"Then don't eat. That way you won't choke."
Lumine really wanted to smack Paimon for daring to talk back. But there was nothing she could do. Kaito, Wendy, and Kiana were watching. She couldn't be impulsive.
Calm down...
Calm down!
"By the way, Lumine, there's something I want to talk to you about." Kaito suddenly said.
"Huh? Me?"
Lumine was a bit slow to react. She had a feeling Kaito was about to tell her something important, so she quickly pulled herself together.
"Yeah. Here's the thing: that friend of mine prepared a small courtyard for me to live in, and it includes a room for you. It's rent-free. What do you think?"
After a pause, Kaito continued, "If you want to move in, we can go check it out after we finish eating. If not, I can help you find a place to stay later."
Having said that, Kaito looked at Lumine, seemingly waiting for her answer.
Kaito's friend prepared a small courtyard?
And it includes a room for me?
Faced with such an unexpected choice, Lumine didn't know how to respond right away. For her, a rent-free place to live was extremely tempting. But there was an awkward catch. She would be the only person living there who wasn't Kaito's girlfriend, which made her feel it wasn't quite appropriate.
"Yes, yes, yes! We'll stay!"
While Lumine was still deliberating, Paimon, who was eating beside her, had already eagerly accepted.
After all, with a rent-free place, she and Lumine could spend more Mora on food. It couldn't be more perfect. More importantly, living with Kaito might mean they wouldn't even have to pay for food most of the time.
Paimon really deserved a beating... As she was thinking, she suddenly heard Paimon accept on her behalf, and Lumine's fists clenched.
"So, Lumine, what do you think?" Knowing that Lumine's opinion was what ultimately mattered, Kaito looked at her and asked again.
I guess...
It should be fine, right?
Isn't this just sharing a house?
It's perfectly normal...
Feeling she had to give an answer, Lumine quickly thought it over and said, "Alright then. It'll be more convenient, and we can look out for each other."
As she spoke, Lumine nodded as if to agree with her own words.
"Thank you," Lumine added after a moment's thought.
"Don't be so formal. Let's eat. Have you guys eaten yet? I'm going to start."
With that, Kaito also began to eat. He had only been chatting with Zhongli just now, so he hadn't eaten anything yet.
"Time to eat, time to eat!"
Paimon looked extremely excited. She couldn't help it. One piece of good news followed another, and she was absolutely ecstatic.
It should... be fine, right?
It's not like I'm sharing a room with Kaito...
We're just housemates...
Right...
Just housemates...
The thought of living with Kaito, Wendy, and Kiana felt a little strange to Lumine, almost as if she were one of Kaito's girlfriends too.
Wait...
Kaito's friend doesn't think that, does he?
Is that why he prepared a room for me too?
Did Kaito not explain it clearly?
Or could it be...
Kaito has already...
Hmm...
That can't be it...
Suddenly thinking of a crucial point, Lumine subconsciously glanced at Kaito, who was eating ahead of them. She happened to see both Kiana and Wendy putting food on his plate.
Mmm...
They're so lovey-dovey...
Averting her gaze, Lumine couldn't help but come to this conclusion. Then she looked at Paimon beside her.
This one only knows how to eat!
Silently watching Paimon devour her food, Lumine was at a loss for words.
But despite her exasperation, she felt it was good to have Paimon around. In fact, the more she looked at her, the fonder she felt. Otherwise, Kaito, Wendy, and Kiana were a group, and she'd be left eating all by herself. That would be truly lonely and awkward.
A little while later.
He's still not out...
His gaze occasionally shifting toward the direction Kaito had gone, Childe couldn't help but think.
Honestly, if Kaito hadn't shown up, he would have already left to carry out his mission. But since he had run into Kaito, he decided to put the mission on hold for a bit.
Or rather, befriending people who were well worth befriending was also part of his usual routine, so it was all the same.
"Are we going to that courtyard you just mentioned now?"
Just then, a voice suddenly drifted over.
They're finally out...
Looking over again, Childe finally saw the target he had been waiting for appear.
"Yeah, we're going now."
Kaito nodded and replied to Paimon.
"Great! As soon as we get there, I'm going to take a rest. I'm exhausted today."
After getting Kaito's confirmation, Paimon seemed to be in a good mood. Having a place to rest right after eating—this kind of life was truly wonderful.
"But we might have to clean it up first."
Although he couldn't figure out how Paimon had gotten exhausted, Kaito couldn't be bothered to ask and just mentioned that they might need to do some cleaning before they could rest.
"I have already had it cleaned. You will all just need to prepare some daily necessities."
Seemingly having overheard the conversation between Kaito and Paimon, Zhongli, who had stood up, spoke to them as they approached.
"Mr. Zhongli, you're always so thoughtful."
Surprised that Zhongli had already arranged for the cleaning, Kaito couldn't help but feel that he had been truly thorough.
"But of course. Mr. Zhongli is always like this."
Seeing that Mr. Zhongli had stood up, Childe also hurriedly got to his feet.
"Then let us be on our way."
Seeing that Kaito had finished his meal, Zhongli intended to take him there now.
"Then we'll have to trouble Mr. Zhongli to lead the way."
Mm.
Zhongli nodded, turned, and headed outside, with Kaito's group following close behind.
Kaito's two friends both seem quite extraordinary...
Following behind them, Lumine couldn't help but think. Although she had seen these two friends of Kaito's when she entered the restaurant, she had only given them a passing glance at the time.
But then again...
Kaito himself is so unusual...
It's only natural that his friends would be unusual too...
After thinking about it, Lumine felt it was perfectly normal. After all, birds of a feather flock together. People who are similar in many ways always end up gathering together.
_____
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