After saying goodbye to Elesa, then to Cynthia and Caitlin, Xia You went to pay the bill. He then left the restaurant ahead of the others with Cheryl, Dawn, Makomo, and Songlu, stepping out onto the street.
He was about to say goodbye to Makomo and Songlu, but before he could speak, Makomo asked, "Xia You, from what you said at the table, are you still heading east?"
Xia You nodded. "That's right. We're going to Nuvema Town."
"Nuvema Town!" Hearing where Xia You was going, Songlu turned to Makomo and whispered, "Sis, didn't Professor Juniper call yesterday and ask you to visit her research institute? You're going to the same place!"
Makomo first gestured for Songlu to settle down, then smiled at Xia You again. "That's what I guessed. I happen to be going to Nuvema Town too. If you don't mind, I'd like to travel with you."
Xia You glanced back at Cheryl and Dawn and saw both of them nod.
"Of course," Xia You said with a smile. "We wanted to talk to you more about dreams anyway. But are you going alone? What will Songlu do if you leave?"
Songlu waved a hand dismissively.
"Don't worry! I may be young, but I've been looking after myself for as long as I can remember. Aside from occasionally cooking me a meal, my sister isn't any help at all."
Makomo couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed at Songlu's words.
But there was nothing she could do. She and her younger sister both worked in research, and the nature of the work often left her without the time or energy even to look after herself, let alone think of her sister. Only after the Laboratory exploded and she came out of it did she have a chance to make