"Are you okay now?"
Himeko looked down at Bai Ming in her arms and spoke softly, her voice as warm as her embrace.
"It's been a while."
"Huh?!"
Startled, Bai Ming quickly lifted her head from Himeko's chest and jumped back a few steps. She clasped her hands together, bowing slightly in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry! It was just so soft that I couldn't help but… sink into it!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Bai Ming froze.
"Wait—I didn't mean it like that! I mean, it was just… um, too big—no, too round! No, no, that's not right either!"
Her words tangled further the more she tried to fix them. Finally, she slapped a hand over her mouth and mumbled to herself, "What am I even saying..."
Himeko simply smiled, calm and composed.
"There's no need to be shy," she said warmly. "I'll take it as a compliment—especially from another woman. If you didn't mean it sincerely, you wouldn't have said it so honestly."
Her confident composure made Bai Ming nod repeatedly, fully agreeing without even realizing it.
"And besides," Himeko added with a soft laugh, "a good figure just means I'm healthy."
She had effortlessly defused the awkwardness, her elegant tone making it sound natural.
Then Himeko turned to March 7th and Dan Heng, who had just caught up.
"March, Dan Heng—you've both worked hard."
March 7th sighed in relief, clearly glad Himeko had finally separated from Bai Ming. She crossed her arms and gave a playful pout.
"Himeko~ you should've come sooner! That last wave of the Antimatter Legion was endless. I use a bow, remember? Fighting them like that is so annoying!"
Himeko touched her chin thoughtfully, smiling in amusement.
"Even if I came earlier, it wouldn't have changed much. My orbital cannon could've cleared them all out, sure—but if Herta came back and saw the damage to the station, she'd definitely have a few words for us."
"Wait, hold on!" Bai Ming interrupted, eyes wide. "Did you just say orbital cannon? Like, the kind that can blow up a building in one shot?"
Himeko shook her head.
"Oh, that's a relief—"
"It usually destroys an entire area instead."
"Huh?!"
Bai Ming's jaw dropped.
This woman clearly knew her science.
But before Bai Ming could react further, Himeko's gaze drifted toward Arlan, who stood at the back looking uneasy.
"Are you alright, Arlan? Asta was worried about you," she asked gently.
"I'm fine," Arlan replied. "Just need to wrap my wounds…" He hesitated, glancing at Bai Ming, who was still in awe of Himeko's weaponry.
He could still see the image of her earlier—this delicate-looking girl riding on top of a Trampler, swinging a baseball bat like it was the most natural thing in the world.
But in the end, he simply said, "It's nothing. Thank you, everyone. I'll report to Station Head Asta now."
With that, he limped toward the bridge, leaving the group behind.
Himeko's eyes then turned to Bai Ming again. The girl was crouched down, counting on her fingers, still trying to estimate how much power an "area-destroying" cannon actually had.
Smiling, Himeko bent down, picked up the baseball bat lying on the floor, and held it out.
"Here," she said. "You dropped this."
Bai Ming blinked and took it carefully.
"Thanks… um, Auntie Hi—"
Himeko's smile stiffened slightly.
"—Sister Himeko," Bai Ming corrected herself immediately.
"Mmm~ that's better," Himeko said, her warmth returning.
"So, Sister Himeko," Bai Ming continued sheepishly, "I'm Bai Ming. Nice to meet you. Are you here because you became a train driver or something?"
"Train driver?" Himeko chuckled. "Well, not exactly—but you're not wrong."
March 7th grinned. "Himeko's the navigator of the Astral Express! She's basically in charge of where the train goes and how it runs."
Bai Ming's eyes widened in awe. "So you decide everything..."
Himeko laughed softly. "I suppose you could say that. But if possible, I'd prefer you use my actual title."
"Actual title?"
"Yes." Himeko placed a hand over her chest, her voice filled with quiet pride.
"Despite appearances, I'm a scientist."
Bai Ming froze for a moment.
A scientist.
That single word echoed in her mind.
She couldn't help but think of another Himeko—Murata Himeko—the woman who had once dreamed of becoming a scientist like her father, before tragedy and Honkai energy took that dream away.
Bai Ming looked at the woman standing before her now.
She was Himeko.
But she was not her Himeko.
Even if their faces, their voices, even their gentle smiles were nearly identical—this Himeko lived a different life, under different stars.
That was why this Himeko could say, "I never left."
Because for her, life aboard the Astral Express was continuing, not returning.
And yet… Bai Ming couldn't help but wonder.
If Murata Himeko had been just a little luckier, would she too have ridden among the stars—lighting up the dark with her brilliance?
The thought made Bai Ming's expression darken slightly.
Noticing, Himeko tilted her head.
"Bai Ming, what's wrong? You've looked sad ever since we met. Did I say something that upset you?"
"No, not at all!" Bai Ming waved her hands quickly. "I just… remembered some things."
"Things?" Himeko asked softly. "Family? Friends?"
Bai Ming shook her head.
"No… just some lives I was lucky enough to witness—but powerless to change."
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon.
patreon.com/deadlygoober.