Even though Sylvia had drowned her coffee in a mountain of milk and sugar, Himeko was simply delighted to find someone who actually enjoyed her brew.
Usually, the ragtag crew aboard the Astral Express went out of their way to avoid her coffee, which was a constant source of quiet frustration for her.
To have a lovely young lady like Sylvia appreciate it was a rare treat indeed.
Himeko's eyes lit up with sudden enthusiasm. "I actually have a blend with a very unique flavor profile," she said, already moving.
"Wait right here, I'll go whip some up for you to try!"
With a spirited turn, she hurried off, looking like she hadn't the slightest intention of heading to bed anytime soon.
The moment Himeko was out of earshot, March 7th wasted no time.
She scurried over to Sylvia's side, leaning in close to whisper urgently, "Sylvia, do you really like Himeko's coffee? You're not just putting on a brave face, are you?"
"Not at all..." Sylvia replied, giving March a puzzled look.
She reached out, snagged March's untouched cup, and proceeded to doctor it with a generous helping of cream and sugar as well.
"The base flavor is a bit eccentric, and I'm not a fan of black coffee, but it's actually quite nice once you add the sweets."
"Yikes..." March's expression shifted from pure shock to grudging admiration.
Dan Heng was the type who didn't care what things tasted like as long as they were functional, and Lady Pela back in Belobog only drank it because she thought the flavor was "invigorating."
Of everyone I've ever met, March thought, you're the only one who actually likes the taste.
"What's with that face?" Sylvia asked.
"I'm just wondering if your tongue is wired differently than a normal human's."
"You're the one who isn't normal," Sylvia shot back, rolling her eyes.
"Hehe~" March grinned, her annoyance vanishing now that Sylvia had dealt with the dreaded coffee for her.
She scratched the back of her head, returning to her usual bubbly, slightly airheaded self. "Alright then, I'll head back and keep picking out those photos for you. You stay here and wait for Himeko."
Truth be told, March didn't dare linger. She was terrified that if Himeko came back and saw an empty cup, she'd insist on a refill.
"I'm a guest, you know," Sylvia teased. "You're really going to just ditch me and go back to your room?"
"You're the one who kidnapped me from my room in the first place! Don't give me that 'guest' nonsense!" March huffed playfully before puffing out her cheeks and marching away.
Sylvia didn't mind. As she leaned back against the sofa to relax, Pom-Pom appeared out of nowhere.
"Guest Sylvia, let me clear those two cups for you!"
"Conductor? I thought you went to rest?" Sylvia asked curiously, handing the empty cups over.
When she had met Welt earlier, Pom-Pom had mentioned heading off for a break, yet here the conductor was again.
"Passenger March was being too noisy! I could hear her voice all the way from the back!" Pom-Pom waved a pair of short, stubby arms in mock indignation, but a smile soon returned.
"But mostly, it's because Guest Sylvia is here. Someone has to look after the hospitality!"
"Thank you, Conductor." Sylvia smiled and reached out, giving the conductor's little hand—or rather, paw—a gentle squeeze. It was incredibly soft and fluffy.
"It's no trouble at all! Please come by and play more often, Guest Sylvia!" With that, Pom-Pom trotted off, balancing the empty coffee cups.
When Himeko returned, she noticed the clean table and set down the fresh coffee. "Did Pom-Pom stop by?"
"Yes. Your Conductor is quite adorable."
Himeko let out a soft chuckle, shielding her mouth with her hand. "If Pom-Pom heard you say that, our Captain might worry about a lapse in conductor authority."
Sylvia watched as Himeko poured the new brew. Suddenly, she spoke up. "By the way... if someone wanted to join the Astral Express, are there any specific requirements?"
"You want to join the Express?" Himeko's hand paused mid-pour.
She looked at Sylvia with newfound interest, her gaze becoming noticeably more serious.
Sylvia had mentioned it once before, but Himeko hadn't seen her show any further intent since then, so she'd assumed it was just polite small talk.
She hadn't expected the topic to resurface tonight.
"Yes, I've been thinking about it." To Sylvia, following the Astral Express seemed like an excellent choice.
Especially now that she had her teleportation abilities—anywhere she visited, she could return to in an instant.
It was like lighting up a map; following the train to see more of the universe was a perfect way to explore. And if she ever felt like resting, she could just take a break whenever she pleased.
"Then my answer is the same as it was the first time," Himeko said warmly. "As long as you are willing to share the journey, the doors of the Express will always be open to you."
Sylvia smiled. "That's much more relaxed than I expected. I thought there'd be an interview or something."
"Haha! The Astral Express isn't a Corporation. Even if you join, there's no salary, so why would there be an interview?"
Since money had come up, Sylvia's curiosity was piqued.
"Oh... come to think of it, how does the Express handle its finances? Do you mostly rely on commissions, like the ones from Herta?"
"That's right. We don't take many, but big clients like Madam Herta are very generous."
Himeko looked entirely unbothered by financial matters.
Sylvia wondered just how much one of Herta's Curios fetched on the market.
Even though the crew was small and their daily expenses were likely low, for Himeko to be this nonchalant, the rewards must be astronomical.
Seeing Sylvia lost in thought, Himeko tilted her head. "Are you short on funds, Sylvia?"
"No, just curious. Seeing March and Stelle playing around on the Luofu, they never seemed to worry about the bill."
Himeko laughed softly. There was always enough pocket money for the kids; eating and drinking didn't cost that much anyway.
Besides, word was that Stelle had made quite a bit of profit over at Aurum Alley recently.
"Tomorrow, I'll share the news with the others and give the Conductor a formal heads-up. How does that sound?"
"I'd appreciate that, Himeko."
"It's no trouble. Besides, other than Dan Heng, no one ever wants to drink my coffee. If you join us, I'll finally have a coffee partner."
Himeko's eyes sparkled with rare, genuine anticipation, as if she were truly looking forward to having Sylvia join her for regular tea sessions.
That "quiet block of wood" Dan Heng usually stayed holed up in the Data Bank and barely spoke when he was out.
Even when he drank coffee, he'd gulp it down in two or three breaths and disappear.
Himeko was usually left to enjoy her brew in solitary peace. While she didn't mind the quiet, she did occasionally long for company.
"Uh... if you don't mind the way I drink it, then."
"Then it's settled!" Himeko clapped her hands together with a soft snap, finalizing the deal.
She looked genuinely thrilled. "I actually have some pastries I bought back on the Xianzhou. I was saving them for March and the others, but... want to sneak a few now?"
"Right now?"
"Of course. Think of it as a little welcome-to-the-crew celebration."
Sylvia blinked, a smile tugging at her lips. She couldn't help but think that Himeko was a fair bit more playful than she had initially imagined.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.