"Why are you looking at me? Do you want me to help you carry that too?"
"Huh? No, no, I was just... wondering, Wendy, when did you get back?" Realizing Wendy had caught her staring, Lumine quickly explained, then added, feeling it wasn't enough, "It just feels like you've been back for a while..."
Lumine was still very curious about when Wendy had helped Kaito with his things. Of course, the main reason she said anything was that she wanted to change the subject.
"Just now. It's not like I'd come back without saying a word."
Looking as if she found it very strange, Wendy said this while looking at Lumine.
What is this Lumine thinking about now?
Looks like I should have had Kaito express some surprise just now...
Because they were both the same person, Wendy had very naturally taken the things from Kaito's hands, and neither of them had made a sound.
"Wendy's really fast. Before I could even react, she'd already taken the things from my hands. I'm used to it."
Although he didn't know what Lumine was thinking, Kaito decided to try and smooth things over.
A girl's mind is so hard to understand...
Although...
I have Wendy and Kiana...
But I...
I'm still a guy...
While waiting for Lumine's reply, Kaito couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"Oh, so that's how it is. No wonder."
With a slightly silly smile, Lumine seemed to understand.
In truth, it was mainly seeing the kind of effortless synchronicity between Kaito and Wendy, the kind that only comes from being together for a long time, that made her a little envious.
"Wendy, Wendy, can you carry my stuff for me?"
Paimon immediately asked Wendy to carry her things, not being polite at all.
"Carry them for you?" Wendy looked at Paimon, clearly annoyed. "Lumine, make Paimon carry all your things. If she doesn't, she's not allowed to eat later."
"Wha—? No way! I'll starve!"
Not expecting her attempt at being clever to backfire so spectacularly, Paimon quickly begged for mercy.
No matter what, she had to eat later, or she would starve to death.
"I'll carry them, I'll carry them! Say no more."
Seeing that Wendy was serious, Paimon quickly flew over to Lumine's hands and took the items from her.
Hmph...
The wicked get their...
Wait, no...
Wendy's not a wicked person...
Anyway, Paimon definitely needed to be taught a lesson...
Nice one, Wendy!
Not planning on helping Paimon at all, Lumine actually thought Wendy's approach was excellent.
"Kai, you hold these for now." Suddenly, Wendy handed the things in her hands back to Kaito. Then she walked over to Lumine's side. "Let's go on ahead. We'll just let them carry everything."
After saying that, Wendy walked behind Lumine and started pushing the still-dazed girl forward, leaving Kaito and Paimon behind, their hands full of things.
"Hey? What about them..."
"It's fine. Kai and Paimon both need some exercise."
Knowing what Lumine wanted to say, Wendy cut her off.
Although she still didn't know what Lumine was thinking, it didn't matter. She was a girl, and Lumine was also a girl. Maybe when it was just the two of them, Lumine would open up about some things.
"Sigh... Kaito, you don't have it easy either."
Watching Lumine and Wendy walk ahead, Paimon turned to look at Kaito beside her and sighed. Right now, she and Kaito were comrades in misery.
"Don't talk about it. Let's go."
With what looked like a wry smile, Kaito walked forward.
"Lumine."
Walking ahead with Lumine, Wendy glanced back seriously before suddenly calling her name.
"What is it?"
Noticing Wendy beside her glance back, Lumine also subconsciously looked behind them.
She saw that Kaito and Paimon were now some distance behind them.
"I've noticed you're always thinking about something from time to time, but you won't say what it is when I ask. It's just us now, so you should know what I mean, right?"
Staring straight ahead, Wendy stated her thoughts.
Although she felt it would be better to let Kaito handle it, after some thought, she decided to let Wendy take the lead.
After all, girls might be more open with each other.
"Well..."
Not expecting Wendy to be so direct, Lumine hesitated.
In truth, she really disliked how she was currently acting, but she just couldn't make up her mind.
"Still can't talk about it? We're all girls, what's there that can't be said?"
"But you're a god. You're different from me."
"But how is a girl who's several hundred years old any different from me?" Wendy felt like Lumine was calling her, the Anemo God, too old.
Although she was technically very young, the title "Anemo God" certainly had a sense of antiquity to it.
Lumine: "..."
Although she really wanted to refute it, Lumine realized that was indeed the case. They were all girls who were hundreds or thousands of years old.
"Then... I'll find some time to talk to you."
After thinking for a moment, Lumine gave this reply.
Since she was already planning to discuss some things with Kiana tonight, it was also necessary to discuss them with Wendy.
"Okay. Just let me know whenever you want to talk. As long as you're not just saying that to brush me off."
Wendy felt good about Lumine's answer.
"I won't. It's just that I'm not ready yet." Lumine shook her head.
---
A while later.
Kaito's residence.
"Let me see you out, Ningguang."
After dinner, Ningguang prepared to leave, and the group walked her to the door.
Because Ningguang had already spoken with Kiana while Kaito was still outside, the rest of their conversation had mostly been about Liyue matters.
And now, Ningguang was about to leave.
But before she left, she planned to make use of the meal she had just eaten.
"There's no need, Kaito. I can see myself out. However, next time, it'll be my turn to treat you all."
Kaito: "..."
Why is she still thinking about treating me to a meal...
She didn't stay for dinner just so she could have an excuse to invite me to one, did she?
The sudden thought left Kaito a little speechless.
"Next time, then."
Figuring it would be rude to refuse, Kaito replied as such. Since she wanted to treat him, he might as well be her guest. It wouldn't be right to do otherwise.
"Mm. Also, I hope you all can come see the Rite of Descension later."
"We'll definitely be there."
Speaking of the Rite of Descension, Kaito started thinking again about whether his plan would work.
Although he had already coordinated with Zhongli, he still felt that having Kiana do it directly was a bit unreasonable.
_____
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