Shade explained to Luvia the mechanism of "exchanging Time Mission attempts for chances to meet." It was easy enough to understand, and the diviner with pearl earrings said:
"I thought that once you learned about this, you'd immediately open a new Time Key to earn more mission attempts."
"I promised you I'd rest for a while recently."
"What a smooth talker. I mean, you haven't gone to see her yet, right?"
Shade tasted the foie gras. He had returned home today, which was why he had come out for such a lavish meal:
"I haven't. I needed to tell you about this first."
"Then go tonight. Don't make the girl who misses you wait too long."
She said with a smile. Behind her was the splendidly decorated restaurant, waiters pushing carts back and forth among the elegantly dressed guests, while the beautiful face of the Purple-Eyed Girl in the foreground blended perfectly into the vibrant scene.
If the Outlander knew how to paint, he would have wanted to paint Luvia as she was at that moment. But although he could not paint, he thought of something else:
"This is for you."
He handed Luvia the sheet of manuscript paper he had written on in Professor Yuke Wood's office last night. Luvia unfolded it and took a look, then said in surprise:
"Is this a love poem? Shade, I didn't know you could write something like this."
"It isn't very good. Maybe I should take it back. This really is—"
"No, it belongs to me."
She folded the paper again and placed it in her handbag. She did not care how well Shade had written it; what she liked was the feeling he had been willing to express.
No one would be coming to stay overnight at 6 Saint Derain Square