Xiangling watched Kael frown in deep thought and tilted her head.
"Brother, what's wrong? Something bothering you?"
"I'm just thinking… how I'm supposed to break this news to Amber and the others."
"Oh…" Xiangling had seen firsthand how much Amber and Eula liked Kael. Even she felt stuck. "Yeah… how are you going to tell them…?"
Mona heard them talking and raised a brow.
"That's easy. Make a table full of good food and invite them over."
Kael shot her a look. "Do you think everyone's like you? You hear 'a lot of good food' and show up instantly?"
But… it wasn't a bad idea.
He was leaving tomorrow anyway. Having everyone sit down together for a meal before he left…
He couldn't think of anything better. No matter how he phrased it, Amber and the others would be reluctant.
Might as well settle everything at once.
And he wouldn't even be gone from Mondstadt for long. Their relationships were close enough now that he could reveal a little of his unusual abilities.
Like his map reward from the System, or the Serenitea Pot…
With the System's map, returning from Liyue to Mondstadt was as easy as blinking.
Once the Liyue map opened, the coverage would span two map areas.
There was nothing to feel guilty about.
Convincing himself more and more, Kael ended up thinking Mona's idea was actually pretty solid.
He gave her a look of approval.
"You do come up with something decent once in a while."
Mona lifted her chin. "Of course. You should know who you're dealing with."
Kael immediately followed her lead, flattering her.
"Right, right. The famous astrologist. Since you're so amazing, think you could help me contact Amber and the others? Invite them here for dinner tonight?"
Mona flicked her braid, proud as ever. "Naturally. All it takes is a simple spell."
"Great. I'll leave it to you, oh mighty astrologist."
Since the day she met Kael, she'd always been on the receiving end of his teasing. This was the first time he'd looked at her with such genuine admiration.
Basking in that look, Mona became even more eager to show off.
She lifted her hand, tracing symbols in midair. Lines of shimmering light followed her fingertips. One after another, they layered into a complex glowing sigil.
When the pattern finally closed, the circle flared brightly and vanished.
Mona crossed her arms proudly. "I've already sent the invitations."
"Oh, nice. Thanks."
Satisfied, Kael turned and walked off.
Since everyone was coming tonight, he needed to get started.
Watching his back disappear without a second of hesitation, Mona puffed out her cheeks.
This… wasn't how she imagined it.
Shouldn't he have been amazed a little longer? Praised her a few more times?
Why did it feel like he'd used her spell and immediately tossed her aside?
A spark of fierce determination lit up in her eyes.
She would make Kael see her worth.
---
Kael already had a rough idea of the banquet in mind. All that remained was gathering ingredients.
Most ingredients could be found at Mondstadt General Goods. For the more unusual ones, Kael took Xiangling along and used his map to search the outskirts of Mondstadt.
Once everything was prepared, he and Xiangling shut themselves in the kitchen.
This meal needed to be perfect.
Not just because he was leaving for Liyue, but because it was the first time everyone would be together.
Except for Jean, who hadn't met him in person yet, every girl he'd built a connection with in the life simulations would be sitting at the same table tonight.
Food had always been the best way to soothe hearts.
He hoped everything would go smoothly.
---
Amber and the others arrived early after receiving the invitation.
When they walked into the shop and saw two additional people inside, all of them paused.
They hadn't expected Kael to invite everyone else too.
Amber recovered first.
Of everyone in the real world, she'd spent the most time with Kael and understood him best.
"If he called all of us here, he definitely has something important to say today."
Eula nodded beside her. "That's my guess too."
Barbara stared at her two senpai with curiosity.
"Really?"
Amber nodded without hesitation. "Definitely. That's the only reason he'd gather all of us together."
"Oh, Eula. I didn't know you knew Kael too. How did you two meet?"
Barbara turned toward Eula, who rarely spent time inside Mondstadt's city walls.
She had never imagined Eula also had a connection with Kael.
Eula's expression stayed cool, but her eyes softened slightly.
"That day, when I was clearing out a Hilichurl camp outside the city…"
Kael had just finished in the kitchen. When he stepped out, he saw all his guests already gathered.
The three girls were happily chatting away, completely opposite of the tense atmosphere he'd been bracing himself for.
They were so absorbed in conversation that none of them even noticed him standing there.
Kael cleared his throat.
"Ahem… you're all here already…"
Three pairs of beautiful eyes turned to him at the same time.
All of them still carried traces of the smiles they'd been sharing moments ago.
Seeing their expressions, Kael finally relaxed.
He smiled warmly. "Since everyone's here, let's begin dinner."