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Many Valkyrie/students of St. Freya have been requesting Theresa to hold a festival at a certain date and seeing how the valkyries have been studying diligently, the overseer was more than glad to comply such request.
But due to her having a busy schedule, she decided to delegate that task to the two head captains of the Hyperion.
Now? The red haired captain is looking at the blank document with a defeated look as he tried to come up with something for the event.
"Hajime? You doing okay?" As Elysia walked in the living room, mixing up a batter in a bowl in her hands.
He shook his head while kept on thinking.
"Yikes. It's silent Hajime today. It's really that bad, huh?" He nodded with a pissed look. She sighed as she scooped a batter with a rubber spatula and reached it out to him.
"Give it a taste for me, love." Hajime complied by scooping it with a finger and tasted it.
He nodded and gave her a thumbs-up.
Seeing how he was still into this, she pouted and walked behind him as she decided to help him. She placed the bowl on the table and placed her hands on his shoulder and leaned down, placing her chin on the top of his head.
"Hmmm~" Hajime sighed as he looked up but only seeing Ellie's pink hair.
"Ellie? What are you doing?"
"Calming your overthinking brain. Is it working?" He smiled.
"Yeah............ A little bit. Sure you don't mind doing so?" Ellie giggled.
"Of course i don't~ Your head feels nice actually. It is like a warm blanket on a very cold day." She hugged her husband by the neck. "Mmmmm~ So warm~" He smiled as he rolled his eyes.
"Glad that i can be a great blanket for you, love. I am guessing some of the flamechasers never let you do this when they were around?"
"Sadly, No. Only Eden and Aponia let me do this. Even Kevin gets annoyed when i do this during hot days." Hajime smiled but sighed as he looked at the blank document. Elysia smiled softly as she can see that Hajime was becoming more human.
"I have been looking at this blank document for hours and i still haven't come up with something, you know?"
"Heyyy~ I am sure Theresa will understand that you haven't come up with something for the valkyries if you tell her. She didn't say that you are obligated to do this."
"That's the thing. I want to do this. I am just not coming up with something good." Elysia playfully puffed up her cheeks as she tried to come up things with her.
"Well....... You could try to take inspiration from the show 'Homi's Love'." Hajime grimaced.
"I don't know why you are still watching that show."
"It is an interesting show."
"Eughhhhhhh.............. That show offends me." Elysia giggled as Hajime grumbled in pain.
"Well............ You could try our honeymoon days." Hajime pondered a bit.
"That could work." Elysia grinned as her husband was starting to get better already.
"Hmmm..................." As he tried to remember their days that time by bringing up the photo album.
He and Elysia travelled to a lot of places and they were both happy.
"I still remember them like it was just yesterday." Hajime chuckled. "I just don't know why you didn't like it."
"I didn't say i didn't like it. It was a great honeymoon. I said i got physically and emotionally exhausted after that honeymoon." He held his back. "Ugh.............. Dealing with your shenanigans isn't exactly fun, Honey."
"Oh come on, It wasn't that bad."
"You try telling that to my poor back. Ugh........... Who knew getting ran over by a Parvati would hit like a truck?" He caressed his back.
"Don't forget about the ice block prison~"
"Ugh............. I can't believe i almost forgot about it." He winced as he remembered being encased in a block of ice. "I need to get myself a chiropractor after this event."
"Awww~~~ Here i thought you appreciated my handiwork~"
"After that nonsense you just pulled back at Barcelona? No. And i don't want to repeat it in the future."
"Awwwwww~ But you make a great body pillow~"
"And they called me crazy for installing a disaster room............" He took a sip from his chilled boba tea as he kept remembering things back then.
He shared his drink to Elysia and proceeded on typing.
"Thanks~" As Elysia took a sip.
Hajime rapidly typed and Elysia watched him work while continued on working on the batter.
"And that's all of it. What do you think?" Elysia leaned in closer to see what he wrote. She gasped in shocked and hugged her husband tight.
"I LOVE IT~!" She nuzzled her head to his neck, not realizing that she is suffocating her husband in the process.
"...................."
"Hajime?"
"Ellie............. Can't breathe..........." Elysia immediately let him go and collapsed on his seat as he breathe deeply.
"Seriously......... What is with you girls and your suffocation hugs?" Elysia sheepishly giggled as he weakly complained. "Anyways......... I am going to send this to Theresa so that we can start working on this." Ellie nodded as Hajime submitted the proposal to the overseer online.
"And there's that. It looks like I don't have anymore plans after this. " He weakly stood up and stretched out his limbs.
"Well..... If you are free, you can help me with the cake i was working on." He pursed his lip in thought.
"Oh heck....... Why not?" He followed Elysia to the kitchen and helped her get started on the cream and frosting. Elysia giggled at his eagerness to help her and handed him an apron.
"Really?" Elysia giggled and he sighed as he wore the apron that says 'I like Elysia Forever.'"
"Hehehe~" As Elysia was eating all this up.
Seeing how playful his wife was, He could only just smiled and gave her a kiss on her cheek,
"Oh? Here i thought you are going to deny such ridiculous claims." She responded with a blush.
"Well.......... I do admit that the claims are ridiculous. I didn't say that they aren't true." Hajime blushed as he kept on mixing the cream with a smile.
Elysia couldn't resist smirking as she saw his small blushing smile.
Hajime finished mixing the cream on his part and took a small dipped with his spoon and gave it to Ellie for taste.
"Hmmm.......... Needs a little sugar." Hajime raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. I am being unbiased this time. Don't want to make things too sweet now." He chuckled as he watched her took a few chocolate bars from the fridge.
Hajime started on adding it with 2 cups of sugar while Elysia took a cake mold and laid out the batter to make the cake.
He watched her place the cake in the oven after storing his work in the fridge.
"Now. All we have to do now is to wait for a couple of minutes~"
"What are you going to do for the mean time?" Elysia giggled as she took out a book from her pocket. Seeing this made Hajime gave her a blank stare.
"Really?"
"What? It really is an interesting read." He sighed as he took two chilled boba teas after finishing his.
Seeing this, Elysia returned one to the fridge and led him to living room.
"You do realize that book is about relationship, right?" As Elysia sat on a couch and started reading 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus."
"Yep. And yet it still doesn't explain why you, of all people, have it."
"O-kay. I can explain." Elysia raised an eyebrow while sipping on his boba tea. Hajime just watched her giving him a playful and teasing look.
"Please, Do tell~ Ha~Ji~Me~" Hajime just sighed and sat on couch with her while Elysia is still giving him a sultry side look.
"I. CAN. EXPLAIN."
Elysia had a blast, teasing him about the book he kept in his house while Hajime is doing his best, explaining to her why he is keeping the book after all this time.
The night went on, not noticing that Theresa already responded to Hajime's submitted documents.
"This is a great idea, Hajime.
And i would like this 'Schicksal's Valentine's day Festival to get started as soon as possible.
Let me know if you need anything. "
The message ended with a Theresa giving a thumbs up and a wink.
On Valentine's Day.
Everybody was excited to attend the festival.
Everybody was seeing vendors selling snacks and operators advertising their games.
Citizens of Soukai were also welcomed to join in as the event is not only limited to the valkyries and staff.
"All right. Is everything in order?"
"Roger." As Hajime heard a response from most of his valkyries.
"Rita? You don't mind overwatching every surveillance of the area?"
"Please do not worry, Master Hajime. This humble maid would also be glad to provide instructions to every deployed valkyrie on the field if there are operators who has the gall to cheat the citizens of Soukai."
"Thank you very much, Rita." The maid giggled as she turned off her communications, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
He scanned around the area and saw Kiana and Mei talking to each other.
He chuckled as the two valkyries were having difficult talking with each other.
These two...... They never failed to make me chuckle.
He saw Kiana scratched her head while Mei averting her eyes from the silver haired valkyrie.
Ugh...... Why am i not surprised when these two are having a hard time expressing their feelings to each other especially on VALENTINE's DAY?
This is coming from a guy who loses his 'cool' every time his wife tries to 'flirts' with him....................
He sighed but smiled.
"Hey, Mei?" The herscherr of Thunder looked at him with curious eyes.
"Isn't there something else you should be focusing on?" Mei widened her eyes and immediately left, leaving the Herscherr of Flamescion with the Captain of the Hyperion. Kiana looked at him with a curious eyes.
"I don't think i can handle another minute watching you two trying to have a casual conversation with each other."
"We were having a casual conversation."
"Kiana? Watching you struggling to say something to Mei was not casual." Kiana pouted. "Seriously. Who taught you how to flirt?" Kiana played with her fingers while blushing.
"Well........ Dad and Himeko taught me a few things." Hajime 'ahh'ed then smiled. He placed a hand on her head and ruffled a little bit.
"You want a tip?" Kiana nodded with expectant eyes.
"Don't try to be someone that you are not. There is a reason why Mei likes you. You being someone else isn't one of them." Kiana nodded with a smile.
They both looked around and saw how good the festival was.
"Do you think Aunt Himeko would have appreciated this place if she was here?" Hajime thought about it for a while.
"Knowing her? Yeah. She would have. After all. It's Valentine's day. People are getting desperate to get themselves a date and she is focusing getting herself a sweetheart. It would be weird for her not to appreciate this event." Kiana chuckled but sighed.
"Hajime? I am really sorry about......" Kiana tried to express what she wanted to say but he interrupted her by placing his hand on top of her hand.
"Kiana? It's fine. And it was Himeko's choice to save you." Seeing Kiana still felt guilty, Hajime smiled softly.
"Do you want to hear a story about Himeko?" Kiana immediately nodded with expectant eyes. He chuckled.
"Himeko, for the longest time, has always been the 'light' of the Murata household. No matter how many challenges you tried to throw at her, she always go through them with a huge smile. The only challenge she just can't seem to overcome is finding herself a boyfriend." Kiana snickered.
"Aunt Himeko would be soooooo jealous if she has learned about you getting a valkyrie wife."
"Eughhh........... Honestly? If she learned about the fact that i got married, she will never let me hear the end of it. Especially how i actually got married."
"How did you get married to Ellie anyways?"
"....... I don't want to talk about it." He averted his eyes away from the silver haired valkyrie. He was however curious about something.
"I gotta ask. Did Ellie say some things like 'how we first met' or things like that?" Kiana widened her eyes in realization.
"Oh yeah! And it was weird too." He raised an eyebrow.
"Hang on, I have it recorded in my phone." She took out her phone and finally found it after a few minutes. Kiana started reading it out loud.
'This cute girl was really lonely in her journey and she was beginning to lose hope as she travels around the world. And then one day while in Soukai, Hajime went into her life and changed everything with the heartwarming smile.
From that day forward, The cute and little Elysia knew that Hajime will forever be her knight in shining armor." Hearing this, Hajime ultimately went red.
WHY? WHY, ELLIE?
"Ugh.............. I am not saying that it is not true. it's just............. Ugh."
Kiana couldn't resist giggling at how funny this was to her, essentially forgetting why she was really upset about.
Hajime chuckled and patted her hair.
"Good to know that you are still doing okay after all of this. I was starting to get worried if i really 'lost' you after all of things you have been through." Kiana looked at him with confusion and finally realized what he was talking about.
She hugged him tight with a huge grin.
"You are not going to lose me that easily, Captain." The captain hugged her back.
"Glad to know that you are still 'you'." Kiana giggled but later pondered on their conversation earlier.
"Hajime? Can i ask why aren't you upset about what 'I' did to Aunt Himeko?" He softly smiled and looked at his surroundings.
"At first, I was worried about keeping her memory alive. And coming from me, that is a lot since Himeko has contributed so many things for Theresa, Ragna and st. Freya. If it weren't for you girls and Ellie, I would have collapsed under that sheer weight and pressure.
Taking care of my cousin and the rest of the valkyries is one thing. Keeping the memory alive is whole different thing and is way harder than it looks."
He looked and saw Mei and Bronya taking care of things on their end.
"But as time goes by and watching you, Mei and Bronya mature, i realized that i really didn't need to put myself under that kind of harsh punishment because you three can do it easily for me." Kiana widened her eyes.
"Yep. Before you girls came along, Himeko once told me the reason why she wanted to become the Hyperion's captain is because she wanted to carry on her dad's legacy. And i respected that.
But after taking you girls in, she changed her mind from being a captain to a mentor. And seeing you girls in the flesh, i can see why." He gave Kiana a side hug.
"She wanted to become a 'mother' to you three. And not only that, all of you three combined resembled so much like her. Bronya signifies her intelligence. Mei signifies her sheer willpower and determination while maintaining her 'gentle' demeanor. And you?" Hajime looked at her in the eye with a fond smile.
"Not only you are Himeko's best student despite your academic performance, you resembled so much like her back in her old days." Kiana widened her eyes in shock as she didn't know if she wanted to cry or not.
"Much like Himeko was Ragna's 'beacon of light', You were hers. And i can't tell you how many times i keep seeing her in you. And once i realized that, I didn't need to do much to maintain Himeko's memory. All i need to do from this day forward is to be you girls' captain and hopefully guide you to a better path." Kiana tackled him and hugged him tight as she cried.
"Thank you so much, Hajime." He chuckled.
"I should be the one thanking you, Kiana. I hope you three will keep helping me maintaining her memory. I can do so little after all." Kiana sniffled after wiping her tears.
"Of course. We will do our best." Kiana kept embracing him while the captain patted her back.
A couple of staff members decided to help on creating a platform at the center of St. Freya and Hajime was overseeing the process. Elysia took a lunch break with the girls, leaving him with the valkyries who decided to volunteer to help him.
"Mei? Bronya? Are you girls sure that you want to help me on this? Don't you two need take a lunch break first?"
"It's alright with us, captain." Bronya nodded along with Mei.
"A'ight. If you girls say so."
Many onlookers were curious what they were up to. To them, it looked like they were making a platform for some sort of a concert. But it was too early to tell so it was best for them to keep things to themselves.
"Bronya argues that it is better for her to use her herscherr powers to create the platform. It is faster that way." Hajime chuckled.
"I am not denying that but i think it is for the best to leave the construction work to them. Woudn't want you to overexert. Seele would have my head for that."
"I doubt she has the heart to do so."
"Correction. 'Seele' would likely have my head for making you overexert on the construction work." Bronya chuckled while Mei smirked.
Hearing Bronya's stomach growled, He chuckled as he watched her blushed.
"Say Mei? There should be a stove here nearby. Do you mind making a quick grub for all of us while Bronya and I focus on overlook on the construction? You can have my phone and Schicksal Badge in case they want proof that i specifically requested you to make a quick snack." The herscherr of thunder nodded and left.
Leaving the two checking things up on their end.
Bronya looked at the tall man and decided to come up with right words to say. Before she dove deep into it...
"Is there something you would like to ask me, Bronya?" As he looked through the notes on his clipboard. Realizing that it was better for her to be straight to the point with it, she took deep breaths
"Bronya would like to help Seele more in the orphanage." This caused Hajime to stop with his work and looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"What brought this up?"
"Bronya always find Seele to be busy with the orphanage and Bronya would like to contribute to it in any way Bronya can."
"You do realize that if you decided to take this path, there is no going back."
"Bronya understands. It just that Bronya feels.................." Hajime chuckled.
"You find it guilty that you are not able to help with Seele with her orphanage work and you just want to help her." Bronya nodded.
"I find it unlikely that Seele would let you work with her if you are feeling guilty about it. But if you say that............"
"Bronya insists on helping Seele." As she gave him a determined scowl. Seeing this, He gave a proud smile.
"All right. Before we get started, i just wanted to let you know what you are getting yourself into." Bronya gave a determined nod.
Hajime took out a holotab and called for Aillie.
"Yes? Master Hajime?"
"Aillie? Pull out everything you have on about orphanage work."
"Sure~ May i know why?"
"Bronya wants to help Seele."
"Ah. That i can help you with. Gimme a moment so i can pull up the papers for her to read." Bronya didn't expect herself for her to see so many papers, forms and policies.
"Captain reads all of these just for taking care of the Orphanage?" He chuckled.
"Both Seele and I read all of these. Though for her, she is still working on through the ropes with me as her guide." Bronya maintained her shocked look.
"Bronya didn't know............."
"It's fine. This makes you see Seele differently, doesn't it?" Bronya nodded.
"Seeing this, Bronya learns to appreciate her more and Bronya is more determined to help Seele with this." Hajime nodded.
"We can't do it now nor tomorrow since we would still be working on the Hyperion. But if you ever get to be my bridge duty valkyrie for the week, i will try to see what i can do on my end just so we can help out on Seele's orphanage." She nodded and gave him a hug.
"Bronya looks forward for that day." He chuckled.
Mei just arrived with a few bento boxes and all of them decided to take a break and take their lunch.
"You know? If you didn't tell me about his crush on her, i wouldn't have noticed it."
"Neither would I." Elysia giggled as both the captain and Mei watched Welt, trying his best to have a casual conversation with Dr. Tesla.
"I honestly thought he had his eyes on Dr. Einstein." Mei crossed her arms.
"Same." Hajime followed through.
"They look like a cute and great couple to me." Both Hajime and Mei rolled their eyes to Elysia.
The three watched Mr. Welt had his advances mistaken for something else by Dr. Tesla, causing the three winced.
"Ouch."
"Awww~ I was rooting for both of them too." The three of them frowned at the sight.
"Wait........ It looks like he still hasn't given yet............. Does he can see us?"
"He is bit more focused on making his advances to Dr. Tesla so i doubt that he is worried about having an audience."
"If that is the case, I will get popcorns~" Elysia left, leaving Mei and Captain watching Welt giving this a second try.
"Say......... Captain?"
"Hmmm?"
"I wanted to ask. Where did you get the ring?"
"Oh! You mean this?" He showed her a silver winged-ring in which Mei nodded.
"Hmmmm............ Elysia and I agreed that we decided to keep this one a secret. And i don't want to be that kind of husband who break his wife's promises." Mei pouted.
"You are not going to tell a hint or anything?"
"Seeing that you are not going to stop pestering me about it, All i can say is that being Rita's Handler comes with a variety of perks." Mei nodded.
The two watched Dr. Einstein came along and gave Welt a confidence boost.
"Huh........... Dr. Einstein acts as a wingwoman. That is something you don't see everyday." Mei nodded.
"I am back~ What did i miss?" Both Hajime and Mei pointed at the scene. "Oh~ That's great. He needs all the help he can get." The trio munched on the popcorn as they kept watching the scene.
"Elysia? Hajime?"
"Yes, Mei?"
"Did Hajime also have a hard time making his advances towards you?" Hajime choked from the popcorn and patted his chest to cough it out.
"Hmmm........ Not that i can remember." Hajime raised an eyebrow.
"Pretty sure i did."
"Pretty sure that you didn't, hun. And besides, those times are just you being you." Hajime tried to remember those days and went 'ahh'ed.
"Oh right. Those times are just me dealing with your shenanigans."
"Yep~"
"So i take it as no then." Mei tried to see if Hajime was capable of doing so. "No offense, Captain. But i really can't see that happening."
"Oh, You will be pleasantly surprised once he gets in the zone, Mei~"
"And yet somehow, i keep losing part of my lifespan dealing with you, honey." Elysia giggled.
Mei chuckled and had a look around. She sighed in sorrow as she saw every valkyrie of St. Freya walking around in the festival.
"Something wrong, Mei?" Hajime noticed this and decided to ask her about it.
"Leaving St. Freya was one of the regrets i had to make before joining the World Serpent."
"That's alright, Mei. We all make difficult choices." Elysia sat besides her and held her hand.
"That's right. You also did that to save Kiana."
"I know but the pain still lingers." Both Hajime and Elysia smiled softly. Elysia gave him a soft look in which Hajime understood.
Go on right ahead.
Elysia received the message.
"Mei? If you can feel pain from your own mistakes, then that's okay. That means that you truly love this place and what it represents. This place represented your new home after 3rd Great Honkai Eruption, right?" Mei nodded.
"Then it's good if you still feel the pain lingers. That means that you still want to come back once you are done with the World Serpent.
And i find it very likely that Hajime, Fu Hua and Theresa would welcome you on the spot if you asked nicely." Mei smiled.
"But the pain will still linger even after i came back home." Hajime watched while snacking on the popcorn.
"Then you make it up for St. Freya." Hajime chuckled as he heard his wife hit the right chords.
The herscherr of thunder looked at Elysia in awe.
"I heard from Hajime that you are a diligent student. I hope that in the future that you will also make a great teacher using your past experience as reference."
"I....... would like that but as you said, I need experience." Elysia pouted as she didn't know what to say on this one.
"Then have me as your first student. I am still learning how to use a katana blade and No one hasn't accepted me as their student yet due to my title as the captain of the Hyperion. So i don't mind you being my teacher for that.
That way, you get teaching experiences and i get to fully know the ways of the blade." Mei smiled and gave him a hug.
"I would like that captain. Thank you for granting me the chance."
"I should be the one thanking you, Raiden-sensei." Mei immediately blushed at how embarassing that sound.
"Please. Just Mei, Captain. It feels so awkward hearing that from you." Elysia giggled.
"Sorry Mei. You just have to deal with Hajime calling you that every time you are teaching him how to use a Katana." Mei covered her face and groaned.
Hajime chuckled and looked at the situation with Mr. Welt.
"Oh. Looks like Welt giving this another try." The trio silently cheered for the former herscherr of reason.
Every body was assembled at the platform and curious who was going to perform.
"Oh? Looks like everybody is here, Fu Hua."
"It would seems so, Overseer."
Everybody was surprised to see Fu Hua And Theresa acting as hosts.
They can also hear someone's footstep gathered at the back of the curtain.
Both hosts smiled.
"Thank you for waiting. Soukai."
"Now we are now happy to present."
"TRAILBLAZERS!" As both hosts announced while slowly revealing what was behind the curtain.
Everybody was shocked to see who it was.
Kiana was at the keyboard.
Mei was at the base.
Bronya was at the drums.
Hajime was at the guitar.
Elysia was the lead singer.
"Hey, Everybody~" The audience cheered loudly as Elysia winked.
"You guys ready?" Hajime held on the microphone which caused the audience to respond with a 'HELL YES'.
Every member of Trailblazers was amused and ready to rock the Valentine's night of St. Freya.
"All right! Let's hit it!"
It was a good night for St. Freya and a better night for the Hyperion as they all rocked the place.
"Ugh......... My back hurts." Elysia giggled.
"The offer still stands, Hajime~" He glared at his wife. "That is a no, then~"
The two watched the ambient night of St. Freya in peace.
"I am glad that we decided to celebrate Valentine's day this way, Hajime." He chuckled. "I honestly thought you are going to ask me out a date once the day arrives." As Hajime prepares a small chocolate fondue.
"Well............ I figured that it will be boring for you if i decided to go with that route. And honestly, i don't see us hanging out in a mall on Valentine's day. Knowing you, It just doesn't stand out for the both of us." Elysia chuckled as she took a strawberry and coated it with chocolate.
"You really do know me." He smiled.
"It honestly took me a while but i am still happy with the results." He dipped a strawberry with chocolate and fed it to Elysia. His wife was more than happy to play along.
"Those three girls you grew quite fond of, Hajime?" He turned his attention to Elysia.
"I am really interested to see how they will end up in the future." As Elysia interlaced her fingers with his.
"Thank you, Elysia." He took another strawberry and coated with chocolate.
Seeing how this was a thing for both of them, she closed her eyes and opened her mouth for him to feed her.
She was curious why Hajime took long to feed her.
She felt something on her cheeks and..........
............................
Chu~
............................
Did he just...........?
Did he really just............?
....................
.....................
Damn.............
Elysia immediately opened her eyes and saw Hajime standing while holding the fondue on one hand and the chocolate-coated strawberry on the other.
"Taste like strawberries." As he ate one of the chocolate-covered fruits in front of her.
"You do realize that i am going to get you for that, right?" She gave him a dangerous but sultry look.
"I would like to see you try." As he took another bite from the fruits with an equally dangerous but confident look.
As soon as He saw Elysia chase towards him, he immediately ran for his life.
This is not to say that Elysia didn't like the surprise.
She actually like the bittersweet taste of dark chocolate that lingered on her lips.
And She doesn't really mind playing the game of tag to get more of that.