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Talia restrained the strength in her hand, feeling like her blood pressure was about to explode.
Damn green tea!
But today, she would definitely hold back.
It had blown up with him!
"...Lanci, will you keep holding my hand, please?"
Talia asked with a warm smile, in a loving, gentle murmur.
"..."
"Of course, I can."
Lanci seemed to be enduring a tingling scalp, answering with a respectful, trembling voice.
In the distance outside the restaurant.
Two figures were watching the restaurant interior through binoculars.
Rosalinda had a black cat perched on her head.
"Wow, they’re holding hands even as they sit in the restaurant, this is just too...!"
Rosalinda covered the top half of her face, her body twisting with emotion.
"They really don’t want to let go of each other’s hands!"
Aitio, too, was visibly excited, shaking Rosalinda and urging her not to miss the beautiful moments between Lanci and Tata.
Their public display of affection was just too much, completely ignoring the gazes of those around them.
But they loved watching this!
"Meow..."
Cat Boss felt he was never on the same wavelength as these two girls.
Clearly, the two in the restaurant were competing with each other.
"It seems like a communication is coming through."
Through the binoculars, Rosalinda observed Talia taking out a Super Long-Distance Communication Magic Card from her left hand, not knowing who was trying to contact her at this time.
Elsewhere.
In the main hall of the Kolonzi Sunbridge Inn Restaurant.
Seated on the sofa by the window, Talia connected to the flickering purple Communication Magic Card.
Soon.
"Tata, are you both doing well in Floral City Pariel?"
Talia’s most familiar and concerned voice came through.
It was the voice of the girl whose greetings Talia had heard every day before leaving the Hutton Kingdom.
"We’re okay."
Talia relaxed considerably after receiving the call from Hyperion, subconsciously tugging at her hand, but Lanci did not let go.
She was startled.
It seemed like Lanci was deliberately causing trouble, not knowing who had made the call!
He thought it was just one of her other friends and wanted to make her uncomfortable.
Although Hyperion had contacted Talia after seeing the news about the crisis in Floral City Pariel a couple of days ago.
Talia had only told Hyperion that everything was all right and that Lanci might need to rest more.
Which had made Hyperion very worried.
Today, Hyperion had probably figured Lanci was rested, and calling at noon wouldn’t wake him, so she used the expensive international communication relay again.
"By the way, Tata, how is Lanci doing?"
Hyperion continued to inquire.
"He’s awake, do you want to talk to him?"
Talia replied, wanting to make Lanci realize the problem as soon as possible.
After saying that, she already felt something was amiss.
She and Lanci were holding hands while talking to Hyperion; it just seemed strange.
Normally, they would have let go of each other’s hands when a call came in, but now neither of them was willing to be the first to let go, so they had to communicate with Hyperion like this.
"Let’s talk for a bit."
Hyperion’s voice sounded much happier.
So Talia placed her Communication Magic Card beside Lanci’s ear, holding it up for him.
"Hyperion, sorry to worry you, we should be back in a few days."
Only then did Lanci see that the floating text on the Communication Magic Card bore Hyperion’s name, his eyes wide with surprise as he looked at Talia.
"Eh, Lanci, have you been next to Tata the whole time?"
Hyperion felt like Tata had passed the Communication Magic Card to Lanci in a flash, as if the two were clinging together.
Lanci suddenly realized the problem, wanting to let go, but now Talia was gripping his hand even tighter, not letting him pull away, and even causing him a bit of pain.
It seemed like payback for his earlier antics.
"Yes, I’ve been with her."
Lanci uttered an odd sound, trying to reply as normally as possible.
"Uh, why does your voice sound tense? Are you making a Card? Did I disturb you?"
Hyperion asked with concern.
"No, no, we’re having a meal."
Talia quickly denied.
"...Are you two sitting together for your meal today?"
Hyperion sounded puzzled if sitting that close together was truly convenient.
Since the two were able to talk with one Communication Magic Card.
It certainly wasn’t like the normal position of sitting across the table from each other.
"We just find it more convenient to look at the menu while ordering..."
Just as Lanci was thinking fast about how to explain.
"Excuse me, the slow-roasted beef shoulder blade in your couple’s meal is out; can we replace it with a four-cut waterfall cheese artisan beef burger? The festival couple’s accessories that come with the meal won’t change."
The waiter apologized, holding a Magic Device tablet by the table.
"..."
There was silence on Hyperion’s end.
"..."
Both Lanci and Talia’s throats trembled.
Their palms started to sweat.
Although now the hand-holding felt even more uncomfortable, neither wanted to let go; they had to get through the crisis together, or fail together!
