"Captain!"
Even though they were no longer in a superior-subordinate relationship, he still called her that out of habit.
For Himeko, hearing that title sparked a moment of reminiscence—mixed with confusion. The emotions flickered across her face, impossible to conceal.
But before Michael could notice, she quickly forced a smile.
"Michael, would you mind going for a walk with me? And could you please take this to Vill-V? I think Surtr might recover faster in her hands."
She held up the broken sword.
[Wait! How did she bring that into the conference room?!]
"Captain..."
Michael hesitated, half-extending his hand toward the shattered blade, unsure whether to take it or not.
Himeko chuckled at his dilemma, then casually slung Surtr over her shoulder and began walking away.
Michael glanced at Mobius before following her alone.
The dark tunnel stretched ahead, dimly lit. Himeko's tall figure stood straight, her fiery red hair fluttering with each step—like a dancing flame.
"I've submitted my resignation to Mei."
Her voice echoed slightly in the tunnel, muffled by the enclosed space.
Michael, who had quickly caught up, frowned. Had he misheard? Or was he simply unwilling to believe what he had just heard?
"...What?"
Himeko sighed. "Yeah... I said, I've submitted my resignation to Mei. From now on, I won't be in the Fifth Squad—ah, it's a battalion now. Anyway, I won't be taking on any combat duties anymore."
Michael stopped in his tracks. His hand clenched into a fist, frustration bubbling inside him.
"Why... why?!"
He ran a hand through his hair, torn between relief and a surge of inexplicable anger.
His gaze wavered. The flames in front of him were too dazzling. The air suddenly felt warmer, suffocating.
Himeko was probably the first in Fire Moth to uncover the truth behind the so-called "riot."
She had walked into Mei's lab the night before and found Kevin with only minor injuries. From that moment, she had understood much more than anyone realized.
She didn't know the full scope of the plan. But she knew enough—enough to realize who was truly responsible for the deaths of the Poison Cocoon soldiers and the First Squad.
Michael had expected this reaction.
If you don't want people to know, you shouldn't have done it in the first place...
He let out a self-deprecating chuckle, lowering his head guiltily.
Suddenly, warmth pressed down on his head.
Michael's lips parted slightly, but he said nothing.
Himeko gently ruffled his hair before resting her hand on his shoulder. She pressed firmly, as if trying to make him feel the weight of something unspoken.
"Don't overthink it."
Michael looked up—and saw her gentle smile.
The fire wasn't dazzling anymore. The heat wasn't suffocating.
"Silly child."
Her voice carried a teasing warmth, like an older sister scolding a younger brother.
"Compared to the darkness I've seen, you and Mei are still amateurs when it comes to scheming. Whether you like it or not—neither of you are cut out for this."
"The victories you've won? They weren't because of cunning or strategy. They were simply the result of overwhelming power. So don't go thinking that just because you did this, you've suddenly turned into master schemers, burdened by guilt and shame."
"You're not that far along yet."
Michael swallowed hard, embarrassment creeping in.
It was the kind of shame a boy feels when he thinks he's all grown up—only to find himself exposed in front of an older female relative.
The instinctive reaction? Cover up.
And the usual response?
"Tsk! Is that it? I've seen worse. No need to act so shy."
Himeko chuckled softly. "And don't assume the people around you will look down on you for this. They won't."
She ruffled his hair again.
"Michael, you always want others to trust you. But you need to trust them too.
Trust the people you've chosen. They understand more than you think.
As long as your actions haven't strayed from your original intentions, they won't abandon you."
She sighed, crossing her arms.
"And please, tell this to Mei as well. Compared to you, she's much more dishonest with herself. She doesn't need to drown herself in work as some sort of penance. It's just going to destroy her health..."
"And that applies to you too."
She reached up once more, ruffling his hair despite being half a head shorter.
It looked a little tiring.
But she seemed to enjoy it.
"Then... the resignation..."
"Oh, that? It's just a health issue, of course."
"Health?!"
Michael's eyes widened in shock.
A sliver of the Sixth Herrscher's power from the world bubble instinctively flowed into Himeko's body—but it was nothing more than a drop in the ocean. Before it could even identify what was wrong, it was completely depleted.
Himeko chuckled. "What? Worried about me?"
She turned and started walking again, her steps steady.
"Don't worry. The health issue I'm talking about is mostly due to my age. No matter how you look at it, I'm over thirty. I've got too many old wounds, and my stamina's already declining.
Plus, according to Mei's calculations, my body can't handle a Fusion Warrior surgery.
Besides…" Himeko smiled, half-teasing, "I'm in my thirties now. Shouldn't I start thinking about my personal life? Ato's a bit younger than me, and every time I see Griseo, I get so envious."
"That... does make sense..."
Her words were lighthearted, but Michael wasn't sure if she was joking or not.
Instinctively, he started counting on his fingers.
By all logic, Himeko should still be on active duty until the Seventh Honkai Eruption—almost three years later. This sudden resignation… was it really just a health issue?
Or was there something more to it?
Himeko's gaze flickered. Just from the look on his face, she could tell he was overthinking things again.
"Alright!"
She tapped Michael's forehead, exasperated.
"What are you thinking with that little brain of yours? Even if we assume the worst-case scenario, I'm just leaving combat, not leaving Fire Moth.
By the rules, retired combat officers automatically become instructors. That idiot Ato got tricked by Mei into going back to the frontlines, so now I have no choice but to take over as the head instructor!"
"I see..."
Michael let out a breath, feeling slightly relieved. He was about to ask more when—
Shove.
Himeko pushed the broken sword into his hands.
"Like I said, once Vill-V repairs Surtr, don't give it back to me. Give it to Kevin."
She blinked, her expression unreadable.
"Michael, our time is over. From here on… dealing with the Honkai, dealing with humanity itself—it's all up to you."
Michael stood frozen in place, gripping the broken hilt of Surtr.
Himeko walked ahead, her fiery red silhouette growing smaller and smaller, until it finally disappeared into the tunnel's darkness.
For a long time, Michael remained still, lost in thought.
He carefully turned her words over in his mind, and finally—he understood.
This wasn't just about health.
This was about the old era and the new era.
Phamas's time had long passed.
But Vasak and Lezlun were still remnants of that fading age.
And with this morning's meeting as a turning point, Mei had finally severed that lingering past.
Himeko had chosen to leave with the past.
Not out of weakness. Not out of regret.
But as a symbol—a bridge from what once was, to what will be.
Even as she distanced herself… even as she stepped into the background…
She was still paving the way for those who would follow.
Still pointing them in the right direction.
In that moment, as Michael gazed into the fading light of the tunnel, he saw something—
A distant fire, still burning tirelessly.
Memories flooded his mind, overlapping with that fiery red figure.
The girl who once escorted the one who stole fire.
The songstress who played her final tune in the wasteland.
And now—
"Next, dealing with the Honkai, and with humanity itself, it's all up to you."
"Next, it's your story."
As one story ended, another began.
And so, at that very moment—
A new movement had begun.
—End of Volume V: The Year of Fire Moths (part 1)