"Miko?"
Acheron looked up at the approaching figure, a flicker of what might have been surprise crossing her face.
"Mei, I've missed you so much — it really has been ages, hasn't it?"
Miko practically glided up to her, all smiles, looking for all the world like she was greeting someone she hadn't seen in years. The words left Acheron mildly baffled.
By any reasonable count, Miko had only been in Liyue for a day. Exactly what qualified as "ages" here was entirely beyond her.
"Ages?" Acheron echoed, letting the word sit in the air between them, her skepticism plainly visible.
She was curious, genuinely, to hear how Miko planned to justify that particular claim.
"It is, isn't it? Mei, it really has been such a long time."
Miko answered with a smile, perfectly unruffled by the look of doubt directed at her.
She had to admit — Acheron with a puzzled expression was actually quite charming. Far more so than her usual blank face.
If only Ei could make an expression like that too. That would be endlessly entertaining.
"One day counts as long? I'm not even sure it was a full day," Acheron said flatly, since Miko had offered no further explanation and apparently had no intention of doing so.
In her honest opinion, even several days apart wouldn't have risen to the level of ages. One day certainly didn't.
"One day is plenty long, Mei. Enough for all sorts of things to happen."
Miko gave a small smile, her voice carrying a weight that was clearly deliberate.
She was fairly certain Mei didn't yet know about what had happened between her and Kaito — which was precisely why she intended to tell her. Just... not here. She needed somewhere more appropriate.
"I have the distinct feeling you want to tell me something."
Acheron didn't play dumb. She met the loaded statement head-on.
She kept the specifics to herself, though. By all appearances, she shouldn't know anything about what had happened in Liyue — not yet.
Then again, she thought, if I simply told her I already knew what she and Kaito got up to, she probably wouldn't find it that strange. In her eyes, I'm... formidable. And she's not wrong.
But knowing too much would look suspicious. Better to play the part.
So — I know nothing.
"My, my — caught me already, have you?"
The words sounded like surprise, but Miko's tone carried none of it. She had made her meaning obvious on purpose — of course Acheron would pick up on it. That was exactly what she'd wanted.
And beyond that, she was testing the waters. She wanted to know whether Acheron already knew about her and Kaito.
Looking at her now — apparently not. Which was perfectly normal. Knowing would have been the strange thing.
"You were hardly being subtle. Of course I noticed."
Acheron's expression remained as impassive as ever as she said it.
"And do you want to know, Mei?" Miko pressed, smile still in place.
"I do. So will you tell me?"
The answer came almost before Miko had finished the question — a single nod, straightforward and unhesitating.
If Miko was offering, then naturally she would say yes. Even if she already knew.
"But this isn't the right place."
Miko glanced around as she spoke, scanning their surroundings as though searching for something.
"Then let's find somewhere that is."
Acheron followed her gaze briefly before answering, her tone light and unhurried.
She felt no need to appear eager. That wasn't her way.
Meanwhile, Miko was quietly looking forward to it — whatever expression Acheron wore when she heard the news. She was curious about that.
Not that she made a habit of announcing this sort of thing to people. But Acheron was different. Acheron wasn't just a close friend — she was someone who shared a lover with her. That made her different from everyone else.
This wasn't about showing off, either. Miko knew Acheron wouldn't care, or at least wouldn't show that she cared — though why that was the case was something Miko still found quietly baffling.
And there was more. She had questions she wanted to ask. Things about Acheron and Kaito. She just wasn't sure whether Acheron would actually answer them.
"Honestly, Mei, you don't look the least bit curious."
Miko watched Acheron's unchanging face and sighed softly.
She knew this was simply how Acheron was. She had always been this way. But Miko still half-expected some reaction when the moment actually came — and suspected she might not get one.
"Because I know you're going to tell me regardless. I don't need to look forward to it — you'll say it eventually either way."
Seeing the faint shadow of disappointment on Miko's face, Acheron offered the explanation simply.
She did have to play along, at least a little.
Still, Acheron thought, I genuinely don't understand why she's so eager for me to hear this. Wouldn't this sort of thing normally be... uncomfortable to share?
...Is that really how Miko thinks about it?
Hm. Actually, that does make a certain sense. Even if I couldn't quite think that way myself.
Miko blinked, briefly caught off guard by the logic. She turned it over in her head.
It was annoyingly reasonable.
"Alright, Mei. You win," Miko conceded, with a soft, helpless little laugh.
Even so, she was still quietly looking forward to Acheron's reaction when the moment came. Some part of her refused to let that go.
Oh, right — I still need to speak to Ei about the Kiana situation.
The thought surfaced without warning, and Miko spoke up: "Mei, do you have time to come with me to see Ei first? I'll tell you everything afterwards, I promise."
She needed to report her findings to Ei before anything else.
"Of course. I'm not busy."
Acheron gave a small nod.
Busy or not, she wouldn't have refused Miko's request.
After all — things between Kaito and Miko had progressed. Which meant that on her end, she needed to keep pace.
Though I should be mindful of how I express certain things. Acheron reminded herself quietly. Whatever else I may be, right now I am Acheron — not Kaito. That distinction matters.
"Mei, you're the best." Miko smiled warmly. "Then let's go — we'll see Ei first, and then I'll tell you everything."
With that, she turned and continued down the path toward Tenshukaku. Acheron fell into step behind her.
"By the way — you're up surprisingly early, Mei. What were you doing out?"
"Nothing much. Just picking up something to eat."
"Breakfast! Come to think of it, I haven't eaten either. Let's talk while we eat, then."
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