Right—Amber and Eula already knew each other.
Amber was one of Eula's few friends in Mondstadt.
So when she saw her friend suddenly appear in Kael's shop, Eula's face showed surprise too.
"Amber..."
Amber knew Kael as well?
Seeing Amber walk in, Kael quickly stood up to greet her.
He took the food box from her hands. "What's got you so excited? What'd you bring me?"
Amber's eyes sparkled with excitement at his question.
"Good Hunter just came out with a new dish today! I brought it over for you to try!"
But then she noticed the table, already covered in dishes. "Ah... but there's already so much food..."
"It's fine. I can definitely finish what you brought. Sit down and eat with us too."
"Mhm, okay!"
Kael handed Amber a fresh set of chopsticks.
Xiangling, who'd originally been sitting next to him, tactfully scooted away with Guoba, leaving that seat open for Amber.
But once Kael seated Amber beside him, he realized his situation had suddenly turned a little awkward.
On his left sat Eula.
On his right sat Amber.
And he was caught in between, like the male lead of some love-simulation game...
Amber, oblivious to the tension, sat down and casually greeted Eula. "Eula, you're back in Mondstadt? I thought you were still out clearing Hilichurls."
From the moment Amber appeared, Eula's brows had been furrowed tight.
The easy familiarity between Amber and Kael filled her chest with a creeping panic.
Only when Amber addressed her did she snap back to herself, answering absentmindedly, "Mm... I ran into Kael and Xiangling outside the city today, so I came back with them."
"Eula actually saved us," Xiangling jumped in. "She looked so cool swinging that greatsword!"
Amber's expression softened with gratitude. "So that's what happened. Thank you, Eula, for saving Kael and the others."
Why are you the one thanking me for saving him?
What exactly is your relationship with him?
Eula's lips parted, wanting to ask outright—but she suddenly realized she had no grounds to demand answers. So she lowered her eyes in silence.
Sensing the heavy atmosphere radiating from Eula, Kael hurried to change the subject.
"Amber, all these dishes were made by me. Try some."
Amber, who'd already tasted his cooking before, broke into a bright smile. "Then I'm in luck tonight!"
She eagerly picked up her chopsticks and dug in.
Kael also tried the dish Amber had brought him.
Xiangling curiously leaned over. "Big brother, what did Amber bring you?"
"It's a creamy stew," Kael answered. "Pretty tasty, though a bit rich if you eat too much. But paired with some spicy shrimp, I think it'd balance the flavor perfectly."
The moment his words left his mouth—
Two sets of chopsticks, one from the left and one from the right, appeared in his bowl at the same time. Both were holding spicy shrimp.
Kael: "..."
Amber blinked, surprised to see her chopsticks collide with someone else's in his bowl. She turned her head—straight into Eula's cold profile.
Eula avoided Amber's gaze, but her hand didn't falter. She quietly placed the shrimp into Kael's bowl and murmured, "This is the spicy shrimp you wanted."
"Uh... th-thanks..."
Kael quickly stuffed both shrimp into his mouth, mumbling through the bite, "Y-yeah... that's exactly the flavor I meant..."
Amber withdrew her chopsticks, her eyes flicking past Kael to study Eula carefully.
Girls in love are always the sharpest.
Her instincts told her... something had already happened between Eula and Kael. Something she didn't know about.
Eula only kept her gaze lowered, silently picking at her food, pretending not to notice Amber's scrutiny.
After that little scene, the atmosphere at the table turned... delicate.
Nobody was really tasting the food anymore.
Xiangling's big round eyes darted left and right, practically glowing with gossip.
When the meal finally ended, Amber turned to Eula.
"Eula, you haven't been back in ages. Why don't we go to Angel's Share for a drink?"
Eula could tell Amber wanted to talk. She nodded. "Alright."
As the two women walked away, Mona smirked mischievously.
"Wonder if this is about to crash and burn."
Kael shot her a sidelong glance. "You talk too much. Go clean up."
Mona's smug look vanished instantly.
"Why do I have to wash dishes? What about you? Why don't you wash them?"
"I'm the boss," Kael said coolly.
"I'll help you, Mona!" Xiangling piped up cheerfully. "Guoba too~"
"Ehh?!"
But they'd already eaten their fill of his cooking. And once you've accepted someone's food and kindness... you can't exactly refuse.
So Mona had no choice but to sulk her way over to the sink.
Thankfully, with her Hydro Vision, washing dishes took half the effort.
By then, night had already fallen.
Eula and Amber walked side by side down Mondstadt's streets.
The night breeze gently lifted their hair.
They walked in silence for a long time, one slightly ahead, one behind.
Suddenly, Amber's voice rang out, light and excited.
"Eula, there's something happy I want to share with you. I'm in a relationship now."
"My boyfriend's someone you know too—Kael. The one we just had dinner with."
Eula's steps faltered.
She stared blankly at Amber's back.
Amber kept chattering on, "You know, at first he didn't even want to give me the time of day. I had to work so hard to win him over, and he—"
Halfway through her sentence, Amber realized Eula wasn't walking behind her anymore.
She turned around—only to freeze.
Eula stood in the middle of the road, crystalline tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks.
The moment Amber's words sank in, Eula's mind went completely blank. Her tears spilled before she could even stop them.
Kael... was already with someone else?
A crushing emptiness swallowed her whole, dragging her into a grief she couldn't contain.
Why did it feel like she'd lived through this once before...?
Why did it feel like she'd once again come too late...?