“Ahhh! Dan Heng, help!” March 7th’s scream startled a flock of birds into flight.
Dan Heng continued forward without turning his head: “I told you not to touch that mushroom.”
“But it suddenly bit my finger!”
Kal’tsit’s terminal suddenly lit up, and a message popped up on the screen:
[Mom! I was bitten by a mushroom! (＞﹏＜)]
Mon3tr reached out sleepily to dismiss the terminal, burying its face into the crook of Kal’tsit’s neck: “…ignore that troublemaker…”
Kal’tsit let out a soft “Mn” in her sleep, shrinking further into the embrace behind her.
Hearing the sound of the cabin door opening, Himeko turned her head and saw a dust-covered March 7th and Dan Heng walking in.
“You’re back.” Himeko smiled and put down her coffee cup, “Kal’tsit bought a bow and arrow for you, March 7th, see if you like it.”
March 7th had originally been drooping, but upon hearing this, her eyes instantly lit up as if filled with stars: “Really? Really? Where is it!”
She bounced in place with excitement, her long pink-and-blue hair fluttering with her movements.
Himeko pointed toward the medical room: “In the infirmary, which is Kal’tsit’s room.”
“Hey! I’m going to wash my hands first!” March 7th cheered, rushing toward the restroom like a happy little bird, almost bumping into Pom-Pom who was mopping the floor.
“Passenger March 7th! Watch your step, pa!” Pom-Pom brandished its mop angrily.
Himeko chuckled and shook her head, turning to look at Dan Heng: “Was this Trailblaze smooth?”
Dan Heng nodded, his tone calm: “Mn, it’s just that March 7th… is too lively.”
Himeko picked up her coffee cup, her eyes carrying the gentle smile of an elder: “Young people, you know~ Having plenty of energy is a good thing. She hasn’t caused you too much trouble, has she?”
Dan Heng shook his head, the corners of his mouth lifting imperceptibly: “When it comes to important matters, she’s still… somewhat reliable.”
Himeko chuckled, then as if remembering something, she pulled her terminal from her pocket: “Right, Welt just messaged me, saying if you’re back, go to his room for a bit.”
She paused, adding: “He said… ‘The Alahato assembly model is finished’.”
Dan Heng nodded, a flash of interest crossing his eyes: “Alright, I’ll go right now.”
He turned and left the Observation Car, his back as steady as ever.
Himeko watched his retreating figure, then looked toward the restroom direction where March 7th’s humming could be heard, sighing softly: “Youth is truly wonderful…”
Humming an out-of-tune little tune, March 7th meticulously rubbed the bubbles on her hands.
Staring at herself in the mirror, she suddenly grinned broadly: “Hehe, Mom bought me a bow and arrow!”
She shook the water droplets from her hands and dashed eagerly out of the restroom, heading straight for the medical room.
March 7th stood in front of the door, taking a deep breath to calm her bounding excitement.
She knocked gently on the door: “Mom? I’m coming in!”
March 7th pushed the door open gently; the room had no lights on, illuminated only slightly by the starlight filtering through the porthole.
She blinked, and once her vision adjusted to the dark, her gaze was instantly drawn to the scene on the bed—
Mon3tr was holding Kal’tsit tightly from behind, its chin resting on the top of her head, fast asleep.
Meanwhile, Kal’tsit was slightly curled up, breathing evenly, her usually tense brows and eyes completely relaxed at this moment.
“Whoa…” March 7th covered her small mouth, her eyes wide round.
But soon, a bold idea popped into her head.
She quietly slipped off her sneakers, stood on tiptoe, and tiptoed toward the bedside like a cat sneaking a taste of fish.
And then—
“Heave-ho!”
She nimbly burrowed into Kal’tsit’s arms, rubbing against a comfortable spot: “Mn~ Mom’s embrace is so warm…”
She muttered softly, then suddenly tilted her head: “But it doesn’t seem very big there, eh?”
Kal’tsit in her sleep seemed to sense something, unconsciously tightening her arms and pulling March 7th closer into her embrace: “Mn…”
March 7th was startled by this sudden embrace, her body stiffening instantly, but she quickly relaxed again.
She closed her eyes contentedly, curling up like a small animal that had found its nest.
Mon3tr frowned in its sleep, seemingly sensing that the person in its arms had been halved, but ultimately only tightened its arms further, wrapping both of them within its embrace.
Himeko waited a long time without seeing March 7th return, so she decided to go check for herself.
She pushed open the door to the medical room, leaving her frozen in place by the scene before her—
On the bed, Kal’tsit was hugged front and back by Mon3tr and March 7th, the three of them sleeping soundly.
A sweet smile still hung on the corner of March 7th’s mouth, Mon3tr’s arm lay domineeringly across Kal’tsit’s waist, and Kal’tsit…
surprisingly showed no sign of waking up at all.
Himeko shook her head helplessly, though the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl upward.
She gently closed the door, whispering to herself: “I hope they wake up before dinner…”
Pom-Pom passed by pushing a food cart, asking curiously: “Passenger Himeko, have Passenger Kal’tsit and the others woken up yet, pa?”
Pom-Pom nodded knowingly and pushed the food cart away on tiptoe.
Kal’tsit frowned slightly in her sleep, seeming to sense something, but ultimately only pulled March 7th tighter into her arms.
Mon3tr unconsciously rubbed its cheek against Kal’tsit’s hair, letting out a satisfied sigh.
And March 7th…
She was having a sweet dream, in which she held her new bow and arrow and shot a star with a single arrow.
Kal’tsit slowly opened her eyes, feeling first the body heat of Mon3tr pressed tightly against her back, as well as March 7th’s fluffy head against her chest.
She fell silent for three seconds, and then—
“Thud! Thud!”
Two crisp head-flicks sounded exceptionally loud in the quiet medical room.
“Whoa!” March 7th clutched her forehead and sat up abruptly, “M-Mom?”
Mon3tr snapped awake instantly, and when it met Kal’tsit’s frosty amber eyes, it instantly reverted to its prototype form, its crystallized skin fading in fright: “Kal’tsit, listen to my explanation!”
Three minutes later.
Outside the Astral Express
Mon3tr was tied up like a rice dumpling with a special rope, swaying as it hung at the front of the Astral Express.
Cosmic dust beat against its crystallized shell, making tiny rustling sounds.
Kal’tsit turned her head and walked toward the huddled-up March 7th.
“Mom~ I was wrong, Mom, I was wrong!” March 7th tried to awaken maternal love, but it obviously failed.
Kal’tsit walked slowly toward March 7th cowering in the corner, the hem of her lab coat swaying gently with her steps.
She looked down condescendingly at the pink-haired girl who had balled herself up, her cat ears twitching slightly.
“Mom~ I was wrong, Mom, I was wrong!” March 7th lifted her tear-moistened pink-and-blue eyes, pressing her hands together in a pleading gesture.
She intentionally made her voice soft and sweet, like a small animal that had done something wrong.
Kal’tsit looked down at her expressionlessly, her amber pupils reflecting March 7th’s pitiful appearance.
She slowly squatted down, looking at the girl at eye level: “Where was it wrong?”
“Shouldn’t have…
shouldn’t have sneaked onto the bed…” March 7th twiddled her fingers, her voice growing smaller and smaller, “and shouldn’t have said that Mom’s…”