Chapter Text
“You… Can keep the pendant. You don’t need to return it to me.”
Tianwu stays frozen in his seat, the parting words left by Ana ringing in his ears. It has been hours now since Ana left, but he is still stuck in the same position. Such is the depth of his shock, that even after so long he still cannot process it.
If he had his way, Chen Tianwu would likely stay unmoving for many hours more, ignoring the consequences that would take on his body’s health. Fortunately for him, despite his own disregard to his body’s needs, there are still others who are willing to help him. Despite all the dark side of humanity, there are still those who live by the rule of compassion.
“Here!”
“... Huh?”
Something is suddenly put into Tianwu’s hand. Something mildly cool, surprising him enough to break him out of his stupor. He notes that the item in question is a bottle of mineral water, before looking up to see who it is that has handed him the water bottle, only to be surprised once again by the person he sees.
“You… Why?”
“You looked like you needed it, mister! Make sure to drink lots, my mama said it is important for everyone to drink a lot of water!”
With those words, the boy immediately ran off before Tianwu could call him back. That’s right, the person who handed him the bottle of water is just a little boy, at least half Tianwu’s age if he judged right.
As he observes the boy’s movements, Tianwu notices the slight shaking in his hand, showing how nervous he actually is, even as he hands more water bottles to other survivors of the Honkai Eruption.
It feels… Humbling, to see a boy keeping up a cheerful front, to try uplifting other survivors like himself. Especially when one considers the fact that even a water bottle like this is a precious resource in the survivor camp.
Not wanting to waste the goodwill shown by the boy, Tianwu decides to open the bottle then and there, consuming the water it contains until he feels truly refreshed. And yet, even with the kindness shown by the boy, even with the refreshing feeling brought by drinking the water given by the boy, not a trace of happiness can be seen on Tianwu’s face.
“I am sorry Tianwu.”
For his mind is still focused on what he was previously thinking about. Of the apology given by Ana. Of the revelations that had been brought to him by her. Unpleasant revelations that he is not sure if he prefers to know about or be left ignorant.
“Tianwen…”
He brings out his phone. On the lock screen is an image of him and his beloved sister, taken on the first day he had taken her to school. The sister you had wished to introduce Ana to. Him and his sister, siblings working together to tease the easily flustered Valkyrie that he had just met.
Someone Tianwu had originally thought was the silver lining that can be found in his current situation. Someone that he originally thought he could learn to date, although he originally offered it as a joke to relieve the tension of the all-around bad atmosphere brought by the Honkai Eruption. That is now something that would never happen, something that he would never entertain the idea of.
“Why Ana- Why !?”
“I had seen your sister before you, and I… I had left her there. In my panic, I left her buried in the rubbles of the building before I fled by my lonesome. I am truly sorry Tianwu…”
Anger, sadness, betrayal- All kinds of emotions rage inside Tianwu, mixing up with the gratitude he felt for her saving him, and the positive she had previously left him with, leaving Tianwu drowning in a complicated sea of emotion.
Even the boy he had seen earlier has tried his best to help the other survivors to the best of his ability. How could Ana not do the same, and save his sister!? Why… Why had he been saved instead by the person who had abandoned his sister…
Silence greets him, no convenient answer presenting itself before him, such is life. And so, in a corner of the survivor camp erected in the wake of the Manila Honkai Eruption, Chen Tianwu struggles alone with the feelings of grief and betrayal brought upon by the confessed truth.