Kiana, who was sitting across from her, had a gleam in her icy blue eyes that made CC's scalp tingle.
The Honkai world truly was unmatched.
Luckily, CC wasn't the kind of person who used brute force to change others' minds.
If someone else had gained this body and its charm, they'd probably have scored a hundred conquests by the end of their first day—if their body could even handle it.
Noticing the awkward look in Kiana's eyes, Nagami chuckled softly.
"How about it? My apartment's really spacious, plenty of room for three people."
Importantly, Nagami hadn't actually denied Kiana's earlier question.
And he definitely hadn't explained what kind of relationship he had with CC either, and if Kiana did like CC he can finally use this body for something.
Everything was purely the result of Kiana's imagination.
Technically, that's not lying… right?
"Uh…" Kiana was stunned.
This guy seriously just invited another girl to live with him—in front of his girlfriend? She instinctively sucked in a breath.
No matter how you looked at it, that took guts.
Maintaining an awkward but polite smile, Kiana sneaked a glance at the stunning green-haired girl beside Nagami—CC, who was eating his shaved ice and gazing dreamily out the window with her chin resting on her hand.
'Say something! Your boyfriend is literally asking another girl to move in!'
Kiana screamed internally, but CC didn't react at all.
She couldn't have known that the boy and girl sitting across from her were actually… the same person.
In a world where "one body, two souls" had become commonplace, no one would expect to run into a rare anomaly like this—someone with two bodies, one soul.
At that moment, CC was actually chatting privately in a group chat with Yuzuriha Inori.
Inori was as pure as a blank slate right now, and CC was trying to teach her basic common sense so she wouldn't be easily deceived in the future.
Of course, she was slipping in a little "extra content" of her own along the way.
Back in reality, Kiana's confused gaze turned toward Nagami.
"Nagami… why are you helping me?"
There was no hint of suspicion in her tone—just genuine confusion.
Kiana's long, snowy-white hair swayed as she shook her head.
She gave up trying to figure it out—it was making her dizzy. All she really needed to know was this: Nagami meant her no harm.
She trusted her instincts.
They had gotten her out of more trouble than she could count during her travels.
But maybe because of that, she couldn't help but question this strange kindness. Why would someone go out of their way to help her like this?
Nagami studied Kiana's face carefully.
He couldn't help but wonder—was this really the same clumsy, silly Valkyrie he once knew? Had she been possessed or something?
"You remind me of an old friend," he said finally, his voice warm and gentle.
"Every time I look at you, I think of her. Fate really is a strange thing, isn't it? And besides… strong, hardworking girls like you naturally make people want to lend a hand. Why don't we be friends?"
Something about his smile tugged at Kiana's heart.
She felt… cared for. That rare feeling hit her like a wave and made her feel unusually vulnerable. It showed on her face—but only for a split second.
Then, her usual bright, energetic grin returned in full force. Puffing her chest out proudly, she grinned.
"Deal! I accept your friendship! From now on, if anyone bullies you, just come find me! I'll pound 'em into next week for you!"
The switch in how she referred to herself meant she had truly accepted Nagami as a friend.
"Haha, you're really dependable. But just so you know, even if we're friends, I won't go easy on you at work," Nagami added with a wink.
A true capitalist through and through.
"No problem! With my charm, your shop's bound to be overflowing with customers!" Kiana boasted, arms crossed and grinning like a doofus.
Her confident smirk completely clashed with the elegant wedding-dress-style outfit she had on, ruining the aesthetic entirely.
"Oh, by the way, Nagami—who's that friend I remind you of? If I ever get the chance, you've got to introduce me!"
Nagami froze for a moment.
The "old friend" he mentioned was none other than Kiana from his past life in Honkai Impact 3rd.
How on earth was he supposed to explain that?
Sure, the events from the game were real in this world—but if he treated everything like a game, he'd be dead before he knew it.
You know, in the actual main story, the Captain doesn't even exist.
Yes, that's right, the official plot doesn't acknowledge the player's existence at all.
Compared to characters like the Doctor from Arknights.
Who, while mostly a silent tool, is still central to the story and even nicknamed "the Wraith of Babel"—or the Master who can tear through heroic spirits, and the Admiral who can rip through abyssal fleets…
What does the Captain get? Doing the splits midair?
Besides, the game hardly gives you any real info to work with.
Right now, Nagami isn't just in a game.
He's in a real world.
There was the slightest pause—barely noticeable—before Nagami stood up with a lazy stretch, his mind racing as he kept his tone casual and smiled.
"My friend's name is Sirin. I'll definitely introduce her to you sometime."
He picked up his glass, intending to finish the last bit of his slush.
But the reaction he saw next nearly made him drop it.
"Oh~ Sirin, huh? Got it. I'll remember that." Kiana repeated the name softly to herself, completely unaware of the golden glint flickering in her eyes.
'Wait… no way.'
Don't tell me this little pufferfish is already starting to sense the outside world?
Nagami was startled for a brief moment, but quickly regained his composure.
This just confirmed what he already suspected: he couldn't rely entirely on his past life's knowledge from Honkai Impact.
This world was far more complicated than that.
Still, he wasn't too worried.
Even if the final Herrscher showed up right now, they probably wouldn't be able to kill him.
If a fully-geared pufferfish could still lose, there was no reason for him to fear anything.
He wasn't the same person he was yesterday.
Of course, "can't be killed" also meant "can be forced to suffer death over and over again."
Which was arguably worse.
He had to get stronger—fast.
The "Alpha Stigma," an overpowered learning-type ability, was his ace in the hole.
As for the ultimate ability he drew—Soul Fusion—he probably wouldn't be able to use it for quite some time.
Nagami wasn't going to start a relationship just to activate a power, and even if he did, the ability wouldn't accept it unless it was genuine.
He'd assumed his character card would give him a way to use it.
What he didn't expect was to end up with a second body.
"Soul Fusion" fused souls, and since Nagami and CC were the same soul, it wouldn't activate.
Still, that had its perks.
Since the "Code" was engraved on the soul itself, Nagami could unlock achievements like immortality.
Even the Alpha Stigma was integrated into his soul—so CC could use it too.
"All right, you go ahead and work. I'll come pick you up at noon and we'll grab your luggage."
Nagami grabbed the shopping bags CC had left to the side and waved goodbye to Kiana.
"Mhm! Leave the café to me!" With a determined look, Kiana clenched her soft little fists, trying to project confidence.
"See you later" CC gave a gentle smile as she tucked a strand of green hair behind her ear, revealing her delicate little ear.
Man… having long hair still feels weird.
"Uh… bye!" Kiana found herself completely flustered by CC's casual gesture.
She couldn't take her eyes off the beautiful green-haired girl—and almost drooled before snapping herself out of it.
She shook her head vigorously and gave herself a little slap.
'That's your friend's girlfriend, Kiana! What the hell are you thinking?'
'How could you betray Nagami like that—he's even giving you a place to stay!'
Mentally scolding herself, Kiana watched the two walk off side by side.
Then she turned around and got to work.