"Then I'll go back to sleep first."
Seeing that everyone was about to leave, Paimon, who had stretched her waist and rubbed her eyes, also decided to go back and get some sleep first.
Anyhow, she still couldn't quite figure out what Kaito and the others were doing, so she might as well go back to sleep. And more importantly, having eaten so much delicious food, it would be a real shame not to take a nap.
Sleep?
This Paimon... it's just eat and sleep with her...
Lumine, who was debating whether to follow them, suddenly heard Paimon say this and couldn't help but inwardly roast her.
Originally, she was torn about whether to keep following. If she didn't follow, she needed an excuse; otherwise, leaving just like that would be a bit rude.
But now, Paimon's words gave her the perfect excuse. Yet, she started to feel torn again.
On one hand, she felt she was basically just watching from the sidelines, unable to do much, which was a bit awkward.
But on the other hand, she felt if she acted like that, Kaito might not seek her out for similar things next time, so she was conflicted.
Just then, Kaito's voice drifted over, "Aren't you coming? Lumine?"
Knowing that Lumine really wanted to join him and Miko in these matters, Kaito was a bit curious seeing her standing still in the same spot.
"Yeah, Lumine, are you going back to sleep with me too? I'm so sleepy." As she spoke, Paimon stretched again in mid-air.
"Young people should get out and walk more. Why stay in your room all the time?"
At this moment, Miko, who had already walked some distance away, walked back upon hearing the voices behind her.
In her impression, Lumine seemed to always be staying in the Ritou Inn room, so she couldn't help but utter those words just now.
"Yeah, you need to walk more!" Seeing Miko say this, Paimon immediately parroted her, acting like a fox borrowing the tiger's might to lecture Lumine.
Lumine: "???"
Lumine had intended to reply to Miko that she didn't always stay in her room, but seeing Paimon actually have the nerve to lecture her made it impossible for Lumine to tolerate.
"You eat all day then sleep, sleep then eat, and you have the nerve to talk about me?" Looking at Paimon, Lumine wore an expression of utter speechlessness.
"That works out perfectly. Let's all walk together, shall we?" At this time, Makoto, who had been watching from the side for a while, also spoke up.
It had to be said, watching the behavior of these two made Her feel as if She were still alive in this world, and it reminded Her of the times She spent with Ei in the past.
"Huh?"
Faced with Makoto's proposal, Paimon was in a bind. She really wanted to go back to sleep.
"'Huh' what? Hurry up and come with me. Don't let Kaito and the others wait too long."
Seeing Paimon like this, Lumine immediately seized the opportunity to make Paimon come along.
Just a moment ago, she was still debating whether to follow, but now she wasn't conflicted at all. She couldn't swallow that earlier grievance if she didn't drag Paimon out.
"Uh... alright." Looking up to see so many people waiting for her, Paimon had to say okay.
There was no helping it; Kaito and these people were very impressive figures, and she couldn't leave a bad impression on them.
But it had to be said, she really regretted it now. If she had known, she would have silently gone back to the Ritou Inn to sleep earlier. Why did she have to say that sentence out loud?
Hmph!
Stinky Paimon!
That's what you get for talking about me...
Seeing Paimon's helpless look now, Lumine was overjoyed.
And it worked out perfectly; she didn't have to agonize over that problem from earlier anymore.
Afterward, the group continued walking toward Tenshukaku.
A short while later.
Tenshukaku.
"Her Excellency surely isn't still out looking for Kaito, is She?"
As they neared Tenshukaku, Miko suddenly muttered this to herself.
Since she felt Ei would definitely go look for Kaito immediately, Miko, having not seen Ei come over, surmised that Ei was still outside.
However, if that were the case, with such a large group of them here, it was impossible for Ei not to know.
Could it be She thought Kaito already knew about the resemblance between Mei and Her?
Suddenly thinking of this point, Miko felt it made a lot of sense.
After all, if that were true, Ei would definitely suspect Kaito of harboring some ulterior motives.
Forget it...
I'll know in a bit...
Thinking no more on it, Miko had already arrived at the entrance.
Since they were a large group now, they certainly couldn't just barge in directly.
Although no one could stop them if they did—even including Ei—they weren't here to storm Tenshukaku.
Hmm?
Just as Miko was about to say something to the guard at the gate, she suddenly saw someone run out from inside, looking as if there were some urgent matter.
"Lady Miko, Her Excellency, the Shogun invites you all in."
Under Miko's gaze, the soldier who ran out addressed her.
"Understood." Miko nodded.
Now she understood; Ei had returned and knew they were here.
Her earlier thought might even have been correct.
But it didn't matter. Makoto was the real Makoto right now, not a fake.
With this single fact, she didn't worry about any other mishaps occurring.
After all, as long as Makoto was present, any issue could be handed over to Her to settle.
"Let's go in." Turning her head to glance at everyone behind her, Miko took the lead and walked in after speaking.
Afterward, the others followed one after another.
High up in Tenshukaku.
That young man...
What exactly does he want to do?
Overlooking the entire Inazuma City, Ei had been thinking about that young man the whole time.
After the period that had just passed, She felt it was very likely the other party was planning something.
If Makoto could truly return, then She would be willing to make some trades.
But... is She Makoto?
Recalling her close contact with Acheron not long ago, Ei truly felt a very familiar sensation.
But She knew very well that Makoto had died hundreds of years ago; this was an indisputable fact.
Resurrection?
Recalling the scene from hundreds of years ago, and then feeling that familiar aura she sensed recently, the word came to Ei's mind.
There was no way around it; aside from the meaning represented by this word, She truly couldn't explain what was happening now.
Da da da—
Are they here...
Just then, Ei heard the chaotic sound of footsteps coming from behind Her.
Accompanied by the approaching footsteps, Ei slowly turned around.
"Wow, they really look alike." At this moment, Paimon couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
There was no helping it; the two of them looked simply too similar.
Do they really have no relation to each other?
____
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