"Then I'm heading off first, Kaito."
"Mhm, go ahead. Come back soon." Watching Kiana, who was about to leave, as well as Paimon, Kaito nodded.
"Do you guys want anything to eat? I can bring some back for you."
Because she felt a bit embarrassed buying food just for herself, and calculated that if she dragged Kaito and Lumine into it she could buy even more, Paimon very kindly asked Kaito and Lumine if they wanted her to buy them something to eat.
It had to be said, this plan was truly excellent.
"I'm good."
Shaking his head, Kaito, who had just finished eating, didn't crave anything.
Moreover, and more importantly, naturally Kiana would buy whatever he wanted to eat. Of course, he was aware of Paimon's little scheme, but he felt it would be better for her to eat a little less.
"If you want to eat, don't drag us into it." Looking at Paimon with a speechless expression, Lumine spoke with evident disdain.
She could see through Paimon's little scheme; after all, they had been together for so long.
"If you don't come now, I'm leaving by myself!"
Just as Paimon wanted to say something else, Kiana's voice drifted over from where she had already walked quite a distance away.
"Coming, coming! Wait for me!"
Turning around to find Kiana had already left, Paimon, who was still thinking of explaining herself, hurriedly chased after her.
"Sigh, that Paimon really only knows how to eat."
Watching Paimon's hurried figure, Kaito sighed helplessly.
"Yeah, that guy only knows how to eat and sleep; she never thinks about doing anything productive." Following Kaito's remark, Lumine also ruthlessly roasted Paimon.
There was no helping it; she was always roasting Paimon, and today she happened to be doing it together with Kaito.
"By the way."
"What is it?"
Suddenly hearing that Kaito seemed to want to say something, Lumine looked at him.
"Just before we ate, I seemed to hear you talking to Kiana about something. I don't know if I misheard."
Meeting Lumine's gaze, Kaito spoke with a look of uncertainty. In reality, he was quite certain, but he obviously had to pretend otherwise.
But regardless, he felt he should be a bit more proactive; Lumine was truly too passive. Regarding what Kiana had said to her back in Liyue, he still hadn't waited for her to come and ask about it.
So this time, Kaito decided to take the initiative himself. Of course, to let Lumine open up a bit more, it was just the two of them now.
"Oh, that. I did indeed speak with Kiana."
Not expecting Kaito to have noticed her conversation with Kiana earlier, Lumine was somewhat surprised. She was even wondering if Kaito had already overheard their conversation.
If that were the case...
Then...
"Then what did you talk about? I'm a bit curious."
Just as Lumine was wondering if Kaito had heard her conversation with Kiana, Kaito asked with a smile.
Lumine: "!"
Not expecting him to bring up the topic before she even asked, Lumine was taken aback, then said, "Actually, I just felt that you and Miko seem to have a lot of tacit understanding. You walked off together without saying much and then left, and..."
"And what?"
"And you also seem to have that same tacit understanding with Wendy, Kiana, and the others."
Actually, Lumine had originally only planned to ask why Kaito and Miko were so in sync, and hadn't thought to ask about the matters between Kaito and Kiana's group. But since Kaito had asked her like this, Lumine asked it all at once.
Anyway, since it was just the two of them now, she didn't need to overthink it.
[Hello, hello? Can you hear me?]
"I can hear you?"
Lumine: "!"
She looked at Kaito with a face full of surprise.
Just now, it seemed like... Kaito didn't even open his mouth?
With a face full of confusion and surprise, Lumine recalled what had just happened.
[You don't need to open your mouth, Lumine. Just talk to me directly in your mind.]
Seeing Lumine look a bit lost about what was happening, Kaito spoke in her mind once again.
Lumine: "!"
At this moment, Lumine was truly shocked.
She hadn't expected that Kaito could actually speak to her inside her mind. And with this, she finally understood what the situation was earlier, and what that tacit understanding between Wendy, the others, and Kaito was all about.
[If there's anything inconvenient to say in public in the future, you can just tell me directly in your mind.] Kaito's voice appeared in Lumine's mind again.
[Then in that case... wouldn't you know everything I'm thinking?]
Suddenly realizing this point, Lumine couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. Because she had thought about some strange things before; this was simply too shameful.
[No, I can't hear the voices in your mind unless you actively connect with me.]
Knowing what Lumine was worried about, Kaito stated this to put her at ease.
[That's good... I thought you knew that I... Ah, no, I mean... uh...]
[Let's head back first.] Although he didn't know what Lumine wanted to say, Kaito knew he shouldn't let her feel any more awkward, lest she end up like Miko.
[...Okay.] Feeling incredibly awkward, Lumine nodded and didn't say anything else.
"Wait, Miko is back."
Just then, Kaito noticed Miko had returned.
Back?
Where did Miko go?
Hearing Kaito say this, Lumine subconsciously thought this.
"Why is it just you two? Where are Wendy and the others?"
As soon as she appeared in front of them, Miko asked. It couldn't be helped; too many people were missing.
"They went shopping," Kaito answered, looking at Miko.
Actually, they had only left temporarily to let Lumine speak with him about those matters, but since Lumine was right there, he could only say they went shopping.
"Shopping?" For some reason, Miko felt this wasn't the truth, but she didn't say it out loud. Of course, now wasn't the time to discuss this.
"You're back so soon?" Kaito was curious about Miko's speed; he felt she had returned a bit too quickly.
And more importantly, where was the Raiden Shogun now? Did She come back too?
"I just asked a few questions; it didn't take much time."
Seeing Kaito discussing matters directly in front of Lumine, Miko spoke openly as well.
What are they talking about?
I don't understand at all...
Listening silently to their conversation from the side, Lumine found she couldn't understand what on earth the two were talking about.
But it didn't matter; she didn't need to understand.
____
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