"Well... easier said than done, but how am I supposed to get down?"
Looking down from the rooftop, Stelle scratched her head, feeling speechless.
How was this place even built? No elevator, not even stairs? How was she supposed to get down?!
Sitting somewhat bewildered on a park bench, Stelle watched the beautiful night sky where shooting stars passed in the distance, temporarily giving up her struggle.
At this point, might as well do some sightseeing.
"This place is really beautiful~"
Stelle mused, planning to remember this spot so she could bring March and the others here to take photos when they actually visited Penacony.
Just then, a delicate voice from a nearby manhole cover caught her attention.
"Heave-ho, heave-ho." Gradually, the voice grew closer. Stelle lowered her head, staring intently at the manhole cover before her.
No wonder people said Penacony was an open planet - someone crawling through sewers in broad daylight, that's pretty open alright.
She wanted to see what kind of character this was, and if they might compete with her for dumpster diving.
Stelle crouched down, and to gain absolute advantage, she brought her face even closer.
"Phew~, finally made it out..."
Then, she found herself staring into a pair of eyes as beautiful as fireflies.
"Eek—"
The other person seemed startled by Stelle and slipped, nearly falling back in.
Seeing this, Stelle acted without thinking, reaching out to grab the girl's slender wrist, barely managing to save her.
"Ouch, ow ow ow." Stelle held her head, looking at the girl who had fallen into her arms and seemed to have passed out from hitting her head. The situation was rather awkward.
She really hadn't expected the girl to be so startled she'd nearly fall.
If she hadn't been quick enough, it could have ended in tragedy.
Stelle: "Everyone, sorry, I've run into something and can't get away at the moment. You all meet up first."
After sending a message in the group chat, Stelle stood up while holding the girl.
'She's so light, and there's such a nice fragrance.'
Looking down at the girl in her arms, somehow a strange sense of familiarity echoed in her heart.
Had she... met her somewhere before?
Stelle pondered as she slowly knelt down, and following movements she'd seen in manga, offered her lap as a pillow for the girl.
'Hmm... this should be right... whatever, it's just on impulse, this'll do.'
Thinking this, Stelle quietly observed the girl's peaceful sleeping face.
Beneath silver hair, her delicate features held a subtle melancholic air.
Who was she? And why had she been climbing out of the sewer?
Stelle reached out, as if by muscle memory, intending to fix the girl's hair.
But just as her fingertips were about to touch the girl, Stelle froze.
She wasn't exactly a paragon of virtue, but she wasn't the type to be moved by mere appearances either.
So, Stelle found it strange.
Since meeting this girl, that inexplicable sense of closeness kept interfering with her judgment.
However, she didn't need to puzzle over this for long.
Before her, the girl's eyelashes trembled slightly, and the next moment, she was once again looking into those beautiful eyes.
But in that instant, Stelle noticed something different.
Confusion.
Yes, the girl's eyes were full of confusion.
However, whether it was her imagination or not, the moment those confused eyes focused on her, the girl seemed to completely change.
Though well-hidden, Stelle could sense that joyful atmosphere.
Like old friends reuniting after a long separation, deep and passionate emotions burst forth, even seeming to lessen the confusion somewhat.
"Have we... met before?" Looking at the girl before her, Stelle hesitantly asked this question.
Seemingly surprised by Stelle's question, the girl opened her mouth slightly, and after adjusting her emotions, showed a gentle but somewhat lonely smile.
"I'm sorry miss... but this is our first meeting."
She elegantly got up, as if deliberately trying to create a good impression, and quickly tidied her clothes and appearance.
"Nice to meet you, I am [Firefly], an artist of the Iris family. Thank you for saving me."
She smiled, extending her hand to Stelle.
"You really helped me out back there~, the lap pillow was very comfortable, I slept peacefully, thank you."
"No... don't mention it." Stelle grasped that hand, planning to give an equally excellent self-introduction.
But she truly must have been born accident-prone, because just as she was about to stand up, her legs, numb from kneeling so long, suddenly gave way, and she nearly had an intimate encounter with the ground.
"Pfft~" Seemingly amused by the scene, Firefly covered her mouth with one hand, her beautiful eyes curving like crescent moons.
She knelt on one knee, gently supporting Stelle's swaying body, and laid her down on the ground.
"Rest a while, we have plenty of time." Firefly smiled indulgently, gently beginning to massage Stelle's stiff legs.
"Ouch~"
"Sorry, it might be a bit sore at first, but it'll feel much better soon."
Firefly spoke as her nimble fingers danced across Stelle's taut skin, dispelling her fatigue.
After a while, Stelle got up from the ground with rosy cheeks, feeling an unprecedented lightness in her legs, and gave Firefly a thumbs up.
"This refreshing feeling, Miss Firefly, you're amazing!"
"Hehe~, just call me Firefly. And you? What's your name?"
"Me? I'm Stelle, and same here, just call me Stelle."
A breeze passed by, lifting the girl's silver hair as she nodded, a moist gleam flickering in her eyes.
Just as partings are for better reunions, it didn't matter if Stelle had forgotten everything - she would still keep their second encounter's promise, waiting for that day to come.
And now, that promise had been fulfilled.
"...Mm" She responded softly, then quietly called out the girl's name, "Stelle."
"Hm? What is it?" Stelle tilted her head in confusion, asking puzzled.
"Nothing." Firefly played with the ends of her hair, answering casually.
"I just noticed, Stelle, you must be a Nameless, right? Are you here for the Harmony Festival in Penacony?"
Quietly, she changed the subject.
And sure enough, given Stelle's personality, she immediately took the bait.
"If you want an autograph, considering that massage earlier, I suppose I could~" Stelle put her hands on her hips, speaking playfully.
'Hehe~, so energetic.' Watching Stelle with gentle eyes, Firefly mused to herself.
Though she didn't know why they'd met here, it didn't matter - she could leave those concerns to Elio to worry about.
As for now... sorry, but let her enjoy this moment a little longer.