Afraid Himeko would keep pestering him and insist he try her cooking, Dan Heng hurriedly found an excuse and slipped away to the Observation Car.
Helpless, Himeko left the Data Bank as well. In the passage leading to the Observation Car, she could still see Himechi Cat riding Shut Up with her paws on her hips, lecturing the Express's newest member.
"You need to understand that among all the fluffy creatures on the Astral Express, I'm the boss. Got it?"
Himechi Cat waved her claws while the Pig Trotter Rice Spirit huddled in a corner, not daring to make a sound.
"Right below me is our Conductor, Pom-Pom. You could say Pom-Pom ranks below one cat and above everyone else. And you're just a bowl of Pig Trotter Rice with far too many calories. Know your place... Who dares grab me by the scruff of destiny?!"
In the middle of lecturing the Pig Trotter Rice Spirit, Himechi Cat was suddenly lifted by the scruff of her neck, all four paws flailing wildly.
She turned her head and saw Himeko's flawless face.
"Oh, Himeko, you're here!"
Himechi Cat deftly climbed onto Himeko's head. Himeko gave her forehead a flick, neither too hard nor too soft, warning her not to bully other people... other meals.
Himechi Cat stuck out her tongue.
"I was playing with it! Ask it if you don't believe me. It'll say so itself if it doesn't want to play."
The Pig Trotter Rice Spirit waved its arms and legs, babbling for ages, but in the end, it failed to say anything. It could only hang its head, letting the Seasonal Vegetables in its bowl droop.
"It can't talk at all."
Himeko flicked Himechi Cat's head again, a little harder this time.
Seeing Himechi Cat get smacked, the Pig