Stelle snatched the phone from Sunday's hand and hung up the call right in front of him.
"No!!"
Seeing this, Sunday immediately became grief-stricken and furious. He instinctively stepped forward to wrestle the phone back from Stelle: "Give it back to me!"
"Snap out of it!"
Stelle pinned Sunday against the wall with one hand. "Now do you know how hard it is for ordinary people?"
"Think about what you did when you were a plutocrat, when you were an exploiter. The bullets you fired in the past have now hit today's you. Now you feel the pain, but do you know that for so many more people, they've long been numbed by this kind of pain?"
Sunday said with a mournful face: "I'm sorry, waaah, I really didn't know there could be such bitter days in this world. If, if I get another chance, I will definitely turn over a new leaf."
"No, you didn't not know—you just forgot." Stelle said: "You yourself started from a 'heaven-collapsing' beginning. Have you forgotten the hardships you endured back then? Have you forgotten when you were greeting people with a smile in the bar?"
Sunday lowered his head: "...Actually, it wasn't that bad back then. It was an all-male bar, and the guests were all pretty handsome."
Stelle "smacked" him across the face and shouted: "You're wrong!"
"What you like isn't men—it's someone who can provide you with a safe harbor, who can listen to your heart and give you a sense of security!"
"I know that from childhood to adulthood, you've shouldered too many responsibilities, to the point that you've always ignored yourself. Deep in your heart, you're still a boy who was forced to grow up, and you also hope to receive love. That's why you fell for someone like Gallagher. Am I right?"
Sunday: "I-I..."
"You don't need to say it—I understand."
Stelle's gaze was firm as she pulled Sunday into her arms: "But since you've been through the rain yourself, don't tear other people's umbrellas, you bastard!"
"...Phew, as a Nameless Guest, I tell you—you can also have a safe harbor."
"As long as you stop running away and accept your mistakes."
Sunday was dazed in the gray-haired girl's embrace. This was the first time in his life so far that he had physical contact with a girl other than Robin.
—"Even now, you still have a chance. You still have the opportunity to say goodbye to the past and set off anew."
But... this really feels so reassuring.
...
A few days later.
(Music).
"This is the Interastral Peace Broadcasting. Good evening, dear viewers." (Female voice)
"Good evening." (Male voice)
"Welcome to today's Interastral Peace Broadcasting content."
"Penacony Corporation Chairman Mikhail and CEO Sunday have both stepped down, ushering in a major reform for the Penacony Corporation."
"The Astral Express has received all shares from Mikhail, becoming the corporation's largest shareholder."
"Galactic superstar Gallagher announces an indefinite interstellar tour concert starting today, bidding farewell to Penacony."
"An Annihilation Gang fleet appears in the Asdana star system—purpose is actually team-building travel?"
"The Interastral Car Race explodes with a dark horse upset—is it luck or strength?"
"Annihilation Gang's braised noodles sign trade contracts with both the Penacony Corporation and the Interastral Peace Corporation simultaneously, adding another bestseller to the galactic brands."
"The following will broadcast the detailed content."
"It is reported that former Penacony Corporation Chairman Mikhail was once a member of the Trailblaze force Astral Express. According to this station's reporter's interview, he claims this is a bond of Trailblaze inheritance, and his assets in the high sixties digits will provide a negligible bit of help to the Trailblaze's juniors."
"According to in-depth interviews by reporters, although Mr. Mikhail has retired, his skills remain sharp. He still insists on working frontline jobs. As he himself claims, work brings happiness, showcasing for us an indomitable spirit of labor."
"Penacony Corporation CEO Sunday, though in the prime of his life, is suspected of having too shallow qualifications and has voluntarily stepped down, founding the Penacony Laborers' Association to fight for more welfare and benefits for grassroots workers."
"Three days ago, an Annihilation Gang legion appeared in the Asdana star system. It is reported that this legion is equipped with star-system-level weapons, and its combat systems and equipment meet the highest galactic standards. Subsequent investigations revealed that the fleet belongs to the Herta Space Station, and this trip's purpose is a team-building activity funded by Lady Herta."
"The mindset of geniuses always surpasses the ordinary. Regarding this, the Interastral Peace Corporation expresses strong understanding."
"Three days ago, in the Interastral Car Race hosted by the Interastral Peace Corporation, a dark horse upset suddenly emerged. The contestant had no prior leaks of information and hid their true appearance during the race. After winning the championship, they vanished without a trace, with their identity still unknown."
"According to eyewitnesses from the race, the vehicle used by this contestant resembles the 'Astral Express.' This claim has not been included as credible evidence."
"That's right—after all, the Astral Express is a train, quite conspicuous in appearance."
"The final news item: Annihilation Gang leader Acheron and Interastral Peace Corporation representative Aventurine reached a cooperation agreement a few days ago. In the near future, Annihilation Gang's braised noodles will be sold across the galaxy by the Interastral Peace Corporation, bringing the flavor of braised noodles to the world."
"..."
In the luxury suite, Stelle lay sideways on the sofa, listening to today's news while counting the balance in her account.
As the news said, the Penacony main storyline had already come to an end. In the very end, the shares Mikhail left to the train had returned to their hands.
Although Sunday had stepped down from the position of corporation CEO, his exploitative policies from before couldn't be canceled in just one or two days. Therefore, in the current Penacony, money was still the most important thing.
Everything seemed to return to normal, but some things hadn't—for example...
"Stelle, want to go out and stroll together today?" ("Stelle, I'm here to ask you out again~")
One pink and one silver—two figures knocked on Stelle's door at the same time, making her tremble.
After the main storyline ended, there was nothing left to block these two's "malicious intentions." Over the past three days, Stelle could be said to have been on high alert, barely avoiding being unclearly carried off to a hotel.
Oh right, she was in a hotel now. It should be said she hadn't been unclearly carried off to someone else's room.
"Miss Firefly, you're here to see my Stelle again today~ Welcome, welcome."
March 7th seemed especially in a good mood today, to the point that even facing Firefly, she wore a smile from the heart. However, Stelle's intuition told her that this current calm was merely the stillness before the storm.
It was just that she didn't know when the storm would arrive.
"Miss March 7th is in a very good mood today?" Firefly responded with a smile.
"Mm-hmm~ After all, someone very special to both me and A-Stelle is about to come to Penacony soon. When that happens, I'll be the first to call you and introduce her to you~"
"Oh? Then I'm really a bit looking forward to it."
Knock knock knock—
At that moment, the door was knocked on again, and a voice came from outside: "Miss Stelle, it's Sunday. Do you have time today? I have some words I want to say to you."