"By the way, do you know the siblings?"
"Yes, I know them. The older sister was Xiao Lin, and the younger sister was Xiao Xiao. It was deplorable for them."
Kazuto's heart seemed to jump off its place, hearing one of the names.
Xiao Xiao? Wasn't she the girl who told Niken about the Nishian Kingdom? Wasn't she a time-controller just like Niken?
'Fortunately, I'm twenty years old, and my sibling is a woman. For now, I'm safe. But if the bad guy knows that my sister and I are the time-controller, we are no longer safe. I heard he is also looking for other time controllers. Maybe to find Princess Xiao Yue's whereabouts.'
He remembered Xiao Xiao's words at that time clearly. Was it true that they were looking for time-controllers to search for Princess Xiao Yue? And if they don't know it, they would be killed?
Then what about Niken? Kazuto peeked to his side, watching the girl laughed at the joke made by Shin Ha.
Seeing the beautiful smile as bright as the sun, Kazuto realized he didn't want to lose her smile. He wished he could see the girl's smile eternality and be by her side.
If Niken left him alone means the death penalty for him. Kazuto clenched as his jaw stiffen. If they have found Xiao Xiao, that means they would find Niken soon. Or maybe they were watching the girl right now.
When he thought about this, he realized something was wrong. There was a strange odor that followed them since they left the hunting grounds.
Kazuto's body stiffened. He rose to his feet and surprised everyone. Without answering all the questions from his friends, he came out of the restaurant and looked around for the source of the unfamiliar odor he smelled.
Very weird. He could not find the source at all.
"Kazu, what's up?" Shin Ha followed Kazuto out.
"You don't feel it?"
"Feel what?"
"I feel like someone's watching us from earlier."
Shin Ha paused for a moment. "No. If someone is watching us, we will know it. But I did not feel anything. I don't feel any suspicious energy either."
"I also don't feel the flow of energy. But I smell it."
"Smells?"
"Wind elemental energy. There's no mistaking it. This odor is the characteristic that wind Elementalist has."
"Wind elemental?"
Hearing this made Shin Ha cautious. If it were a wind Elementalist who was watching them, it would make sense as wind Elementalist could hide his presence.
But, Shin Ha could still sense them as he and Kazuto were not those ordinary Elementalists.
Unless... could it be... the one who was stalking them was a white knight?
That was ridiculous! Why in the world a white knight made an appearance in here? And that too hide his presence and spying on them?
"What are you doing?" asked Karyn, who couldn't help but be curious and decided to go outside for the men.
"Nothing. Go inside first. We will catch up later."
"Okay."
After Karyn returned and sat down with Niken, Shin Ha patted Kazuto's shoulder gently.
"We will think about that later. In the meantime, we should not make the girls anxious. We should take them home."
Kazuto couldn't agree more.
After having a short dinner, Kazuto and Shin Ha took Karyn home first and then drove Niken home.
"Thank you for taking me home." Said Niken when they arrived in front of her house.
"Looks like your brother hasn't returned yet," Kazuto concerned her safety when he didn't feel Richard's energy.
"Ah, Richard said that he came home a little late today. He was invited by Scarlet to see an S Elementalist."
"Wow, Scarlet did?" there was an insane tone in Shin Ha's voice. He had no idea why Scarlet took care of Richard that much. Did she not worry about Edward's jealousy? Well, at least he could tease Ed a little after this.
"So now you are alone?" in contrast to Shin Ha, who was impatient to meet Edward, Kazuto was very worried about Niken. Plus, the odor he smelled was still hanging around there.
"I am already used to it. Besides, Richard will come at nine later. This area is very safe. So you don't need to worry. But.. " Niken bowed her head, knowing that her face was blushing. "Thank you for worrying about me."
Kazuto blinked his eyes repeatedly in disbelief at what he just heard. And the feeling of worry vanished right away when he caught a glimpse of red blush on her cheeks.
"Ah, that ... that ... absolutely no problem." For unknown reasons, Kazuto's heart beat faster, seeing those red cheeks.
Alas, poor Shin Ha. He was standing right there, but the loving birds just ignored him like he was a ghost.
Shin Ha felt crying and wanted to complain to God. Why his inamorata still not show up?
Kazuto smiled with relief. At least the girl was not afraid of him. "Niken, if you don't mind, can I pick you up to academy from tomorrow? And also... I want to take you home every day from now on."
"!?"