NOTES: (They won't usually be so long, I promise!)

This story/re-write of the games given story is born from my inability to play any game at all with a rich character story without literally feeling a part of it. As I'm playing and experiencing the story from my characters perspective, I literally become them and I always find myself wanting more filler. I see and imagine what happened in the moments between pre-set scenes, subtle looks or tones of voice that indicate to me a lot more in depth character development and interpersonal relationships between characters. I find a lot of interest and imagination in the bland stuff honestly, the things we don't see a lot of, if at all. The conversations that happen late at night in hotel rooms, the banter that goes on while everyone is on the Express gathered around having breakfast together. The practical jokes and pranks played on each other. And so on.

If you're looking for an AU or something completely original, you won't find it here. What I have written so far is how I see and feel the story unfolding as I'm playing it. It's ... embellished if you will. I try my very best with fanfiction to stay in character so I hope I achieve that here. I also very often tend to fall into creating very emotion based scenes and stories so there will be a whole lot of DanStelle going on. (If that wasn't already REALLY obvious from the tags :D ) I love the dynamic between the two of them. I truly tried to NOT write this but I just couldn't help myself. I have so many ideas floating around in my brain and they will NOT quit until I get them out!

Feedback is really welcome, btw! ALSO! I haven't actually written a thing in a looooong time now, so posting again anywhere is mildly stressful. But it's like getting back on a bike, right?

I hope someone gets some enjoyment out of my re-telling of HSR.

~ . ~

COME WITH ME, TAKE THE JOURNEY

"The day to celebrate,

I'll be waiting 'til we make it."

As she struggled to open her eyes, the lids feeling as though they were flickering through molasses every time she blinked, it took Stelle only a few moments to register that this was not the first but the second occasion in a relatively short period of time that had her wondering "Where am I?" At least this time she didn't have to struggle with the question of "Who am I?" again. That one was going to sit with her for a while, floating around in the corners of her mind. It was more than a little unsettling but something she didn't want to dwell on until much later. Enough had happened that day already.

Her body heavy and her vision still blurry she slowly started to recover her senses and recognized what she thought were somewhat familiar forms, sounds and smells that would suggest to her that they were still on the space station. She was cold though, despite what she realized was a relatively soft bed underneath her body and a thin covering over her exhausted frame. Her body felt wrecked, like she'd been run over by a train, a train she hadn't even boarded yet.

Wait, how was any of that even possible? The very last thing she recalled after the fight had been that time seemed to stand still, the roar of the outraged beast so loud and the blinding light that enveloped her so overwhelming to her senses that she had sort of just mentally checked out, subconsciously accepting whatever her fate may be.

She squeezed her eyes closed again for a moment, the sensation coming back to her again with such strength that it caused her head to spin, her body, her muscle memory reliving it again for a few uncomfortable seconds. Falling, she was falling endlessly, images flashing before her eyes, like pieces of memories, only they weren't exactly memories because the voices and faces weren't any she recognized. Except for one.

Kafka. Which was also something she didn't want to dwell on right at that moment lest her brain actually explode from the overload of information or more accurately, the lack of information. Ugh.

"Hi."

Her eyes flickered open and upwards towards the source of the almost gentle sounding man's voice. In the short time they'd been acquainted, gentle wasn't really how Stelle would have described Dan Heng's tone or manner. Abrupt, matter of fact, stoic, but not gentle. Right then, in that moment though, it was gentle, soft. Translucent blue-grey eyes regarded her with equal concern as well, his brow slightly furrowed and she felt an odd warmth spread in her chest, a foreign sensation to her but one she would later recognize as the first seeds of genuine affection.

She sat up a little too quickly and winced at the sharp pain in her head and just for a few seconds the world started to spin again. The raven haired man moved forward quickly and reached out as if to steady her but his hand wavered right before he made contact when he realized she wasn't in a hurry to move after all.

He sighed audibly, a noticeable sound of relief.

"Easy now."

"Did … did we win?"

The corner of his mouth turned up almost imperceptibly, the slightest hint of a smile as he nodded in the affirmative confirming that yes, at least for now the threat had been neutralized. Clearing his throat and straightening up before folding his arms across his chest, all business again now and a respectable distance away from the silver haired woman, he said,

"It's good that you've made it through in one piece. I'll leave you to rest for a while. We were … well, people were worried about you."

She frowned and rubbed at her forehead, still feeling more than a little confused about the entire sequence of events but she still had her faculties working well enough to remember to thank him. For watching over her, for his kindness and concern. She opened her mouth to say just that but he was already on his way out the door, his back turned. He faltered for a moment and then turned his head to the right, still addressing her, although not looking at her directly. His voice took on that subtle tone again, soft and with the slightest tinge of awkwardness when he added,

"By the way, what's your beacon address? Um, that way I can contact you. If anything happens."

Stelle smiled to herself. They were practically strangers yet the simple act of exchanging phone numbers clearly had given him pause and she made a mental note to file that one away for a later date. It was endearing. Wait until she told March that one. He'd never hear the end of it. She would tease him relentlessly and he would deny everything, with a roll of his eyes and try to look more annoyed than he actually was. The dynamic between that pair was fairly plain to see. Dan Heng was the serious, sarcastic and slightly grumpy older brother and March easily took on the exasperating little sister role but anyone could see that they had a tight bond and that caused Stelle to make a mental note to ask Himeko later on how long they'd all been traveling together for. Before she arrived, that was.

She must have fallen asleep again almost as soon as he was gone because the sound of her phone vibrating beside her stirred her from her rest an unknown amount of time later. She still felt exhausted but she reached for it as the screen lit up.

Hi. This is Dan Heng. Don't forget to go and see Himeko, it's getting late.

And then a few seconds later, a thumbs up emoji from him.

She smiled and began to type a response back to him but didn't quite finish before the infirmary door burst open with no warning and March 7th appeared, a wide smile on her face, her bright blue eyes sparkling with genuine happiness, and relief?

"I just saw Dan Heng and he told me you were okay. It's so good to see you awake!"

And then with no warning, she threw her arms around Stelle's shoulders, making a little sniffling noise before she let her go again and composed herself. Her raised her eyebrow then when she noticed the phone still in her new friends hand, mid text.

"Hey, who are you texting? Huh?" And peered at the screen before the woman could even answer. "Ohhhh, it's like that already? He never texts me!"

Stelle rolled her eyes, making no comment. Her fingers flew over the small screen.

Hey, Dan?

She received a question mark in response.

"I didn't thank you."

"There's really no need."

This time she rolled her eyes at the phone before she replied.

"Thank you." ~smiling emoji~