Sparkle sized up the boy in front of her.
As a Masked Fool—
She came here for one thing only—
Fun.
And Penacony?
Overflowing with it.
All factions tangled together—
The Family.
The IPC.
The Nameless.
The Stellaron Hunters.
The Garden of Recollection.
And that one…
That figure—
Wrapped entirely in the aura of Nihility.
A self-annihilator.
Calling himself a Galaxy Ranger.
No matter how you looked at him—
Something felt… off.
But compared to that—
This guy.
The one in front of her—
Was even more entertaining.
She hadn't even thought—
About sending Robin "to the sky."
"Ki-kill Miss Robin…?"
"W-won't that get us wanted?!"
Firefly hesitated visibly.
Killing Robin in the dream?
That was beyond illegal.
That was outright lunatic criminal territory.
"Relax."
Evan waved casually.
"It's just part of the script."
"As for Robin—"
"She'll really go to the sky."
He pointed upward.
The sky—
Shrouded in mist.
Sparkle didn't understand.
But Firefly did.
Because she held the script.
Penacony had a place—
The original dream.
Uncorrupted.
The birthplace of everything.
And the key to solving it all.
Dreamflux Reef.
Mikhail's resting place.
"…Okay."
"I'll do it!"
Firefly nodded firmly.
After all—
She was still a girl.
Even as a Stellaron Hunter—
Anything outside the script—
Was exciting.
"Take this."
"…What is it?"
Evan handed her a sakura-shaped badge.
"An Idea Bomb."
"…Idea… what?"
"Fireworks are useless in dreams."
"This is better."
"It destabilizes the dream itself."
"One of these—"
"Can cause something equivalent to a magnitude 8 quake in the Golden Hour."
"People won't die."
"But they'll wake up."
This was something Evan created—
Using Herrscher authority.
Its purpose—
Actually aligned with Sparkle's original plan.
Except—
This wasn't just spectacle.
It was awakening.
Against the Dream of Order (Taichi Dream)—
This was a perfect counter.
"For Memokeepers, it's useless."
"But for most people?"
"It's enough to break the dream."
"Keep it."
"You'll need it later."
Firefly held the badge carefully.
Silent.
Thoughtful.
After that—
Sparkle ran off to find more fun.
Stelle had already gone to the Scorchsand Hour—
Ignoring Evan completely.
So—
Firefly became his guide.
Showing him the terrain.
But—
She was quiet.
Unusually quiet.
Until—
Evan spoke.
"…What's wrong?"
"You look troubled."
"I-it's nothing…"
"No need to hide it."
"Firefly… or should I say—"
"Stellaron Hunter: Sam."
"…Right?"
She froze.
For a moment—
Her body tensed.
Then—
Relaxed.
"…You knew?"
"Since when?"
Her tone changed.
No longer timid.
No longer fragile.
Now—
She looked at him directly.
"I've known from the start."
"Oh—and Sparkle knows too."
"But she's crazy."
"Best stay away from her."
"I'm the only one who can handle her."
"Pfft—"
Firefly laughed.
"As expected of a Genius Society member…"
"And the rumored Nameless."
"I wasn't there when you boarded at Jarilo-VI…"
"But I've heard of you."
"Evan."
"…And you're not in Elio's script."
She studied him carefully.
Curious.
Then continued—
"So you know I'm a stowaway too?"
"There are Hound Family guards right over there."
"What are you going to do?"
"Turn me in?"
"…Or?"
Evan shrugged.
"You bought me dessert."
"And you think I'd sell you out?"
"That'd be too heartless."
Then—
He smiled slightly.
"And besides—"
"You approached me."
"That wasn't just curiosity, was it?"
"…Hmm."
She didn't answer.
They moved—
From the Clockie plaza—
Back to the café near the restaurant.
"Buy me a coffee."
"…Okay…"
Firefly checked her wallet.
Still had money.
Barely.
Soon—
The order arrived.
Coffee.
Oak Cake Roll.
Evan took a sip.
Bitterness—
Followed by a soft bean aroma.
Firefly took a bite—
Of the Oak Cake Roll.
It looked sweet.
But it wasn't.
Originally—
It came from poor planets.
Where people mixed wood shavings into bread—
Just to survive.
Later—
The rich adopted it.
As a symbol of "remembering hardship."
Now—
A luxury suffering snack.
Even politicians—
Forced it down without expression.
To appear "strong."
And Firefly—
Was eating it—
Slowly.
Frowning slightly.
"…Can you really eat that?"
Evan muttered.
Soon—
She finished it.
No fullness.
Only lingering bitterness.
Why eat it?
Not nostalgia.
Not symbolism.
Because—
It made her feel—
Alive.
Even in a dream—
She wanted to feel something real.
Not inside Sam's armor.
Not trapped.
But—
Free.
Touching the world—
With her own body.
She didn't know—
How long she had left.
After leaving Penacony—
She'd return—
To the armor.
So every moment here—
Mattered.
"Tap tap—"
"Miss, your Clockie Pizza, Clover Salad, and milk."
"…Huh?"
"I didn't order these…"
"Eat."
"I'm paying."
"…!"
"Th-thank you!"
"But… I can't finish all this…"
"Take your time."
She picked up a slice.
Took a bite.
"…!"
Her eyes widened.
Delicious.
Something she had never tasted before.
Because here—
She had always been alone.
Surviving.
Saving.
"Good?"
Evan asked.
"…Yeah."
"I haven't tasted something like this in a long time."
She held half a slice—
Still staring at him—
A little embarrassed.
Evan leaned slightly forward.
Then said calmly—
"So…"
"You cherish this time."
"The time you're free from the armor."
"And what you're searching for in Penacony—"
"…is just an answer."
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
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