Himeko blinked, caught off guard. "Ah?"
She didn't understand. How could he fix anything without materials or tools?
Seeing her bewildered expression, Yuki's lips curved into a slight smile. He offered no explanation—just told her to watch and see.
Himeko fell silent, stepping back to observe.
Yuki raised his hand, about to snap his fingers—
"Wait!" March 7th interrupted. "You're seriously going to fix this whole train without anything? Not even a wrench?"
Yuki shot her a flat look. "Silly goose. Shut up and watch."
"Hey! Don't call me that! I'm not a goose!"
Ignoring her protests, Yuki snapped his fingers.
Click.
A deep rumble echoed through the dock. The train's engines roared to life. Lights blazed to life along its length, illuminating the underground space in a warm glow. The headlights cut through the darkness ahead. With a soft hiss, the passenger doors slid open, and the boarding ramp extended—an invitation.
March 7th shrieked and ducked behind Yuki, clutching his sleeve. "Ahh! It—it just lit up! Is there... is there a ghost?!"
Yuki's eye twitched.
If he didn't already know—thanks to his omniscience—that this girl was Fuli's daughter, he'd seriously doubt it.
Himeko, meanwhile, stood frozen. Her hands trembled. Her breath caught. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes.
"It... it worked?" she whispered, voice shaking.
"Of course." Yuki nodded toward the open door. "Go on."
Himeko took a steadying breath and stepped forward. Her eyes never left that open doorway.
It wasn't just a door. It was a threshold. The start of everything she'd ever dreamed.
She placed one foot on the ramp. Then the other. Step by step, she climbed toward the train that had consumed her youth, her heart, her hope—now alive once more.
Himeko ascended the ramp with a reverence usually reserved for sacred ceremonies.
This was the first time she had stepped aboard a fully operational Astral Express. It felt like setting foot on a ship about to set sail—a voyage into the unknown, into the cosmos itself.
Yuki watched her slow, deliberate steps with a faint smile. Then he glanced back at March 7th.
"If you're this easily scared, how are you going to survive as a Nameless?" he teased.
March 7th flushed. "I—I was just startled! You fixed it and started it so suddenly! I'm not scared!"
With that, she brushed past him and hurried up the ramp after Himeko.
Yuki shrugged. My fault, I guess.
He followed them aboard.
Inside, the train's interior was elegant—a tasteful blend of black, gold, and red. A vintage aesthetic that felt timeless and refined.
March 7th's eyes widened. "So beautiful!"
Himeko nodded softly, drinking in every detail. "Yes... it really is."
They passed through the buffer area and entered the main hall.
To Yuki, the space was familiar—like stepping into the game itself. But compared to its fully furnished counterpart, this version felt sparse. Fewer seats. Fewer decorations. Fewer amenities.
"Kinda... empty, isn't it?" March 7th murmured, looking around. "This must be the main hall, right?"
Himeko nodded, descending the short staircase into the open space. "It's certainly spacious enough."
March 7th followed her down. "Spacious is one word for it. There's practically nothing here!"
Himeko smiled. "That's true. But the hardest part is done. The rest is simple—furniture, decorations, a little creativity. We'll make it our own."
March 7th's eyes lit up. "Ooh! Redecorating?! That sounds fun! I wanna help!"
"That would be wonderful, little March." Himeko's smile was warm and genuine.
March 7th grabbed her hand eagerly. "Come on, Sister Himeko! Let's check out the next car!"
Himeko laughed softly. "Alright, alright."
"Oh! Yuki! You too!" March 7th reached back and grabbed his hand, tugging him along.
Yuki raised an eyebrow at her.
She noticed his expression. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing. Just surprised you didn't forget me this time."
March 7th lifted her chin proudly. "Of course! I don't make the same mistake twice! Now come on!"
Himeko watched the exchange with quiet amusement. But her gaze lingered on March 7th's hand wrapped around Yuki's. A flicker of something—envy, perhaps—passed through her before she brushed it aside and followed.
The next car was exactly as Yuki remembered from the game: a corridor lined with three separate rooms.
March 7th peered inside each one. "These are bedrooms!"
Himeko nodded. "The following cars are probably more of the same. Storage, medical bay..."
They explored separately for a while. Eventually, Yuki returned to the main hall.
Himeko arrived shortly after. "Where's little March?" she asked.
Yuki gestured vaguely ahead. "Kitchen car. Driver's cabin. Probably both."
Himeko smiled softly and moved to stand beside him.
"The Express is fully restored now," she said quietly. "It can finally return to the stars. I owe you more than I can say, Mr. Yuki."
She bowed slightly—a gesture of sincere gratitude.
Yuki waved it off. "It was nothing. A simple matter."
And it was. For him, restoring the Express had taken no more effort than a passing thought.
"Still." Himeko tucked a strand of crimson hair behind her ear, her golden eyes soft as they met his. "You're my benefactor now. It's only right that I repay you somehow."
They stood only a few paces apart. Close enough that she could catch the faint, clean scent of him—the subtle presence of a man unlike any she'd ever met. It stirred something in her chest. Something warm.