Chapter 190: Albedo's Painting
Just a few steps further down the path, the vibrant canopy of a particularly large maple tree caught their attention. Standing at its base were two familiar figures, Ran Mouri and Sonoko Suzuki, their heads tilted back as they stared up into the brilliant red leaves.
Kaeya's group followed their gaze and, sure enough, spotted the small form of Conan Edogawa perched on a thick branch high above. He was supposed to be with Ran, not scaling trees like a stray cat.
Seeing the boy handling the branches alone, Noelle's protective instincts flared. He didn't even have time to offer a proper greeting to Ran and Sonoko before he rushed forward, positioning himself directly beneath Conan, his arms slightly raised, ready to catch him if he were to fall.
From his vantage point, Conan watched the sudden arrival of the trio with mild surprise. He hadn't expected to run into Kaeya in the mountains just a few days after encountering Klee at the hotel. His eyes, sharp as ever, flickered to the glowing gems they wore—the Visions adorning Lisa, Noelle, and Kaeya. It reinforced a theory that had been slowly solidifying in his mind: the complex borders framing each Vision likely signified their allegiance within this mysterious organization.
Ran and Sonoko were equally surprised by their sudden appearance.
"Lisa! Don't tell me you're here because of that super romantic drama, too?" Sonoko gushed, her initial concern for Conan forgotten. She clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she looked between Lisa and Noelle.
Lisa arched a delicate eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Miss Suzuki. A friend of mine mentioned he was sketching nearby. Since the scenery here is so unique, I simply invited a few friends to come along and relax."
"Oh, is that so?" Sonoko's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
Noticing her crestfallen expression, Noelle recalled a title he'd overheard some of the female students discussing during his shifts at the restaurant. "Miss Suzuki," he asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice, "are you perhaps talking about the drama 'Winter Maple Red'?"
"Yes, yes, that's the one!" Sonoko's face lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically. Seeing the blank looks on Lisa and Kaeya's faces, she launched into a passionate summary of the plot. "It's this incredible love story between the young lady of an entrepreneurial family and a dashing young military officer..."
"Sonoko, I'm still up here," Conan called down, his voice laced with weary resignation. He watched the group below with half-lidded eyes, particularly Sonoko, who was now so engrossed in her story that she'd completely forgotten he was in the tree searching for her handkerchief.
Still, he mused, for her to drag them all the way out here with a red handkerchief in tow, it had to be related to Makoto Kyogoku. He could only wonder what kind of scheme she was cooking up this time.
His gaze then drifted to Noelle, who stood directly below him with a complex expression. The young man hadn't taken his eyes off him, his posture tense, clearly prepared to act at the slightest sign of trouble. Whether it was this small act of concern or his past deeds, Conan had to admit that Noelle was a genuinely good person—kind, earnest, and always willing to help.
It wasn't just Noelle, either. From what he had observed of Xiangling, Lisa, and even the eccentric Mona, he had never seen them do anything malicious.
Even Kaeya... aside from that one unsettling encounter where he'd witnessed him meeting with members of the Black Organization, he had found no other suspicious activity. The man certainly didn't look like a saint, but Conan had to concede that he was a good brother to Klee. The feeling he gave off was worlds apart from the cold, predatory aura of Gin.
This was one of the primary reasons Conan could never bring himself to be fully vigilant against this mysterious Teyvat organization. They were an enigma wrapped in kindness.
"Of course I have to find it! That's a very important token of my affection," Sonoko shouted up, snapping back to the task at hand. "Look again, you little glasses-brat! The handkerchief has to be around here somewhere."
"Are you looking for a red handkerchief?" Kaeya's smooth voice cut in. "Isn't that it right under your foot, Miss Suzuki?"
When he had first approached, Kaeya's sharp eye had immediately spotted the corner of red fabric peeking out from beneath Sonoko's shoe. He had been waiting for a pause in her dramatic monologue to point it out.
At Kaeya's words, Conan clamped his mouth shut, swallowing the sentence he was about to say: 'I found a red handkerchief tied to the tree.'He knew instantly that the one he'd seen couldn't be Sonoko's; a handkerchief carried away by the wind wouldn't magically tie itself into a neat knot around a branch. It must have been left by another fan of'Winter Maple Red'. Since it wasn't hers, there was no point in mentioning it.
Having finally located her precious handkerchief, Sonoko looked up at Conan, her face flushing a delicate shade of pink as she offered an embarrassed smile.
Conan rolled his eyes from his perch in the tree. Heh. Classic Sonoko.
After his silent grumble, he wasted no more time and nimbly shimmied down the trunk of the maple tree. Seeing him safely on the ground, Noelle finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
With the minor crisis averted, the group began to walk and talk together.
During their conversation, Ran and Sonoko were surprised to learn that the friend Lisa mentioned—the one sketching up ahead—was none other than Klee's older brother, Albedo.
"You really can't judge a book by its cover," Sonoko whispered to Ran. She had thought Albedo's quiet, serious temperament made him seem more like a teacher, and a rather strict one at that. She never would have guessed he had a hidden talent for painting, though she was curious just how good he actually was. Then again, she reasoned, a young man that handsome couldn't possibly be a bad artist.
Through Lisa's description, they also learned that the spot where Albedo was painting was the exact location where the officer and the young lady had their dramatic reunion in the show. Since they were all headed to the same destination, they decided to travel together.
Just as Kaeya had predicted, they weren't far from Albedo at all.
After only a short walk, they rounded a dense cluster of maple trees and saw a figure ahead. His back was turned to them as he stood before an easel, his hand moving gracefully as he applied paint to a canvas.
Hearing the soft crunch of footsteps behind him, Albedo waited until he had finished his current series of strokes before slowly turning his head.
He seemed a bit surprised to see who it was. When had Lisa and the others become so friendly with the famous detective's entourage that they were now enjoying the autumn foliage together?
After a round of brief greetings, Sonoko's curious gaze immediately locked onto the painting. Seeing that Albedo didn't object, she carefully tucked away her newly recovered handkerchief, stepped up to his side, and peered at the canvas. Her eyes widened, a soft gasp escaping her lips.
The maple forest under Albedo's brush was somehow even more beautiful than the real thing. The painting was a stunning wash of reds, yet it wasn't cluttered or overwhelming. Instead, it pulsed with a vibrant, living energy that seemed to leap off the canvas.
Ran and Conan exchanged a puzzled glance as they watched Sonoko stand transfixed, staring at the painting without blinking. Curious, they also stepped forward, their eyes following her gaze to the artwork.
"Wow! What a beautiful painting!" Ran praised without a shred of hesitation, her voice filled with genuine awe.
Shaking herself from her stupor, Sonoko stood to the side and nodded in fervent agreement.
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