to express her displeasure at being deceived by Kafka and denounce the actions of this wicked ex-girlfriend.

However, sensing the escalating tension between these two...

Silver Wolf glanced at Kafka, whose smile continued with relentless provocation, then looked at Himeko, whose anger visibly grew, becoming increasingly agitated.

It felt like a flame ignited between them, ready to explode at any moment.

...And so, Silver Wolf eventually managed to say, "Uh, let's all calm down; we're still eating."

[Seele: Hahahaha!!]

[Bronya: ? The other two were arguing so fiercely, she ended up trying to mediate instead.]

Forget it, let's focus on having our meal first.

Silver Wolf realized there was little chance of diffusing the situation, thinking it might be better to eat something before they potentially clashed. She picked up her fork, speared a piece of fried chicken, and prepared to take a bite.

At that moment, Su Qing returned.

Su Qing placed several plates down and took a seat. "The fruit here is of good quality; I brought some for you all too."

Himeko, delighted, leaned closer to Su Qing, her tone filled with warmth and affection. "Thank you, you're so sweet."

Kafka's smile shifted from provocative to charming, as if instantly forgetting their earlier dispute. "Looks delicious. Himeko, could you pass me one?"

"Sure, here you go." Smiling warmly and naturally, Himeko handed a slice of watermelon to Kafka.

Just as Silver Wolf was about to take a bite of fried chicken, they froze on the spot, utterly bewildered.

Silver Wolf: ?????

A moment ago, it felt like they were ready to tear each other apart, but now, within seconds, everything seemed perfectly fine? Is this how cunning women operate?

How terrifying!

[Qingque: Face Off ]

[Stelle: The little Silver Wolf is completely dumbfounded!]

[Herta: Can't keep up with these high-stakes dynamics.]

[March 7th: I think it's great. With Silver Wolf around, the atmosphere stays less tense.?]

[Silver Wolf: I've said it before, I'm not just comic relief!]

[Sparkle:? Your denial itself is part of the humor.]

After dinner concluded,

Whether due to being full or overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information exchanged, Silver Wolf felt slightly dizzy. "You guys carry... uh, no, continue your conversation. I'll head back to my room first."

[Bronya: @Silver Wolf, Aah! Why did you leave so soon again??]

[Silver Wolf: Don't worry, they're both here; nothing will go wrong.]

[Qingque: They keep each other in check, right? No need to fret then?]

After Silver Wolf's departure,

Kafka promptly turned with a smile towards Himeko, "Are you tired? Would you like to take some rest?"

Himeko courteously declined, "No, thank you for your concern."

The conference venue was vast, featuring a small open-air garden between several buildings.

The three of them began strolling together through this garden.

Su Qing walked between Kafka and Himeko, who appeared amicable on the surface. However, he still felt an underlying sense of impending danger, as if they were constantly poised for conflict.

He decided to inquire, "Honestly, is there still tension between the two of you?"

Himeko intended to deny it, but Kafka spoke first, "Indeed, there is."

Himeko looked slightly taken aback.

Su Qing's expression conveyed his confirmation of their strained relationship, and he continued, "Could you tell me what exactly causes this tension?"

Both Kafka and Himeko held significant importance to Su Qing. If possible, he genuinely hoped they could get along better.

Kafka smiled, "That's something you should ask Himeko."

The conversation shifted towards Himeko, who was contemplating her response when Kafka added, "There's no need to hide anymore, let's be honest."

Kafka likely had ulterior motives.

This was Himeko's instinctive judgment.

But Su Qing's questioning gaze was already upon them.

Based on the current information, firstly, Kafka and Su Qing were merely teammates, and secondly, Kafka exhibited a dangerous aura.

Moreover, with her mastery of Word Spirit Techniques, Himeko couldn't shake off the feeling that Kafka might harbor malicious intentions towards Su Qing at any moment...

Considering all this,

Himeko pondered for a moment before deciding to speak up. She believed her request should be reasonable.

Gathering her thoughts, she said, "Actually, it's not a big deal..."

In just a few carefully chosen words, Himeko expressed her concerns about Kafka living together with Su Qing as subtly as possible.

[Bronya: Oh, choosing this approach as your opening move?]

Su Qing suddenly realized, "Oh, indeed."

Having lived with Kafka previously, he had grown accustomed to their arrangement. Additionally, since reuniting with Himeko only recently, they hadn't yet discussed restoring their relationship fully, leaving no time to consider these aspects.

Immediately, Su Qing reassured her, "We're not in that kind of relationship, Himeko, so don't worry."

"Of course, I can move out." Pausing briefly, Su Qing added, "In fact, if doing so would clear any misunderstandings between you two, I'll contact the supervisor right away and ask him to arrange another room for me."

[March 7th: Su Qing's reaction seems quite genuine!]

[Black Swan: Yes, we all know his stance towards Kafka.]

Himeko naturally felt delighted upon hearing this.

She then observed Kafka's expression and noticed a hint of panic creeping in.

A smile tugged at Himeko's lips.

Was Kafka starting to feel anxious after seeing Su Qing so resolute about moving out? All her talk about giving up everything was just empty bravado.

In the end, she's merely a teammate.

How could your relationship with Su Qing possibly compare to mine?

Kafka looked at Himeko, her tone slightly irritated. "You're overthinking things. If there were truly something between Su Qing and me, would it matter whether he moves or not?"

Hmm? Even revealing her own insecurities voluntarily?

Himeko played along, "Indeed, as Kafka said, I'm more concerned..."

Once again, Su Qing earnestly reassured Himeko that his relationship with Kafka was not as she imagined, urging her not to worry.

Himeko believed him readily, intending to let the matter drop.

However, Kafka spoke mockingly, "Well, some people seem overly jealous."

At this, Himeko's smile widened, feeling somewhat vindicated.

It's really unbecoming, isn't it?

Was Kafka already feeling compelled to show such behavior in front of Su Qing?

Himeko decided to press her advantage, "I believe you. But Kafka might have other intentions towards you."

"Ah? No way?" Su Qing instinctively denied it and turned to look at Kafka.

Kafka, slightly uneasy, avoided his gaze—possibly the most genuine reaction among her previous responses.

[Sparkle: Enjoying this.]

Kafka then glanced back at Himeko with a few more taunts.

Himeko couldn't let these attacks go unchecked and gradually began responding in kind.

Seeing the potential for an escalating argument, Su Qing felt a headache coming on. "...Please don't be like this. I truly hope you both can get along well."

Kafka shrugged. "Well, Himeko's implication is clear: she wants you to choose between us, just pick one."

Su Qing sighed helplessly, hoping against hope that wasn't Himeko's intention.

He looked at her, his eyes conveying a distinct plea.

Himeko quickly started pondering. If it were any other matter, she definitely wouldn't be able to resist Su Qing's beseeching gaze...

But on this matter...

Himeko didn't want to appear overly jealous... Yet, Kafka did seem genuinely threatening...

Ultimately, influenced by love and her urgent desire for Su Qing's undivided attention to restore their relationship quickly, Himeko couldn't resist the temptation. She continued along the path Kafka had laid out.

"Well, I'm not strictly insisting on choosing between us," Himeko deliberated before speaking. "The best outcome would be if you, Su Qing, could maintain more distance from her."

Kafka raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that essentially what 'choosing one' means? Stop pretending to be so magnanimous."

Himeko couldn't help but frown.

How irritating.

Constantly emphasizing this choice between two.

Don't you realize I'm actually giving you some leeway? Must I completely drive you away from Su Qing before you'll back off?

Himeko looked at her, visibly displeased. "If you insist on framing it that way, then yes, consider it a choice between us."

Finally.

At last, she heard Himeko utter those words.

Compared to Silver Wolf, Kafka was indeed much harder to deceive.

[Silver Wolf: ?]

Fortunately, it seems everything was worth it.

Kafka lowered her gaze, concealing her emotions from Su Qing.

Su Qing appeared deeply conflicted and sighed heavily before asking, "...Is this truly necessary?"

Himeko looked at Kafka.

She saw Kafka raise her head, feigning surprise as if genuinely unprepared for Su Qing to make such a choice.

Panicking now, she's really starting to panic.

Feeling slightly reassured, Himeko murmured softly, "Yes."

[Herta: ...That acting.]

[Seele: Ah? What do you mean by acting?]

[Herta: Nothing, just keep watching.]

Himeko anticipated that Su Qing would swiftly respond.

Unexpectedly, however, he fell into a prolonged silence.

At this moment, Himeko's intuition signaled something was amiss.

She began rapidly pondering where things had gone wrong...

It should have been certain...

Su Qing absolutely, absolutely prefers me more...

He definitely doesn't harbor any romantic feelings towards Kafka...

But...

Unconsciously, Himeko glanced over again.

This time, she found Kafka's expression remarkably calm. The previous panic had vanished entirely, along with her irritating sarcasm and unmasked hostility.

Kafka stood obediently behind Su Qing, hands clasped behind her back. She gazed at Himeko serenely, wearing a faint smile.

As if watching prey slowly falling step by step into a trap, ensnared within a spider's web.

In the next moment,

Su Qing spoke up, "I'm sorry, Himeko. After thinking it through, I believe..."

Himeko's face instantly paled.

***

***

[Stelle: Sister Himeko: Oh no, we fell for their trap!!]

[Seele: What happened??]

[Sushang: Yeah, I don't understand either. Wasn't Himeko always maintaining the upper hand? How did things suddenly collapse???]

[Black Swan: ...Let me describe it this way - imagine a scenario where...]

[Black Swan: Your girlfriend, who was passionately involved with you for a year and is now reconciling, comes to your home and says: 'Having me is enough; tell your daughter, whom you've raised for six years, to leave.']

[Seele: Ah!]

[Sushang: Ah!!]

[March 7th: ? Aaahh!!!]

[Kafka: @Himeko, checkmate.]

[Kafka: It's simple math: 6 > 1. As a navigator, surely you can't fail to grasp this basic equation?]

[Himeko: ...]

[Himeko (face also slightly pale):...]