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The Party Car was alive with festive energy. Multicolored streamers hung from the ceiling, sparkling lights lined the walls, and a table piled high with snacks and drinks stood at the center. Music hummed through the air, mingling with the sound of laughter and chatter. Everyone had gathered to welcome the New Year together—
“Who’s excited for New Years?!” Stelle and Caelus yelled in unison, their voices echoing across the car. They stood atop one of the couches, arms raised triumphantly
March 7th threw a handful of confetti at them, grinning, “Tone it down, you two! It’s not midnight yet!”
“Never!” Caelus shot back, catching a stray streamer and tossing it at her, “We’re bringing the hype early!”
Sunday, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a bowl of popcorn, watched the chaos with a bemused expression, “Is it always like this?” he asked, glancing at Himeko
“Always,” Himeko replied with a fond smile, sipping a glass of wine. “But that’s what makes these moments special”
Welt adjusted his glasses, standing near the table as he rearranged plates of food, “I trust everyone has a resolution prepared?”
“Resolutions are overrated,” Stelle declared, hopping off the couch, “I make goals all year round!”
“Same!” Caelus chimed in, nodding fervently, “My resolution is to eat as many of these cookies as possible before March notices”
“I heard that!” March said, grabbing a handful of chips and aiming them at him like projectiles
Dan Heng, sitting quietly in a corner with a book in his lap, chuckled softly at their antics. He hadn’t spoken much, but his relaxed posture said enough—he was happy to be here, among them
Pom-Pom scurried into the room, holding a tiny sparkler in one paw, “Alright, everyone! Countdown starts in ten minutes!”
“Ten minutes!” Caelus repeated, leaping off the couch to grab a sparkling cider bottle, “Time to toast!”
“We’re waiting until midnight,” Welt reminded him, though his voice held no sternness
“Fine, fine,” Caelus relented, pouring cider into glasses and passing them around, “But no one’s going thirsty tonight!”
The next ten minutes passed in a flurry of laughter, small conversations, and shared memories. As the countdown reached the final seconds, everyone gathered around the center of the room
“Ten! Nine! Eight!” the group chanted in unison, their voices overlapping in excitement,
Dan Heng found himself standing next to Caelus, their shoulders brushing. He glanced over, catching the sparkle of joy in Caelus’s golden eyes
Three
Two
One!
“Happy New Year!”
Cheers erupted, and the sound of clinking glasses filled the room. March clapped her hands together excitedly, holding up her phone, “Everyone, come on! Picture time!”
The group groaned collectively, though no one made a move to refuse
“March, do we have to?” Stelle whined, but she was already dragging Pom-Pom to the center of the car
“Yes, we do! It’s tradition!” March insisted, “Now stop complaining and get into position!”
Himeko chuckled, gently nudging Welt toward the group, “You heard her. Let’s not keep the photographer waiting”
Welt sighed but complied, standing next to Himeko with his hands clasped neatly behind his back
Caelus pulled Dan Heng along by the arm, his grin wide, “Come on, you too, broody boy. No escaping this!”
“I wasn’t trying to escape,” Dan Heng muttered, though the faint blush on his cheeks suggested otherwise
Sunday lingered near the back, watching with amusement until March spotted him, “You too, Sunday! No one’s sitting this out!”
Reluctantly, he joined the group, standing at the edge beside Pom-Pom. The conductor waved a tiny sparkler in one paw, looking oddly proud
“Alright, everyone ready?” March asked, holding up her phone to frame the shot, “Big smiles!”
The group huddled closer, some smiling brightly, others—like Dan Heng—managing a small but genuine smile. At the last second, Caelus threw an arm around Dan Heng’s shoulders, beaming like the sun
“Three, two, one—Happy New Year!” March cheered as the camera flashed
She checked the photo afterward, nodding in approval. “Perfect! This one’s going on the fridge”
“Don’t forget to send it to everyone,” Himeko reminded her with a smile
“Of course! It’s already in the group chat!” March replied, waving her phone triumphantly
The Astral Express crew laughed and settled back into their festive chaos, the warmth of their bond carrying them into the new year
—And Caelus, without thinking, grabbed Dan Heng’s hand, grinning at him, “Here’s to another year of adventures”
Dan Heng looked down at their joined hands, then back at Caelus. A small smile tugged at his lips, “To another year”
As fireworks burst in the distance, the Astral Express family basked in the warmth of each other’s company, ready to face whatever the new year would bring—together
Sunday found a quiet corner near the window, staring out at the stars. In the distance, beyond all the celebrations and laughter, his thoughts drifted back to Penacony
Taking a deep breath, he raised his glass slightly, the words leaving his lips in a soft murmur, almost too quiet to hear, “Happy New Year.. Robin”
As if Robin heard, she stood on a balcony overlooking the city lights below. The air was crisp, and faint cheers echoed from the celebrations happening nearby. Clutching her glass tightly, she hesitated, then whispered into the silence, “Happy New Year, dear brother”
Neither voice reached the other, yet the shared hope lingered in the air, carried across the stars. For now, it was enough to know that somewhere out there, they were thinking of each other
Happy new years, everyone!
( ^-^)ノ∠※。.:*:・'°☆