Elysia stared at the ever-changing arcade screen, a brilliant smile on her lips as her fingers flicked the joystick left and right.
"Just move this, line them up, drop that one… yes, perfect!"
She muttered softly, eyes unblinking while the fruit icons tumbled.
Beside her, Stelle was equally absorbed, occasionally shouting in excitement.
"Pop it, pop it! Clear that peach or we'll fall behind!"
The game the two were playing was the latest dream-world craze—Paper-Fold Bird Match.
Eden had joined Elysia for a couple of rounds earlier, but the game didn't seem to hold her interest; after a while she stepped aside with a smile and simply watched.
So Elysia dragged the equally game-loving Stelle in for a few more rounds~!
…
"How's it going? Having fun?"
After clearing a pile of tasks, Robin also boarded the s.s. reverie.
She slipped into the banquet hall and quickly spotted the two who were playing so happily.
"Oh, Miss Robin, perfect timing!"
March 7th was the first to notice her, beaming as she called out.
Following March 7th's gaze, Robin saw Elysia and Stelle huddled at the arcade cabinet, cheering over a successful combo, and she couldn't help smiling as she walked over.
""ooks like you're enjoying yourselves. I was worried we might have been poor hosts and left you bored."
"Oh, not at all!"
Hearing the voice, Elysia paused her game and turned, her smile as bright as ever,
"There's so much fun stuff here we can hardly keep up. Sure, the crowds aren't what they used to be, but it's still lively, right?"
Robin gave a small nod, a trace of emotion in her tone,
"Ever since the Stellaron Incident, the Daydream Hotel's checkout numbers soared."
"In truth, no one was physically harmed in that uproar, yet once panic and prejudice take root they're hard to dispel; people can't help but feel uneasy."
March 7th sighed as well.
"Well, it's understandable. After something like that, anyone would be a bit scared; wanting to leave is only human."
Robin murmured in agreement,
"Mm, we can only take it slowly. I believe in time everyone will accept this place again."
…
"Nice! Victory!"
As the end-game chime sounded, Stelle cheered, the little tanuki clapping happily, face full of triumph.
Though Elysia had lost, she showed no disappointment, simply clapped cheerfully,
"Well then, looks like our Stelle is quite the gamer~ I'll have to practice more next time if I want to beat you."
With that she looked away from the screen toward Robin and March 7th, asking curiously,
"So… what were you chatting about? It sounded interesting—tell me too?"
Robin smiled gently,
"Nothing special. Seeing you all so happy puts me at ease; I was afraid you might find this place dull."
"Oh, it's all thanks to your arrangements~"
Elysia stepped closer, voice sincere,
"Without your thoughtfulness we couldn't have had such a great time."
"It's no trouble."
Robin shook her head lightly,
"Meeting you all is fate; it's only natural to do these things."
""lFriends, friends—how wonderful~!"
Elysia clapped her hands in delight, eyes sparkling,
"Then from now on we're good friends~♪ Next time we must play together again!"
In the airship's pool aboard the s.s. reverie, two plump trotters paddled about, sending up sprays of crystal droplets.
Guests clustered in twos and threes, speaking softly so as not to disturb the peace.
Some lay back on loungers, light blankets over them, eyes closed as they savored the quiet while starlight filtered through the dream-clouds…
Suddenly a shadow shot up from beneath the hull with a whoosh, stirring the umbrellas at the poolside.
Everyone around the pool turned in unison toward the sound—such a sudden ascent from below deck was a rare sight on the s.s. reverie.
The newcomer was a white-haired man, tall and straight, cradling a black-purple-haired woman with utmost care.
Behind them, naturally, followed a tiny figure.
The child looked up, keeping pace step for step; on closer look the features bore some resemblance to the silver-haired man.
It was Kevin, Mei, and elf Kevin.
They paid little heed to the stares around them and strode straight into the airship cabin.
After all, the Astral Express crew had already filed advance reports describing their identities and appearances.
Every member of the s.s. reverie staff had received the memo, so when they saw the group approaching, they merely stepped aside with polite smiles, making no move to block them—
"Mei, you're finally back!"
Elysia had been huddled with Stelle poring over a new game level; spotting them enter, she waved cheerfully, teasing lilt in her voice,
"So, what sweet nothings did you two whisper while you were off alone? Have fun?"
Mei answered with a soft laugh, glancing at Kevin beside her before replying,
"Mm… we did gain something, I suppose."
"And you lot—did you enjoy yourselves while we were gone?"
Mei asked, gaze sweeping across the room.
"We sure did, super fun～"
Elysia clapped her hands and rattled off how she'd beaten Stelle several rounds in a row, voice bubbling with glee.
Mei's eyes landed on Robin; she smiled and nodded.
"Oh? Miss Robin is here as well?"
Robin inclined her head, tone gentle:
"Yes. After finishing a few things, I thought you were still around, so I should do the honors of a host and stay a while longer."
Truthfully she was quite busy; the Stellaron Incident had just ended and plenty still required her decision—but she had deliberately stayed behind. It was hardly a secret; everyone present could guess as much.
Mei looked toward Eden and gave an unobtrusive nod.
"Eden, could you play something?"
Eden caught on at once, smiling in reply:
"Mm."
She snapped her fingers; golden notes appeared mid-air, leaping lightly and releasing mellow echoes that drifted around them like an invisible curtain, wrapping the group and sealing out surrounding noise.
"Eh? What's…?"
Robin stared at the notes in puzzlement; she was intimately familiar with sound-based powers and could wield something similar herself.
Eden's sudden action left her nonplussed.
But… why now, of all moments?
Once the barrier of notes was complete, Mei slowly explained,
"We just met your brother, Sunday, at the Reverie's border."
Instantly Robin understood Eden's intent—to keep any news of Sunday from reaching nearby ears.
She had quite a few Family staff around; though they weren't deliberately eavesdropping, snatches of conversation might still be overheard. Mei's precaution was thoughtful.
Robin let out a soft 'ah,' calm—as if she had long expected it.
"So that's how it is… He's truly returned…"
She showed no surprise; after all, she and Sunday were siblings, their mutual understanding far deeper than anyone else's.
Though Robin had spent years touring abroad, when it came to reading her brother's mind she was the undisputed expert—she knew his temperament inside out.
March 7th, listening at the side, grew anxious and cut in,
"Isn't anyone shocked? That's Sunday we're talking about! We just saved Penacony from the mess he stirred up—now he's back. Who says he won't pull something outrageous again?"
Stelle frowned as well, clenching a small fist.
"Then… let's go grab him right now! Make him spill what he's planning—and if he won't talk, we'll interrogate him properly!"
Elysia quickly waved her hands with a laugh, tugging Stelle back.
"Hey～ that's not a good idea. We don't know why he's here yet; acting rashly might backfire."
Mei picked up the thread, explaining,
"When we ran into him, he said he'd come back to deal with the remnants of Order left behind."
Robin nodded, a complex glint in her eyes.
"That's Brother—always dismissing things aloud while something stays lodged in his heart. These years I've watched him change, bit by bit…"
"Yet… the core of him has never shifted."
She shared a few memories of Sunday—stories of their childhood and the divergent paths they later walked.
"Wow, so touching…"
Elysia sighed, swinging Eden's hand, envious:
"Eden～ look, having a brother and sister who care for each other like that is wonderful! I want a cute little sister too!!"
Viewers in the livestream naturally saw and heard everything, but most simply watched in silence—news of Sunday's return was already an open secret.
Besides, it was a private matter between siblings; outsiders felt it best not to comment.