"Mm-hmm~ Finally found it!"
"Astra, you look so happy."
With the commission complete, Astra Yao hummed a cheerful tune all the way out of the Hollow. Griseo walked beside her, carrying Eous, while the setting sun stretched their shadows long across the ground.
"Come on, Griseo! Let's admire this one-of-a-kind treasure again!" Astra Yao raised the record in both hands, and the last rays of sunlight gilded its sleeve with an amber glow.
"Once we're back, I can finally listen to Yulan... Huh?"
Her delighted exclamation cut off. Astra Yao had only blinked, but the record had vanished from her hands.
"Huh? Where's my record?"
She hurriedly looked around. As she turned this way and that, a black-gloved hand reached from behind and flicked her gently on the forehead.
"Caught you, Miss."
"Ow, ow..."
Astra Yao covered her forehead and backed away two steps. The moment she saw who it was, her eyes lit up.
She immediately stepped forward, linked arms with Evelyn, and shook her playfully. "Hehe, Eve, you found me already!"
Evelyn looked down at Astra Yao's arm wrapped tightly around hers and sighed helplessly, though her eyes were full of affection.
"Miss, save the improvisation for the stage. It's time to go back."
Evelyn deftly spun the record around one finger and held it out to Astra Yao.
"Just this once."
"Hehe, Eve, you're the best!" Astra Yao took the record and was about to follow her when she remembered something. She turned back toward Griseo and Eous.
"Eve, wait a second—I nearly forgot to pay them."
"!!!"
Through Eous's eyes, Wise watched Astra Yao bend down, and his heart suddenly raced.
Wait!!
That pose... Is she going to kiss him?
He had asked for a "special" autograph in the Hollow, but he never imagined she would