After having their fill of fun on the ship, everyone happily returned to the Astral Express.
As for March 7th, although she had been grumbling at the start about things being eyesores and Aidan being a pervert, she actually ended up having a blast, completely letting herself go.
Not to mention Welt, of course. When he touched the control stick in the cockpit, his gaze was more affectionate than when he looked at Tesla. If Himeko hadn't reminded him that it was getting late, he probably would have sat there until the end of time.
Naturally, on the way back, Mr. Welt maintained a subtle silence.
That silence wasn't the usual depth of someone pondering philosophical questions; it was more like a child who had just spent a whole day playing wildly at an amusement park, clutching balloons and cotton candy, only to be dragged home by an adult.
Even so, he still tried his best to maintain his dignity as one of the seniors of the Express—back held straight, walking with a brisk pace.
"Uncle Yang?"
March 7th leaned in.
"Express to Uncle Yang! We've already gotten off the ship!"
"...Ahem."
"Oh man, I'm exhausted!"
As soon as March 7th entered the Parlor Car, she collapsed onto the sofa like a March Cat-pillar.
"Aidan."
"Hmm?"
"That ship... will it still be there tomorrow?"
This question made the atmosphere in the car turn slightly subtle.
March 7th sat up straight, and Dan Heng's gaze also fell upon Aidan.
"What makes you think that would happen? You don't think my being the Captain of the Hyperion is some kind of joke, do you?"
"It's not that..." March 7th felt relieved. "I'm just a bit reluctant to see it go. That ship is so big, so cool, and it has a swimming pool, and that Little Cabbage who gets angry..."
"Reluctant?" Aidan arched an eyebrow. "Then just go back tomorrow."
"Can we really?" March 7th's eyes lit up. "Didn't you say you switch Paths every day? If you become something else tomorrow, will the ship still be there?"
"The Hyperion exists independently," Aidan said as if it were a matter of fact. "It's my battleship, my personal craft. No matter what Path I change to later, it can be summoned from the Sea of Quanta."
This was actually true—"later," this ship was an independent existence that had just been fictionalized today.
A little bit of conceptual sleight of hand.
"In any case, today was truly an eye-opener for me," Welt's voice carried a hint of emotion. "To be able to see familiar things again, even here..."
"Welt, don't talk like you're about to retire," Himeko teased with a smile. "The Express's journey is still long; there will be more surprises in the future."
"Indeed." Welt withdrew his gaze, a gentle smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "The creativity of young people is always astonishing."
As night deepened, the lights in the Parlor Car were dimmed.
"Tomorrow I want to try that swimming pool! Today I was so busy fighting those monsters that I didn't even have time to get in the water!"
"You still want to go for a swim?"
"That pool looks so beautiful. You can see the starry sky on the surface of the water, and it's much bigger than our Express's observation windows! Oh, right, right, Aidan, can that pool be filled with hot water?"
"Yes," Aidan nodded. "The water temperature can be precisely controlled. You can even soak in a hot spring if you want."
"Hot spring?!" March 7th's eyes shone even brighter. "It has a hot spring function too?"
"Yes, it can simulate the scenery of different planets—like soaking in a hot spring on a snowy mountain, or in lava at a volcanic crater."
"I want to soak in a hot spring on a snowy mountain tomorrow!"
"We'll worry about tomorrow's business tomorrow."
"Our Mr. Captain has also had a long day; let him rest early."
"True." March 7th gave a huge stretch, her bones letting out a series of cracks. "I'm also exhausted. Running around in that Simulated Training Room earlier, I feel like my legs are going to break."
As she spoke, she even pounded her thighs and let out a yawn, completely disregarding her image.
"Then I'll head out first! Goodnight Pom-Pom, goodnight Sister Himeko, goodnight Uncle Yang, goodnight Dan Heng! And..."
"Goodnight, Mr. Pervert Captain."
Aidan pushed open the door to his room and casually took off his naval cap, hanging it on the hook by the door. The white Captain's uniform shimmered softly under the light. He unbuttoned the first button of his collar and let out a long breath.
Tired.
But happy.
He walked to the window, his gaze passing through the glass to rest on the Hyperion, which was floating quietly in the distance. The silver-white giant ship looked exceptionally magnificent against the backdrop of starlight, the markings on its hull clearly visible.
"Hyperion..."
He whispered the name, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
Although today's identity was fictionalized, the feeling of standing on the Bridge was real. Those complex instrument panels, those holographic screens, and Ai-chan's huffy Cabbage-head—all of it was real.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The sound of knocking interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open a crack, and March 7th's head poked in.
"Not asleep yet?"
"Just about to." Aidan turned around and leaned against the window. "Why aren't you asleep either?"
"Can't sleep." March 7th squeezed inside, casually closing the door behind her, and then sat down on his bed quite naturally. "My head is full of today's events—that swimming pool, that training room, and that mecha in a swimsuit..."
At the last part, the corners of her mouth started twitching again.
"Is that image popping up again?"
"Don't mention it!" March 7th covered her eyes. "I was almost about to forget, but then you brought it up and I remembered again!"
"But you brought it up first."
"You mentioned it first!"
Aidan laughed and walked over to sit in the chair next to her.
"So, you couldn't sleep and came to find me?"
"Is that not allowed?" March 7th lowered her hands and looked at him indignantly. "This lady was worried you'd turn into something weird again tomorrow, so I came to check if you're normal right now."
"I'm normal for now," Aidan said, spreading his hands. "But it's not long until midnight; whether I'll be normal then is out of my control."
"Then what will you become tomorrow?"
"I don't know."
"Can't you even predict it?"
March 7th curled her lip but didn't press further. She sat quietly for a moment before suddenly speaking.
"Hey, Aidan."
"Hmm?"
"That Captain look of yours today... was it real?"
Aidan looked at her.
It was rare for March 7th to show such a serious expression. Her pinkish-blue eyes looked exceptionally bright in the dim light.
"I mean, are you really the Captain of that ship? Or... did you just make it up today?"
That was a good question.
"Does it matter?"
"It matters."
"Why?"
"Because..." March 7th pursed her lips. "Because if it's real, then you really have such a cool ship. If it's made up, then there's no telling if the ship will still be there tomorrow. I don't want... I don't want to have had so much fun today, only to wake up tomorrow and find the ship gone."
Looking at the girl in front of him, who was usually all smiles, Aidan suddenly felt his heart soften a bit.
"The ship will be there."
"Really?"
"If I say it is, it is. Wake up early tomorrow."
March 7th stuck out her tongue.
"Blehh—fine. Goodnight, Mr. Pervert Captain."