Honkai Star Rail:The Assistant director

Continuing where we left off...

***************

Ritsuka's perspective...

***************

I open my eyes to another day on my journey inside the Astral Express.

Ritsuka: Hmm~

I try to move my arms to get up from my bed, but I'm stuck with two girls hugging my arms and those girls are BB and Stelle.

💭I can't say I didn't miss this.

In the past I would certainly blush a lot at having two beautiful women sleeping in my bed, but after my experiences in Chaldea this ended up becoming something common.

BB: Hmm~ hehehe...Senpai~

I hear BB murmuring my name with a silly smile on her face, I smile slightly at seeing something cute coming from BB.

Fou: Fou! Fou!

Soon after, I feel Fou jumping on my bed and he sits on my torso looking at me.

Ritsuka: Good morning, Fou. Did you sleep well?

Fou: Fou! Kyu~. (Special translation: Time to train those maggots you created! I'll teach them how to kill and capture a Incubus!)

Ritsuka: I really wish I could understand what you're talking about...

BB: Hmm~ Good morning Senpai..... I hope you dreamed about your beautiful and favorite AI in the world....

Ritsuka: Good morning BB.

BB said this hugging me from behind and giving me a shower of kisses on my neck and cheek and she ends up moving her lips to mine.

This ends up causing the two of us to kiss on the mouth for a few seconds, but before things could escalate, Foo kicked BB in the head making her stop hugging me.

BB:Ouch! That hurt Fou-san!

Fou:Fou! Fou! Fou! (Special translation: Hey! You troublesome AI with cow breasts, don't try to mate with Ritsuka in my presence! Respect me, damn it! I'm not a Beast who likes to be the third wheel!)

I can't understand what Fou is saying, but it's pretty clear that he's really pissed off at BB.

BB:Tch! I never thought that my morning fun would be interrupted by Fou!

BB said that and I understand exactly what she meant by how she was describing her "fun".

💭 And seriously? With Stelle around? Here I thought that only Melt was the pervert of the Sakura five family.

At that moment the second girl who was sleeping holding my other arm finally wakes up and judging by her expression, Stelle seems like she didn't have a good night's sleep.

Stelle: Hmmm~ ouch! My head...

Ritsuka: Good morning, sleeping beauty. I see you didn't have a very good night's sleep.

Stelle: You can say that again. I had one of the craziest nightmares of my life.

Stelle said in a tired tone and with a not very happy expression, it was quite obvious that she didn't sleep well.

Ritsuka: What kind of nightmare did you have?

Stelle: I... I don't remember much... I saw that I was in an unknown place with Alter? And soon after a brief fight a kind of super powerful Beast appeared what happened after that is difficult to remember.

💭 That was certainly not an ordinary nightmare...

Stelle's words caught my attention and BB's attention, who is looking at Stelle from the side.

BB:A Alter of Senpai?

Ritsuka:Stelle is talking about my Alter Ego. Or to be more specific, the part of my conscience that really wants to burn the world, especially wanting to kill Director Olga's father.

I say this informing BB about my other "self". Technically, Shadow and I rarely interact with each other, he literally prefers to stay isolated inside my mind serving as a guard, practically the same job that Dantes did.

💭There must be a reason why she's meeting with Shadow, it seems like I'm going to have to talk to my "other self" soon.

Ritsuka:Stelle, can you describe the Beast you encountered in your nightmare?

Stelle: It's hard to describe. It was a huge creature with a large jaw, it looked like a huge creature, and it emanated an immense negative pressure, besides having caught Alter by surprise.

Ritsuka: Okay, but was it a normal beast or a Beast of Humanity that I had told you about?

I asked this question so that in case it was just a huge creature that she encountered in her nightmare.

Stelle: If I remember correctly, Alter said it was a Beast of Humanity.

When those words came out of Stelle's mouth, BB and I were surprised.

💭What kind of nightmare did Stelle go through to encounter a Beast of Humanity?!

Ritsuka: Did you enter one of my nightmares?

I say this thinking that it happened like in Jarilo-VI that Stelle ended up entering my mind and coming across my sphere of reality, but her answer was not what I expected.

Stelle: The nightmare I was in... was Dan Heng's.

Ritsuka: What?! Since when did Dan Heng come across a Beast of Humanity?

Stelle: Alter said the same thing when he saw the Beast. You two are truly each other's mirror.

Stelle said this while I was perplexed by the gravity of the information Stelle gave me.

💭 How is this possible? Dan Heng having encountered a Beast of Humanity should be impossible, after all humanity has already managed to go beyond the stars, so it would be very difficult for a beast to appear.

BB: Senpai, do you want me to interrogate Dan Heng? After all, if a Beast is really on the loose, we need to know more about it!

BB said this, already prepared to go after Dan Heng, but I stopped her before she did anything drastic.

Ritsuka: No. Dan Heng is a very reserved person and he clearly has his secrets, just like the rest of us, so we have to approach this problem calmly.

I said this, looking seriously at BB, giving my orders as her master.

BB:But Senpai...

Ritsuka: You and I both know that a Beast needs time to grow fully, but all the Beasts appeared on our planet and we are very far from home. In other words, the rules of our world may not apply to this place, perhaps the Beasts of Humanity are different here, we don't know yet.

BB:So we won't try to get information from Dan Heng?

Ritsuka: Yes, we will, but not now. If my extensive experience with dreams and nightmares has taught me that nightmares leave you exhausted since you are fighting an internal battle using your soul as a vehicle, Dan Heng is probably in a worse situation than Stella since she didn't belong in that nightmare.

If my theory is correct, Dan Heng shouldn't be available for a while and if my experience with very reserved people has taught me anything that it is very complicated to make a reserved person open up to you.

Ritsuka: For now, let's put this Beast matter aside at least until Dan Heng recovers.

BB: *sigh*. Understood Master.

Ritsuka: Anyway! We just woke up and I think it's time for us to get ready for breakfast, don't you think?

Fou: Fou!

I say this with a big happy smile on my face, completely changing the atmosphere of the conversation we were having.

Stelle: You change your attitude and tone very quickly...

Stelle comments on this, seeming impressed with my way of dealing with situations.

BB: Get used to it, Stellaron-san. This is just Senpai's coping mechanism when he's dealing with serious situations.

Ritsuka: Hey! After everything that happened in Chaldea, acting scared all the time just gets in the way, so there's nothing better than trying to be optimistic about things!

BB:Well, I can't argue with that.

With that, Stelle, BB, and I got ready to leave the room and meet up with the rest of our friends from the Astral Express.

Arriving at the main area, the rest of my friends and I sat down at a table waiting for Pom-Pom to bring us breakfast, and after a while Pom-Pom put the food on a table for us.

As expected, Dan Heng didn't come to join us for breakfast, but Welt said he'd rather eat in his room this time.

Himeko is having her breakfast while Welt is reading a newspaper and March 7 and BB are watching Stelle and I playing gacha games on our phones.

March 7:What are you guys playing?

BB:They're playing the new gacha games that were recently released... *sigh* I thought Senpai had already outgrown his gacha phase...

Ritsuka:Stelle is playing Zenless Zone Zero while I'm playing Wuthering Waves.

I say this describing the games Stelle and I are playing and then I hear Stelle letting out a groan of frustration.

Stelle:Damn! Why am I so unlucky?! This is already my fifth attempt at trying to catch Myabi! Tch! At this point I probably don't have enough to catch Astra Yao!

Ritsuka:Astra Yao? Are you talking about the new support character that was revealed?

March 7:Who is Astra Yao?

March 7 said this not understanding what Stelle was saying.

BB: She is a new character who is a famous singer and actress from the game's city called New Eridu.

March 7:How do you know that?

BB: Did you forget? BB-chan is the most powerful AI in existence so it's no surprise that I know a lot of information.

March 7:Hmm... I'm curious to know what she looks like, do you think she's as pretty as Robin?

Stelle:Robin? Who is Robin?

Stelle said this stopping playing ZZZ (Zenless Zone Zero) for a moment and she looked at March 7.

March 7 was very surprised to hear what Stelle said about Robin.

March 7: How did you... Ah! I forgot that you lost your memories and woke up on the station. Ahem! Let Miss March 7 enlighten your uncultured mind, Stelle...

March 7 said this in a sarcastic tone, making fun of Stelle, who had one of her eyebrows twitching in irritation.

March 7: Robin is the most famous and well-known singer in the entire galaxy! She writes many famous songs and performs on many planets! I consider myself a fan of her work and I really want to meet her in person!

March 7 said with a big smile on her face and I feel a look of distrust coming from Stelle, who is staring at me very intensely.

Ritsuka:What?

Stelle: Nothing much. I just find it interesting that on the space station, while I was participating in an unnecessary meeting with the scientists, Herta said that you were talking to a famous singer.

The moment Stella said that, I felt a sinister look coming from BB and March 7.

💭Oh-oh... This is not good...

Fou: Fou..... (Special translation: My condolences my friend. I will never forget your sacrifices.)

March 7 immediately stood in front of me and held my jacket with both hands and started shaking me.

March 7:Don't tell me that a womanizer like you knows Robin? How did you meet her? What is your relationship with her? Did you seduce her?!

March 7 said this shouting, asking several questions about my relationship with Robin.

Ritsuka: Calm down March 7! I'm totally innocent and I didn't seduce Robin.

💭 Actually I think it's the opposite...

BB:Interesting... So Senpai knows the bird singer and was having secret conversations with her, huh?

Ritsuka: Hey! Robin and I are just friends!

BB: Oh really? And are you sure the same thing applies to Robin?

When BB said that I went silent since I'm not really sure about how Robin feels considering the teases she sometimes makes on phone calls.

March 7:Your silence says a lot...

💭 Ok I better change the subject before those girls start jumping me!

Ritsuka: *Ahem* Lately I've been having a streak of bad luck in gacha so when I manage to get the character I've had my eye on, which is Camellya.

I say this quickly changing the subject and I get a response from Stelle.

Stelle:Oh... You mean that crazy girl who wants your body both literally and figuratively?

💭 The worst part said that this description is accurate...

Ritsuka:....Yes.

I say this hesitating a little to confirm Stelle's description of Camellya.

BB:Let me guess... She's a character with white hair and is a villain who later became an ally?

BB said this with a neutral expression and I get a bad impression about the reason for her question.

Ritsuka: Yes. Why?

BB:Ok that confirms my suspicions. You have a type of girls with white hair bonus points if they were crazy, were enemies and tried to kill you!

💭 What? Since when did she come to that conclusion?!

BB said this out loud, surprising me while Himeko, who was listening to everything, let out a light laugh and I noticed a suspicious smile coming from Welt as if he knew something.

Fou: Fou.... (Special translation: I'm sorry, brother, I can't defend you on this one...)

Ritsuka: Okay. I admit that I like girls with white hair, but that doesn't mean I have a preference for enemy girls!

BB: Are you really saying this in front of me, Senpai? You want me to talk about Morgan, Kama, Artoria Alter, Jeanne Alter, Uesugi Kenshin, I can continue if you want...

Ritsuka:....

The bad thing is that I can't argue because I know very well what BB said is true.

💭Although Uesugi wasn't my enemy, she does have some crazy moments sometimes.

Stelle:Morgan? Ah! I remembered that you called me by that name when we first met...

BB: That must have happened because you have the same voice as her and that's why he must have mistaken you for her.

March 7: And she has white hair and was his enemy?

BB:Exactly!

Ritsuka: *sigh* Why are you three suddenly surrounding me to accuse me?

BB/Stelle/March 7: Because it's fun!

💭Oh... You can be sure girls that an Avenger never forgets! I swear I'll have my revenge on you all!

***********

Some time later....

***********

After breakfast and the girls had stopped climbing on me, Welt said that the preparations for our next trip were ready and the only thing left was to decide our destination.

However, before anything else happened, we received a message from Bronya.

Bronya invited us to participate in the traditional festival in Belobog called the Solwarm Festival. The reason she was organizing such a festival was to celebrate the achievements of the people of Belobog and to lift their spirits.

Of course, me, Stelle and March 7 accepted the invitation, but Dan Heng didn't respond to Bronya's invitation.

💭This is the perfect opportunity for me to meet up with Bronya, Seele and the rest of the Belobog people.

March 7 was worried that Dan Heng hadn't responded and asked us to go to his room to check on him.

When we entered Dan Heng's room we saw that his face wasn't looking too good, furthering my theory that Dan Heng wasn't doing too well mentally at the moment.

March 7:Dan Heng! Bronya just sent us all a message. Did you see it yet?

Dan Heng: Yes, I did.

March 7: Then why didn't you reply? Bronya is a good friend of ours!

Dan Heng: *Sigh* I'm sorry, I'm just not in the mood for small talk. There's been a lot weighing on my mind lately... It's been tough on the spirit.

Dan Heng said this in a weak tone and I noticed a quick glance from Stella towards me.

Ritsuka: Dan Heng. Judging by the dark circles under your eyes, it's easy to tell that you didn't sleep very well. I recommend that you drink some coffee to calm your soul. Trust me, you'll feel better soon.

I say this in a calm tone to Dan Heng. I usually have a cup of coffee at times like this in Chaldea. Dantes used to make coffee for me at times like this.

Dan Heng: Understood. Thanks for the advice, Ritsuka.

Ritsuka:That's what friends do, Dan Heng. Take whatever time you need to recover.

Stelle: So you're staying at the Express?

Dan Heng: Yes. I'm not exactly in a good state of mind to go out. It's great that Belobog is able to organize a celebration. I hope your trip goes well. Say "hi" to our friends for me.

With that, the three of us leave Dan Heng's room, and March 7 looks disappointed.

March 7: He won't budge, huh? Looks like it's just going to be the three of us. Too bad, he's gonna miss out! We never get a chance to go on a stress-free adventure.

The moment March 7 says this, I get a doubtful expression and feel a slight sense of nostalgia as I remember my first months in Chaldea when I thought I would have stress-free moments for a day.

💭Oh...you sweet summer child for thinking that we're going to have a stress-free adventure. Especially since I know that a certain Goddess of Thicc Thighs is probably already in Jarilo-VI.

I hear a suppressed laugh coming from BB who quickly recovers.

BB:Hey! Don't forget about the beautiful BB-chan! I'm going to join this adventure after all I'm curious to see the city that survived a terrible hell for several years!

March 7:True, you're a new member so this will be your first trip to Belobog, but I feel like one more person could join... Oh! Himeko could come along!

March said this, suggesting that Himeko should join the trip, but Himeko declined the offer saying that she's pretty busy at the moment, but she encouraged us to join this festival before we head to our next stop.

With Himeko being left out of the group, March 7 decides to go to her room to get her things for the festival and tells us to meet in her room after a while.

After a few minutes we enter March's room and I'm surprised by her choice of outfit.

💭Wow she looks like an ice princess.

March 7:So? What do you guys think of my new dress? Pretty neat right?

BB: Not bad.

BB gives a normal answer clearly not being that impressed.

Ritsuka: Hmm...

I look at March 7's appearance from top to bottom and come up with an idea to play with this moment.

In an instant, a wave of blue flames quickly covers my body and soon after I am dressed in my black armor.

I kneel before March 7 and hold her right hand with my right hand and my left hand is on my chest. I did this imitating the attitude of the knights of the round table before a noble and beautiful girl.

Ritsuka:My lady. It is a pleasure to have the unique opportunity to be able to contemplate your dazzling beauty. I swear by my flaming sword that I! Sir Ritsuka Fujimaru! The knight of vengeance! I will ensure that no evil comes to harm your beautiful splendor that will lasts forever.

I say this speech acting as the knights would act and to complete my perfect performance I give March 7 my best gentle smile and I give her hand a light kiss to finish with a golden key.

March 7:H-Huh?!

Stelle/BB:...

Fou: Fou, Fou.... (Special translation: He really likes to court death... Actually, he doesn't just court it, he also dances with it with great pleasure!

Immediately, March 7's face turns so red that I think I can see smoke coming out of her head.

💭Hehehe... My revenge is complete now only Stelle and BB are left....

While I am feeling a great sense of pride inside me, I immediately receive an attack from above my head from BB and Stelle.

*BONK!!!*

Stelle:It seems like someone really likes to dance with danger...

Stelle said this in a calm tone that did not have any empathy in me.

BB:Hehehe... Senpai, you really have a lot of nerve to do such an act in front of me, I admit that I am impressed, but don't think that I will cover up for it.

BB said with a seemingly happy and innocent smile, but I know very well that there is no innocence behind that smile.

But even though I made the rest of the girls angry, I don't regret my choice.

💭It was totally worth it!

************

Some time later....

On the way to Belobog City....

***********

After we had prepared everything for departure, we entered Jarilo-VI after a while. Well, for me, it's been a while since the last time I was here.

The moment we landed on the planet, March 7 immediately started shivering from the cold.

March 7:Brrr! How do people living in all this snow celebrate anything?

Ritsuka:If you're holding out, March, I can lend you my jacket.

March 7:Thanks for the gesture, Ritsuka. But I can handle it.

BB:Hmm.... I was expecting more of this cold, but it's to be expected that it's at a bearable level for humans since we're close to the city.

March 7:I can't wait to participate in this festival! I bet there'll be lots of food there! Come on, Belobog, don't get me down!

March 7 said this with great excitement for the festival. We started walking towards the city until we met a guard with a different appearance on the way.

💭Oh? It seems that Jalena is already here as expected. I have to meet Sampo in the underworld to get information...

I immediately recognize the guard as part of the IPC, but March 7 and Stella don't recognize the guard yet.

March 7: Wait a second! That person over there. That doesn't look like a Silvermane Guard's uniform...

Ritsuka:It's not a Silvermane Guard. It's an IPC soldier.

When I reveal the guard's faction, March 7 is very surprised by the news.

March 7:What?! Why is the IPC doing here? How did they find this place?

Stella: I have to admit that their uniform is ugly.

BB:I agree.

Ritsuka:Seriously? In my opinion, I like it. There's a certain cool style to it with the colors and equipment, you can do some cool things with It.

BB:That's because you like futuristic technology, Senpai.

BB said this while looking at me sideways and I let out an embarrassed laugh.

Ritsuka: Hehe.... Anyway. Let me talk to the guard. I have a feeling I know who his superior is.

March 7:Ok. Go ahead, Ritsuka.

With that, the group and I walk towards the IPC guard and I start talking to him.

Ritsuka:Hi. My name is Ritsuka Fujimaru. Assistant Director of the Space Station. I came to ask if it's possible to speak to your superior?

I say this in a calm tone, looking at the guard who remains silent until after a few seconds he turns on his communicator.

IPC guard: Chief, encounter with four strangers. One of them identified himself as Ritsuka Fujimaru. Want me to take them out? Over.

This response from the guard took us by surprise and I stand there with an eyebrow raised and my arms crossed with an amused look on my face.

💭That's cute...

March 7:T-Take us out?!

BB:Wow I don't know if he was born an idiot or he's just ignorant.

I immediately hear a reply from Jalena on the intercom and she's really mad.

Jalena:What?! You want to deal with Ritsuka? Are you crazy?! Argh! Just hang in there for a second. I'm on my way. Don't do anything stupid to this man! I'm serious!

After a few minutes I see Jalena approaching us with Numby following behind her.

Jalena: Glad to make your acquaintance. I'm Topaz, an investment expert from the Interastral Peace Corporation. I'm here on Jarilo-VI for a special business assignment. You'll have to forgive my colleague here. People skills are not his specialty. Please don't take it to heart.

March 7: Phew... You scared the life out of me! We're here for celebrations! We're not here to get into more conflicts.

💭 I highly doubt we'll avoid conflicts with the IPC's presence...

Ritsuka:How are you Ja-ahem! Topaz. I hope your arrival in Jarilo-VI went smoothly.

I say this speaking to Jalena with a smile on my face and she returns doing the same.

Jalena:It went smoothly, Ritsuka. I'm glad to see you again. I see you have three new companions with you.

Ritsuka: Yes. Let me introduce them to you. The one in the princess dress is March 7. The one with white hair and golden eyes is called Stelle and lastly the one with purple hair It's my partner from my home world is BB, they are all part of the Astral Express.

The moment I introduce the girls to Jalena I see a brief moment of surprise when I introduce BB to her.

Jalena: I admit I was expecting you to be here, Ritsuka, but I didn't expect to see three more nameless people here! Fate is truly a curious thing.

March 7: Have you met Topaz, Ritsuka?

Ritsuka:Yes. I met her on the space station when I was in my first few months of work. Asta asked Topaz to help me with the administration and investment area and the rest is history.

Topaz:Ritsuka told me about the adventure he had on Jarilo-VI when I visited the station. I admit, you guys did a great job.

Stelle: Of course. We were really awesome and cool in that battle.

Stelle said that with a proud smile and I let out a light laugh.

Ritsuka: I agree. It was really an amazing battle.

March 7 Ignoring your little walk that you did at the climax of the battle.

March 7 said that referring to the moment I touched Cocolia's Stellaron.

Ritsuka:That was a pretty... enthusiastic walk.

March 7: *sigh* I hope you don't do that again.

💭 I don't guarantee anything.

Ritsuka: Anyway. I see you're already starting your business with Bronya, aren't you Topaz?

Topaz: You're right, Ritsuka. The Supreme Guardian and I are in a business meeting, after all, that's my job. Lady March, you said you were on your way to the Belobog festivities, right? I'm sorry for holding you up.

Ritsuka:Don't you want us to go all the way to Topaz City?

Topaz: No. This is my first time in this world, so I want to be able to dazzle everything it has to offer.

With these words, Jalena gives her contact number to Stella, BB, and March 7 in case we need to talk to her.

With that, Jalena says goodbye to us and the guard stays out of our way.

March 7: Wow. I didn't expect us to meet an IPC executive here. Fate really works in mysterious ways.

Ritsuka: 💭BB. Can you enter spirit form and enter the city ahead of us? I want you to access the Belobog database to get information about the IPC's actions before the catastrophe. Ah! Can you also get information about Topaz's plan on this planet?

I say this while speaking to BB telepathically and she smiles when she hears my orders.

BB:Understood, Senpai!

With these words BB disappears leaving Stella and March 7 confused.

Stelle: Huh? Why did BB disappear?

Ritsuka: Because I told her to enter spirit form to go ahead of us.

March 7: Why did you do that?

When March 7 said that, I had a slight smile on my face.

Ritsuka: Let's say Topaz and I are playing a gambling game and this time...

It's my turn to roll the dice.

************

Next Chapter:Revealing the cards.

*************

A/N:I have to admit I'm surprised there isn't a ZZZ story in this app. I thought due to the popularity of the game there would already be some story, but no. There's only one!

I'm working on a ZZZ story, but I don't know if I'll start or not.

There's also Wuthering Waves, which doesn't have many stories either. The funny thing is that Wattpad only has romance fanfics for girls, and that's in both games. I'm not against it, but damn, there's more than I expected! I'm not mentioning AO3, which already has a lot in both games.

Anyway. I hope all of you readers have a merry Christmas and New Year. While I'm really scared about the release of LB7 with our dear and beloved ORT that will surely screw with my servants!