bookbashuk Chapter 14 Preparation
Chapter 14 Preparation
Hoshino's breathing finally became steady.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
On March 7th, looking at the starry sky outside the porthole, he suddenly made a suggestion to everyone.
"The planet has endured so much suffering in the future... Now that it's finally home, it can't end like this!"
"What are you planning to do in March...?"
Star Questions.
March 7th laughed and said, "Let's throw a welcome-home party!"
Xing's eyes lit up!
"I think it's a good idea!"
"And you, Danheng!"
Dan Heng crossed his arms and nodded.
Then he asked Himeko, Walter Yang.
Without exception, they all nodded in agreement.
And among them.
Black Swan, Sunday, and Nguyen Mai initially didn't want to participate, but they couldn't resist Xing's persistent advances and her relentless pursuit of bird wings.
The three eventually compromised.
Nguyen Mai said she would make some pastries, and that would suffice.
……
The process of preparing for the event.
The little ones suddenly remembered a very important question.
They approached Nguyen Mai, who was preparing pastries.
"Miss Ruan Mei, it seems there aren't enough train carriages available right now..."
With insufficient development power, and after Pinocchio's expansion of the party carriage, Onfaros's development power is completely insufficient to build another carriage. Therefore, accommodation for Hoshino and Nguyen May has become a major problem. (Original setting)
Ruan Mei tucked her bangs behind her ears: "Don't worry about my accommodation. As a genius, I can stay awake for more than a year at most."
One year.
Even the pioneering spirit of March 7th couldn't last this long.
If you don't sleep for a year, your skin will get really bad!
However, Nguyen Mai is an expert in the field of life sciences.
That's something that can be done.
It doesn't seem difficult.
Now the issue to be concerned about is accommodation on the planet.
……
In front of the porthole.
The two argued incessantly.
Hoshi wants Hoshino to live in the party carriage with her.
March 7th wants to have Hoshino live with her.
Dan Heng stated that he would not participate in the debate.
Ultimately, the two decided to let Hoshino wake up and make her own choice.
……
Inside the party car, there was a scene that... perhaps couldn't be called "harmonious".
Colorful ribbons hung from the ceiling like seaweed that had been hit by a tornado, with even a few glittering trash can models mixed in.
Without a doubt, this was the work of some Galaxy Baseball Man.
Xing was standing on a folding ladder, a roll of transparent tape in his mouth, and a huge banner in his hand.
"Is the left side higher, or the right side?" she asked indistinctly, her voice squeezed out from behind the tape.
The black swan standing below gracefully raised its hand, its fingertips gently drawing a circle in the air: "Perhaps... the middle collapsed, my dear."
Nearby, Sunday was looking at a row of balloons with a furrowed brow.
As someone who values "order" and "harmony," he simply could not tolerate this chaotic aesthetic.
He reached out and moved the third balloon 0.5 centimeters to the left, and then moved the fourth balloon 0.5 centimeters to the right, until they presented an outrageously perfect symmetry.
"If there is a next time,"
He didn't turn back on Sunday; his voice was calm.
"Please make sure I'm in charge of the planning and layout."
"Oh, don't be so fussy!"
March 7th ran over carrying a bunch of shiny confetti, almost bumping into Danheng who was quietly inflating balloons.
"As long as it's lively! As long as there's a good atmosphere, it doesn't matter how chaotic it is!"
Dan Heng held the air pump in his hand, his movements mechanical and steady.
puff.
puff.
Each press inflates a balloon.
A small mountain of balloons had already piled up around him.
"Is this what they call 'atmosphere'?"
Dan Heng glanced at the scraps of paper and unidentified decorative fragments scattered on the ground.
"It looks more like some kind of disaster scene."
"This is called order within chaos!" Xing jumped down from the ladder and dusted off his hands.
"You don't understand, this is the art of pioneering! It's full of uncertainty and surprises!"
In the other corner.
Nguyen Mai sat at a small round table, with exquisite molds and dough laid out in front of her.
Compared to the hustle and bustle over there, this place feels like a separate little world.
She skillfully shaped the dough into all sorts of strange shapes—some like cats, some like some unknown soft-bodied creatures, and one even looked like a miniature version of the Star-Shattering King Insect.
"Is this also... a pastry?" Himeko walked over with a freshly brewed cup of black tea, her expression somewhat subtle as she looked at the worm-shaped pastry.
"We tried a new formula."
Without even looking up, Ruan Mei deftly attached two red bean-shaped eyes to the "insect".
"Not only does it have a unique taste, but it can also replenish vitality to some extent. It's perfect for that weak young lady."
After saying that, she picked up the still slightly trembling insect-shaped pastry and put it in the oven.
"Then... I'll have to trouble you." Himeko smiled and decided not to comment on the genius's aesthetic sense.
……
The room on March 7th.
Quiet, and filled with a certain sweet aroma.
Hoshi felt as if she had slept for a century.
My eyelids felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead, and my joints were aching all over my body in protest.
Even in my sleep, those noisy sounds could still faintly seep into my ears.
Things like "The left side is too high", "The balloon popped", "That can't be eaten".
very noisy.
Can't I just be a vegetable in peace?
She struggled to turn over, but as soon as she moved, a strong force pressed down on her shoulder.
"Awake?"
A vibrant, slightly loud voice boomed in my ear.
Hoshi suddenly opened his eyes.
What came into view was an enlarged, familiar, and rosy face.
March 7th was lying on the edge of the bed, staring at her with his big, blinking eyes so close that she could count his eyelashes.
"..."
This feeling of déjà vu is too strong.
Isn't this the scene from the game's opening?
Should I cooperate with you and pretend to give you artificial respiration?
Ok……
Hehehe, it's not impossible.
March Wife...
Hoshi opened his mouth, his throat feeling as dry as if he had swallowed a handful of sand.
Well……
So thirsty.
"water……"
"Oh! Water! Right away!"
It was only on March 7th that she realized what was happening. She hurriedly picked up a glass of water from the bedside table, carefully inserted a straw, and held it to Hoshino's lips.
Hoshino bit the straw and took two big gulps.
The warm liquid slid down my esophagus, and the burning sensation finally eased a little.
"How are you? Are you still feeling unwell?"
March 7th looked at her anxiously: "Your brow was furrowed like an old man when you were asleep just now, were you having a nightmare?"
Hoshi shook his head.
It wasn't a nightmare.
I dreamt that you guys were going to dismantle the train carriages while I was unconscious.
She braced herself against the bed frame, trying to sit up.
Although my body is still very weak, the feeling that it might fall apart at any moment has disappeared.
It seems that the power of "Abundance" is indeed useful, even if it's just passive healing.
Immortality, preservation, etc.: Children, I made no contribution.
"Much better."
Hoshino's voice was a little hoarse, but it already sounded a bit more human.
"What's going on outside?"
"hey-hey!"
On March 7th, he gave a mysterious smile, stood up straight, and put his hands on his hips.
"It's a secret! You'll find out after you shower and change!"
bath?
Hoshi looked down at himself.
He was still wearing the same tattered outfit, stained with blood and dust. Although his outer coat had been removed, the shirt underneath still looked like it had been picked out of a garbage dump.
And... it also has a strange smell.
It really needs a wash.
"Let's go, let's go!"
Without a word, March 7th grabbed her hand—the movement was much gentler than before, clearly out of fear of breaking this fragile person.
"I've already prepared hot water for you! It's in the public bathroom! And I've even packed some new clothes for you!"
……
The bathroom was filled with steam.
It must be said that the train's facilities are indeed luxurious.
The huge bathtub was filled with hot water, and several small yellow rubber duck toys were floating on the surface.
March 7th stood at the door, holding a stack of clothes in his hands.
"Um... I'll wait for you outside! Call me if anything happens! I'll keep watch at the door and make sure that Xing guy doesn't rush in to peek!"
Hoshi thought about it carefully.
"It's not impossible for me to come in..."
She murmured to herself.
"What?"
"Cough cough... It's nothing."
Hoshi shook his head.
People still perceive me as rather weak.
Besides, I'm really weak right now.
We took a shower together and opened QQ Space.
You never know when you might be detained and have to call your master.
The door clicked shut.
Only Hoshi remained.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
It was a mangled and broken body.
The large wounds were healing, but the newly grown skin still had an eerie pink color.
What's even more terrifying are those old wounds.
On his chest was a black mark, like a constantly spinning vortex—a mark left by "nothingness".
On his back, some bark-like textures were faintly visible, spreading along his spine—the marks left by the erosion of "breeding".
And shoulders, thighs, abdomen...
The dense scars resembled a map recording countless deaths.
What exactly has this body gone through?
Hoshi reached out and gently touched the black vortex with her fingertips.
There is no pain.
There was only a cold, tactile sensation, as if the soul was being sucked in.
Is this the price to pay?
To obtain the eighteen paths of destiny and become the so-called "strongest," the price is to turn oneself into this inhuman, ghostly form.
She sighed.
Thankfully, my face is okay.
After all, this was the last hope for the entire village.
Hoshino took off her smelly, dirty clothes and stepped into the bathtub.
The moment the hot water enveloped her entire body, she couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh.
"ha……"
Every pore was opening up, and the chill that had accumulated deep in my bones over the years seemed to be dispelled.
She leaned against the edge of the bathtub, looking at the water droplets on the ceiling.
Regardless of what happened in that parallel world.
Regardless of what this body carries.
At least for now...
The water is hot.
There are people waiting outside.
And there's an upcoming party.
This seems...not bad at all.
I wish things could stay like this forever.
Even if it's just stolen time.
Hoshi closed her eyes and let her body slide down until the warm water covered her chin, her lips, and finally the bridge of her nose.
The whole world became quiet and hazy.
……
"Doraemon? Doraemon?"
There came a somewhat anxious knocking sound from outside the door on March 7th.
"Are you alright? Why haven't you moved? Did you faint in there?"
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Hoshino emerged from the water, shook her wet hair, and took deep breaths of fresh air.
"fine."
She called out towards the door.
"I just... felt really comfortable soaking in it."
"That scared me to death!"
The man outside the door, on March 7th, breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hurry up! The water's getting cold! And everyone's eagerly waiting to surprise you!"
"understood."
As Hoshi rose from the water, a splashing sound followed.
She looked at her wet reflection in the mirror. Although the wounds were still there, the deathly stillness in her eyes seemed to have lessened.
Then go check it out.
The so-called surprise.
The so-called...home.
March 7th: Guard the door and absolutely do not let Xing in to peek!
Xing (lurking suspiciously at the door): Is that the kind of person you think I am? Am I the kind of person who would crawl into a trash can... no, a ventilation duct just to catch a glimpse of someone?
Danheng: You are.