The Astral Express, an interstellar train crew, glided serenely along silver-white ethereal tracks through the endless cosmos.
At this moment, all the passengers were gathered in the parlour car, some engaged in quiet conversation, others simply admiring the vast galaxy through the wide crystal windows.
"Hey, hey!" Pompom, the mascot-like conductor, perched atop a table, waving its stubby arms to get everyone's attention.
This was its usual routine before a warp jump, and the passengers quickly fell silent, ready to listen.
All except for one very energetic girl.
"Himeko! Look, look! There's something weird floating in space!"
March 7th, standing rather than sitting like the others, pressed her face to the window and pointed eagerly at a distant object that pulsed with a strange, heartlike green glow.
"Hm? That sounds… familiar."
Himeko set down the coffee and IPC magazine in her hands, rising to see what had caught March's attention.
As her eyes adjusted, she blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of the shape. At first it resembled a giant face, but with her keen eye and technical expertise, she quickly realized—it was a small mech.
"Oh? What a peculiar little thing…" she murmured with open curiosity.
Mechs themselves weren't unusual, and not of that size either. She had seen dozens of models, autonomous and piloted alike.
But this one… its design was unrecognizable, bearing no insignia, no markings of any known faction.
And that green light reflecting in her eyes, it wasn't just aesthetic. Something about it felt intrinsicallydifferent.
"Seriously? Passenger March, this is space! Debris is always floating around," Pompom huffed, stomping its tiny feet.
Still, when even the composed Himeko looked intrigued, the conductor scurried up onto March's shoulder to get a better view.
Dan Heng and Welt quietly approached, both studying the odd machine. Welt's eyes in particular glimmered with faint excitement.
"If I recall, the astral charts don't show any civilizations nearby," Dan Heng said calmly. "So where did this come from? And that blinking… could it be a distress signal?"
"That pink membrane looks like a hatch," Welt added, adjusting his glasses with a thoughtful push. "There might indeed be someone inside. But we'll have to bring it aboard to be sure."
"Grrr… looks like passenger March did something right this time," Pompom grumbled, puffing its cheeks. "But what if it's dangerous? Are you sure you want the conductor to bring it in?"
The crew fell into silence.
Dan Heng snapped a quick picture of the mech and ran a reverse search, scanning archives and databases for any reports of missing models.
When the results came back blank, he relayed the information.
Welt gave a reassuring nod. "Don't worry. Since this was my idea, I'll take responsibility. Move us closer, conductor, I'll handle it personally."
He gripped his cane, tapping it lightly against the floor.
Pompom grumbled again but scurried off to the conductor's cabin.
The Astral Express drifted carefully forward until the mech hovered only a few meters away.
One of the empty cars opened its window, and Welt extended his power, reeling the machine in with controlled gravity, protected from the vacuum by the train's Trailblaze energy.
The mech landed softly, without complication. Welt exhaled in relief, stepping forward without hesitation to rap on the hatch.
No response.
His brow furrowed. There wasn't even a visible mechanism to open it.
This was a job for Himeko.
"Pompom just ran a scan," the conductor's voice came through the speakers. "The green glow isn't radiation, thankfully… but the energy source and materials? Completely unknown, pom…"
The sliding door hissed open, and the rest of the crew entered after Pom confirmed it was safe.
"Mr. Yang! Mr. Yang! What is it? Is this another me situation?!" March bounded up, clutching Welt's arm and peeking over his shoulder.
Welt shook his head and gave Himeko a helpless look. "Not sure yet, March. We'll need Himeko's expertise."
"I expected as much," Himeko replied with a smile. She set down her sleek briefcase, unfolding it to reveal an array of precise mechanical tools.
The others stepped back to give her space.
But before she could begin, a sudden flash of bright green light burst from the mech.
Himeko instinctively shielded her eyes, stumbling back.
"Watch out!" Welt barked, yanking her to safety as he summoned a protective gravity barrier with his cane, the Star of Eden.
The flash lasted only seconds but blazed intensely before vanishing as suddenly as it came. But no one dared lower their guard.
Moments stretched in tense silence before they collectively exhaled, tension melting.
And then—
The mech's eyes lit up. With a hiss, the hatch creaked open.
March's gasp was loud enough to echo through the car. "No way! There really is someone inside?!"
They approached cautiously at Welt's signal, staying just a step behind him in case things went sideways.
Inside the cockpit, sprawled out as if napping in his own bed, was a young human male. He looked to be in his twenties, short wild dark-blue hair falling messily across his forehead.
A pair of red, star-shaped sunglasses rested on his head, and a small metal drill hung from a chain around his neck. His chest was bare, only a red-and-blue jacket thrown loosely over his shoulders, paired with baggy blue pants.
He was also snoring. Loudly.
"Hmmm…" March tilted her head, leaning dangerously close to the hatch. "Do you guys think he's, like… a galaxy ranger or something? He totally looks the part…"
Welt, Himeko, and Dan Heng all sighed in unison.
"Be careful, March," Dan Heng warned, gently pulling her back, then leaning in himself to better assess the man's condition. "What if he suddenly wakes up and the first thing he sees is you?"
"Eh?! What's that supposed to mean?!" March puffed her cheeks, glaring at him. "Aren't you in the same situation?! Why are you leaning in so close? What are you gonna do, resuscitate him with mouth-to-mouth or something?!"
Dan Heng didn't even blink. "No. His breathing is stable. But… you're welcome to try if you want to."
March froze, eyes wide. The others tried—and failed—to hide their amusement as she flailed in place.
"W-wait, do I really have to—?!" she squeaked, glancing between them with growing panick, somehow not having registered Dan Heng's diagnosis at all.
In the end, with even the two adults watching expectantly, March took a few shaky breaths and braced herself for what she thought was coming.
Himeko chuckled softly, reaching out to pat her shoulder. "Alright, March. No need for tha—"
Her words cut off the moment a very distinct smacking sound filled the air.
Welt and Pompom froze, jaws hanging open. Dan Heng just dragged a hand down his face.
March, against all common sense, had already leaned in and sealed her lips over the stranger's, puffing clumsy breaths into him in the worst attempt at CPR imaginable.
"Huh? What were you saying?" March looked back innocently, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"What… exactly were you doing?"
But the voice didn't come from Himeko.
March turned her head—and immediately locked eyes with the stranger himself, awake now, staring at her with the most withering, judgmental look imaginable.
"Oh…"
...
"So let me get this straight. You guys…sorry, 'trailblazers', found me inside this—" he slapped the hatch of the mech with a metallic clang—"and thought I was dead. So your solution was to give me CPR… which nearly suffocated me to death?"
"Ahaha… y-yeah. That about sums it up…" March laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head. "Sorry…"
Himeko sighed, stepping in before things got any worse. "I apologize on her behalf. She thought she was doing the right thing."
"Right," Welt added smoothly, adjusting his glasses. "And considering we found you drifting alone in the middle of nowhere, it wasn't unreasonable to assume you might've been in critical condition. She simply acted out of concern."
It was a bold-faced lie, but one meant to preserve March's fragile dignity.
"Anyway, what matters is that you're awake now," Himeko said warmly, offering him a reassuring smile. "Could you tell us who you are, and where you're from?…Hopefully you're not another amnesiac."
"My name is Simon," the young man replied at last.
His gaze lingered on each of their faces, their clothes, then the cabin around them and the stars beyond the window. He concealed his astonishment as best he could, but his eyes betrayed him.
Finally, he glanced at the little mech resting nearby, fingers brushing against its surface almost reverently. He knew exactly what it was.
Lagann.
And the people before him were undeniaby the crew of the Astral Express from star rail.
But that was absurd.
Sure, he shared the same name as the Simon—something he considered lucky enough—but how did that translate to waking up transmigrated into a completely different game world, clothes and all?
Still, his logical mind quickly pieced together the flimsy pattern. Honkai: Star Rail was the last game he'd played. And he had rewatched GurrenLagann only hours prior.
Clearly, this was the handiwork of some higher power with too much free time, idly toying with the life of a mere mortal.
But truth be told… when his eyes fell on the core drill hanging from his neck, a different feeling welled up inside.
Not bitterness, but gratitude. Somehow, deep in his chest, he felt it wasn't all that bad.
"Uh, hello? Mr. Simon-no-last-name?" March waved her hands right in front of his face. "What are you daydreaming about? Do you remember where you're from, or why you were stranded out there?"
"…No last name?" Simon muttered, his brows furrowing.
That's right. This was a new beginning. Carrying his past into it didn't feel right, especially when he'd always wanted to leave it all behind anyway.
He thought for a split second, then settled on a name that carried weight in his heart. One that properly honoured this god given opportunity.
"Teppelin. My name is Simon Teppelin, and I'm from Earth." He smiled lightly. "Nice to meet you."
For a moment, silence hung in the air.
"Wait, wait, wait—did you just say Earth?!" March seized his hands with both of hers, eyes darting between Simon and Welt in disbelief. "Are you from the same world as Mr. Yang?!"
Welt's expression also shifted instantly, hope flickering bright in his eyes. He stepped forward, extending his hand. "Could you… tell me more?"
Simon accepted the handshake with a smile, but dashed the man's hopes before they could grow. He wasn't about to give him false comfort.
"I'm sorry. We're not from the same Earth." He gestured toward Welt's cane. "Where I come from, nothing like that exists."
"Oh… I see." The light dimmed in Welt's eyes, his brief hope collapsing under the weight of Simon's sincerity. But only moments later, the gleam returned as he exhaled slowly, studying him with newfound respect. "Still, it's remarkable you could tell it was special at a glance. I'd like to hear about the differences between our worlds whenever you're ready to share."
Simon was equally amazed. It wasn't just because he had meta knowledge that he was able to point that out. But he could actually physically feel that there was an extraordinary power contained within it...
He clutched the core drill, feeling an ignited spark within his soul—the source of his newfound 6th sense.
Spiral power...
Unaware of his internal amazement, Himeko reached over, giving Welt's shoulder a quiet, comforting pat and earning a grateful nod in return.
"Parallel worlds…" Dan Heng murmured thoughtfully. "Yes, I'd also like to record whatever information you're willing to share."
"Aww, man, that's kind of disappointing…" March slumped, only to perk right back up, looking a bit expectant. "So what about the last part? Do you remember how you ended up here?"
"Uh… yeah. No clue." Simon shrugged with careless ease.
March groaned and shot a look at Himeko, who wore an expression just a little too smug for her liking.
Himeko crossed her arms, a little smirk tugging at her lips. "Partial amnesia it is."
"Alright, alright," Welt cut in with a wry smile, lifting a hand. "Let's give our new friend some space to breathe and settle in first."
"Right, right! My time to shine!" Pompom waddled forward, puffing out its chest. "Let this conductor personally escort you to a guest room, pom! You can rest up there and decide your next course of action later!"
"Thanks, everyone. I appreciate it." Simon dusted off his clothes and rose to his feet, pausing to pat Lagann with a confident grin. "I'll come back for you soon, buddy. Don't worry, I won't let you miss out on the action."
The core drill at his neck resonated with Lagann's and its frame pulsed faintly with green light, as though acknowledging his words.
The crew exchanged curious glances but remained quiet, watching the strange bond between man and machine until Simon followed Pompom out.
They passed through the parlour car, then the passenger car, before finally climbing the narrow stairs in the party car to reach the upper storage area.
It was little more than a spare corner, occupied by a single bed and a few stacks of cardboard boxes.
"Apologies, pom…" Pompom bowed, its ears drooping. "This is the only free space for now. We didn't exactly plan for an expansion, pom. But! You're welcome to make yourself at home in any car and chat with the other passengers in the meantime. The conductor will have this room tidied up before long! Of course, if you still insist on resting, be my guest, pom…"
"Heh, no worries. I'm not that tired." Simon bent down and gave Pompom's little hat a friendly pat.
"W-what are you doing, pom?!" Pompom leapt back at lightning speed, its fur bristling in annoyance. "If you're not tired then hurry up and get out already!"
Simon chuckled, raising his arms in surrender to placate the flustered conductor.
Even so, Pompom kept its wary distance, glaring at him.
With a wry shake of his head, Simon heeded its words and left, making his way down the stairs and into the parlour car.
Inside, only Himeko, Welt, and March were present, with Dan Heng nowhere to be seen.
"Oh? What's wrong?" Himeko was the first to notice him, gesturing toward an empty seat with a gentle smile.
"Nothing much. I'm just not that tired, and the conductor felt bad, so it decided to clean the room a little first." Simon sat down comfortably, his gaze drifting out to the endless stars beyond the window.
"That's so Pompom-like!" March giggled, already imagining the mascot-like conductor zipping around with a tiny broom.
"In that case," Welt said, folding his hands, "this seems like a good time to ask about your plans. We were on our way to Herta Space Station before encountering you… I'm assuming you know what that is?"
Simon nodded.
"This world isn't totally foreign to me. I know the broad strokes, but I'm afraid anything beyond surface level would stump me."
"That'll save us some time getting you acquainted, at least...unlike with March." Himeko mused.
Measured footsteps reached their ears, and Dan Heng entered the car, casting an unreadable glance at March after hearing Himeko's words.
"Arrgh, I was not that clueless!" March shot to her feet, feeling aggrieved for the second time that day.
Dan Heng said nothing, brushing past her with practiced indifference.
Welt cleared his throat, steering the conversation back. "Well… given that you and I are both from Earth—parallel worlds or not—and I joined the Express to search for a way home....Would you care to travel with us, or do you have your own path in mind?"
"I… have no home in this world." Simon took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them with renewed resolve. "So, I'll be traveling with you for the foreseeable future, if you don't mind."
"That's awesome!" March cheered, throwing her arms up. "One more member for us Trailblazers!"
"Welcome aboard." Himeko smiled warmly. "Would you like a cup of coffee to celebrate?"
The entire crew froze.
"I have… important files to organize in the archives." Dan Heng rose abruptly, his composure cracking just enough to make it look like he was fleeing.
"But you just got here..." Himeko said worryingly. "Are you sure you're not overworking yourself?"
"No...I'm fine. Sorry." He mumbled, but still got away quickly.
"Uh...I think I left my camera somewhere! Be right back!" March blurted, already scurrying away with her hands behind her back.
Her camera, of course, was sitting exactly where she'd been.
Only Welt remained, though his hand trembled against his cane.
"Himeko… coffee is counterproductive for our friend. He hasn't even had time to rest yet."
"But everyone who joins the Express has tried it," Himeko replied, her gentle smile never faltering.
Simon watched the strange behavior unfold in silence. He was a massive caffeine addict. So how bad could it be?
"It's fine. A little won't hurt." He took the offered cup, gave it a testing sip, and tilted his head. "It's a little bitter, but not tha—"
His words cut off mid-syllable as he toppled sideways, unconscious before he hit the floor.