Stelle blinked awake, her vision blurry, just as a pink-haired girl leaned in close. Her brain scrambled to process what was happening.
Wait—what's going on? Did I miss something?
Before Ellie could complete her dramatic "artificial respiration," March 7 lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Ellie's head, stopping her mid-motion.
"Sister Ellie, she's awake!" March shouted, still clinging tightly.
Ellie, caught off guard and slightly suffocated, flailed a bit. "March～ What are you doing? ♪ I was about to kiss a pretty girl!"
Ellie raised her hands to push March away, but—
"Yaa!" March squealed, suddenly letting go and stumbling back, her face redder than a fire crystal.
Danheng glanced over, unfazed. Stelle stared at the two girls with wide, curious eyes.
"You… What were you doing?" Stelle asked, her voice groggy.
March's face was now the color of a ripe tomato. Ellie, meanwhile, was blissfully unaware that her head had just bumped into something soft—March's chest.
Not that she would be shy about it anyway. She is Paradise's number one lesbian, after all. Ellie straightened up, pretending to be annoyed. "Well, it's not all your fault, little March. You grabbed my head! Now my hair's a mess." She pulled out a compact mirror and pouted dramatically.
March muttered under her breath, If I didn't care so much… If I wasn't so protective… I wouldn't have hugged her like that.
"Alright, March, Ellie," Danheng interrupted. "Stelle—are you okay?"
Stelle blinked. "Maybe… not bad?"
Danheng's mouth twitched. Another one like March…
"Ding! You have new unread information," Ellie's phone chimed.
"Huh? Wow! My new outfit just arrived!" Ellie's eyes sparkled.
"Really?! Show me!" March perked up instantly, rushing over.
Even Danheng leaned in slightly, curious.
Ellie quickly turned her screen away. "This is a girl's secret～♪ You'll see it later."
Stelle, still unfamiliar with the crew, didn't join the excitement. Instead, she spotted a baseball bat nearby, picked it up, and gave it a test swing.
Hmm… Not bad.
March nodded approvingly. "Good choice. A weapon's always handy."
Ellie summoned her Purana Flying Flowers, energized by her new outfit. "Alright, let's go save Arlan! ♪"
Without waiting, she charged ahead into battle.
"Wait for me!" March called, chasing after her.
Danheng sighed and turned to Stelle. "If things get dangerous, stay behind me."
Stelle nodded, and the two followed the trail of chaos left by their energetic teammates.
The path was littered with shattered ice crystals and pink crystal fragments—remnants of Ellie and March's handiwork. The Legion didn't stand a chance.
Soon, they reached a fork in the road. Danheng took the left path to scout ahead, while March, Ellie, and Stelle headed toward the elevator to meet Himeko.
March pressed the elevator button repeatedly. Nothing happened.
"Uh… Little March, you didn't break it again, did you?" Ellie teased.
Stelle, now more familiar with the Astral Express crew and their pioneering adventures, watched curiously.
March scratched her head. "It shouldn't be broken…"
After several more attempts, the elevator remained still.
March blushed. "Okay, maybe I broke it… If only Teacher Danheng were here. He knows everything. He could probably build an elevator."
"It's a pity that I don't," came a voice behind her.
"Ah! Danheng!" March jumped and hid behind Ellie.
Alan limped over, inspecting the elevator. "It's not broken—it's on alert lockdown. You should've received a key."
"Uh… key…" March mumbled.
Danheng's expression darkened. "March…"
"Okay, okay, I admit—I lost it," March said sheepishly.
"Done," Ellie chimed in.
"Done?" Alan blinked.
"Access granted. Elevator unlocked," the system announced.
Ellie held up a keycard with a wink. "I just picked it up～♪"
No one questioned where she got it. They all piled into the elevator.
"Ding." The elevator doors opened with a chime, echoing through the quiet corridor—and attracting nearby Legion forces.
Everyone snapped into battle stance.
Moments later, Danheng, March, and Alan watched as Stelle swung her bat with surprising force, taking down enemies with ease. Ellie cheered from behind.
"Go, Stelle! You look so cool swinging that bat～♪"
Suddenly, a quantum arrow shot toward Stelle. Ellie reacted instantly, firing a crystal arrow that collided mid-air with the incoming projectile.
Stelle retreated, sensing a powerful enemy approaching.
A horse-like creature stepped through the carriage door, its presence radiating menace.
Danheng's expression hardened. "Everyone—stay sharp."