In March 7th's nightmare.
On the Astral Express, March 7th stood before a full-length mirror, holding two dresses of different styles, carefully studying her reflection.
Judging by the pile of clothes stacked on her bed, she had been trying on outfits for quite a while.
March 7th rarely paid much attention to dressing up in the past, but ever since she noticed Stelle browsing beauty videos online in her spare time, she started to change.
In terms of looks, March 7th considered herself naturally beautiful, but the beauty filters released by companies nowadays were terrifyingly powerful. Even she, with all her effort in her bare-faced state, couldn't compete.
The reason she was trying on so many outfits was that she noticed Stelle would like and follow beauty influencers of all styles. So, she figured she'd try out different looks, switching them up daily.
The thought of going out with Stelle later made March 7th's lips curve into a smile.
After choosing what she thought was the prettiest outfit, March 7th sat on the bed and sent Stelle a message: Stelle, I'm ready. Shall we meet in the observation car?
…
But what puzzled March 7th was that, after waiting a few minutes, Stelle didn't reply.
Normally, Stelle was glued to her phone, responding to messages almost instantly… Could she be getting ready too?
For some reason, a faint unease stirred in March 7th's heart. She left her room and made her way to the observation car, waiting patiently.
One minute, three minutes, five minutes…
Ten minutes, twenty minutes…
After a full half-hour, Stelle still hadn't shown up.
What was up with this girl?
March 7th ground her teeth and sent Stelle a barrage of emojis: (Pom-Pom emoji: You there?) ×99.
…
Still no reply!
Did someone steal Stelle's phone or something?!
March 7th was getting annoyed, but just then, the door to the observation car opened, and a figure walked in.
Unfortunately, it wasn't Stelle—it was Welt, leisurely strolling through the train.
"…Hey, Uncle Yang."
Seeing it wasn't the person she was eagerly waiting for, March 7th felt an inexplicable pang of disappointment but still managed a polite smile and greeted Welt.
"… "
Oddly, Welt didn't acknowledge her, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
?
A question mark slowly formed above March 7th's head. Welt, as a senior member of the Express crew, might hide a youthful heart beneath his composed exterior, but he wouldn't ignore someone greeting him.
Was her voice too soft? Did Uncle Yang not hear her?
"…Swish—"
Welt made a skill sound effect from some game with his mouth, swinging his cane while reciting a line: "I won't hold back!"
March 7th: ???
Hold on, Uncle Yang, there's someone else in the observation car…
"You know nothing of the weight of this power!"
Welt released his cane, and a pseudo-black hole suddenly formed. He casually adjusted his glasses, recalled the black hole, and twirled his cane in a flashy, cool sword flourish—
Crack—
Too caught up in the moment, Welt accidentally knocked over a vase in the observation car with his cane!
With a crisp sound, the green plant Pom-Pom had carefully nurtured met its demise.
Welt & March 7th: …
"You messed up big time~"
Whistling nonchalantly, Welt bolted, leaving March 7th dumbfounded.
"Looks like Uncle Yang's completely lost in his own world…" March 7th sighed, resting her forehead in her hand. If the conductor asked about this, what should she say?
Forget it, she'd just sell out Uncle Yang. He deserved it anyway.
March 7th headed to the parlor car, planning to check Stelle's room directly to see what was going on. If she found out Stelle was ignoring her messages because she was sleeping in, she'd… Hmph!
The parlor car wasn't empty. As soon as she arrived, March 7th saw Dan Heng at the bar, engrossed in creating something. Out of curiosity, she sneaked a peek.
March 7th: !!!
Dan Heng was working on a manga, The Five Knights of the Cloud, and the scene March 7th glimpsed showed the protagonists Ying Yuan and Jing Xing in a love-hate clash, with a side character named Jingliu kneeling nearby, shouting, "Stop fighting!"
Dan Heng was so absorbed that he didn't notice March 7th. Not wanting to disturb him, she tiptoed upstairs without a word.
Knock knock knock—
"Stelle? Are you there?"
At Stelle's door, March 7th knocked politely and waited, but the room was silent, as if no one was inside.
"What's going on… Where is she?"
"…Ah, gentle~"
Getting no response, March 7th puffed out her cheeks, but just as she was about to leave, a faint moan came from inside the room, making her freeze.
Where did that sound come from? …Something's off—someone's in there!
Realizing this, March 7th was furious. You jerk, Stelle! I sent you so many messages and waited outside your door forever, and you're treating me like air?!
You're done for, Stelle!
In her rage, March 7th pulled out the key to Stelle's room, turned the lock, and burst in!
"Wait… Himeko, hold on, I think I heard something at the door."
Stelle's voice came from the bedroom. Hearing it, March 7th's anger spiked even higher—Oh, so you ditched me to hang out with Himeko, huh?!
Bang!
March 7th slammed open the bedroom door. "Stelle!"
Inside, Stelle was in yoga clothes, struggling to do a full split but failing miserably due to her lack of flexibility.
"Relax, a bit of pain is normal. It's your first time, after all~" Himeko said with a cheerful smile.
"Huh? Why's the door open?"
Himeko suddenly glanced at March 7th, puzzled. "Didn't we close it earlier? Why's it open again?"
March 7th: "Hey! Don't pretend you can't see me!"
"Maybe… the wind blew it open?"
"We're in space, what wind?" Himeko shook her head, dismissing it. "Get ready, I'm going to push harder~"
"Wait, wait, wait… Himeko, Himeko! I can't do this! Please, let me rest for a bit. I can't take it anymore—ow!"
Stelle pleaded under Himeko, "Wahhh—I-I really don't want to do this—ow ow ow!"
"No… please, stop, I'm begging you!"
"It's no good! If I push any harder, I'll die!"
"Arghhh—"
At the doorway, March 7th stared at the two, their atmosphere and dialogue bizarrely awkward, leaving her utterly flustered.