In the real world, in Siberian Duck's livestream.
She had finally reached the quest objective of finding Himeko on the Platform.
When she met Dan Heng on the Space Bridge, his utterly serious question about whether they had eaten the Warp Trotter was almost too much to handle.
"You can tell Dan Heng's genuinely worried Little Fish ate the Warp Trotter." Siberian Duck couldn't help laughing.
[What's Going On?: That's our Teacher Dan Heng, casually doing what none of us could. How on earth did you ask a question like that with a straight face?]
[Emanator of Aha: Dan Heng's thought process (I told them Warp Trotters weren't edible, so they probably didn't eat it, right? Jiang Yu's reliable... Is he really, though? I'm not sure I can trust my fellow countryman's self-control... Better ask them...)]
[One Salted Fish: Dan Heng (serious face): "Did you eat it?" Jiang Yu (bewildered face): "Huh?"]
After saying goodbye to Dan Heng, she took a photo with March 7th, then finally found Himeko beside the front of the train. Siberian Duck went through every dialogue option before clicking "I want to board!" Then the cutscene began.
The Astral Express slowly pulled away from Herta Space Station's Platform as everyone waved goodbye from the parlor car.
Jiang Yu temporarily joining the Astral Express Crew was a pleasant little surprise for the players.
Nobody dwelled on the sadness of leaving Herta Space Station, because the next one to enter the fray would be the Astral Express's great Conductor, Pom-Pom!
"Pom-Pom's here, Pom-Pom's here! Holy crap, sure, my character looked a little clueless, but how could you call me a dimwit right off the bat?"
Siberian Duck pretended to be angry, playing it up for her viewers.
Then she saw Pom-Pom turn toward Jiang Yu and freeze for a moment, utterly entranced. Siberian Duck lost it on the spot.
There was no need to manufacture entertainment anymore.
"Oh, so that's how it is, Pom-Pom! Playing favorites, huh? Little Fish is pretty, but you don't have to take it that far! What's that supposed to mean? One of us is a dimwit, and the other leaves you too stunned to speak?"
[Anemo Boys Only: Can't help it. Little Fish's a natural beauty. You can't compete, streamer. Give up.]
[Armstrong Cyclone Jet Cannon: Okay, okay, okay. So that's the kind of Conductor you are!]
[Tang Seng Washes His Hair with Rejoice: Make a note of this, guys. That comment from Pom-Pom... Remember the name Idrila. She might be important later.]
The story continued.
Now came the part where Pom-Pom told Stelle and Jiang Yu they could come to the Conductor with any problems aboard the train. Jiang Yu smiled and asked if that was really true, and Pom-Pom answered proudly.
Seeing this, Siberian Duck immediately said, "You could already tell from Little Fish wanting to treat our character to fermented mung bean juice earlier that he's pretty mischievous. He's not as innocent as he looks.
"Watch that smile while he's talking to Pom-Pom. He's definitely plotting something!"
[Moona: LOL, Pom-Pom hasn't sensed the danger at all. Still standing there looking all pleased!]
[Higurashi: You've been fooled! All of you! Little Fish's beauty has deceived you all!]
[Lone City Krill: I knew this would happen. Little Fish's scheme worked!]
Then they saw Jiang Yu on-screen reach silently toward Pom-Pom without mentioning any problem.
Jiang Yu's fair hand covered the screen, and the next moment, the camera pulled out to a distant shot-the Astral Express sailing through the boundless universe. Then the whole train seemed to shake twice, and Pom-Pom's screams rang out from inside.
It was a very cartoonish way of presenting things.
A moment later, the game showed the chain reaction Pom-Pom's screams had set off aboard the train.
Everyone tensed up. Himeko, Old Yang, and Dan Heng immediately grabbed their weapons and rushed into the parlor car.
That sudden turn in the story sent everyone's hearts flying like a roller coaster hurtling off its tracks!
"Huh? What's happening?" Siberian Duck sounded worried.
The chat started discussing it too, with all sorts of competing theories.
[Falling Stars: Looks like the train's in danger.]
[The End: miHoYo added another new plotline? But what could threaten the train? There weren't any hints of anything around it, were there?]
[Shinpachi's True Form: I have a theory. Little Fish reached toward Pom-Pom in that last shot, and only then did Pom-Pom scream. So is it possible Little Fish is actually the enemy?]
[Warrior Nation 377: Wait, if Little Fish is the enemy, why did he go to such lengths to save us earlier?]
[Shinpachi's True Form: To earn our trust, obviously.]
[Warrior Nation 377: Did earning our trust require risking his life to suppress the Stellaron? Anyone who wanted to hurt the Express could've just struck during the chaos. Little Fish's ridiculously strong.]
[Shinpachi's True Form: So his target might be the train.]
[Warrior Nation 377: Huh?]
[Shinpachi's True Form: Maybe he wanted to sneak aboard and secretly blow it up.]
[Emanator of Aha: Holy shit, that makes sense!]
[Warrior Nation 377: Like hell it makes sense!]
[Emanator of Aha: Amusing.]
The argument in chat didn't last long, because the expressions of the people arriving at the parlor car soon went through a whole series of changes.
First came the instant shock and concern when they heard Pom-Pom scream, followed by a faint worry they kept hidden. By the time they entered the parlor car, everyone had tightened their grip on their weapons, their expressions either stern or fierce. But the moment they looked up, they all froze.
Pom-Pom's rather alarming panting came from off-screen. At last, the camera slowly turned, letting the viewers, frantic with anticipation, see what had actually happened in the parlor car.
Then...
They saw Jiang Yu sitting on the floor, cuddling and fussing over Pom-Pom in his arms while Stelle and March 7th watched enviously.
At the sight, Siberian Duck froze. Even the chat briefly stopped scrolling.
Then came the sound of Siberian Duck slamming her desk.
Desk HP -1.
"Fuck!" Siberian Duck flushed with excitement. "So this is how you make games, miHoYo? I was so damn worried, and this is what you show me? You really know how to jerk your players around!"
At last, the chat started racing again.
[A Drifting Maple Leaf: Holy shit, miHoYo! A masterclass in emotional whiplash!]
[Pest!: I recommend sending whoever wrote this part to Worlds as a top laner.]
[Hahahahaha: That was close. They nearly conned me out of my last shred of dignity!]
[Little Fish's Sword: Is that really the point? Damn it! I don't even know who to envy right now! Once upon a time, Little Fish held me in his arms and caressed me like that too! Waaaaah! Love fades, doesn't it?]
[Bamboo in the Breeze: For real, these two are way too cute together!]
[My Pee Is Yellow: Hehehe... Big cutie holding little cutie... Hehe... I'm done.]
[OIshdoaih: You're done again, Yellow Pee Bro?]
Before you continue