Seeing the conversation suddenly about to veer into heated talk of running and races, California Spangle hurriedly called a halt.
"Stop, stop, stop! This is time for love talk, not a strategy meeting, Little Kita!"
As she said this, she realized with some frustration that when it came to romance, Kitasan Black's obliviousness... was probably on par with Duramente's. She was nowhere near as interesting as Nong Gaoshang Hayate over there.
Realizing this, she looked to Frostfall for help, only to find Frostfall shrugging and giving her a helpless look that said, "This kid's beyond saving."
Just then, Adayar, who had been watching elegantly from the sidelines, spoke softly, casually steering the conversation in another direction.
"Feelings... really are something rather abstract. Perhaps... it would be easier to understand if we asked it another way?"
She looked at Kitasan Black, her voice gentle and guiding.
"Little Kita, have you ever thought about... well, your 'ideal type'?"
"...Huh?" Kitasan Black froze. "What... is an 'ideal type'?"
Surprise and helplessness flickered through Adayar's eyes. She sighed almost imperceptibly, then smiled.
"Well... how about this.
"If you imagined that, someday, you had to choose a special person—someone you trusted, someone who supported you, someone who would face every hardship with you and never part ways..."
As she slowly reached this point, she paused and looked meaningfully at Kitasan Black.
"What kind of person would you want them to be?"
This question was clearly easier for Kitasan Black to understand than the abstract notion of "feelings." As soon as Adayar finished speaking, realization dawned on her face. Pinching her chin, her crimson eyes flickered as she genuinely began to think seriously.
At the sight, a gleam flashed in Adayar's eyes, and she unconsciously leaned a little closer to Kitasan Black.
She was not the