"..."
That one sentence killed the conversation outright, and the atmosphere gradually grew awkward.
Realizing she seemed to have said something inappropriate for the occasion, Lingmeng hurriedly scratched her head and explained awkwardly.
"Ahaha... sorry, I don't usually drink tea. I mostly just drink soft drinks and stuff."
"Well~ drinking those things isn't healthy, you know. You should drink more tea when you have time, Dream-chan~"
"Ah... but having to boil water just to brew it sounds like such a hassle."
Watching Lingmeng, Miku gave a relaxed, wry smile.
"I feel like you're nothing like a girl, Dream-chan. You're more like a washed-up middle-aged man."
"Pfft—"
Miku's remark nearly made Lingmeng spit out the tea she had drunk to ease the awkwardness.
"Cough, cough, cough—"
After barely managing to swallow the tea, she clutched her chest and coughed a few times.
"You can say I'm like a boy, but you can't say I'm like an old man...!"
Lingmeng puffed out her cheeks slightly and protested.
"All right~ I won't call you that anymore. Happy now~?"
Miku replied with a soft laugh.
Lingmeng, meanwhile, muttered quietly to herself.
"Honestly... do I really look that old...?"
"Haha... sometimes you really do seem like one."
"Huh? Even you're saying that about me, Shiori!"
Lingmeng turned to look at Shiori beside her, then folded her arms in distress.
"Looks like I need to pay more attention to my image."
"Agreed~ it'd be such a shame for a cute girl like you not to care about your image, Dream-chan!"
Sitting on the sofa opposite Lingmeng and Shiori, Miku raised her right hand with a smile.
"...Hmm, things are going pretty well. Miku's affection toward you two is steadily rising, Shido. At this rate, it's only a matter of time before she reaches the point where