[In Goldsmith Alley]
Levi, Stelle, and the others sat around a table.
Since the Stellaron had to be sealed, the experienced Mr. Yang from the Astral Express crew had been called over to help.
So only March 7th and Stelle were here.
Together with Levi and Kiana, the four of them filled one table.
As for Qingque... she still had work to do, so there was no way she could come tonight.
"What a pity."
After hearing the news, Stelle said it was a pity, but there wasn't the slightest trace of regret on her face for Qingque.
To everyone else, she even looked a little pleased about it.
Levi looked about the same. He was also feeling very "sorry" for Qingque.
March 7th didn't say anything. Instead, she looked thoughtfully at Kiana, who had been acting a little strange from the beginning.
Kiana kept her head down and stayed silent. Just then, Levi was called over by the owner to order food.
March 7th pulled Stelle closer and whispered, "Your friend... she didn't run away from home, did she?"
The way she was acting was very similar to girls who had run away from home and needed to stay at someone else's place.
"Huh?"
Stelle looked at Kiana in confusion first, then, after seeing March 7th's look, replied in an equally quiet voice, "She has a home?"
"...I'm being serious."
March 7th was a little speechless at Stelle's answer.
"I don't know," Stelle answered seriously.
Kiana never explained the reason in the group chat, so she... not just her, but probably everyone else in the group, didn't know why Kiana was staying over.
Looking at Kiana with her head lowered, her face hidden behind her white hair,
Stelle couldn't help wondering if March 7th had guessed right. Had Kiana really run away from home?
Feeling March 7th tug at her, Stelle looked away and gave her a look.
"Wait. I'll talk to Levi and see what we should do."
"I'm back!"
Speak of the devil.
Levi sat back down and placed the Immortal's Delight Tea he had bought from the shop next door onto the table.
After taking a few sips, Stelle reluctantly put down her cup and repeated what March 7th had just said.
"Ran away from home?"
Levi asked in confusion as he turned to look at Kiana across from him.
The other two also looked at Kiana.
Under the eyes of all three, Kiana paused while sipping her drink and looked at them.
"Why are you all staring at me? Is there something on my face?"
"Levi, when's the food coming? I'm starving."
Grr!
As if agreeing with her, her stomach let out an astonishing growl. Someone who didn't know better might think she hadn't eaten for days.
Meeting Kiana's eyes, Levi said, "We just ordered, so it'll probably take a while. Didn't I buy Immortal's Delight Tea? Make do with that for now."
"Now, let's talk about your situation."
"My situation? What situation could I have... uh, where did you buy this? I'll go see if they have other flavors."
Seeing the three pairs of eyes fixed on her, Kiana couldn't take the pressure anymore and wanted to slip away.
She planned to wander around nearby and come back when the food was ready.
But Levi saw right through her, grabbed her wrist, and said calmly,
"If you don't talk, you don't eat."
"..."
"Wow! That's such a cruel punishment!"
"Is it?"
March 7th thought it was fine.
It was just missing dinner. If Kiana really didn't want to talk, she wouldn't care about one meal.
Stelle, however, said, "It depends on the person."
If it were someone else, that would be one thing.
But for Kiana, not letting her eat was worse than killing her.
To Kiana, Levi's punishment was about the same as slow execution for an ordinary person.
To Kiana, nothing was more important than eating. Unless there were very special circumstances...
No, even if there were special circumstances, nothing could stop her from eating.
Under the eyes of the other two, after Levi said those words, Kiana's body trembled, and she obediently sat back down.
Her expression clearly said, Ask whatever you want.
Levi also sat down, folded his hands in front of him, and looked at her seriously.
"Tell the truth. Did you have a fight with someone? Is that why you came to stay with me?"
Hearing that, Kiana thought for a moment.
She first shook her head.
Then she nodded.
Stelle and March 7th looked at each other.
'Just as we thought!'
———
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Kiana! Open the door! Kiana!!!"
Knocking came together with Theresa's shouting from outside.
In the kitchen, Raiden Mei was washing dishes and looked puzzled.
Why was the Principal looking for Kiana so late?
Then she remembered what Kiana had said before leaving... That she shouldn't tell Theresa that she had left.
Now she felt conflicted.
The Principal had already come to the door.
Wouldn't it be wrong not to tell her?
Did she really have to lie?
Forget it. She would just tell the Principal that Kiana had left.
She took off her apron, walked straight to the door, and opened it, which was shaking under Theresa's iron fists.
"Princip..."
Before she could finish, Theresa squeezed past her through the gap without saying a word and ran straight toward Kiana's bedroom.
By the time Mei turned around, Theresa had already disappeared from the living room. She could only vaguely see something golden on Theresa's back.
If she guessed correctly, it was Judah, which she had seen a few times before.
The corner of Mei's mouth twitched slightly.
"What did Kiana do this time?"
But Kiana wasn't even here now.
Bang!
A loud noise reached her ears, and Mei quickly hurried over.
———
Theresa kicked the bedroom door open and looked around, but Kiana was nowhere to be seen.
Her already gloomy face became even darker, as if water could drip from it.
She opened the wardrobe.
No one there either.
"Kiana!"
"Principal!"
Just as Theresa roared, the out-of-breath Raiden Mei rushed over.
"What happened?"
She then quickly told Theresa that Kiana had already left.
After hearing that, Theresa couldn't help clenching her little fists tightly.
She sneered.
"So she caused trouble and then ran away!"
Creak!
Bronya's bedroom door opened, and her little head peeked out.
"Sister Mei, Principal, what happened?"
Seeing Bronya poke her head out, Theresa calmed down, shook her head, and let out a deep sigh in front of them.
"What a disgrace to the family."
"That little brat!"
Theresa gritted her teeth, her face full of anger.
Raiden Mei and Bronya exchanged glances.
It was the first time they had ever seen the Principal this angry.
Normally, she rarely got mad.
Seeing her like this today was extremely rare.
So both of them were very curious.
What had Kiana done during the time she was away to make Theresa this furious?
Or had she done something before that Theresa had only just found out?
Under their gaze, the furious Theresa opened her mouth.
"..."
[🎉 Shoutout to Photobug, ZaberZ and Enthessi for joining p@treon. All the support is very welcomed. Thank you very much.🤗]