"Little March..."
Hiko stood near the front of the Astral Express, a digital supply manifest glowing softly in her hands as she cross-referenced the cargo crates. Hearing the familiar footsteps approaching, she gracefully dismissed the holographic screen. She turned to face the group, a warm, elegant smile blooming on her lips.
"And Leon, Stelle, Caelus. Welco back."
Her amber eyes swept over each of their faces, lingering for a brief mont. A knowing spark danced in her gaze, making it entirely clear that she had anticipated their decision long before they even stepped foot on the platform.
"Was your eting with Madam Herta pleasant?" she asked, her voice smooth and inviting.
"Very pleasant..." Stelle murmured, her eyes slightly glazed over.
Thinking of the staggering fifty million credits Asta had casually transferred into her account, Stelle clutched her hands to her chest. Her breathing grew a little heavy. I am making money. I am making so much money I do not even know how to spend it... Stelle silently vowed her eternal devotion to Herta and Asta right then and there.
Leon recalled the bizarre scene in Herta's office and offered a slow, amused nod. Although the puppet-wielding genius possessed a rather eccentric and demanding personality, he actually harbored a rather good impression of her.
After all, who could possibly refuse the peerless Madam Herta? Just as he had told himself before, even a thick-skinned Joyseeker who treated the universe as a playground would still yearn for a beautiful encounter.
"Would you all like to co aboard and chat?" Hiko gestured toward the train doors with a welcoming tilt of her head. "I will brew you a cup of coffee. It is my own special recipe."
The mont those words left Hiko's lips, all the color instantly drained from March 7th's face.
Co... coffee?
Hiko's coffee?! That was a biological weapon! That could be fatal!
"Coffee personally brewed by Hiko?" Leon smiled, his tone entirely too casual. "That is certainly sothing to look forward to."
The corner of March 7th's eye began to twitch violently. She stared at Leon as if he had just volunteered to jump into a black hole.
Looking forward to it? For real? She could only pray to the Aeons that they survived the afternoon.
Leon, of course, knew exactly what he was walking into. Hiko's coffee was widely considered a mandatory rite of passage in his past life's mories of this universe. Even knowing it was destined to taste like absolute liquid suffering, his innate curiosity as a fun-seeker demanded he try it. He needed to know exactly how bad it could be.
No matter how atrocious the taste, could it really be worse than drinking a bowl of fernted Douzhi back on Earth? At worst, he figured it would just be extrely bitter or possess the viscosity of wet mud.
"Coffee? Yay!" Stelle pumped a fist into the air.
Caelus nodded in agreent. Neither of the newly awakened Trailblazers actually knew what coffee was, but the word sounded pleasant enough. They assud it had to be so sort of sweet beverage, perhaps similar to the sugary milk tea they had scavenged earlier.
The strained smile on March 7th's face completely stiffened. Seeing the sheer, unadulterated expectation radiating from Leon, Stelle, and Caelus, she swallowed hard and silently wished their tastebuds a peaceful journey to the afterlife.
Hearing the enthusiastic acceptance from the trio, Hiko's smile deepened into sothing genuinely delighted. It had been a very long ti since anyone willingly asked to taste her hand-brewed coffee. Her mood visibly brightened as she turned on her heel.
The three guests followed Hiko through the sliding doors and into the Parlor Car.
Strictly speaking, calling this magnificent space a re 'Parlor Car' felt like a massive understatent. The interior was lined with rich mahogany accents, plush velvet seating, and massive arched windows designed specifically for viewing the endless cosmic scenery. Yet, given how often this particular car was used to receive eccentric individuals from across the galaxy... perhaps the diverse guests themselves were the true scenery of the Express.
As soon as they stepped onto the soft carpet of the Parlor Car, Leon spotted a small, incredibly fluffy figure sweeping the floor with a broom twice its size.
"Hiko, you are back." Seeing Leon and the towering newcors, Pom-Pom coughed twice into a paw and hastily shoved the broom behind its back, trying to look dignified. "Are they the newcors you ntioned who might join the crew, pom?"
"Yes," Hiko introduced them, her tone fond. "Everyone, this is the Conductor of our Astral Express, Pom-Pom."
"Wow, what a cute Conductor!" Before Leon could even open his mouth, Stelle practically teleported to Pom-Pom's side, dropping into a deep squat to get a closer look at the fluffy creature.
"Hey, that is the Conductor, do not..." March 7th panicked, throwing her hands up. Her mind instantly flashed back to the horrifying mont when Stelle had attempted to physically lift Herta off the ground during their first eting.
To March 7th's imnse surprise, Stelle kept her hands firmly planted on her own knees. She did not reach out.
"Do not worry, March. I... have grown up!" Stelle declared, puffing out her chest with absolute pride.
"What is there to be proud of about basic self-control!" March 7th yelled, her hands dropping to her hips.
Still, March had to admit Stelle had indeed grown. At the very least, she had resisted the urge to give Pom-Pom a mandatory 'lift high' greeting. Leon watched the exchange from the side, crossing his arms with a deeply amused, relieved smirk.
"Ahem... I am not cute at all, pom!" Pom-Pom stomped a soft foot against the carpet, trying desperately to arrange its furry face into a mask of strict authority. "I am the Conductor! The majestic and serious Conductor, pom!"
Watching the lively, chaotic scene of the youths gathering around the flustered Pom-Pom, Hiko let out a soft, musical chuckle. "You guys chat here for a while. I will go brew the coffee."
"B-Brew coffee?!" Pom-Pom's long ears shot straight up. Its large eyes widened to the size of saucers.
These three newcors actually wanted to challenge Hiko's coffee? Willingly? Was this the true, fearless spirit of the Trailblaze? Pom-Pom stared at their backs, nodding solemnly in its heart. I acknowledge your bravery, newcors!
"Are you... really sure you want to drink Hiko's coffee?"
As soon as Hiko stepped away toward the brewing station, March 7th leaned in close. She lowered her voice to a frantic whisper, offering one final, desperate warning.
"Of course. Hiko is personally taking the ti to brew it for us. How can we possibly refuse such a kind and elegant gesture?" Leon replied smoothly, his voice carrying just enough volu to ensure there was no backing out.
Stelle and Caelus blinked. Their survival instincts finally kicked in, keenly sensing the sudden, heavy shift in the atmosphere. But Leon's confident declaration had effectively slamd the door on their only path of retreat.
"Alright then... good luck." Seeing that her warnings were bouncing right off Leon's thick skin, March 7th sighed in defeat. She quietly reached into her pocket and pulled out her cara, adjusting the lens to record the exact mont their souls left their bodies.
Before long, the rhythmic grinding of beans ceased. Hiko walked over with perfect posture, balancing a silver tray in one hand. A surprisingly rich, dark, and intoxicating aroma wafted through the air, filling the Parlor Car with the scent of roasted nuts and dark chocolate.
"Hiko, is everything settled at the Herta Space Station?" Pom-Pom asked, looking up with concern.
"Almost," Hiko replied softly. She leaned down, gracefully placing three steaming porcelain cups in front of Leon, Stelle, and Caelus. "Please, enjoy."
She straightened up and looked out through the massive arched window. The endless expanse of the starry sky reflected in her eyes, softening her gaze into sothing deeply tender. "I have been to the Herta Space Station many tis. Originally, this was supposed to be just another ordinary voyage. But now, everything has changed."
She turned her attention back to the group. "Even when retracing a familiar route, one can still discover entirely new scenery. Perhaps... that is the true aning of the Trailblaze."
"So, where is the Astral Express headed next?" Leon asked. He picked up the porcelain cup by its delicate handle and blew gently across the dark surface.
The coffee was still piping hot. To his genuine surprise, the aroma rising from the dark liquid was incredibly llow and inviting. It slled like a masterclass in brewing, completely devoid of the terrifying, toxic aura the rumors had promised.
"As always, we follow in the footsteps of Akivili." A bright, yearning light sparked within Hiko's amber eyes. "We have stopped at countless worlds in the past, and we will continue to move forward into the future. There is always a next stop waiting sowhere in the galaxy."
She pressed a hand to her chest. "The sea of stars is not only my personal dream, but it is also the deepest wish of the Astral Express itself. I long to explore the unknown, while the Express looks forward to revisiting its forr routes."
As she spoke, Hiko seed to physically glow. Her pure, unadulterated passion for the cosmos was truly captivating, drawing everyone into the gravity of her words.
Caught in the warmth of the mont, and lulled into a false sense of security by the heavenly aroma, Leon raised the cup to his lips and took a generous sip.
The very next second, his brain flatlined. He realized, with absolute clarity, that he was still far too naive.
The coffee, which slled so fragrant and inviting just a mont ago, unleashed an unmatched, violent shockwave the absolute millisecond it touched his tongue. The sensory assault was catastrophic.
What on earth did Hiko put in this cup? Was this high-purity Ether? Industrial engine coolant?
Leon felt his throat seize. He had not consud a beverage this aggressively hostile in his entire life. Even the absolute strongest, throat-burning Vodka from his past life tasted like pure spring water compared to the sheer, unbridled stimulation currently lting his tastebuds. His jaw locked tight, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the tiny porcelain handle, fighting a war against his own gag reflex.
"How is it?" Stelle, Caelus, and March 7th leaned in, asking in perfect unison as their eyes locked onto his frozen, trembling face.
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