They were all their own people, after all. It wasn't really a secret.
With that thought settled in her mind, Acheron ultimately chose not to say anything more. She'd wanted to make the point — that they were all on the same side — but she worried it might come across the wrong way and backfire. So she held her tongue.
"Then I'll thank Mei — no, Mei-sis — for that~"
Since Mei had put it that way, Miko had no choice but to express her gratitude first. Whatever else could be said, the words were already out there. There was no taking them back.
Right...
I'll apologize to Lumine when the time comes...
The thought surfaced suddenly, and Miko decided it was the right call. Since she'd gone and blurted out someone else's business by accident, the least she could do was apologize for it.
"Alright, Mei-sis — let's head back."
After a few minutes of busywork, Miko had finally finished brewing the tea. She picked up the tray and made her way toward the room where Kiana was waiting.
"Mm," Acheron said, giving a single nod.
The two of them returned to the room they'd been in before.
"You weren't off somewhere talking about me behind my back, were you? You were gone for quite a while."
Kiana glanced up at Miko and Acheron as they walked in, tossing the line out with a laugh — the picture of easy teasing.
She knew perfectly well what had gone on in the other room, of course. But she still had to play the part of someone who didn't — that was the only way any of this made sense. Even if she let on that she knew everything, Miko probably wouldn't find it that strange. But it was better not to go there.
Otherwise, when Miko and Kaito eventually get to... doing things together, the experience won't be as good for her. And that simply won't do.
"We were just chatting while the tea brewed," Acheron replied before Miko could get a word in.
Kiana had already started talking the moment she opened her mouth, and Acheron had known exactly what to say before the question was even finished — so Miko naturally hadn't had the chance to respond.
"That's right — sorry for keeping you waiting, Kiana-sis."
Seeing Acheron answer like that, Miko followed her lead and echoed the sentiment, while also pouring a cup of tea for Kiana.
"I see," Kiana said, giving a small nod and taking a light sip.
She wasn't a fan of tea, so she had no intention of offering any opinions on Miko's brew. If Miko asked, she'd manage to come up with something. But unprompted? No.
Right...
I should have Acheron take Paimon out for food...
That gives her an excuse to leave — and then it'll just be Miko and me in here...
Let's see if Miko says anything different when it's just the two of us.
Paimon had suddenly come to mind, and Kiana quietly revised her plans. She had a feeling that with only herself present, Miko might say things she wouldn't dare say in front of Acheron.
It was just a hunch, of course. It might not play out that way at all. But she wanted to try.
"Actually — something just came up. I need to step out for a bit."
And then, just as Kiana had finished making up her mind, Acheron suddenly rose to her feet and said exactly that.
"What's the matter, Mei-sis? Is something wrong?" Miko asked, caught off guard, her curiosity obvious.
"It's about Paimon. Lumine and Kaito are both in Liyue right now, so someone needs to look after her for a bit," Acheron said, watching Miko stand up as well, her tone unhurried and even.
"Paimon? That little one still can't look after herself?" Miko asked, genuinely surprised.
"It's not that — it's mainly just taking her out to eat. She has quite the appetite," Acheron clarified, seeing that Miko had clearly misunderstood.
"Alright then — come back soon, Mei-sis."
Miko nodded, hoping she'd be back quickly. She didn't suggest having Paimon come join them here — she already understood why that wouldn't work. Having a little one around had a way of getting in the way of certain things.
"Then I'll stay here and keep Miko company over tea," Kiana said, and took another sip.
"Mm. Take your time, you two," Acheron said with a nod — and then vanished from before them, just like that.
"Mei-sis really is impossibly fast every single time," Miko murmured, glancing instinctively around the now-empty space where Acheron had been.
For some reason, it seemed like all of Kaito's girlfriends moved like the wind — there one moment, gone the next.
"Probably worried about that little one going hungry," Kiana said lightly, continuing to sip her tea with an air of casual indifference.
She knew the real reason, of course. She just obviously couldn't say it.
"I'm actually a little curious how big Paimon's appetite is," Miko mused, picking up on what Acheron had said earlier about Paimon eating quite a lot. It was hard not to wonder — the little thing looked so small. How much could she possibly eat?
Hm?
Wait...
Come to think of it — Kiana didn't seem to react at all when Mei mentioned that Lumine and Kaito were in Liyue...
The thought struck Miko suddenly, and she found herself mildly surprised.
But then, when she thought back on everything up to this point, the surprise faded just as quickly. After all, both Acheron and Kiana had already shown they weren't bothered by Miko's own involvement with Kaito — so of course Lumine's wouldn't be any different.
"She nearly ate Lumine out of house and home, once upon a time," Kiana offered — her answer to Miko's unspoken wondering about Paimon's appetite.
She'd wanted to describe it in more detail, but decided this was enough.
Miko: "..."
She hadn't expected an answer like that. For a moment, she was genuinely at a loss.
"...Alright, I stand corrected. That is quite the appetite," she finally said, and smiled.
Now it's just me and Kiana here...
Should I have Ei come over too?
Miko sipped her tea at a leisurely pace, the thought turning over quietly in her mind. But she hesitated — she worried it might put Kiana in an uncomfortable spot.
"I heard from Wendy that you're the Raiden Shogun's pet."
The words came out of nowhere, landing squarely on Miko while she was still mid-thought.
Miko: "???"
That little brat!!!
She was inwardly seething at Wendy, but her expression remained perfectly composed — the very picture of mild, bemused surprise. Then she said, with a patient smile: "It's familiar, Kiana-sis. I really don't know why that little troublemaker insists on calling a familiar a pet. They are completely different things."
No matter how much she wanted to throttle Wendy in her head, on the outside Miko wore her usual light smile — tinged, as always, with just a trace of long-suffering resignation.
...They really do sound like the same thing, though.
Kiana quietly entertained that thought to herself as she listened to Miko's answer.
Then she said: "I'll correct her on that when I get back."
____
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