On the cold, busy streets, traffic flowed back and forth. Sakura, wearing headphones, exhaled a puff of warm air, her blue eyes looking ahead. In her hand, she held a cup of hot drink, a perfect indulgence on a winter day. She couldn't help but reflect on how, after the Honkai ended, everyone had gone their separate ways, leading ordinary, mundane lives. Like her, she always worked late, the last to leave. But if she didn't work hard, she wouldn't have money to support her sister.
Elsewhere, Kevin sat before a cold keyboard, his hands flying across the keys, typing line after line of code. He was just an anonymous programmer now, no longer the savior Kevin. "Ah, I forgot the time again. We were supposed to meet at the Golden Court... Never mind, I've got instant noodles, so I won't go."
In a seemingly opulent villa, the renowned Golden Court, the landlady was none other than Eden. She was wealthy enough not to need to work like others. "Ahaha, let's fight!"
Kira was busily kneading dough. Though his strength might splash ingredients everywhere, he didn't care. His only goal was to knead the dough perfectly. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, observe the new function of my sweeping robot!" With a flourish, a white cloth was removed, revealing a robot resembling Mobius. What Velvie didn't know was that Mobius was already behind her. "Velvie! Don't run! Stop right there!"
On the other side, Aponia, wielding twin blades, silently eyed the meat on the cutting board. "Please, become minced meat!" she declared, her blades swiftly striking the meat, shaving off thin slices with each stroke. It looked like dumplings could be made soon.
"Hehe, as brilliant as a flower! Eden, Eden! Did you see?" On a snowy landscape, Eden held her phone, smiling at Elysia on the screen. It seemed she needed to return quickly, or she'd miss out on the dumplings. It was a holiday, and she didn't want to miss such a joyous day.
More and more familiar faces appeared at the Golden Court, gathering together to celebrate the festival everyone wished for. Wishing everyone a Happy Minor New Year, did you have dumplings today? Thirteen people sat neatly at the dining table, their laughter echoing, their eyes sparkling.
"Ally, your dumplings are excellent," Elysia said. Though complimented multiple times, Elysia still relished the praise, hugging Eden happily. "My dear Eden, thank you! Hehe, would you like some wine?" she asked, producing a bottle of what looked like expensive red wine. Of course, she hadn't bought it herself; it was from Eden's collection. She couldn't afford such things. "Ah, wine? Let's have some then."
"Mama Aponia, I want that," Griseo said, swinging her little legs and pointing to a dish. Too short to reach it, she had to ask Mama Aponia for help. "Okay, I'll get it for you." Aponia stood up and placed the dish in front of Griseo. No one else objected.
"Velvie, you dare again? You dare make a sweeping robot in my image! Do you want to die?" "Ah, I don't dare anymore! Mobius, please let me go!" Seeing the bickering pair, Su chuckled. This added a bit of liveliness.
Kevin, meanwhile, was quietly carrying a bucket of instant noodles. Upholding the principle of not wasting food, he carried the noodles all the way to the Golden Court. "Instant noodles are still delicious, though the dumplings are good too." Sakura gently touched her sister's forehead, occasionally putting food on her plate, as she was in a growth spurt.
Kira quietly ate the dessert he made. Though it didn't look great, it tasted good, proving his efforts weren't in vain. Kosma, holding a book, sighed softly. Exams were the worst. As for Pardo Felis, she had wandered off to restock again. She always did this during gatherings, and everyone was used to it, so they didn't bother looking for her. In a room, Pardo Felis lay on a large bed, holding her canned food, looking drowsy.
This was their ordinary day. Even on holidays, they simply gathered. Without the influence of the Honkai, they lived such ordinary lives! Just like the film Elysia had once directed them in. Hua, skilled in ancient martial arts. Felis, who enjoyed fishing and naps. Su, who healed with his medical skills. Sakura, who always worked late. Velvie, who stayed indoors. Kevin, who typed cold code. Kira, the butler, skilled at making desserts. Mobius, a university professor. Kosma, a high school student. Griseo, the famous little artist. Eden, the landlady of the Golden Court. Aponia, the night shift nurse. And Elysia, a freelancer operating an online account under the name "Pink Fairy Miss."
This was the ordinary, mundane destiny they should have had, not the "Flame-Chasing Thirteen Heroes" that posterity remembered. No one wanted to be a great hero, and no one wanted to shout slogans for the sake of the world. But dreams must eventually end, right? They couldn't possibly have such ordinary destinies, just as flowers don't wither without reason. Beautiful things are always fleeting. As everything gradually crumbled, the earlier scene seemed to vanish, returning to darkness. It was just a dream.
They were still the heroes remembered by posterity. Ordinary days were a luxury for them. This dream must end! As their eyes opened, they saw countless familiar faces lying on the ground. Elysia coughed lightly, a drop of blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "Why give us such a dream? Do you want us to die peacefully in a beautiful dream?" A figure floated in the air, seemingly the god of this world, commanding absolute submission. Those who resisted would disintegrate with a mere wave of its hand.
"I will not give up! I will never give up. You can defeat me once, twice, even thrice, but as long as I am alive, I will get up again and again. I will not hand him over to you!"