But then again, resurrection itself isn't exactly scientific... Forget it.
Kosma took the photo, looked at the group shot, and a small smile appeared on his lips. He then quietly placed it in the pocket over his chest and nodded toward Fu Lin.
".....Thanks."
Fu Lin scratched his head and grinned, "See you around."
"See you around."
--------------------------
Watching Kosma's departing figure, just as he was about to bend down to retrieve the machine on the ground, a flash of brown streaked past, and the machine vanished without a trace.
"..." Mei looked at Fu Lin, who had suddenly fallen silent, and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"Where's my machine?! Who stole my photo-washing machine?" Fu Lin held his head in disbelief. How did the machine disappear in the blink of an eye?
Wasn't there a brown figure that just flashed by?
Mei rubbed her forehead and said, "In the Land of the Past, the only one capable of doing this is probably her."
Fu Lin and Mei spoke in unison, "Pardofelis?"
But then, Fu Lin shook her head, "No… that figure just now seemed a little small?"
"Meow!" Just then, a cat's meow came from a nearby corner.
Mei followed the sound and walked over, spotting the machine on the ground along with some unknown cards, while a lazy-looking Can was curled up beside them.
Seeing this, Mei quickly stepped forward and picked Can up, stroking its fur. "Can? Why are you here? Where's Pardo?"
Recognizing a familiar person, Can narrowed its eyes comfortably and let out a contented meow, "Meow~"
"What a fat cat..." Fu Lin slowly walked over to Mei's side, rubbing his chin and murmuring to himself. His gaze then shifted to the cards on the ground.
After retrieving the machine into his system space, he casually picked up a card. However, the expected surge of engraved power did not enter his body, leaving him slightly disappointed.
"Meow... Meow!" The once docile Can in Mei's arms suddenly changed its demeanor, meowing continuously at Fu Lin. It was unclear whether it was protesting being called fat or upset about Fu Lin touching its things.
Mei looked at Can in confusion and asked softly, "What's wrong, Can?"
Can wriggled out of Mei's arms and ran toward Fu Lin. Just as Mei thought Can was about to attack him—
Instead, Can stopped beside Fu Lin, meowed softly, and when Fu Lin ignored it, it pulled a small dried fish from its tiny pouch and placed it in front of him.
"Meow~" Fu Lin put away the card, looking at Can sitting on the ground and the dried fish at his feet. He turned to Mei, puzzled. "Is it…?"
Mei stroked her chin, looking between Can and Fu Lin's cat ears, a bad premonition forming in her mind. But she quickly shook her head, erasing that terrifying thought.
"I've never seen Can give anyone a dried fish before… Maybe it really likes you."
Seeing Fu Lin unmoved, Can pulled out another dried fish and placed it in front of him, meowing softly, "Meow~ Meow~"
"Are you asking me to try it?" Fu Lin slowly picked up one of the dried fish. It had a golden hue and looked rather decent, so he asked Can.
Can nodded, "Meow."
As Fu Lin chewed on the dried fish, he reached out to stroke Can's fluffy head and commented, "Not bad… just a bit chewy."
Feeling the hand on its head, Can narrowed its eyes comfortably and purred. Then, it burrowed straight into Fu Lin's arms, acting spoiled.
Fu Lin stroked Can's belly and turned to Mei. "Can seems to really like me. Is it because I have cat ears too?"
Mei's mouth twitched, and she forced a smile. "Heh… looks like it."
Then, she fixed her gaze on Can and muttered, "I wonder if Can has been neutered…"
Hearing this, Can shuddered, its fur standing on end, body arched, and cat eyes narrowed in fear as it stared at Mei. "Meow!"
"I'm just kidding." Mei shrugged, though her tone didn't sound like a joke at all.
Fu Lin picked up Can and looked into its eyes. "If Can is here, then Pardo should be nearby, right?"
Can shook its head. "Meow~"
"Looks like they got separated. We should find Pardo and return Can to her. She's probably worried."
Mei placed one hand on her hip and gave Fu Lin a serious look. They needed to deal with this quickly before it became a nuisance.
"Probably. Let's hurry, then. There are still so many Flame-Chasers waiting to take pictures with me—just thinking about it is exciting!"
Fu Lin, carrying Can, called for Mei as they ran ahead. But before they had gone far, they saw Sakura standing ahead as if she had been waiting for someone.