"Really? Well, look after yourself then. Come find me if you run into any trouble," Himeko said, a note of concern in her voice.
"Okay, okay, I got it, bye Himeko…"
March 7th hung up, but her heart hammered in her chest long after the call ended.
A soft sob escaped her lips, fragile and lost as a wounded kitten. Helpless. Pitiful.
Setting down her phone, she turned back to Daziel. A fresh wave of unease washed over her.
March 7th was paralyzed by indecision.
Should she act like nothing happened? Or should she confront Daziel directly?
The most pressing question clawed at her – had something actually happened last night? And if it had, who had initiated it?
Thinking back to the hazy, shameful blur of her drunken memories, a knot of anxiety tightened in March 7th's stomach.
Could it be… had she been the one to come on to Daziel?
If that were true, what would Daziel think of her? Would he look down on her for being so…forward?
And even if Daziel didn't judge her, what if the others on the Astral Express found out?
The more March 7th's mind raced, the more fear constricted her chest. Finally, tears broke free, tracing paths down her cheeks and soaking into the quilt, spreading like tiny blooms.
She sobbed again, a soft, broken sound, like a wounded kitten, lost and alone.
Of course, if Daziel could have glimpsed the chaotic whirlwind of thoughts spiraling through March 7th's mind, he'd have given her a good shake!
Silly girl, always jumping to ridiculous conclusions…
Speaking of Daziel, right on cue, he began to stir.
His eyelashes fluttered, then his eyes slowly blinked open.
The first thing Daziel saw was March 7th's tear-streaked face, her expression as delicate and vulnerable as a pear blossom in the rain. He froze, his expression shifting to stunned disbelief.
"Little March? What's wrong?"
Daziel's voice was husky with sleep, a gentle rasp in his tone.
His voice startled March 7th, snapping her out of her spiraling thoughts. She jerked her head up, her vision blurred by tears, and stared at Daziel, momentarily speechless.
"Y-you're awake…" The words were choked with sobs, making it sound heartbreakingly vulnerable.
"Yeah, I'm awake."
Daziel nodded, then pushed himself up to sit, rubbing his throbbing temples. "Last night… what happened after that?" He frowned, trying to piece together the fractured memories. He vaguely recalled being clobbered by March 7th with…a wine bottle? After that, everything was a blank.
"I… I don't know either…"
March 7th ducked her head, refusing to meet his gaze.
Daziel watched March 7th in this state, confusion clouding his features. He carefully scanned the room, his gaze catching on March 7th's slightly rumpled clothes, then his own bare chest, the tangled sheets…
Could it be…? Last night, did March 7th and I…
A terrifying thought slammed into Daziel. He quickly shook his head, trying to physically dislodge the impossible idea.
Impossible. There's no way I would have… I was unconscious! Nothing could have happened!
He shouldn't even be thinking such things…
But just then, the system's chime echoed in his mind.
"Ding!"
[Target character March 7th's Depravity Value increased by 5%]
[Current Depravity Value: 5%]
[Trigger Keyword: Thinks of herself as an unreserved woman]
[Please continue to work hard, Host, and strive for the underworldification of the Astral Express]
Daziel: Wait… what? 🤯
…
What in the world did that mean?
He hadn't even done anything! How could her depravity value have jumped by 5%?
And why was March 7th thinking of herself as "unreserved" again?
No, no, no. He had to nip these crazy thoughts of March 7th's in the bud, fast!
Daziel cleared his throat softly and said to March 7th, his face serious, "Little March, actually, about last night…"
"Don't say it! Please, just… don't!"
March 7th cut him off with a choked cry, near hysteria. "I already know! I know everything! You must think I'm awful, right? Waaah, waaaah, waaaah…"
Daziel felt a headache blooming behind his eyes. What was even happening?
He waved his hands frantically, trying to explain, "Little March, you've got it all wrong! I've never thought you were awful! You cannot think like that about yourself!"
"Waaah, waaaah… You don't have to try and make me feel better. I know… I know what I am…"
March 7th's sobs intensified, tears streaming down her face like shattered glass, drenching her collar.
Daziel watched March 7th crying, a delicate pear blossom battered by a storm, and felt utter helplessness wash over him.
He desperately wanted to explain, to set the record straight, but March 7th wasn't giving him an inch.
He'd always scoffed at those melodramatic scenes in TV dramas where the woman refused to listen, throwing a tantrum instead of hearing the explanation. Just shout it out! he'd always thought.
But now, faced with this reality, Daziel found the words caught in his throat.
The louder he spoke, the more likely he was to escalate her distress.
And besides, right now, March 7th was lost in her own world of emotion. Words wouldn't penetrate.
She choked and sobbed, her eyes swollen and red, mirroring a frightened, cornered animal, radiating pure fear and confusion, leaving no space for comfort, no opening for reassurance.
Sigh…
It seemed he had no choice but to wait for Little March to calm down before reason had any chance of breaking through.
Daziel sighed inwardly, a weight settling in his chest.
He watched March 7th's shoulders tremble with each sob, listened to her muffled cries, and a strange, unfamiliar tenderness stirred within him.
March 7th's raw vulnerability was genuinely heartbreaking.
As a man, I can't just stand here and let her cry like this, he thought, a quiet resolve hardening in his chest.
He leaned in, gently reaching out and drawing March 7th into his arms.
For a woman in this fragile state, there's nothing a hug can't fix.
And if there is…
Then try hugging for a little longer.
March 7th's body stiffened for a fleeting moment, clearly surprised by Daziel's sudden embrace.
She tilted her head up, looking at him through a tear-blurred haze, her eyes wide with bewilderment and lingering unease.
Daziel gently stroked March 7th's back, his voice soft and soothing, "Little March, please don't cry. Really, it's okay. Nothing happened between us last night."
"Y-you're lying…"
March 7th's voice was thick with tears, fragmented and broken. "You… you even took off your clothes… And… and I also…"
"That's because… because…"
Daziel trailed off, momentarily lost for words. When March 7th had knocked him out cold, his clothes had been perfectly intact.
When he'd woken up, they were… gone.
Now, even he was starting to question his own memory. Had something actually happened between them?
After all, the system notification was still ringing in his mental ears.
Depravity value increased by 5%…
The system prompt felt like a neon sign flashing the words: Something Indescribable Happened Here.
But… he had absolutely no recollection of anything!
Too… weird.
_______
Hey there! I'm Walnut-chan! 🌸 I'm translating this fanfic and restoring some +18 scenes that were cut from the original work—since explicit content isn't allowed in China. I went through everything carefully and reinserted the scenes while staying true to the story! Hope you enjoy it!
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I put a lot of love into these translations and plan to add even more over time! Let's aim for the top of the site! Who knows... maybe I'll go crazy and drop even more chapters! 🚀🔥