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

Late into the night, everyone who needed rest had retired.

Zeke sat in his room, legs crossed, eyes closed, exuding both relaxation and authority as if awaiting someone specific.

"Knock! Knock!"

"Enter."

Einstein pushed open the door.

This wasn't the person Zeke was waiting for; he knew from the moment the knock sounded.

"Is there something you need, Dr. Ein?"

"I made recordings and transcripts of our conversation earlier. Do you think it would be appropriate to disseminate them for boosting morale?"

"No need. Before we're on track, such piecemeal propaganda serves no purpose. Additionally, publicizing Welt's journey beforehand or during wouldn't be wise—both for security reasons and because only when people aren't prepared can he hear the most genuine voices."

"You make sense." Einstein nodded at Zeke.

"Thank you," he added.

"For what?"

"For showing Welt the way forward. Tesla and I, fundamentally, are technicians, and much of our thinking derives from Joyce—an established set of ideas. We helped Yang grow to his current state, but then he stalled. Without your intervention, I doubt anyone else would have realized that he could—and should—continue moving ahead."

Einstein sighed deeply, blue eyes filled with satisfaction and gratitude.

"I was merely seeking a new path. Otto's approach is viable, but it doesn't feel right to me."

Zeke opened his eyes—not because of Einstein but because the door quietly creaked open a crack. Two pairs of differently colored eyes, one set above the other, peeked furtively through the gap.

"Come in," Zeke said.

"It's all your fault, paramecium!"

"What did you say?! Clearly, your stealth skills need work!"

A faint scuffle could be heard outside the door. Moments later, it swung fully open to reveal two little girls, one dressed in pink and the other in white, standing with ingratiating smiles at the entrance before tiptoeing inside.

Einstein raised an eyebrow.

"No wonder you seemed so distracted; I see you had a date planned already. Well then, I won't disturb you further. Goodnight."

"Take care, Dr. Einstein."

After seeing Einstein off, the door opened again, and Bronya walked in, clutching her seldom-parted Homu plushie.

"What do you want with Bronya? Just so we're clear, no sharing blankets is allowed—I'm still underage... You should try asking Mother Cocolia instead."

"..."

Bronya preemptively struck first, casually making an inappropriate joke that left Zeke momentarily speechless.

The carefully cultivated silence lost its impact entirely. With a hand over his face, Zeke simply sighed, "Close the door."

"Slam!"

Bronya closed the door as instructed, but despite her words about being underage, she didn't seem at all guarded.

The three girls now stood before Zeke.

Bronya, positioned in the middle, appeared most composed—holding her Homu plushie like she was simply relaxing in her own room.

Kiana and Sin flanked her on either side, their expressions betraying guilt over getting caught.

Zeke looked each of them over, hands crossed atop his knees. "Bronya used to be your instructor and is also your comrade. Kiana and Sin, you two have developed quite a bond yourselves. I trust everyone here can rely on one another; we're not outsiders, am I right?"

The girls exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. Even Kiana and Sin, who often clashed, had no choice but to assent to Zeke's statement—whether due to his authority or genuine feelings hidden beneath their awkwardness, perhaps both factors played a part.

"Well then, let's proceed without too many reservations. Kiana, why did you ask Bronya to investigate Siegfried's situation?"

"Bronya, you betrayed me?!" Kiana shuddered initially, then pointed accusingly at Bronya with unusual fervor, attempting to mask her panic.

Bronya furrowed her brow, unsure of what they were discussing.

Zeke explained, "She didn't tell me directly; perhaps she hadn't gotten around to it yet. Anyway, the Icarus subsystem controlling our worker bees reported it to me. To be honest, what I'm more interested in asking is... how much do you know?"

Kiana bit her lip and began twisting her fingers nervously—a clear sign of her anxiety and reluctance.

"I...I don't want to talk about it."

"Without exposing a hidden wound, enduring the pain to cleanse it thoroughly, it will remain festering beneath the surface until it inflames and abscesses, causing even greater agony. If you can't trust them fully, then confide only in me. However, I won't let you continue hiding your head in denial." Zeke's gaze remained steady and resolute as he spoke to Kiana.

Bronya and Sin also sensed something was amiss; there was definitely something off about Kiana at that moment.

Still biting her lip, Kiana lowered her head further.

Zeke sighed softly and waved his hand, indicating for Bronya and Sin to leave first.

Exchanging glances, both girls understood this situation was serious. Even Sin chose to comply, stepping out with Bronya and closing the door behind them.

"You know you're a clone now?" Zeke softly spoke amidst the silence.

Kiana's damp lashes quivered, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Come here." Zeke opened his arms wide.

Twisting her fingers nervously, Kiana slowly approached until Zeke enveloped her in a hug.

"You seem to have gained some weight... When did you find out?"

"I haven't! I...I've felt something was off for quite a while. After seeing Dad that time, I started suspecting."

"So, you asked Bronya to investigate Siegfried's relationships within Schicksal. If he had no one else there whom he absolutely needed to save, it would confirm your suspicion—you're a clone, and his real daughter is still inside Schicksal?"

"Yes... It's pretty obvious when you think about it, isn't it? I don't have any childhood memories, not even a single one. At first, Dad was very distant with me, hardly speaking... Looking back now, being a clone explains everything. How could I have childhood experiences as a clone? His initial coldness also makes sense."

As Kiana continued speaking, her voice gradually regained its steadiness from the initial hesitance.

In truth, the discomfort only lasted for a moment. Once Zeke casually opened his arms to embrace her, Kiana realized she wasn't feeling afraid anymore.

Zeke patted her head and sighed.

"You're very clever," he said, unsurprised. Kiana wasn't unintelligent; she simply tended to speak without thinking things through.

Kiana sniffled.

"Actually...actually, it's not that hard to accept. I've been doing a lot of thinking these past few days. When Dad talked to me before leaving, didn't he just want to let me know he acknowledges me? And you knew about this for quite some time already, right, Zeke?"

"Mm-hmm, I did."

"But you never treated me any differently. Once I realized that, it didn't bother me as much anymore. Thinking about it further, Bronya had a tragic past too, just like Sin, and Wendy, whom we met today, has had it tough as well... With so many unfortunate people around, I shouldn't dwell on my own circumstances." Sniffling, Kiana managed a tear-filled smile from within Zeke's embrace.

But Zeke gently pressed her head closer. "No, with me, you can allow yourself to feel those emotions."

Instantly, Kiana's smile froze and gradually disappeared, her small body beginning to tremble.

"Zeke..."

"I'm here."

"I-I am...a clone..."

"I know."

"I am...I am...not real..."

"That's not true."

She began to cry, initially holding it back, but perhaps due to suppressing her emotions for too long, it soon turned into uncontrollable wailing. She wiped away tears and snot with Zeke's sleeve, sobbing messily, devoid of grace or charm.

But this time, as he held her, Zeke didn't feel any annoyance whatsoever.