[Time Rewind - Astral Express Corridor Late at Night]
Let us turn back time a few hours to the moment Welt quietly slipped out of his room.
The reason he woke up in the middle of his rest, holding his cane, was due to an intense internal struggle.
He watched Stelle, who, ever since the simulated universe test, often displayed a heavy and resolute gaze—one belonging to a warrior of Deliverance, entirely inconsistent with her age and experience. Hearing the weighty terms like "Honkai," "sacrifice," and "Deliverance" from her mouth filled his heart with anxiety.
(Welt's internal monologue: She shouldn't be like this... She is just a Stelle beginning her journey; she shouldn't be bound by the heavy fate of another spacetime... I must do something.)
However, he was not a Memokeeper; he lacked the ability to directly manipulate memories.
Driven by anxiety and some inexplicable inspiration (perhaps stemming from subconscious knowledge, or maybe an unseen "hand" was secretly guiding him?), a simple, crude, and even ridiculous idea surfaced: causing temporary memory loss or confusion through a precisely calculated blow to the head.
As someone knowledgeable about physical structures and the human body, he absurdly felt that this method... might just work?
It was worth a try, at least.
So, he quietly came to the corridor and saw Stelle sleeping on her side, her back of the head perfectly exposed.
He observed carefully. Although he felt that the contour of Stelle's occiput seemed unnaturally raised already, he still located a spot he calculated to be "relatively safe."
He adjusted his cane, aimed the tip at that spot like he was performing a precise yet wicked experiment, took a deep breath, and mimicking the gentle motion of a golf putter, he tapped it down with a dull "thud."
The sound was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the silent corridor.
Welt immediately crouched down, nervously observing Stelle's reaction.
Seeing that she only let out an unconscious grunt, shifted her body slightly, and her breathing quickly returned to normal, showing no signs of waking up, he finally let out a long sigh of relief.
(Welt's internal monologue: Success... probably. I hope she can forget those unpleasant things...)
Carrying the relief of a completed mission and a trace of guilt, he quietly returned to his room, completely unaware that, before him, Stelle's occiput might have already endured a "precise strike" from a certain system puppet wielding a small rubber mallet... [Now - Astral Express - Observation Car]
After the farce, the Astral Express returned to peace.
Stelle, sporting her slightly bewildered and innocent expression, along with the ridiculous bandage on the back of her head, had returned to the familiar Stellaron.
Although she lost a segment of memory, she also shed the burden that had been imposed upon her.
March 7th was excitedly showing her the commemorative photos she had just taken of "Bandaged Stelle," while Danheng silently offered a cup of warm water nearby.
Welt stood a short distance away, watching the scene that had returned to "normal," his heart filled with complex emotions.
He felt a degree of absurdity and guilt for adopting such an unreliable method, but more than that, he felt relief seeing Stelle return to her original state.
(Welt's internal monologue: Let it be... Although the process was convoluted, and even a bit ridiculous, the outcome... seems to be good?)
Himeko, watching the newly lively Stelle, had amusement in her eyes, though also a touch of apology.
[Time Rewind - Astral Express Corridor Late at Night -]
Stelle had made up her carefully chosen "bed"—several cardboard boxes that looked reasonably sturdy.
She stood by the Observation Car window, gazing at the magnificent nebula outside, but her golden eyes held a gravity different from before.
At that moment, soft footsteps accompanied by the rich aroma of coffee (perhaps *too* rich) drifted over.
It was Himeko.
She approached, holding a freshly brewed, steaming cup of coffee, a gentle smile on her face.
"Can't sleep, Stelle?"
Himeko handed the other cup in her hand to Stelle. "Want to try it? It's my special blend of coffee; it helps you relax."
Stelle looked at Auntie Himeko's gentle smile, didn't think much of it, and took the cup.
She was completely unaware of the "reputation" of Himeko's coffee.
Out of politeness, she took a small sip.
In that instant, a flavor mixed with extreme bitterness, bizarre sourness, and something akin to burnt circuit boards violently struck her taste buds and nerves like a battering ram!
Her body instantly stiffened. Her brain felt as though it had been punched hard by this "refreshing" liquid, and stars seemed to flash before her eyes.
!!!
Stelle's eyes instantly widened, her body stiffened abruptly, and all her thoughts were completely wiped clean by that indescribable taste.
Out of politeness (and temporary brain shutdown), she didn't spit it out immediately but forced herself to swallow it, then stiffly placed the coffee cup on the windowsill.
She slowly closed her eyes, not savoring the taste, but fighting against the intense dizziness and... drowsiness?
"You can never get enough of the Star Sea scenery, can you?"
Himeko didn't notice Stelle's abnormality. She also looked out the window, her tone filled with emotion. "Every voyage, we see new scenery and encounter new stories..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she heard a muffled "thump" beside her!
Himeko turned in surprise, only to see Stelle, eyes tightly shut, falling straight backward. The back of her head solidly hit the cardboard, even bouncing slightly from the impact, making a distinct "dong" sound before she became completely motionless.
Himeko, who had been preparing to chat with Stelle, was startled by this sudden situation.
She looked at the collapsed Stelle, then at the coffee in her hand, blinking in confusion.
"Did this child... fall asleep instantly from exhaustion?"
Himeko bent down to check, found Stelle's breathing steady, and realized she seemed only to have passed out, letting out a sigh of relief.
She noticed that Stelle's occiput seemed to have been knocked, felt a little guilty, and quietly returned to her room to get a soft pillow, which she carefully placed under Stelle's head.
"Good night. Rest well."
Himeko said softly, leaving with the two cups of coffee and a slight regret that she hadn't been able to talk with Stelle.
[Time Returns to the Present - Astral Express Observation Car]
Himeko looked at the exaggerated bandage on the back of Stelle's head, and her initial guilt turned into confusion.
(Internal monologue: I only saw her fall once... How could it be 'multiple impacts'? Did she hit herself a few more times later? Is her sleeping posture that bad?)
Just then, Pom-Pom, the Conductor, rubbing its head and sporting a tuft of fluff that seemed to stick up from lack of sleep, walked into the Observation Car.
"It's so noisy here, Pam... What happened, Pam?"
Pom-Pom's voice held the soft, sticky quality of someone who just woke up. When it saw the conspicuous bandage on Stelle's head, it was startled: "Stelle Passenger! What happened to your head, Pam?!"
March 7th quickly answered: "Conductor! Stelle accidentally hit her head, but thankfully it's nothing serious!"
Pom-Pom breathed a sigh of relief, patting its chest with a small paw: "It's good that you're okay, Pam! Everyone needs to be careful, Pam!"
It seemed to suddenly remember something, its long ears twitched, and an expression of lingering fear appeared on its face: "Speaking of being careful... I think I saw a ghost last night, Pam!"
"Saw a ghost?" Everyone reacted differently.
March 7th immediately became interested, her eyes sparkling: "Really, Conductor? What kind of ghost was it? Transparent? Floating? Or wearing white clothes?"
Stelle looked confused, touching her bandaged head, feeling that "hitting her head" seemed more tangible than "seeing a ghost."
Himeko showed a look of concern: "Pom-Pom, did you have a nightmare?"
Meanwhile, Welt's nerves instantly tightened!
(Internal monologue: Saw a ghost?! Did... the Conductor see me...? No, I confirmed there was no 'one' around...)
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