'W-What did he mean by that...?'
Upon hearing Lucian's words, Himeko's thoughts immediately fell into complete disarray, and the tips of her ears turned crimson with embarrassment.
Himeko wasn't stupid.
Even if Lucian's words had been wrapped in jokes and casual teasing, she could still tell that he was flirting with her.
If non-lovers couldn't board the Astral Express, then what else were they supposed to do?
A lone man and a lone woman standing together inside the empty Astral Express—didn't that mean the only solution was to become lovers right then and there?
However, Himeko wasn't ready to face that possibility yet, nor did she have the courage to casually define a relationship that could determine the course of her future.
More importantly, she was afraid.
Afraid that Lucian wouldn't be able to remain by her side until the very end.
Throughout her life, everyone had merely been a passerby. People entered her world, stayed for a while, and then left, disappearing into the flow of time just as quickly as they had arrived. No matter how unforgettable the encounters had seemed at the time, they had all eventually become memories swallowed by the years.
For that reason, she was afraid that Lucian might end up being the same.
Perhaps he was simply another traveler passing through her life, leaving behind beautiful memories before continuing onward toward his own destination. If that day truly came, then everything they had shared would become nothing more than another fleeting chapter in her life.
Because of that, she didn't dare to make her feelings clear, nor did she dare to accept his.
"No, that's not even the important part. Akivili just misunderstood our relationship..."
Himeko hurriedly pulled her hand free from Lucian's grasp and forced herself to look elsewhere, pretending that her attention had been completely captured by the Astral Express itself.
Using curiosity as an excuse, she wandered through the various compartments, taking pictures and examining everything she could find, as though the Astral Express itself was far more interesting than the man standing beside her.
Every new discovery became another convenient excuse to avoid meeting his gaze, allowing her to hide the turmoil in her heart behind the excitement of exploring the legendary train.
Watching her flee from the conversation, Lucian could only shake his head and chuckle helplessly.
It seemed he wouldn't be winning her over anytime soon.
Still, there was no need to rush.
He understood that some things simply required time, especially matters of the heart. Feelings couldn't be forced, and trust couldn't be built overnight.
According to the original course of events, Himeko would discover the Astral Express this year and spend some time repairing it herself, eventually managing to get it operational enough to return home.
However, restoring it to its former glory and preparing it for true interstellar voyages would still have required many more years of painstaking work afterward.
Of course, with Lucian's involvement, things were completely different.
Because of him, what would have taken years was instead accomplished in mere minutes.
As a result, the Astral Express was now fully restored and fully functional, capable of setting off immediately and ready to carry its passengers across the stars as true Trailblazers once more.
"Well, Himeko? Now that the Astral Express is fixed, do you wanna leave, board it, become a Trailblazer, and finally see everything you've always wanted to with your own eyes?"
Lucian's voice carried a gentle smile as he asked the question.
Himeko slowly raised her head, her gaze first meeting his deep, smiling eyes before gradually drifting toward the open train door nearby.
Beyond that doorway lay endless possibilities.
Vast cosmos.
Unknown civilizations.
Countless worlds waiting to be explored.
Everything she had dreamed about since childhood seemed to be waiting just beyond that threshold, close enough that she could almost reach out and touch it.
Yet after a brief silence, Himeko gently shook her head.
"But I haven't graduated from university yet. I've already paid my tuition, and I still haven't finished learning everything. It'd be a waste..."
"Ah... that makes sense."
Lucian nodded in understanding, and inwardly, he couldn't help but admire her.
Even when faced with the opportunity to fulfill her lifelong dream immediately, Himeko still remembered her responsibilities and refused to abandon the path she had already chosen. Rather than acting on impulse, she chose to finish what she had started before pursuing the future she had always envisioned.
Needless to say, she really was a diligent and practical girl.
"In that case, we'll wait..." Lucian said with a gentle smile. "Once you graduate, I'll become a Trailblazer and travel with you too."
And so, the matter was settled without either of them saying anything more.
In the end, the Astral Express was temporarily stored within Lucian's storage space, and the two of them returned to university life as though nothing extraordinary had happened, while their miraculous encounter aboard the legendary train quietly remained a secret known only to the two of them.
Yet despite returning to their ordinary routines, things between them were no longer the same.
After that birthday surprise, Himeko and Lucian grew closer with each passing day.
Both of them spent more time together than before, whether attending classes, eating meals, or simply walking across campus while chatting about ordinary things.
To outsiders, they already looked like a couple, and most people around them simply assumed they were already dating because Himeko had never publicly denied those rumors, while at the same time, neither of them had ever officially confirmed anything.
Both of them understood the truth that they weren't lovers, at least not yet.
They simply remained suspended within that delicate, ambiguous space between friendship and romance, each quietly waiting for the day when the final step could be taken naturally.
Lucian honestly didn't mind.
Time was something he possessed in abundance, so there was no reason to rush. He was willing to wait patiently until Himeko was ready to face her own feelings without fear or hesitation.
When she finally untangled the fears buried deep within her heart, everything would naturally fall into place.
===
Two years later, the Astral Express pierced through the atmosphere and surged into the endless sea of stars.
On the ground below, countless people lifted their heads and watched the magnificent train disappear into the sky.
None of them knew who was aboard.
None of them knew where it was going.
All they could do was silently witness the beginning of a journey destined to cross the cosmos, carrying its passengers toward an unknown future among the stars.
Inside the Parlor Car, Lucian and Himeko stood side by side before the enormous viewing window, watching Himeko's homeworld slowly shrink in the distance as the Astral Express climbed higher and higher.
Gradually, the familiar world where they had spent so many years together became smaller, until it was little more than a blue sphere suspended within the endless darkness of space.
"Can you really bring yourself to leave?"
Lucian asked quietly.
Himeko gazed at the receding planet for several long seconds before a gentle smile gradually appeared on her face.
"Mm, there's nothing here worth keeping me anymore. I want to explore every corner of the cosmos... Maybe one day in the future, when I'm too old to walk, I'll come back here and bring my trailblaze dream to an end."
"If that's the case, then we'll be adventuring together for decades, maybe even centuries..." Lucian said softly as he turned to her with a warm smile. "I'm not complaining, though. Honestly, that sounds like a pretty nice way to spend all that time."
As his eyes lingered on Himeko, he realized that the girl he had first met years ago had quietly grown into a truly remarkable woman.
Compared to when she had just reached adulthood, she now possessed a mature elegance that made her even more captivating.
Time hadn't diminished her beauty in the slightest. Instead, it had polished away the youthful innocence she once carried, replacing it with a graceful confidence that naturally drew people's attention.
Just like the Himeko he knew in reality, she now wore her iconic white, sleeveless toga gown dress with a sweetheart neckline, though it was covered beneath a black coat lined with gold, with white ruffles extending from the sleeves and decorated with elegant gold ornaments and rose motifs.
Her neck-length red hair had also grown into beautiful, waist-length wavy locks, making the noble lady's aura surrounding her even more pronounced.
Needless to say, the entire combination suited her perfectly.
Her posture was graceful, her temperament calm and confident, and every movement carried an effortless charm that made it difficult for anyone to look away once their eyes landed on her.
In the next moment, however, Lucian's gaze drifted downward and immediately stopped.
'Hmm, have those boobs gotten even bigger than before?'
Lucian's eyes settled on Himeko's chest.
Because the collar of her coat wasn't particularly high, from where he stood, he could easily catch a glimpse of the narrow valley concealed beneath the fabric, with the fair curves faintly visible there proving difficult to ignore, especially as they became even more noticeable with every subtle movement she made.
Honestly speaking, her figure was dangerous—the kind of dangerous that could make perfectly rational men forget how to think rationally.
If Lucian hadn't undergone years of rigorous beauty-resistance training, he might genuinely have embarrassed himself by staring for far too long.
"Thank you for being willing to adventure with me..."
Himeko suddenly spoke, her voice noticeably softer than before.
Lucian looked back up, his gaze meeting hers once again.
In that instant, he saw that she was smiling—a sincere, heartfelt smile that reached her eyes.
"You know... the years I've spent with you have been the happiest time of my life..."
As Himeko's words fell, the atmosphere inside the Parlor Car immediately became quieter and more emotional, as though even the gentle hum of the Astral Express had faded into the background.
Lucian stared at her silently for a moment before calmly reaching out.
He grabbed both sides of her coat and gently pulled them together before fastening the front one button after another, making sure every trace of exposed skin disappeared from sight.
"When you're around outsiders, keep your collar up," Lucian said with complete seriousness as he gave the coat one last careful adjustment. "And make sure you're covered properly. Every part of you is a treasure. Treasures are meant to stay hidden."
Himeko didn't resist and simply allowed him to button up her coat, though she couldn't help rolling her eyes at his overly possessive behavior.
"You're not an outsider."
Hearing her words, Lucian smiled, and his gaze deliberately returned to her tempting chest.
"Oh, so your collar was that low because you wanted to get my attention?"
"..."
Himeko immediately shot Lucian an exasperated look after hearing him make it sound as though she had deliberately dressed that way for his sake.
Was she really that shameless?
"Is it really that low?"
Himeko lowered her head to inspect herself, but all she could see was the faint line of her cleavage and nothing more.
It didn't seem particularly revealing, at least not in her opinion.
Yet Lucian clearly thought otherwise.
He slowly raised a finger and gently pointed to a spot just below her collarbone.
"Right about here would be perfect," Lucian said, his expression completely serious as he casually gestured with his hand. "It'll keep my treasure properly covered."
"What do you mean, your treasure... nonsense..."
Himeko softly scolded Lucian and pushed his hand away, unable to stop the faint blush from creeping onto her face.
Even so, she secretly memorized the exact spot he had indicated.
From now on, she would probably use that as her standard whenever she chose clothes. Otherwise, he would definitely find another excuse to complain.
By all logic, their conversation should have been unbearably embarrassing, yet somehow, whenever the topic involved Lucian, everything felt strangely natural.
They could discuss subjects like this without awkwardness.
They could even casually touch one another without either of them feeling uncomfortable.
In fact, even Himeko found it difficult to understand why she felt so completely at ease around him—there was no disgust, no resistance, and no instinctive desire to pull away.
Instead, whenever he was by her side, an inexplicable sense of comfort quietly settled over her, making everything feel perfectly natural.
Deep down, however, she already knew the answer.
Lucian had stolen her heart long ago, so long ago that she had never even realized when it had happened.
Just like that, the two of them stood quietly beside one another for several minutes, silently admiring the endless sea of stars beyond the glass as the peaceful atmosphere settled naturally between them.
Eventually, Himeko was the first to break the silence.
"Lucian..."
"Hm?"
"If a few more years pass and we still haven't separated..."
Her voice gradually softened until it was barely louder than a whisper.
"I want to..."
Lucian immediately became alert.
For someone like Himeko, who had always feared becoming attached to others because of the inevitable pain of separation, words like those carried enormous significance, since she rarely opened her heart to anyone, keeping an invisible distance even from those closest to her.
Most relationships in her life had always remained carefully controlled, never allowed to deepen beyond a certain point.
Yet Lucian's unwavering companionship, constant affection, and patient persistence had gradually worn away those invisible walls she had built around herself.
At last, the tightly knotted feelings buried deep within her heart seemed to be loosening.
'Is she finally gonna accept me?'
Just as Lucian quietly prepared himself to hear the answer he had been waiting for...
"Pom, the Astral Express started? Did you two repair the train, pom?"
A sudden voice shattered the delicate atmosphere completely.
Lucian didn't even need to turn around because he already knew there was only one being in the entire cosmos who spoke like that.
Who else could it possibly be besides Pom-Pom?
Himeko, however, nearly jumped in surprise before immediately turning toward the source of the voice.
Standing there was a small rabbit-like creature wearing a red train conductor's uniform and a matching hat, looking exactly like a professional railway employee despite its adorable appearance.
"...Is this another toy you made? Trying to surprise me again?"
Himeko glanced at Lucian with a suspicious look.
"Pom-Pom isn't a toy!" Pom-Pom instantly puffed up in outrage. "Pom-Pom is the conductor of the Astral Express, pom!"
Pom-Pom's indignant declaration left Himeko momentarily stunned.
'Uhh, this tiny creature is the conductor?'
Himeko had honestly assumed this cute little rabbit-like creature was simply some sort of mascot.
A faint smile immediately tugged at the corner of her lips.
In her opinion, only Lucian deserved to be called the true conductor.
As for this little rabbit, honestly, keeping her as a pet didn't seem like a bad idea.
After all, Lucian was the one who had repaired the Astral Express and was even connected to Akivili, so as far as she was concerned, his words naturally carried the greatest authority aboard the Astral Express.
"Thank you for repairing the Astral Express!" Pom-Pom proudly puffed out their chest. "From now on, you're passengers, and this conductor will take good care of you, pom!"
Right after finishing speaking, Pom-Pom reached into seemingly nowhere and produced two golden tickets before proudly presenting them to the pair.
"Here, these are your passenger tickets. Please keep them safe!"
Seeing the tickets, Lucian accepted them without hesitation.
At the same time, however, a question quietly surfaced in his mind.
'Where the hell did these tickets even come from?'
He had thoroughly inspected every corner of the Astral Express before and had never found anything resembling passenger tickets.
Did Pom-Pom somehow create them out of thin air?
If so, that was genuinely impressive.
No wonder Pom-Pom was the conductor.
Lucian had never been interested in taking the conductor's position anyway, because he understood better than anyone that Pom-Pom was the true heart of the Astral Express.
In his eyes, without Pom-Pom, there would be no conductor.
In fact, not even Akivili, the Aeon of Trailblaze, could replace Pom-Pom, because even THEY could only board the Astral Express as a passenger.
"What's the background of this little guy?"
Leaning slightly closer, Himeko lowered her voice and quietly asked.
"A hidden powerhouse..." Lucian leaned toward her ear and answered in an equally quiet whisper. "Both the Aeon of Elation and the Aeon of Trailblaze have been scolded by Pom-Pom before. If you really make Pom-Pom mad, you'll end up getting used as a speed bump."
Himeko froze, and her beautiful eyes slowly widened in disbelief.
In the very next instant, she turned her gaze back toward the tiny conductor standing proudly in front of them.
"..."
After remaining silent for a brief moment, Himeko gave a solemn nod.
"Mm, this little guy really is something..."
===
[A bonus chapter for every 300 Power Stones]
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