Her heart had only just started beating, and now it was dead again

"How was it? Pretty good, right?"

Jiang Yao asked as he watched their faces, all still craving more.

"Good doesn't even begin to cover it! That was incredible! What have I even been doing with my life until now?"

March 7th gave him a thumbs-up.

"Little March isn't exaggerating at all. The color, aroma, and flavor were all perfect. Truly a rare delicacy."

Welt was equally moved.

"Indeed. I don't even know what I'll eat from now on."

Even Himeko couldn't help sighing in admiration.

His cooking really was phenomenal.

How could it be so irresistible?

It had even made her neglect her normally elegant image.

"Hm?"

Stelle perked up warily.

She acknowledged Jiang Yao's abilities.

And she had already decided to cling to him for dear life.

Otherwise, she would be missing out far too much!

She had just eaten with every ounce of strength she had.

Any more, and she probably would have burst.

Heaven only knew how badly she had craved more while watching Asta, Himeko, and Welt eat.

She had thought a wonderful future awaited her.

But now Himeko was asking what she would eat from now on?

As long as Jiang Yao made it, she would even eat sh*t!

"You're not coming with us?"

Stelle fixed Jiang Yao with an intense stare.

She had assumed Jiang Yao was definitely going to be their companion.

But Himeko's words had ruthlessly shattered that idea.

Apparently, Jiang Yao wasn't planning to board the Express!

"What?!"

March 7th's voice rose several pitches too.

She had been thinking the same thing as Stelle.

The thought that she might never eat Jiang Yao's cooking again...

That she would never again taste such sublime Xiaolongbao...

March 7th felt as though her entire world had fallen apart.

Himeko and Welt froze.

Oh no!

They exchanged a glance.

Their eyes clearly said, Why didn't you bring it up earlier?

Yes, when Himeko and Welt had come that morning, they had forgotten to invite Jiang Yao aboard too!

Well...

The moment they had walked through the door, they had seen Jiang Yao cooking.

And he had been utterly focused.

They really hadn't wanted to interrupt...

But that didn't change the fact that they had forgotten quite a few things last night and this morning.

"If you don't come with us... what are you going to do?"

March 7th stared at him with big, watery eyes, pressing her hands together with a pleading look that said, "Please don't do this."

"Please, please! Have mercy on this poor kid! Come with us!"

Stelle was even more direct.

She grabbed Jiang Yao's hand, her eyes filled with longing for him.

Jiang Yao: "..."

Himeko pressed a hand to her forehead.

Welt adjusted his glasses.

Dan Heng sighed.

Peppy: "Woof?"

Asta: "???"

They could do that?!

Pfft!

No, wait!

Jiang Yao hadn't joined the Astral Express yet?!

Asta carefully recalled what Jiang Yao had said yesterday.

Jiang Yao hadn't said he would leave with the Express.

He had said he wouldn't stay in one place for long.

That place didn't necessarily have to be the Astral Express!

Asta's dead heart suddenly came back to life.

She felt she was back in the running. She still had a chance!

At worst, she could pay the Credits for Jiang Yao to wander all over the universe!

Jiang Yao watched Stelle swing his hand back and forth.

He fell into thought.

He began to wonder whether he really should board the Express.

Perhaps staying at Herta Space Station wouldn't be bad either?

One thing was certain.

Life aboard the Express would never be dull.

But the problem was that he really just wanted somewhere to eat in peace!

Still, he didn't dislike cooking.

Seeing Jiang Yao hesitate...

Asta's half-revived heart nearly leaped into her throat.

She hurriedly gathered her words.

Dozens of plans formed in her mind, all sorts of travel routes tailored for Jiang Yao while also ensuring a diverse range of ingredients.

This would definitely strike right at Jiang Yao's weak spot.

But just as Asta was working out what to say...

Himeko spoke. "Jiang Yao, I'm rather ashamed to admit this. We should have properly introduced ourselves, but we were too captivated by your cooking."

At those words...

Asta wilted a little.

It seemed... perhaps... probably... maybe...

Had I forgotten too?

Himeko continued slowly:

"Is there anywhere you want to go? We could give you a ride."

"Or Miss Asta could help you as well. I'm sure she would be very happy to do you that favor."

Himeko had phrased that quite skillfully.

Jiang Yao's situation was somewhat complicated.

None of them knew why he had been drifting through the universe.

Of course, he was certainly no ordinary person.

Himeko wasn't sure what to make of that.

After all, Jiang Yao hadn't shown any signs of sadness so far, nor did he seem to have lost his memory.

That was why she had said it.

Asta immediately felt grateful to Himeko.

She was just about to confidently declare that they could leave Jiang Yao to her!

Then Himeko added:

"Of course, if there's nowhere in particular you'd like to go..."

"Why not travel with us?"

"I think all of us would love for you to stay."

Asta's mouth fell slightly open. Himeko was simply too wicked.

"Admittedly, your cooking is part of what makes us so reluctant to let you go."

"But please believe me. Even without those culinary skills, we Nameless would still welcome you."

Himeko's tone was utterly sincere, without the slightest hint of a joke.

Wasn't the reason the Nameless were called the Nameless...

That they did good deeds without leaving their names?

In Himeko's eyes, Jiang Yao's character passed muster.

Someone so polite couldn't be all that bad.

Even if his abilities were a little lacking, what did that matter?

The universe was vast. There would always be ordinary people.

Why couldn't they be Nameless too?

"Yeah, yeah! Though we really are hungry for you~ Hehe~"

Stelle scratched her head and smiled sheepishly.

"Exactly!"

March 7th nodded vigorously.

Don't agree to go with them. Let me have a turn... Asta's nearly revived heart cried out weakly.

"Hmm, all right. Then I'll be imposing on you from now on~"

In the end, Jiang Yao chose not to refuse.

As for his reason...

Something had suddenly occurred to him.

Didn't everyone in the Astral Express Crew have their own special skills?

March 7th, for instance. Her Six-Phased Ice should be excellent for handling ingredients that needed freezing.

As for Himeko, she could provide some firepower when he was working with large ingredients. Otherwise, with too small a flame, how long would it take?

And Stelle? The Galaxy Bat Hero's bat would be a pretty good choice for mixing things. At least he could take it easy~

As for old Welt...

Hiss, the Herrscher of Lychees... pfft!

The Herrscher of Reason's abilities seemed like they could give him more freedom to experiment with combinations of ingredients.

Looking at it that way, good heavens, wasn't the Astral Express practically Penacony?

This was a dream come true!

"Yay!"

Stelle and March 7th jumped up.

"Welcome aboard!"

Himeko and Welt couldn't suppress their smiles.

"I'm glad we'll be traveling together. I look forward to getting to know you."

Dan Heng was happy too.

Clearly, he had been won over as well.

Only Asta remained.

Her newly revived heart promptly died again.

There was no saving it this time.

Might as well bury it!

"Huh? Asta, you don't look very happy?"

As Stelle bounced up and down with joy, she noticed a fleeting look of disappointment on Asta's face.

So she asked.

"Not at all. I'm very happy for Jiang Yao. I can rest easy knowing he'll be aboard your Express."

The corner of Asta's mouth twitched.

Forget it. It didn't matter.

Jiang Yao had made a deal with me anyway.

I hadn't lost out.

"Then why aren't you smiling?"

Stelle was still a child. She simply couldn't understand~