Facing Mr. Cid's probe, Miko once again activated her calm "fun fox" mode.
"How could that be? I'm actually really afraid of dying~ There are still so many fun things and good stories I haven't seen yet~"
Mr. Cid looked at Miko, his expression somewhat like he was looking at a dead fox.
I believe you, you sly fox.
Take your fox talk and try fooling Yumemizuki Mizuki with it.
You've put up your calm camouflage—I don't even need to smell the fox scent on you to know what's going on.
After all this, the one who values feelings the most turns out to be you, this cheeky fox.
"Do you think I believe a word of your fox nonsense?"
Meanwhile, Mizuki was watching Mr. Cid and Miko inside the barrier with a slightly sour feeling.
What are they saying that I can't hear?
How do these two people who understand human hearts—who only met for the first time—already have secrets to whisper about?
I met them both first, didn't I?
And now…
Yae Miko's expression had been hesitant just moments ago, but after the conversation, she quickly returned to her calm facade. Had they reached an impasse?
Wait—why did Mr. Cid's expression suddenly become so teasing? And why did he pull out dango milk?
And Miko seemed to be losing her composure more and more…
It felt like she was holding back laughter?
What on earth were they talking about? So curious…
So what was Mr. Cid saying?
"When Ei comes to her senses, all she will see is that Sacred Sakura's dream already stained with her friend's blood…"
Mr. Cid imitated Ei-san's way of speaking.
"Miko… is this… the price I must pay to pursue Eternity…?"
"The blade in my hand is still warm, yet a bone-chilling cold spreads from my palm…"
Then Mr. Cid switched to imitating Miko's manner of speech.
"Celestia… to me, is something utterly meaningless…"
"A nation that has lost wishes, lost change, and is merely existing—it's nothing more than an empty shell…"
"But Eternity is too cruel for you, Ei."
Finally, he narrated in a grief-stricken tone.
"Clearly, her old friend had just been talking with her moments ago, yet now, as that warmth from her old friend faded away, all that remained for her was a ruined dueling arena covered in devastation…"
Mr. Cid stopped there.
At this point, although Miko was instinctively maintaining her composure, the hand holding the dango milk was trembling uncontrollably.
Mr. Cid showed a calm expression.
( ᗜ ‸ ᗜ )
"Guuji, aren't you feeling quite satisfied right now?"
That delighted fox scent had grown overwhelmingly thick.
"I'm not the kind of fox who enjoys knives, Shura Anyakonsen-shou."
Yae Miko subconsciously tried to control the corners of her mouth that kept rising.
She wasn't the type of fox who enjoyed knifing her friends—this would be far too cruel to Ei…
If Ei really encountered this, she would probably roll around in the Plane of Euthymia, crying and throwing a tantrum, begging the Guuji to come back.
Oh no—just imagining the scene makes me want to laugh even more…
After all, this hasn't actually happened—it's just a thought…
Miko used her sleeve to cover her overly joyful pursed-lip smile, but the happy glint in the corners of her eyes was completely unconcealed.
In a burst of excitement, she even casually drank the dango milk beside her without any wariness.
So sweet…
It's actually pretty suitable for drinking during an outdoor outing…
At this moment, Miko was smiling very happily. For this instant, she felt as if she had gone back five hundred years—to the days when she exchanged stories with other great youkai…
And Mr. Cid, watching this scene, smiled with satisfaction and gentleness.
This pure joy was exactly the same as when children were happy…