Later
"They sure took their time," March mutters as she pastes another picture into her book along with some stickers.
"They're probably discussing issues regarding Stelle and the Stellaron that was shoved into her." Dan Heng muses as he reads his book. "Given the situation, it's not a simple thing they're discussing..."
"Are you saying they're trying to figure out what they're doing to Stelle?" Zhi Jiang, who was scrolling his phone to look into the recent news, asks as Dan Heng pauses before nodding.
"Indeed, a human with a body so unique that it could contain a Stellaron. So far, all humans attempting to harness the power by using their bodies as vessels have shown terrible results. And yet, Stelle was able to contain it normally until the Doomsday Beast." Dan Heng explains.
"...remind me why do people want to shove a bomb into their asses?" Zhi Jiang deadpans, causing March and Dan Heng to choke at his choice of words.
"G-Greed tends to make people do....questionable things," Dan Heng mutters while keeping his eyes on his book.
"..." Zhi Jiang goes silent before looking at Himeko and Herta continue their discussion while Stelle looks like she's out of place.
"What are you thinking?" March asks as she leans closer to Zhi Jiang.
"...I am worried for us, including Stelle," Zhi Jiang says, getting the Nameless' attention. "You all mentioned how the Stellaron Hunters have someone who was able to see the future in a form of script, right?"
"Yes..." Dan Heng nods.
"...what kind of future requires them to memory-wipe someone and use her body to contain one of the most dangerous stuff in the galaxy? What kind of future made them let two Nameless discover her? What are their plans?" Zhi Jiang asks as Dan Heng and March look at each other.
"...are you implying the Stellaron Hunters implanted Stelle to be some sort of sleeper agent?" Dan Heng asks cautiously.
"...I can't be sure without proper evidence, but let's not suspect her of being one," Zhi Jiang says, waving it off. "Besides, if I accused her, it'll be like you guys didn't give me the benefit of a doubt when I first arrived on that train."
"...I suppose you're right," Dan Heng nods as March sighs.
"Geez, why can't they just be direct about their crimes?" March groans.
"...only idiots would do something like that, and from what I heard about Stellaron Hunters, I doubt it," Zhi Jiang pauses. "...except...nevermind, I'd rather not dare them."
"What are you talking about?" March asks in confusion as Zhi Jiang waves it off. He would like to add more, but the possibility of the Stellaron Hunters hearing him with the help of their hacker is not zero, so he simply keeps everything to himself.
"...you just made me even more curious..." March mutters before noticing Himeko and Herta finish their discussion with Stelle walking away, her expression displays a conflicted expression. The trio glances at each other before approaching Stelle.
"Hey, Stelle!" March calls, getting Stelle's attention. "You're okay? What were you guys discussing?"
"Um...they're giving me a choice for my situation," Stelle responded as the trio look her in concern. "Herta offered me to stay in the Space Station as she wants to look more into my body, curious about why I was able to contain a Stellaron without any lingering effect."
"She wants to make you into a lab rat!?!" March asks indignantly. "That was too much, even for a Genius Society member!"
"Miss Himeko gives me an alternative solution," Stelle says. "She offers me to join the Astral Express as a Nameless."
"You should accept that offer!" March exclaims, her attitude switches completely 180, causing Zhi Jiang and Dan Heng to sweatdrop.
"I...told them to let me think about it for a moment," Stelle responds, not noticing March's expression fall. "It's...dumb, but I can't help but feel like I don't have a choice in a matter besides those two offers. I would rather think about everything before I make any decisions."
"Oh..." March looks slightly guilty as she realizes her encouragement feels like she was forcing Stelle to join.
"Still, thanks for um...you know, everything," Stelle says with a slight smile before turning her head back and wincing slightly as she faces her new friends. "Can you pass a message to Miss Himeko that I won't take long to make my decision?"
"Sure," Zhi Jiang nods as Stelle nods before walking away. The trio fell silent as they watched Stelle from the back.
"...whatever choice she made, let's respect it." Zhi Jiang says as March nods.
"...did Miss Himeko ever sound like she didn't give you a choice when she offered you to join?" March asks as Zhi Jiang shakes his head.
"Not exactly," Zhi Jiang responds. "It's...more like my circumstances that made it feel like I don't have much choice, but to me, joining the Nameless seems like a better choice."
"..." March stays silent, unsure how to respond.
"Don't think too much about it," Zhi Jiang says as he gently pats her shoulder. "Every choice is made by ourselves. It's like...how you guys have multiple choices of planets to visit. What happened during that visit is not something we could predicted...except for the Stellaron Hunters, they're an exception."
"..." March can't help but giggle as Zhi Jiang scratches his cheek in confusion before glancing at Dan Heng, who simply looks away. Zhi Jiang swears that Dan Heng's lips had twitched upwards.
"...sorry, I ain't good at this," Zhi Jiang sighs before March gently bumps her fist into his chest.
"Don't be..." March says, her face turns slightly red as she doesn't pull her fist away from his chest. "You're just trying to help..."
'... has his chest always been this refined?' March thought before her face turned redder. 'Okay, what was that!??! Since when did I have that kind of thought!?!'
"I-I really appreciate it..." March curses herself for stuttering.
"...I'm glad you feel better," Zhi Jiang says as March quickly pulls her fist away. "...should we go after Stelle?"
"Don't," Dan Heng suggests. "She seems like she wants to be alone to gather some thoughts. I...used to have that look as well..."
"...oh right, you're a total introvert when we first encounter each other," March blinks as Dan Heng gives her a flat stare. "But, yeah, let's leave her alone for a moment. Trust us, we learn through experience..."
This time, Dan Heng looks slightly flustered and looks away, causing Zhi Jiang to raise his eyebrow, wondering why Dan Heng reacts like that before nodding.
"Alright, I trust you guys..." As he said that, their phone rang and they saw a notification from the group chat. Himeko had requested the team meeting on the train, which led the trio to rush back to the Astral Express.
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In Astral Express
"Ah, the passengers are all here," Pom-Pom exclaims as they approach the trio with a tray filled with cups of hot cocoa. "Here!"
"Thanks a lot, Pom-Pom," March exclaims as she grabs one. Dan Heng merely nods and accepts one.
"Thanks, Conductor. You worked hard," Zhi Jiang says as he accepts one. Neither of them notices Pom-Pom's tiny tail wags a bit.
"I'm sorry, I had to suddenly call a meeting out of nowhere," Himeko says, looking slightly guilty. "The reason behind this meeting is to discuss our next destination."
"Wait, I thought we all agreed we're going to Jarilo-VI?" Dan Heng asks in confusion. Before Himeko could respond, Zhi Jiang cuts in.
"Jarilo-VI? What's that planet like?" Zhi Jiang asks in confusion. This made the rest of the Nameless glance at each other, their expression turns into one of realization.
"You guys didn't tell our newest Nameless about our destination!?" Pom-Pom exclaims in shock before pausing and looking slightly sheepish. "...Pom-Pom has no right to say as Pom-Pom also forgot..."
"We're too focused on our individual tasks that we simply forgot to mention it," Welt says while clearing his throat in slight embarrassment.
"Apologies, Zhi Jiang. We...didn't mean to keep this information from you," Himeko apologizes with a guilty expression.
"Y-yeah...I was having too much fun that I forgot to mention it," March says sheepishly. "Although I thought the others had told you about it."
"...sorry," Dan Heng says with a guilty expression.
"I-it's fine..." Zhi Jiang says with a sweatdrop. "Then again...I never ask you guys about it. Don't worry too much..."
"Still..." Himeko mutters with a slight frown.
"...how about you guys tell me more in detail about this Jarilo-VI?" Zhi Jiang suggests that he realizes they wouldn't stop apologizing even after telling them that it's fine.
"Our information on Jarilo-VI is quite limited, given the recorded information is from thousands of years ago, when Akivili first connected the Star Rail to the planet," Himeko says with a frown. "We're attempting to visit the planet to reconnect the Star Rail while also updating our outdated information."
"Is there no other information about this planet?" Zhi Jiang asks with a frown.
"Unfortunately, it's harder than it seems. We only found out about Jarilo-VI thanks to the information recorded by our seniors in the archives," Welt says as he adjusts his glasses. "I have a feeling some people in the cosmos know its existence, but finding them will be like finding a needle in a haystack."
"I...see..." Zhi Jiang merely nods. "I guess I could take a look at the archives. Also, when do we take off?"
"Once the Space Station crew finishes building the car, and receives any response from Stelle. For the car, it will be finished in a few hours." Himeko explains as Zhi Jiang nods, and before he could go to the archive room, they hear a knock from outside.
Everyone looks at each other in confusion before they walk towards the door. Upon opening the door, they were greeted with a sight of a messy-looking Stelle holding a baseball bat with a huge trash bag hanging on the edge (which reminds Zhi Jiang of an old cartoon that he forgot the title, the one with cat and mouse) and a large grin plastered on her face.
"Hey, so...still got room for one more?" Stelle asks sheepishly.
To be Continued