MGSFV?! Chapter 396. Kevin: Then Let's Not Bring Mei, Just the Two of Us Go
[Mei really loves metaphors, huh. No wonder she gets along so well with Elysia.]
[Mei's totally syncing wavelengths with the Queen of Metaphors herself.]
Indeed.
Elysia, unsurprisingly, didn't mock Mei's metaphor like the players did—instead, she gave a very delightful response.
"Wow! That truly sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle in the universe."
On one hand, she genuinely enjoys this kind of whimsical metaphor.
And as someone with high emotional intelligence, she obviously wouldn't react like Kevin with just a flat "Oh."
That kind of reply would instantly drop your likability meter.
On the other hand, after learning her own existence came from such a minuscule accident, she seemed to gain new confidence.
If even someone like her could be born, then maybe some things weren't as impossible as they seemed.
So Elysia's expression brightened.
"Thank you, Mei! I feel like I've gained more confidence in what I'm about to do."
"..."
Hearing that, Mei fell briefly silent.
Then, in the gentlest voice, offered a blessing: "I wish you success."
You could tell—when she previously said "Elysia's birth is a miracle," she didn't mean to encourage her to press forward…
It was more… out of respect, wanting Elysia to understand—at the very last moment—what she truly meant to the world.
If anything, perhaps Mei didn't actually want Elysia to…
Anyone else might have missed this nuance—but not Elysia.
She caught on instantly.
"Of course. You're my lucky charm, Mei."
Elysia's high EQ responses are always so comforting.
There's a reason why she's so beloved in Flame-Chasers.
Though sometimes… she does seem like the ultimate social wrench…
Compared to Elysia, Mei's status in Flame-Chasers was very high, but if we're talking popularity?
"Maybe not every Flame-Chaser likes you… but no one can deny your ability, and no one can deny your contributions."
Elysia gave Mei a soft smile and continued with a trusting tone:
"What I'm going to do—can only hope to bear fruit in the future because of everything you've created."
"You don't have a path to 'Return to the Honkai' like I do, nor do you have Kevin's power to 'Fight the Honkai' directly."
[So in the end, Elysia is returning to the Honkai itself, not dying?]
[It's more like she 'departed'—whether that's death depends on how you define it. You could say she left, yet always lives on in everyone's hearts.]
[Henceforth, stars will shine because she once existed. Henceforth, flowers will bloom because she never truly left.]
The livestream filled with chatter over Elysia's fate.
In-game, Elysia changed the topic.
"But your wisdom allows you to see through the nature of the world, to point the way forward for humanity lost in the maelstrom."
"There were certainly irreversible mistakes, and unacceptable sacrifices—but in this irrational world, who can say they could lead us forward without any hardship?"
[Elysia's encouraging Mei.]
[Yeah.]
And indeed, while it was encouragement—everything she said was also true.
Not every Flame-Chaser liked Mei…
But every Flame-Chaser trusted her.
Someone trusted so deeply, that her very existence gave others hope even in despair.
Even Elysia could choose to 'return' in peace—because she believed Mei could seize the fleeting opportunity she created.
In the Previous Era, Mei was undeniably a true leader of humanity.
Even if the story rarely talks about that.
To be honest, even Kevin was merely her "follower."
"But to be honest—what everyone fears most about me… isn't the mistakes themselves, right?"
This may refer to Mei's "absolute rationality."
Some things might be undeniably correct from a rational perspective.
But a person devoid of emotion, human desire, and empathy...
Can be terrifying, right?
Just like how players once reacted when Mei, Mobius, and Vill-V discussed "civilization" and "humanity."
Someone had said: "Dr. MEI is kind of scary, casually saying things like 'humanity is merely the foundation on which civilization is built.'"
In-game,
Elysia pondered and replied: "...Maybe that's true."
"But I think… that's also one of the reasons people trust you so much. Kevin must understand that better than anyone, right?"
Kevin trusted that Mei's actions had reasons—that's why he could turn off his brain and trust her unconditionally.
Mei's expression softened slightly at Elysia's words.
Elysia noticed, and cheerfully added:
"Oh right! Feel free to repeat what I just said to him, word for word~~
And… if you could tell me how he reacts later, that'd be perfect."
You can't help but think—classic Elysia.
After viewing that memory, Kevin fell into silence.
Kevin: ...
Dot dot dot dot dot dot.
You could practically feel his emotions.
Maybe Mei really did repeat Elysia's words to him, exactly as they were.
And now, as he remembers…
Everything has changed.
Close friends, beloved ones, comrades…
All that remains is memory.
Mei, Sakura, Griseo...
And… Elysia.
Every name, every person, has vanished with the Previous Era.
...
The next memory.
Kevin, Mei, and Su are discussing who should execute the Stigma Plan.
Skipping most details—just some highlights:
First, Kevin's voice here is clearly colder, even with Mei and Su. Likely, this Kevin has already experienced the Erosion Incident.
He says that iconic line: "Humanity will prevail over the Honkai."
Even so, in front of Mei and Su, you could still feel a warmth beneath the cold—
Like an ice-water mix: looks cold, but still quite gentle?
Second, the original executor of the Stigma Plan was supposed to be Su.
But Kevin, knowing his friend's personality, realized Su wasn't suited for it.
So he took it on himself.
"I proposed it."
"The Stigma Plan—jointly led by Mei and Mobius—was the most brutal of all plans, the one with the most sacrifice."
"Though it aligns with your research field… from this perspective, it's the least compatible with you."
As everyone knows, Su later became executor of the "Hengsha Project."
"Mei entrusted me with a new plan—'Hengsha Project,' seeking solutions by observing parallel universes."
"If I can find an answer there, you won't need to activate the Stigma Plan. That's only a last resort—not what we truly need."
"I won't let you do something so cruel. I'll stay with you to the end."
Thinking about it—it hurts.
Su… never made it to the end with Kevin.
They didn't even get to say goodbye.
Kevin: ...
The memory ends, and Kevin grows even more silent.
Even the players slow their pace, pushing forward more deliberately.
As Kevin walks through the grey world, he is the only light.
The tone turns solemn.
Players mirror the mood, quieting down.
Even the livestream comments slow.
Until the next memory.
Kevin and Mei, alone.
"...Kevin, what do you think about what's been happening lately?"
"Uh… what are you referring to?"
Kevin's voice wasn't cold, nor warm—more like he was trying to sound warm.
That warmth beneath the iceberg again.
"Let's start with this—I've been assigning impossible missions to your teammates." Mei looked at Kevin.
"...People must have idealistic goals."
Kevin replied seriously: "To act 'knowing it's futile'—though pointless, it's better than total despair."
"And what about you?"
Kevin treated others and Mei very differently—and vice versa.
"You're the one carrying out a plan that can actually succeed."
"..."
"This is the trust everyone has in me."
The now ice-faced Kevin tried to smile.
As if to… reassure her.
"Of course I'll give it my all. I won't let anyone down."
Mei: "..."
Then the memory ends.
[...]×n
[That hurt suddenly.]
[Does anyone else remember Kevin once just wanted to be Mei's personal hero? And Mei replied: If you can be a hero for one person, you can be a hero for all.]
[And he really became that hero in the end…]
[It hurts… but it's sweet. Mei x Kevin is good.]
[Am I the only one feeling the story rhythm is off? Usually when it's this sweet and painful, the writers are about to drop a bomb (knife).]
Elysia: "..."
She glanced at the comments…
And recalled… yeah, that's usually how it goes.
Many Honkai Impact 3 stories sweeten you up before they stab you.
Thinking that—
She looked at Kevin, standing alone in the darkness.
Felt a little nervous.
Maybe she should brace herself…
The next memory might be a knife.
...
Taking a breath—
Elysia controlled Kevin to move forward, soon arriving at a new memory.
She inhaled, exhaled, clicked [View Memory] with a serious expression.
Prepared for the worst.
But the next scene didn't unfold like everyone expected.
Though still about Kevin and Mei's past—
This memory seemed to jump far back in time.
You could tell… from Kevin's tone—it was much livelier.
Judging the timeline by Kevin's mood might be odd…
But weirdly accurate.
After all, Kevin's personality differs vastly across timelines.
The sunny high schooler and the late-era iceberg—
Aside from their face, they had almost nothing in common.
"...Kevin, what do you think is the most wonderful thing about life?" Mei asked.
Kevin gave a bright smile: "You want the truth?"
He looked ready to drop a cheesy line.
Mei quickly cut him off: "Of course. But don't say the answer is 'meeting me.'"
She clearly knew him too well. Just from his expression, she knew he was about to get sappy.
[Oof, that hit—thanks.]
[Sweet! Actual sugar!?]
[Kevin and Mei during this time… felt so relaxed. No crushing weight on their shoulders.]
Previously, we couldn't feel the contrast.
But after seeing late-era Kevin and Mei…
Looking back now, the difference is obvious.
"Alright, hmm… let me think…"
With Mei setting those terms, Kevin had to give it serious thought.
After a pause—
"Ah, though it might sound odd…"
"Back in school, we guys used to skip class to go to Eden's concerts…
That freedom in the air back then—
That might be the so-called 'wonder of life.'"
[Skipping class for Eden's concert? Kevin, really?]
[Bah! That's not rigorous at all. If Eden held a concert, the teachers would ditch class faster than us!]
[Exactly!]
Clearly, this world's players really vibed with Kevin's story.
Also—worth noting—Kevin left out a "minor" detail.
Back then, after watching Eden's concert, he and Su chatted.
Kevin said he wanted to pursue Mei.
Su joked that if Kevin got a girlfriend, he'd stop going to concerts to avoid being a third wheel.
And Kevin replied—
"Then let's not bring her. Just the two of us go!"
Turns out Kevin had a bit of emotional intelligence.
At least he didn't spill everything.
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