Chapter 22: Uh… so what you made back then was food?!
[ "Looks like a simpleton. Yes, I'm talking about you." The cute creature raised its round head, looked Star up and down, and said, "I've heard the specifics from Himeko. Listen up, newbie, I'll only say this once."
"Lately, many people must have told you, 'You are special,' but this is the Astral Express, and the passengers on board all have secrets they can't talk about."
"Since you've chosen to board, you have to abide by the rules here. You're not the only one who's special, remember that."
"I'm Pom-Pom, the conductor here. If you encounter any problems on the train, feel free to come to me."
After Pom-Pom finished speaking, it waddled off on its cute little legs to handle its work. ]
[ ..... ]
~Honkai: Impact 3rd World~
"Conductor??!"
Kiana opened her mouth in surprise,
"So it's not Himeko Auntie's pet?!"
"Oh? I don't remember raising that type of pet."
Himeko suddenly appeared in the classroom, taking the initiative to sit next to Kiana. She wore a large trench coat and sunglasses, her heroic appearance completely different from the Himeko in the light screen.
Kiana was pleasantly surprised:
"Himeko Auntie!"
"Is it that surprising? We just went on a mission together not long ago."
Himeko took off her sunglasses and smiled slightly,
"Kiana, which Himeko do you prefer, the one in the train or the one in front of you?"
"Ah, Himeko, why are you asking me this kind of question right away? This is really…"
Kiana's face showed difficulty, and she couldn't help but glance at the white high-slit dress of Himeko in the light screen.
There was no doubt that both Himeko Aunties were super beauties, but one was quiet and the other dynamic, each with different styles, making it difficult for her to choose…
"Alright, alright, silence is the answer."
Himeko spread her hands, pretending to be sad,
"I didn't expect that in the heart of my cute student, the one who spends day and night with me is not as good as… sigh, it's really heartbreaking."
"Himeko Auntie, the Himeko in the light screen… is that really you?"
After carefully examining the picture on the light screen, Kiana took the lead in asking her question.
Although the two Himekos looked almost exactly alike and had the same voice, their language habits and dressing styles were very different.
Moreover, the Himeko in the light screen didn't seem suitable for close combat, while her Himeko teacher… cough, wearing the new era Valkyrie armor, she was simply unbelievably fierce.
"It's me."
Himeko nodded calmly,
"But it's me from another parallel universe."
"Parallel world? Then wouldn't that mean…"
Kiana looked at Bronya beside her with a shocked face, but Bronya seemed to have guessed the result, and her face was not surprised.
—
[ "Don't look at Pom-Pom like that. It's been a long time since there were new passengers on the train, and it's still very interested in you."
Himeko sat on the circular sofa in the train, holding a cup of steaming coffee in her hand, sipping it while comforting herself,
"I won't overstep my bounds. If you have any questions, feel free to bother the conductor."
"Okay, I understand." Stelle was about to leave when Himeko's voice suddenly sounded behind her again.
"—Oh, right, since it's your first time on the train, would you like to try the train's specialty?"
"Specialty? What is it?"
Seeing that Stelle was also interested, Himeko put the coffee in her hand on the table and slowly pushed it towards Stelle,
"It's coffee I brewed myself, and the beans were also hand-ground. You won't be able to drink it if you leave the Astral Express." Himeko's voice rose, seemingly a little proud when she mentioned this topic.
Stelle carefully examined the coffee she pushed over. The dark liquid was like a black hole in the universe, baring its fangs and claws as if it wanted to suck the taster in.
"It should be Himeko's specialty, or…" Stelle was just about to agree, intending to taste this unique train flavor, but suddenly she felt a gaze piercing from behind, which made her break out in a cold sweat.
Looking back slowly, Mr. Welt on the sofa next door was holding a book in his hand, his eyes under his glasses deep and mysterious.
"What's wrong? Stelle?" Seeing Stelle stunned and in a daze, Himeko reminded her.
In an instant, as if enlightened, Stelle shuddered violently and waved her hands repeatedly: "Uh, that… what, no, no, no need to bother, I suddenly feel very sleepy, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep if I drink too much coffee, I'd better drink something else."
"Okay." Himeko seemed a little disappointed, but didn't force it: "There's Little March's favorite juice over there, the cup is next to it, you can pour a glass if you like."
"Thank you." Stelle breathed a sigh of relief. She turned her head to look at Mr. Welt, and the other party's eyes seemed to carry a bit of tacit appreciation. ]
[ ..... ]
~Genshin Impact World~
"Guuji, I always feel like they are all afraid of that Himeko's coffee, is it my illusion?"
Raiden Ei tilted her head, seemingly unable to understand why they were so afraid of an ordinary drink, as if they were facing a great enemy.
She had also drunk coffee, a slightly bitter drink that seemed very popular in faraway Fontaine, especially among office workers who worked from nine to five.
But in her opinion, it was not as good as Dango Milk.
"Perhaps that Himeko's coffee brewing skills are very poor?"
Yae Miko guessed,
"Bad food is more terrifying than your lightning, Ei."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Ei's voice suddenly sounded behind Miko, faintly carrying a bit of resentment, causing the fur on Miko's tail to stand on end.
Miko suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, She suddenly remembered a long, long time ago… when Ei said she was going to cook her a meal.
Ei couldn't cook at all, and even if she tried her best, she still couldn't conquer the kitchen. Finally, after the kitchen of Tenshukaku was struck by lightning three times, Ei brought out a twisted and abstract, completely indescribable, strange object from the smoky kitchen.
Kujou Tengu risked his life to take a sip after praising the Shogun greatly… and then took a month's sick leave without being able to recover.
Faced with this situation, Miko just joked that Ei's dishes were more powerful than her lightning, but she didn't expect Ei to completely misunderstand and think it was recognition of her cooking skills, and she was happy about it for a long time.
But now—
"So what Miko meant back then was that the food I made was unpalatable?"
Ei's face slowly approached from behind her, until it was next to her ear, her breath gently blowing, making Miko feel like feathers were lightly scratching her face.
Uh… so what you made back then was food?!