Today was the big day. The Astral Express would arrive in Penacony after receiving the Watchmaker's letter of invitation.

My script, as usual, was not very detailed, but I knew that of all the Moments of the Dreamscape, Stelle would visit the Golden Hour.

That's why I'd spent the last week making sure that I visited every corner of it.

This way I could put my plan into action: I would pretend to be an actress from the Iris Family, who, not having many gigs, was a tour guide on the side.

I definitely felt guilty about lying to her but...

Today might be the only chance I have to spend time with her again.

I had missed her so much all this time...

I remembered the day Kafka brought that girl to our secret base as if it were yesterday.

At first I had tried to keep my distance from her. My relationship with my fellow Stellaron Hunters had always been rather superficial, and I also knew that this new recruit would have her memory wiped after some training.

This was so that she could fulfil the role assigned to her by the script: a vessel for a Stellaron.

But my intentions had clashed with Stelle's personality. Always cheerful and playful, whenever we met she would try anything to cheer me up.

When I had asked her why she kept approaching me despite my obvious attempts to keep her away, she had said with a beaming smile:

"You always have this sad look on your face. I want to see you smile more often, just like me!"

Soon I couldn't help but grow fond of her and consider her my first friend.

In the precious moments I had spent with her, I had begun to understand what my dream was.

But soon it was all over.

The bright sun that had come into my life had disappeared, leaving behind an icy wasteland.

But I didn't regret having become close to her.

Although it hurt, the time we had spent together was worth all the pain I felt at seeing her go.

Those memories helped me cope with the cold reality I was living in.

But here we are in a dream... at least for one day, maybe I could relive those memories.

I didn't know what to expect though. After all our personalities were the result of the experiences we had lived. Now that she had lost her memory, what kind of person would Stelle be?

I hope we'll get along well....

I still hadn't forgotten about my mission though.

In addition to exploring the Golden Hour, I had begun to investigate the Watchmaker's Legacy so that I could help the Astral Express get closer to it.

So far I had not discovered much about it.

I had, however, heard disturbing rumours that something murky was lurking behind the Dreamscape's golden curtain.

"Mysterious disappearances..."

The idea that someone could vanish within a dream was very strange. After all, if something traumatic happened while in the Dreamscape, one would simply wake up.

Are those people trapped somewhere?

Surely it couldn't be a coincidence that something like this was happening just a few days before the Charmony Festival and at a time when several guests were arriving in the Dreamscape.

That was another point of concern.

The Fools and even the IPC...

I had to make sure that no one would try to manipulate Stelle for their own ends.

If necessary, I'll have to pull her off the stage... Wait... that sounds like I'm the one manipulating her though!

I was walking towards the entrance of the Golden Hour, deep in thought, when two figures blocked my path.

Ugh... I got distracted again! I must pay more attention!

They were the two members of the Bloodhound Family who had chased me a few days ago.

"We finally tracked you down! Don't even think about running away, you stowaway!"

I looked around for a way out. My heart skipped a beat.

"Stelle..."

A tall, grey-haired girl was staring at me, a puzzled expression on her face.

Without thinking, I ran towards her.

"S-sorry for bothering you! Please, I need your help!"

Her golden eyes lit up with understanding and a broad smile lit up her face:

"I will do my best to protect a pretty young lady!"

Maybe she thinks I'm being harrassed... wait... did she just call me a pretty young lady?!

This way of speaking was so Stelle-like that for a moment my head began to spin.

Meanwhile, the two Bloodhounds had approached us.

"Hey look, she has an accomplice!"

"Good job! Now we can nab them both in one go!"

Damn, I've only just met her and I'm already getting her into trouble...

Stelle, however, did not seem at all intimidated. The girl pulled out some sort of club and took a stance, ready to fight.

What am I going to do? I can't let her beat people up in the middle of the city!

Before I could make up my mind, a man approached.

He was tall and well built, probably in his thirties. His silver vest was emblazoned with the symbol of the Bloodhound family.

"That's enough, boys..." he addressed our two opponents in a calm voice.

"S-sir?"

“What's gotten into you all? Open your eyes and take a good look. Is this lady the stowaway we're looking for?”

The woman gave him a puzzled look, but after her companion explained that the man had been sent by the family to keep order during the Charmony Festival, she stepped back.

After being lectured, the two walked away.

"I'm Gallagher from the Bloodhound Family, and those idiots are some young Bloodhounds I've been training.” the man apologised.

Gallagher... how strange... I've never heard of him.

Stelle lowered her bat and hooked it onto her belt:

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Who were they looking for?" she asked Gallagher.

"We got a tip that a criminal had illegally entered Penacony. With the Charmony Festival coming up, some bad characters are starting to show up..."

The man's gaze settled on me, his mouth curving into a slight smile.

“...”

“But this was just a misunderstanding! Such a lovely young lady could never be a stowaway!”

This person...is dangerous.

But I quickly composed myself and smiling in turn said:

“Thank you... without your help I wouldn't have known what to do...”

“You're welcome. I'm just doing my job.”

After apologizing and advising us to be careful, Gallagher left, leaving me alone with Stelle.

Now that the crisis situation had passed, I felt my heart accelerate.

It was really her... I had waited so long for this moment.

I turned around. Stelle was staring at me, her eyes full of curiosity.

"Um, thank you very much! I owe you one. If you hadn't helped me, they would have taken me away..."

Stelle smiled broadly at me and gave me a thumbs up:

"Galactic Baseballer, at your service!"

She really sounds just like her.

"Something wrong?"

"No, no, you... sound like a really fun person!"

I tried to compose myself.

"Sorry to ask, but you're a Nameless, right? Is this your first time in the Penacony?"

Stelle looked at me in surprise:

"How do you know who I am?"

Uh...!

Fortunately, I quickly found a way out of the predicament I had got myself into.

I quickly pointed to the ticket pinned to her jacket.

"That's the Astral Express badge, I... I've seen it on TV several times!"

"Oh..." Stelle's expression relaxed and she smiled at me, "I didn't think we were that famous, do you want an autograph?"

"That's not why I asked... Although I really admire the Nameless..." I replied, "since you're not from here, I wanted to offer to be your guide, you know... to repay you for helping me!"

Stelle's eyes lit up:

"That would be great! I almost got lost allready. What's your name, by the way?"

Oh...

Although I had already come to terms with the fact that she would not remember me, hearing those words hurt me more than I expected.

But... this is the chance to get to know each other again... I can't waste it by getting all mopey.

Trying my best to smile, I recited:

"I am Firefly. Although the Bloodhounds mistook me for a stowaway, I'm actually a local. I belong to the Iris Family and I'm a stage performer. I mean... sort of. I'm more of an extra.

When there are no gigs, I work as a tour guide near Glax Avenue. I can show you the most interesting things to do here in the Golden Hour!"

"Perfect! I'm Stelle, nice to meet you."

I know.

"Nice to meet you!"

"Are you sure you have time for me?"

"Right now I have nothing else to do. Most of the tourists here are rich people who don't need guides..."

"Alright. I'll be in your care then!"

We started walking.

"Things don't seem very peaceful around here..." Stelle commented, watching two Bloodhounds questioning a person nearby.

"Um, it's not usually like this, but with the Charmony Festival coming up, everyone's a little on edge..."

"I see... I was just thinking about what Mr Gallagher said. I wonder if there is anyone around who is dangerous..."

If she knew who she's walking with....

But apparently I wasn't the only one interested in Stelle.

As I thought, someone is following us!

"Let's go! We can talk later, there's so much to see!"

I quickened my pace, trying to lose our tracks in the crowd.

"This way!"

After a few minutes we arrived at the first stop on the itinerary I had drawn up.

"This is Oti Mall! You can find just about anything here! Luxury goods, clothes, gadgets! And not only that, when you buy something, for a little extra you can have it delivered to you in reality!"

Stelle looked around open-mouthed.

I giggled

I had the same reaction.

But suddenly something caught the girl's attention and she turned in that direction.

What did she see?.. uh?

Stelle was looking at her reflection in the window of a luxury car.

"Look at how shiny it is!"

"Um... yeah."

Does she like it just because it's... shiny?

"Can I really buy something like this in a dream?" she asked, giving me a hopeful look.

"Um, yes... but at the moment cars cannot be transferred to reality..."

"Oh..."

Why does she look so disappointed?

"Where would you keep it anyway? Don't you live on a train?"

"I could park it in March 7h's room!" she said, smiling.

March 7h, one of her trailblazing companions....

I bet she's a menace to them too, just as she had been to us Stellaron Hunters in the short time we'd spent together.

"Is something wrong?" asked Stelle, looking at me.

"No, don't worry... it's just that you remind me of someone I know."

"They must be a great person then!"

She is.

"Come on, there's so much more I have to show you!"

That man... is still following us.

We spent several minutes window-shopping, after which I suggested to go for a bite.

"Now that you mention it, I'm kind of hungry. But how does it work, can you eat here?"

"Sure! There's a saying here: 'In a dream, hunger is the most precious spice!'" I recited, remembering the words I'd read on a billboard, "come, I'll take you to my favourite place! Today it's on me!"

When we arrived at our destination, I saw Stelle's eyes light up as she looked at the food on display.

"I personally recommend the Oak Cake Rolls, they are so good! I come here every day to get one!"

"Aren't you afraid of getting fat?"

"Y-You can't gain weight in a dream!"

"Are you sure you want to treat me? I'm really hungry right now."

"N-no problem, I have some savings put aside..."

Oh no!

I had forgotten. The Stelle I knew was literally a bottomless pit.

"Okay, I warned you..."

My smile grew stiffer as I watched Stelle order every single item on the menu.

"Um... this... have you finished ordering? Y-you've got quite an appetite, huh? Haha... go sit at a table while I get the bill..."

20000 CREDITS?!... I'm... out of money...

When I sat down in front of Stelle, she asked me, with her mouth full of food:

“Mmph you ‘ot ‘etting a’i’ing?”

“No… I’m not hungry.”

But Stelle quickly cut up half the Oak Cake Roll she had ordered and offered it to me, looking at me as if she were a magnanimous queen offering riches to one of her subjects.

I paid for all of this!

But I soon burst out laughing.

This situation... it's just like the old days.

"What is it?"

"Nothing, don't worry..." I replied, wiping away a tear and taking my first bite of my Oak Cake Roll.

Soon Stelle had her share, but when she took her first bite I saw her eyes widen.

"You don't like it?"

"No, it's not that... it has a strange texture, but it's good. It's just that since such a cute girl recommended it, I was expecting something... sweeter."

Again with the "cute girl" thing... does she act like this with everyone?

"Don't make fun of me and, anyway, it's not like cute girls only like sweets."

"You're right, sorry. I just wanted to pay you a compliment!"

I felt a certain warmth in my cheeks.

I'm not used to this...

Who would ever call a criminal like me a "cute girl"?

We continued to eat in silence for a few minutes.

I'm not very good at small talk.

Luckily it was Stelle who came to my rescue:

"You said you were an actress, right? That sounds like a lot of fun!"

"Um, like I said, I'm pretty much an extra and... when I get a bigger role, things usually don't go smoothly..."

"How come?"

"Lately I never agree with the script I'm given and I try to deviate from it as much as possible... but the results are never good."

"I feel you! I like to improvise too! You'll see that things will work out in the end!"

I hope you are right.

"But tell me about yourself instead! Being on the Astral Express, you must have seen a lot of interesting things!"

Stelle launched into a tale of her latest adventures: her awakening on the Herta space station and the events of Jarilo VI and Xianzhou Luofu.

I already knew everything, of course, but I couldn't help but get caught up in her enthusiasm.

Traveling with her... would be so much fun...

"Firefly?"

"Um... Oh... sorry, I got distracted for a moment..."

"That's ok, but... is everything all right? You had such a sad look on your face."

"Oh...it's nothing..."

"You don't like living here in Penacony?"

"No, no, I love it here..."

"Is your work the problem then? You don't like being an actress?"

"Something like that... But there are... reasons... why I can't quit."

"I see. But come on, at least today you don't have to work! We can spend as much time as you want having fun together! Let's go!"

Stelle grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the shop.

At that moment, I could have followed her to the ends of the universe.