“No idea. But I’m staying far away when she eats it.”
…
“Serves you right.” Phainon looked at Stelle and handed her a wet wipe.
“Wipe your face. I’ll get you some milk tea later.”
“Thanks, bro.” She took the wipe and dabbed at her forehead.
“How was I supposed to know a tiny squid stall could have chili that potent?”
“The vendor told you, but you didn’t believe him.” Phainon rolled his eyes.
“So where to next? Back to the train?”
The moment the words left his mouth, he felt two hungry stares boring into him.
“Hey, hey, what are you two up to?” A chill ran down his spine.
“Phainon, come with us!” Stelle grabbed his hand and dragged him forward.
“Wait, where are we going?” Phainon’s voice was a mix of confusion and resignation as he was pulled along.
“To get you some clothes, obviously!” She pulled out her phone and flashed the photo of Phainon in his pajamas that Stelle had sent her.
“Tonight, you’re ours!”
The neon lights of The Blue’s domed commercial district pulsed like veins.
March 7th dragged Stelle into the clothing store just as Phainon found himself staring at a fluorescent yellow and violet hooded windbreaker.
Even in the evening, an artificial beam of sunlight cut through the display window at an angle, dyeing his silver-white hair honey-gold.
His golden-pupiled eyes sparkled with the light of discovery.
“Look! Doesn’t it remind you of the dawn over Amphoreus?”
He shook out the jacket, its yellow-purple striped sleeves making Stelle’s eyes twitch.
“No way!” March 7th firmly pressed down on the hanger.
“We said it before. We’re picking your clothes tonight! Just stand behind us and try on whatever we give you!”
She quickly grabbed a charcoal gray casual jacket with subtle gold trim along the collar, exuding a cool, understated elegance.
“This one’s so much better. It won’t show dirt easily and it’s easy on the eyes…”
Glancing at the windbreaker Phainon had chosen, she muttered, “What is that, a zebra that got hit by a paint bucket?”
Phainon’s fingers traced the sun embroidery on the windbreaker’s cuffs.
His voice was muffled, like an old, dusty string instrument.
“But yellow and purple are the twilight colors of Aedes Elysiae… Cyrene said they were the colors of hope.”
“So that’s why you love yellow and purple so much.” March’s mood dimmed along with his.
“I’m sorry, Phainon.”
“Don’t be, partner!” Phainon flashed her a smile.
“You’re right. Hope isn’t just a color. Hope comes from every one of us!”
“Exactly! Our Trailblaze squad will overcome every obstacle, no matter what!” Stelle raised her baseball bat, then leaned closer to Phainon.
“So, bro, who is this Cyrene to you?”
“Cyrene?” Phainon’s face lit up with a genuine smile as he recalled the memory.
“She was a girl with a smile so infectious, her eyes always shining with hope.”
“Actually, she reminds me a lot of you, March. Pink hair, full of energy.”
“Wait, me?” March pointed at herself.
“So when we go Trailblaze in Amphoreus, will we get to meet her?”
At her words, a shadow of sorrow crossed Phainon’s eyes.
“She… along with my hometown of Aedes Elysiae, was buried beneath the Black Tide.”
“Oh no, I’m so sorry!” March covered her mouth, not realizing the weight of her question.
“I should be the one apologizing. We came out to relax and I brought down the mood.”
“It’s okay, bro. We’re friends for life. You can share anything with us!” Even Stelle was being serious for once.
“Thank you, partners. Now let’s keep shopping!”
“Check this out!” Stelle held up a gray jacket.
As she shook it out, the light caught the golden star trails embroidered on the lining, making them shimmer as if the Milky Way had been woven into the fabric.
“See? Gold is just a shade of yellow.” She poked at Phainon’s tense lips.
“Wear this when you fight Lord Ravagers, and you’ll look ten times cooler than any neon sign.”
After trying it on, both Stelle and March were amazed by the effect.
“See? This look is way better!”
After picking out some casual wear for themselves and Phainon, the sky gradually darkened.
“Next time, let’s get him custom-made yellow-purple gradient pants,” March whispered to Stelle.
“But keep it a secret. It’ll be our surprise for him.”
“Mmhmm.” Stelle nodded like a pecking chicken and walked up to Phainon.
“It’s getting late. Let’s head back to the train. We might be setting off on our next Trailblaze tomorrow!”
“I wonder where we’ll go next?” Phainon looked up at Herta Space Station looming in the void.
“Is my journey among the stars finally about to begin?”
They crept quietly back onto the train.
The lively parlor car was now empty, everyone having retreated to their rooms.
Shedding the day’s fatigue, the three soon drifted off to sleep.
…
The next morning, they arrived early in the parlor car, gifts for everyone laid out on the table, waiting for the others to wake up.
“Good morning, March, Stelle, Passenger Phainon,” Pom-Pom said, waddling over to them.
“Pom-Pom has prepared breakfast for you, pa!”
“Thank you, Conductor!” March set down the plates, then scooped Pom-Pom up and gave him a squeeze.
“We got you a present too, Conductor!”
Wriggling free from March’s embrace, Pom-Pom looked at them with eager anticipation.
“Ta-da!” March revealed the brand new cookware.
“What do you think, Conductor? Do you like it?”
Seeing the new cookware, Pom-Pom’s eyes practically turned into sparkling stars, little hearts popping up above his head.
“Pom-Pom loves it, pa! Thank you, Passenger March, Passenger Stelle, Passenger Phainon!” With that, Pom-Pom scurried off toward the kitchen, clutching the cookware.
“Leave it to you three to be this lively first thing in the morning.” Hearing the commotion, the others stirred from their sleep.
“Good morning, Sister Himeko, Uncle Yang, Dan Heng!” March greeted them with a smile.
“We brought gifts for all of you!”
She handed out each gift.
“Uncle Yang, this is a voice-activated robot we got you. Just call it ‘Hey!'” Welt’s eyes lit up at the sight, holding the robot with obvious delight while trying to maintain his dignified composure.
“Thank you, you three.”
“Hehe, no need to thank us, Uncle Yang! Everyone gets something!”