Honestly.
Bai Ming had initially wanted to retort with a domineering line like, "Who's trying to ruin my moment with March 7th?!"
But the voice was just too imposing, leaving little room for argument. If she had to describe the feeling—
Got it!
It was like getting caught in a puppy-love romance by a homeroom teacher back in school.
But I'm already an adult!
Why can't I even get a single pair of panties from March 7th?!
This isn't freedom!
The more Bai Ming thought about it, the more indignant she became. She turned around, ready to launch a fierce counter-attack to achieve panty-freedom.
However—
The moment she saw the source of the voice, all her anger evaporated.
Standing before her was a small, adorable...
...rabbit?
It had long ears, and its grey-and-white fur gave it an extra fluffy appearance. Even with its incredibly tall hat, it barely reached Bai Ming's waist. Its round limbs were clad in a little red formal suit. Its large blue eyes were intently studying Bai Ming.
Meanwhile, Bai Ming was also studying the little rabbit.
Her previously calm lips gradually formed into an 'O' shape, eventually stretching into an exaggerated smile.
"So cute!"
In an instant, Bai Ming teleported from March 7th's side to the rabbit's front.
"You're so adorable! Can this big sister give you a hug (╹▽╹)?!"
Witnessing this, March 7th, who had just been trying to escape Bai Ming's clutches, immediately pouted.
"That idiot!"
On the other side, faced with Bai Ming's hug request, the rabbit—who only reached half her height—had no intention of accepting. Instead, in a tone several degrees stricter than before, it pointed its short paw at Bai Ming and spoke.
"What are you talking about! Do you think you can just hug whoever you want?! Rules are rules!"
"And another thing—" The rabbit placed one hand on its hip. "Do you think I'm younger than you? You want to be my sister? How disrespectful, you blockhead!"
"Blockhead?! Even March hasn't called me that!"
"Um..." March 7th cautiously interjected, "Actually, I have..."
"Huh?" Bai Ming scratched her cheek. "Then a different reason! Only March can call me a blockhead!"
While saying this, Bai Ming rolled up her sleeves as if she were about to confront the rabbit.
Just then, March 7th grabbed Bai Ming's arm, shaking her head as she spoke.
"Don't start a fight. Otherwise, you might end up getting off the train."
"Eh..." Hearing March's words, Bai Ming re-examined the well-dressed rabbit before her. It could actually kick her off the train?
"I said you look blockheaded!" Empowered by March's supporting statement, the rabbit grew even bolder—more accurately, happier. If its tail weren't so short, it would probably be pointing straight up by now.
"Let me tell you the truth, Pom!"
"I am the conductor of the Astral Express! Pom-Pom! What March 7th said is absolutely true! If you make Pom-Pom angry, Pom-Pom has the authority to make you leave the Astral Express!"
"Ehhh—! No, don't!" Bai Ming crouched down, taking Pom-Pom's little paw with a pitiful expression. "I worked so hard to get on board, please don't kick me off."
"..."
Pom-Pom cleared its throat with two light coughs.
"Alright, alright. Pom-Pom isn't some petty conductor. The fact that you recognize your mistake makes you forgivable in Pom-Pom's book. Pom-Pom won't really kick you off the train."
"Thank goodness~" Bai Ming grinned broadly, but then her expression suddenly darkened as if remembering something strange.
She looked at Pom-Pom's paw, her gaze filled with confusion. Pom-Pom, of course, noticed this immediately.
"Why are you looking at Pom-Pom like that? Do you have some kind of problem with me?"
"It's not a problem, exactly..." Bai Ming rested her chin on her hand, forming a "√" gesture.
"Reporting, Conductor! I have a question I'd like to ask!"
Pom-Pom seemed to really enjoy being called 'Conductor.' It quickly replied to Bai Ming, "Speak. Pom-Pom would like to see what kind of question you'll come up with."
"Well—" Bai Ming's gaze shifted to Pom-Pom's short paws and legs. "How can someone as small as you operate such a huge train?"
"You can't even reach the brake pedal if something goes wrong!"
"..."
Pom-Pom gestured for Bai Ming to come closer with a flick of its paw.
"Come here. I'll tell you."
"Oh, oh! Okay!"
Bai Ming leaned her head in, only to receive a sharp thwack.
Pom-Pom had jumped up and smacked her on the head.
"I said you seem blockheaded, and you still don't believe it! What era do you think this is? Does a conductor really have to press the brakes with their own feet?!"
"Besides, this is the property of the Trailblaze Aeon, Akivili! How could it be so primitive? Wake up, you blockhead!"
"QAQ Stop scolding me, stop scolding me..." Bai Ming clutched her head. "You'll make me stupider..."
"Then stop asking such stupid questions! Pom-Pom doesn't have the patience to answer them!"
"Alright, alright." March 7th emerged from behind Bai Ming, stepping in front of her. "Pom-Pom, Bai Ming just got on board. Isn't it normal for her to not know a lot of things? Give her some time to adjust, and she'll figure out how the Astral Express works soon enough!"
"March..."
Looking at March standing protectively in front of her, Bai Ming's eyes grew teary. She hugged March from behind, nuzzling her cheek. "I knew you were the best, March!"
"Bai Ming, don't be like this!" March 7th blushed fiercely, trapped in Bai Ming's embrace. "Pom-Pom is watching! This is so embarrassing!"
"It's fine~" Bai Ming tightened her arms around March's waist. "It'll get used to it eventually!"
"There's no such thing as 'eventually'!" March exclaimed nervously, though she didn't push Bai Ming away.
How to put it... After nearly being separated, March 7th realized she was a little scared. Being hugged like this by Bai Ming gave her a strange sense of security.
However, just because March didn't resist didn't mean Pom-Pom was going to stand idly by.
It crossed its arms, observing March and Bai Ming with a deeply suspicious expression.
After several minutes of intense scrutiny, Pom-Pom finally spoke.
"Hey, March 7th."
"Y-yes?"
"As the conductor, Pom-Pom shouldn't interfere with passengers' personal matters..." Pom-Pom watched as Bai Ming continued to nuzzle March. "...But I see you have a taste for this kind of thing?"
"Pom-Pom never knew before. It seems the Astral Express's next destination should be a planet that allows marriage between women, Pom."
"No, it's not like that!" March waved her hands frantically. "Conductor! Don't go looking for such a place!"
"Eh—! So the Astral Express can do targeted searches?! Please add another condition for me!" Bai Ming chimed in excitedly.
"What condition, Pom?" Pom-Pom looked up.
"Not only should it allow marriage between women, but it should also allow marriage with multiple women at the same time!"
Hearing this, March 7th grew frantic. "Bai Ming, one isn't enough?!"
Meanwhile, Pom-Pom stroked its chin, appearing to give it serious thought.
"That's a bit difficult, Pom, but we can try. After all... this is for the happiness of the passengers on board."
"QAQ Conductor, you're a good person! I can only kowtow to express my gratitude."
"Two kowtows are enough. More than three would be unlucky, Pom."
"Understood!"
"That's enough!" March 7th interjected, stopping the back-and-forth between Pom-Pom and Bai Ming, and also extricating herself from Bai Ming's arms.
She placed her hands on her hips, addressing the two "kindred spirits" before her. "Honestly! If you keep joking like this, even someone as easygoing as me will get angry! Conductor, you must have come here for a reason, right?"
"..."
At March's words, Pom-Pom, who had just been discussing which planet could accommodate such things, gradually sobered up.
"I've already heard about your situation from Miss Himeko. I heard—" Pom-Pom looked up at the much taller Bai Ming. "—you took down the Doomsday Beast all by yourself?"
"Eh?" Suddenly confronted with this question, Bai Ming scratched her cheek. Images from the battle on the space station's platform flashed through her mind.
In the end, Bai Ming shook her head very honestly. "No, I didn't destroy it. I just ripped its wings off. The one who really destroyed it should be..."
It should have been Welt Yang.
But Bai Ming didn't dare mention that name. She couldn't confirm Welt Yang's true identity.
If he was just another person with a similar name, like Himeko, that would be one thing. But if it was actually him...
Remembering her Valkyrie armor, Bai Ming felt a chill run down her spine. How on earth could she explain that?
"I see, Pom..." Pom-Pom nodded thoughtfully at Bai Ming's words. "So you do have some skills. Pom-Pom feels a bit more relieved now."
"Listen up, newcomer." Pom-Pom raised one adorable little finger. "Important things, Pom-Pom will only say once. If Pom-Pom isn't mistaken, many people have probably told you something like this recently."
"'You're special,' 'you're one of a kind,' right?"
"If you say it like that..." Bai Ming nodded. "Yes, that's true."
After all, both Himeko and Herta from the space station had used similar descriptions.
"Good, Pom." Pom-Pom retracted its little finger. "But what Pom-Pom wants to tell you is—"
"This is the Astral Express. Everyone on board is 'one of a kind' and has their own secrets they can't talk about."
"Since you've chosen to board, you must follow the rules here. You're not the only special one. Remember that. If you think you can enjoy special privileges, you can get off right now."
"No, no, no!" Bai Ming waved her hands quickly. "I don't want any special privileges!"
"That's true." Pom-Pom looked at the goofy-looking Bai Ming. "With your silly demeanor, you don't seem like someone who'd seek special treatment."
"Mhm, right." Bai Ming nodded in agreement.
"..."
"..."
A mysterious silence suddenly fell over the room, as if someone had cast a zone of silence.
"Hey!" Pom-Pom glared at Bai Ming. "Aren't you supposed to say something at a time like this?"
"Say... say something?" Bai Ming mumbled quietly. "Then... sign me up for a VIP membership?"
"What's a 'VIP membership,' Pom?" Pom-Pom asked, perplexed.
"You told me to say something! When I think of special treatment, that's all I can come up with! What else am I supposed to do, get some rainbow-colored diamond privileges?"
"..."
"Hey, March 7th!" Pom-Pom pointed at Bai Ming. "Why does this person keep saying such strange things? Pom-Pom can't understand!"
"She's just like that." March 7th took Bai Ming's hand. "Pom-Pom, please don't take Bai Ming's words too seriously."
March 7th was genuinely worried that Bai Ming and Pom-Pom might clash over something.
After all... she'd worked so hard to get on board. If she were to get into an argument with Pom-Pom now over something trivial and get kicked off, it wouldn't be easy to come back. She had to prevent that at all costs!
The best way was to leave this place immediately!
Growing more anxious by the second, March 7th quickly spoke up. "Um, Pom-Pom! Bai Ming just boarded the Astral Express and isn't familiar with the surroundings yet. I'd like to show her around. How does that sound?"
"Eh?" Hearing March's words, Bai Ming showed a reluctant expression. "Um, March..."
"W-what is it?"
"I still have something I want to ask Pom-Pom."
"What is it?" March 7th looked at Bai Ming. "Does it have to be now?"
"It's about that planet Pom-Pom mentioned earlier... I think it sounds amazing!"
"Honestly! What's so interesting about that? Wouldn't it be better if we went for a walk?" March 7th blushed as she addressed Bai Ming.
"But..."
Seeing Bai Ming's intense interest in the planet Pom-Pom had mentioned, March grew anxious. The more she talked, the more likely she was to slip up!
After a moment's thought, March remembered a trump card.
Hesitating briefly, she leaned close to Bai Ming's ear and whispered, "You... don't you want my panties anymore?"
"Ehh—?! But I..." Before Bai Ming could finish, March covered her mouth and then said to Pom-Pom with an awkward smile, "Pom-Pom, we're leaving!"
Without waiting for Pom-Pom's reply, March 7th practically dragged Bai Ming away.
Watching their retreating figures, Pom-Pom murmured to itself, "In this situation... shouldn't I give them a little nudge...?"
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
Honkai Impact 3rd, I Can Transform into a Valkyrie!
patreon.com/deadlygoober