After the rather catastrophic reunion between father and daughter, peace finally returned to the apartment-at least temporarily-when Reina's voice rang out from the kitchen.
"Kiana, come help me bring the food to the table!"
Knowing full well how much both Kiana and Siegfried could eat, Reina had made the decision to cook everything she had left in the fridge. Tonight's dinner was a grand feast-steaming butter chicken, fluffy white rice, vibrant stir-fried vegetables, grilled sausages, and several side dishes packed with flavor.
Kiana jumped up immediately, rushing to help as the smell of the food alone already made her eyes sparkle.
"Alright, you two-no fighting in front of food," Reina said as she smiled warmly, placing the last dish on the table. "Let's just enjoy dinner tonight."
Siegfried was now seated across from them, still sore but at least intact. Kiana, on the other hand, sat beside Reina like she always did-grinning and bouncing in her seat.
Without hesitation, Kiana shoved her plate toward Reina. "Gimme rice, gimme rice!"
"Alright, alright. Rice for you~" Reina said playfully, scooping a mountain of rice onto Kiana's plate.
It didn't take long before her plate was piled with chicken, vegetables, and sausages too. And the moment Reina was done serving, Kiana dove in like a starved beast-devouring bite after bite with reckless speed.
"Kiana, eat slowly!"
"So-sworry, it jhus delicious!" she said, still chewing.
"And no talking while eating!"
Siegfried watched the scene with a dazed expression, unable to hide his amazement. He had never seen his daughter eat like that before. She looked... happy. Completely and genuinely happy.
His eyes shifted to the food. The smell alone was incredible, and the dishes looked expertly prepared. Reina clearly knew her way around a kitchen. Unlike him-every time he tried to cook for Kiana in the past, it ended with him scraping blackened charcoal out of the pan.
"Here, Uncle Siegfried," Reina said as she placed a plate piled with food in front of him. "Don't hesitate to eat as much as you want. I'm pretty confident in my cooking~"
"I see... then thank you for the food," he replied, nodding politely.
He picked up a piece of chicken, brought it to his mouth... and froze the moment he took a bite.
The moment the flavor hit his tongue, Siegfried froze in place.
The tender chicken melted in his mouth, coated in rich, creamy butter sauce with just the right balance of spices. The rice was perfectly fluffy, soaking up the sauce like it belonged there. Everything about the dish-the aroma, the texture, the warmth-hit him all at once.
And then it hit him again.
A memory.
The soft clinking of dishes in a sunlit kitchen. The faint scent of flowers carried through the window. A gentle voice humming as a woman carefully plated a home-cooked meal.
Cecilia.
He remembered how her food always had this warmth to it-not just in taste, but in feeling. Her cooking wasn't just nourishment-it was love, comfort. Something that soothed his heart no matter how chaotic the world outside had become.
And now, as he sat at this small dinner table, across from his grown daughter and beside a girl he'd only just met... that same feeling came flooding back. As if Cecilia herself had prepared this meal. As if she were right there with him again.
The warmth filled his chest-and then overflowed.
Tears began falling silently down his face, one after another, without warning. He didn't make a sound, didn't sob or choke. He just sat there, eating slowly, quietly... as the memories of his beloved wife poured over him with each bite.
Across the table, Reina had noticed-but she said nothing, only watching with soft eyes.
Kiana, with her mouth still full, tilted her head. "Eh? What's wrong with him?"
"Let's just eat, alright? Leave him for now," Reina said softly, then picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
Kiana simply nodded, continuing her meal, though her eyes occasionally flicked toward her old man sitting across from her.
Siegfried ate slowly, savoring each bite of the food like it was something sacred. It wasn't until nearly an hour later that the meal finally ended.
Afterward, Siegfried offered to help wash the dishes, wanting to at least contribute in some way, but Reina politely declined. "You're our guest today. Just take it easy in the living room. We've got this."
With that, Siegfried wandered to the living room, quietly observing his surroundings while Reina and Kiana tidied up in the kitchen.
The wall was filled with photos-countless snapshots of different places, captured beautifully. Whether it was Reina or Kiana who took them, the images spoke of adventure and memory, of two people who had traveled the world together.
He remembered them telling him how, before coming to Japan, they had roamed through various countries untouched by the Honkai eruption. Now, seeing the proof of those travels framed on the wall, he could imagine just how many places they had been.
Among the many pictures, one stood out in the center. Its ornate frame was decorated delicately, protected by a thin clear cover. Clearly, this one held more value than the others.
Drawn to it, Siegfried reached out, carefully lifting it from the wall to get a closer look.
It was a photo of Kiana and Reina in front of a wooden cabin. Kiana was hugging Reina tightly from the side, grinning brightly, while Reina wore a surprised expression. It seemed Kiana had ambushed her just as the picture was taken.
"Funny, right?" Reina's voice spoke softly beside him. "Kiana said she just wanted a normal pose. But the moment the timer was about to go off, she threw herself at me full force. Almost knocked both of us down."
Siegfried chuckled under his breath. "Yeah... I know how that feels." He had lived with Kiana for over two years-her antics were second nature to him now.
He gently placed the frame back onto the wall, then turned toward Reina. This time, he lowered his voice, making sure Kiana couldn't overhear.
"What's your plan?" he asked. "Earlier, you said you intended to kill Otto. You know how dangerous that man is, right?"
"I know," Reina answered with a calm smile. "But don't worry. I can protect myself-and Kiana."
"Your arm... Was it because of Sora?"
He paused while looking at his left arm, then nodded and exhaled heavily.
"Yeah. But I don't regret it. I protected my baby doll. Even if it cost me my life, I'd do it again. That's just the way of a Kaslana."
Hearing that made Reina smile-she could tell Siegfried meant every word. To her, the Kaslana family had always been something beautiful, especially their unwavering motto.
Siegfried with his undying determination, and Kiana, who carried that same unshakable will. Reina remembered it clearly, especially from the game-Kiana trying to sacrifice herself just to save an entire city, alone. That kind of selflessness... it was unmistakably Kaslana.
The only one she found a bit annoying was that guy obsessed with cup noodles. But technically, Kevin wasn't a true Kaslana-he was their ancestor. So maybe that didn't count.
"Fufufu... then you're always welcome to come here whenever you like," Reina said with a playful smile. "And I can help repair your body, you know-the one that's riddled with Honkai infection."
"Huh?" Siegfried blinked in surprise.
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After that, the three of them ended up spending time together in the living room, watching TV. Siegfried took the opportunity to try bonding with his daughter again.
Of course, Kiana wasn't going to make it easy for him.
Most of the time, she ignored him outright, but every now and then, she responded-either with short answers to his questions or a subtle nod when he offered her a snack. It wasn't much, but to Siegfried, it was something.
Eventually, the clock struck 9 PM. Siegfried stood by the front door, realizing it was time for him to leave.
"Thank you for having me, you two," he said with a small smile.
Technically, he had been kidnapped here, but oddly enough, he felt grateful. Because of it, he had the chance to meet Reina-and to reconnect with his daughter, even if just a little.
"No problem," Reina replied. "Remember to come again on Saturday, so we can start repairing your body."
She had plans for him. Specifically, to absorb the Honkai corruption from his system and reconstruct his missing left arm by the end of the week. It would take time, after all.
Reina also intended to replicate Shamash and place a protective barrier around Siegfried's Kaslana stigmata. Kevin had been using that link to watch what was happening in the real world while trapped in the Sea of Quanta.
Reina planned to cut that connection-remove Kevin's influence from the stigmata and allow Siegfried to use his power freely, without being spied on.
"Yes, I'll be back on Saturday," Siegfried said with a nod. Then he turned his eyes toward the figure behind Reina. "And Kiana... goodbye for now."
Kiana didn't respond at first. She stood quietly behind Reina, unmoving and silent.
Siegfried sighed softly, placing a hand on the doorknob and stepping out into the hall. Just as he began to close the door behind him, a voice reached his ears.
"See you later, old man."
His eyes widened. He hadn't expected her to say anything.
Before his tears could return, he quickly shut the door-and left with a quiet smile on his face.
After Siegfried left, Reina and Kiana decided to head to bed early. With school waiting for them the next day, there wasn't much time left for anything else.
The next morning began as usual—their daily life slipping back into rhythm. Reina dragged a still-groggy Kiana out of bed for their morning training session before school, refusing to let her slack off even for a day.
By the time they arrived at school and entered the locker room, the two of them ran into Mei again. This time, however—Mei no longer looked dazed like she had the day before, after their intense sparring match.
"Morning," Mei greeted with her usual calm and composed.
After exchanging a few words, the three of them walked together down the hallway toward their classroom. The usual sounds of chattering students and echoing footsteps filled the air as their day officially began.