The train's mechanical arm moved slowly, pulling the massive block of ice into the Express's cargo hold.
The ice block was translucent, with mysterious silver patterns running through it.
Through the faint ice, Himeko and the others could vaguely make out the shape of the silver mech inside. Despite having gone through a fierce battle, the mech appeared to have only a few scars and dents.
After a thorough inspection, Himeko determined that there were no signs of life inside.
"To think that you would meet someone who was frozen in ice just like you. This is truly a great fate," Himeko remarked.
"Auntie, you're teasing me again. Don't tell me you're going to give me the same 'you and the mech have nine photos together, and seven of them are good' speech?"
"I can't say for sure, but maybe it's possible?"
March 7th looked at the massive ice block, her tone uncertain.
"The place where we found it is a relic of the Glamoth Republic. The mech inside should be one of their Iron Cavalry, so it's very likely that this is the same mech that belongs to Ye Ming."
"But, the colors aren't quite the same. This one is silver, but Ye Ming's mech is green. This is clearly not the same mech."
"It's true that the colors are different," Himeko confirmed. "This one is silver, not green. And it doesn't have a single trace of life. It's not Ye Ming's mech. It's a different, rarer model."
March 7th felt her heart sink.
"So..."
Dan Heng, who had been silent, looked at March 7th and had a guess. "Are you thinking... what's so special about this?"
"You're thinking that since people pass away and things change over time, and since people can grow, then why can't mechs also look different? They grow up, they evolve?"
March 7th was suddenly enlightened. That's right, why did she think that Ye Ming's mech couldn't evolve into a more powerful model, and that it would just change its appearance?
She felt that she had opened a door to a new world. She realized that since Ye Ming was a defective product, it was reasonable for him to have a different memory. When everyone else had forgotten him, he would appear in the world again. Now that she thought about it, she felt that her guess was getting closer to the truth.
"The concept of 'defective product' doesn't exist in my world," she reasoned. "So it's not until I see Ye Ming that I can confirm it. Besides, the live-stream has always been focused on Ye Ming. If a new character suddenly appears, the story will be sidetracked."
...
This was indeed a troubling situation.
But only a little part of March 7th's heart was truly worried. The rest of her was filled with a different kind of feeling. This was the first time she had seen a "defective product," and it was also a story about a "defective product" that was so moving.
She felt that this might be an opportunity to go to the Herta Space Station, or perhaps she could discuss it with Black Swan.
The mech wasn't something that could be casually piloted by just anyone, but it also wasn't something that could be piloted by just anyone with a Stellaron. There must be another way.
She recalled what Kafka had said.
"From the moment I saw him, I had a feeling..."
"So, if you two are truly in love, and you've seen Ye Ming, then what will you do when you meet again on the Astral Express? Will you not be moved?"
"Ye Ming and Firefly are destined to fall in love. But if their love is not yet complete, and their hearts are still not at peace, how can they not be moved?"
March 7th looked at the ice block in the parlor, a thoughtful expression on her face.
A Moment of Peace
Although the story of the live-stream had just begun, and Firefly and Ye Ming had only just started to get along, she still couldn't help but feel a little protective of him. She wasn't Firefly, but she was a girl. And how could she bear to see Ye Ming get hurt?
It was clear that her current ability was not enough to accomplish such a thing.
...
During a rare moment of peace, the live-stream screen changed again.
[Firefly is no longer visible on the screen.]
[She reports the news of the Swarm's attack to the base. The Guard's patrol team quickly arrives at the ruins. Firefly then leaves without seeing the little girl or Ye Ming again. Just like always, she goes to the plaza near the station to hand out candy to the children.]
"Big Sister Firefly, is this candy from Big Brother Ye Ming? Don't adults only have happy moments on their wedding day? Why do you and Big Brother Ye Ming have happy moments every day when you give out candy?"
As she took the candy from the little girl's hand, Firefly was momentarily stunned.
"Huh?"
Completely caught off guard by the question, she let out a soft, surprised sound and her face blushed slightly.
Fortunately, her drone was there to help. It nudged her hand, signaling her to give the candy to the little girl.
She discreetly glanced at Ye Ming in the distance and saw that he wasn't really giving candy to the children, but rather, he was just standing there, as if he hadn't heard the lively commotion on this side at all.
This made Firefly feel a little disappointed, but she also felt a strange sense of firmness, as if to confirm her own feelings.
So he can be nervous too.
Seeing his seemingly unconcerned expression, Firefly knew that Ye Ming was not as calm as he appeared.
"For adults, the happiest day is their wedding day because it's a day of great joy. But for Big Sister and Big Brother Ye Ming, every day we spend together is the happiest of times, so of course, we have to give out candy every day."
Firefly used the child's own logic to coax her, reaching out to gently stroke the little girl's hair, just like her older sister would.
It was a pity that this was just a playful tone. When spoken with a firm tone, it sounded convincing, but when spoken with a tone that was the complete opposite of what was in her heart, it sounded completely different from what she had imagined.
Oh no, will he think I'm a strange girl?
Firefly was nervous, stealing glances at Ye Ming's reaction.
-------
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