Looking in the direction Dawn pointed, Xia You did indeed spot a familiar face.
Cogita.
At that moment, Cogita was sitting outside a café full of local character, wearing a wide-brimmed sunhat and leisurely leafing through a newspaper.
The afternoon sunlight fell over her, giving her signature long blonde hair a soft sheen, as though it had been soaked in sunshine. As she lowered her head slightly, a few strands slipped gently from beneath her hat and fell beside her shoulders.
A steaming cup of coffee sat on the table before her, with a small plate of snacks beside it-cookies or something of the sort.
Around her stood Eindoak Town's old stone buildings, their walls covered in vines. Simply sitting there, Cogita seemed to blend into the ancient, slow-paced town.
It was like an old, exquisitely beautiful painting.
As though sensing something, or perhaps having heard Dawn's voice, Cogita looked up from her newspaper. Her gaze passed over the café's low wooden fence and met Xia You's.
She froze for a moment, then smiled and waved to him.
Beside them, Makomo could not help feeling a little surprised and puzzled at the sight of Cogita.
After all, she did not know Cogita, but Xia You and Dawn seemed quite familiar with her. Seeing the two walk toward her, Makomo restrained her curiosity and followed them over.
Xia You and Dawn sat down across from Cogita, while Makomo stood to one side, hesitating briefly.
Faced with this woman sitting outside the café, framed by sunlight and ancient walls like an oil painting, she suddenly did not know where to put her hands.
Xia You glanced up at her and pulled out the chair beside him.
"We're all friends here. Have a seat."
Makomo glanced at him and sat down gently, her