I trailed behind Natalia and Emi as we left the boba shop, watching the rigid set of Natalia's shoulders with quiet satisfaction. The cool evening air carried the scent of rain, though the sky remained clear. Perfect walking weather—and perfect conditions to let Natalia stew in her own emotional turmoil.
"That was so fun!" Emi chirped, skipping ahead and turning to walk backward, facing us. Her blue hair bounced with each step, antennae-like strands bobbing enthusiastically. "We should do this more often."
"Mm," Natalia replied, her lips barely moving.
One syllable. That was all she could manage. I had to suppress a grin.
"The entrance exam is only a few weeks away," Emi continued, undeterred by Natalia's frigid response. "We could form a study group! I'm terrible at the written portions about Gate classifications."
"That sounds useful," I said, making sure to sound just enthusiastic enough. "I've been cramming the standard protocols, but there's a lot to catch up on."
