Chapter 6:

“You know, March… one plus one equals eleven.”
Stelle declared this with the solemnity of a philosopher revealing a forbidden truth.

March stared at her, deadpan. “…You’re actually an idiot, aren’t you?”

“Look—what is ‘plus,’ March?” Stelle demanded.

March rubbed her temples. “Stelle, really? ‘Plus’ is the process of combining two or more numbers to find their total.”

“Exactly. Combining.” Stelle lifted her chin smugly. “And when you combine two ones together, what shape do you get? Not a two—but 11.”

March let out a strangled groan, covering her ears. “Stop talking! Stop twisting logic!”

“You can’t escape the truth! Wahahaha!” Stelle cackled.

“What are you two doing now…?”
Eidan, fresh from his meeting with Himeko and Herta, walked straight into what he recognized as an intellectual disaster.

“Eidan!” March grabbed his shoulders and shook him. “Tell her! Tell this brained gremlin that one plus one is NOT eleven!”

“Eidan, don’t listen to her! You get me, right?” Stelle shot him a proud, confident look—as if she expected him to praise her genius.

Eidan stared at them for a long moment… then sighed.

“Well… Stelle, you’re wrong.”

March exhaled in relief. “FINALLY. See, Stelle—”

“Wrong?!” Stelle looked personally offended. “I literally explained it! Combining! Logic! Shape!”

“Tsk tsk…” Eidan shook his head with exaggerated disappointment. “Stelle, how can you lack such basic common sense?”

March nodded vigorously. “Exactly—wait, what are you—”

“It’s not eleven,” Eidan continued, raising a finger dramatically.
“It should be… T.”

Both girls froze.

“…What?” Stelle whispered.

March’s smile died. She slowly turned her head toward Eidan, horror growing on her face.

“You said combining, right?” Eidan continued smoothly. “But ‘11’ isn’t combined—they’re not touching. But a T? Two ones crossing—perfectly combined.”

Stelle staggered. “H-How… how could I overlook that…?”

She dropped to her knees, dramatically punching the floor in self-loathing.

Eidan patted her shoulder. “It’s fine, Stelle. You still have room to grow.”

Slowly, Stelle lifted her face, eyes burning with new determination.

“You’re right… I can’t give up here.”

She rose to her feet, turning her back on them like a tragic hero stepping into destiny.

“Thank you, Eidan.”

“You can do it, future hero!” Eidan pumped his fist encouragingly.

“I will,” Stelle said, walking forward with purpose.

It would’ve been a touching scene—

If the subject matter wasn’t ridiculously stupid.

March stood there, staring blankly into the void, utterly defeated by the conversation.
“…Why do I even bother anymore?”

She took a deep breath—then her expression darkened.
“Words won’t work. This time… physical force will.”

Eidan and Stelle both froze.

They turned.

March was drawing her bow.

“Eidan,” Stelle whispered. “I think you went too far.”

“What? Me? This was YOUR idea!” Eidan hissed back—already backing away.

“You’re already running!” Stelle shouted as he turned and bolted.

“You two aren’t escaping!!” March roared.

“Run faster, Eidan!” Stelle chased after him.

“I’m trying!!” Eidan yelled, sprinting like his life depended on it.

And behind them March charged, bow ready, eyes full of righteous fury.

Not far from the commotion, Dan Heng glanced over his shoulder.
He shook his head, utterly unfazed—as if this were just another typical day with this crew.
Without a word, he turned and walked away from the “crime scene.”

Behind him, March 7th was already chasing Eidan with murderous determination, hurling her bow like a javelin.
Eidan might have survived unscathed—if Stelle hadn’t dragged him in front of her as a human shield.

“W–wait, wait!! March, I’m sorry!!” Eidan begged, voice cracking.

“You’re not sorry,” March snapped, stalking toward him. “This time I’m teaching you a lesson.”

“Stelle!! Help me!!” Eidan shouted toward the elevator.

The doors were already closing around Stelle.

“You can do it!” she said cheerfully, giving him a thumbs-up before disappearing behind the metal doors.

“…”

Eidan stared blankly at the closed elevator, speechless.
Slowly—very slowly—he turned back toward March.

“Uh… can it be painless?” he asked, voice trembling.

“No,” March replied instantly.

Moments later, Eidan lay sprawled on the floor looking like a corpse.
A puddle of red spread dramatically under him.

It wasn’t blood—just ketchup someone had dropped when they witnessed March unleashing her stress on him.
Still, the scene looked disturbingly like a homicide.

March 7th sat on a nearby bench, humming contentedly, legs swinging. Clearly she felt much better.

From a distance, Stelle peeked around the corner at Eidan.
She clasped her hands and whispered a prayer for his survival.

Eidan’s eyes snapped toward her.
Stelle blinked, watching his lips move.

“ …there will be trash can?” she whispered, trying to interpret from afar.

What Eidan actually said was: “There will be vengeance.”

“Not only did he protect me from March’s wrath… he even wants to give me more trash cans?!” Stelle muttered, touched. “Eidan is so kind…”

She wiped her nose, then gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Eidan’s eye twitched.
Stelle was clearly misunderstanding him—but maybe that would help with the surprise later.

With great effort, Eidan pushed himself upright.
His entire body shook.

“Hurts like hell… is she part gorilla?” he muttered.

“Ahem.”

Eidan froze. “Oh. March.”

She leaned forward slightly. “Does it still hurt?”

“N–not really,” he lied immediately.

March frowned. “I’m sorry. But you should’ve expected it when you tease me like that!”

“Haha… well… it can’t be helped. Teasing you is fun.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to laugh it off.

“Hmph.” March crossed her arms, cheeks slightly puffed.

“Yo again!” Stelle suddenly popped out of nowhere like a jump-scare mascot.

“March calmed down thanks to you, Eidan! You did great!” she said proudly, slapping his back.

“Guh—!”
Eidan grit his teeth. The area Stelle had just hit was exactly where March had brutalized him minutes ago.

He winced and clutched his back, glaring at her before letting out a defeated sigh.

Still… he still need Paths to walk. Even if that Paths from the Aeon of Elation.

He needed a Paths—any Paths—that would let him tease people without getting hurt.

…Wait. Why did that suddenly sound like such a weird life goal?

Well—whatever.

He’d just treat it as a side quest.

The main quest was still the same

Get stronger.

Teasing without consequences could come later.

------divide-----

In the Master Control Room, Asta moved briskly between consoles, issuing instructions to staff as holographic screens flickered around her. She was mid-sentence when she heard footsteps—slow, uneven ones—followed by a familiar voice.

“Hello, Asta. There’s something important I need to tell you,” Eidan said.

“Yes? What is—”
She turned, and the words died in her throat.

“Eidan?! What happened to you?!” Asta hurried over, eyes widening as she took in the bruises, the stiff posture, the bandaged arm he was clutching.

“Ahem. It’s nothing. I just… fell.” Eidan forced a laugh.

Asta stared at him, unconvinced. Fell. Right. And the sun suddenly rose from the west.

“Well, even if you did fall, you should still get treated,” she muttered firmly.

Before he could protest, she grabbed the front of his shirt and started dragging him out of the control room.

“Um—” Eidan faltered but didn’t resist. Asta’s determination could rival a star explosion.

By the time they arrived at the infirmary, the doctor had already patched him up. Asta thanked the medic with a small nod before turning her focus back to Eidan.

“So,” she began, hands on her hips, “what was that important matter you wanted to tell me earlier?”

Eidan stretched his arms experimentally. The pain had faded to something tolerable.

“Well… ahem. I’m planning to join the Astral Express.”

“I see… Wait. You’re joining?” Asta blinked at him, confused. She knew the crew had invited him before—multiple times—but he always declined, choosing to stay on the space station and help her.

So why now?

“Ahem… It’s not really a plan. I… already joined. Today.”

Asta froze. “What?”

Disappointment flashed across her face—quick, but unmistakable.
“I knew you’d leave someday,” she murmured, “but I didn’t think it would be this soon.”

“Asta, it’s not like I’m going forever!” Eidan leaned forward, trying to lift her spirits. “I can still visit the station anytime.”

“I know.” She sighed. “It’s just… we won’t see each other as often as before. You’re one of my close friends, Eidan. It’ll get a bit lonely without you around.”

Eidan fell silent for a moment, unsure how to respond.
“…Didn’t we exchange numbers? We can still talk online!”

Asta suddenly let out a laugh.
“Pfft—! I know. I just wanted to see how you’d react if I acted upset. And you didn’t disappoint at all.”

“Eh?” Eidan blinked. Betrayal. Pure betrayal.

“It’s fine, Eidan.” Asta smiled warmly. “I understand you, and I support you. I’m happy you’ve decided to see the universe instead of staying cooped up here forever.”

“Uh—you scared me for a moment!” Eidan rubbed the back of his head with a nervous laugh.

Asta chuckled softly.
“…It’s not like everything I said earlier was untrue,” she added under her breath, turning away slightly.

“So, when are you leaving?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. Himeko and the others don’t seem ready to depart yet. Maybe I’ll stay here a few more days before boarding the train.”

“I see.” Asta nodded, a small but genuine smile returning to her face.

“Oh! That’s right!” Asta suddenly nodded to herself, as if remembering something crucial. She pulled out her phone and began typing rapidly.

Eidan watched her, baffled. “Uh… Asta?”

She finished tapping, then looked up with a determined spark in her eyes.
“We need to get you clothes, items, and all the necessary supplies before you leave.”

“Huh?”

Asta grabbed his wrist before he could blink.
“Let’s go shopping!”

“W–Wait, aren’t you busy just now?” Eidan asked as she dragged him out of the infirmary.

“I was. But I already asked somebody to handle it for me,” Asta replied without slowing down.

They passed through the corridors in a blur of motion. Eidan struggled to keep up.

“So… who are we meeting? The usual merchant on the station?” he asked. There was always someone selling something here.

Asta shook her head.
“Nope. We’re not buying stuff on the station. Instead—” she turned around mid-walk with a playful grin, “I’m taking you to my favorite shopping spot!”

Eidan blinked. “Your… favorite spot? Where is—”

Asta stopped in front of a shimmering teleporter pad.

“Come on!” she said brightly, pulling him onto it.

The teleporter activated, glowing beneath their feet as Asta declared.

“We’re going to ###### Mall!”

He’d heard the rumors — that place was infamous for selling everything at ridiculously high prices. Super expensive. Super duper expensive.

“Asta… isn’t that place a bit too much?” Eidan asked cautiously.

“It’s not!” Asta beamed. “It’s perfect!”

The light around them flared, growing brighter and brighter.

Eidan’s last thought before the teleport took him was, Why is Asta so energetic today…?

-----divide------

(a/n: a bit too silly)