What's outside the door? … Some time ago.
"Hmph, you're so rough with me, but when it comes to those two money-grubbing hounds, you just obediently pull out your wallet?" Sparkle, firmly pinned by March 7th's grip on her shoulders, realized she couldn't break free. Giving up the struggle, she huffed indignantly. If this were her original world, the roles would be reversed—she'd be the one pinning March 7th down!
"Enough chatter. Show me the way," March 7th said.
"Straight ahead, second door on the right. But I'm warning you, this hotel feels seriously off. You'd better be cautious," Sparkle said, shaking her head. "Ugh, I really don't get why you're in such a rush."
"What, you think those Stellaron Hunters could've gobbled up your little gray-haired friend?"
As Sparkle was mid-rant, the scattered wreckage of the Dreamjolt Troupe caught their eyes, leaving both of them stunned. This hotel was definitely trouble!
"The Family promised the Dreamscape was absolutely safe. Why are there signs of a fight here?" March 7th frowned.
"Tch, what's that supposed to mean?" Sparkle rolled her eyes. "In this universe, even an Aeon's promise isn't reliable, let alone some tiny 'Family.' Hmph!"
Creak—
As they spoke, a door suddenly swung open, just as it had for Stelle and her companion earlier. A group of Dreamjolt Troupe members stepped out, glaring menacingly at March 7th…
Duang!
March 7th swung her Cloud-Piercing Strike, smashing it down hard on a Soda Hound's head, reducing it to a shattered mess in one blow. The remaining Dreamjolt Troupe members froze, then, with synchronized steps, wisely retreated back into the room. A Soda Gorilla even politely swept up the broken Soda Hound's remains and closed the door behind them.
Sparkle covered her face in resignation. "Just keep going straight, straight! No more violence… I can feel it—they're already close."
The two continued forward for a bit until, passing a certain room, Sparkle suddenly said, "Stop!"
"They're in this room."
"What?!"
March 7th's fury erupted (causing Sparkle, still on her shoulders, to tumble off). "That damned scoundrel, thinking about getting a room in a dangerous place like this? Not only is it disgraceful, it's downright despicable!"
"Stelle's still just a kid! If anyone's going to do something, it should be me!"
Sparkle, rubbing her head as she got up from the floor, couldn't resist fanning the flames. "Exactly, exactly! To think this woman, who's only known little gray-hair for a few system hours, dares to be so bold."
"I think you absolutely need to show her who's boss with your strength!"
March 7th pulled out her Cloud-Piercing Strike, ready to forcefully break in, when a voice suddenly came from inside:
—"Stelle, for all of us to escape, are you willing to make a small sacrifice?"
Hm? A stranger's voice… mentioning "Stelle"? Her Stelle was in there?!
You damned jerk, what kind of sacrifice do you want her to make? Get out of my way, let me handle this!
If this is some stranger she just met… Stelle, you better refuse her!
Wasn't I here first?!
—"W-Willing, of course. As long as it gets everyone out, I'll do anything…"
A familiar voice came from behind the door. March 7th was one hundred percent certain it was Stelle's voice.
But for some reason, before the sentence was even finished, the room fell into a deathly silence.
March 7th's face filled with panic, and she instinctively took a step back. Shaking her head, an ominous feeling welled up inside her, until an uncontrollable, terrifying thought surfaced: Could it be that Stelle, right there in that room, just a door away from her, was…!
"No, no, no, that kind of thing, that kind of thing would never happen…"
March 7th muttered, frantically trying to convince herself. After what felt like an eternity, a resolute glint appeared in her eyes—she wouldn't allow this to happen!
Time to blow it up, baby!
March 7th raised her Cloud-Piercing Strike, ready to charge in for a fight, when a faint click sounded. The door opened, revealing the scene inside:
Flames burned calmly on a ram's-head ornament. On the wine-red carpet, Stelle sat slumped on the floor, her body trembling uncontrollably. At the doorway stood a silver-haired girl, her face glowing with satisfaction.
This scene all but confirmed the suspicions in March 7th's mind.
Sparkle quietly slipped to the side, furiously snapping photos.
"How… how could this happen?" March 7th murmured, her voice thick with unwillingness. "I only left you for a bit to prepare a surprise…"
"I worked so hard… so why?!"
Inside the room, Stelle suddenly heard March 7th's voice. Trembling, she looked up, meeting the girl's gaze. "March? W-Why are you here?"
As if realizing something, Stelle reached out. "No, no! March, it's not what you think! Listen to me, we were just trying to escape!"
"Oh?"
Seeing March 7th at the door, Firefly raised an eyebrow. As a Stellaron Hunter, she was well-versed in the Astral Express crew's profiles and knew that this pink-haired girl was the March 7th Stelle had mentioned earlier.
So this is the one who's been sleeping in the same room as my Stelly every day?
Firefly's fingers brushed her lips, a trace of lingering satisfaction in her expression as she feigned surprise. "Oh? Someone's here? Sorry… didn't scare you, did I?"
A certain clever ram's-head ornament had already quietly slipped away.
March 7th gripped her Cloud-Piercing Strike tightly, staring at Firefly. "What did you do to my Stelle?!"
"What did I do?"
Firefly tilted her head. At an angle Stelle couldn't see, a sickly smirk curved her lips. Leaning close to March 7th's ear, she said with a grin, "Guess."
"Stelle's lips… they're so soft."
Sparkle, overhearing this, burst into uncontrollable laughter. Yes! This was exactly what she wanted to see! This was it, this was it! Fight, fight, fight!
This was the ultimate Elation! Wahahaha—
"You…!"
March 7th was furious but quickly regained her composure. She knew that if she showed even the slightest crack against this woman, she'd already be at a disadvantage.
She had to stay calm.
March 7th fell silent for a moment before letting out a light chuckle. She put away her Cloud-Piercing Strike and smiled. "…Heh, I was wondering what happened. Got myself all worked up for nothing."
"So you and Stelle were alone for this long, and that's all? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Made me worry for nothing."
Firefly's eyes narrowed, a sickly sense of destruction rising within her. This little pink-haired brat dared to talk tough?
Firefly/March 7th: Just a sneaky sidepiece. Today, I'll show her who the real one is!