Bad women are always eyeing me covetously.

"You seem quite nervous."

"Of course I'm nervous. After all, she's a child we all raised together. Isn't it a bit much to let her know about this so soon..."

Xing kept glancing at the door of Xi Lan's room, seemingly trying her best to calm herself down.

Kafka leaned back on the sofa, looking languid: "Yeah, I know."

"But when we first brought her back, weren't we already prepared, Xing?"

Elio also said that their fates are now intertwined, and although there will be a gap for a while, the little one will eventually return.

"...We've already developed feelings for each other, Kafka, I can't bear to part with that child." Hoshi huddled in her chair, muttering softly.

Speaking of which, Xing clearly remembered that when she first brought the little one home, he wasn't even as tall as her calf...

In the blink of an eye, they had to face the inevitable separation that fate had decreed.

Even though he knows they will meet again, who can say for sure that he might secretly go to see the little guy because he misses him?

and....

She wasn't sure if she would have any memories of spending time with that little guy afterward.

Just thinking about it makes my heart ache, feel sad, and even feel a pang of sadness.

Xing doesn't like this kind of emotion.

Kafka did not choose to answer the question, lowering her eyes and leaving it impossible to guess what she was thinking at that moment.

"Make sure you create lasting memories, Hoshi."

And I.

Anyway, Eriol said there weren't any missions during this period, so simple tasks could be left to A-Ren.

Let's just consider it paid leave.

It should have been a happy occasion, but Kafka and Hoshi were unable to feel happy at this moment.

"Why are you all so silent? The little one is awake, heat up some food for her."

Silver Wolf stretched his aching arms as he emerged, his eyes filled with a hint of confusion as he looked at the two who remained silent.

"Why didn't the little guy come out?"

Kafka saw that only Silver Wolf came out of the room and subconsciously asked a question.

Silver Wolf recalled waking up and burrowing into the covers, seemingly a sulking little fox, and said uncertainly, "Hmm... morning grumpiness?"

"Maybe?"

Kafka just smiled helplessly and got up to heat up breakfast for the little guy.

Although, judging from the current time, this meal doesn't seem to qualify as breakfast.

Only Silver Wolf was unaware of what had happened.

However, she also plans to ask Kafka, or Hoshino and the other one, sometime.

As for why not ask Ren, that person hasn't left the house since finishing dinner last night.

She was a little embarrassed to bother the other person.

Hmm... a little bit, but not much.

Shifting his gaze from the tightly closed door of Blade's room, Silver Wolf turned his head and once again met golden eyes.

Xing approached without anyone noticing, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

After hesitating for a long time, just as Silver Wolf's patience was about to run out, he finally scratched his long gray hair.

Did the little one say anything?

"They didn't say anything! Wait, what did you guys do? How come I'm like this after just one nap??"

Silver Wolf crossed her arms over her chest, clearly unaware of much of the Star Core Hunter's inner workings, and was waiting for his answer.

"I'll talk to you when I have time. Is the little guy really okay inside?"

Xing chuckled and decided to let Kafka have a good chat with this new companion.

Silver Wolf could indeed sense that Xing seemed to be hiding something, and he pursed his lips, looking rather unhappy.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Although I don't know who upset her, if I don't go and comfort her, she might start crying in bed again."

"...Wait, you mean, she cried, she cried?"

Xing was stunned for a moment, and the image of the little fox crying under the covers subconsciously appeared in her mind, causing her to stammer a little.

After all, they were the ones who wanted to let them roam freely first...

Thinking about it this way, Xing felt her conscience starting to ache considerably.

The kind of person who, when they can't sleep at night, will punch themselves.

Meanwhile, Kafka, who had been silently listening to the conversation between the two, was carrying a meal that belonged to Yulan. She walked at a leisurely pace and, when the two were not paying attention to her, simply walked into the little guy's room.

--------

Chapter Nine: Kaffa fell silent, gazing at you tenderly.

As soon as Kafka stepped into the room, she could see the large bulge under the covers.

If you look closely, you can still see the tip of Xilan's tail peeking out, swaying back and forth.

It seems they know they've come in.

"Little one, it's time to eat!"

She habitually revealed that gentle smile, came to Xi Lan's bedside, and sat on the soft mattress.

When the little guy heard Kafka speak, he only poked his head out from under the covers.

Children obviously can't hide their feelings, especially in front of Kafka. The little fox also knew that it was impossible to pretend that nothing had happened.

She couldn't lie to Kafka's gentle eyes.

"....Um."

"Angry?"

He skillfully scooped a little fox out of the bed, held it in his arms, and fed it little by little.

Meanwhile, Xi Lan, who was obediently accepting the food, would occasionally glance at Kafka, who was hugging her.

She expected to be asked some questions, but all she got in return was Kaffa's overly gentle smile.

They could only swallow their questions and obediently continue being fed.

"I'm stuffed.."

Already in a bad mood, and with her appetite not being that great, the little fox finally turned her face away, refusing Kafka's further attempts to feed her.

"uh-huh."

She withdrew her hand, grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table, and gently wiped Xi Lan's mouth.

"Alright, alright, now that lunchtime is over, we have some time for our private chat."

Xi Lan, who originally wanted to get out of Kafka's arms and crawl back into bed, had her wrist grabbed and failed to do so.

He could only lean his whole body against Kafka's softness, his eyes darting around incessantly, a feeling of guilt creeping in from somewhere.

But then I thought about it again, and it didn't seem like I was the one who did something wrong, so why was I so nervous?

When this thought popped into her mind, Xi Lan didn't seem so guilty anymore; in fact, she even seemed somewhat self-righteous.

Seeing this, Kafka just chuckled a few times, unable to say anything harsh to someone with such an adorable appearance.

Sometimes it's better to leave the cold-faced stuff to A-Ren.

"What are you laughing at...?"

Upon hearing Kafka's laughter, Xi Lan, the once confident little fox, immediately wilted, even her fox ears drooping slightly.

"Xiao Xilan is so cute, I just can't resist."

Kafka gave her a rare, affectionate pinch on the cheek, and tightened her grip around her waist.

"...Whatever you want..."

Oops, are you shy?

Seeing the little one's fair cheeks flushed with a blush, Kafka slowly opened her mouth.

"You heard my conversation last night, didn't you, Xiao Xilan?"

Kafka, who had steered the conversation straight back to the point, smiled helplessly as she looked at the little fox who was glancing left and right but not at her.

"How much did you hear?"

"...Not much...I just heard they're going to leave me here..."

At this point, Xi Lan puffed out her cheeks, looking aggrieved, as if she was about to cry.

"I don't want to be separated from you... Can't you take me with you? Kaffa..."

Seeing the child she had raised looking so aggrieved, even Kaffa felt a rare moment of tenderness.

Elio also said that he could defy fate and keep the child by his side, but the future outcome would never be as peaceful as in another destiny.

Based on this alone, Kafka and the others had already decided on the future that Yuran would face, even though they hadn't told the child these things.

"Good child, don't worry so much. The threads of fate have long since bound you and me together."