"It looks like they are eating. Let's hurry over there."
Seeing Kaito and the others from a distance facing their direction, Miko said this and then quickened her pace.
That Paimon...
That guy who only knows how to eat...
Somehow, Lumine spotted Paimon, who was holding food and eating, at a glance. Then, she also hurriedly quickened her pace.
Of course, she wasn't going over to stop Paimon from eating; she merely sped up because she saw Miko speeding up.
"What are you two chatting about?"
Upon walking up to Kaito and Makoto, Miko asked this with a smile.
She knew Kaito or Makoto would definitely ask why she had returned so quickly, so she decided to strike first.
However, even so, she knew that question would still be asked, and she was already prepared with how to answer it.
"We are chatting about the local customs and practices of Inazuma."
Hearing Miko's question, Kaito answered without a second thought, and then he continued, "Why did you two come back so fast? Although you and Lumine definitely didn't walk, it's still a bit too fast, isn't it?"
Inazuma's local customs and practices?
Makoto, who was just about to speak, was stunned for a moment after hearing Kaito's answer. Then She felt that what Kaito said seemed correct; they were indeed chatting about Inazuma's local customs and practices, and even planned to chat about other countries.
"Fast? You don't think our quick return disturbed you, do you?"
Tilting her head, Miko didn't seem to think it was fast at all. Then, with a mysterious smile on her face, she looked at Kaito and Makoto.
She knew there was no ambiguous relationship between Makoto and Kaito; she was just joking like this because Makoto was currently using Mei's body.
Of course, this was mainly to avoid answering Kaito's question.
"Miko, don't forget this little one is here too."
Not expecting Miko to say such a thing, Makoto pointed a finger at Paimon, who was eating beside them.
"Oh, what does this little one know? You can completely treat her as if she doesn't exist."
Glancing at Paimon, Miko directly indicated that Paimon could be treated as non-existent.
After all, Paimon didn't understand anything anyway, so there was no need to pay her any mind.
"Big Sister Miko, you are too... uh... looking down on me, aren't you?"
While saying this, Paimon let out a burp, seeing that Lumine really wanted to draw a clear line with her.
Sigh...
Can this guy stop embarrassing me...
Looking at Paimon beside her, Lumine suddenly felt that knowing her was truly shameful.
"Then let me test you. What did Kaito and Big Sister Acheron just say?"
Seeing that Paimon refused to admit she knew nothing, Miko tested Paimon with this question.
She knew Kaito was definitely not just talking to Makoto about Inazuma's local customs and practices, so she wanted to ask Paimon and see what the reaction of these two would be right now.
Hmm?
Unexpectedly, there is no reaction at all...
Quickly scanning the faces of Kaito and Makoto, Miko was surprised to find that they showed no fluctuation in expression due to her words.
Oh...
Then they must have been communicating in their minds...
Suddenly, Miko understood something.
"Uh... let me think."
Not expecting Miko to actually ask her this question, Paimon hurriedly tried to recall what Kaito and Big Sister Acheron had just said.
"They were chatting about... chatting about... Inazuma's local customs and practices!"
Lumine: "..."
After hearing Paimon's answer, Lumine was speechless.
Originally, she thought she might be able to hear something from Paimon, but as it turned out, this Paimon directly copied Kaito's answer just now. This was simply absurd.
What Miko said just now was indeed correct; treating Paimon as nonexistent was fine. There was absolutely no need to worry about anything.
It seems this little one can indeed be treated as nonexistent...
Miko's remark earlier was mostly a joke, but looking at it now, she seemed to have really hit the mark.
"Speaking of which, Miko still hasn't answered why you came back so quickly," Makoto said, seeing that the topic seemed to have strayed a bit too far.
Obviously, Miko was covering something up by constantly dodging the question.
Lumine: "!"
Seeing that Makoto seemed to really want to know what she and Miko went to do, Lumine's heart couldn't help but speed up.
There was no helping it; she and Miko had left mainly to discuss that matter. If this were spoken aloud, she would die of embarrassment.
Miko, please don't say it...
Because the one being asked was Miko, Lumine hoped she wouldn't reveal what they had done.
And just as Lumine was worrying like this, Miko spoke.
"Actually, it was nothing. It's just that after going back to the shrine, suddenly there was nothing to do, so we came back quickly. Really, running back and forth."
Speaking to the end, Miko looked very helpless.
Hmm...
I didn't expect Miko could tell a lie so naturally...
Silently listening to Miko's words from the side, Lumine, who knew exactly what the situation was, couldn't help but think this.
Because she didn't have much contact with Miko, she had previously treated Miko as a respected shrine maiden, but the real Miko seemed quite different from the Miko she had imagined before.
Especially since Miko wore nothing in front of Kaito; that was something she couldn't even imagine.
"So that's how it is. I was wondering why you came back so fast." Kaito nodded, not harboring any suspicion regarding Miko's words, while Lumine on the side breathed a sigh of relief.
Although she indeed prepared to do something, with so many people present now, she felt it was better to keep it a secret.
"Mei, can you go for a stroll with me?"
At this moment, Miko suddenly said this.
"A stroll? Didn't we just go for a stroll just now?"
Clearly somewhat puzzled by Miko's words, Makoto couldn't figure out why Miko wanted to go strolling with Her again.
Although it wasn't a big deal, and She also wanted to explore more of the current Inazuma, the feeling Miko gave Her wasn't simple.
What is she planning to do?
"Oh my, we need to stroll more. Inazuma is so big, and we only visited such a small part of it." Saying this, Miko walked directly up to Makoto and took Her hand.
"Alright, let's stroll some more then."
Seeing Miko like this, Makoto nodded and agreed to her request.
If Miko really just wanted to stroll, then She would accompany her.
If not, then She would see what Miko intended to do.
"Acheron, you're the best." Seeing Makoto agree, Miko laughed, and then she continued, "Speaking of which, we are still missing someone to help us carry things."
"Someone to carry things? Do we really need a person specifically for carrying things?"
Regarding Miko's words, Paimon clearly felt very strange.
After all, to specifically need a person to carry things... just how many things would that be?
____
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