After a quick final check-up on the medical department, I finally have permission to go back to my room. It brought a huge relief from me after all of those near-death moments even after the invasion. Seriously, what are the chances of that? Stelle, on the other hand, left without saying another word. She seemed to be acting strange as she left, but that wasn't my problem. I didn't take any detours and headed straight to my room.
Once inside, I stood by the door, completely silent for a couple of minutes before sighing.
[Are you okay, Ethan? You are experiencing a high level of stress.]
"You can sense that too?"
[Affirmative. Ethan's emotions and feelings are clearly displayed for Health Purposes.]
I let out a chuckle. "You're something, you know that?"
[Clarification: I am what you call SAIPS-]
"I know, I know. I wasn't talking literally," I said with a faint smile as I sat on my bed. "Hey, is it alright if I ask you something?"
[Anything, Ethan.]
"What do you think of me going with the Astral Express?"
[Ethan, the choice is ultimately yours.]
"I know, but a second opinion won't hurt."
[...]
[Analyzing…]
[Opinion: I suggest Ethan accept the offer.]
I blinked in surprise, raising my brows. "Why?"
[Answer: A new user of the Powerband requires experience. To gain experience, Ethan must travel across the unknown cosmos.]
"So, I should go to get more powerful? Is that what you're saying?"
[Affirmative. The chances of Ethan surviving another disaster are close to zero.]
"Even if I stay here?"
[According to my calculations. Affirmative.]
"So, either way, I'm screwed. Great way to start my second life, and it's barely been a month," I said with a tired chuckle. My life might be a joke to whoever pulled my soul here.
I walked over to my cabinet, pulled out my phone from one of the drawers, and quickly swiped into the contacts app. I dialed a specific number and waited a few seconds before the call connected.
(Yo, Ethan, what's up?")
"Abraham, are you free today? This afternoon, especially?"
(Yeah, Why?)
"I want to talk about something."
(I'm guessing it's something serious?")
"...Yes," I said after a brief hesitation.
(Aight, come see me in the cafeteria. I'll be going there in about five minutes)"
"Alright, see you there." With that, the call ended.
+++===++++
Changing to my regular clothes, a simple shirt and pants, I quickly made my way towards the cafeteria. Before arriving there, I met an unexpected person on the way.
"Arlan?" I called out, the person in question, who was surrounded by security personnel judging from their uniforms, turned back at the mention of his name being called.
"Oh, Ethan it's you!"
"What are you doing here?" I asked as I approached closer.
"Oh, we were just talking about the launch of the new program called "Project Revival". Arlan replied.
I blinked "So does it involve the aftermath of the invasion?"
Arlan nodded " Yep, this is a step-by-step plan to get back the space station at full capacity and it is also a post-disaster protocol for whenever another invasion will come, if they dare to that is, it won't be easier than last time."
"That's good," I said, "So the progress so far?"
"It's… complicated. We've run into some problems," he admitted, scratching the back of his head. "Lady Asta believes that the number of personnel needed exceeds our previous estimates, so we're running short on staff."
I nodded "Have you found a solution to that yet?"
"We are working on it, yes" Aslan affirmed with a nod.
I smiled "I wish you good luck on that Arlan"
"Thanks!" Arlan smiled back, "Also, I heard you were Hospitalized recently. Are you feeling okay?"
"Feeling a lot better,"
Arlan smiled "Don't be too hard on yourself. Well, I'll talk to you later then"
"Likewise"
++++===+++
The cafeteria wasn't very crowded when I arrived. I looked around and quickly spotted Abraham at a table on the right, so I made my way over.
Abraham noticed me and waved. "Ethan! Didn't expect to see you so soon."
"You want to be hospitalized longer?" I teased with a mock-offended tone.
Abraham quickly held up his hands and shook his head profusely. "I would never!"
I chuckled at his reaction. Never gets old. "It's just a joke, relax."
"Ha-ha-ha," Abraham laughed stiffly, clearly not amused. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
I took a seat opposite him. "It's something concerning my fate in life."
"What? Did you get a girlfriend or something?"
I gave him a look. "Really?"
"What? I thought it concerned your fate. Isn't finding someone you love considered fate?"
I was momentarily at a loss for words. "Dude, how many romance novels have you read?"
"Not many, apparently," Abraham replied with a shrug.
I shook my head. "Right, anyway, it doesn't concern my personal life….it's about my own life."
Abraham raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
"What I'm gonna tell you stays between us, okay? And what I say after that, too."
Abraham nodded. "I'm listening."
"Between us," I repeated, my voice more serious.
"I know! I promise!" Abraham said resolutely.
I took a quick glance around the cafeteria before taking a breath. "You know the Astral Express, right?"
"Yeah, what about them?" Abraham asked, taking a sip from his drink.
"They asked me to join them—"
"PFFTTT!" I felt hot liquid spray across my face. It was not technically burning, but the heat sensation was there, in addition to his saliva. Gross would be a way to put it.
"Cough Sorry, that was a lot to take in."
"You had to drink, didn't you?" I grabbed a napkin from the table and wiped my face.
Abraham coughed a few more times before calming down. "I know, I'm sorry, but how did you get invited to join them anyway?"
"By attempted murder."
"What?" Abraham asked, confused.
I fake a cough, realizing my mistake. "I mean, they asked me to."
Abraham frowned. "That doesn't answer my question. You've got some strange powers or something?"
In response, I looked him dead in the eye.
"Wait, you're serious?" Abraham asked, his eyes widening slightly.
"I may have… ahem, potentially got something," I said slowly. His expression turned from surprise to absolute excitement.
"Dude, you're a superhero?!" he shouted, slamming his hands on the table.
"Wait, we haven't gone there yet, and lower your voice. People are looking at us weirdly again." I didn't want others labeling us as weirdos—if they hadn't already.
After noticing the many curious stares from around the cafeteria, Abraham quickly apologized for his outburst and sat back down. "Dude, how—what—how?"
"It's complicated… really complicated. But…" I flicked my wrist and showed him my watch.
It took a moment for Abraham to catch on. "I've seen that watch on you but I didn't know you've got powers on it. Can it, what, slow time?"
I shook my head. "That would be a cool power to have, but no."
"Can you show it to me?" he asked, his excitement obvious.
"I haven't really tested it out yet," I admitted, much to his disappointment.
"Wait, seriously? That should be the first thing you do!" he exclaimed.
"I know, I know, but I'm not really in a hurry," I said dismissively. Mostly, I didn't want to draw unwanted attention to myself, especially on a space station filled with researchers. I didn't want to end up as some kind of lab rat.
"Fine, your loss," Abraham sighed. "So, is that what you wanted to talk about?"
"Partially, but I wanted your opinion on whether I should go with the Astral Express."
Abraham furrowed his brows. "Does it require that much thought?"
"If you know them, yes."
Abraham took a moment to think. "If I were in your shoes, I'd accept without hesitation."
"Why?"
"Dude, really? Don't you think this smells like an opportunity? You're being given a chance to travel the universe, and visit planets, isn't that what the Astral Express does?"
"You forgot the dangerous part, the Stellaron," I pointed out with a flat look.
"Yeah, that too, but that's only one con against the many pros."
"I don't think we should judge that too early," I replied, crossing my arms.
"Still, if you want my suggestion, I say you accept it. Who knows? It might be beneficial for you in the long run," Abraham said, biting into a piece of bread.
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Both of you said the same thing."
Abraham stopped chewing and stared at me. "Who?"
I shook my head. "Never mind."
A moment of silence passed before Abraham broke it.
"So, are you still undecided?" he asked.
"Yeah." I nodded, staring up at the ceiling. Is it really worth it? To leave my comfort zone and try new things?
"Come on, dude. For many people, it's an easy decision. I don't understand why you're making such a fuss about it. I remember something my mom told me when I was a kid: 'Always look ahead without looking back. For ahead is an opportunity, but looking back is the end.'" He paused before continuing. "What I'm saying is, this is your chance to be something more than just some guy guarding Madam Herta's collection."
I considered his words before staring at him for a few moments. "You know, it's strange seeing you this wise since most of the time you can't get your words out when you're scared."
"H-Hey!"
I chuckled. "Anyway, thanks, Abraham. My head's a bit clearer now."
Abraham smiled triumphantly. "I knew Mom's advice would help someone. So, are you really not planning on showing me how your watch works?"
I thought about it. "Maybe later, but not now." I paused and looked at the time. "I've got some catching up to do."
+++====+++
After my quick chat with Abraham, I was heading back to my room when I noticed a familiar figure standing just outside the door.
Herta? I had to do a double-take. Was I seeing things? But no, it was definitely her, rather than one of her puppets. The surprise quickly turned into nervousness. While there was a high chance this Herta puppet wasn't actually Herta herself, which I desperately hoped for, seeing her outside my room, away from where she was usually stationed, was unsettling. Had I done something wrong? I hoped not.
"Madam Herta. Fancy seeing you here," I greeted her with a friendly wave as I approached. The puppet turned its lifeless, dull eyes toward me. Despite knowing it wasn't the real Herta, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of anxiety. Please don't be Herta, please don't be Herta…
"You're Ethan Almiyers, Personal Number 543, correct?" The puppet's monotone voice made me breathe a sigh of relief. Good, not the actual Herta—just the puppet.
"Yes, that's me. Did I do something wrong?" I asked, curious about her presence.
The puppet tilted its head. "Finally, I found you, the person the Twerp has been talking about." I blinked, my eyes widening slightly. That voice… Oh fuck, it's Herta.
Before I could say anything, her gaze snapped to my left wrist. I followed her eyes, there was a sinking feeling in my gut. Why did it seem like she was staring at my—
"You've got a pretty nice watch there," she commented.
I gulped. No, it couldn't be… "Uh, it was a gift."
Herta, through the puppet, looked up to stare directly at me. "Don't attempt to lie, boy. You're bad at it."
"Hahaha," I laughed nervously, but she wasn't amused. Her puppet grabbed my arm, pulling me forward. For a puppet, she was surprisingly strong.
"This… is extraordinary. I can see why they took an interest in you," she said, inspecting my watch. She could tell it was special at first glance? And it took me weeks to figure it out. Huh. "Tell me, how did you come across such a complex piece of technology?"
"Would you believe me if I said I don't know?" At this point, lying felt pointless, given what had already happened. I waited nervously for her response.
"That will suffice," she finally said, letting go of my arm. "So, how much?"
"How much?" I blinked, confused by her sudden question.
Herta crossed her arms, giving me a stern look. "Your watch. How much are you willing to sell it to me for?"
"Ah…" was all I could manage to say.
"Well?" she prompted.
I sighed. "Even if I wanted to give it away, there's a problem with that."
Her stern expression turned to one of curiosity as I continued. "It's stuck on my wrist. I've tried plenty of times to remove it, but it's impossible."
Herta's curiosity deepened as her gaze returned to my wrist. She grabbed my arm again, trying to pull the watch off, but just like my previous attempts, it didn't budge.
"Hmm, interesting. It could be symbiotic," Herta mumbled. "Say, what if I cut off your arm?"
My expression shifted from surprise to horror. "What?! NO!"
Herta frowned. "What if I were to replace your arm with cybernetics? How about that?"
I considered it for a brief moment but quickly shook my head. "Sorry, but my arm isn't for sale." As cool as a robotic arm might sound, nothing beats having a normal one.
"Tsk, fine," Herta grumbled. "I was willing to pay you about a million or more credits for it, but apparently, it's not for sale."
It would be a lie to say I wasn't tempted, one million credits, or more could allow me to live a care-free life. I love money as much as the next person, but… I don't think it's worth it, especially not for this watch. "Sorry, but I'll have to stick to my decision, Madam Herta."
"Fine, have it your way." Herta shrugged. "So, have you decided yet?"
"Decided what?"
"You were invited to join the Astral Express, right? I saw that Twerp looking downcast, so I assume you either refused or haven't decided yet."
"Twerp… wait, Stelle? You mean her?"
"Who else would it be?" Herta said with a flat look. "So?"
"I… I think so, yes." I hesitated before answering. Strangely, it was painful to say it aloud.
Herta smirked. "So, did Stelle's way of doing things actually work on you?"
I furrowed my brows at her question. Wait, Stelle actually mentioned that… "Wait, you're the one who suggested it?"
Herta blinked innocently as she turned to leave. "I've got some work to do."
"Hey, wait! Madam Herta!"
+++====+++
March 7th POV
I hummed happily as I gazed out into the darkness of space. While it seemed dull and boring for others. But for me, it's different as I look at the bright side of things. Especially to the tiny lights scattered across it. Even though I see it every day, I just couldn't get enough of it. After all, a beautiful and charming girl like me deserves to admire the beauty of the stars. I quickly pulled out my camera and captured a group of stars forming a unique shape.
As I was content with my little photography session, I suddenly heard footsteps beside me. Curious, I glanced over and saw Stelle. Her shoulders were slumped, and her expression was one of sadness and disappointment. She quietly sat down on a nearby bench, saying nothing. Concerned, I decided to approach her.
"Stelle, are you okay?"
Stelle remained silent. I furrowed my brows, feeling more worried, and tried again.
"Stelle, I'm asking a question. I'm worried about you, you know?"
"It's Ethan."
"Ethan?" I blinked, and then a horrifying thought struck me. "Did he do something to you? Is that why you're feeling down?!" I knew that guy was up to something, especially around beautiful and pure maidens like us! "Don't worry, I'll set things straight with him—"
"No, it's not that," Stelle interrupted, finally lifting her face. "It's because he doesn't want to come with the Express. I tried to ask him, but he seemed to have other thoughts."
My anger quickly faded as I stared at her, confused. "Wait, you're upset because of that?"
She nodded. I sighed in relief. "I was worried for nothing! Stelle, it's fine if he rejects the invitation. There's no need to be upset. It's a big decision for him, you know?"
Stelle's frown deepened. "I suppose so."
"Cheer up! What do you like? Do you want to play games or…" As I tried to think of something to brighten her mood. It was when I heard another voice.
"March, it seems you're both here."
I brightened up as I recognized the voice. I spun around, facing them directly "Miss Himeko! And Mr. Yang, Dan Heng too!"
"Hello March" Dan Heng greeted.
Himeko turned to Stelle. "Have you decided yet, Stelle?"
Stelle looked up at Himeko and nodded. "Yes, I want to join the Astral Express."
Himeko smiled, clasping her hands together. "Great! Now that we're all here—"
"Wait!"
We all turned, surprised to see someone running toward us. I glanced at Stelle, her entire body seemed frozen, stiffening up, but then her frown shifted into a smile.
I shook my head, smiling as well. "I guess we don't need those games anymore."
+++++====+++
Ethan POV
Goddamn my non-athletic body! Even in this life, I still have to worry about it.
[Ethan, you're experiencing a low amount of oxygen in your system.]
"I know, I fucking know," I panted, feeling like my lungs were about to burst out of my chest. That being said, the bag I was holding was heavy, really heavy. I had to pack all my stuff, clothes, and all in less than five minutes after realizing that the Astral Express would be leaving soon. Not only that, I had to text all my…fewer choices of friends that I would leave soon. I couldn't actually bid them goodbye in person unless I wanted the Astral Express to leave me behind.
"Wait!" I shouted, spotting the Astral Express crew on the platform just outside the train.
"I'm here—" Those were the only words I could manage before gasping for air. I had been running for three minutes straight.
"Ethan!" As I lifted my head, I saw Stelle running toward me. My eyes contracted. Oh, not again.
I felt a pair of arms wrap around me. At first, it was a soft and comforting embrace, but it quickly turned painful as the hug tightened. I could feel some of my bones popping. God, she's strong.
"Can't breathe,"
"Stelle, dear, I think you should let go now. Ethan seems to be having a hard time," Himeko's gentle voice chimed in.
Thanks to Himeko, Stelle eventually released me, though I noticed a hint of reluctance on her face. Did she really want me dead that badly? I shuddered at the thought.
"You came!" she said happily, her eyes brightening.
I was taken aback for a moment, but I quickly composed myself. "Yes, I came. Happy now?" My voice was flat, like cardboard, but it didn't seem to bother her one bit.
She nodded enthusiastically. I sighed and looked past her shoulder at the rest of the Astral Express crew. All had smiles on their faces, except Dan Heng and that Welt guy.
"I thought you refused to go. What made you change your mind?" March asked curiously.
I raised an eyebrow. "What? Not happy to see me? I could leave if you want."
March's eyes widened. "I didn't mean it like that!"
I chuckled. God, I loved teasing her. "Just messing with you." I proceed to wink at her, adding a bit of salt to the wound.
March pouted and looked away, grumbling something under her breath that I couldn't quite catch.
"It's good you agreed to join us, Ethan. It must've been a tough decision for you," Himeko said with a faint smile.
"It definitely was," I admitted with a nod.
Himeko nodded back. "Dan Heng, help Ethan with his bags. We've got no time to waste. Pom-Pom is starting to get impatient." She giggled.
Dan Heng offered his hand. I stared at it before looking him straight in the face. "You think I can't do it?"
Dan Heng blinked. I saw him faltering for a moment.
I couldn't resist the urge as I practically laughed, "Just messing with you, dude. I can't pass up an offer like this." I tossed the bag to him, and he caught it quickly. "Thanks, by the way. That thing's been killing my shoulders."
I felt sharp glares from behind, but I didn't care.
We soon made our way inside the Astral Express. My first reaction was pure amazement.
"Why is this place so large?" Stelle seemed equally surprised.
Speaking of her.. "Hey Stelle, I noticed that you haven't brought a bag with you. Have you really packed your things?" In response, she tilted her head at my question.
I stared at her, deadpan. "You're serious? You haven't packed anything, not clothes? Underw–Ahem, I mean some stuff that is important for hygiene?"
Stelle shook her head, much to my shock. Before I could press further, Himeko's voice reassured me.
"Don't worry, Ethan. We'll take care of her belongings. I'm sure March has some spare clothes to share."
"I see." I nodded, finding her solution logical.
"Oh, look! Asta, Arlan, and even Madam Herta are here to say goodbye!" March's voice was as loud as expected.
I couldn't help but look out the window too. I saw Asta bowing her head in farewell, Arlan waving, and Herta…well, she seemed to be turning away already.
'Why do I feel like I'm regretting my choice?' I thought, setting the feeling aside. 'Well, whatever, it is what it is. It's not like I can go back now.'
I quickly spotted Dan Heng by my side.
Now that I remember… "So, Dan Heng, about that 20,000 credits…" I began, pausing to see his reaction. I wasn't disappointed when I saw him stiffen. I grinned. "Did you think, I forgot?"
He coughed lightly. "Ahem, I think I have somewhere I need to be."
I stared at him in surprise, which quickly turned to anger. "Hey, wait! You're not bailing on this one! Hey!"