『 "The atmosphere suddenly became so heavy. I'm sorry, it shouldn't be like this… Let me think, what would be a good way to lighten the mood?"
Hotaru lowered her head, murmuring in an endearing manner.
"Ah, right—you have many friends on the Express. What do you all usually do when you run into situations like this?" Hotaru lifted her head and asked Stelle.
Stelle rested her hand on her chin in thought, a goofy grin spreading across her face as a funny memory surfaced.
Hotaru didn't rush her; she simply watched the grinning Stelle in silence, awaiting her answer.
Stelle held up five fingers, then folded one down as she laughed. "Pam would use a spray bottle to calm us down…"
"Eh? A spray bottle? That's a bit… direct, isn't it?" Hotaru exclaimed in surprise.
"Right? Right? We were all rendered speechless by Pam spraying us back then. Hahaha! But the next second, March 7th charged at Pam, demanding to play dress-up with her." Stelle recalled the scene, a blissful smile gracing her lips.
Seeing Stelle like this, Hotaru smiled too, then asked, "We can't really do that right now, though. Are there any other options?"
"Yes, yes." Stelle waved her four remaining upright fingers and laughed. "There are still four other choices like that."
"Although I'm not sure if any of them will actually help us," Stelle added, scratching her head with a chuckle.
"It doesn't matter. Just tell me about them one by one. I'm very curious about your life on the Express." Hotaru smiled at her.
Stelle nodded and folded down another finger. "Hmm… Dan Heng would tell a dry joke with a completely straight face…"
"Tell a joke? Ah, I… I don't have much of a sense of humor…"
"You don't need a sense of humor. Teacher Dan Heng's deadpan delivery is the punchline itself. Oh no, just thinking about it makes me want to laugh again." Stelle tried hard to stifle her laughter.
Once she composed herself, Stelle folded down a third finger. "Himeko would brew us a cup of coffee…"
"Coffee? We don't really have the means for that right now either. And why would coffee lighten the mood?" Hotaru asked, puzzled.
Stelle shuddered visibly. "Because Himeko's coffee is absolutely terrifying. Once everyone sees that cup, they stop arguing or fighting immediately. If you ever come aboard the Express, remember—absolutely, positively do not drink the coffee Himeko hands you! And don't say I told you." 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: Now everyone knows Himeko's coffee is undrinkable. Let us observe five seconds of silence for the little Gray Hair.
〘Stelle〙: That was said by the future me! It has nothing to do with the present me!
〘March 7th〙: Better you than me, pal. I'm out of here!
〘Dan Heng〙: I will collect your remains.
〘·HSR· Welt Yang〙: I'm heading back to my room first.
〘Stelle〙: NOOOOOO!! o(＞﹏＜)o
〘Silver Wolf〙: Looks like someone just got reality-checked.
....
—✦In Between✦—
—✦Honkai Star Rail World✦—
Meanwhile, on the Express, the soul was already drifting out of the mouth of the Stelle who had taken a sip of Himeko's coffee. March 7th peered out from her room, and seeing Himeko walk away, immediately dragged the soul-vomiting Stelle into her own quarters.
She then looked at Dan Heng, who was standing nearby, and quipped,
"Looks like the probability of being sabotaged by one's future self has gone from 0 to 0.01."
"Stop snarking and help her,"
Dan Heng said helplessly.
"Where are the stomach pumping tools we got from the Space Station last time?"
"I was wondering about those unseen items in the train's storage. You really think of everything, Teacher Dan Heng,"
Stelle said, clutching Dan Heng's hand in a moment of terminal lucidity.
"I feel like I'm not going to make it. Dan Heng, come closer."
Dan Heng leaned his ear toward Stelle, listening as she spoke intermittently:
"Later, the me up there… will definitely suggest taking a photo with March 7th… When that happens, remember to take a screenshot for me… I want it as wallpaper… Urgh~"
After uttering these words, Stelle passed out completely. March 7th looked at the unconscious Stelle, facepalmed, and sighed.
"She's completely hopeless."
"Let's put her on your bed first,"
Dan Heng suggested, standing up.
"You watch over her here; I'll go outside to take the picture for her."
"Okay, go ahead, go ahead."
March 7th, tucked Stelle into her bed, waved to Dan Heng with a smile, and then turned her attention to the light screen on her room's computer.
Himeko, watching this scene from the doorway, smiled. Beside her, Welt adjusted his glasses, a smile appearing on his face as well.
Dan Heng walked out holding a camera and saw the two of them smiling. He shook his head helplessly. Welt said nothing, simply placing a hand on Dan Heng's shoulder and leading him to the sofa to continue watching the screen.
Himeko, meanwhile, sipped the coffee Stelle hadn't finished, looking at the screen and murmuring in confusion from time to time,
"Is it really that bad? It tastes fine to me."
While the Express crew was busy, the Stelle on the screen had already proposed the fourth option, though it still wasn't much help to the pair.
—
『 Stelle looked at her one remaining upright finger. "This is the last one."
Hotaru nodded earnestly. "Mm, please go ahead."
Stelle took a deep breath and folded down the final finger. "March would drag us all into a selfie…"
"A selfie, a selfie… You're right. I've been here so many times, why didn't I think of taking a photo?" Hotaru's tone turned cheerful. "But taking one of just myself… I'm not really used to it. Shall we do it together? As a keepsake." 』
『 ....』
〘Silver Wolf〙: Did she really forget, or was she just waiting for the right person to take the photo with?
〘Elysia〙: That is something only the people involved would know ♪
....
『 Stelle nodded, agreeing to Hotaru's proposal. She smiled. "Sure."
"I can be a little bit camera-shy, so don't laugh at me, okay? Here… you hold it." Hotaru handed her phone to Stelle, her eyes filled with anticipation.
As Hotaru finished speaking, Robin's song in the background reached its climax, her elegant vocals drifting into everyone's ears. 』
『 ....』
〘Belle〙: Wow, I've got goosebumps.
〘Sunday〙: My sister's singing voice remains as enchanting as ever.
....
『 Stelle took the phone, opened the camera app, and switched the lens in one smooth motion. Then, she extended her arm, holding the phone out far enough to ensure the frame could capture both of them.
"Wait a moment, let me get ready…" Hotaru adjusted her hair.
The screen went black, and Hotaru's voice could be heard.
"Okay! Let's start."
"One…"
"Two…"
"CHEESE—!"
The sound of a shutter clicked, and then the screen lit up.
Stelle's right hand was making a peace sign, her expression natural as she looked at the lens. A faint smile hung on her lips, but eyes don't lie; Stelle's golden eyes in the photo radiated happiness. Hotaru also looked happily at the camera, blooming with a brilliant smile—a smile that was clearly born of genuine bliss. However, the gesture she made with her right hand was a bit strange; she had extended three fingers. 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: Dan Heng, did you get the shot?
〘Dan Heng〙: I took it.
〘Elysia〙: Eden, my dear Eden, I want to take one too ♪
〘Eden〙: Ellie, we have taken an unknown number of photos already, but as you know, I will not refuse you.
〘Mobius〙: You just keep spoiling her.
〘Elysia〙: Oh my ♪, Mobius, you come too! Pretty please ♪~
〘Belle〙: By the way, the gesture Miss Hotaru is making with her right hand is a little strange.
〘Caesar〙: Oh, I know this one. I read it in a manga. Extending three fingers in sign language means: I love you.
〘Hotaru〙: Eh? Eh? Eh? Someone figured it out that fast?
〘Kafka〙: Oh my, your little secret was seen through so quickly. But I suppose this is what they call mutual affection.
〘Silver Wolf〙: It's cheesy enough to make me cringe. Every single one of them is like this—one screaming in the chat room about finding Idrila, another secretly confessing while taking a photo.
〘Kafka〙: As long as both of them are happy, isn't that enough?
〘Stelle〙: Urgh, I'm alive again. Did I miss anything? What confession?
〘Hotaru〙: Nothing! ⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄
〘March 7th〙: Look at the photo I sent you. Miss Hotaru was confessing to you while you were taking the picture.
〘Stelle〙: Whoa. Mutual affection. I like it.
....