Originally, March 7th had tagged along partly because she worried Stelle wouldn't figure things out alone. But now that Stelle could handle everything by herself, March 7th couldn't help feeling a little unnecessary.
Seeing something new and fun, March's interest immediately reignited.
She opened a chat group with Pei Guang and Firefly, quickly sending a message inside.
March 7th: "Ah Guang! Firefly! I saw your side on the livestream—it looks super fun! Can I join you guys?"
Pei Guang: "Sure! But do you have a mech? The one Firefly gave me was a favor reward! You don't have one, huh? Jealous?"
March 7th: "Firefly! Please, please make one for me too~ I'm begging you, pretty pleaseeee."
Inside the armor, Firefly secretly turned on her phone and looked at March 7th's string of pleading emojis, feeling conflicted.
How should she put it? She actually enjoyed hanging out with this girl, but seeing all the things Pei Guang had done in this armor made her hesitate.
Judging by time known, Stelle was clearly the one she'd known the longest. Yet now even Stelle has become "Pei Guang-shaped."
How could she escape that fate?
If March wanted her help, that was fine: but there had to be a reward.
Firefly glanced around.
Though more and more people were gathering, everyone's eyes were fixed on Pei Guang. So she quietly opened March 7th's profile and started a private chat.
Firefly: "I can do it—but what's the reward?"
The moment March 7th saw Firefly's private message, her eyes widened. "Huh? She's already been influenced by Ah Guang this fast? It's only been a day…"
To March, a day was nothing, but to Firefly, even a single day was precious.
March 7th: "A reward~ hmm, anything I can do for you works."
Firefly: "Deal. Then you'll owe me one favor, okay? If I ever need something, I'll come to you for help."
March 7th: "No problem! But let's make one thing clear—you can't ask me to give up Ah Guang or have him spend a whole day with you alone or anything like that! Ah Guang isn't my property; what he does isn't up to me."
Firefly: "I wouldn't do something like that."
Inside the armor, Firefly smiled. She really wouldn't use cheap tactics like that just to get time with Pei Guang.
Such actions would demean her.
Even through the screen, March 7th could sense Firefly's sincerity, so she replied, "Deal! Whatever you ask for in the future, if I can do it, I will!"
March 7th sent an image of her serious expression.
Seeing it, Firefly responded with a Pom-Pom "Okay" emoji.
Firefly: "Send me your body data. I need to adjust the armor to your measurements. As for color, you can choose it yourself after transformation. Oh, right—how should I give you the transformation device?"
March 7th: "Give it to Ah Guang—he'll find a way to deliver it to me."
Firefly: "Okay!"
Firefly agreed to March 7th's request. In her mind, this was a trade where she came out ahead.
And indeed, she hadn't lied. She truly didn't plan to use that "favor" to make Pei Guang accompany her or to increase her chances romantically.
Her idea was sharper than that: when things settled down in the future, she'd invite Pei Guang to hang out—and before asking him out, she'd use this chance to temporarily send March 7th away.
Exactly. She didn't use the favor to ask March for anything: she intended to remove her from the field.
Though the method and result might look similar, the reality was vastly different.
As for how she came up with this plan? For that, she had to thank her good sister, Stelle.
When they first arrived in Penacony, her original target had been Stelle, since she knew her well.
Back when Kafka took Stelle on missions, Firefly had interacted with her.
Although today's Stelle had lost her memories, the current her and the past her were practically identical.
That old Stelle had once used a similar trick against Kafka: she'd distracted Kafka in this same way, then secretly played games by herself for an entire day.
Now, Firefly was using Stelle's own trick against March 7th—and judging by the progress, it was about to succeed.
As for Stelle… Firefly could only whisper, "I'm sorry."
If Stelle hadn't lost her memory, Firefly might have felt guilty: after all, stealing a friend's person never felt right.
But since Stelle had lost her memory, that was another story.
She had once thought about pairing up with Stelle to carry out the next part of the script, but what could she do? Pei Guang was simply too captivating.
That feeling of holding him close~
She'd never forget it in her life, nor could she ever let go.
Every encounter with him filled her with more hope for the future and strengthened her resolve to live on.
In truth, even without that consumable Pei Guang created to resist death and the erosion of existence, she still believed she could now live longer and find meaning.
As for Stelle… who should she blame? Perhaps fate itself, for making her and Pei Guang meet.
And really, that fate could only be blamed on Sparkle and Pei Guang.
If Pei Guang hadn't entered the dream wearing nothing but boxers, Stelle wouldn't have fallen so blissfully. And if Sparkle hadn't pulled him in just for fun, he'd never have met Firefly.
So yes: Sparkle was Firefly's matchmaker. If Firefly ever learned the truth, she'd probably thank Sparkle.
And Stelle? She'd probably just give Sparkle one good knock out of the dream.
At that exact moment, while Stelle was spreading goodwill across the city, she suddenly sneezed.
"Hmm? Who's thinking about me? Right—must be Ah Guang. Heh! That troublemaker's probably thinking about finishing his tasks quickly and stealing all my affection points. This time in Penacony, I won't leave a single one behind!"
Stelle had no idea that her childhood sweetheart was about to be completely stolen away by someone who dropped from the heavens.
Nor did she know that this so-called heavenly thief was actually her former companion.