Ayame past (1)

'What's going on!? Didn't Higokumaru only appear in the Stigmata dimension? How could she appear here?'

Kouro's thoughts became chaotic.

That was because, when he reincarnated into this world, Kouro had searched for various information to confirm whether this world was really the same as the world in the game.

Then after being absolutely sure that this world did have similarities with the game, he became a little arrogant because he had the advantage of having information about the future.

It's just that the arrogance was destroyed after his meeting with Ayame who had turned into a Pseudo-Herrscher, let alone now meeting Higokumaru and Sakura.

Higokumaru who was stared at very intensely by Kouro then hid behind Sakura, "Sakura-nee! That guy is looking at me with a scary look."

Kouro who was still dumbfounded, when he heard Higokumaru's words then shook his head.

"Ah... No, I was just surprised to see you, if you feel uncomfortable, I'm sorry."

Kouro took a deep breath and thought.

'Hahh... Calm down o myself, didn't I prepare myself for this, moreover, sooner or later this was bound to happen.'

He quickly calmed down, his mentality also changed slightly, even so, his brain was currently thinking quickly.

If it was in accordance with the original plot this Sakura before him was the girl favored by Kallen Kaslana.

The reason she was alive until now was because she was a vessel for the consciousness of the Herrscher of Corruption, Higokumaru, who was sealed in a crystal box from the Previous Era.

Sakura was basically a Pseudo-Herrscher.

'Sakura and Higokumaru, if I remember correctly, in the original timeline they were originally sealed in a hidden place in the city of Nagazora. But because the Third Eruption disaster occurred, it caused the seal to break and awaken the Herrscher of Corruption.'

'She then met up with Kiana and the others before being defeated by them. This caused the Herrscher of Corruption to weaken so that Sakura, who was used as a vessel, could control herself again. '

'Later, the Herrscher of Corruption induced the negative emotions of one of the students from Senba Academy, this made the student named Yuna become a Pseudo-Herrscher.'

'But in this timeline it wasn't Yuna who became a Pseudo-Herrscher, but rather my childhood friend, Akimitsu Ayame. What I've noticed is that Higokumaru also doesn't seem to affect Ayame's emotions, well... or maybe it's just a front?'

Kouro glanced at the two of them silently.

'Then what changed about Higokumaru that makes her different from the original timeline?'

Kouro was deep in thought, but suddenly opened her eyes wide as if realizing something.

'... The Herrscher of Corruption is a RIN that originated from the Previous Era 50,000 years ago...'' Could something have happened that changed the history of 50,000+ years ago!?

(E/D: This is a major spoiler for Honkai Impact player readers)

Theresa, who noticed Kouro's confused expression, asked worriedly, "Kouro, are you sure you're okay?"

Kouro heard Theresa's question and answered half-heartedly, "Oh, Ah... Yes, I'm fine."

After saying that, Kouro then turned to Sakura and Higokumaru who were peeking from behind Sakura's body, "Regarding how I noticed you, it's because I felt your aura, it's very unique."

'Most likely the two of them intentionally released their auras.' Kouro also thought so.

"Is that so? It seems like you're strong enough to be able to sense our auras very quickly." Sakura spoke in a flat tone.

(E/D: In the game, Sakura always speaks politely).

"What was your real purpose when you started following us, Miss?" Kouro asked as his hand held his greatsword tightly.

Earlier, Kouro felt like he was being watched by someone as they entered Senba Academy.

At first he thought it was Ayame watching them, but when he was dragged by Theresa away from the Academy, Kouro could still feel that they were being watched.

Thinking for a moment about who was watching him, the only people that came to mind were Sakura and Higokumaru.

..

Sakura saw that Kouro was ready to attack, so she replied.

"Don't worry, I have no ill will towards you."

To prove her claim, she raised her hands in surrender.

Seeing that, Kouro loosened his grip on his greatsword.

"My name is Yae Sakura, and this one is Higokumaru... My traveling companion." Sakura said in a calm tone.

Higokumaru slowly floated up from behind Sakura and introduced herself, "Hello... My name is Higokumaru."

Kouro looked at Theresa, and feeling Kouro's gaze, Theresa nodded her head.

"My name is Hanagami Kouro."

"And I am Theresa Apocalypse."

After their brief introduction, Sakura lowered her hand and spoke.

"First of all, I would like to apologize for spying on you, my goal is actually Pseudo-Herrscher. Higokumaru and I want to purify her so that she doesn't harm this city anymore."

"Purify?" Kouro asked in confusion, but as if realizing something, Kouro shouted and his purple eyes began to glow, "What do you mean kill her!?"

Theresa beside him raised [Oath of Judah] and took an attacking stance.

Seeing that, Sakura wanted to explain, but was preceded by Higokumaru, "No! You misunderstood. We just want to purify her so she can live a normal life, we won't kill her, believe me!"

Kouro looked at Higokumaru intensely.

As for Higokumaru, even though she felt uncomfortable being stared at by Kouro's shining purple eyes, she still forced herself to look at him with determination.

1 second...

4 seconds...

10 seconds...

After a few seconds of staring at each other, Kouro then closed his eyes and sighed, "Alright... I'll believe you."

"Eeh!!!" x3

Theresa, Sakura and Higokumaru looked surprised.

"Etto... Are you sure you can trust us just like that?" Higokumaru asked in confusion, Sakura who was beside her also looked at Kouro in confusion.

After all, they had just met for the first time and were only acquaintances at best, but Kouro had put his full trust in them.

Kouro glanced at the two not-so-familiar people and replied lightly, "My intuition tells me to trust you guys, I know you have no bad intentions from the start, I just did that just to see your true personalities."

Hearing Kouro's answer, Sakura and Higokumaru felt like punching Kouro in the face who had played them.

Seeing Kouro like this, Theresa remembered when he negotiated with her to save the 3rd Herrscher.

Kouro, who didn't know what the three people were thinking, then asked Sakura and Higokumaru.

"By the way, if your real goal is Pseudo-Herrscher, then why are you following us?"

Sakura thought for a moment to sort out her words and replied, "...That's because, you seem to have a special relationship with that Pseudo-Herrscher."

"...I did have a special relationship with Ayame... Would you also like to hear the story?" Kouro said weakly.

"...Well, we want to know who she really is and why she became like that." Higokumaru replied.

Kouro then glanced at those who looked very curious about Pseudo-Herrscher and could only sigh helplessly.

"Hahh... Alright, I'll tell you. But first, let's find a shelter to rest in."

Sakura and Higokumaru exchanged glances for a moment before nodding their heads.

"If you two truly believe in us, then come with us, we'll take you to our resting place."

Kouro turned to Theresa first. Noticing Kouro's gaze, Theresa simply sighed and said calmly, "I trust your intuition, Kouro."

Seeing Theresa agree, Kouro signaled Sakura and Higokumaru to lead the way.

...

15 minutes later.

The four of them walked into a two-story apartment building that was miraculously intact.

After entering the building, Kouro saw that the three of them were already seated properly, waiting for him to tell his story.

Seeing this, Kouro sighed for the umpteenth time and stood up before starting the story.

"That girl was Akimitsu Ayame, she was my childhood friend. When I was little, she and I were close friends because we were neighbors, her house was to the left of mine, not to mention she was a tomboy which made it difficult to make friends."

"I often saw her playing alone at the playground, because she often said rude things that made her shunned by other girls. "

"But... Even so, she was my first reliable friend. " Kouro said with a small smile.

After saying that, he then continued with a slightly sad expression.

"...Ayame's family economy is below average, her father is a gambling addict, while her mother only works as a waitress in a cafe."

"...Because of the debts accumulated due to gambling, Ayame's father and mother became stressed. They both fought with each other, which frightened Ayame. "

Kouro seemed to reminisce about the past with a slightly grim expression before continuing.

"Perhaps... The reason Ayame had a tomboyish personality back then was because she wanted to be strong. Although sometimes I saw her body trembling in fear when she heard loud noises."

Kouro paused to take a breath before continuing with his hands clenched into fists.

"I could only accompany her, play with her and encourage her back then. Just to give her a moment to not think about anything and have fun together. "

"Our relationship slowly grew closer, and I would sometimes invite her over to my house for sleepovers. Before finally on that night, a strange tattoo appeared on Ayame's back. "

"A strange tattoo? Could it be..." Theresa interrupted with a question.

"Yes, that strange tattoo... Stigmata." Kouro closed his eyes, no matter how many years had passed, he would never forget that incident.

He then turned to look at Theresa and said,"...Maybe for some people, having stigmata is a blessing, but for Ayame having stigmata is a curse."

"When Ayame was discovered to have stigmata by her parents, she was initially afraid of being scolded by her parents. But it turned out that her parents became happy when they found out that she had stigmata, and Ayame also became happy when she saw her parents happy."

"Ayame also told me the news with great joy. Until one day, I accidentally eavesdropped on Ayame's parents' conversation."

"...Do you know what they were talking about?" Kouro's tone continued to rise.

"They intend to sell their only daughter to a certain organization for money!"

Theresa was silent, as a Valkyrie principal and leader of the organization.

She knew that human trafficking still existed and that those with natural Stigmata were a rare 'commodity' that could be sold handsomely to illicit organizations.

Don't think that all the organizations in the world are focused on fighting Honkai.

The greed and hatred of the human heart knew no borders and no place.

There are still many dark organizations out there that exist to satisfy people's evil hearts, whether it's murder, kidnapping and so on.

As Theresa thought this she listened to the continuation of Kouro's story.

"Hearing that from the mouths of Ayame's own parents, I can't believe it. For money they would sell their own child!" Kouro said through gritted teeth.

Seeing Kouro's expression, Theresa then muttered with a worried expression, "Kouro..."

"I KNOW! I know, that they have no other choice, the debt they have has wrapped around them until they have no other choice but to sell their own child. " Kouro said while banging on the floor until it cracked slightly.

*BAM!

"Sorry, I lost control. " Kouro said with his head bowed before continuing.

"... While I understand the reasons for their actions, I cannot accept that they are so desperate that they would sell their own daughter..."

Kouro knew, if he said this to others who knew his wealthy family background they would sneer at him.

"Someone like you who was born with the 'Golden Spoon' doesn't deserve to say that!"

('Golden spoon' is an idiom that implies that they were born to very rich parents).

That's probably how they scoffed at him.

"Hearing all that, I just looked at them coldly and left quietly. I didn't tell Ayame or anyone else."

"That's why in order to save Ayame. I made a plan, a plan that would probably make Ayame hate me. " Kouro said with eyes shining coldly.