Honkai Diary: Start With Picking Up A White-Haired Treasure

[Day 5 with Bronya, starting my journal. Weather: Sunny. Went to the beach with Bronya today; her swimsuit looked truly adorable... Why hadn't I noticed this before?]

Day 6 with Bronya. Weather: Clear. Today she put on a fashion show for me. There's indeed a reason why girls' clothing comes in so many styles—it all looks fantastic. Is it mainly because Bronya is just that adorable?

Day 7 with Bronya. Overcast, but I made it sunny since Bronya wanted to bask in the sun. Same observation deck, same old story.

Day 8 with Bronya. Cloudy... Zeke, oh Zeke, how could you succumb so easily? Have you forgotten your goal of saving the world? At this rate, your efficiency will plummet! Starting tomorrow, focus on work! By the way, Bronya's cooking skills are impressive too, and her hands feel incredibly soft.

Day 9 with Bronya. Bathroom.

Day 10 with Bronya. Movie night.

Day 11 with Bronya. She hung Kiana's photo by our bed...

Day 12. Listened to Bronya sing "Katya," the emotionless melody. Surprisingly pleasant to hear. Wonder if she dances well too? With her slender figure and remarkable flexibility, it must be quite captivating.

"Rip!"

Zeke tore apart the thick notebook with its brown cover and burned it to ashes.

"Weren't you writing so diligently? Why tear it up?"

"...It's meaningless." Zeke displayed his usual deadpan gaze, sighing as if life held no joy for him.

Though unlikely to be discovered, if someone ever read this diary, it would utterly shatter his carefully crafted image, wouldn't it?

All one can say is that Bronya truly captivates, in more ways than one.

Bronya leaned against Zeke's sturdy chest, tracing circles on his abs, her lips curving into a mischievous smirk characteristic of rebellious teenage girls.

"You seem unhappy."

"No, I'm very happy."

"I am too, Bronya."

"But moderation is key. Tomorrow, we're heading to the Far East. The reconstruction plan for the region has been finalized. Dr. Ein intends to transform this nearly uninhabited land into the foundation for an exceptional 'Selene' main cannon, while simultaneously converting it into a full-scale arsenal, training ground, and trial field. It's a massive undertaking; I need to oversee it personally."

Gently stroking the long, silky hair of the girl nestled in his arms, Zeke murmured, feeling utterly captivated.

Initially, he had simply found her adorable, but now every graceful glance from this delicate girl stirred deep affection within Zeke's heart.

As he rightly acknowledged, life held many important matters, and for a more enduring future, one couldn't remain forever immersed in Bronya's tender embrace.

Bronya ceased her playful teasing, looked up at Zeke's face, and nodded.

"I understand. Let's go together. It's perfect timing since my arsenal upgrade is complete; we can find some Honkai Beasts for practical combat training."

"Great idea."

"And...shouldn't we start keeping our distance?"

"Yes, it's best until I've been honest with Kiana," Zeke replied, displaying a quintessential scoundrel sentiment.

Concerned about upsetting Bronya, he quickly added, "I'm sorry."

The apology felt incredibly inadequate; under these circumstances, anyone else might perceive it as dismissive, certainly not satisfying to a young woman.

But Bronya smiled acquiescently.

"I can feel it—Zeke's concern."

"...Thank you."

Beyond that, Zeke didn't know what else to say—his insistence on seeking partners who were easygoing and well-behaved wasn't just lip service. Yet now, experiencing Bronya's genuine thoughtfulness firsthand, he found himself wishing she could be slightly more demanding. That way, he'd have a clearer idea of how best to treat her.

"But are you really okay with this? With Kiana..."

A hint of unease flickered across Bronya's face.

They both knew Kiana's fiery temperament all too well, characterized by intense emotions and often explosive reactions. Given how much importance she placed on Zeke, their sudden involvement would undoubtedly provoke a strong response from her—it was only uncertain just how extreme it might become.

Zeke looked down at Bronya, amusement playing in his eyes.

"Feeling scared now?"

"...After getting exactly what I wanted, I need to carefully consider the consequences."

"Don't worry, she can't live without me," Zeke said nonchalantly.

In reality, his feelings about this situation were far from calm.

However, as he mentioned earlier, Zeke firmly believed that Kiana could never leave him, nor would he ever allow her to do so. With this conviction, any conflicts arising could be resolved.

First, he accepted Kiana's confession; then, he reached this point with Bronya. Now, he intended to leverage Kiana's dependence on him to make her accept their current predicament. Additionally, Sin, being Sin, was unlikely to change her mind either—a fact even Kiana understood...

"I've become quite the scumbag," Zeke murmured, stroking his chin, belatedly realizing the implications of his actions.

"Pfft!"

Bronya had a good guess at what Zeke was contemplating, finding his discomfort rather amusing.

"Still laughing? You're the one who started all this."

Zeke pinched Bronya's cheeks, feigning indifference while threatening her mildly.

After a moment, he let go and shrugged nonchalantly, saying:

"Eh, whatever. If I'm a scumbag, so be it."

"You've come to terms with it?"

"The situation is what it is; I won't bother defending myself. Besides, I'm actually pretty content."

"Indeed, Zeke, you truly embody the scumbag archetype."

Bronya rolled her eyes, covered her mouth with one hand, and made a silly grin.

As for her role in initiating this situation, leading to its current state, and even reveling in it afterward—Zeke seemed at a loss on how to handle her.

Over these past few days, she had become increasingly bold, showing no regard for Zeke's authority. Yet, without any apparent weaknesses, controlling her proved difficult.

It appeared he needed to devise a plan.

Zeke stared intently at Bronya until she gradually suppressed her mischief, nervously shrinking back.

"Zeke... is thinking something ominous."

"You know, Welt created the Homu series. After embarking on his reform movement, he entrusted me with managing its operations. So, if I so choose, all comic strips, animations, games, and movies related to the Homu franchise can cease updates or be entirely discontinued anytime."

"I'm sorry, Bronya was out of line."

Standing up, Bronya smoothed her long white dress before obediently lowering her head.

Bronya's fondness for the Homu series stemmed from its nostalgic weight and because it was one of the few bright spots amidst her otherwise dreary life. It allowed her to experience a glimpse of childhood innocence and fantasy she had never truly known. Over time, with Zeke taking over the series and attracting various talented creators, the Homu franchise saw significant leaps in animation quality, storytelling depth, thematic richness, and entertainment value—it became nothing short of a phenomenal two-dimensional IP sensation.

If this were suddenly halted or taken down entirely, Bronya would be devastated, unable to sleep night after night.

Under Zeke's enigmatic gaze, beads of sweat began forming on Bronya's forehead.

In his recent indulgence towards her, she almost forgot that the reason she enjoyed such unique favor by Zeke's side, living more comfortably than anyone else, was due to her obedience, thoughtfulness, and competence.

Should Bronya ever lose sight of this fact and recklessly misuse Zeke's affection—akin to Kiana's daily antics—that would be her downfall.

Don't assume that just because their relationship changed, Zeke would endlessly indulge her. Even though Kiana successfully confessed her feelings over a month ago, it didn't mean Zeke went easy on her afterward!

Zeke reached out, lifting the girl's chin gently, and then softly caressed her face with his fingertips.

"It's alright; I won't get angry with you, Bronya. After all, you're simply too adorable."

Bronya remained silent, nearly believing him if not for the chilling undertone in Zeke's voice.

Ah, the saying "keeping company with a ruler is like treading upon thin ice" rings true in moments like these, doesn't it?

If Zeke's voice weren't so menacing, Bronya might have almost believed him.

Ah, serving a ruler is like courting danger—this must be what they meant, right?

But there was nothing she could do; after all, she had already chosen her path. Despite feeling helpless and pitiful, she silently accepted it.

Stealing a glance at Zeke's deep blue eyes, Bronya smiled—the thought felt slightly embarrassing, but amidst her nervousness, she found his assertiveness incredibly charming!