"Is there... something there?"
"No, it's nothing."
Hearing Bronya's voice, Xia Qi snapped out of her reverie. She shook her head gently, a flicker of complexity in her eyes, then smiled softly at Bronya.
"Let's go, Bronya. Let's head home first."
"Mm!"
Bronya nodded. Though still a little puzzled, she didn't dwell on it too much.
Her mind was still seriously occupied with figuring out how to give Anti-Entropy a hard time if they tried to control her through the bio-chip later.
Soon, Xia Qi and Bronya returned to the dorm.
When they arrived, Raiden Mei had already entered the kitchen to start preparing lunch. Xia Qi walked in without hesitation to join her.
Xia Qi was thinking about how to say goodbye to Raiden Mei and the others.
Should she leave surrounded by them, with their gazes upon her?
Or should she slip away alone while they were fast asleep?
She pondered this seriously.
But soon, she stopped her train of thought. Looking at Raiden Mei beside her, she fell silent for a moment, then decided to focus on finishing lunch with her first.
"Lunch is ready."
Raiden Mei called out to everyone. Kiana immediately charged in from outside.
"Smells amazing!" Kiana's eyes went wide at the sight of the table laden with delicious food, her joy overflowing. Without a second thought, she reached for a chicken leg on the table.
Fzzzt~
A tiny spark of lightning struck Kiana's hand. Xia Qi stood to the side, arms crossed, a spatula still in hand, a hint of a smile in her eyes. "Wash your hands first. And no grabbing with your hands."
"Oh~"
Kiana put on an extremely aggrieved expression, washed her hands, and then sat down with everyone at the table.
"Wow, it smells incredible!"
Theresa, right on time for the meal, hurried in as well. She unlocked the door with her key, sniffed the fragrant air filling the room, changed her shoes, and ran into the kitchen, plopping down next to Himeko.
"Mm, I'm glad you like it."
Looking at everyone, Xia Qi smiled with gentle eyes. She planned to tell them after the meal—that she had a premonition she needed to leave.
And the next person she would transform into… she had already chosen.
Everyone gathered around the table, happily eating lunch. Xia Qi didn't show any unusual behavior. She ate and chatted with them as cheerfully as always.
Only, as she looked at everyone, her expression was exceptionally tender. She kept putting chicken legs into Kiana's bowl. As soon as Kiana finished one, another would appear.
Kiana ate with immense satisfaction.
This time, Xia Qi had made two whole large platters of braised chicken legs—enough for everyone to eat their fill with leftovers.
But as they looked at Xia Qi, whose demeanor was softer than usual and whose gaze kept lingering on Kiana, everyone gradually began to feel a sense of unease and confusion.
Why does it feel…
…like Ei is acting strange today?
Bronya was the first to notice something was off. She immediately recalled Xia Qi staring blankly at the sky earlier.
Next was the emotionally sensitive and perceptive Raiden Mei. She realized Xia Qi was completely different from before—her aura seemed tinged with a reluctance to part. Even the amount of food she'd cooked today was double the usual lunch.
Then Himeko and Theresa.
They exchanged glances, silently communicating, each confirming the oddness. Soon, they all put down their chopsticks, quietly observing Xia Qi.
"Mmmm!"
Only Kiana was still happily devouring her food. After finishing her bowl, she immediately went for seconds, eating a total of seven bowls before finally stopping with a contented, satisfied burp.
"Go rest after you're full."
Xia Qi said softly to Kiana. Kiana immediately nodded happily, patting her full belly. The post-meal contentment left little room for deeper thought.
"Wait a moment."
Theresa couldn't help but stop Kiana. Then, looking at Xia Qi, she asked with hesitant uncertainty, "Ei… do you have something you want to tell us?"
"Hmm?"
Xia Qi was momentarily stunned. Only then did she notice the others still had food left in their bowls, their chopsticks set down, all watching her with anxious eyes.
"What's wrong?"
Kiana looked confused and bewildered. But seeing everyone looking at Xia Qi, she slowly sensed that something was off.
"Ei, are you… about to leave?"
Bronya looked at Xia Qi, her delicate, lovely face wearing a serious expression as she asked.
"Huh?!?!"
Kiana finally caught on. Her brain, which had been running at unprecedented sluggish speeds due to the satisfaction of having two "external appetites" fulfilled, suddenly kicked into high gear, sparks practically flying.
"What's going on?! Mei, you're leaving?!!"
In her panic, she completely forgot the agreed-upon practice of calling Xia Qi "Ei" when both Meis were present.
"Yes."
Xia Qi nodded, her expression turning somewhat helpless and bitter. "I see… I was still too obvious."
As she spoke, she touched her own cheek.
"Why, Mei?"
Himeko also disregarded formalities now, looking at Xia Qi with a grave expression.
She didn't want Xia Qi to leave. She could see the weariness in Xia Qi and the burdens she seemed to carry, far beyond their imagination.
"I… just have a premonition. A feeling that I'm about to vanish…" Seeing the looks of urgency and worry on everyone's faces, Xia Qi quickly rephrased.
"Or perhaps it's not vanishing. More like… I know I can no longer stay in this world. Others are coming. I have to leave so they can arrive."
"I see."
Theresa's brow furrowed deeply.
"I don't want you to!"
Kiana immediately threw herself forward, hugging Xia Qi tightly, her expression frantic, tears welling in her eyes.
"I don't want Mei to leave! I don't want Mei to disappear!"
"Silly Kiana…"
Xia Qi gently returned Kiana's embrace, a soft smile on her face. She gently stroked Kiana's cheek. "I'm not disappearing. It's just… I can't stay here forever. After all…"
She looked at the others around the table.
"The others… the future versions of everyone… surely they all want to come here too. I can't be that selfish."
"..."
Hearing this, Kiana couldn't help but look around dazedly at the others beside her.
Xia Qi continued softly, "Besides… haven't I always been with you?"
As she said this, she turned her gaze to Raiden Mei. Her eyes held a look of hope and entreaty.
Before she could fully understand everything, Xia Qi didn't believe she was the true Raiden Mei. Yet these heavy memories made it impossible for her to let go of her feelings for Kiana—even though this Kiana wasn't the Kiana from her memories.
So, she wanted to entrust everything to the true Raiden Mei.
"Please don't worry…"
Raiden Mei understood Xia Qi's thoughts. She wore an expression of utmost solemnity, nodding firmly. "I will… absolutely take good care of Kiana. I won't let her suffer the experiences of the future…"
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