Herta Space Station.
Supply Zone.
A passageway beside the observation windows.
Himeko moved swiftly through the corridor, eliminating every Voidranger she encountered.
The Antimatter Legion had deployed an unusual number of forces during this invasion.
Himeko had traveled barely a hundred meters and already survived four separate attacks.
More than a dozen Voidrangers now lay defeated behind her.
She dispatched another pair with a casual strike and recalled her weapon case.
A slight frown appeared on her face.
“There are far too many of them.”
“I should reach Dan Heng and March as quickly as possible.”
Himeko was about to continue when she sensed movement behind her.
She immediately turned.
“Who is there?”
A startled cry came from behind a stack of supply containers.
A woman with long black twin ponytails slowly stepped into view.
She looked terrified.
Tears still glistened at the corners of her pale blue eyes, as though the Antimatter Legion had frightened her badly.
Himeko lowered her weapon case.
The stranger appeared harmless and completely overwhelmed by the situation.
She began walking toward her.
The young woman retreated two nervous steps.
Himeko realized that her sharp warning had probably frightened her.
Her expression immediately softened.
“You are safe.”
“I will not hurt you.”
“My name is Himeko.”
“I am the navigator of the Astral Express.”
“Lead Researcher Asta requested our assistance, so we came to defend the station.”
“Did those creatures trap you here?”
The woman hesitated before nodding.
“Yes.”
Himeko offered her a reassuring smile and held out one hand.
“Come with me.”
“I will take you somewhere safer.”
“All right.”
The woman slowly approached.
Perhaps seeking reassurance, she quietly took Himeko’s hand.
Himeko did not object.
Instead, she tightened her grip slightly.
“What is your name?”
Even Himeko’s voice became gentler when speaking to someone who appeared this vulnerable.
The woman looked up timidly.
“My name is Kai.”
“Kai.”
“That is a lovely name.”
Something about it sounded familiar.
Himeko could not immediately remember where she had heard it.
She pushed the thought aside.
Protecting the station and bringing Kai somewhere safe were more important.
“Come along, Kai.”
“I will protect you.”
“Thank you.”
Kai followed beside her.
After several steps, she spoke again.
“Perhaps Kai should lead the way instead.”
Himeko paused.
Kai’s voice had changed.
The fear was gone.
She almost sounded excited.
Himeko turned toward her.
A deeply mischievous smile had appeared on Kai’s face.
Himeko immediately understood.
This was a trap.
Then she remembered where she had heard that name.
Kai.
The suspected Emanator of Elation is wanted by the IPC.
Himeko released her hand and ran without hesitation.
She understood the difference between herself and an Emanator.
Fighting Kai directly would accomplish nothing.
After running for several moments, Himeko looked ahead.
Kai was already standing in the corridor before her.
“Himeko.”
“You promised to take Kai somewhere safe.”
“Why did you abandon her?”
Kai lowered her head.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
“Kai is heartbroken.”
Himeko ignored the performance and changed direction.
Kai appeared in front of her again.
Himeko turned around.
Another Kai stood behind her.
More appeared to her left and right.
Within seconds, she was completely surrounded.
An illusion.
But when had Kai activated it?
Himeko watched the nearest copy carefully.
“Enough.”
“What do you want from me?”
Kai’s sorrowful expression disappeared instantly.
A playful and faintly sinister smile replaced it.
“Himeko has been so kind.”
“How could Kai possibly hurt her?”
“As for what Kai wants.”
“You may guess.”
Himeko remained calm, though every muscle in her body stayed ready to react.
Kai’s smile widened.
She walked closer and motioned for Himeko to lower her head.
Himeko hesitated, then leaned slightly forward to listen.
Kai whispered in her ear.
“From the very beginning.”
Himeko’s eyes widened.
The false corridor shattered around her.
…
In the real station, Kai skipped toward Himeko and took her hand.
“Come on.”
“Mom is already waiting.”
“We should not keep her waiting too long.”
Kai guided Himeko into a small resting room.
It contained little more than a single bed and appeared to be used by station researchers during long shifts.
Kafka lay peacefully upon the mattress with her eyes closed.
Kai helped Himeko lie beside her.
She carefully arranged them so that Kafka and Himeko rested with their arms around one another.
Then she pulled the blanket over both of them.
Kai snapped her fingers.
An invisible barrier formed around the room, preventing the Antimatter Legion or any wandering researcher from entering.
She tilted her head.
“Something is still missing.”
Kai exhaled a faint cloud of pink light over the bed.
The gentle mist settled around Kafka and Himeko, deepening their sleep and filling their dreams with an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
“Perfect.”
“Now Kai only has to wait for them to wake up.”
“What kind of conversation will happen when Kafka opens her eyes and discovers Himeko beside her?”
“Kai can hardly wait.”
“Hehe.”
She glanced toward the door.
“Unfortunately, it is almost time.”
“Kai has another scene to attend.”
“This performance will have to be entrusted to a duplicate.”
…
The Unseen Chamber.
“Dan Heng.”
“Over here.”
“There are two people on the floor.”
March 7th waved toward Dan Heng and pointed across the room.
Two unconscious women were lying beside one another.
One was the newly awakened Stellaron vessel, Stelle.
The other was Kai, who had apparently arrived only moments earlier.
Dan Heng defeated the final Voidranger with Cloud-Piercer and hurried over.
He crouched beside them and checked their condition.
After a moment, his expression became serious.
“Their heartbeats and breathing are faint.”
“March, prepare to perform rescue breathing.”
“I will help the gray-haired woman.”
“You help the one with the twin ponytails.”
“Understood.”
Dan Heng maintained his usual composure.
Even so, the situation left him visibly uncomfortable.
He quietly reminded himself that this was emergency treatment.
March was also embarrassed.
However, saving someone’s life mattered more than temporary awkwardness.
She took a breath and leaned toward Kai.
Just before their lips touched, Kai suddenly opened her eyes.
Kai lifted her head and completed the distance herself.
March froze.
Dan Heng immediately stopped what he was doing and looked over.
March stumbled backward.
Her face became bright red.
“You were awake.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Were you taking advantage of me?”
Kai immediately raised both hands.
“No.”
“Kai just woke up.”
“Her thoughts were still confused.”
“She believed she was dreaming.”
Kai looked at March with an apologetic expression.
“You were so pretty that Kai forgot herself for a moment.”
“She thought that anything was allowed inside a dream.”
“I am sorry.”
March blinked.
That explanation did make a certain kind of sense.
More importantly, Kai had called her pretty.
March’s anger rapidly disappeared.
Kai looked so genuinely apologetic that remaining upset felt almost cruel.
March took her hand.
“It is fine.”
“You were confused.”
“I am not going to stay angry over an accident.”
Kai looked up hopefully.
“Really.”
“Really.”
“Thank you.”
“You are incredibly kind.”
Kai smiled and linked her arm through March’s.
She believed it.
March had actually believed the entire performance.
Kai forced herself not to laugh.
March stared at the radiant smile beside her.
Her heart nearly melted.
How could anyone be this charming?
Dan Heng continued watching Kai with a complicated expression.
Something about her behavior did not seem right.
Before he could voice his suspicions, Stelle suddenly sprang upright from the floor with astonishing energy.
She looked around with a devastated expression.
“My mom abandoned me.”
Silence.
◉◉◉◉◉
Save to library!