Leon is indifferent, going with the flow.
Serval: "Oh, great, no need to rush off then…"
After eating and drinking her fill, Serval bids everyone farewell with a beaming smile, her figure disappearing around the corner.
Dan Heng: "Leon, did you notice?"
Leon nods: "Pretty much."
Stelle: "Report—"
Leon chuckles lightly: "Don't worry, I won't keep you in suspense. Serval's initial desire to board the train might stem from wanting to escape."
Both girls freeze in unison.
"Escape from what?"
March 7th is utterly puzzled.
"Big Sis Serval is so straightforward and carefree. She doesn't seem like the type to escape at all."
The curve of Leon's smile widens.
"Then do I look like a doctor or someone who doesn't enjoy gossip?"
March 7th chokes, falling silent with a sheepish expression.
Not only does he not seem like one, the contrast is a million miles wide.
Stelle keenly catches March 7th's odd expression and pokes her shoulder with a finger.
"My gut tells me there's something fun here. Spill it, March."
March 7th sighs: "Back when I first met Leon, I was like a curious little kid, asking this, guessing that."
"Part of it was guessing about Leon and the others'… uh, personalities."
"I got Dan Heng right—square-faced stoic, though I was a bit more tactful back then, not so blunt."
"As for Big Sis Himeko and Uncle Welt, those were obvious at a glance. But—"
"I totally crashed and burned with Leon…"
Stelle grows even more curious: "So, what'd you say?"
March 7th: "I guessed Leon was a super knowledgeable scholar, clearly full of talent."
"And that his every move would exude elegance, with the gentlest, most easygoing personality among everyone."
"Turns out, easygoing is true—no airs at all—but everything else was completely wrong…"
Stelle gives a look that's hard to describe: "The first time I saw Leon, that wasn't my impression at all."
March 7th retorts: "Then what was it?"
"Totally matched my first impression, because I'm just that kind of person, hehe~"
At this point in the story, many players can't help but burst into laughter.
March 7th: "Hehe, what hehe? Quit with the cute girl act."
Stelle's eyes widen: "I'm not a cute girl? Am I really not a cute girl?"
Ah Xian can't hold it in anymore and blurts out:
"What would the male protagonist say here? Which big-brained friend can tell me?"
[…The male protagonist says the same line.]
[???]
[Wait, playing that wild?]
[How does that line fit the male protagonist? Did the writers get drunk and mess up?]
"No, no, it actually fits pretty well…"
Ah Xian muses, her smile never fading.
"Think about it: with the female protagonist, Leon feels like a doting old dad, but with the male protagonist, he's more like a cool big brother. Of course, old dad works too."
"The protagonist's characterization now leans toward being a quirky, comedic type, almost like an Aha follower."
"Since they're already like an Elation devotee, what's so strange about saying that line?"
"Let me guess, the difference between male and female protagonists shows up in March's follow-up response, right?"
[It really does.]
"Then I've gotta check it out."
March 7th's lips twitch slightly, her expression toward Stelle just as indescribable.
To Stelle: "You're a cute girl, alright, but too bad you've got a mouth. The moment you open it, all that cute girl vibe vanishes. And when you start moving, it's even harder to watch."
To Caelus: "Didn't expect you to have that kind of hobby… How about, when we get back to the train, we grab some girls' clothes for you to try on? Or we could buy some local ones too."
When Ah Xian lays out the contrast between the two, the entire livestream chat fills with joyous energy.
[Writers know the heavens are easy, but defying them is hard!]
[Seeing this dialogue, I just know someone's gonna draw Caelus sneaking into March's clothes.]
[Why not draw it live, Ah Xian?]
[No way, better draw her and Leon's doujin first. I wanna see that.]
[You guys are too wild.]
[Ancestor Kevin's isomorphic counterpart in Star Rail has fallen so far…]
[Goddamn isomorphic counterpart of Ancestor Kevin.]
[Just say it—is it or isn't it? Same CV, Qin the Great!]
[Hard to say. We've got Himeko, Old Yang, Seele, Duck Duck, and now Crow too. How can you be sure there won't be a real Ancestor Kevin in the future?]
[For real? A playable Ancestor Kevin?!]
[Got it, Mihoyo, I want Mei, Kiana, Yae Sakura, and Fu Hua!!]
[Where's my Door Goddess Elysia?]
"Don't rush. With so many old actors showing up right at launch, they're definitely coming."
"Just don't know in which version. The next big map is Xianzhou-style, so if we're lucky, we might see Fu Hua soon."
Truth be told, Ah Xian's pretty excited too. What kind of new story would unfold if the old actors showed up in Star Rail?
No use rushing; better focus on the current plot for now.
Stelle bites her lower lip, her eyes slightly red as she looks at March 7th.
"Boo-hoo… How could little sister March say that about me? I'm really so sad…"
She sniffles, her eyes gradually misting over.
"I've clearly been trying so hard to be cute… but when I get nervous, I get tongue-tied and all clumsy…"
"But, but—"
"I promise I'll obediently learn from little sister March. Please teach your big sister, pretty please~~"
"With my little sister's guidance, I'm sure I can become a super energetic, absolutely adorable cute girl~"
Leon: chuckles, holding back laughter.
Dan Heng: "…"
Ah Xian: "???"
Countless players: "?????"
March 7th feels like she's witnessing the collapse of the world, staring dumbfounded at Stelle, at a complete loss.
[Oh my god, what the heck is this? Is this still Honkai Star Rail?]
[Stelle, my goodness, I'm straight-up calling it—amazing!]
[That cutesy voice hit me like a shockwave. I can't handle it!]
[So much fun in the recording studio. How did Teacher Tingting keep from laughing while voicing this line with that tone?]
[Now I get why Mihoyo didn't give the protagonist voice acting before. It'd kill us with laughter.]
[Sure, the text's tone was left to imagination and reading comprehension, but hearing it? It's shocked my mom for thirty years.]
[So coy and cutesy, but I love it. More, please, I can take it!]
[Look at March's expression—like the sky's falling wouldn't compare.]
[And Leon's sneaky delighted look next to her. He's probably loving this.]
March 7th has temporarily forgotten her doubts about why Serval wants to escape, her mind buzzing.
After a long moment, she snaps back, looking at Stelle like she's a husky.
"Absolutely adorable? I think you're absolutely brainless. Please, just act normal!"
"There was already one abstract Leon on the train, and now there's you. I can't even imagine the days ahead… Uh, Leon, you didn't hear that, right?"
Realizing what she just said, March 7th glances weakly at Leon.
Leon: "I heard it, but you're not wrong. I am pretty abstract."
It's just that he knows when to read the room and choose whether to be abstract or not.
It's all Aha's fault for making him this way. Yes, it's definitely all Aha's doing (sneaky laugh)!
Aha: "Feels great, highest praise."