Lighthouse

"Huh, Sirin... oh no, it's Kiana, right? I didn't think you'd actually come back," Ren said, his voice carrying a mix of surprise and awkwardness.

Kiana stood silently for a moment, her emotions catching in her throat.

"You thought I would come back?" she finally asked, her voice steady despite the lump in her throat.

"I didn't know for sure," Ren admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "It was just a feeling. I thought maybe, someday, you might come back to visit. So, I even switched to a brighter lightbulb. Everyone else has moved away, and it's so dark around here. You've only been here once, so I figured if the light wasn't brighter, you might not find your way back."

As he finished, a thought seemed to hit him. "Oh, wait a second—I forgot to turn on the hallway light!"

Ren disappeared for a moment, flipping a switch. Suddenly, the previously dark hallway lit up, chasing away the shadows.

"See? Now the hallway isn't dark anymore," he said, stepping back toward the doorway with a small, proud smile. He gestured toward the entrance. "Come in and sit for a bit, won't you?"

Kiana stood in the doorway, her white hair falling over her face like a curtain. Tears blurred her vision, making Ren's expression hazy. She turned away quickly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand before anyone could notice.

She was a Valkyrie—a strong one at that—and she didn't want Ren to see her tears or any trace of vulnerability. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself.

"Okay," she said at last, her tone calm and even.

As she stepped inside, Kiana glanced at the now brightly lit hallway. The once-lonely place felt a little warmer now. Even if the stars and moon lost their light, and the world was swallowed by darkness,

she thought to herself, as long as there was even a faint glow to guide her, she would always find her way home.

...

The house looked just like Kiana remembered, but the living room was nearly unrecognizable under the mountain of clutter. Boxes, books, and clothes were stacked haphazardly, leaving little room to move.

Ren scratched the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "Sorry about the mess. I've been sorting things to take with me when I move. Let me tidy up a bit first."

There were still quite a few things piled up on the table. They were all the things that Ren had sorted out, ready to take with him when he moved, all sorts of books, and old clothes.

Taking a deep breath, Ren picked up the tall pile of books, but unfortunately, he had clearly overestimated his strength. As soon as he picked them up, his hands sank, and he immediately lost his balance.

Just when he thought he was going to fall, a slender arm easily supported him and the pile of books, and even took the books from his hands with one hand, leaving him completely dumbfounded.

"Where are you planning to put these?" Kiana's voice interrupted Ren's daze. Looking at the girl easily holding the books that he struggled to pick up, Ren scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.

"Just put them over here for now." He moved a cardboard box over, and piled the books against the wall.

Working together, the two managed to clear most of the living room. Kiana stacked books neatly while Ren folded clothes and sorted through the remaining boxes. The room, once chaotic, now looked much tidier.

But with most of the belongings packed away for the upcoming move, the space felt empty.

A bit lonely.

"Why are you the only one here?" Not seeing Ren's mother, Kiana felt a bad feeling in her heart. A terrible guess gradually surfaced in her mind.

Ren, however, seemed cheerful, showing no signs of sadness. "Oh, it's nothing bad! Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical was running a free medical assistance lottery in the city center. Can you believe it? We actually won a spot! My mom's over there now, getting treatment."

Kiana's shoulders relaxed a little. "Treatment? Then… your illness—"

"…" Ren didn't speak. The smile on his face was a little stiff.

Realizing that she had let something slip, Kiana immediately reacted. She quickly explained, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to look at your medical records before."

After a few seconds of silence, Ren shook his head. "It doesn't matter. My illness isn't a secret. The reason why I stayed was actually to say goodbye to you."

"Goodbye…"

The word hit Kiana harder than she expected. Goodbye.

Her heart suddenly felt a little bitter. Kiana suddenly remembered the reason why she had come here: she also wanted to say goodbye. But after experiencing what she had, she suddenly didn't want to mention the word. She didn't expect it to come from Ren's mouth.

Ren didn't seem to notice the subtle shift in Kiana's expression. Instead, he glanced around the now-tidier room with a hint of nostalgia.

"I've been here for so long, it's hard to leave. Even though that bastard of a father abandoned my mom and me, he did work his butt off to buy this house. Now, thanks to the Honkai, everyone has to move to safer areas."

So, it was just about moving.

Kiana's heart felt lighter. She had been overthinking it. Normally, she wasn't the kind of person to get sentimental, but Ren's words had hit her in a way she hadn't expected. She didn't even notice the relief spreading through her as she realized there wasn't anything worse behind his words.

"Yeah, disasters are getting worse," Kiana said, her tone more relaxed now. "Moving makes sense. But… the others already left three days ago. You stayed behind just to… wait for me?"

The question lingered between them, the truth suddenly clear.

Everyone else had gone, but Ren stayed. It wasn't because he didn't want to leave. He had been waiting—waiting to see her one last time.

Kiana thought about everything: the brighter light he'd put up so she could find her way, the hallway he'd fixed, and the three days he'd spent in this empty neighborhood.

He wasn't afraid of being alone or even the danger. He had stayed because he didn't want her to come back to a dark, empty house. He had stayed because he wanted to say goodbye in person.

Her chest tightened a little, not in sadness but in a strange kind of warmth. Looking at Ren, she couldn't help but feel grateful. Without realizing it, he had become a small but steady light for her—a guide to help her find her way home.

"I guess you could say that," Ren said with a calm smile, brushing his hand through his hair. "We're friends, right? Leaving without saying goodbye wouldn't feel right."

As he spoke, he suddenly smacked his forehead, realizing something. "Oh, geez, I didn't even offer you tea! Sorry about that."

Before Kiana could say a word, he was already off, his footsteps thumping toward the kitchen. "Thump, thump, thump," echoed through the quiet house as he went to boil water.

Kiana sat there alone, shaking her head slightly with a faint smile. "No need," she murmured, though Ren was long gone by then.

Unbeknownst to Kiana, Ren's trip to the kitchen wasn't just about tea. With a quick glance to ensure she wasn't watching, he activated his Herrscher powers. Outside, in the darkened street below, Himeko stood frozen, her face clouded with confusion.

"Why? Can't I even go home?" she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration.

Ren's expression hardened, though he kept his voice low and resolute. "No," he said coldly. "You need to find somewhere else to stay for the night. Either that, or I'll lock you in the Dominance Theater. Your choice."

He couldn't afford any mistakes. He had spotted Himeko's movements just in time, and if she had come back to the house, it would've spelled disaster—for him and, more importantly, for Kiana.

"You're such a heartless man. It's not like you brought a woman home, right? I'm telling you, Kiana is…"

"Shut up!" Harshly interrupting Himeko, Ren directly controlled her, and had her run off to the barren land outside the suburbs. Only after they were completely alone did he release her control.

Looking at the empty wilderness, Himeko's teeth were grinding against each other. He actually threw her out into this place. "That's too much."

Having been busy for an entire day, she was both tired and hungry. But unexpectedly, she had been kicked out as soon as she had gotten home. Himeko's heart was filled with resentment, but there was nothing she could do. She was now one of his puppets.

"I guess I'll just have to settle for a night outside." With a helpless sigh, Himeko felt around in her pockets, only to find that she didn't have a single penny.

"You piece of…"