"The master of the space station?"
Bai Ming tilted her head, genuine confusion knitting her brow. "Isn't that Asta? I already know her!"
The mere mention of Asta made March 7th's eye twitch visibly. She took a steadying breath, clearly fighting for patience. "It's not her! It's Herta! This is the Herta Space Station."
"Oh." Bai Ming's expression cleared. "Let's go then! We mustn't keep Miss Himeko waiting!"
"Just you need to go," March corrected gently. "Himeko was specific about that."
"Just me?" Bai Ming's face fell into an exaggerated pout. "But I want to go with you!"
A faint blush colored March's cheeks. "I'd like that too, but Uncle Yang needs Dan Heng and me on the Express."
"I see." Bai Ming's disappointment lasted precisely two seconds before she brightened, waving her new phone excitedly. "March! Now that I have this, let me take your picture for my wallpaper!"
"No!" March's hands flew up in protest, her cheeks flushing deeper. "People might see!"
"Not even one little picture?" Bai Ming pleaded with puppy-dog eyes.
"I said no!"
"But I don't wannaaaa!" Bai Ming began rolling dramatically across the medical bed. "Just one! Please?"
March crossed her arms, though her resolve seemed to waver at Bai Ming's antics. "No pictures... but we could exchange numbers?"
Bai Ming's despair vanished instantly. "Yes! Let's do that!"
As they programmed their contacts, March smiled. "There, now we can talk whenever."
She noticed Bai Ming typing intently. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing!" Bai Ming tried to hide her phone, but March's curiosity was piqued.
"Show me."
"If I don't?"
"Then I'll ignore you forever."
"You wouldn't!" At March's stern look, Bai Ming reluctantly surrendered her device.
March's face flooded with color as she read the screen. "Why is my contact name 'Girlfriend'?! And your profile says 'March7thIsMyGirlfriend'?!"
Bai Ming gave a guilty grin. "Ehe~"
"Change it! Now!"
"What about 'MyGirlfriendIsMarch7th'?"
"That's the same thing!"
"'IAmMarch7thsGirlfriend'?"
"Somehow worse!" After considerable negotiation, Bai Ming's profile name returned to normal, though she managed to keep March's contact as "March (Prospective Girlfriend)."
"I can't believe you!" March facepalmed. "If anyone sees this..."
"Then we just won't explain!" Bai Ming chirped.
"Just... go find Himeko." March sighed in fond exasperation.
Bai Ming bounded from the bed with impossible energy for someone who'd recently faced a Doomsday Beast. "I'm off!"
"Wait!" March called out suddenly. "Bai Ming..."
Bai Ming turned, already grinning. "You've changed your mind about the names!"
"Nothing!" Another light chop landed on Bai Ming's head. "Just... talk to me after you see Himeko. And hide that contact name!"
As Bai Ming left, March sighed. She needed to apologize for her harsh words in the analysis room, but the moment never seemed right.
---
Moving through the space station, Bai Ming noticed the changed atmosphere immediately. Crew members watched her with mixed awe and curiosity - some viewing her as a hero, others as something unnaturally powerful. She basked in the attention, though she resisted the urge to summon her armor. Flashy wasn't always better.
She found Himeko sipping coffee in one of the lounges, elegant as always. "Miss Himeko!"
Himeko looked up with a warm smile. "You're here, little Bai Ming."
"Little Bai Ming?"
"Does that bother you? I could call you something else."
"No! I love anything you call me!" Bai Ming took a seat, beaming.
"Are you recovered? You were out for quite some time."
"Never better! Ready for that marriage certificate whenever you are!"
Himeko's laughter chimed like bells. "You remember that promise? The space station doesn't offer that service, unfortunately." Her expression softened. "You know why I asked to see you?"
"To meet Herta? March told me."
As if summoned, the elevator chimed. A small figure approached - a girl in a lavender dress with a tilted beret, whose cute appearance starkly contrasted with her imperious demeanor.
"I leave for a few months," the girl said, her voice dripping with disdain, "and the station falls to pieces?"
Himeko remained unruffled. "Welcome back, Herta. This is Herta, the station's true master. Member #83 of the Genius Society."
"Must you lead with that?" Herta placed a hand on her hip. "I have countless achievements more impressive than some arbitrary number."
Bai Ming bit her lip hard to suppress a laugh at "Genius Society."
"You find this amusing?" Herta's sharp purple eyes narrowed.
"Not at all! I just thought of something happy."
"You've been smiling since I arrived. By denying it, you've essentially admitted the truth."
Caught, Bai Ming could only blink.
"Laugh if you must," Herta shrugged. "The name was Zandar's doing anyway."
"Oh! So we're allies against silly names!" Bai Ming declared.
Herta's scrutinizing gaze swept over Bai Ming. "So this child hosts the Stellaron now?"
"Child?"
"Himeko confirmed it," Herta circled Bai Ming like a predator. "I'll need to examine this properly."
After several laps, she stopped. "Where's the Stellaron located?"
"In her chest, based on the energy emission during the Doomsday Beast incident," Himeko supplied.
"Her chest? How inconvenient." Herta's eyes locked onto Bai Ming. "Pick me up. I need a closer look."
"Excuse me?!" Bai Ming bristled at the commanding tone.
Himeko laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Please bear with her, just this once."
Reluctantly, Bai Ming lifted the smaller girl. To her shock, Herta immediately pressed her face against Bai Ming's chest.
"What are you doing?!" Bai Ming yelped.
"Quiet! I'm working."
"Could you work somewhere less... personal?!"
"It's just your chest," Herta said dismissively. "There's hardly anything there to be modest about."
Bai Ming spluttered indignantly.
"Fine," Herta relented without moving. "I believe in reciprocity. You may examine me in return if you wish." She fixed Bai Ming with a challenging stare. "Satisfied?"
-------
A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Life Simulator: Starting in Genshin Impact!
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
patreon.com/deadlygoober