Is it just my eyes playing tricks on me?
March 7th rubbed her eyes and surreptitiously glanced again at the notification on Bai Ming's phone screen. No mistake. That was definitely Asta's profile picture. After all, this wasn't the Astral Express's first docking at the space station.
But still—a quiet grumble formed in March's heart. What are all these people at the space station up to? First Herta, now Asta. Didn't they know Bai Ming was just a temporary cleaner for the Express? What were they trying to do? Poach her?
March bit her lip, her thoughts tumbling like a pair of jeans in a washing machine, a chaotic swirl of strange ideas that refused to settle.
What she didn't expect was that, upon seeing the notification, Bai Ming immediately leaned her head over, then angled the phone toward March and said, "Hey, March, look! Asta added me as a friend!"
"Yeah… I see that," March replied, averting her gaze. "She really did add you."
"What do you think she wants?" Bai Ming continued.
"How should I know?" March said, her face warming. "She's looking for you, not me!"
"I see—" Bai Ming stared at the screen for a moment, pursed her lips, then with a flick of her thumb, locked the screen.
"Wait, what?" March looked at Bai Ming, then at the now-dark phone. "What are you doing? Why are you ignoring Asta?"
"Because I have something very important to do." Bai Ming looked at March with utmost seriousness.
"Very important?"
"Mhm." Bai Ming nodded, then logically and smoothly took March's hand. "I haven't kissed you nearly enough yet, March. Come here—"
Thwack!
Another karate chop landed on Bai Ming's head.
"QAQ Oww!" She rubbed the spot, her expression pitiful. "That hurt!"
"If you know it hurts, then stop saying things like that!" March muttered under her breath. "You should reply to Asta first! You don't want to cause a misunderstanding!"
"If I reply, can we continue kissing afterwards?"
"…That depends."
"Eh——?!"
Hearing this, Bai Ming's eyes immediately lit up. "I'll reply to her right now!"
Watching Bai Ming happily start typing a reply to Asta, March 7th felt a twinge of unease. Did I say the wrong thing? But—the words were out now. She couldn't take them back. She'd just have to see how it played out. Maybe… maybe it wouldn't be as bad as she imagined?
March clung to that fragile hope as she sneakily peeked at Bai Ming's phone screen.
Beep.
Bai Ming accepted Asta's friend request.
[Asta]: It's been a while, Bai Ming.
[Bai Ming]:Mhm, mhm! What's up?
[Asta]:Just a small matter. The space station's rest period is about to begin. Have you found a suitable place to rest?
[Bai Ming]: 'March 7th's chest'!
[Asta]:???
"You can't send weird stuff like that! What do you mean 'March 7th's chest'?!" March grabbed Bai Ming's finger, which was hovering over the send button.
[Bai Ming]: …
[Bai Ming]:I had one, but I got kicked out.
[Asta]:What?! You're a hero of the space station! Who dares do such a thing? Give me their employee ID, I'll discipline them!
[Bai Ming]: 'My girlfriend'
"Don't send things like'my girlfriend'!" March said, her face reddening once more.
[Bai Ming]: It's a secret I can't tell.
[Asta]:In that case… how about I arrange a private place for you? What do you think?
"This—" Bai Ming wiggled her phone toward March. "March, Asta said this. What should I do?"
Bai Ming truly wasn't hiding anything from her. Seeing this, March felt even more conflicted. She avoided looking at the phone and spoke haltingly. "It's… it's up to you… If you think refusing is appropriate, then refuse. If you think you shouldn't refuse, then…" She didn't say the words "accept it." Honestly, she wasn't too keen on Bai Ming accepting. But—just saying that out loud felt like she was overstepping some boundary.
"That's basically saying nothing at all…" Bai Ming couldn't help but mumble.
However, right at that moment, Asta's next message made Bai Ming's eyes light up.
[Asta]: We can also settle your payment for working in the Simulated Universe during that time.
Credits!
Bai Ming's previous hesitation vanished instantly. "March! I have to go! The Station Head said she'll settle my payment for testing the Simulated Universe for Herta!"
"Is… is that so?" March's voice was still a little tense. "Is it a lot?"
"I don't know," Bai Ming shook her head. "She didn't say. Should I ask?"
"No." March stopped her. "Asking would be too embarrassing. It'd make you seem obsessed with Credits."
"But I am obsessed with them."
"Even so, you can't just say it outright!" March continued. "Don't forget… you're still a temporary cleaner for the Astral Express!"
"Oh, right!" Bai Ming clapped her hands. "I need to be mindful of that. You're the smartest, March! Mwah~"
"Stop fooling around!" March pressed her hand against Bai Ming's approaching lips. "Hurry up and reply to Asta before she thinks you don't want the Credits!"
"Right!"
Bai Ming quickly typed a response. Less than a minute later, she spoke up again. "March… she wants me to go over alone right now…"
"…" March hesitated for a moment before saying, "If that's what she said, then you should go… Why the hesitation?"
"But what about you?" Bai Ming countered.
"What about me? What does that have to do with me?"
"Eh—" Bai Ming blinked her beautiful golden eyes. "But if it's time to rest… then I need to be the one to tuck you in and help you sleep! That way, you'll definitely realize what a charming person I am! And then hehehe…"
Bai Ming's internal fantasy didn't last long before another karate chop landed on her head.
"You—" March pulled at Bai Ming's cheeks, stretching them to the sides. "What exactly goes on in that head of yours all day?"
"It'th all 'bout you…~" Bai Ming managed to say through her stretched cheeks.
That sentence was like throwing a planet-sized wrench into March's mental gears. She quickly let go. "Alright, alright, no more of this. You should go."
"Okay—" Bai Ming stood up. "March, don't miss me too much. It wouldn't be good if you got all depressed missing me."
"Who would get depressed missing you?! Honestly, just go already!"
"Mhm! Wait for me!"
Click.
With Bai Ming's departure, the room that had been filled with their lingering warmth suddenly felt cooler. At that moment, the space station's intercom crackled to life. It was Asta's voice.
"Attention all personnel. The Antimatter Legion incursion has been successfully resolved. I hereby declare the station's highest alert status lifted. All units, return to standard operational protocols. I wish you all a good rest. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow."
The announcement was professional. Her tone was calm and unhurried, instilling a sense of reassurance. When it came to managing the space station, Asta was undoubtedly a professional.
But to March 7th's ears at this moment, the message felt… pointed. She touched her lips, slowly got up, opened the door, and stepped out.
The room was near the docking platform. As soon as she emerged, March saw the space station's service robots continuing their work. Watching them, her expression was complicated.
Just then—
"Little March?"
The familiar voice snapped March out of her daze. She saw Himeko standing there. Even here, she held a steaming cup of coffee. "Not sleeping yet?" Himeko asked with a smile.
"This…" March looked down.
"Oh—" The corner of Himeko's mouth lifted in an "I completely understand" expression. "Just finished a date with little Bai Ming, too excited to sleep, right?"
"Eh!" March quickly looked up, waving her hands. "No, no! I absolutely did not have a date with that weirdo whose head is full of strange things!"
"Is that so…" Himeko took a sip of her coffee. "Well, if little March says it wasn't a date, then it wasn't."
"…"
"By the way…" March looked at Himeko. "Is Bai Ming really as… unique as Mr. Yang says?"
"Unique?"
"Yes!" March gestured animatedly.
"Bai Ming is unique… of course she is. No star is born ordinary in this universe, is it?" Himeko's gaze turned to March. "That applies to you too, doesn't it?"
"This…" Listening to Himeko, March felt she understood something, yet also felt she didn't fully grasp it. "Then, Himeko, if… and I mean if! If this star was about to be plucked by someone else… what do you think should be done?"
"Plucked by someone else?" Himeko sensed something vaguely. But she didn't address it directly. Instead, she suddenly posed a seemingly unrelated question. "Little March, do you know how stars in the universe get their names?"
"Eh?" March shook her head. "I don't know…"
"That's normal," Himeko said unhurriedly. "Most of them get their names from human imagination. Using various associated words to accurately define a title. For example, 'Azure' gets its name because seventy percent of its surface is water, making it look like a blue gem from space."
"I see…" March frowned slightly. Clearly, her brain—which could give Bai Ming's a run for its money—was currently failing to analyze the connection between this and their previous topic.
But Himeko didn't leave March in a state of mental overload for long. She soon continued, "However, not every star's name must follow that logic. We have another choice."
"Another choice?" March looked at Himeko.
"Mhm." Himeko nodded. "Not every star needs to be strictly named based on its appearance."
"Then how are stars like that named?" March couldn't help but ask.
"Good question." Himeko took another sip of coffee. "Stars like that… are named by the person who discovers them."
"The discoverer?!"
"Mhm." Himeko gestured with her hand. "After all, there are countless stars in the universe. A naming convention like this is completely permitted. For example, if you discovered a star, you could call it the 'March 7th Star.' If I discovered one, I could call it the 'Himeko Star.' It's a personal choice." Himeko looked at March, her gaze gentle. "You can be someone who chases stars… or you can be someone who names them. Little March, that's a right everyone has. Do you… understand?"
"Someone who names stars…" March's thoughts began to float, drifting toward the distant reaches of outer space. "I see! So that's how it is!"
"It's good that you understand." Himeko gave a charming smile. "Little March, would you like some coffee with me? Freshly brewed."
"Eh—" March's face showed deep reluctance. "I'll pass on that! Leave it for Dan Heng! Yeah, for Dan Heng! He loves using that stuff to… uh… train his willpower!"
"Train his willpower?!" Himeko's expression instantly shifted from gentle waters to stormy seas. "Little March, what do you mean by that?! You need to explain clearly! What has Dan Heng been doing with my coffee?!"
Realizing her slip-up, March quickly shook her head. "I don't know! I don't know anything! Himeko, I need to sleep! Got to get up early tomorrow! Good night!"
Ah-choo!
Elsewhere in the space station, Dan Heng, who was dozing off while holding his spear, suddenly sneezed. He looked around in confusion, his expression slightly bewildered.
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
patreon.com/deadlygoober