"You're saying you're leaving?" Li Xuan asked, surprised. The few strands of instant noodles he had picked up with his wooden chopsticks slipped back into the bowl.
"...Yes," Yae Sakura replied, her head bowed as she slowly ate her noodles. Her reason for following Li Xuan in the first place was the strange Honkai Energy fluctuations he emitted and a peculiar sense of familiarity. But now...
"Ah, I see," Li Xuan said, falling silent. After all, Yae Sakura was his savior. Though he felt reluctant to see her go, he couldn't possibly forbid her from leaving. Besides, their relationship hadn't grown that close yet. He had no right to interfere with her decision.
*What a pity,* he thought, sighing in frustration. *It's not easy to find such an obedient and incredibly powerful cute girl.*
Hearing Li Xuan's inexplicable sigh, Yae Sakura looked up at him with confusion.
Her large, watery starlike eyes, long animal ears, and the lingering noodle broth on her lips—in the sunlight, Li Xuan found himself staring at her adorably clumsy appearance. He inhaled sharply, his heart pounding uncontrollably. He quickly lowered his head, his face flushing crimson like a tomato as he stared intently at his noodles.
"Why is your heart beating so fast?" Yae Sakura asked curiously. Her fox ears weren't just for decoration; they could keenly pick up sounds from her surroundings.
"N-nothing," Li Xuan replied, his left hand pressed against his chest, his face flushed. "Where did you go when you left?" he asked, clearly trying to change the subject.
"To find someone," Yae Sakura answered.
"Male or female?" Li Xuan's heart skipped a beat. He didn't know why he'd asked.
"Female," Yae Sakura said softly.
Li Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Her name is Kallen?" Yae Sakura continued gently, but a flicker of confusion crossed her azure eyes. She paused, then added, "She's my benefactor, someone I want to protect, though I can't quite remember why."
For some reason, Yae Sakura seemed to have opened her heart, beginning to share her past with Li Xuan—a past sealed away for hundreds of years.
As a child, Yae Sakura lived in Yae Village with her younger sister, Yae Rin. They spent a happy life together until the village, desperate for rain, sacrificed Yae Rin as an offering by the head of the Yae Clan. Watching her sister die left a void in Yae Sakura's heart. The events that followed were shrouded in darkness, and she could no longer remember them clearly.
Now, Yae Sakura accidentally saw the golden cross, the Oath of Judah, and a forgotten memory resurfaced. Though she couldn't fully recall it, she remembered a pure white figure. This sparked a desire to find her old friend.
Under the moonlight, Li Xuan listened quietly as the beast-eared girl recounted her story, his eyes filled with pity. He couldn't help but reach out and ruffle Yae Sakura's hair, saying, "Go, Sakura." He added, "Be careful, okay?" After all, the area was swarming with Dead Soldiers and Honkai Beasts.
"But before you leave, help me with something..." Li Xuan said with a sly grin. Now that he knew Sakura was a good person, he naturally wanted her assistance, knowing she wouldn't refuse.
As expected, Yae Sakura readily agreed.
Two days later, Li Xuan and Yae Sakura teamed up to clear a massive swarm of Dead Soldiers and Honkai Beasts from around the temporary residence. With Li Xuan's powerful shield and Yae Sakura's terrifying offensive power, they were unstoppable. This victory earned Li Xuan a fortune, leaving his ring overflowing with Honkai Energy Crystals, waiting for him to find time to use them.
The moment for their parting had arrived. They stood on a street cleared of Dead Soldiers.
"Goodbye, Yae Sakura," Li Xuan said softly, embracing her with a touch of reluctance.
"Goodbye, Li Xuan-kun," Yae Sakura replied, bowing slightly before turning to leave. Though she cherished being by Li Xuan's side and felt a deep sense of familiarity with him, her heart yearned to see her beloved, even if she could no longer recall her face. In truth, Yae Sakura had no idea that the reason for her familiarity was Li Xuan's still-bandaged hand, concealing the red mark—the Stigmata—on his back.
"Don't die! Live well!" Li Xuan called out to Yae Sakura's retreating figure. She turned and waved back.
Li Xuan watched the cherry blossom-like girl disappear from sight, a sense of loss and inexplicable sadness filling his heart. He lightly slapped his cheeks. "What's wrong with me? We'll meet again."
Turning, he entered the house alone.
Indeed, they would meet again, but that reunion would also mark their final farewell.