Leo was stunned to see his mother standing there, his little sister's hand in hers, staring back at him with the same shocked expression.
Immediately, he stood. Lea rose with him—just as stunned—and went a little flustered under Jeanne's gaze. She caught herself fast and dipped her head.
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Karumi. My name is Lea Roseberry. I'm a friend of Leo's…"
Instantly, Leo looked at her and narrowed his eyes.
'Friend…? What an audacious girl…'
Jeanne's eyes kept flicking between the two of them.
"Leo's… friend, huh. Well, then, it's nice to meet you too. As you already know, I'm Leo's mother. And this little one is his baby sister."
Then she looked at Leo and smiled—so suddenly it threw him off.
'What is that smile? …I've never seen it on her face. I can't tell if she's happy or not.'
He didn't understand it, but it made him uneasy. There was something in her eyes—amusement?
Either way, it was a dangerous smile, and it put him on guard.
