"(Testing—testing—) Attention all passengers, attention all passengers! The train is about to undergo warp jumping. Please gather in the parlor car immediately. Repeating—the train is about to undergo warp jumping. Please gather in the parlor car immediately!"
Pom Pom's voice sounded at just the right moment, and soon after, he appeared in the parlor car.
Though small in stature, he carried an imposing presence. With his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze swept across the train, lingering slightly on Felicity and Stelle before he nodded in satisfaction after counting everyone present.
"It seems everyone is here."
"Where's Dan Heng?"
Stelle asked curiously.
"He won't be coming. We don't need to worry about him."
Pom Pom replied gruffly.
"The conductor might seem fierce, but he actually cares deeply about the passengers."
March 7th chimed in from the side, acting as commentator.
She took Stelle's hand and pulled her over to sit beside Felicity, then looked up at the ceiling.
On the ceiling was a massive holographic projector shaped like a whale. As the train began moving and the scenery outside started receding, the whale hologram above seemed to come alive, swimming through the galaxy.
Watching this scene, Felicity felt a sudden spark of excitement ignite within her.
The universe, the Astral Express, traveling—it was like being the protagonist in a game or anime. Perhaps she was facing a more magnificent life ahead.
Of course, there might also be more terrifying dangers.
She suddenly understood the meaning of trailblazing. Exploring the unknown was inherently fascinating.
"Are you trying to catch the stars?"
March 7th's voice suddenly reached her. Felicity instinctively turned to see Stelle raising her hand, reaching toward the whale as if trying to pull the entire creature down from the sky.
"Hehe, I've done that too. Though I wasn't catching stars—it was just a lamp."
March 7th chuckled, but her voice gradually grew quieter. It was rare to see the lively girl so subdued. Gazing out the window, she unwittingly slipped into memories of the past.
"When I first woke up from the ice, I opened my eyes to see a cluster of starlight—so I instinctively reached out, only to realize it was just the ceiling light in the train car."
"Everyone from the train crew was watching me at the time. It was so embarrassing."
March 7th said with a laugh, casually sharing her embarrassing past as if she were talking about someone else.
"Isn't that perfectly fine?"
Felicity blinked, then raised her own hand. A faint green fluorescence gathered in her palm, forming the shape of a small fish that she then clasped in her hand.
"What's wrong with reaching for the light? It shows you have the potential to be a trailblazer."
"Really!? Ehehe, I'm not that amazing..."
March 7th scratched her head somewhat sheepishly, grinning goofily as she immediately cast aside her earlier complicated emotions.
"Mhm, this is just fine."
Felicity nodded, unusually serious for once. "Everyone needs something to pursue in life, otherwise living would be too dull. Don't you think 'trying to grasp that beam of light in your heart' sounds really cool, March 7th?"
"Hearing you say that somehow makes previous awkward moments feel less embarrassing now."
March 7th instantly reverted to her usual lively self, cheerfully tilting her face upward to gaze at the whale-shaped holographic lamp overhead.
"Grasping the light in my heart?"
She murmured to herself but didn't reach toward the ceiling. Instead, she tightly grasped both Stelle and Felicity's hands, her smile growing increasingly radiant.
Yes, there was no time to dwell sadly on her past anymore. What she should do is seize the present and cherish those who care about her.
How wonderful.
"Well said, Passenger Felicity. But the train has left the safe zone of the space station and will initiate warp jump in approximately ten minutes. Please remain seated, hold on securely, and brace for vibrations."
A voice interrupted March 7th's thoughts. Looking down instinctively, she saw Conductor Pom Pom standing before them, delivering the reminder with complete seriousness.
"Uh... Was it really necessary to come remind me specifically, Pom Pom? We've been through so many warp jumps already~"
March 7th said curiously.
"And yet Passenger March 7 keeps trying to challenge herself and then falls every time"
Pom retorted impatiently.
"Hehe, that's called perseverance through repeated setbacks."
March 7th chuckled without any sense of being chastised, proudly puffing out her chest instead.
"What do you mean by challenging yourself?" Stelle asked curiously.
"Oh, don't worry about me. I just want to see if I can stay standing during warp jumps."
March 7th placed her hands on her hips, answering with full confidence:
"It's fine, I'm quite sturdy~ Besides, ice will protect me. When in danger, I instinctively create ice to cushion my fall... though sometimes falling on ice hurts more than falling on the ground."
"What exactly has your ice ever protected?" Felicity couldn't help muttering from the side.
She had obediently taken a seat on the sofa, one hand firmly gripping the armrest as she glanced at Stelle, whose eyes were gradually lighting up beside her.
"...You don't want to try it too, do you?" Felicity asked somewhat helplessly.
"..."
Stelle didn't respond, merely turning her head with wide eyes that practically screamed: "How did you know? Mind reading?"
"I can't read minds," Felicity preemptively answered.
The result was predictable - she received an even more astonished stare from Stelle.
Pupil earthquake.
"Just go have your fun," Felicity patted Stelle's head and sighed with resignation.
"Okay."
Stelle nodded without hesitation, standing up to join March 7th.
"Oh! You want to challenge yourself too?" March 7th was delighted to have company in her foolishness, happily grabbing Stelle's hand before suddenly remembering something.
"Almost forgot - let's take photos! As a memento of our first journey together!"
"Photos?"
"Yeah, photos! And Sister Feli, you should join us for the picture too!"
March 7th cheerfully pulled out a blue camera, sidled up to Stelle, and rested her elbow on Felicity's shoulder while flashing a peace sign.
Seeing this, Stelle also ran to Felicity's other side, imitating March 7th's pose with a peace sign of her own.
Click.
March 7th pressed the shutter, and the camera naturally captured a close-up of all three of their faces.
Among them, though she claimed to be unwilling, Felicity's lips were still curled upward.
This feeling... wasn't so bad.