Honkai Star Rail Simulation: I'm Surrounded By Characters

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Stelle's blush was mostly due to embarrassment.

After all, waking up and mistakenly calling someone "Onii-chan" was embarrassingly awkward.

Fortunately, Su Qing helped diffuse the situation by changing the topic. "March 7th mentioned they found you unconscious. Did you get separated from your brother?"

Stelle shook her head, indicating that her memories were hazy, just a misunderstanding, as the blush on her face gradually faded.

[March 7th: At this moment, Stelle looks so bewildered and easily flustered - absolutely adorable.?]

[Seele: Well, she's still fresh after just waking up, hasn't learned mischief yet, right?]

Seeing Stelle stand up, March 7th also sighed with relief. "I'm glad you're okay."

[March 7th: Yay! Now I've officially made my entrance!]

Dan Heng nodded slightly, expressionless, but most of his attention remained focused on Su Qing.

March 7th continued, "Just now, we were even considering whether to have Su Qing perform CPR on you."

[Sparkle: ? Oops, Stelle should have stayed asleep for a few more seconds.]

[Stelle: Oh, it seems like you're right.]

[March 7th: Hmm, ? Looks like our Stelle is picking up mischief already.]

[Kafka: @Stelle, ?]

[Himeko: @Stelle, ?]

[Stelle: ...?]

[Stelle (suddenly realizing), vigorously shaking head]: No, no, no, I was just joking! That's not what I meant at all!!!]

[Sparkle: Joy, @Stelle, why aren't you joyful anymore? This could be fun.]

[Stelle: I swear, it's not true at all! Absolutely not!]

[Silver Wolf: "Absolutely not"?]

In truth, it wasn't just Stelle feeling a sense of familiarity; Su Qing also experienced it.

When Stelle called him "Big Brother" earlier, he was genuinely taken aback, wondering if perhaps there was some long-lost sister involved.

However, he quickly dismissed that thought and began pondering where this sense of closeness might originate from.

Stelle picked up a baseball bat from the Oddities Storage Room as a means of self-defense.

[Stelle: The beginning of a legend.?]

The group headed towards the Monitoring Room, encountering several enemies along the way. Su Qing didn't intervene, allowing March 7th to teach Stelle basic combat techniques.

Upon reaching the Monitoring Room, they met Arlan who, while covering for other personnel, had sustained injuries.

Before Su Qing could express his concern, Arlan anxiously asked first, "Su Qing, why weren't you evacuated with the others? Miss Asta is very worried, having searched everywhere without finding you. She must be frantic by now."

The Antimatter Legion's invasion was sudden, cutting off the space station's signals, and Su Qing hadn't managed to contact Asta in time.

Noticing the curiosity of the others, Arlan further introduced, "Su Qing is Station Director Asta's personal chef. His cooking is truly... exceptionally... extraordinarily delicious."

March 7th blinked, impressed. "Personal chef, what a high-status title."

Noticing Arlan's succession of descriptive words, everyone couldn't help but become curious about just how delicious Su Qing's cooking was.

Su Qing explained, "I usually cook for everyone at the space station as well. Just now, I was preparing a banquet to welcome you."

Upon hearing this, March 7th immediately perked up.

She patted her slightly fuller chest and declared, "How could we let the person who worked so hard to prepare a feast get hurt?! Don't worry, we'll cover you right away, ensuring your safe arrival at the shelter!"

Su Qing responded, "That won't be necessary, because actually, I happen to..."

Just then, a Voidranger cautiously entered the Monitoring Room, and Su Qing swiftly kicked it away.

He continued, "...happen to have some martial skills."

First, they glanced at the collapsed Voidranger that had been sent flying with one kick, then turned back to look at him.

Dan Heng: ?

Stelle: ?

March 7th: ?

Arlan: ???

March 7th reacted first, exclaiming, "Arlan, aren't you close with Su Qing?! Why are you even more shocked than us!??"

[Qingque: LOL, precisely because they're close is why he's shocked!]

Astonished, Arlan stammered, "I-I just found out too. Eldest Brother Su Qing has some martial skills; no wonder he didn't join us in seeking refuge..."

March 7th retorted, "So this is what 'some' martial skills mean?! Then I should call myself utterly devoid of combat ability instead!"

[Natasha: Ha ha ha, little March remains as lively as ever, always ready with a quip.]

Dan Heng shook his head and said, "You're being overly modest. That single move just now far exceeds having 'some' martial skills."

Stelle looked at Su Qing with a hint of admiration in her gaze.

Su Qing was beginning to suspect where this sense of familiarity stemmed from—given that Stelle possessed such unique qualities as well.

Encouragingly, Su Qing said, "You can achieve it too someday."

Stelle's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? I can?"

[March 7th: Just saying, could Stelle have been inadvertently influenced by Su Qing...?]

[Firefly: Impossible, absolutely impossible!]

[Firefly: Look at Kafka, whom he mentored.]

[Silver Wolf: ...Are you sure you want to use that example?]

[Firefly: ...Uh.(realizing the oversight)]

[Kafka: (laughs) Oh, but when I was young, I was incredibly obedient.]

Dan Heng sheathed his weapon, realizing his concern had been unnecessary.

Stelle, naturally drawn to Su Qing's prowess, couldn't help but clap and exclaim in admiration, feeling like a star-struck little fan.

[Herta: That makes sense.]

[Herta: It's akin to the inherent admiration young star nucleus essences have for older ones.]

[Sparkle: Impressive.]

[Seele: Impressive.]

[Qingque: ? Please stop using the term "star nucleus essence," it always makes me want to laugh.]

[Stelle: Exactly! Can you show us some respect?!]

March 7th expressed her admiration more openly, "Wow, so amazing!"

"Is Su Qing really just a chef with such incredible skills?" March 7th wondered aloud. "Could he be like a hidden martial arts master, disguised all along?"

A pleasant voice chimed in from nearby, "I was about to lend a hand, but it seems with Su Qing here, there's no need."

"Sister Himeko!" Delighted, March 7th joined Himeko, chattering excitedly about what had just transpired.

Himeko remained composed; after all, during their time at Atuin Pulsar, she was well aware of Su Qing's abilities.

Her words subtly indicated familiarity with Su Qing. When they greeted each other, there was an unspoken understanding typical of former lovers—a unique closeness that wasn't quite complete...

March 7th was particularly perceptive in these matters.

Instantly dropping her other concerns, March 7th looked back and forth between Himeko and Su Qing, her curiosity piqued like that of a child.

If earlier, March 7th had merely expressed admiration for Su Qing's skills, now the flames of gossip within her were roaring to life, truly igniting her excitement.

[Fu Xuan: ...Well, it seems March 7th hasn't changed much from before to now.]

[March 7th: (hands on hips) (proudly) Heh heh, of course not!]

Upon hearing March 7th recount their previous experience, Himeko remained remarkably composed and led them through the cleared path back to the safe zone.

In the center of the space station, Asta was issuing instructions to the staff, responding to the current crisis. Her petite pink-clad figure belied her calm demeanor; she directed operations with clarity and efficiency, befitting her role as the station director.

Arlan stepped forward. "Miss, I found Eldest Brother Su Qing. The reason he didn't go to the shelter is because..."

Asta swiftly turned around, instantly transforming from the composed station director into a worried young woman concerned about her beloved. She immediately threw herself into Su Qing's arms, checking him over for injuries while looking from head to toe. "Su Qing! I was so worried about you! Why didn't you seek refuge? What exactly happened? Are you hurt?"

The usually graceful and poised Himeko was taken aback, visibly surprised.

[Firefly: ? Well, can't stay calm now, huh?]

In truth, there had been prior interactions between the train and the Herta space station. However, their last visit to the station occurred before Su Qing started working off his debt.

Himeko frowned deeply and asked Arlan, "What's their relationship?"

Arlan candidly replied, "Oh, besides being our specially appointed chef, Su Qing is also Miss Asta's childhood friend."

Childhood friend?

Who? Asta's?

Su Qing is...?

Himeko felt even more bewildered, her confusion doubling.

She didn't have time to feel jealous; instead, she stood frozen, finding the situation unfolding before her eyes utterly surreal.

[Silver Wolf: Himeko: Stop Thinking.jpg]

[Stelle: ?? Sister Himeko, usually so clever, I've never seen her with this expression before!!]

[Herta: Quite refreshing.]

[Qingque: Seeing that expression on Himeko's face is such a stark contrast—definitely hilarious!]

[Himeko: ...At that moment, I genuinely couldn't comprehend what was happening.]

[Himeko: After all, when we were younger, Su Qing and I even attended tech exhibitions together. How could it be that in the blink of an eye, he became Asta's childhood friend instead?]

Observing Asta and Himeko from the side, March 7th grew increasingly excited.

What's going on, what's going on?

Could this be a love triangle?

[Black Swan: Little March, maintaining peak performance.]

Despite her numerous questions, Himeko knew she had to focus first on overcoming the crisis brought by the Antimatter Legion invasion before seeking answers.

With Su Qing "controlled" by Asta, he was temporarily unable to assist.

What followed was a pivotal moment for Stelle.

Among various events, this included the emergence of the Doomsday Beast, Stelle taking a devastating attack head-on while shielding March 7th, catching Nanook's attention, and ultimately awakening her Destiny Path of Destruction.

It seemed as though fate itself had scripted these events. Su Qing's presence created slight ripples, but ultimately, everything proceeded towards its predetermined course.

However, when control over Stelle's internal Stellaron began slipping, Welt rushed to help suppress it.

Qingque: Once again, I'm amazed—just how powerful and dangerous is the Stellaron?

Bronya: Hmm...

Seele: +1

Natasha: +2

Qingque (cautiously): @Stelle, you won't suddenly explode, right?

Stelle: Don't worry, that won't happen.

Stelle: ...Probably?

Kafka: Rest assured, @Silver Wolf, the vessel crafted by your stepmom is exceptionally stable.

Silver Wolf: Why are we actually using this term?!

Finally, things settled down somewhat.

The destruction caused by the Antimatter Legion was significant, requiring repairs throughout the space station to mitigate the damages.

After some repairs, however, the planned banquet was not canceled.

In the aftermath of such a crisis, boosting morale became even more crucial. A hearty feast served as an excellent choice for this purpose.

Upon waking up, Stelle also felt extremely hungry.

But her hunger ran deeper, stemming from her Stellaron. Having just experienced an energy burst, she felt somewhat weakened.

She had learned about the presence of her Stellaron from Himeko and formed a hypothesis regarding her closeness to Su Qing.

Following her instinct, Stelle approached Su Qing hesitantly and asked, "Um, pardon me if it's too forward, but... could you help replenish my energy?"

[Qingque: Recharging mana, right?]

[Firefly: Why does that sound slightly concerning??]

The Enhanced Simulation nearly depleted all the energy from Su Qing's Stellaron.

However, through subsequent Potential Unleashing, he managed to accumulate a portion back.

Unlike Stelle, Su Qing did not rely as heavily on his Stellaron.

He nodded, "Of course I can."

A few minutes later, Su Qing added, "But, please don't get too close..."

With her memories lost, Stelle remained uncertain about how to navigate this world.

Moreover, upon waking up to such drastic changes, Stelle felt most at ease and reliant on Su Qing's presence.

Driven by her craving for energy, without realizing it, she moved closer to him instinctively.

Could it be attributed to Kafka's influence when awakening her? In a subtle echo of Kafka's actions that day in the storage room, Stelle gently placed both hands on Su Qing's arms. Sensing the dispersion of Star Core energy from within him, she felt herself gradually "recharging," her eyes blissfully squinted shut.

[Clara: Re-recharge?]

[Sparkle: Oh, reacting to words like these? Clara, you're being quite naughty...]

[Clara (blushing)(lowering head): I...I'm not, I was just a bit curious...]

[Bronya: ? So is Su Qing now serving as a charging station?]

[Seele: Ha ha, looks like it!]

Of course, unlike Kafka, Stelle didn't actively sniff. Instead, as she breathed, naturally absorbing the dispersing Star Core energy, she also became aware of Su Qing's scent.

Just as Stelle was comfortably recharging while Su Qing stood still, providing the energy...

March 7th opened the door, bursting with enthusiasm.

"Stelle, are you okay?! Running off right after waking up had us all worried...worried..." March 7th abruptly stopped, mouth agape, seeing Stelle almost pressed against Su Qing. "Gah!"

[Sparkle (excited): Yay! A perfect catch-in-the-act moment!]

[Stelle, March 7th: Don't make things up!]

What should I do, what should I do?!

Su Qing having a Stellaron inside him—shouldn't that be considered a secret?

He's already helped replenish my energy; I must protect his secret at all costs.

But how can I explain this situation?

In a moment of panic-induced inspiration, Stelle hastily turned and explained, "March 7th, don't misunderstand! Su Qing and I... we're just secretly dating!"

[Sushang: Shocked!!!]

[Sparkle: ?? Genius!]

[Qingque: It appears, truly astounding wisdom!]

[Seele: Impressive!]

[Bronya: Wait, @Stelle, why did you come up with such an explanation?!]

[Guinaifen: Were you afraid the misunderstanding wasn't deep enough?]

[Natasha: A vivid demonstration of making things worse by trying to cover it up.]

[Kafka: However, from this incident, we can see Stelle's extraordinary intellect...]

[Kafka: ...must be innate.]

[Seele: Must be innate. +1]

[Qingque: +2]

[Silver Wolf: +3]

[Firefly: If both mommies agree, it must be true.]

[Silver Wolf: ...@Firefly, if we're counting like this, you should be included too—somewhat akin to a stepmom.]

[Firefly: Ah?!?]

[Herta: In any case, at present, Stelle embodies both the innocence and wisdom of youth.]

[Qingque: Born with abstract genius, it seems.]

[Stelle: (Hands on hips) (Proudly) No need to praise me so much!]

[Sparkle: Quite entertaining, this Astral Express Crew of yours.]

At the scene, March 7th's jaw nearly dropped again, exclaiming, "Eep!??"

She thought her relationships with Asta and Sister Himeko were already intriguing enough.

But who knew...

There were even more masters at play here!

Just what kind of past filled with love and rivalry lies behind all these mysteries? The answers unfold tonight during prime time...

Wait!

Complex dynamics straight out of a soap opera actually exist?!

"I didn't see anything!"

Perhaps influenced by Stelle's panic, March 7th hastily turned away.

With her back facing them, she waved her hands repeatedly, assuring, "Don't worry, Su Qing, I absolutely won't tell Sister Himeko or Asta!"

Su Qing couldn't hold back his exasperation any longer.

He glanced at Stelle, then at March 7th—these two were truly a dynamic duo...

Please stop messing around! My relationship web is already chaotic enough; don't fan the flames any further!

[Sparkle: Enjoying this.]

[Sparkle: Not enough! I want to see a raging inferno!]