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"Attention, passengers: the train's warp jump meeting is about to begin. Please gather in the observation car, Pom-Pom!"
The Conductor's voice echoed through the pristine halls of the Astral Express.
"Alright, it's time to gather! Wake up, sleepyhead!" March 7th said, her voice a soft melody as she gently nudged Kenta.
Kenta had been resting his head on her lap, a position that felt dangerously comfortable. March ran her fingers through his dark hair with a tenderness that spoke volumes. Nearby, Stelle—the "Galaxy Bat" herself—was pouting so hard she looked like a disgruntled kitten.
Even Stelle, whose social radar usually only pinged for "trash cans" and "loot," realized she was witnessing a total collapse of her competitive standing. No, are they completely unashamed now? she thought, her eyes narrowing. And why did March change her bedsheets this morning? She felt like the student who showed up to the final exam only to realize she'd been studying for the wrong subject. My offense isn't fierce enough! I should have finished those niche dating sims... But the "Love Master" was currently powerless.
Eventually, the group filtered into the observation car. Kenta, leaning against a velvet chair, realized a key member was missing.
"Where's Dan Heng?"
It was unlike the disciplined Archivist to be late for a briefing. Himeko and Welt shared a look of concern.
"Wait, Pom-Pom. Dan Heng isn't here yet," Himeko noted.
"Hmm? Passenger Dan Heng is missing, Pom-Pom?" the Conductor squeaked, ears twitching.
"I'll go get him," Kenta volunteered, heading back toward the sleeper cars.
Inside the Data Bank, the air was heavy and stagnant. Dan Heng was thrashing in his sleep, his brow soaked in cold sweat.
"...There are five people... three prices... Dan Heng... you are one of them..."
"!!!"
Dan Heng bolted upright, his eyes wide and unfocused.
"Dan Heng? You in there? The meeting's starting," Kenta's voice came through the door, steady and grounding.
Dan Heng swallowed hard, forcing his heart rate to slow. "Wait a moment... I'm coming."
Kenta nodded to the closed door. "Okay. Hurry up."
Kenta returned to the observation car, but the moment he pushed open the heavy doors, he froze. The room was no longer just the Express crew. Standing in the center of the car was a flickering, violet-tinted projection of a woman.
Kenta recognized her instantly from the restricted files Dan Heng had shown him.
"She is... the Stellaron Hunter, Kafka?"
The woman in the projection was the definition of "dangerous elegance." Her wine-red hair and matching, emotionless eyes were framed by a black jacket and a white blouse. She held a black umbrella, her posture as poised as a dancer's. There was something unnerving about her gaze—dead, yet intensely observant.
"Long time no see, everyone on the Astral Express," Kafka said. Her voice was smooth, like velvet over a blade. She lowered her umbrella slightly, her projection walking toward the group with rhythmic, elegant steps. "I am Kafka. Ah, perfect timing... it seems everyone has arrived."
Welt Yang stepped forward, the light catching his glasses in a sharp, defensive glint. Himeko didn't even look at the projection; she kept her eyes on her coffee.
"The charming self-introduction is unnecessary, Stellaron Hunter," Himeko said, her voice cool and unyielding.
Kafka smiled, a flick of her index finger pointing toward Himeko. "Himeko, right?" She strolled toward a nearby table. "I apologize for the intrusion. But I believe once you hear my request, you'll understand. I wish to ask you to change your destina—"
Suddenly, the projection froze.
Kafka's eyes, previously scanning the room with detached amusement, locked onto Kenta as he walked in from the hallway. The waltz stopped. The flippancy vanished.
Everyone in the car turned to look at Kenta, following Kafka's intense, unblinking stare. The silence was so thick it felt physical.
"Um... do you know me?" Kenta asked, the pressure of her gaze making his skin crawl.
"Hoo—" Kafka let out a long, shuddering breath. A flash of something—was it relief? Joy?—flickered in her dead eyes. "I don't know the current you," she whispered.
Then, as quickly as she'd lost her composure, she snapped back. She resumed her explanation about the Stellaron outburst on the Xianzhou Luofu, detailing the crisis and the capture of her companion, Blade.
Before her projection flickered out, she cast one final, meaningful glance at Kenta. It was a secret look, meant only for him. Then, she vanished.
The atmosphere on the train didn't lighten. If anything, it became heavier.
"According to her," Welt summarized, "a Stellaron erupted on the Luofu 48 hours ago. Their goal is to have us resolve the danger and clear Blade of the Cloud Knights' suspicions." He looked at Himeko. "Do you believe her?"
Himeko stared at the empty space where the projection had been. "Unclear. But the Astral Express cannot ignore a cry for help, even if the messenger is a criminal." She looked at the crew. "We'll vote. Think on it individually first."
On a Distant, Unknown Planet
"Bang!"
A petite, silver-haired girl slammed her hands onto her glowing gaming console, standing up abruptly. Her eyes were wide behind her visor.
"Kafka! What did you just say?!" Her voice was trembling.
"It's true, Silver Wolf," Kafka replied. She was standing in the flesh now, her umbrella dripping with alien rain. Her voice held a rare, soft note of certainty. "Kenta... he's alive. And he's on the Express."
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