[Honkai: Star Rail] After Failing to Read Aventurine's Heartbeat

Lois can hear everyone’s inner voices, and the noise torments him.

Until the day he joined the Interastral Peace Corporation, he met someone whose inner voice he couldn’t hear for the first time: Aventurine.

His heart began racing uncontrollably. He tried to take in the other man’s features, memorizing every detail of his face.

Later, he learned that as long as their skin touched, all the inner voices around him would temporarily disappear.

Aventurine was his “cure.”

Touching Aventurine was the only way he could escape from this hell of noise.

He became hopelessly fixated on pursuing Aventurine, gathering information, getting promoted. Everything was for the sake of getting closer to him.

Gradually, he began to realize something was wrong.

When Aventurine spoke, he would count the flutter of his eyelashes and wonder what bewitching words those beautiful lips would utter next.

He would study the top button of Aventurine’s shirt, always left undone, imagining what it would look like completely torn open.

He would even fantasize about what it would feel like if those hands laced tightly through his fingers.

Was... was this right?

Lois grew wary. He felt more and more that something was wrong with him. It had been wrong ever since the first time he saw Aventurine.

And he wasn’t the only one acting strangely. Aventurine was acting strangely too!

Rumor had it that he was a gambler, a madman, a reckless opportunist, and a ruthless schemer who could calculate people, even himself, down to the bone.

Why was Aventurine always showing up near him?

Why did the look in Aventurine’s eyes always make his heart race?

Why was Aventurine always helping him?

Lois finally understood.

Director Aventurine was definitely a breath of fresh air in the company’s man-eating swamp, a helpful, gentle, kindhearted, generous good person! An angel sent from above to save him. He was

“What are you thinking about?”

The voice suddenly came from behind him.

Lois froze in place.

Warm breath brushed his nape. A hand settled lightly on his shoulder, its fingertips touching his bare skin

The instant the noise vanished, the sound of his heartbeat grew so clear it seemed ready to burst through his chest.

The person behind him chuckled softly.

“Thinking about me?”

Wait.

Was something... not quite right?

*

Aventurine had long since noticed the little counselor who was always looking his way, and indulged him just enough.

He kept a private journal. In it, he wrote:

“I’ve realized he really likes... being touched.”

“The first time I touched his cheek, he completely blanked out. His eyes went unfocused, as if he were drunk.”

“Interesting.”

“After that, every time I ‘accidentally’ touched him, he would shiver, then inch a little closer without realizing it.”

“He craves my touch.”

“That realization... is truly delightful.”

[Bonus Scene: A Belated Realization]

One day, long afterward, Lois leaned against Aventurine’s arms and watched an old recording of a company celebration replay on the interstellar news.

As he gazed at the face on screen, so alluringly deceptive, his memories were pulled back to that day when noise and silence collided.

“Ah...” Lois murmured suddenly.

“What is it?” Aventurine asked, twirling a lock of his hair.

“No way...” Lois turned his head and met Aventurine’s smiling eyes. Only then did he finally realize, belatedly:

“I think I fell in love with you at first sight...”

[Reader’s Guide]

1. Aventurine x Lois. The name Lois was inspired by “noise.” Contains extensive psychological descriptions. The story takes place before the main plot.

2. Alternate setting: Aventurine became one of the Ten Stonehearts earlier than in the game. During the Penacony arc, Aventurine is 19, and Lois is just a little older than him.

3. The protagonist is not in a good state of mind, so the story may have a slightly dark, obsessive feel (?). He has a kind of skin hunger that applies only to Aventurine, and falls in love with Aventurine at first sight without realizing it.

3. I’m not clear on some of the Honkai: Star Rail lore, so there are lots of alternate settings. Lore enthusiasts, please don’t nitpick.

4. Any out-of-character writing is my fault, all mine (prostrates).

Core message: True peace comes from a strong heart.