AN: Thank you for the power stones DragonConquer1, Gelo_Podcast and Joldered!!
===<< Start >> ===
Noah now sat up straight, gently nursing the bump on his head after being smacked by Hachiman's Persona… again. Across the couch, Sirin lay stretched out, her form switching between material and ethereal, eyes still spinning from Noah's sudden ambush cuddle. Gabriel knelt beside her, carefully patting her hand, waiting for the poor girl to stabilize.
"Ssshhh… did you really have to hit me that hard, Hachi?" Noah grumbled. "If it wasn't me, they would be a red smear on the floor."
"Who told you it was okay to flirt in front of a child?" Hachiman replied, giving Noah the most unimpressed stare he could manage.
Even Team Reason paused mid-discussion, glancing over at the commotion.
"Serves you right, idiot," Hajime called out with a smug grin.
"Like you're no better, idiot," Hachiman shot back instantly.
Noah let out a snort, side-eyeing Hajime, who now turned at Hachiman with wide eyes like a betrayed comrade.
"Et tu, Bro?"
Sora blinked innocently, tilting her head. "What's 'Et tu' mean, Mei-nee?"
"…It means betrayal," Mei answered, smiling wryly at the way Noah, Hajime and Hachiman act with each other.
"Ohhh~ like when Mei-nee steals my last dango!" Sora said proudly, as if she cracked the code.
Mei's cheeks puffed, pinching Sora's cheeks. "I did not!"
As the girls from Team Reason averted their eyes, cheeks reddening as they recalled Hajime's mid-battle flirt lines. A few subtly scratched their cheeks, pretending to focus elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the girls from Team Star-Pulse were already laughing, barely holding it together.
"Can we please just get back on topic?" Hachiman said, sighing as he pinched the bridge of his nose and turned to Noah. "Some of us are actually trying to get this expedition moving."
"Jeez, such a party pooper," Noah replied, completely unfazed.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Hachiman shot back flatly.
Noah plainly replied. "It is when you ruin the mood."
Hachiman gave him a deadpan glare, one that carried the experience of ten thousand secondhand embarrassments.
"Ahem… alright crew, since our roles are now set and the mission plan is confirmed, it's time for us to make the final jump toward the target world," Noah said, straightening up and slipping into Captain mode thanks to Hachiman's sharp glare.
"You know the rules. No standing during the jump. Secure all loose items, make sure everything's locked down. And absolutely no casting spells or testing inventions mid-jump. Yes, I'm talking about you, Anis."
"Ahahaha…!" Anisphia laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her head with a sheepish grin while sticking her tongue out. Guilty as charged.
Noah let out a sigh and turned toward the driver's cabin, already bracing for whatever chaos might come next. Behind him, the rest of the crew scrambled to clean up the table from their earlier gathering, moving like a well-practiced routine.
Within minutes, everyone settled into place, each taking their seat at one of the lounge couches. The last chuckles faded into a low hum of anticipation. Hands rested on armrests, jackets were tucked down, and conversations dropped into silence as the crew exchanged small nods. One by one, everyone settled down, waiting. The moment came as Noah's voice rang over the speakers.
[Attention to all crew members, this is your Captain speaking,] Noah's voice carried through the lounge with his usual relaxed confidence.
[We're now prepped and ready to jump to our next destination—DesuMachi world. Please make sure you're properly seated and that your seat belts are securely fastened…]
A short pause.
[...Hajime, you did install the seat belts this time, right?]
The room fell dead silent.
"…..I forgot." Hajime admitted, sweat already forming as he avoided everyone's stares.
Collective facepalms landed in perfect unison, followed by groans of disbelief.
"…Seriously?" Kiana muttered, dragging a hand down her face.
"I knew it…" Hachiman sighed, shaking his head. "One day this train's going to kill us before the enemies do."
"Oi, oi, don't jinx it!" Anisphia yelped, clutching the armrest tighter.
[...Mei, make sure to hold onto Sora-chan. Ingvild, please do the same for Ophis-chan. We're not letting her faceplant again like last time. And can someone confirm if the tables have been cleared already?] Noah asked through the intercom from inside the driver's cabin.
Ophis, hearing her name, instinctively rubbed the side of her head where she'd taken the hit last time. Ingvild, already anticipating it, gently pulled Ophis closer and held her at her side, this time making sure she wouldn't slip again. Mei, sitting beside Sora, wrapped an arm around the girl who was practically vibrating in place with excitement.
"Yes, Noah-sama. All tables have been moved and secured in their designated corners," Belfast confirmed with a polite nod.
[Good job!] Noah replied. [Alright, crew, we're jumping in twenty seconds.]
"Woaah!! It's finally starting, Mei-nee!" Sora nearly bounced in her seat, unable to contain her excitement.
"Make sure you stay seated, okay?" Mei said gently, holding Sora close. "I've got you, but you need to stay still during the jump."
"Hehe, okay~ I'll try!" Sora giggled, still squirming in place.
Beside them, Hachiman caught the sight and allowed himself a small smile. "You're hopeless…" he muttered softly, though his tone carried no bite.
[7… 6… 5… 4…] Noah's voice came through the speakers as the countdown began.
The veteran crew members—Kiana, Elysia, Sirin, Lumine, Hajime, Alice, and Anisphia settled back comfortably into their seats, showing their experience from countless jumps. Meanwhile, the newer members—Hachiman, Ingvild, Ophis, Sona, Gabriel, Sagiri, Euphyllia, Lainei, Illia, Patricia, Villhaze, Ram, Rem, Belfast, and especially Mei and Sora—sat a bit more upright, slightly tense.
A hum of energy filled the air as trails of silver light wrapped around the Express, glowing brighter with each passing second.
"Here we go…" Villhaze whispered under her breath, gripping the armrest.
"…Don't throw up this time," Ram and Rem muttered toward her, earning a glare.
[3… 2… 1… Jump.]
—-
On some unknown planet in the universe…
In a grand conference room, various races from different worlds convened around a vast table. The air was tense, the discussion sharp.
"It has been 168 system hours since the last trace of the Astral Express. Is there any news from the team following them?" one of the members asked, his voice tight with impatience.
"…Unfortunately, no. Nothing useful has come through yet," another replied.
"Useless! Just tracking the Astral Express shouldn't take this much time!" a member snapped, slamming his hand on the table.
"Hmph! If you think it's so easy, why not send your own people to track them, oh great member of the Jepella Brotherhood?" A skeleton with a goat-like skull and a burning body mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
The Jepella representative sharply turned at the one who spoke, eyes blazing with anger. "Are you mocking us, Duke Inferno?"
"Mock? Ahahaha, of course not," Duke Inferno answered smoothly, though no one believed him. "I'm simply suggesting that if the Brotherhood is so confident in finding the Astral Express, they should join the effort instead of nitpicking those of us actually working."
"YOU—!!" The Jepella member's chair scraped back as he stood, rage etched across his face.
"Gentlemen!" another member barked, cutting through the tension before it could explode. "We are here to discuss how to track the Astral Express and the worlds they have visited—not to indulge in petty bickering."
Duke Inferno chuckled slowly and waved a hand. "Apologies, esteemed member. We got heated away."
"Tsk." The Jepella member clicked his tongue but reluctantly sat down.
The mediator exhaled sharply before addressing the room. "Now, let us proceed on finding the famed Astral Express. We need solutions and ways to actually get our hands at them."
Everyone around the table went silent, listening carefully.
Then the speaker's eyes lit up like mad. "Once we find them and finally strike down the Nameless, a key faction across the universe, this will bring about the Annihilation Gang's greatest chance! Our Lord will surely look at us and finally grant us his favor."
"For Nanook! For Destruction!!" one member roared.
"For Nanook! For Destruction!!" the chamber trembled as the others followed, their voices rising in unison.
—-
The Blue Planet, Herta's personal workshop…
Madam Herta (the real one) hurriedly tore open the package of the latest Curios Noah had sent her. Her eyes twinkled with delight like a child unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning. She opened each one eagerly, testing them with fascination. A playful smirk never left her lips.
"Hehehe. That man truly understands me!" Herta laughed. She lifted the first item high. "A book with only one page that loops infinitely. No matter where you open it, the text continues seamlessly from the previous side. And it even writes back! Ahahaha, this is pure literature!"
She then picked up another curio, a vial containing liquid water at absolute zero. She shook it gently, marveling as it still sloshed despite the impossible state. "It should be impossible by all logic—yet it exists."
Setting it back down, she reached for an hourglass. "An hourglass where the sand flows upward when flipped, but never fills the top. Ohhh, how delightful! A timepiece that mocks cause and effect."
Her eyes twinkled as she hugged it briefly, then carefully placed it back on the table with reverence.
She carefully picked up a tiny metallic loop engraved with Imaginary runes. Reading the note attached, she smirked. "If placed inside a device or any machine, it powers itself endlessly. But the more it runs, the more the machine 'remembers' things it was never built to do… A self-learning tech with recursive memory? Hahaha, don't mind if I dismantle it."
And lastly, she picked up a monocle. Adjusting it against her eye, she read the inscription. "A monocle that lets the wearer see all possible answers at once—but the more you look, the less certain you are of which one is true… PERFECT! Just perfect! Ahahaha!"
Her voice rang with delight. "As expected, partnering with you, Trailblazer, will surely give me endless curiosities to play with!"
Herta's beautiful face sparkled with happiness as she admired once more the gifts Noah had sent her.
Her musing was cut off by a Herta doll stepping forward. "Madam Herta, a message has arrived from Station Master Asta."
"Oh? Asta should know by now that I'm not interested in dull reports," Herta said with a lazy wave of her hand, barely looking up from the Curio she was examining. "I'd much rather spend my time studying and playing with the trinkets my partner sends me. Those are far more entertaining."
She paused for a second as a playful twinkle flashed in her eyes.
"Though if it's another inquiry about my partner's younger brother, tell her we're nearly done pinpointing his home planet. And she'll finally be able to meet her supposed fiancé. How romantic." she added with amused thought.
The puppet hesitated, its tone growing careful. "It's not about that… at least not today. This message contains something you might actually find interesting, Madam Herta."
Herta rolled her eyes. "And just what kind of news or report could possibly spark my interest?"
"IPC is currently searching for information about the current members of the Astral Express, particularly this generation's Navigator."
Herta's eyes narrowed, her playful smile sharpening. "…Ohh?"
Her hand slipped into her pocket, holding around something inside as her playful smirk returned. "Well, knowing him, he must be already aware of it. And must be laying some kind of distraction along the rail to confuse them."
She turned and walked toward the wide window of her workshop, hands folded neatly behind her back. "Those poor souls… the ones who'll be dragged into his masterful plan. Poor little Reason, poor IPC grunts, and whoever else thinks they can outwit my dearest."
Her eyes gleamed, amusement painting her features. "I wonder what kind of performance you've prepared this time, my dear partner?"
—--
DesuMachi planet's Orbit, inside the Astral Express…
At the Launch Point, Hachiman, Mei, and Sora, each in their official Express crew uniforms, lined proudly with the Astral Express crest. The platform glowed with a soft silver color, emitting with Trailblaze energy. It had already been a few hours since their arrival, yet Sora was still practically vibrating with excitement, bouncing from foot to foot. Mei gently placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping Sora from leaping forward before the signal.
Hachiman wore a full set of the crew's uniform with the cape, identical to the one Hajime and the others had worn during the peace conference in DXD. Black as night with neon indigo highlights, it gave him a sharp silhouette. Under the cape, he wore a high-necked dark gray waistcoat with gold buttons, cinched black pants, brown winklepickers with tall heels, and purple gloves. His Astral Emblem—glowing faintly with a Geo elemental energy—hung from a chain at his belt.
Mei, meanwhile, was clad in a stylish blend of black, red, and white, a design that blended modernized samurai armor with fantasy flair. Her black top was reinforced with red armored plating on her shoulders and gloves, accented by a white sash tied at her waist with decorative ropes. A layered short skirt paired with long black stockings added both grace and edge, while armored boots showed her combat readiness. Her hair was tied in an elegant ponytail, and at the center of her belt, her Astral Emblem pulsed with Electro elemental energy. Across her shoulders was her crew cape black with purple accents and a vivid pinkish-red highlight.
The youngest of the three, Sora, wore a simpler uniform. A plain black-and-white cape over her shoulders, paired with a crisp white dress shirt and a fitted black vest with golden buttons. A plain black skirt, white thigh-highs, and black boots completed her ensemble.
"Muu… why is it that Hachi-nii and Mei-nee have such cool color highlights, and mine are still plain?" Sora pouted, crossing her arms dramatically.
Mei gave Sora a soft laugh. "Ahaha, don't worry, Sora-chan. You're already cute in your uniform. Besides, you're at an age where you'll outgrow your clothes quickly."
"Just wait a few more years, Sora. Once your growth stabilizes, we'll have your uniform properly customized," Hachiman added, patting her head gently.
Sora puffed her cheeks more and showed a sulky expression. "Muu… fine."
Seeing them finally settled, Noah, who had been watching from the side along with the girls of Star-Pulse and the rest of Team Reason, smiled faintly.
"You guys ready?" Noah asked from the edge of the room.
"I'M READY, NOAH-NII! LET'S GOOOOO!" Sora shouted back with both hands raised, her earlier complaints about her outfit forgotten as excitement took over.
Her voice spread through the chamber, drawing chuckles from several of the crew.
Mei let out a helpless smile, while Hachiman allowed a small but genuine one, a rare glimpse of ease on his usually stoic face.
"Alright then," Noah said, his tone switching from playful to official. "You three are now stepping into your 'First Steps.' This moment marks when you truly begin your journey as Trailblazers."
Blinking, as if remembering something, Noah turned to Hachiman, his expression sharpening. "Ah, before I forget, Hachi, I've got a top priority mission for you."
The sudden change in Noah's voice made Hachiman's eyes narrow, instinctively sharpening. Mei and Sora, who was beside him, sensing the change with the mood, straightened their backs, as the atmosphere grew more serious.
"Before this expedition ends, I want you three to submit your team name," Noah said plainly, his voice carrying an unmistakable official tone.
Mei and Sora immediately sweatdropped. Even the Team Reason who was listening almost stumbled upon hearing Noah.
Hachiman gave Noah a twitching look, already preparing a retort, but Noah pressed on.
"Thunder Spark. Lightning Heart. Shadow Thunder. Twinkle Star." He listed them calmly, as though each were perfectly acceptable suggestions.
Hachiman's face twisted mid-listen, caught between disbelief and despair. "…You've got to be kidding me."
"Those are just some examples," Noah clarified with a shrug. "But I just want to let you know that Ellie is the one handling the records and data input in the mission archives."
Elysia at the side gave Hachiman a cheery wave from the side, twinkles and sparkles floating around her like she was already imagining a team name involving excessive glitter.
Mei paled slightly. "Hi-hikigaya-kun..."
Sora nervously tugged his sleeves. "U-uhh… H-hachi-nii"
"...I will absolutely submit our team name as soon as we can," Hachiman said with a firm nod, urgency sharp in his tone. He finally understood, they needed to decide on what will be their team name fast before the pink sparkling menace chose a name they'd never live down into the archives.
Elysia pouted, her sparkle-filled dream of naming rights crushed. "Mou~ Hachiman-kun, you're no fun…"
Mei let out a soft breath of relief. "Thank goodness… at least we bought ourselves some time."
Sora nods enthusiastically.
"Do your best, man," Noah said, tapping Hachiman on the shoulder with a firm nod and an understanding look in his eyes.
He stepped back to the edge of the platform, giving them space as silver threads of Trailblaze energy began to rise and swirl around the trio.
"You three… good luck. And may the Force be with you."
"Thank you, Captain!" Mei replied with a determined smile.
"We're off, Noah-nii!" Sora cheered, waving both hands with childlike excitement.
Hachiman exhaled through his nose and gave a silent nod. "…See you later."
The light wraps the three.
And then the three of them vanished—
their journey is finally beginning.
—-
???, DesumMachi..
Just why?! Why the heck did you drop us here, Noah?!
Hachiman shouted internally as they sprinted through the chaos. Explosions burst behind them, kicking up dust and debris.
"Wahh!! Mei-nee, careful!" Sora cried out, stumbling a little as the ground shook.
Hachiman's thoughts halted as he caught sight of Mei already in motion, her katana clashing with a corrupted lizardkin. Lightning coiled along her form, the Electro elemental energy wrapping her like a second skin. She moved swiftly, each slash was sharp, her focus entirely on the enemy in front of her.
"Stay behind me, Sora!" Mei called over her shoulder, parrying a blow with sparks flying.
"Okay, Mei-nee!" Sora squeaked, trying to keep up.
Just as another enemy leapt at Mei from behind, Hachiman acted without hesitation. He called upon power from his emblem, summoning a translucent Geo shield that appeared just in time to stop the attacker mid-leap with a solid, resounding clash.
"Not on my watch!," Hachiman muttered under his breath.
Mei's eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the shield and the impact that followed. Seeing the threat neutralized, she poured more power into her katana. Lightning surged across the blade as she stepped forward, slicing clean through both enemies in a smooth arc.
"Mei-dono! We must hurry to the palace of Akon Kagura-sama before the demons spread the miasma any further!" shouted one of the Lizardmen fighting beside them.
"All clear on my side! Let's move!" Mei repeated, already picking up speed, her blade sparking with energy as she advanced.
"I-I'm coming!" Sora puffed, trying her best to keep up as she rummaged inside her pouch, searching for that 'helper' that Anisphia and Hajime prepared for her.
Hachiman let out a tired sigh, his eyes narrowing as he followed behind. So much for a smooth start to our first expedition, he muttered internally, shooting a glare skyward squarely aimed at Noah, wherever he might be watching.
======