11 Friends of the Starry Sky Express

Rachel slipped the ring onto her pinky finger and leisurely stepped out of the Oakwood Mansion.

Just as Sunday had said: the reason she was being targeted was partly because of her abilities, but more so because she had already become entangled in this matter.

She had gotten involved in something not exactly pleasant, possibly very dangerous, and the biggest problem was that she possessed far less information than anyone else playing this “game.”

She was starting almost from scratch.

She knew of a stowaway, had vaguely heard the words “Clockmaker,” had a falling out with a masked fool, and had threatened a Rememberer—that was all she had done.

Of course, if she sought out the Starbound Train, she might glean useful information from those nameless guests. Given the train’s longstanding good reputation, Rachel figured they had probably shared all the clues the various Fate factions had uncovered so far.

This was also Sunday’s suggestion.

So, what should she choose?

To be an obedient worker? Or to have a little of her own ideas, like trying to become friends with the Starbound Train in a less rigid way?

Putting herself in others’ shoes, Rachel preferred friends without ulterior motives—such friendships were purer. She guessed the nameless guests aboard the Starbound Train felt the same.

But in the current situation, it was obvious that everyone harbored similar goals, so friendship without any agenda was almost impossible.

Then… what should she do?

Rachel walked out of Oakwood Mansion, pacing slowly through the few places where outsiders were allowed to roam during the sunlit hours. The sunlight in this dreamlike world was warm and bright every moment, and Rachel let it bathe her.

Aside from figuring out how to connect with the Starbound Train, Rachel found Sunday’s attitude somewhat odd.

Not exactly odd—more like this: he knew more related information but hadn’t shared it with her.

There were so many fates drawn into Pinoconi by invitation letters; those skilled at stirring trouble weren’t limited to the Pioneer path. If anyone was better at meddling in everything and stirring the waters, wasn’t Pleasure far more adept than Pioneer?

Besides, their record after encountering Miss Fireworks wasn’t bad at all.

So why was it the path called Pioneer?

The family and company were at odds, and probably didn’t have time to keep tabs on the Pleasure path lady.

Hmm…

Before coming to Pinoconi, out of old habits from her past life and an unchangeable character trait, Rachel had done a bit of research on Pinoconi, including its rise to prominence.

She knew about the family and company’s grudges, and understood that in Pinoconi’s pioneering history, nearly every fate had interfered in some way—including Pioneer.

If there was nowhere in Pinoconi hiding secrets that free-spirited Pioneers couldn’t just barge into… then she could only speculate based on the actions of the Pioneer path in Pinoconi’s past.

Rachel’s fingers traced lightly on her skirt, wanting to sketch out a mental map, but Sunday’s earlier casual remark about the Dream Master made her hesitate.

The Dream Master, who usually soared through Pinoconi’s skies in the form of a bird, watching everyone like an all-seeing camera—it sounded terrifying just to hear about.

Perhaps she could use the fact that she had been drawn into this matter to sense the brewing storm and connect with the Starbound Train to safeguard herself.

But… didn’t that sound a bit too useless?

Just as Rachel was pondering what she could do to at least make the Starbound Train feel it wouldn’t be a loss to bring her along, her ears twitched slightly.

From afar, she heard a rhythmic melody drifting.

“Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down…”

Rachel stayed still but cast her eyes toward the source of the song.

Earlier, the girl Fireworks, who had disguised herself as a tall man with deep blue hair, appeared without concealment, hopping and skipping joyfully along the street, seemingly still searching for a suitable target.

Compared to the Rememberer lady who entered without any background music (perhaps Rachel herself, as a Rememberer, had erased the associated memetic traces), this masked fool’s entrance was truly loud.

Quite the spectacle.

Rachel’s eyes suddenly lit up.

When you’re dozing off, someone always comes bearing a pillow. If you want to find a “souvenir” to bring to the Starbound Train, encountering the masked fool Fireworks was the perfect choice.

The girl who had previously used illusions and other small tricks to send her into that strange dream—wasn’t she the best “souvenir” imaginable?

Rachel crouched slightly, smiling with confidence as she strolled toward Fireworks, humming softly and reciting the lyrics:

“Spring’s warm blossoms carry away winter’s sorrow,
The breeze brings whispers of romance…”

Fireworks must have heard the humming; she turned toward the sound, but not only did she not avoid Rachel after her earlier loss, she began walking toward her.

A mutual approach.

That phrase flashed in Rachel’s mind. She knew then that the masked fool was no pushover—they were highly capable and had a strong desire to stir things up.

They were truly moving toward each other.

In every sense.

The instant Fireworks saw Rachel, her eyes brightened, and her steps quickened with joyful hops.

Rachel didn’t know Fireworks’ exact intentions, and suspected even Fireworks wasn’t sure what she wanted to do next, but that didn’t matter—for now.

Because—

Rachel looked down at the fool who had lifted her face and finally stood before her. Without hesitation, she knelt on one knee, grasped Fireworks’ hand, and passionately declared, “Listen to me, hand in hand, come walk with me, create a life of happiness. Yesterday’s too late, tomorrow will be regret…”

She winked at Fireworks.

Fireworks raised an eyebrow, still unaware of the seriousness of the situation, and smiled mischievously: “Darling, are you so smitten that you can’t live without me, and must propose right now?”

Pinoconi was a very free planet. With so many wealthy people here, even families had to make small compromises. Gender? Well, even supermarket shopping bags had genders here. So a woman proposing to another woman was no big deal.

The few passersby quickly averted their eyes, and not one pulled out a phone to record this sudden moment.

Rachel sincerely said to Fireworks, “I just want to hold your hand, Miss Fireworks. Will you come with me?”

By now she had placed one hand on the ground to rise and dusted off her hands, still holding Fireworks’ hand tightly.

Fireworks: “Why should I come with you—”

Her playful expression vanished. She tried to pull her hand back from Rachel’s grasp, but no matter how many times she tried, she couldn’t break free.

Fireworks: ?

She, a fate-walker skilled in combat and martial arts, couldn’t even pull away her hand?

Suddenly Fireworks realized something. Twice now, she had suffered small but significant setbacks against this woman she had never met before and knew nothing about. The root cause was that the other’s moves were always fast, steady, precise—even if there was a wind-up, it was prepared in advance. When facing her, there was no time to struggle; the skills were used immediately.

By contrast, Fireworks preferred to exchange some words first—be it sarcasm or teasing—before revealing her true intent, and that cost her speed.

Fireworks recognized the importance of striking first. Though it was too late now, she silently vowed: next time, she would be faster.

Having achieved her goal, Rachel smiled and held Fireworks’ wrist firmly: “Come on, hand in hand, walk with me.”

She deliberately emphasized “hand in hand” and “walk together.”

That song ensured Fireworks couldn’t break free, and also guaranteed Rachel wouldn’t be carried away by Fireworks—in the end, it was “listen to me,” not “listen to Fireworks.”

As an ordinary first-year college student with average athletic ability, Rachel wasn’t as fragile as those seniors who had become weak without physical tests, but if they fought one-on-one fairly, the odds would be nine to one.

Fireworks would send her smiling to the afterlife with a single kick.

*

Whether students or the Starbound Train, in essence, both were groups that were not easily guarded against.

Students, especially university students, had some of the clearest eyes in the world (though Rachel was not included), and the Pioneers had good morals. As long as they didn’t demand to dock at the Tyco Ammonia Arena, few could refuse them.

The front desk staff directed Rachel to the floor where the nameless guests were and told her she could sit in the bar on that floor. After all, she was already at the Daydream Hotel—who stayed cooped up in their rooms all day?

Either soaking in dreams or drinking in the bar—that was the consensus of the hotel’s real-world staff, and it was applicable ninety-nine percent of the time.

Sure enough, Rachel found a nameless guest in the bar—not the tall gray-haired lady, but a middle-aged man holding a cane, exuding calm and reliability.

Sunday had shown her a photo; she recognized him as Walter Young from the Starbound Train group.

Rachel approached him—

Still holding Fireworks’ hand.