Historia [HSR] (WelTori [Senior Citizen Ship])

Upon Welt Yang and his friend joining the Astral Express Crew, Tori had clung onto him at first sight, calling him affectionate pet names despite never having met before. Despite the confusion, Welt let it slide, simply dismissing it as her quirky nature. Later on, he does note that most of her reactions weren't due to love (at least not yet) but rather something more intrinsic, more psychological. It fascinated him, in a way, which led to him going along with her actions.

With each passing planet and as the crew slowly grew, Welt had felt more comfortable with her affections, even jokingly flirting back at some cases. In those moments, he recalled seeing her rather confused expression, as if not really believing or understanding that he could return whatever action she would do. Slowly, she began to restrain herself more, and rather than the audacious way of showing her love, she started slipping up and genuinely showing her true feelings into the matter. Rather than cling onto him, she would simply sit beside him, looking over some of the work he is doing such as drawing or sometimes, upon using his mimicry to play some form of an animation. Her coming out of whatever traumtic defense-coping-mechanism she had shown before now slowly endeared herself to Welt until he had realized his own feelings for the matter.

By the time Caelus arrived, Tori barely shows anymore of her clingy and flirtatious self, often even ending up bewildered and flustered at certain thoughts about romance. Unfortunately, this is also the very moment that Welt came to terms with his feelings, now actively pursuing her true affections for him (which he noted, had also developed into genuine feelings from the time the spent together). Tori, now being on the receiving end of being pursued, had no clue and sometimes, is in outright denial that someone would return her feelings. Another coping mechanism that was rooted from her abandonment trauma, despite it being clear as day that Welt truly does love her. Now, it's up to the people around her to push them both in the right direction (and maybe to let Tori know that her feelings are reciprocated) as the two dance around each other (until they do finally end up together)

The first thing anyone would think of when they see them together is Old Souls. As March would also have dubbed it, Senior Citizens in-love. Before the main start of H:SR, Tori used to be the one actively pursuing him, doing all sorts of affectionate things like petnames, literally clinging onto him, etc. One thing to note though is her eyes are usually that of desperation rather than love for most of them. It's what kept Welt interested and worried for her so he didn't mind whatever she did so long as it doesn't cross his boundaries. With his response seemingly encouraging Tori, confusion is her first response as she had not expected whatever she did to work.

As the story progresses, Tori becomes much more relax and the desperation she flings herself with slowly evaporates. She started doing things out of genuine affection and started caring for Welt with her true feelings (which may or may not have slowly bloomed into a crush). Welt, now appreciating her company more, also began developing some blooming feelings underneath his old heart. They actively go on couples activities (despite neither of them really affirming it or acknowledging it) and grew closer with each passing time. One day, it hits Welt that there must be something more to whatever is between them and gave it a good thought. After accepting whatever conclusion he made, he began actively pursuing Tori, this time with romance and a relationship in mind.

His efforts were finally given fruit after Tori's Companion Quest and him being shown the depths of her trauma and past. There, he promised to give her a better ending and a happier future, one where he'll always be by her side if she calls out for him. Tori is also finally hit with the realization that she genuinely is in love with Welt, and that her past was the only thing holding her back from fully committing. She finally acknowledged her feelings, confessed everything to Welt who also replied positively. They share a chaste kiss before returning back to the Astral Express, hand in hand and happier than before.

Post-getting together, their interactions appear like an old married couple, Welt being the perfect gentleman and husband to Tori's worrying and caring wife. The people around them do like teasing the two when they go off in their own world (//cough// flirting) which leads to an embarrassed Tori. Despite everything, Tori is very easily insecure and often times would worry if what she does is enough for Welt. On the otherhand, Welt is surprisingly easily jealous and protective of the lady, often shutting down the first signs he see of someone else getting close to her with no-good intentions in mind.

• When you bring up her past actions, she immediately full on blushes and says she feels sorry for being clingy to Welt (who would later on reveal that he did enjoy her attention a bit more than what he'd like to admit at the start)
• Glaze Lilies are now their couple flower (from the events of "A New Favorite")
• Welt has an entire sketchbook dedicated to just drawings of Tori.
• When she is flustered-angry, she calls Welt by his true full name. Surprisingly, Welt has never called her by her Khaenri'ahn or full name (Historia) when he is on the other end of the spectrum.
• Their favorite subject is Robotics and mechanics, both chatting about robots and the mechanism behind it.
• Tori's wallpaper in her phone was a candid picture of Welt in the middle of using his Ultimate. It quickly switches out for a near shirtless photo of him when she is given the photo by March and the crew.
• In Welt's case, his wallpaper is one of the selfies Tori had given him when he innocently asked one of her photos.
• Welt intentionally matches up his schedule so that he is always paired with Tori during kitchen duties or any other miscellaneous chores in the Express. Only Himeko has called him out on it, but has done nothing to stop him.
• Tori always likes to hang out a little bit behind Welt when they walk together. She explained that its so she doesn't have to look back (which Welt attributes to her trauma from being left behind by Dainsleif)