"It's rare to see you so refined. You're not planning to run experiments on the Astronomical Society people this time, are you? Just say so if you need my help."
Ms. Black Tower smirked as she leaned lazily to one side.
Mei Rokuro shook her head, eyes fixed still on the data sheet in front of her.
"I'm not like you. I won't meddle outside the Simulated Universe."
"Then what is it?" Black Tower tilted her head, spreading her hands theatrically.
Mei's gaze lowered, her voice soft.
"…I just—thought I saw someone. An old acquaintance, from long ago. But I can't be sure if it's really him."
"An old acquaintance, huh?" Black Tower gave a bored yawn, striding towards the door. But at the frame, she paused, turning back with a sly edge:
"If that's all it is… then why are you crying?"
Mei's head lifted sharply.
Her snow-pale face was reflected against the cold porthole, unblinking.
Her autumn-clear eyes, normally calm as still water, now shimmered with ripples. She hadn't realized it herself—gentle sorrow had already embraced her.
If it was real, she should have been happy.
So why… why was she crying?
Mei pressed her palm against the icy glass. It felt as though she brushed not the window, but the tears of her own reflection.
Fortunately, longing is silent. Unfortunately… longing is silent.
Six hundred years she had pursued understanding emotion. Each time she thought herself near an answer, her definitions collapsed—revealed as nothing but her own illusions.
Black Tower, for once uncharacteristically gentle, asked quietly:
"This old acquaintance… is it that fiancé you once mentioned?"
Mei said nothing. But the faint sorrow in her backward glance was already an answer.
Black Tower sighed, folding her arms.
"Perhaps the rumors are true. Not every member of the Genius Society is a genius. Some are just… madmen."
"I heard of your work," she continued. "Creating life, cultivating planets, destabilizing the very laws of existence. But wasn't the real reason always him? That so-called old acquaintance? With your ability, you could've finished this long ago. Why stop?"
Mei closed her eyes. Her whisper lingered like frost:
"…Because the All-Knowing Lord once told me: perhaps, hundreds of years from now, we will meet again."
"The All-Knowing Lord…" Black Tower tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"But you can't even be certain that the one he calculated, centuries later, would really be him. Can you?"
Mei's eyes opened again, brilliant yet fragile.
"Which is why… I must confirm it myself."
Her gaze turned outward, to the boundless stars beyond the porthole.
"Ugh—!"
The moment Shirakawa Hibiki stepped off the starship onto Herta Space Station, he vomited violently.
Beside him, even Topaz clutched the wall for support, her expression pale.
"I suggest you demote this pilot immediately," Charles muttered coldly, leaning on his staff, streaks of irritation marking his usually composed face.
Still recovering, Hibiki raised a hand.
"Mr. Charles, where there's demand, there's a market. He might fly… aggressively. But fast. He cut a five-hour route nearly in half, and without an accident. With the right training, he'll be invaluable."
Charles frowned. He disliked being contradicted, especially by someone of lower rank. Yet Hibiki's reasoning couldn't be dismissed entirely.
"…My suggestion stands. But your Society may follow its own rules."
Hibiki gave a wry smile, then turned to the pilot.
"Xiao Si. Your performance bonus this month? It's gone."
The young red-haired pilot scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Hehe—sorry, Bai-ge. Sorry, leaders. I'll be careful next time."
For him, losing a month's bonus wasn't unusual—it was practically expected at this point.
Still, Hibiki's gaze lingered on him with faint approval. Rescued years ago from a wreck, now just nineteen, simple-hearted and uncomplaining—Hibiki trusted him. Despite complaints, his record of 307 flawless voyages and top pilot exams kept him safe in the Society's rosters.
"Let's move." Topaz adjusted Numby in her arms, finally steadying herself.
"Both Black Tower and Rokuro Mei will attend this meeting—we can't be late."
Just then, the station staff who had come to meet them arrived with a respectful bow.
"Company guests. Please—this way. Ms. Black Tower and Ms. Rokuro Mei are already waiting in the conference room."
"…Strange," Topaz muttered, brows raised. "Given their personalities, I doubt they'd bother greeting us in person. Could they actually be interested in your Astronomical Society research?"
Hibiki shook his head slightly.
"Unlikely. Our studies are shallow compared to theirs. To put it bluntly, what we examine are things they considered long ago… and discarded."
"Maybe so," Topaz said, shrugging. "But the fact they're here at all means something about us caught their attention. That alone is worth noting. Come on—better to see for ourselves."
She placed her hand at her waist, posture elegant despite fatigue.
The group passed curio rooms lining the station corridors. Each was filled with odd collections: items gathered by Black Tower herself—or sent from her admirers and detractors scattered across the galaxy.
After twenty long minutes, they stood outside the conference room doors.
"Company guests—this is it," the staffer said reverently.
Topaz, highest in rank, gave thanks and stepped forward. The doors slid open.
Inside—an immense calculator built from countless terminal arrays, suspended above.
A round table beneath it, laid with fragrant tea and plates of delicate pastries.
At that table sat two figures.
One was Mei Rokuro, in a simple elegant qipao. Hair styled with a flower pin, posture graceful, she was gently pouring tea.
The other, Herta, silver-brown hair bobbing, picked at the refreshments with bored detachment.
The guests entered. Hibiki's step faltered as his eyes met Mei's.
Compared to the hazy dream in the simulation—she was more radiant, more breathtaking.
Topaz, who had only encountered Black Tower in business before, was meeting Mei for the first time. She bowed slightly, preparing to offer a proper introduction—
"Nice to meet you, we—"
But she was cut short.
For as soon as Mei Rokuro saw Shirakawa Hibiki, she rose without hesitation. Passing by Topaz and Charles as though they weren't there, she stepped directly before him.
With delicate, ivory-smooth fingers, she reached out—
And gently touched Hibiki's cheek.