The Antimatter Legion's assault had wrecked numerous facilities on the space station, leaving various sections in disarray, including parts of the living and accommodation areas.
The guest rooms aboard the station were now being used to house injured researchers or those whose own quarters had been destroyed, making living conditions temporarily tight.
March 7th figured that since Stelle, Caelus, and Seele had already decided to join the Express crew, they might as well pick out their rooms now. This way, they could get familiar with their new home ahead of time without burdening the station's limited lodging resources. Why not?
"Ta-da~! Stelle, Caelus, and Seele, welcome aboard the Astral Express~!"
With a sweet, slightly mischievous smile, radiating an infectious energy, March 7th waved her hands, guiding the newcomers into the carriage.
"What do you think? Himeko decorated the Parlor Car. Not bad, right?"
"Wow, it's amazing~!"
The navy-haired girl looked astonished, seemingly surprised that the unassuming train held such wonders within. Her soft, heartwarming voice indicated that it was White Seele currently in control of Seele's body.
She had been sealed away in the desolate Quantum Sea for so long, her repressed spirit teetering on a dangerous edge, only masked by her gentle nature. The Seele sharing her body could sense White Seele's mental state, and so, she was deliberately giving White Seele control, allowing her to experience more of the world.
"March, how come the inside feels so much bigger than the train looks from the outside?" Stelle asked, scratching her head in confusion.
"Oh, that! I think it's because of the power of Trailblaze? Or maybe it uses that… what's it called… space-folding technology?" March 7th gestured with her hands, drawing a large circle in the air as she tried to explain, only to realize she didn't quite know the details herself. She scratched her head, a little embarrassed.
"Anyway, the space inside the Express is several times larger than the exterior. I'm not totally sure how it works either. You could ask Himeko…" she trailed off, then added brightly, "But I don't think we need to worry about such complicated stuff! The Express was made by an Aeon, after all. Isn't it perfectly normal for it to be a bit magical?"
"Ohh~" Stelle seemed to ponder this for a moment, then nodded as if enlightened. She quickly learned the value of simply not overthinking things.
Listening to the pleasant chatter, Caelus looked around the carriage with keen interest. Compared to the models in the game, the real Astral Express felt more than twice as spacious, boasting far more intricate details.
The interior design gave off a bright, welcoming impression. The composite wood flooring was clean and tidy, perfectly accented with carefully selected and arranged greenery and flowers. There were also numerous mementos, seemingly collected from the various planets the Express had visited on its Trailblazing journeys, like an old-fashioned phonograph. Though diverse in style, these items blended seamlessly into the overall aesthetic.
"Passenger March, are these the three newcomers Himeko mentioned?"
Just as March 7th was vividly describing the origins of various objects, a fluffy creature in a uniform with two long ears approached them.
"So… so cute!" White Seele's eyes instantly lit up with an intense fondness for adorable things.
"Hey! Passenger, I must warn you, pa! Express regulations prohibit suddenly picking up the conductor without permission!" Pom-Pom instinctively took a small step back upon seeing that look. This was a rule added specifically after March 7th first boarded.
"This cute little guy is the conductor? I thought Himeko was…" Stelle murmured, slightly surprised. Hearing she couldn't just scoop him up for a cuddle, her face fell in disappointment.
"Follow me, pa. I'll take you to get registered," Pom-Pom said, fulfilling his duties as the conductor by initiating the biometric authentication process for the confirmed passengers.
Only after certification could they move freely within the Express, link their personal rooms, and open the main carriage doors. During the process, Pom-Pom explained the various rules of the train… though they were less strict regulations and more principles of conduct. Many passengers on the Astral Express carried secrets best left unprobed; mutual respect, understanding, and support were paramount.
"Authentication complete. Passenger March, you may now take the new passengers to choose their rooms." Having guided the trio through the straightforward registration, Pom-Pom stated formally, "If you encounter any problems aboard the train in the future, you can always come find me, pa."
Heard that, Seele? You can pet him.
Sensing White Seele's suppressed eagerness, Seele egged her on internally.
My parallel self… I-I don't think the conductor meant it that way…
I think he did.
With that thought, Seele instantly took back control of their body, crouched down, and gave the small, adorable conductor a gentle stroke before handing control back to White Seele.
Eh!
The startled White Seele quickly found herself soothed by the fluffy, comforting sensation.
Pom-Pom, having determined from their conversations that Seele was generally well-behaved, didn't seem angry. He simply nodded and turned to leave.
See?
Mm… Thank you, my parallel self.
Just as Seele could sense her emotions, White Seele could faintly perceive Seele's thoughts when she wasn't actively shielding them. She knew Seele had done that to help her relax.
Passing through the Parlor Car into the living quarters, March 7th began introducing the rooms. There wasn't much to introduce, really; all passenger rooms on the Express were the same size – quite spacious at over a hundred square meters, each equipped with a private bathroom and kitchen. Passengers were free to decorate them according to their own tastes.
The three quickly selected their rooms. Stelle chose the one right next to March 7th's, assigned Caelus the room beside hers, and Seele took the one after Caelus's.
"Sleepy time, sleepy time~"
Ever since waking up, Stelle had been constantly fighting, rescuing people, or traveling to the next hotspot. She'd even faced the Doomsday Beast and endured the Stellaron's outburst. She was utterly exhausted.
Ducking into her room, Stelle tossed off her coat and flopped onto the soft, comfortable bed, pulling the covers over herself. Like a one-year-old, she fell asleep almost instantly.
However, despite being at an age where one could easily sleep for over ten hours straight, Stelle didn't rest peacefully this time.
Because…
The real battle was just beginning!
Dragging weary steps into his room, Caelus, who habitually enjoyed a relaxing bath before bed, stopped dead in front of the bathroom door, suddenly struck by the reality of his situation.
Yes, this was his battle – his and Seele's!
My parallel self, what's wrong? Did you forget something?
Seeing Seele abruptly freeze before the bathroom, her face etched with a solemn, grave expression, White Seele, residing in the background of their consciousness, felt puzzled. W-why such a serious look all of a sudden?
…No, it's nothing.
Caelus stared into the mirror above the sink.
The reflection showed a girl around fourteen, her face delicate and soft like jade and flowers, with a hint of baby fat. Her skin was fair and tender, her thin pink lips shone with a crystalline gloss, and her narrow nose bridge seemed to hold a faint luminescence, like mountain snow.
Further down, exquisitely defined collarbones rested above porcelain-like skin, and snowy peaks were half-concealed beneath vivid red markings. And then there was the gentle curve, the mere sight of which conjured an image of its marvelous texture, how it might cling to a hand.
Caelus suddenly swallowed, feeling tense.
The unbelievably cute girl in the mirror, enough to make any otaku's heart stop, was him!
It was her body! His current self!
His fingers slowly slipped into the gap between thigh and stocking. The yielding softness of jade-like skin and the smooth silkiness of the fabric sent a tremor through both his mind and fingers.
With every inch the stocking was peeled away, more of that pale skin was revealed, and the strange flame flickering within Caelus's heart grew a degree hotter.
Somewhat clumsily, he undid the skirt, removing the princess-style dress and lotus sleeves, fully exposing the girl's milk-white, delicate form to the air.
Her petite frame possessed surprisingly perfect, full curves. Ceramic-like skin refracted an almost transparent luster under the bright, warm light. That presence, redder even than the Stigmata, extending down from her waist, made Caelus feel as if his breath would stop.
My parallel self, what is wrong with you? Are you really okay?
Her heart pounded at an unprecedented rate, like rolling thunder. Strange emotions, unlike anything White Seele had ever experienced, pulsed from her parallel self.
Strange! Such a strange… feeling!
I'm fine.
Caelus turned on the shower. Cold water sprayed from the head, managing to cool the heat in his heart somewhat.
So cold! White Seele, sharing the sensation, exclaimed, then added with concern. You'll catch a cold taking a cold shower~ My parallel self.
White Seele's innocent tone was more effective than the cold water cascading over him, yet Caelus's mental state remained precarious.
People often reveal their truest selves when alone, free from the constraints of social morality in their private, isolated spaces. Someone prim and proper in public might run around naked at home. A polite service worker might curse out difficult customers once they're off the clock.
It's human nature. Moreover, Caelus had taken off his mask, deciding to stop pretending, to be true to himself, and act according to his heart's desires.
In the bathroom, hazy steam clouded the frosted glass, reflecting Seele's slightly distorted, pretty face.
This was a battle between morality and primal pleasure!
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