There is no greater joy in the universe than opening your refrigerator and being greeted with the sight of delicious food and drinks lining the shelves. From tropical fruit cakes to exotic coffee grounds, the Astral Express kitchen never once had to restock anything during its travels. Himeko chalks it up to magic; everyone else considers it a convenience and a question best left unanswered. As the saying goes, the farmer who slays the golden goose eats no omelet.
But today is different.
Tucked away in the back of the freezer awaits a frozen delight: tall, gray tins of ice cream bought fresh from the streets of Belobog. Five of them, to be exact— one for each of your traveling companions. You feel a rush of excitement as your hand boldly reaches out for the middle one.
Why the middle one? Let's be honest. Between the lot of you, you have always felt like you were the main character in a hit sci-fi blockbuster— and you would be correct. The bright red stamp on the lid proves this lid to be yours and, by extension, the saccharine treasure it holds. Soon, you can finally taste one of Belobog's finest delicacies.
Perhaps one can derive humor from the irony of a city plagued by snow creating the most delicious ice cream, but that is neither here nor there. Right now, your body is a revving space battlecruiser, and in your hand is the thick, syrupy goodness you need to go to infinity and beyond.
'Pop!' goes the lid, and…
Anguish.
What you think had been a perfect patch of baby-smooth cream now instead shows a crevasse. Deep and tapering down the middle— like a war wound that has scarcely healed. You can barely keep yourself standing. It is as if a spoon had gouged itself into the tenderness of your heart and torn the bleeding remains straight out. Unforgivable.
But the pain fades into terror as soon as you realize the sheer gravity of the situation. "...Oh shi—"
The words stop before a furry set of ears could hear you curse. Someone had eaten your ice cream. Your special ice cream. No one else on this train knows how terrible of a screw-up that is.
Frantically, you shove the tin back into the freezer and pursue who you believe to be the most likely suspect. They did not go further than the parlor, thank the Aeons, but that did little to quell your anxiety. "March!"
The spritely girl sits up from the sofa and lowers her camera. "Hey, Stelle. What's up?"
Easy now. Keep it casual; you have an image to uphold. You try to ask as gently and as calmly as possible.
"Did you eat my ice cream?!"
…Could've tried harder, don't you think?
"Huh?" March squints in confusion. "Why would I? I have my own. If anything, I'd ask for your permission first."
An innocent response. Impossible. Someone had definitely eaten some of your ice cream, malicious intent or not. The only person it can be is denying it right in front of you. Had you been wrong in your assumption? Unless…
"March…" You whisper in a quietus, already dreading the fact your friend could be that stupid. "What flavor of ice cream did you buy…?"
"Mango!"
I knew it.
"Did it taste funny to you?"
"Funny?" March replies, scratching her cheek. "Well, it didn't really taste anything like mango, to be honest. It had these strange chewy bits too. Then again, Jarilo-VI isn't your run-of-the-mill planet either. I figured mangoes grow differently there."
Those weren't mangoes. "...And you're okay?"
"Fit as a fiddle! Wait, how did you know that I was eating ice cream?"
Your face falls into your hand, almost on reflex. To you, March's paradoxical existence feels unreal— incomprehensible. How can someone be so smart yet so dumb? No wonder she seems fine. "I think you ate my ice cream by mistake. It was yellow, like yours."
March gasps. "Ohmygosh— I'm so sorry!"
"It's fine." You shake your head. No use arguing over spilled ice cream. More importantly… "Did you share it with anyone else?"
"I… gave some to Dan Heng a little while ago."
The sheepishness in March's voice clues you in on the distress she feels for betraying your trust. Bless her kind, clueless heart. If only she knew just what she had done.
"Where's Dan Heng now?"
"He was busy, so I left the bowl on his desk. W-Why? What's wrong with—"
A loud thud jolts the two of you, followed by the agonized wails of the quietest of your companions.
It is enough to give you nightmares for life.
You rush toward the archives, flinging the doors open as you spot Dan Heng writhing on the floor, clutching his throat in agony. You watch as his beet-red face shrivels and cries, body completely drenched in sweat. He tries to speak, yet only froth sputters from his gaping mouth, and he soon faints. The image you have of the unflappable 'Cold Dragon Young' shatters into dust. Now, only silence remains.
You were too late.
"..."
"Hey, don't give me that 'Clearly this is March 7th's fault' face. I didn't know!"
You nod sagely. She makes a fair point: ignorance is bliss. Perhaps you do not have to do anything at all. Should Dan Heng wake up, you believe there is a good possibility of him not remembering how he fell unconscious in the first place. In fact, he might even be grateful. He finally has the excuse to join the 'Lost Memories' gang, where he will inevitably become the catalyst for a three-way power struggle between you, him, and March.
"Don't just stand there. Help me out!"
You take a moment to ponder, shooting glances at your companions awaiting their uncertain fate. To leave them now would be an act nothing short of cruel and malevolent. Even Nanook, the harbinger of chaos and destruction throughout the known universe, would avert his gaze. Choosing such a morally dubious decision requires a person to have the hardened resolve to constantly run away from their problems.
Use "Praise of High Morals"?
-YES-
Indeed. Any act of goodwill you do now would be akin to an admission of guilt. But you have nothing to feel ashamed of; you have done nothing wrong. This is all March 7th's fault. Yup.
"Stelle!"
And besides. Despite your trailblazing power and housing a literal planet-destroying Stellaron in your body, you possess only a handful of skills, and none of them deal with cleansing debuffs from party members.
"Dan Heng, stay with me, buddy. You're gonna be okay!"
You retrieve the bowl that is rightfully yours and dig in, grinning as the icy flavor burns through your lips. It tastes of a sweet yet savory gratification, much like the flickering wildfire frolicking into a blaze in the hearts of those whose planet you have saved. Ideals and ambitions. Their hopes and dreams for the future. They all combine into a searing heat that pushes against the cold permeating your mouth.
'Cold Sweat', as it's called. Amazing. Truly a one-of-a-kind experience. It is a culinary sensation you will not soon forget.
Licking another scoop, you stroll your way back to your cabin, where you intend to finish the rest of the ice cream in peace, free from petty worries. Mhm.
As the stars above you twinkle in harmony, you sigh. Another idyllic day has passed on the Express. You hope tomorrow will be the same. And the day after that. And the day after that.
And so on.
"...Delicious."
"DAN HENG!"
Come one, come all! Taste the brand new flavor of Cloudy Skie's famous ice cream, the 'Cold Sweat'!
Containing over 77 carefully blended mixes of the hottest peppers in all of Belobog, we at Cloudy Skie's guarantee you the warmest of nights even without your radiator!
Not spicy enough for you? Fear not. We at Cloudy Skie's offer you the 'Frostbyte'! Let your tongue experience the heat of an artificial sun with over 100 different spices and—
— The flier cuts off abruptly, as if someone had torn off the bottom portion in a rush.
Yes, that does exist IRL. Go check it out.