Aidan returned to the Astral Express, wrapped in a large white blanket. Whenever the wind blew, he felt his new shell getting chilly. After shedding the old shell, his injuries had all healed, though he was still somewhat exhausted.
Dan Heng returned to the Astral Express with him and looked at Aidan from the sofa with that expression of "We are no longer brothers."
"What is that look in your eyes?"
"You didn't call me."
Dan Heng said. On his face, which usually lacked expression, four words could be read at this moment—I am really unhappy.
"Call you?"
A question mark appeared over Aidan's head.
Call you what? Call you for what?
"I am the guard of the Astral Express. When encountering danger, it should be me standing in front of you."
Aidan was stunned for a moment, and the antennae on his head moved slightly beneath the blanket.
So that was it.
He had let Stelle control his body and hadn't let Dan Heng join in.
"There is a Stellaron inside her body."
"Mm."
"You aren't surprised?"
"I'm not surprised."
"True."
After a brief silence, Dan Heng looked at the message on the screen and was stunned for a moment.
Himeko: Everyone, Stelle wants to join the Astral Express.
Aidan: 1
March 7th: 1
Dan Heng: 1
Welt: 1
Himeko: Please, everyone, don't be so lazy.
Aidan: It's very difficult to type with forelimbs.
Himeko: So, what does everyone think?
Welt: Having young people join the train is a good thing.
March 7th: I have no objections.
Dan Heng: I have no objections.
Aidan: Since everyone has no objections, I have even less. By the way, I'm freezing after shedding my shell, can someone help me turn up the heat?
Himeko: Alright, since it was passed unanimously, Stelle is now a new member of our Astral Express.
Aidan pushed the terminal aside and shrunk his entire bug body into the blanket. Although that battle used the power of The Propagation, his own mental exhaustion was real. Now that he had relaxed, the fatigue came rushing in.
"Aidan, Aidan."
"Open the door yourself, it's unlocked."
The door opened, and Stelle poked her head in.
"Your room is so tidy."
"Then, what did you think my room would be like?"
"A bug nest."
"How can you say that!"
Aidan's forelimbs pointed at Stelle.
"I clearly only turned into a bug today!"
"What temperature should I set the heater to?"
"Just comfortable is fine, I'm going to nap for a while."
"Oh, then you rest."
Stelle picked up the air conditioner remote.
What temperature would be good?
"I'm roasting, what temperature did you set it to?"
"100 degrees."
"Are you trying to roast me, sis?"
Setting it to 26 degrees, Stelle sat by the bed, observing Aidan, who was wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon.
"You were quite impressive when you were fighting outside earlier; how did you end up like this after coming back?"
"I was mentally stimulated during the fight, so of course I'm exhausted now that it's over."
Aidan poked half his head out from the blanket, revealing only his eyes.
"Why aren't you staying in your own room? Why did you come here?"
"I don't want to be alone," Stelle answered very honestly. "My mind is empty, and being alone makes me think of a lot of strange questions."
"For example?"
"Like who am I, where do I come from, and why were you in front of me when I woke up," Stelle looked at him. "Like where the end of the universe is..."
"Tell the truth."
Aidan stared at her.
"I think it's rare for a bug to be able to talk, and I want to get along with you."
Stelle answered honestly.
"There's no need for so much social pretense on the Astral Express; everyone is family."
Aidan accidentally rolled over.
Oh no.
"Can you give me a hand?"
Aidan lay on the bed, helplessly kicking his six legs.
Stelle sat on the edge of the bed, watching Aidan floundering in the white blanket, a hint of undisguised interest flashing in her golden eyes.
She didn't immediately offer to help, but instead rested her chin on one hand, observing with great interest the trajectories traced in the air by Aidan's spiky segmented limbs.
"That's quite a unique posture you have."
"Stop watching the show, big sister." Aidan's antennae drooped aggrievedly on the pillow, and his elytra rubbed together, emitting a low buzzing sound.
Stelle's lips curled upward, and she finally took pity and stood up. She reached out both hands and grabbed the edge of Aidan's carapace.
"One, two, three, here we go!"
Accompanied by a slightly dull rolling sound, Aidan's heavy bug body finally landed back on the bed.
"Aidan!"
March 7th came in carrying food.
"Sister Himeko was afraid you'd starve to death in bed, so she specifically asked me to bring you some food. It's all normal food; no strange seasonings added."
"Thanks."
Aidan lay on the bed.
"Can you feed me?"
"Hey, hey, you're pushing your luck."
Although March 7th said that, she fed Aidan as if she had been prepared for it, while also turning to look at Stelle.
"By the way, I saw that your fight at the space station were very impressive earlier; I don't know what you used to do."
"I'm not sure, I forgot."
Stelle said honestly.
"Hmm... that's true, since you lost your memories... but I also lost mine, so we're sisters in misfortune."
March 7th thought for a moment, "Eh... so, does that mean I'm a senior with two juniors now?"
Suddenly, she felt very happy!
"Are you sure?"
Aidan lay on the bed, chewing the food March 7th fed him with his mouthparts, while questioning her in a muffled voice.
"Of course I'm sure!" March 7th puffed out her chest, her face full of pride. "Anything you don't understand in the future, you can ask me! I'm a senior who has been on the Astral Express for a very, very long time!"
"How long is a very long time?"
Stelle asked curiously, sitting by the bed.
March 7th's expression froze for a moment.
"Don't need to know it so clearly; anyway, it's been a long time! Much longer than both of you combined!...You two actually get along quite well."
"It's alright." Stelle nodded. "He's quite fun."
"Fun?" Aidan's antennae stood up. "Am I a toy?"
"No." Stelle thought for a moment. "A friend."
This was said so suddenly and seriously that Aidan was stunned for a moment.
"...Oh."
He lay back down on the pillow, his elytra closing gently, hiding that bit of discomfort.
"Alright, alright, friends are friends, what's there to be shy about."