This work is part of Evermarch Week 2026! It’s a special week for me because it’s organized by my best friend, so please check out the other amazing submissions at #EvermarchWeek2026 on Twitter/X! The prompt for this work is “Longing”
Silence. The silence was still. It was calm. Like the silence, the man was silent, still, and composed, despite all eyes being on him. He was focused, as an Express Guard should be. His eyes narrowed as he honed in on his target, and then, finally - unleashed the arrow.
The arrow hit the target with a loud crack - and landed just outside the bullseye range. Dan Heng let out a disappointed sigh. A few groans and other reluctant sounds of acceptance echoed throughout the Party Car. But one voice broke through more loudly than the others. It was a triumphant, victorious voice that rang out from one pink haired girl.
“YES!! That means I win!!” March 7th proudly declared to the rest of the Express Crew. She looked around and saw nobody else celebrating, then immediately pouted. “Oh, come on! Isn’t anyone proud of me?”
Stelle rolled her eyes. “March, you win the archery competition every time. Maybe next time we should do a baseball competition!” Stelle’s eyes immediately lit up at her own idea. The ideas shooting around in her head beyond her sparkling eyes could practically be read.
March 7th scoffed at the suggestion. “Maybe you can organize a baseball competition when it’s your turn to delegate Express duty. But now it’s my turn! So hurry up and praise me!”
Welt chuckled seeing the interaction between the two. “You know,” he said, “I’m not really sure how an archery competition qualifies as an Express Duty…”
Himeko let out a light laugh. “Welt,” she responded, “it’s alright to do some team building in place of chores. The foundation of our relationships is just as important as the upkeep of the Express itself.”
Pom-Pom nodded enthusiastically. “That’s right. The Astral Express is more than just a train. It’s one big family! Making sure we all spend time together is important. Even if Passenger March 7th organizes an archery contest every time…”
March 7th smiled brightly. “That’s right. I’ll focus on organizing more contests, and you all can help clean the Express!”
“Hey!” Pom-Pom yelled out. “Passenger March 7th! All passengers must still help in cleaning the Express! Besides, look at what happened as a result of your contest!” Pom-Pom pointed to a few arrows that had been lodged into the couch behind one of the targets. Stelle let out a nervous laugh. “Besides,” Pom-Pom continued, “Pom-Pom can’t even hold a bow! Someone else needs to organize a team building exercise that Pom-Pom can participate in!”
March 7th groaned. “Oh… Alright, fine. Next time, I’ll come up with something that the conductor can participate in too.”
Dan Heng hummed sagely. “Hold on, March. I’m leading Express Duty tomorrow. I’ll see to it that the conductor can participate in a team building exercise… after I organize a crew cleaning of the engine room.”
March 7th gasped in horror. “The engine room? Nobody even goes there! Dan Heng!”
The crew continued to ramble on about tomorrow’s duties as they gathered for their dinner meeting. The mood was not without teasing, but it was lighthearted. It had turned out that Pom-Pom had prepared quite a feast while the rest were doing the archery contest.
One could easily get jealous watching the way they talked and enjoyed each other’s company. March 7th was happy. Even with her annoyances at having to do real chores, she enjoyed helping the crew and brightening up her home. Yes, this group is a family. A tightly bound group that would move mountains for each other, or even destroy Aeons for each other.
It’s a perfect place for March 7th. She has all the love and support she needs. Things may get dangerous at times, but these people have always helped her pull through. And it’s easy to be confident that they will time and time again.
One could easily get jealous watching them… Is that what I feel? Jealousy? Am I jealous that I don’t have a place amongst this family? Or… am I jealous that they get to have a role in March 7th’s life that I cannot? Perhaps both are true.
And yet, I cannot be part of them. It is not my place. It is hers. My dear March 7th, this is the perfect place for the life that has been given to you. Treasure it… for yourself, and for me.
Oh, my dear March 7th… how I wish it could be as simple as sitting next to you, dining with the crew, brushing hands as we pass food down the table…
I need to stop this foolish line of thinking. There is not a possibility that I can exist alongside my dear. My role is to protect her only if she is in extreme danger. But when I do, I take her place.
And yet, I long for a world where I can touch her. I want nothing more than to take my dear’s hands and dance beneath the stars, stepping in time to our own two, distinct heartbeats. I long to hold my dear, and to be held by her in turn.
I want us to live our lives together. But that will never happen. It can never happen.
I am content to watch you, March 7th. You are the best thing that has ever happened to us. You will live a long and happy life. And I will stay with you and watch over you, on the other side of the glass that cannot be broken. I will watch you laugh, and I will watch you cry. I will watch you learn, and I will watch you grow. I will watch you love, and I will watch you be loved - even if it pains me.
…
I’m proud of you for winning the archery contest, March 7th. Even if Dan Heng practiced, he could never shine as brightly as you.