Since Keqing wanted to try this approach, he'd go along with it.
Not that the outcome was going to be anything other than obvious.
"So… you'll actually try leaving tomorrow?"
She hadn't expected Kaito to agree so readily — and honestly, it caught her off guard.
"Sure, no problem. It's actually a decent plan."
He'd caught the surprise in her eyes, so he said as much. He knew she'd been taken aback by how quickly he'd agreed, so he offered his take on the plan to smooth things over.
Whatever else was going on, he still needed to keep up appearances.
"If this really can solve the problem, then Liyue…"
"You don't have to say it." Knowing exactly what she was about to say, Kaito cut her off. "This whole situation was my fault to begin with. If leaving keeps Liyue out of danger, then it's the least I can do."
He had to admit — in that moment, he felt just a little bit hypocritical.
But there was no helping it. Things had already been set in motion here in Liyue, and he couldn't just walk away. Not like this.
Sure, he could head over to Inazuma and set something similar up there — but Inazuma didn't have Childe. And worse, Inazuma was where Kiana, Acheron, and Wendy were. Mobius couldn't beat any of those three.
Liyue was, without question, the best option.
"In any case, if this does solve the problem, Liyue won't leave you empty-handed."
Keqing had understood everything Kaito said, but what she'd proposed still went against Liyue's customs of hospitality. She'd have to arrange some kind of compensation — she just hadn't figured out the specifics yet. That was a conversation she'd need to have with Ningguang.
"Then tomorrow, I'll pretend to be boarding a ship back to Inazuma with Miko and the others. We'll see whether Mobius still causes any trouble in Liyue after that."
He'd already decided: tomorrow, once he, Miko, and Lumine made their departure look convincing, he'd let Mobius do her thing in Liyue. So he laid it out plainly for Keqing now.
"Understood. If things don't go as planned, I'll have someone contact you immediately." Keqing nodded, then added: "Although — once you're in Inazuma, how exactly do I reach you?"
"Easy. Just send someone to find Miko — the Raiden Shogun's attendant. You know who I mean, right?"
"I do. Alright, that settles it. I'll head back now."
She felt she'd said everything that needed saying. And she was also a little worried that being seen here might tip Mobius off and make tomorrow's departure look suspicious — so Keqing rose to leave.
"Let me walk you out, then."
"No need, I can see myself out." Keqing waved him off as he stood, then turned and walked toward the door.
But the moment she stepped out of the room, she turned back around. "Remember — don't let too many people know about this. If Mobius catches wind of it, the whole plan falls apart."
"Understood."
Kaito gave a single nod.
After that, Keqing left under his gaze — and a moment later, Miko reappeared.
"…Where'd she go?" Stepping back inside and finding only Kaito, Miko instinctively glanced around the room. She hadn't expected Keqing to leave so quickly.
She'd been planning to walk in on something interesting. Apparently she'd missed her window.
"She just left."
Kaito had settled back into his seat by then, and answered as much.
"She's gone? Already?"
Once she was sure Keqing had left, Miko went ahead and sat down.
"She wants me to leave Liyue tomorrow — see whether Mobius follows." Kaito filled Miko in on the plan he and Keqing had just worked out.
Since Miko was coming along tomorrow, she needed to know.
Lumine too, of course.
"Wait — that's what the Yuheng came here for?" Miko hadn't seen that coming, and the surprise showed on her face.
She thought it was a bit much, honestly.
But then again — Mobius was here because of Kaito. Hard to complain too loudly about that.
"It's my fault things got to this point. Me leaving is only natural." Sensing Miko's mild displeasure, Kaito said this quietly.
"So we're heading back to Inazuma tomorrow, then."
She didn't push further — she just wanted to know if that was the plan.
She wasn't worried about Mobius following them to Inazuma. She just wanted to know what Kaito had in mind.
"We'll drift out at sea for a while first. See if Mobius follows. Can't exactly let her tag along all the way to Inazuma and start causing trouble there."
That was his answer.
He knew, of course, that Mobius wouldn't do anything reckless — she probably wouldn't even chase them to Inazuma. But Miko didn't know that, so he said it anyway. No point in making her overthink things.
And to be fair — if this really were a genuine Mobius and not one he'd arranged, drifting at sea would have been exactly the right call. You couldn't just lead a threat like that straight into another nation.
"I actually want to say I don't mind — but I'm not exactly a homebody who can just hole up somewhere. So I suppose I'll just stay by your side. Wherever you go, I go." Miko said it lightly, watching him with an even expression.
"Miko…" Kaito looked at her for a long moment after she said that, and then, unable to help himself, said something just a little embarrassing: "You're wonderful, you know that?"
He didn't really have the experience for smooth words — it was the best he could come up with.
"Hmph. Of course I am." She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, and then moved to get up and settle herself on Kaito's lap.
But just then, footsteps sounded at the doorway — and Miko stopped herself mid-motion.
"Keqing left already?" Lumine asked as she walked in.
"Yeah." Kaito nodded, then added: "Come sit down, Lumine — there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
Curious, Lumine walked over and sat down beside Miko.
"So — tomorrow, we're going to be leaving Liyue…" Kaito looked at her and repeated, once more, everything he'd already told Miko.
"That's what she came all this way to say?"
After hearing him out, Lumine felt a little uneasy too.
But she understood — there wasn't really anything wrong with Keqing's logic.
"Well, if that's what she wants, then we leave." Miko gave a casual, unbothered shrug.
"Right. So — are we heading out tomorrow morning?"
"Yeah. Tonight, let's at least have one last proper meal here in Liyue."
"'Last meal'? Could you not phrase it like we're about to be executed?" Miko shot back, clearly unimpressed.
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👻🔥Walnut-chan🔥👻
🔥 New history: Oshi No Ko: Co-starring with Kana Arima
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone