The Next "Day."
Well, to be more precise, using the word "day" wasn't quite right. Inside the space station, there was no distinction between day and night. Time was measured only by clocks and alarms.
In a certain room…
Zzz…
March 7th rubbed her sleepy eyes and woke up with a yawn.
Then—
"How is it this late already?!"
Just as she said, she was supposed to have gotten up two hours ago—but she'd slept right through. Had she caught some weird disease from Bai Ming? Something like "supposed to wake up two hours ago but woke up two hours later" syndrome? How else could this happen?!
March scrambled out of bed in a panic, slapping her cheeks a few times to jolt herself fully awake. She had serious business today! She needed to find out what Asta wanted with Bai Ming! March 7th, you can't just stand by and do nothing! Go, go, go!
After pumping herself up internally several times, March quickly freshened up, got ready, and rushed out the door.
But saying it was one thing—she soon ran into a new problem.
Where should she even start looking?
Bai Ming had mentioned going to see Asta, but she never said where! And come to think of it… Should she have started looking yesterday?
It was too late for regrets now!
March clutched her head, filled with frustration. This was the first time she'd ever felt her own thinking was too slow.
Just then, her pocket vibrated.
A phone notification. The sender was Bai Ming.
March hurriedly opened it.
[Bai Ming]: Morning, March! Did you miss me today?
[March 7th]: …
[March 7th]: No!
[Bai Ming]: My heart is broken… Life has lost all meaning.
[March 7th]: What do you want?!
[Bai Ming]: (´▽｀) Just wanted to ask what flavor of cake you like!
"…"
The moment she saw the word "cake," March immediately remembered the… thing… Bai Ming had gotten for her last time. By the time it reached her, it was practically mush—but it was that dummy's sincere effort.
Wait! If that was the case… the space station did have places that sold cake. If Bai Ming was asking this now, didn't that mean she was probably there at this very moment?!
She had to test this theory!
The now-scheming March 7th quickly began typing on her phone.
[March 7th]: Can I think about it for a bit?
[Bai Ming]: No problem!
Having stalled Bai Ming, March immediately dashed toward the target area!
…
Elsewhere on the space station.
March finally understood how Bai Ming must have felt being led astray by the navigation system. It seemed to avoid every possible efficient route. Seriously! How could there be a route that took such a ridiculously huge detour?!
Thankfully, when a panting March finally arrived at her destination, she immediately spotted Bai Ming.
But her relief lasted only a few seconds—because standing right beside Bai Ming was Asta.
For a moment, March's heart felt like it was being squeezed, as if it might suddenly transport her to a world of endless resets. She immediately ducked behind cover and began secretly observing the situation.
She saw Asta holding a drink, taking a slow sip through the straw, then looking up and saying something to Bai Ming. Bai Ming first nodded thoughtfully, then seemed to realize something and frantically waved her hands. Finally, she pointed at the drink in Asta's hand, clasped her own hands together, and made a pleading gesture.
What were they doing?
Hiding in the shadows with only half her head peeking out, March watched in confusion. Her confusion was soon answered.
She saw Asta hesitate for a moment, then nod. Under Bai Ming's grateful gaze, she offered her own drink toward Bai Ming.
March suddenly understood—they were going to share the same drink?!
As the straw drew closer and closer to Bai Ming's lips, March felt her head buzzing. She knew she had to do something!
Right—the cake flavor! She hadn't replied yet!
Though her hands were trembling, March's movements were lightning-fast.
[March 7th]: Bai Ming! I've decided on the cake flavor!
The message was sent.
Bai Ming reacted.
The vibration from her phone, like a bubble of silence, interrupted Bai Ming's movement toward the straw. She pulled her phone from her coat pocket. Seeing it was a message from March, her already bright eyes seemed to sparkle even more.
[Bai Ming]: Okay, okay! Which flavor?
[March 7th]: The same as last time is fine!
[Bai Ming]: Same as last time… got it!
[March 7th]: Oh, and one more thing!
[Bai Ming]: What is it?
[March 7th]: Don't drink so many weird beverages! You only just recovered!
[Bai Ming]: …
[Bai Ming]: Are you… worried about me? I'm so touched!
[March 7th]: …
[March 7th]: Just don't drink so much! It'll cause problems!
After sending that, March returned to observing the "battlefield intel."
She'd said that much—Bai Ming wouldn't still drink it, right?
This time, March guessed correctly. After her message, Bai Ming immediately acted.
She saw Bai Ming hand the drink back to Asta, completely untouched, while saying a few words March couldn't make out. Hearing them, Asta showed a puzzled expression but finally gave a gentle smile and nodded to Bai Ming.
A crisis seemed to have been averted.
However, just as March relaxed, Asta suddenly began sharply scanning her surroundings, as if searching for something. Her expression was completely different from the smiling, chatting one she'd worn with Bai Ming. Now, her eyes held a sharp, swift gaze, like a hunter tracking prey.
March, having just committed her "misdeed," immediately felt guilty. She ducked back into hiding, pressing her entire body against the wall in a stiff pose. Her breathing grew rapid, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out at any moment.
How should she put it? March didn't feel she was wrong to do this. Even if her current posture looked utterly pathetic and her behavior was deeply embarrassing, she felt a strange sense of triumph—like a top laner getting ganked by three enemies but still managing a counter-kill. It was definitely a "worth it" moment.
But how should she explain herself to Bai Ming and Asta later? Right—she could just say she was a passing tourist!
Yet even as she'd already drafted a perfectly innocent little speech in her mind for when she got caught, covering everything from start to finish, she soon realized it might not be necessary.
Because—Asta didn't seem to have noticed her presence?
Holding onto the wall, March slowly peeked out again to scout the situation. Indeed—she hadn't been discovered. At least, it seemed that way. But thinking about it, that wasn't so strange. Who would expect her to be here? Not even she had expected to be here! This move—she was playing on the fifth level!
But speaking of which—where did those two go? March put a hand above her eyebrows, assuming a lookout pose.
The next moment, she witnessed an utterly startling scene!
Bai Ming, at some point, was now holding a large bag in her left hand. And her right hand… was already holding Asta's hand!
Wha—wha—what?!?!?!
!@#$%…&()——+)*
March felt like her head had been punctured, all the air whooshing out, leaving it empty.
No?! When did that happen?! It definitely wasn't like that a moment ago! What on earth had happened?! Could it be—had Bai Ming already… Was she really this popular?!
Before March could sort out her thoughts, the hand-holding Bai Ming and Asta had already left their previous spot. March, with no time to reason it out, immediately followed, nearly bumping into someone in the process.
Just what were they planning to do?
The more March followed, the more confused she became. Bai Ming and Asta's route didn't seem fixed. They first stopped at a high-level area of the space station. From here, one could take in the entire station environment. March hid behind a display screen, gripping it with both hands, only a small head peeking out to look ahead.
She saw Asta lightly tap the console in front of her, smiling as she said something to Bai Ming. The latter listened and nodded repeatedly. Whether she agreed or not, she at least looked like she was listening intently.
Watching this, March's fingers tightened around the edge of the screen. She bit her lip, trying to make out what Asta and Bai Ming were saying. But she couldn't hear—she just couldn't. Even straining her ears to the utmost, she couldn't catch a single sentence.
I really want to know! March's heart churned with anxiety.
Not only did her wish not come true, but the next moment it transformed into an even crueler reality.
The scene reflected in the girl's eyes was this: Bai Ming first nodded to Asta, then slowly raised their joined hands. Under March's gaze, they placed them together on the console in front of them.
A red light flashed, seemingly scanning or displaying some information. But March had no mind to pay attention to that. Her focus was entirely on Bai Ming and Asta's joined hands.
Why is it like this? Why did it become like this… We just… last night…
March pulled out her phone and sent a message to Bai Ming.
[March 7th]: Bai Ming, about the cake, I have a small question.
The message was sent.
March looked again at Bai Ming and Asta ahead.
This would interrupt them, right?! Just like interrupting them sharing a drink! It definitely would! Bai Ming would absolutely not ignore a message from her!
A light flashed—March's message had arrived on Bai Ming's phone.
To reply to a message, you needed a free hand—and compared to the hand carrying the bag, Bai Ming's hand holding Asta's was obviously much easier to free up!
So there wouldn't be any more hand-holding, right?! The logic made sense, but reality didn't match March's imagination.
Because she'd forgotten one thing: the free hand didn't necessarily have to be her own.
After the phone chimed, Bai Ming immediately wanted to answer. But in her current situation, it seemed a bit inconvenient. Asta seemed to notice this. She said a few words to Bai Ming, who nodded. Then, Asta reached toward Bai Ming's coat. Just like before, she directly retrieved Bai Ming's phone from her pocket, then seemed to ask Bai Ming something. Her fingers lightly tapped on Bai Ming's phone screen.
Soon, March received a reply.
[Bai Ming]: What's up? Any ideas?
Looking at the words on her screen, March felt a complex mix of emotions. She replied to "Bai Ming" again.
[March 7th]: No, it's nothing.
The message was sent. On the other side, Asta soon received March's reply. Reading the content, she frowned slightly, as if thinking of something. But in the end, she just showed the phone to Bai Ming, probably telling her what she'd replied. Bai Ming, listening to Asta, nodded thoughtfully, then said a few more things.
Another reply came.
[Bai Ming]: Mhm, mhm! If you have any requests, March, just contact me! I'll be there whenever you call! How about that? Pretty heartwarming, right?
Reading this reply, a bit of light returned to March's eyes. Yet before she could reply, Bai Ming and Asta up ahead began to move again.
They withdrew their hands from the console together. Then, Asta pointed in a direction. Bai Ming quickly nodded. The two left the console and walked together in the direction Asta had indicated.
Seeing this, March quickly stuffed her phone back into her clothes. If this were a game right now, her Stealth skill must be maxed out! March 7th, the Rogue~ Her first class change in life!
And so, March followed Bai Ming and Asta for a while longer. And she soon noticed something: the place they were heading to seemed… a bit off? At the very least, in all the times the Astral Express had docked here, she'd never been to a place like this. It seemed—more secluded than other areas?
As March was thinking this, Bai Ming and Asta ahead turned a corner. She looked left and right, then followed.
But what March didn't expect was that after she rounded the corner, a figure was waiting for her there.
It was Asta. She stood there alone, a calm smile on her face.
"You've been following for quite a while. You must be tired. Would you like to sit down and have a chat?"
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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