Sparkle: ?
From the moment they met, she had felt something off about this March 7th.
Whether it was her tone, demeanor, or what she said, there was always this sense of awkwardness. Was this how people from the Astral Express normally interacted?
Sparkle couldn't quite wrap her head around it, but from March 7th's words alone, she could faintly sense that something big was about to happen.
Was it some confidential information about the Astral Express?
"What is it?" Sparkle stared into March 7th's eyes and asked.
March 7th, blushing, averted her gaze. "Actually, I…"
"…"
March 7th stopped mid-sentence, looking incredibly conflicted. Her hands fidgeted together, and she didn't continue for a long while.
Sparkle: ?
Just say it already!
March 7th hesitated for a long time before mustering her courage again. "Actually, I…"
"…"
She stopped mid-sentence again.
Sparkle: ???
What are you trying to say?!
After some hesitation, Sparkle finally said, "March, if it's too hard to say, you don't have to. I'll always be here to listen."
She figured she shouldn't seem too eager, or it might make March 7th suspicious.
Hearing this, March 7th took a deep breath, as if steeling herself for something. "Stelle, I can't quite say it, so… I'll let my actions speak instead."
Before Sparkle could react, March 7th pinched her chin. Under Sparkle's stunned gaze, their faces began to draw closer… and closer…
Sparkle: ???!!!
This… this isn't right, is it?
Is this some new kind of interaction? Do you Astral Express folks play this wild?
Wait, hold on! She's getting closer—she's not actually going to…!
Sweat beaded on Sparkle's forehead. Even with her usual thrill-seeking, chaos-loving Masked Fool mindset, she had no idea how to break out of this situation.
No, no way! I'm Sparkle, a brilliant actress! Art demands sacrifice—she should be able to handle a test like this!
Besides, this pink-haired girl isn't bad-looking, and she smells nice. Even if I let her… it's no big deal.
With that thought, Sparkle steeled herself, closed her eyes, and adopted a "do as you will" expression.
"…"
Huh?
The expected sensation never came.
Clang!
An ice blade suddenly materialized in March 7th's hand, pressing against Sparkle's neck. The chilling sensation pierced to the bone, making Sparkle shudder involuntarily.
"…Who are you?"
March 7th's voice was colder than the ice blade in her hand. "You're not Stelle."
At those words, Sparkle's heart raced, but she forced herself to stay calm, managing a strained smile. "March, what… what are you talking about?"
"Don't bother pretending. You've got too many flaws."
"First, your scent is wrong."
March 7th said coolly, "I know Stelle's scent better than anyone. Her body fragrance isn't strong, but her clothes always carry the scent of rose-scented shampoo. That's unmistakable."
Sparkle, internally raging: Why would you care about such a trivial detail?! And how are you so sure?!
"Second, your acting is terrible."
March 7th scoffed. "My Stelle is so pure—how could she suddenly become so forward out of nowhere? Sure, I'd love it, but it feels so off that it just doesn't work."
Sparkle: What do you mean "pure"? Isn't this gray-haired girl supposed to be reversed? And what's with "it doesn't work"?!
Am I, Sparkle, not attractive enough?
"And finally, the most important point…"
March 7th looked at the "Stelle" in her arms and sneered. Her hand suddenly smacked Sparkle's backside, giving it a firm squeeze—
"Eek!"
Sparkle let out an involuntary squeak, her face flushing red as she stammered, "W-w-what are you trying to do?!"
March 7th leaned in close to Sparkle's ear and finished her sentence:
"You were acting just like a 'don't eat the pickled radish.'"
"My Stelle is a pure, innocent girl who'd only show shy resistance. That's the only attitude that makes her so irresistibly conquerable."
"Your act just makes me sick."
Sparkle: !
This is bad!
What kind of code is this world running on?! Why does this gray-haired girl not only seem unreversed but even more absurd and regressed?!
And this March 7th—has she really fallen this far?
Even with Sparkle's personality, she found March 7th incredibly difficult to handle.
With a knife now pressed against her neck and her backside pinched, even though this was a dream, Penacony's current situation was unclear. She didn't dare bet on whether she'd wake up from the dream if that blade went down.
"Now, tell me, where's the real Stelle? Or rather, what did you do to her?"
March 7th's voice carried an extremely dangerous edge. "If you don't talk, I have plenty of ways to pry your mouth open… Conveniently, the props I prepared for Stelle can be used on you too."
Sparkle: I don't understand what she's talking about, but it sounds really dangerous!
No more playing with fire!
With that, Sparkle quickly dropped her disguise, raising her hands in surrender. "Miss March 7th, please calm down. I haven't done anything to that little gray-haired girl."
"I only took her appearance for unavoidable reasons to test you. Please understand."
Though Sparkle had revealed her true form, March 7th's expression didn't soften in the slightest. "How can you prove that?"
"I'm a Masked Fool. I swear in the name of Aha that your… uh, partner! Your partner is in no danger whatsoever. If I'm lying, may Aha trip and die tomorrow!"
"You think I'd believe a Masked Fool?" March 7th said coldly.
Big sis, why are you so stubborn?!
Sparkle cursed inwardly. Ever since arriving in this universe, she, a Masked Fool, was being driven to act like a normal person. Everyone here was absolutely unhinged!
The moment that little gray-haired girl was mentioned, these girls went crazy. That Stellaron Hunter earlier, and now this pink-haired girl too!
Is that gray-haired girl some kind of succubus?!
Feeling the ice blade press harder against her neck, Sparkle hurriedly added, "I'm telling the truth! That little gray-haired girl has been on a date with that Stellaron Hunter girl the whole time. I couldn't even get close if I wanted to!"
The ice blade on her neck suddenly froze.
"…What did you just say?" March 7th asked.
Sparkle: "I'm telling the truth…"
"The part after that."
"…I couldn't even get close if I wanted to?"
March 7th's face was expressionless as she grabbed Sparkle by the collar. "You just said… Stelle is on a date with another girl?"
Sparkle: ?