บท 35: Space station 34: Kafka: Himeko's Move, Too Impressive!
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[Initially, the Cyan Ring Group claimed that the Interastral Peace Corporation was an evil interstellar invader. Their accusations against our group were solely to remove obstacles in their path towards dominating Water Blue Star.]
[Subsequently, the Cyan Ring Group asserted that the Interastral Peace Corporation is actually a massive monopolistic enterprise spanning the universe. Its presence on Water Blue Star is merely for capital exploitation.]
[Later, the Cyan Ring Group announced that while the Interastral Peace Corporation may have had friendly intentions, it remains crucial to remain vigilant regarding its actual impact...]
[Cyan Ring Group: Today, our company's directors engaged in amicable discussions with special representatives from the Interastral Peace Corporation.]
[Cyan Ring Group: Breaking news - The acquisition process of the Cyan Ring Group by the Interastral Peace Corporation has been initiated.]
[Cyan Ring Group: The company states that those criminals who hindered interstellar aviation development must face severe punishment and will be handed over to judicial authorities...]
[Cyan Ring Group: May the glory of the Amber King shine upon Water Blue Star!]
Su Qing put down the newspaper, his expression somewhat complex.
The above changes all took place over the past few months.
[Qingque: Shocked!]
[March 7th: So swift!]
[Bronya: It takes villains to deal with villains, indeed.]
[Silver Wolf: Interastral Peace Corporation: Let's see who's more formidable, you or me?]
[Topaz: The company arrives, bringing clear skies! With the company here, peace reigns!]
[Seele: I doubt the company is anything good either.]
[Bronya: Indeed. It seems after Cyan Ring Group's second announcement, there won't be many issues left.]
[Topaz: Everyone, ahem, I'm still here too. How should I say this... give me some face, okay?]
[Stelle: Appearing now, the Face-Saving Ability User!]
[Seele: Alright then.]
[Bronya: ...Fine, let it go.]
Su Qing felt that this simulation offered several potential completion strategies.
One approach was brute force—single-handedly dismantling the Cyan Ring Group. Whether it's Advisor Lin or board members, eliminating them all outright.
Monopoly? Without any key players, what monopoly could they maintain?
However, this method was overly reckless, carrying high risks and yielding little benefit.
[Fu Xuan: Indeed, it would be the worst possible strategy.]
[Stelle: Superpower: Occasionally, it's best to engage the super brain.]
The second approach involved utilizing [Theoretical Deduction] and [Academic Leadership], gradually advancing research and accumulating reputation. By uniting with previously oppressed scholars, he could expose the true nature of the Cyan Ring Group and subsequently develop Water Blue Star's interstellar aviation technology.
Su Qing believed this might be the most orthodox way.
However, it also presented numerous uncertainties, and most crucially, it was far too slow.
It could take years, even decades...
[March 7th: Eh? If they chose this path, maybe Su Qing and Sister Himeko would have gotten married by now?]
[Firefly: Ah?!]
[Himeko: (Smiling) But then, I too would have been delayed for so many years in reaching the starlit skies. Perhaps, I wouldn't have met you all, little March.]
[March 7th: That's true...]
As for the method Su Qing selected, it seemed like a clever shortcut.
Externally, there was the Interastral Peace Corporation, providing evidence of other civilizations existing within the universe.
Internally, Professor Xu assisted by contacting scholars to testify together, unveiling Cyan Ring Group's various actions over recent years.
Combining these efforts, although swift, still resulted in considerable turmoil.
Su Qing watched as Professor Xu gave an interview on TV. His once amiable but hunched figure now appeared more upright, with a noticeable lift in spirits.
[Word Spirit Technique: Usable Times (0/3)]
One use was on Advisor Lin, another on a Cyan Ring Group director. Together, these connected them to the Interastral Peace Corporation.
The third use obtained incriminating evidence, equally effective.
The Word Spirit Technique is truly handy.
Without this skill, achieving these steps would likely have required significant effort.
[Himeko: @Kafka, thank you.]
[Kafka: ...]
[Seele: Not only killing, but also aiming to crush their spirit?]
[Silver Wolf: Still landing finishing blows! Still at it!]
As the turmoil gradually subsided, it was now winter.
With Water Blue Star increasingly integrating with the universe, a vast influx of new knowledge poured in.
Many research topics that would have taken years to study seemed to be resolved virtually overnight.
[Silver Wolf: Laugh Point Analysis: "resolved virtually overnight" - clever pun.]
[Stelle: Sss— (shrinks shoulders) Indeed, it's winter now, so cold!]
Naturally, Su Qing and Himeko's primary tasks shifted from their research group projects to learning the continuous stream of new knowledge.
Just yesterday, there had been a snowfall, blanketing the earth in silver. Occasionally, branches bowed under the weight, causing accumulated snow to rustle down.
Himeko, clad in a down jacket and warm gloves, stood downstairs, occasionally glancing towards the entrance.
Su Qing emerged from the building, surprised to see Himeko waiting. He briskly approached her. "Why are you waiting for me here? Didn't we agree to meet at the teaching building?"
"I couldn't wait to see you." Himeko huddled within her white down jacket collar, her cheeks pale but nose slightly reddened, looking quite adorable.
Seeing this, Su Qing couldn't resist pinching Himeko's nose, eliciting a playful "stop it!" from her.
Together, they headed towards the academic building.
Himeko brought up the book they had studied together yesterday, "The Essentials of Aerospace Equipment Maintenance - the initial chapters weren't too challenging."
Su Qing casually responded, "Yes, but the later chapters dealing with propulsion units get significantly more complex."
Himeko looked puzzled. "I haven't reached those yet... wait! Have you already finished reading them? That's impressive!"
"Just got some inspiration," Su Qing said, recalling Himeko's recent research focus. "Recently, I noticed you've been studying a lot about star charts?"
Himeko nodded. "Yeah, I'm thinking of pursuing a career as a navigator..."
The influx of new knowledge from the universe has greatly benefited both of them. Himeko was gradually clarifying her own developmental path.
As they chatted, Himeko realized that Su Qing wasn't wearing gloves. She took off her left glove and offered it to him, saying, "Here, take one of mine."
"Actually, no need." Su Qing glanced at Himeko's neck tucked warmly within her down jacket, momentarily tempted to seek warmth there himself.
[Bronya: Ha ha, cheeky move!]
"Don't even think about it!" Himeko quickly dodged, "Your hands must be freezing!"
To prevent Su Qing's mischief, Himeko immediately took his hand and helped him put on the glove.
"A bit small." Su Qing flexed his left hand, observing the cute feminine glove now adorning it.
Naturally, their free hands then intertwined together.
As Su Qing held Himeko's hand, he felt its delicate softness and warmth.
Himeko turned to glance at Su Qing, unable to suppress a warm smile.
[March 7th: So sweet, sooo sweet.]
[March 7th: Just one pair of gloves, yet both feel warmer now!]
Upon reaching the academic building, they spotted Professor Xu—it had been a while since their last meeting.
Su Qing greeted him, "Professor..."
Smiling, Professor Xu waved dismissively, "No, no, no, Su Qing, you're my teacher, remember?! Thanks to you, I'm practically being hailed as the foremost figure in Water Blue Star's interstellar aviation by my peers!"
[Sparkle: Joyful.]
[Seele: Joyful.]
[Silver Wolf: Humorous.]
[Stelle: Professor Xu: How did I become the foremost academic authority? Honestly, not sure. It just started with... taking on a student.]
[Himeko (smiling): Nonetheless, given how diligently Professor Xu has persevered over these years, he truly deserves this honor.]
[Stelle: Indeed, indeed~]
"Right, Su Qing." After exchanging greetings, Professor Xu pulled out a ticket from his pocket. "Have you heard of the Intelligentsia Guild? They're reputed to be the premier pan-galactic scholarly organization.
"They learned about Water Blue Star's achievements and initially planned to invite me for academic exchange, but after I told them the truth, they changed their invitation to you instead."
"Of course..." Professor Xu glanced somewhat hesitantly between Su Qing and Himeko, "there is only one opportunity available. The final decision depends on your choice."
As the first spacecraft from Water Blue Star took flight,
[Simulation completed. Time until return: three days.]
This simulation was fully cleared, similar to Firefly's scenario. In Kafka's case, however, all demons were not eliminated.
Seeing this message, Su Qing began pondering deeply.
The simulation was so realistic that Su Qing had begun treating it as a fully genuine parallel world, living and thinking within it accordingly.
He tentatively believed that even after his departure, this world would continue to function without him.
So, how should he leave?
And what did he wish to leave behind for Himeko?
An abrupt farewell, leaving her with sorrow?
An accidental death, filled with regret?
These options were clearly not feasible.
In the previous simulation against the Star Core Demon, his actions were out of necessity.
If given a choice, Su Qing would never willingly choose to "die before Himeko's eyes" and burden her with lifelong remorse as a way to end this simulation. That would be utterly heartless, causing harm to his own beloved partner.
Instead, Su Qing hoped to leave Himeko with cherished memories of their first love; with aspirations and yearnings towards the starlit sky; and with the pioneering spirit and courage to embark on a journey among the stars, even if alone.
[Fu Xuan: If destined to part, these truly are the best things Su Qing can leave for Himeko.]
[March 7th: Touching, isn't it?]
Thus, before their separation, Su Qing conveyed this sentiment.
Exploring the stars is ultimately each person's individual journey. Having compatible companions, friends, or lovers by one's side is undoubtedly ideal, but even without them, one must steadfastly follow their dreams guided by inner conviction.
Regardless of whether they remained together or not, it was crucial to follow their inner dreams with unwavering determination.
"Hmm..." Himeko naturally understood his sentiment.
Love is a part of life, but not its entirety. For a romance that began in school to have blossomed so beautifully was already incredibly fortunate.
If they had parted in spring, she would lament the premature end of her unrequited love.
If farewell came in summer, she would be engulfed by sorrow, unable to recover.
In autumn, she wasn't yet prepared, still gazing up at Su Qing and striving academically under his inspiration.
But now, after experiencing all four seasons, their relationship had reached a certain level of fulfillment. Himeko also discovered her own path, navigating among the stars.
Himeko undoubtedly wanted to stay by Su Qing's side, forever close to him.
However, she knew that Su Qing's abilities far surpassed hers currently. She needed to focus intensely on her studies for some time before she could stand shoulder to shoulder with him again.
As Himeko looked at Su Qing, in this final moment of parting, she felt compelled to say something meaningful.
At this critical juncture, myriad thoughts flooded her mind, reminiscent of when she first fell for Su Qing, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.
She strove to organize her thoughts, searching for the right words to express herself:
After striving hard...
I will definitely come find you...
By then, we'll both have achieved so much...
Together, let's explore the stars hand in hand...
Although we may be temporarily apart...
I will love you forever...
[March 7th: Yes, perfect! Go ahead, Sister Himeko, speak boldly!]
Himeko took a deep breath.
That's right, saying this would suffice; all she needed was to express her feelings.
As Himeko prepared to speak, meeting Su Qing's gaze once again sent her into a fluster.
[Stelle: Mirage, activate!]
Following her initial thoughts, Himeko began, "After striving hard..."
"We will undoubtedly meet again..."
"At that time, we'll each have accomplished great things..."
"If given the chance, let's explore the stars together..."
"Though we're parting now..."
"I will forever cherish this love..."
[Qingque: ?]
[Bronya: ?]
[Fu Xuan: Isn't what Himeko said subtly different from what she initially thought?]
[Sushang: Is there any difference? Seems pretty similar to me.]
[Seele: I feel like it's both similar yet slightly off...]
Su Qing visibly froze for a moment.
Then, he flashed a relieved smile. "Of course."
His final words were: "Take care, wishing you all the best. May we meet again amidst the stars."
[Firefly: (sensing something) Hmm??]
[Kafka: (suddenly coming back to life)]
[Silver Wolf: Arise once more, my—teammate!]
[Huohuo: (swinging a banner in sync)]
[March 7th: Sister Himeko! What on earth are you saying?! A slight deviation in just a few words can lead to worlds of misunderstanding!]
[March 7th: You meant a brief separation between lovers with the certainty of reunion, but what came out sounded like moving on after a breakup!]
[Himeko: I...]
[Himeko: (picking up her coffee cup) (hand trembling slightly)]
[Himeko: Little March, calm down first; it—it's not as bad as you think...]
[Kafka: @Himeko, impressive.]
[Firefly: @Himeko, impressive.]
[Silver Wolf: @Himeko, absolutely remarkable.]
Upon returning home, Himeko recalled her conversation earlier that day and gradually realized something was amiss.
As Himeko pondered her words, a sudden realization dawned on her...
Did what I said imply we might break up?!
[Kafka: @Himeko, see? Even you agree with it.]
[Himeko: I... She... This person, she doesn't mean it.]
[Firefly: "I," "She," and "This person"...]
[Seele: Splitting hairs!]
[Silver Wolf: Can my past self and my present self truly be considered the same person?!]
The more Himeko thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Recalling Su Qing's relieved smile, she felt increasingly uneasy.
No way! She couldn't sleep any longer!
In haste, Himeko pulled out stationery from her drawer and began writing down her thoughts.
Her spoken words might come across as disorganized or misinterpreted, but text would surely convey her intentions accurately!
On the letter, Himeko penned her genuine feelings, expressing the sentiments she had harbored for Su Qing since they started dating.
If Su Qing reads this letter, he definitely—yes, if it's Su Qing—he will understand...
Su Qing's scheduled departure on the ship to the Intelligentsia Guild was set for the following afternoon.
Himeko spent nearly the entire night awake, crafting the letter.
Early the next morning, Himeko went straight to Su Qing's residence.
Finding him absent, she immediately called but only heard the automated message, "Beep beep, the number you dialed is out of service area."
Himeko took a deep breath.
Without wasting any time, she contacted people familiar with Su Qing like Anna, but received no information. Consequently, she headed directly for the airport.
However, at the airport, even after waiting until noon and past the departure of that flight, Himeko still hadn't found Su Qing.
A staff member suggested, "Perhaps he left on yesterday's or this morning's shuttle? There were similar flights then..."
Himeko stood frozen on the spot.
[March 7th: Su Qing, you weren't at the airport at all! Where are you???]
[Silver Wolf: Must've returned when it was time.]
Feeling disoriented, Himeko stood amidst the bustling crowd at the airport, clutching the letter close to her chest.
After a moment of dejection,
there still remained hope.
Himeko lifted her head.
There was hope—just by continuing my efforts, I too can embark on the journey among the stars...
Then someday, I will meet Su Qing again. When that day comes, I'll give him this letter...
[Kafka: So, @Himeko, you two really did break up, right?]
[Himeko: No.]
[Himeko: Definitely not.]
[Himeko: Absolutely not.]
[Himeko: Firstly, Su Qing and I had a strong relationship; we couldn't have broken up easily. Secondly, my words never explicitly mentioned "breakup"; it's just your speculative interpretation, and the true situation remains unknown. Moreover, even if referring to my past self, there might have been a misunderstanding. In reality, Su Qing and I could still be together, with only my own misinterpretation causing confusion.]
[Sparkle: ? Quite a lengthy response, feeling cornered?]
[Himeko: ...]
[Himeko: ? Shut up, Masked Fool! I've already said it, we didn't break up!!!]
[Qingque: Impressive, Sparkle knows how to push someone's buttons.]
[Kafka: Show-off...]
[Firefly: Show-off...]
[Silver Wolf: ??(×)]
[Silver Wolf: ??(√)]
[Sparkle: Cheerful, enough of this nauseating romance, I've seen more than I can stomach.]
[Sparkle: Instead, Himeko's actions are quite refreshing, suddenly making me entertained again.]
[Himeko: ...]
[Himeko: (near breakdown)]
***
The subsequent scenes in the live stream depicted Himeko's relentless pursuit of learning and self-improvement.
This was a transitional phase, before she embarked on her journey among the stars to search for Su Qing.
[Silver Wolf: (shaking head) Ah.]
[Silver Wolf: Firefly lacks courage; Kafka couldn't execute their strategy. I thought, as the navigator of the Astral Express, Himeko would handle it flawlessly.]
[Silver Wolf: Surprisingly, even she pulled off some spectacular moves. @Black Swan, is the rest going to be this dull too?]
[Seele: @Silver Wolf, you seem eager to watch your teammates get mercilessly pummeled by Himeko, aren't you?]
[Silver Wolf: Ha ha, why would I? It's just more entertaining this way.]
[Upon hearing Silver Wolf's complaint about the stream being boring, Black Swan briefly glanced ahead at the upcoming content.]
[Black Swan: (almost bursting out laughing)]
[Black Swan: @Silver Wolf, you're up next.]
[Black Swan: (smiling) And it seems like...you have quite a lot of dark history, more than them, actually. Your boredom should soon come to an end.]
[Silver Wolf: ...]
[Silver Wolf: Hmph.]
[Silver Wolf: Still boring. Not watching anymore, bye-bye.]
[Firefly: (grasping Silver Wolf's left shoulder) You can't leave.]
[Kafka: (holding onto his right shoulder) Indeed, you cannot leave.]
[Silver Wolf: Let me go!]
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