Mika's question hung in the air between them, and Astrid's face immediately contorted into an awkward expression—the kind that suggested she was about to admit to something embarrassing.
"Honestly?" She began, her voice tinged with sheepishness. "I'd love to say that it was my brilliant investigation skills that sniffed out this problem. That I used my expertise, my training, my years of experience to piece together this mystery."
She scratched the back of her head, her tails drooping with visible discomfort.
"But the truth is...it's nothing like that at all. No real skill went into this. It was all just a coincidence."
Mika raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.
"A coincidence?"
Astrid opened her mouth to elaborate, but before she could utter another word, a parade of waiters descended upon their table.
