Tesla: "..."
Einstein: "..."
Joachim: "..."
"..."
The three of them stared at the very conspicuous Honkai Impact 3rd icon on the phone Welt had handed over. Although their own figures didn't appear on it, but...
Kiana, acting as the poster girl, was assaulting their nerves every single second. For a moment, they truly understood the mood Welt had experienced just a few minutes ago...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Dan Heng: "..."
Stelle: "Oho? So I'm the protagonist?"
March 7th: "Eh? Why do you guys all have 5-star versions! Why is this young lady still just a 4-star!"
Wende: "Heh..."
For a moment, the atmosphere polarized into two distinct extremes. The Anti-Entropy group from the Honkai world was currently questioning the meaning of life, while the Astral Express crew looked completely accustomed to this sort of thing.
See... perhaps this is what they call a matter of "perspective."
Welt looked helplessly at the three who had sunk into deep contemplation, looking as if their brain CPUs were about to burn out. He walked silently to his younger self's side and gently took the phone back. He felt that if he let them keep looking... their worldview might actually collapse.
"This... really counts as a massive shock..."
Einstein said with a bitter smile on her face.
"However, if this is the case, it does prove one point, Dr. Einstein."
Joachim pushed up his glasses, speaking to Einstein with a serious expression.
"You mean, regarding the projection theory?"
"Hey, you two are talking without me again, aren't you? I'm a doctor too, you know! Stop ignoring me all the time!"
Tesla placed her hands on her hips, looking at Einstein and Joachim with dissatisfaction. Then, her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the older Welt on the side before quickly retracting.
Why does it feel like... the future Joachim is a bit more charming? Though the current one isn't bad either...
"Mn, let's find somewhere else to talk."
Welt spoke to the three in front of him. Although the other party didn't yet know the purpose of their trip, it was best not to linger here any longer.
This meeting was just part of establishing trust; only on a foundation of trust could they discuss business. Moreover, although this was St. Freya Academy, it was still effectively Schicksal territory. They had to be wary of walls having ears.
"You're right, we really shouldn't stay here. How about we go to my dorm? I live alone, and outsiders rarely go there."
Joachim suggested to the group.
"Mn, let's go."
Welt nodded. After all, he used to work for Theresa, and he seemed to be the only male teacher in the entire school, so it was normal for his dorm to be empty and quiet.
"March, stop playing. We're heading out."
"Oh... Here, Mrs. Yang, your phone!"
March giggled as she handed the phone back to Tesla.
"What 'Mrs. Yang'!? You brat!"
At the mention of those words, Tesla's hair practically stood on end. Her face flushed red as she yelled at March.
"Ah, this... Sorry, sorry! I spoke without thinking..."
Seeing Tesla's "shy and angry" reaction, March apologized at lightspeed. After all... it wouldn't be good if she ruined the relationship between the current Uncle Yang and this lady!
She, Little March, was very sensible!
"Hmph..."
Shoving the phone into her pocket, Tesla looked at the Joachim in front of her. For some reason, the more she looked at him, the angrier she felt!
"By the way... there is one more thing."
Einstein seemed to think of something. she stopped beside Welt, then turned around, her gaze calmly landing on Wende, who hadn't been paying much attention to them.
"Excuse me, Mr. Wende, you are the rehabilitation therapist mentioned earlier, correct?"
Einstein's voice was very calm, as tranquil as this cold winter...
"That's right, that's me."
Wende nodded generously and admitted it.
"That's good..."
Einstein gave Wende a meaningful look, then turned and walked toward Welt's dormitory.
"Hey... what are you guys talking about? Why don't I understand?"
Watching the exchange between Einstein and Wende, March scratched her head in confusion. Is this some kind of Riddler behavior?
"Don't worry, I'll explain it to you all when the time comes. But we'd better leave here first... someone is coming."
Wende smiled and shook his head. Then, he looked toward a nearby wall. His gaze seemed to penetrate the brickwork, looking into the distance where four figures were walking toward them.
---o---
"Wendy?"
Looking at Wendy, who had suddenly stopped walking, Mei tilted her head in confusion.
"Mei, I felt it..."
Wendy lowered her head, speaking softly.
"What?"
Mei looked at Wendy, puzzled.
"It's him! He's back!"
Tears welled up in Wendy's eyes. She looked past the wall not far away, and then, ignoring the bewildered expressions of the three little ones, she sprinted toward the place she had sensed!
The wind unconsciously parted a path for her. With a light leap, she vaulted over the wall. Wendy's heart was incredibly agitated right now!
Close!! Getting closer! She could already sense his aura! He was back!
Passing through a small grove of trees, Wendy saw the group of people in front of her. Among the crowd stood a tall figure. He was just the same as always—just him standing there made one feel safe and warm...
"Wende!!"
Wendy shouted Wende's name in the snow, her speed undiminished as she flew toward him.
"Uh... I think I heard someone calling you."
March dug a finger into her ear and poked Wende, who was standing beside her.
"Mn, I heard it."
Wende nodded to March. He stopped walking, gently closed his eyes, then turned around with a smile. Opening his eyes, he looked at Wendy sprinting toward him and gently opened his arms.
"Wende!!"
Wendy threw herself directly at Wende. Seeing this, Wende caught her with precision, spinning around twice in the snow to dissipate the momentum.
"Wende... you finally came back... you didn't lie to me..."
Wendy wrapped her arms around Wende's neck, her eyes teary. Her voice carried a slight sob as she spoke into his ear.
"Mn, I'm back..."
Gently patting Wendy's back, Wende whispered into her ear.
"..."
Grind...
"Eh? Why are you suddenly grinding your teeth?"
March looked puzzledly at Stelle beside her. Stelle's fists were clenched tight, her mouth twisted in jealousy, her jaw set so hard that her teeth were making grinding sounds.
"March... can you put the bow down?"
Dan Heng glanced at the bow that had appeared in March's hand at some unknown point. He then looked at Wende, who was hugging Wendy in a very heartwarming scene, and spoke somewhat helplessly.
If he remembered correctly, there seemed to be two more back on the train, right?
It looked like a storm of blood was inevitable...