Good Hunter — Second Floor
"I'm full," Mona announced, standing up. "Kaito… thank you."
She'd cleaned the plate so thoroughly not a single leaf remained.
And now she was doing what she always did after receiving kindness she couldn't afford—
run.
Kaito shot her a look. "Sit."
Mona froze.
Eat someone's food and then try to slip away?
She knew the rule.
When your mouth is soft and your pockets are empty… you have no power.
Mona sat back down with a guilty, quiet "Oh…"
The aroma of the soup had only just begun to bloom.
She inhaled.
Rich meat fragrance layered with matsutake's clean, sharp umami—so vivid it felt like it touched the back of her throat.
She'd just eaten.
And yet her body still whispered: hungry.
Mona didn't realize it wasn't greed.
It was need.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A Knight of Favonius knocked outside and called up toward the open window.
"Boss Kaito! Boss Kaito, can you hear me?"
"Oh—Miles," Kaito said, recognizing him.
Mona automatically started to stand—clearly used to opening the door here.
Kaito's eyes flicked over.
Mona sat back down instantly, hands folded, eyes lowered, posture perfect—like a student trying not to be noticed.
Kaito had no intention of letting a Knight upstairs.
Not while he was making something new.
If word got out, tomorrow the fountain plaza would be packed—nobles, merchants, regular citizens—everyone lining up to "try it once."
It had happened before.
Sure, he'd earn Mora.
But Mondstadt's order would take a hit, and with the Fatui already crawling around the city, that kind of crowd was the last thing anyone needed.
"I'll go," Kaito said, checking the heat.
He vaulted from the second-floor railing to the first floor and opened the door.
"Miles. What is it?"
Miles looked awkward. "I was patrolling Market Street and saw the Traveler—the one who fought the dragon today."
"She was… wandering around. I didn't want to stop her, and I heard she's under your protection, so I came to ask what's going on."
After all, she'd helped drive off Dvalin today. Even if she looked suspicious, Miles couldn't treat her like a normal suspect.
"They went to an inn," Kaito said, confused. "Why would she be out this late?"
"Inn?" Miles blinked. "None of the inns are operating tonight. Everything closed early."
Kaito paused.
Then rubbed his forehead.
"…So she didn't book anything."
Miles replayed the scene and let out an embarrassed laugh. "So she was probably just trying to find a place to sleep. That explains the 'suspicious' behavior."
"A misunderstanding," Kaito said simply.
He gestured. "Where are they now?"
"Still on Market Street," Miles replied. "Sitting on a bench."
"Wait here," Kaito said.
He went upstairs and gave Mona a quick instruction.
"Keep it on low heat. Watch it for me."
"Okay!" Mona nodded immediately.
Living on the edge of hunger taught you survival skills.
And watching a pot?
She could do that.
Market Street — The Bench
"Lumine… what do we do now?" Paimon drooped over the bench's backrest, voice weak.
After eating and digesting, she only wanted one thing:
sleep somewhere warm.
Lumine thought for a second.
"…We sleep outside," she decided. "In a tree."
"…Okay," Paimon agreed with a heavy sigh. "No cave means trees are safest."
They stood—
and two figures approached through the lamplight.
Backlit, hard to make out at first.
Then a familiar voice hit them like a hammer.
"In a city this big, you actually reached the point where you're going to sleep in a tree outside the walls?"
"And here's a Mondstadt tip," Kaito continued, smooth and merciless. "When you're desperate, go to the Cathedral. They take in strays like you. Might even hand you rough breakfast."
"Also," he added, "if you don't lie next time, you won't end up in this situation."
Lumine froze.
"Kaito…"
She took one step forward—then remembered everything.
The lie.
The bench.
The tree plan.
And the fact he'd heard it all.
Her face went bright red.
She stood there, stiff and helpless, like she'd been caught committing a crime.
Miles gave a short salute. "Boss Kaito, I'll continue my patrol."
Kaito nodded. "Thanks."
And now only Kaito, Lumine, and Paimon remained.
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