If I were to go back tonight, I wouldn't be able to make it anyway. After all, I have to stay here to protect Miss Akitani so she doesn't get killed by the killer or anything...
Then when will you be able to come home?
Probably the day after tomorrow. We should be able to catch the killer once the concert ends.
I see...
Ai of course knew the answer. After all, she wasn't stupid, and she had been eavesdropping right next to them at the time.
She had her own little thoughts.
Feigning sudden realization as she got her answer, she nodded, followed immediately by a smooth combo sequence.
She revealed the small pouch hidden behind her.
Her small, fair, and tender hand drew a bento box wrapped in a furoshiki cloth out of the bag.
The bento box still looked warm, overflowing with heartfelt sentiment:
You definitely haven't eaten yet, right? I brought you a bento made by Sister Akemi.
Oh... Sorry to trouble you.
Fujino took the bento, completely thrown off by that little-animal-like expression, feeling a bit guilty toward the little one deep inside his heart.
On second thought, though, he somehow felt like something was off.
Meanwhile, Ai smiled and said, It's no trouble at all!
...??
Sato Miwako peeked at the bento in Ai's hands from the side and swallowed hard.
Come to think of it, she hadn't eaten anything yet either.
She was a little hungry...
Sato Miwako transformed into a little gluttonous cat, searching around, but she didn't find any other food or lunch boxes on Xiao Ai.
Where was her portion?
She felt a brief flash of doubt inside: Um, I...
So Officer Sato is here too!
Hearing this, Ai's ears twitched twice, as if she had just noticed Sato Miwako.