"Don't you think we look like we're wearing a couple's outfit right now?"
"...I think we look more like accomplices."
"So you did know. I thought you always wore this when you went out because you thought it looked cool."
Two people wearing the "suspicious trio" set—hoods, masks, and sunglasses—walked side-by-side through the mall. The one who was a head shorter complained to the other:
"I haven't been able to go out openly for so long. Ugh, now I have to dress like this..."
"You're a top streamer now. It would be very troublesome if you were recognized on the street."
These two were, naturally, Lin and Elysia. A year and a half had passed since their first meeting in Nagazora City. Some things, both big and small, had happened during that time, but overall, it was peaceful. Lin was still investigating signs of the Honkai in this world, and Elysia loved her streaming career. Lin investigation hadn't progressed, but Elysia was now a top-tier streamer.
Although the deep waters of the streaming industry had caused some unpleasantness for Elysia, she and Lin together dealt with all the ill-intentioned individuals decisively. It was true the waters were deep; while others, at most, threw firecrackers into the pond, these two were essentially throwing TNT...
In any case, after experiencing a bunch of events, their lives were peaceful. Streaming had earned a lot of money, and the two moved from their single rental into... a rental with two bedrooms. Most of the remaining money was donated to orphanages or schools, leaving only enough for a basic, ordinary life for the two.
In Elysia own words, she didn't have much demand for material things; she just liked the feeling of everyone paying attention to her. For a girl like her—a gift to the world from heaven—to appear on the screen and heal those who were tired after a long day was the most perfect thing. Lin had no objection to this.
The only thing that troubled Elysia was that she could no longer wear her favorite clothes when going out. It wasn't that she didn't want to show them off—it was that the commotion she caused easily led to trouble and attracted paparazzi.
If word got out and unscrupulous people looking for traffic found out where she lived, it would lead to a lot of hassle.
Today was a rare day off, so Elysia dragged Lin out for shopping. she loved Lin cold expression—looking extremely reluctant, yet agreeing with a dark face the moment she acted a bit spoiled.
"Staying at home all the time is bad for your health~"
"Recite the list of breakfasts you want to eat every morning first, then we'll talk about health."
"Hmph, you're starting to get tired of me."
"You misunderstood." Lin adjusted his sunglasses. He lacked color vision, and wearing sunglasses made it even harder to see, but fortunately, he could live normally even without vision now. "It's my fault for making you think I'm starting to get tired of you; otherwise, you would have left out the word 'starting'."
Lin always found unexpected ways to give the deepest retorts to everything she said. Even Elysia was powerless to argue.
However...
A sweet smile curled at the corners of Elysia mouth.
Compared to his death-like appearance a year and a half ago, the current Lin no longer showed that lifeless look in his eyes.
"Is there an event going on here?" As they passed a doll shop, they found it packed with people. It was unusual for a doll shop to have so many customers. Elysia curiosity made her stand on her tiptoes to look inside.
When Lin saw this movement, he knew he was in for it again.
Every time she showed curiosity about something, he was the one who had to take action. This was an experience both Elysias had given him.
"Limited edition doll..." Elysia narrowed her eyes to see the doll on the shelves deep inside the surging crowd. At the sight of the cute, exquisite, and pink design, her eyes lit up. "Lin!"
"..."
Lin stood in line expressionlessly; it was exactly as expected.
As the people in front of Lin decreased, the doll on the shelf were also rapidly dwindling. Elysia was in another line, but she was much further back. It seemed only he would be able to buy one.
Finally, it was Lin turn. There was exactly one left on the shelf. He spoke slowly:
"Give me one—"
"Please give me one!"
Lin and the person beside him turned to look at each other simultaneously. Then, both froze.
The other person froze because Lin outfit looked like a murderer who had just wiped out a family and was now wanted by the police. Lin froze because... he recognized the other person.
Even without color vision, he could clearly identify that head of white hair.
After a brief daze, the white-haired boy in a student uniform said seriously and loudly to Lin: "Could you let me have the doll? I want to give it to a girl!"
"..." Lin snapped back to reality. He glanced at Elysia, who didn't show much emotion; she simply tilted her head, watching the scene with interest.
"A girl?" Lin asked.
"Yes!" After saying those words with hot-blooded vigor, Kevin coughed with a red face. "Cough... to be precise, my girlfriend..."
"Is she here?"
"I told her to wait for me outside."
Lin glanced outside the shop. He pushed back the sunglasses that had slipped down his nose and said calmly to Kevin: "I also want to give it to a girl."
"Eh?"
"..."
Couldn't he imagine that a man would specifically buy a doll—one that only girls clearly like—for himself?
"Alright then, you said it first." Kevin looked extremely dejected.
Lin said nothing. He had the clerk bag the last doll. After paying, as he passed by Kevin, he whispered: "Your girlfriend might like the one on your right better."
Kevin subconsciously looked to his right.
It was a doll that couldn't be called cute at all. Among so many doll full of "girly hearts," it was an anomaly—especially compared to the limited edition doll Lin had bought. A pair of glasses frames covered half its face; the face, meant to represent cuteness, had only an ugly rectangular frame and a mouth that didn't even smile.
It made one wonder if they had bought the wrong stock.
After walking out of the doll shop, Lin handed the doll to Elysia. But Elysia wasn't as excited as he imagined; she just chuckled playfully at him: "Hum-hum..."
"..."
Lin calmly pulled at his hood. From the corner of his eye, he saw the boy walking out of the shop with a very unattractive doll, hesitantly walking toward his girl.
"..."
Which world is the one that is 'meant to be'?
Lin turned his head and stopped paying attention.