Welt & Himeko

Welt & Himeko is the friendship between Welt Yang and Murata Himeko from the Honkai fandom.

Alien Space
In 2005, Welt temporarily became a professor in one of Himeko's classes at Caltech. Himeko was a bright and talented student with an interest in aliens. One day, Welt finds her going on a trip to New Mexico to investigate an alien sighting. However, the event was actually an Arahato test site. Any civilian caught there would have their memory wiped by Tesla. Not wanting his student to be subject to Tesla's coma-inducing memory wipes, Welt tries telling Himeko that the photo she saw isn't actually aliens. Himeko doesn't listen and is instead excited that Welt seems to have an interest in aliens as well. So Welt boards the plane with her and changes the coordinates of her photo to the middle of Santa Fe, tricking Himeko into thinking she saw a fake blog post about an alien sighting.

Himeko is disappointed at the wasted trip, to which Welt mentally apologizes for. At Himeko's questioning, Welt denies being interested in aliens. Himeko then asks if not for that, if he came with her because he cares about her. Welt is startled and goes with the former excuse. Himeko laughs, saying she knew he liked aliens and tricked him into admitting it. She gets excited about their shared interest that no one else in the school shares, and invites him to be the supporting faculty member of her club on extraterrestrial civilizations.

Some time later in class, Himeko’s classmate points out that Himeko is staring at Dr. Welt. Himeko, flustered, says that she was just staring at the formulas on the board and that she and Welt only share common interests. The classmate continues teasing her about it anyway. After class, Himeko submits her observation plan of an asteroid to Welt, which he finds impressive. But since he wasn’t actually interested in aliens and is set to leave soon, Welt tries thinking of an excuse to turn her down. Just then, he senses an strong alien force and urges Himeko to get behind him. The one he sensed turns out to be Himeko's father, Murata Ryusuke. Himeko leaves to show her dad around campus, and their close relationship reminds Welt of his own father.

After some incidents involving spy bots from the Sky People, Welt goes to Himeko's apartment to interrogate Ryusuke. However, as he is about to enter, Himeko arrives, surprised to see Welt but invites him for dinner. Welt and Ryusuke struggle with Himeko's very spicy curry and then privately talk outside, where Ryusuke reveals his affiliation with an alien race called the Sugars. Ryusuke briefly takes Welt into the Sugars' home, but when they get back, they find Himeko has been attacked by a spy bot.

Himeko is taken to an AE medical facility. Welt and Ryusuke go to destroy the Sky People's Vanguard Stone that would endanger Himeko. While up there, Ryusuke gets frustrated with humanities "cowardice" in not exploring space and fights with Welt Yang to take his Herrscher of Reason power. The confrontation ends with Welt killing Ryusuke with the Star of Eden's 3rd Power. After Himeko wakes up, Einstein is the one to talk to her, which Welt thanks her for. Himeko received a letter which was addressed to her by her father, but was actually written by Welt. Einstein asks if lying was the best thing to do, and Welt replies that he doesn't want to involve Himeko in this anymore, since she is just a normal college girl. Himeko then decides to become a Schicksal Valkyrie despite her low Honkai resistance, to learn the truth about her father's death.

In 2029, Welt sees on Sky People's control panel that they are targeting the Himeko of that world. He asks Void Archives who she is and why the Sky People are targeting her. Welt wants to save that world, which Void Archives initially thinks is not their obligation, but Welt eventually convinces him.

Honkai: Star Rail
After the events of Alien Space, Welt and Void Archives somehow arrive to the alternate world, drifting through space. The same Himeko that Welt saw on that panel finds them in the wreckage of a large starship and rescues them. Welt and Void Archives join the Astral Express for some time as thanks, though Void Archives eventually leaves. Joining had reignited Welt's passion for adventure so he decides to stay with the Astral Express crew for some time.

Quotes
"She is just a normal girl, and I wish her to be free from dangers and troubles."

- Welt Yang, Alien Space Ch. 17

"You have every reason to feel sick. I once lied to a girl and convinced myself it was for her good. ...But later on, things turned out to be ridiculously wrong."

- Welt to Void Archives, Alien Space Ch. 17

"Himeko's the kind of person that... gives off her own light. Even though we're traveling across the train's old route, you can see Himeko's dreams flashing before her eyes when you look at her. It's almost as if she's been on the train from the very beginning — always moving starward."

- Welt "About Himeko" voiceline, Star Rail

"I think Welt's anxious that he can't keep up with you youngsters, but he sure seems young at heart to me..."

- Himeko "About Welt" voiceline, Star Rail

Fanon
Welt & Himeko's relationship first grew popular with the release of Alien Space. Some ship it romantically. But most prefer a platonic interpretation, especially because of the age difference (in 2005 Welt was 58 and Himeko a teenager) and the professor-student relationship. Since he was a mentor to Himeko, many also like to interpret Welt as a father figure to her.

Early after the release of A Post Honkai Odyssey, there was a misconception that Welt and Himeko were together. This was because of dialogue about him being married, and Welt's son describing his other guardian to have red hair. However, people were quick to correct others that the dialogue was actually referring to Tesla.

Welt & Himeko's relationship grew more popular after the release of Honkai: Star Rail, where Welt has joined the Astral Express lead by an alternate version of Himeko. Fans of HI3 find this emotional, since Welt is witnessing HSR Himeko live out her dream of exploring space, which her counterpart was never able to. Fans also worry that this Himeko is going to have death flags in the future and hope that Welt can save her in the future after failing to in the past.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

Trivia

 * In the "Sanguine Nights" event, Himeko has half of a ripped photo of her and Welt. Welt holds the other half in Chapter 1 of Alien Space, as well as on the cover.
 * The background of the photo and Welt's clothing are inconsistent, but "Welt" is written behind Himeko's half, indicating that both halves are meant to be part of the same photo.
 * An early version of the photo exists in Chapter 8 of the Mystery of Stigmata manga, which is no longer canon.