"Croissant—"
Texas was in a terrible mood. Abandoning a companion and running away was practically the greatest disgrace of her life. It even dredged up unpleasant memories. She floored the gas the whole way, wrenching the steering wheel around like a road-rage driver.
Exusiai had been laughing the entire time, but now she could no longer laugh.
"A sacrifice..."
Wendy turned the word over and over in her mind, her feelings extraordinarily complicated.
She should have felt complicated.
None of them could have imagined that after Croissant was defeated, Phantom Thief Hoshino dragged her into a hair salon. It was practically Croissant's most feminine moment.
Holding Croissant's bread-roll curls in her hands, the texture was warm and fluffy. Her hair seemed naturally suited to that style. She had even wanted to call the people in the van to let them know she was safe, but she was quickly stopped.
"No."
"Beautiful lady, you're out."
Croissant had to admit that, even by her own standards of money, Phantom Thief Sixth Night was a girlfriend worth getting to know.
She was starting to fall for her.
On her way back to the bar, she suddenly wondered whether she could fill in as the poster girl while the others were away.
"Croissant—"
She heard Exusiai's voice carry through the car window, traveling an incredible distance.
Croissant shook her head.
Sorry, but those were the rules of the game. Once Phantom Thief dragged you off the van too and you returned to End of the Earth, you'd understand everything.
Croissant thought apologetically.
Inside the van, Wendy's eyes widened. Sensing the unspoken atmosphere of sorrow, she said nothing. She seemed to empathize deeply, but only she herself knew what she was truly thinking.
She sighed. In an instant, a cool breeze swept through, clearing away