"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Miko had been about to say more, but she noticed Kaito's gaze lingering on her, and it threw her off entirely. She had no idea what he was thinking.
"Just listening to you," Kaito answered smoothly, as though nothing was on his mind. "You looked like you still had something to say."
He decided to keep his earlier thoughts to himself. They were only speculation, after all — and even if he voiced them, Miko would deny it no matter what.
Better to say nothing.
"It's just that little brat Wendy," Miko said, the train of thought she'd been following a moment ago already gone. She fell back on the same complaint she'd aired before. "Even if you ask her to call me 'Big Sister,' she'll still find some way to take digs at me. I just know it."
Not that she actually wanted Kaito to do anything on her behalf. If Wendy's change of attitude came through him, it would just be an act — a performance with nothing real behind it. That wasn't what she was after.
She wanted to make Wendy acknowledge her as Big Sister Miko on her own terms. By her own hand.
"Then I'll—"
"I'm not asking you to do anything." Miko cut him off before he could finish. "I'm just venting about that little brat. That's all."
As for why she'd casually suggested tying Wendy up and stuffing that ball in her mouth — honestly, it had just popped into her head and sounded vaguely amusing, so she'd said it out loud, using Wendy as the excuse.
"She means well," Kaito said. "She just likes bickering with you."
Since Wendy was him, it was only natural he'd say a word in his own defense. And more than that — he knew his own intentions better than anyone, so the words came easily.
"I know," Miko said, a hint of warmth softening her tone. Thinking back to how Wendy had whisked her off to Mondstadt not so long ago, she had to admit — that girl really wasn't bad at all.
Actually... maybe things are fine just the way they are.
The thought crept up on her quietly. Maybe she didn't need to insist on making Wendy call her 'Big Sister' after all.
For now, that little brat was actually pretty decent. When Miko needed help, Wendy didn't snipe at her — she'd even step up and help without being asked. Of course, the moment Miko no longer needed anything, Wendy would immediately revert to her old self and resume taking shots at her whenever the opportunity arose.
What a fickle little thing...
Then something occurred to her. Miko glanced toward the door and said, "Since that little brat still isn't back, she's probably spending the night in Mondstadt."
"That's entirely possible," Kaito replied. "Depends on what she decides to do."
He could already feel — clearly — what Miko was working her way toward saying or doing next.
Hold on.
She's not going to suggest another round, is she?
The possibility felt extremely high. He'd wait and see what she actually said.
"So... want to go another round?"
Miko looked at him with a gaze that was every bit as alluring as it was deliberate. She let a beat pass before adding, "I'll be heading back to Inazuma tomorrow — need to report in."
"Of course we're going another round!"
The answer came as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Kaito stood up to wash his hands first — they'd just eaten, after all.
He was back quickly. And when he returned, he found Miko already wearing that small ball herself, fastened in place.
She put it on herself...
He had to admit — seeing her like this lit something up in him immediately. It turned out that his body, with its female form, really did need a little something extra to really get going. Without it, it just wasn't quite the same.
---
Mondstadt.
Angel's Share.
At the same time Kaito was re-engaging with Miko back in Liyue, Wendy — currently in Mondstadt — turned immediately to Lumine and said, "It's so late already. Let's just head back to Liyue tomorrow, Lumine."
Originally, Wendy had planned to finish this late-night meal with Jean and then head straight back to Liyue with Lumine. That plan, clearly, was no longer viable.
"Sure." Lumine, who was in the middle of eating, gave a small nod.
She had a feeling. A feeling that Kaito and Miko were going to be up to something tonight.
Honestly, she still really wanted to go back to Liyue. But Wendy had already said what she said, so she'd spend the night in Mondstadt and leave tomorrow.
"I'll go arrange rooms for you both right now."
Jean, who had been sitting nearby and caught the exchange, immediately offered this.
Although she had been a little disappointed to learn that the Anemo Archon still had a habit of leaving so quickly, one thought of how Mondstadt had endured and thrived through all those years swept that feeling away entirely. She knew — Lord Barbatos wanted them to walk their own path forward. And yet, whenever Mondstadt faced real danger, he would always appear. He never truly abandoned them.
"That would be wonderful, Jean. Thank you."
Wendy accepted the offer without hesitation. That said, she had privately already prepared to drag Lumine to the nearest inn if Jean hadn't offered — so this worked out perfectly.
"Not at all, Wi— Miss Wendy. It's absolutely no trouble."
In her excitement, Jean had almost slipped into the formal title. She caught herself just in time.
"In that case, please arrange two separate rooms."
Wendy had her reasons. Sharing a room with Lumine while the shared sensations were still very much active was not an option she was willing to entertain. She and her other selves all experienced things in tandem — there was no way around it. After what had nearly happened on the walk back just now, a separate room was an absolute necessity.
"Of course, Miss Wendy."
Jean nodded without a second of hesitation. She rose from her seat and said, "I'll go make the arrangements now and be back shortly."
With that, she made her way to the entrance of Angel's Share and stepped out.
Right...
Lumine has definitely figured out why I'm planning to stay the night in Mondstadt...
Sigh...
Tomorrow, let me head back to Inazuma with Miko...
And leave those two to continue on in Liyue.
Wendy watched Lumine quietly eating across from her and made up her mind. She'd return to Inazuma with Miko tomorrow.
She had to admit — for the first time, she was genuinely starting to feel the weight of being too many people at once.
Before, when it was just herself, it hadn't mattered. She could do whatever, however she liked, without consequence.
But now? Things were different.
____
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