"Well, because Lily's smile was very good just now, and she felt very comfortable just looking at her."
Chen Xiaofeng said without concealment.
"Xiaoxiao, you are really naive, and you are happy because of this kind of thing." Although Misaka Mikoto said this, her eyes were still full of smiles. Although she didn't know what happened recently, through a woman's intuition,
She still vaguely noticed something strange about Artoria.
Therefore, Misaka Mikoto was also sincerely happy for Artoria's smile.
"Yes, I seem to like seeing Artoria's expression too."
However, Artoria, who was at the center of the discussion, nodded with an incomprehensible expression.
Then--
Perhaps thinking of something, Arturia smiled slightly: "Really? But that would be wrong... No, it's the other way around."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I am happy because I see your smiles, so as long as you can smile, I will be very satisfied."
"Really? That's great!" Misaka Mikoto responded to Artoria with a smile.
However, Chen Xiaofeng fell silent. He could not face Artoria face to face now. With such an expression, after knowing everything that the owner of that expression had experienced, I believe that no matter who it is, his mind would be in chaos.
of.
Chen Xiaofeng felt a sense of boredom in his chest. He tried to calm down and secretly looked at Artoria's side face.
Arturia's expression was still calm, and she started eating the delicious lunch that Misaka Mikoto said without any uneasiness. However, there was obviously no reason for uneasiness, but there seemed to be something she couldn't let go of.
【I am happy because I see your smiles.】
Artoria smiled for the first time in these days and said this very contradictory sentence. An uneasy feeling surged into Chen Xiaofeng's heart.
After lunch, Misaka Mikoto borrowed Shirai Kuroko's phone number and prepared to go back. Probably Shirai Kuroko had finished her work; Artoria also happened to be preparing ingredients for the evening, so she planned to leave with Misaka Mikoto.
Originally, Chen Xiaofeng was still worried about Artoria's actions alone, but when he thought that Misaka Mikoto was still there and it was not night, he did not stop her.
And, as it happens, Chen Xiaofeng still has something to do.
Knowing Artoria's memory is not enough. Chen Xiaofeng wants to know more, but he cannot know that much by himself.
The entrance door closed as Artoria and Misaka Mikoto said "I'm leaving."
Chen Xiaofeng was alone in the room listening to the sound of rain.
Holding the phone in his hand, he was hesitant about something, but finally made up his mind and made the call.
After the pleasant ringtone, Minato's sweet voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Eh? Brother, what's the matter?"
"Ah...it's nothing. By the way, is Beppu fun?"
"Yeah, it's very good. Aini also said that she wants everyone to come and play together next time... Brother, how are you and Lily doing? Is your relationship better?"
"Uh... this... probably..." Chen Xiaofeng said ambiguously, "By the way, can you please answer the phone?"
The phone call Chen Xiaofeng made up his mind to make was not just for such a plain greeting, but because he had something important to ask.
"Yu? Okay." Minato said, and then the other end of the phone fell into silence. When it rang again, it was Yu's calm voice on the other end.
"Excellent?"
"kindness."
"I'm really sorry for bothering you with a phone call when I don't have much chance to play."
"It's nothing. Besides, if it wasn't something important, you wouldn't make this call in such a tone, would you?"
"Haha..." Chen Xiaofeng could only smile dryly at Yu's understanding.
"By the way, You, let me ask you a question, is it okay?" Chen Xiaofeng said as he changed into a comfortable position on the sofa.
"Hmm? Okay, what's the matter?"
"About Lily...this, uh...I don't know what to say..."
It wasn't until he was about to speak that Chen Xiaofeng noticed that he had no clue at all. It wasn't that he wanted to do something for Artoria, but that Chen Xiaofeng hadn't even thought about what he wanted to do to Artoria.
"Is it really Lily's problem..." You seemed to have known the purpose of Chen Xiaofeng's call. "But if it's Lily's problem, wouldn't it be better to ask the eldest lady?"
"Ah... maybe Aini will understand me better... But, as you know, it's all thanks to her that I am what I am now. I don't know how to face her now."
"Really? By the way, Chen Xiaofeng, your name for Lily has also changed..."
"Eh? This... this is not the point, right?" Chen Xiaofeng seemed to turn the page quickly, "Ahem, I'm thinking about what Lily wants to do... Think about it carefully, from Lily's awakening to now,
You haven’t done anything because of yourself...every time you seem to be doing something for me or the underworld, so..."
"So you don't know what Arturia is thinking?"
"No, it's not that...it's just that, because he never expresses his thoughts, I don't know what she wants...I just don't know what to do."
"Well... that's right. It's not just you as the master. Lily also had the same attitude of not expressing anything to her previous master. Although you are different from the previous master, Lily has changed.
Some, but the essence has not changed... But I think the only thing Lily did for herself was to protect you... Although this is natural as a familiar, it is incomprehensible to do that.
However, this can’t be said to mean that you haven’t expressed your thoughts, right? Lily also protects you for her own purposes.”
"Ah?" Maybe it was because Artoria was Chen Xiaofeng's familiar, so she did so much for him, but Chen Xiaofeng didn't understand Yu's last words.
"I remember, Lily told me this before - she asked Pluto how to guide Britain correctly again, and whether a more outstanding king is needed."
"Then what was Pluto's answer then?"
"Lily told me that she didn't understand Pluto's answer at the time. Pluto said at the time, 'As long as you find a master you think is worth protecting, then this question will be answered.'"
"What's going on with this answer that feels like 'kicking the ball'!" Chen Xiaofeng said dissatisfied.