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A couple days later, now back in the Luofu.
Inside some shopping district Stelle had never went to before.
She took off from the Express and only let mum know that she was gonna go out. She didn't really invite Dan Heng, March, or Welt to even go with her.
For some reason, she just... Feels like she can't bring herself to really care for them.
Was I like this in the past too?..
Uncaring for other people besides my moms...
...
Wait...
There was... Someone else wasn't there?
...At least it feels like there was also someone else.
Who?
...
...
...
Can't remember...
Stelle shrugged as she took a bite out of the half eaten skewer she was holding. From yours truly, a trash next to a restaurant.
No one was looking and no one saw, so no one should worry about her little quirk.
Caelus starting snickering and then it turned into a full on laugh.
Kafka sighed and just shook her head. She didn't say anything as she remained watching through her opera glasses.
She was really going to have to try to get Caelus and her out of that bad habit when all of this was over.
...For now, she'll let it slide.
Not like she's one to really speak either.
One step out in the open and she's going to be swarmed by every Cloud Knight Patroller that there was in the vicinity. Maybe forced off ship as well. She shouldn't impose on the general's generosity more than she already has.
Thank the Aeons that Caelus is still an unknown figure and so he can go out and do whatever as much as he wants.
...Just as long as he doesn't run into Stelle before his time comes.
She moved her opera glasses to the side and stretched her back for a moment. Sitting down for a nearly an hour on the tallest building's roof was bound to be terrible for her posture.
Caelus, however, didn't have a single care for his.
Fully hunched over just like how Silver Wolf would've been, swinging his legs that were hanging off the edge of the building. He tapped on the side of the visor he was currently wearing. It zoomed in closer to get a better view on what Stelle was currently doing.
"Oh. There she goes again."
Kafka blinked and brought her opera glasses up to her eyes again. She looked around before her eyes finally landed on Stelle.
Yes, indeed.
There she goes again.
Off in the corner, looking around before diving halfway into another trash bin, scouring for whatever her nose probably led her to.
Kafka let out another sigh, partially mixed with a groan as she put her opera glasses back on her lap and let her body fall back against the roof.
Caelus once again, started laughing.
More so at mom's reaction.
"Yes... Yes. Laugh at my misery as I wallow in a state of bewilderment and anguish." Kafka drawled on in a dramatic tone.
Caelus tapped his visor once again as he looked down to his side and started unwrapping the sandwich that Kafka had made for him. He took a hearty bite out of it and didn't realize how messily and loud he was eating.
"Darling."
"Yesh?"
"Chew with your mouth closed."
He froze for a moment and scratched the back of his in embarrassment, doing what he was told now.
Some habits really are hard to break.
He heard a cork in a bottle pop open on his side and looked over.
Kafka was already on her way to chugging down half of a big bottle of wine she apparently brought with her.
Nonstop.
Loud.
Caelus blinked once.
Twice.
Thrice.
"...Mom?"
She kept chugging.
"..."
Five seconds later, she stopped and let out a loud exclaim as she was catching her breath. She reached for her pocket and pulled out her handkerchief, wiping away at her mouth. She grabbed the cork and pushed it back in the bottle, setting it back to her side.
"...What was that about?" Caelus asked.
"What?"
"You just chugged half a 9 liter bottle."
Kafka shrugged.
"I was thirsty."
"...I brought us grape juice."
"..."
They both sighed for entirely different reasons.
Caelus already knew hers.
She drank because she was tired and in one of her melancholic moods.
You've been like this ever since your overnight visit...
His eyes wandered back down to the shopping district and saw Stelle currently window shopping and fawning over whatever the shop was displaying.
She was smiling.
Caelus sighed again.
"Does she even... Remember me?"
"She just barely started remembering me and Himeko, Caelus..."
"..."
"When am I gonna be able to see her? Face to face?"
"...You have to wait for her next major battle."
"...That's too long, mom..."
"...I know, darling."
The two stayed silent as they watched her. After a while, Caelus felt his mom's arm snake itself around his shoulder and she pulled him against the side of her. He nuzzled his head gently against her shoulder and she had her cheek resting against his head.
Soon enough, Stelle walked inside of the shop and that ended their little watch spree.
"I'm not gonna lie, mom... I'm a little jealous..."
"I know, darling..."
"...I hope that day comes soon."
Kafka nuzzled her cheek against his head softly and brought her head up to give him a small kiss on the head, going back to resting her cheek on it and idly beginning to scratch the side of it.
"Me too."