After Gallagher left, Firefly thanked Stelle once again.
"Thanks for stepping in just now! Otherwise I really might have... been taken away."
As she spoke, Firefly paused ever so slightly. It was hard to imagine what she had almost said instead.
"This wasn't free help..." Stelle curled her lips into a slightly mischievous smile.
Firefly froze for a moment, blinked, and said somewhat awkwardly, "I... I know. If someone helps you, you have to repay them!"
After that, Firefly introduced herself. She said she was an artist from the Iris Family and worked as a temporary performer, so she could be Stelle's guide.
Stelle didn't refuse. She happened to need one.
Firefly then gave Stelle a brief introduction to Oti Shopping Center. After that, she led Stelle outside to the plaza, found a small restaurant by the street, and said she wanted to treat Stelle to something.
"They've got most of Penacony's signature food here. Clockie Pizza, Oak Cake Rolls, Alfalfa Salad... and the classic SoulGlad! Pick whatever you want. I'll pay!"
Stelle was happy, but looked at Firefly with some hesitation.
"I spend a lot..."
"I-It should be fine. I still have some savings..." Firefly replied without much confidence.
Hearing that, Stelle, who had only recently begun to understand the ways of people, felt reassured.
No matter what, she believed her.
So Stelle walked over to the waiter at the entrance and bought one of every flavor of Dream Cone, Oak Cake Roll, Pop Champagne, Fries Sundae, a whole Clockie Pizza, and a Flying Saucer Burger.
She spent every last bit of the twenty thousand credit budget Firefly had handed her.
"I'm done shopping! Let's eat!" Stelle said cheerfully as she returned carrying a huge pile of food.
Firefly froze where she stood, staring at everything in Stelle's arms.
"Ah... th-this... y-you... have pretty good taste... haha..."
After saying that, Firefly took two deep breaths. Stelle thought she heard the girl pout with a hint of grievance.
But in the end, Firefly said nothing. She picked up an Oak Cake Roll, then said, "Next... let's go this way..."
Firefly led Stelle through the streets of the Dream, leaving Oti Shopping Center and heading toward Grakis Avenue, the main road of the Golden Hour.
The two girls stopped to look at the Clockie statue together.
Stelle spotted one of Clockie's eyelashes.
It was an Origami Bird.
So she rescued the little bird, but Firefly didn't seem to understand why Stelle had done that. She even wondered why Stelle had suddenly jumped.
Still, Firefly didn't seem to care much about Stelle's strange behavior. She led Stelle around the Clockie statue and looked from afar at the Penacony Grand Theater floating in the sky.
According to Firefly, it had once been the central prison of the Asdana star system.
Afterward, Firefly briefly introduced the Charmony Festival and mentioned that the Harmonic Choir, the embodiment of Harmony, would descend during the festival.
After visiting the Penacony Grand Theater, Firefly led Stelle onward to the SoulGlad Theme Leisure Area, Aideen Park.
This was the largest park in the Golden Hour and the symbol of Penacony's soda culture.
The enormous soda bottle in the distance was the headquarters of the SoulGlad company.
Firefly also briefly explained the history of SoulGlad.
Then, all of a sudden, she stopped.
Stelle noticed immediately and became alert.
For a brief instant, the look in the girl's eyes turned cautious.
Her gaze suddenly became sharp, like the edge of a blade, almost piercing Stelle's forehead, or perhaps something behind her.
"What's wrong?" Stelle frowned slightly, puzzled.
But the moment she spoke, Firefly's expression softened again, becoming as gentle as before.
She gave Stelle a perfectly timed smile, hesitated for a moment, and said, "...No time to waste. I'll show you around!"
Stelle didn't know what had happened to Firefly, but she followed her as they ran through the park.
Firefly continued introducing various attractions along the way.
Then, at one point, Stelle suddenly stopped, her eyes fixed on the crowd in the distance.
Firefly noticed Stelle's reaction.
But her attention was on someone else, and in that hurried glance, she failed to notice the beautiful figure hidden among the crowd.
Firefly felt this was a good opportunity.
She walked off to one side and used Stelle's Dream Passport to get some Aideen Tokens for her from the attraction manager, telling Stelle to have some fun here first.
Using the excuse of buying drinks, she temporarily left, planning to use the time to investigate the suspicious figure she had noticed earlier.
Stelle nodded without refusing and walked toward the crowd.
Sure enough, she heard those voices.
The moment she saw the scene, she knew these were exactly the kinds of things she'd hear.
"You're amazing! How do you do it? Why do you win every single time?"
"You're so cute, little one. Even in the Dream, it's my first time seeing someone as pretty as you."
"What's your name? Which guest room are you staying in? Big sis can keep you company."
"You're so pretty."
"Be my big sister! No, be my teacher! Can you teach me how you win every time?"
"You're the pride of us Pepeshi!"
"My father is the ruler of Budom Planet in the Faradest Star System. Come be my queen!"
Stelle squeezed through the crowd.
Sure enough, she saw Nero standing there, completely at a loss.
Nero stood frozen in place, his little face flushed red, his eyes unfocused, unable to get a single word out.
It looked like steam was about to come out of his head.
Seeing him like this, Stelle felt she had to help him out.
Kids were easily embarrassed.
She couldn't let this crowd keep surrounding him until he panicked.
If Nero panicked with his strength...
She didn't even dare imagine what would happen.
Of course, as just another visitor herself, Stelle knew speaking up probably wouldn't accomplish much.
So she placed her hopes on the nearby Bloodhounds.
Before she could call them over, though, the Bloodhounds had already come to break up the crowd.
It turned out that while Stelle was squeezing through, the Bloodhounds had finally caught sight of Nero through the gap she opened.
They still remembered that this child had been specifically singled out as someone to take extra care of.
Rumor had it he had been brought here personally by Mr. Sunday and Miss Robin.
A short while later, it finally became quiet around Stelle and Nero.
Nero let out a sigh of relief, then leaned directly against Stelle.
Being tall had its advantages.
With everyone crowding around him, it was hard for people to see him inside.
Thinking about it, Stelle had pretty sharp eyes to spot him.
Now that the two companions had finally met up, they each told the other what had happened earlier.
Stelle focused on the memory she'd seen, especially Akivili acting very Aha-like, and on Firefly.
Nero, meanwhile, told Stelle about Aventurine.
Suddenly, the child's eyes lit up.
"Since it's a blessing, you should do it too!"
Stelle didn't object.
Nero then copied exactly what Aventurine had done earlier. He pressed his palms against Stelle's and said,
"May the Mother Goddess close Her eyes for you three times. May your blood forever surge, your journey forever be peaceful, and your schemes never be exposed."
Afterward, Stelle rolled her shoulders.
She wasn't sure if it was just psychological, but her body suddenly felt much lighter.
It even felt like she had become more suited to the Dream than after Robin had tuned her.
After that, Stelle and Nero played around for a while, with Stelle once again marveling at Nero's unbelievable luck.
When Firefly still hadn't returned with the drinks after such a long time, Stelle began to find it strange.
She went looking for her and found her behind a food cart.
The girl was standing in the corner beside the cart, looking as though she was waiting in line.
But Stelle couldn't shake the feeling that she was actually watching something.
Since she'd found her, Stelle walked over with Nero to introduce them.