The Real World
In Kakaya's stream chat, everyone was baffled by the appearance of the unfamiliar male voice. Given miHoYo's usual habits, while changing the initial plot wasn't entirely unheard of, they would almost never do so right at the game's official launch.
The chat was still buzzing with discussion as the screen in the stream began to move.
"Bzzzt!"
A few bolts of lightning flashed across the previously black screen. Accompanied by a few soft groans from the female protagonist, Stelle, our lazy sleeping beauty finally opened her drowsy eyes.
The moment the viewers in the stream saw the person on screen, they collectively ascended to heaven.
[WTF! THIS CHARACTER! THAT TALL PHYSIQUE! THOSE BROAD SHOULDERS! THAT SHARPLY-DEFINED FACE! ISN'T THIS MY LONG-LOST HUSBAND!]
[You can't be serious, officer! A guy is fine too?]
[Holy shit, they really changed it! And added a new character! I'm sad we didn't get to see the kiss scene, but seeing a guy like this at the start... hehehe, I'm not against it!]
[WTF! MY KINK HAS BEEN TRIGGERED! Black hair, purple eyes, a handsome face! That body! Those pecs! They're practically bursting through his clothes! AAAAAAH!]
Kakaya was currently frozen in his chair, his brain on the verge of smoking. They really changed the plot and added a new character? This was far too unexpected, wasn't it?
Other players who had reached this point in the main story also discovered the change. Although a few grumbled, thinking it was unreasonable to alter the main quest and add a character for the official launch, the rest of them declared that he was right up their alley! Continue!
Secretly, a familiar kind of hype began to spread quietly along with the change in the main storyline.
.............
Herta Space Station
Stelle opened her golden eyes and stared coolly at the man in front of her.
"Pfft..."
Then she coughed up a puff of black smoke...
"She's awake! It really worked!"
Seeing Stelle wake up, March 7th quickly ran over and crouched in front of her, waving a hand in front of those dazed, wide eyes.
"Uhh... where is this? Why does my whole body feel tingly?"
Stelle looked at the pink-haired girl before her, utterly bewildered. For some reason, her eyes seemed a little vacant.
"Uhh... this is the Herta Space Station, and we're crew members of the Astral Express. As for why you're tingling all over..."
March 7th turned and shot a condemnatory glare at Wende.
Wende (turns his head away).
"Anyway, are you okay now? Are you hurt anywhere? Oh right, what's your name?" March 7th asked the groggy Stelle with concern.
"Uhh... besides being a little numb, I'm fine. As for my name... I'm called Stelle."
Seeing Stelle's dazed appearance, Wende couldn't help but look at his own index finger. Did he really use too much force and fry the poor girl's brain?
"Pa~ Pa-pa~ Pa~"
A phone ringtone—a song sung by Pom-Pom—suddenly rang from March 7th's hip. Under Stelle's blank gaze, March 7th answered the call excitedly.
"Hello? Can you hear me? Little March, the station's communications are back online. I've already rendezvoused with Asta in the Master Control Zone. The Voidspawn here have been cleared out. You guys should hurry over!"
"Oh, oh! We're on our way!"
March 7th nodded and then hung up the phone.
"Alright! Let's go! Don't you worry, we'll get you there safely!" March 7th said, patting her chest reassuringly at the still-confused Stelle.
At the same time, Dan Heng's phone also received a message.
"March, you guys head back first. Station Head Asta just sent me a message. Arlan from the Defense Section lost contact somewhere around here. I need to bring him back."
"Okay, sounds good. Be careful."
And so, March 7th led two people who were completely lost toward the Master Control Zone.
Stelle, holding a baseball bat she had found somewhere, walked at the front of the group with March 7th, while Wende brought up the rear.
Watching March 7th up ahead, chattering away with Stelle about everything under the sun, a thoughtful look appeared in Wende's eyes.
Although the plot had deviated slightly, the overall narrative was still developing along its original path. Wende's appearance had only delayed the Express crew's arrival at the space station by a little, but it hadn't changed anything fundamental.
They encountered a few Voidspawn on the way, but Wende took care of them all with his electric needles. Feeling Stelle's intense gaze on him from the side, Wende suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.
So this is what it feels like to be stared at by the protagonist...
"Say, are you really part of the space station? You're not wearing the uniform."
March 7th recalled Stelle's clueless behavior throughout their journey. She pinched her smooth chin, tilted her head, and looked at Stelle, who was now rummaging through a chest with a look of novelty on her face.
"I... can't remember..."
Stelle closed her eyes and tried hard to recall, only to find her mind a complete blank. She finally shook her head in resignation, though her hands never stopped moving.
"Is that so... Wait! Stop rummaging through other people's chests! Wende, hurry up and stop her!" March 7th cried, looking at Wende with a plea for help as she watched Stelle become completely absorbed in the treasure chest.
"Hmm..."
Wende stroked his chin, pondered for a moment as he looked at the large pile of things Stelle had pulled out, and then casually picked up an Adventure Log and stuffed it into his pocket.
"Whack! Put that back, you!"
Seeing Wende join in, a very angry March 7th bonked his head with her longbow.
"Uhh... cough cough, I couldn't help it, I couldn't help it..." Wende coughed awkwardly and then tried to defend himself.
For some reason, he thought he saw Stelle shoot him a look of approval.
Finally, after a few insignificant detours, the trio reunited with Dan Heng and, along with the rescued Arlan, arrived at the Master Control Zone.
...............
The Real World
In Kakaya's stream, having just met the Astral Express "trio," Kakaya was now following the main quest into a combat sequence.
The stream chat was still buzzing about the fact that the protagonist had been woken up by an electric shock.
[HOLY SHIT! THIS HANDSOME GUY IS A LIGHTNING ELEMENT!]
[THAT'S SO ROUGH! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO A "DELICATE" GIRL LIKE STELLE! HERE! SHOCK ME INSTEAD!!]
[STOP GOING FERAL IN THE BARBERSHOP!]
Kakaya, who happened to glance at the chat, seemed to have an idea. He opened the game's character menu to check Wende's stats.
He didn't think much of it at first, but the moment he saw Wende's Path, Kakaya yelled out in disbelief.
"Huh?! Abundance! He's a healer-daddy!?"
Rubbing the dark circles under his sleep-deprived eyes, Kakaya looked again at the column on the screen that displayed the character's Path.
Holy hell, he really was an Abundance character! miHoYo was actually so generous as to give them a free healer!
[HOLY SHIT! DOESN'T THIS MEAN WE HAVE TWO HEALERS NOW? EVEN NEW F2P PLAYERS CAN BUILD TWO TEAMS!]
Certain players who focused on meta and team composition cheered as if it were New Year's.
Of course, when some people heard that Wende was a healer, they went even more feral...
[AAAAAAH! I WANT TO DRINK WENDE'S MILK!]
[NO WONDER HIS PECS ARE SO BIG! IT WAS ALL FOR ME!]
"Uhh... mods, please time some people out, thanks!" Kakaya said helplessly, looking at the flood of feral comments. Going crazy was one thing, but some of you guys joining in was just too much! Gays, begone!