Tian An hugged Little Amiya until she was completely lost in the moment, so much so that by the time she came back to her senses, she had already transitioned scenes again.
"How long are you going to keep reliving the moment?" Herta's voice came through. The Simulated Universe scene had already faded into emptiness, leaving only Tian An standing there alone. From a distance, she looked as if she were floating.
"Is it over?" Tian An looked around, only to find herself surrounded by vast, dense mist.
"How would I know? Your memories are too erratic. Star fought monsters for ages before, and her scenes didn't change half as much as yours."
I wanted to hug Little Bunny more...
"Hmm... looks like the thing inside your body isn't dangerous currently. Just now, its energy suddenly intensified somewhat."
"Then can I leave now?" Tian An no longer wanted to stay inside. Every time she thought of Her Highness's farewell with Amiya, she felt upset.
"Go on, go on, nothing more to see anyway," Herta said her final words and closed the communication.
Tian An closed her eyes and began waiting for Herta to pull her out of the Simulated Universe.
"Tian... An, is that your name...? Then I'll call you Little Tian An from now on." Just as Tian An was closing her eyes to rest, a gentle voice suddenly startled her.
Who?!
Tian An snapped her eyes open, only to find herself back in Herta's office. The people around were looking at her with strange expressions.
"Theresia..." March 7th was the first to speak.
"What's wrong?" Tian An had a bad feeling, sensing that these people looked like they wanted to eat her alive.
"Theresia... who was that little girl? She was so adorable!" March 7th suddenly rushed over excitedly, her eyes sparkling as she spoke happily.
"Little... little girl?" Tian An sensed impending doom.
Oh no, were they watching the whole time?!
"Herta showed us the real-time footage from your Simulated Universe. Have to say..." March 7th gave a thumbs-up.
"Theresia has great potential to be a mom!"
Pfft—
Tian An nearly coughed up a mouthful of old blood. Why was March 7th acting just like Asta now?
"Are you her older sister?" Dan Heng bypassed March 7th and stepped forward to ask.
"Our races don't look alike, do they?"
One with animal ears, one with horns. Unless there was some mix-up with the parents, how could sisters like that exist?
"Then tell us about it! Her story!" March 7th held her camera, eager to start.
"Everyone, while I know you're excited, please listen to me first," Himeko interrupted the conversation among the "youngsters."
"Miss Herta has already gone back and informed us we can depart. There are no further issues with Theresia's body," Himeko said, looking at her phone.
"So, regarding what was discussed with Star before, have you made up your mind?"
"Mm... the Express is indeed a very good choice," Star said, pretending to be deep in thought, hand propping up her chin, nodding with each word.
"However!"
"However what?" March 7th was getting nervous from her dramatic pauses.
"However, I want to sleep with Theresia!" Star shouted, then dashed out of the office door and sauntered off.
"Hey, you!" Realizing she'd been tricked, March 7th quickly chased after her.
"Let's go too, Theresia," Himeko glanced over.
"Mm, okay." Seeing the others heading out, Tian An followed suit.
————
"Huh? You're leaving now?" Outside the space station platform, Asta stood with the members of the Express crew.
"Yes. We originally thought we wouldn't make the planned schedule, but thankfully everything is under control," Himeko took the phone handed over by Asta.
That's right, this was the phone Himeko had asked Asta to prepare for Tian An.
What about the cost, you ask? Of course, Asta just gifted it to her.
"Sigh, alright then. Miss Herta told me to deliver three meals a day to an abandoned section, but that I don't need to go inside. It's really strange," Asta said, troubled.
"Uh... yes, strange indeed... haha," March 7th laughed awkwardly, glancing towards Dan Heng.
Dan Heng, however, wore a look that clearly said 'none of my business.'
"Alright, the reminiscing should end here. We can meet again in the future, it's not like we'll never see each other again," Himeko said to the group as the lights on the Express gradually lit up.
"Okay then... But, come back often to visit, okay?" Asta said reluctantly.
Though it wasn't clear what she was reluctant about, she was just reluctant.
Remember the lonely Asta.
"Where are Star and Theresia?" Asta looked left and right but couldn't see the two slender figures.
"Them? Star insisted on helping Theresia set up her room, so she went aboard with her first," Welt explained.
"Set up her room?"
Tian An stood in the empty storage car, looking blankly at the grinning Star.
"Yeah! Himeko said she'd arrange rooms for us, so I brought you here to take a look first," Star kicked aside several dust-covered boxes.
Isn't this Star's room later in the story? Does this mean it's being set up early?
"Right, look! Let's put our rooms on the left and right sides, with the common activity area right in the middle, how about that?" Star pulled Tian An's hand to the center of the area, pointing things out.
"I think either is fine," Tian An deferred to Star's wishes.
"Then let's sleep together?"
"I think that's not okay," Tian An retracted her previous answer.
"Ah, no fair!" Star looked distressed. Plan failed; Galaxy Bat-Hero completely defeated.
"Star, actually, after joining our Express crew, there's an unofficial initiation ritual," Tian An began her own scheme.
"What ritual?"
"It's to go sleep with March 7th once," Tian An told Star with absolute conviction.
"Is that so? But will March 7th agree?" Star, with her wise expression, believed Tian An's words.
"She will. She'd be thrilled," Tian An flashed her signature smile.
Even so, Teacher Xiao Te can pull pranks too, okay?
"Hmm... Any benefits?" Star began her routine inquiry about gains.
"Hmm... A good night's sleep experience."
"What kind of benefit is that..."
"What are you two talking about?!" March 7th suddenly poked her head in from the doorway, asking curiously.
"Ahem... nothing," Seeing the subject of their conversation had arrived, Tian An stopped talking.
"Hm? Why do I always feel like you're talking bad about me?" March 7th walked in suspiciously, staring at their faces.
"Bad about you? Theresia told me to stay with you for one night first," Star said, scratching her head, her 'wise' eyes signaling her absolute sincerity.
"Sleep with me? Sure, I have no problem!" March 7th agreed readily.
"Then I'll just make do for one night?" Star asked Theresia.
"Mm, okay."
...
Aren't you two just making fun of poor Star?