"Oh? So I'm already that famous?"
Rather than answering Ningguang's question directly, Mobius turned it back on her with that.
Of course, it was already an answer in itself.
"Indeed you are," Ningguang replied with a measured nod.
Since Mobius had asked her a question, she would answer it — and see what the other party was actually after. In Ningguang's assessment, Mobius had made no move against her yet, which suggested she hadn't come simply to dispose of her. At least, not right now.
"It's all because of that guy, isn't it." Whether she was speaking to Ningguang or simply to herself, Mobius said it out of nowhere.
That guy?
Was she talking about Kaito?
The moment Mobius used that phrasing, Kaito was the first person Ningguang thought of. After all, when Kaito had told her about Mobius, he'd mentioned that she had been persistently fixated on him — so the connection came naturally.
That said, it wasn't necessarily certain. It needed confirming.
Either way, her priority right now was to stall for time. She didn't know who she was waiting for, exactly — but if she could buy time, she would.
She refused to simply sit here and be dealt with.
Wait…
Where was everyone else?
Had she already…?
The thought surfaced in Ningguang's mind, but she had no way of knowing — and she wasn't about to ask.
She knew what she ought to ask instead: "That guy — are you talking about Kaito?"
"Obviously I'm talking about that guy. Though…" Mobius stopped herself mid-sentence and fixed Ningguang with a direct, unblinking stare.
Even so, Ningguang kept her composure and asked calmly, "Though what, Miss Mobius?"
She had no idea what she'd done to make Mobius pause like that, but she could at least ask. Whether or not she got an answer was Mobius's business.
"Whether that guy has been getting cozy with you too, obviously." Under Ningguang's steady gaze, Mobius said it as though she were slightly annoyed.
Ningguang: ?
She hadn't expected anything like that. For a moment, Ningguang was genuinely confused — and surprised.
The confusion was straightforward enough: Mobius was claiming there was something going on between her and Kaito, and Ningguang genuinely had no idea how she'd arrived at that conclusion. The surprise, on the other hand, was at how sensitive Mobius apparently was about this.
She hadn't thought she and Kaito even saw each other that often — and yet somehow she was still under suspicion.
It struck her now that when Kaito had described Mobius as being "fixated" on him, he had clearly been underselling it. This was something else entirely.
"Miss Mobius, I think you're reading too much into this. There's nothing of the sort between us," Ningguang said, of course — because it wasn't true, and she wasn't going to pretend otherwise.
Whether Mobius would believe her was another matter. She had a feeling she wouldn't be so easily convinced.
I wonder if she'd be willing to go see Kaito with me?
Since Mobius probably wouldn't take her at her word, Ningguang was already considering whether to suggest they go to Kaito together. Though she knew full well that even then, Mobius would likely suspect the two of them of conspiring behind her back.
"That line again."
Mobius received Ningguang's denial with what sounded almost like boredom.
That line again?
Again — why again?
Ningguang hadn't expected that, and she didn't follow.
Before she could think it through, Mobius spoke again: "Every time, that guy says it's not what I think. And every time, he disappoints me."
Ah. So that's what she meant.
Now Ningguang understood what Mobius had been referring to.
"Then why don't we go find Kaito together? He should be at his lodgings right now — I can take you there."
She was fairly sure Mobius already knew where Kaito lived, but Ningguang floated it anyway.
Because no matter how she looked at it, having Kaito here to face Mobius alongside her was far better than doing it alone.
"I don't need you to take me anywhere. I know where he lives," Mobius said, making clear she had no need of Ningguang's guidance.
"In that case, Miss Mobius, you're welcome to go verify it with Kaito yourself. There is nothing between us."
Since that approach was off the table, Ningguang could only suggest Mobius go to Kaito and confirm it herself. It wasn't much, but it was all she had left.
"Verify it? And how do you suppose he'll answer me, Ningguang?" Mobius gave a cold, quiet laugh and turned the question back on her.
Ningguang had no good response to that. After all, if neither approach was going to work, what was she supposed to do?
"Then I genuinely don't know what it would take to convince you there's nothing like that between us, Miss Mobius. I'm afraid you've left me without a single move to make."
She held Mobius's gaze for a long moment and said it plainly, unable to hide her helplessness.
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🔥 New history: Oshi No Ko: Co-starring with Kana Arima
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