At Himeko's instruction, Shut Up transferred some money to each of them.
"We're taking this man with us."
Money never failed to open doors. For a small sum, Himeko saved Weir from the brink of death.
"Thank goodness! I thought I was going to die!"
Weir immediately ran over to Himeko. Only after taking a good while to recover did he notice another person and a robot beside her.
"Who are these two?"
"Dan Heng, the Astral Express's guard."
"I'm Shut Up, the Astral Express's Drink-Mixing Robot. Would you like to hear a joke?"
"A joke? Let's hear it."
Weir was curious what this robot could come up with.
"Some flying cars in Los Angeles can reach altitudes of over ten thousand meters. Do you know why those cars never hit the stars?"
"?"
Himechi Cat patted Shut Up on the head.
"Because the stars twinkle out of the way!"
"Yes, a perfect joke."
"Himechi Cat high-fived Shut Up and became Hit-a-Machine Cat. Since yours truly is a Drink-Mixing Robot, anyone who hits me naturally becomes Hit-a-Machine Cat."
"Shut Up, shut up."
Himechi Cat felt the temperature plummet.
"I'm not going to high-five you over your joke and become Hit-a-Machine Cat. That's already your twenty-third terrible pun about Himechi Cat."
"Haha, all right~"
Shut Up shut his mouth.
"Are these all things that come with the Astral Express? A robot, and... a person?"
Weir studied Dan Heng curiously.
"He doesn't look remotely like something you'd get from upgrading a train. He's a real, actual person."
"Because I really am a person."
Dan Heng spoke coldly.
"Dan Heng is one of the Nameless aboard the train, not a reward like you're thinking," Himeko also explained. Weir thought for a moment and nodded.
"So that's how it is."
He wouldn't claim to