---o---
Although the Dream-Tide Reef didn't look particularly large on the minimap—not even as big as any of the "Hours" in the dream world—its terrain was far more complex.
Fu Zhu had to wander for quite a while before he finally found Firefly, who he hadn't seen in some time, on a rooftop overlooking a Memoria black hole suspended in the distance.
"Firefly."
At Fu Zhu's call, Firefly, who had been gazing at the Memoria black hole, turned around. A hint of joy appeared on her face when she saw him. She raised a hand to tuck a slightly messy strand of hair behind her ear.
"You're here."
"What are you doing here?"
Fu Zhu walked up to Firefly with a puzzled expression, glancing at the distant Memoria black hole. Even as scenery went, this wasn't exactly a prime location.
When Firefly heard his question, her face immediately fell, her little expression visibly aggrieved.
"Elio's original script was for me to follow the Astral Express and seek out the Watchmaker's legacy. But because of you, he had to change the script and told me to follow you. But I couldn't find you after being sent to the Dream-Tide Reef, so I could only wait here for you to find me..."
Fu Zhu opened his mouth, then asked, somewhat speechless, "What if I didn't come looking for you? After all, I'm a Nameless. I need to stick with my companions."
"Hmm..." Firefly touched a finger to her lip, thought about it seriously for a moment, and then replied, "Then I would have just kept waiting. If you really didn't come, then I'd have to wait until the Astral Express finished its business in Penacony."
Looking at Firefly's earnest expression, why did Fu Zhu feel a pang from his not-so-abundant conscience?
Was it because Firefly looked a little dorky right now?
Just then, Firefly's face broke into a smile. She clasped her hands behind her back and leaned slightly toward Fu Zhu. "But I did wait for you. Elio's script wasn't wrong, was it?"
Fu Zhu rolled his eyes at her bold assumption. If Elio had really been so confident, he would have made Firefly's script incredibly detailed, not just a vague "follow Fu Zhu."
"Ahem!"
A sudden cough shattered the peaceful, tranquil atmosphere of the moment.
Xing, whistling a tune that made no sound, walked over with March 7th hiding guiltily behind her. She didn't stop until she was close, and only when Fu Zhu and Firefly looked at them did Xing raise a hand in a "surprised" greeting.
"Well, if it isn't big bro and Firefly! What are you two doing here? I hope we're not interrupting."
Despite her apologetic tone, her legs moved with complete honesty as she walked right up to them. She then grabbed March 7th from behind and pushed her out, inserting her into the space between Fu Zhu and Firefly. Then, satisfied, she went to stand on Fu Zhu's other side.
Fu Zhu stared speechlessly at the two of them for a good while before asking, exasperated, "What is this?"
Xing answered with a serious face, "Just passing by!"
March 7th, however, said, "Admiring the view!"
The two, with their completely different answers, poked their heads out from either side of Fu Zhu and glanced at each other, then quickly changed their answers.
"Admiring the view!"
"Just passing by!"
"..." Fu Zhu shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He could guess that these two were just here for the excitement. "Alright, let's go together. Let's get something to eat first. We'll probably be too busy to eat tomorrow."
Fu Zhu led the three of them to a shop on the Dream-Tide Reef. He glanced at the sign above—Empyrean Wingburger—and then called the clerk over to order a few.
While waiting for the food, the four of them picked an empty table to sit at. Fu Zhu sat down in one of the inner seats, and when he looked up, he found Xing and the other two still standing foolishly by the table, staring at each other. It seemed they were having a silent argument over who should sit where.
"Are you... planning to eat standing up?"
At Fu Zhu's baffled question, the three girls exchanged a look. Finally, Xing gave March 7th a push, making her sit next to Fu Zhu. Then, she and Firefly sat down on the opposite side.
March 7th's face was slightly red as she sat next to Fu Zhu. She was about to say something to ease the atmosphere when she looked up and noticed Firefly sitting directly across from him. This meant that any time they looked up, their eyes would meet. This realization made her involuntarily pout.
Firefly noticed March 7th's gaze. For some reason, she sensed a hint of hostility in the other Nameless girl's eyes.
This made Firefly feel a little disappointed as she sighed internally. It was probably because she was a Stellaron Hunter. She had really wanted to make a few good friends.
Thanks to Fu Zhu, she was now free from the affliction of Entropic Dissolution Syndrome. In the days to come, besides helping the Stellaron Hunters complete their mission, she hoped she could live like a normal girl.
And making a few good friends was a must!
---o---
It wasn't long before the server came over with a tray and placed the various food items the four had ordered on the table.
"Hello, your Empyrean Wingburgers are ready."
After the server set down the food and left, Fu Zhu picked up a wingburger and, with a few chomps, finished the meal. He then casually picked up his drink and began to sip it slowly, looking as though he was still hungry.
Steve's constitution made him eat faster, but the downside was that it was hard to savor the taste of the food when eating so quickly.
Seeing this, Firefly immediately picked up an Empyrean Wingburger. She considerately opened the packaging to reveal the burger inside, then leaned her body forward slightly. The edge of the table, due to her movement, accentuated her figure even more.
"Fu Zhu, if you're not full, you can have one more."
Fu Zhu paused, then asked, "Aren't you eating?"
Firefly smiled and shook her head. "It's fine, I'm not hungry. Boys use up more energy in their daily lives, so you should eat more."
"Then thanks..." Fu Zhu was about to thank her and take the burger, planning to order a few more later to avoid the same situation, when another Empyrean Wingburger was suddenly offered from his left. This one, however, had a small bite mark on it.
He turned his head in confusion and saw March 7th, a bit of sauce on the corner of her lips, holding out her own wingburger. Noticing Fu Zhu's gaze, she subconsciously looked away and mumbled, "Fu Zhu, help me taste test this..."
Fu Zhu looked at the two wingburgers being offered to him and was suddenly at a loss. He only had to lean slightly toward one of the burgers to feel the gaze from the other person become noticeably sharper.
After a long moment of not knowing whose to take first, Fu Zhu could only cast a pleading look at his sister. But who knew that when he looked at Xing, who was sitting opposite him, he would find her holding a burger in one hand and her phone in the other, snapping a picture of him before sending it off. Then, she called Himeko.
"Sister Himeko, my big bro is so pitiful. We went out to eat a burger, and everyone had to be so modest with each other. So, can we get a raise in his allowance next month?"
---o---