Chapter 309: A Necklace Gift for Mei

Then Aoki immediately raised his hand. After the elderly innkeeper finished serving the food, he immediately walked over to Aoki's table.

The old man's steps were steady, and although his body looked frail, his spirit remained vibrant.

"We'll have four fried chickens, two iced teas, and two iced milks," Aoki said to the elderly innkeeper. Aoki's tone was friendly, and he bowed slightly as a sign of courtesy.

"I'll be right there." The old man then quickly walked back to the kitchen. His voice was deep and heavy, but there was a genuine friendliness in every word.

Aoki and the others continued their conversation. After a while, the old innkeeper returned, carrying a tray filled with their food and drinks.

The hot fried chicken gave off a strong aroma of oil and spices, whetting their appetites. Iced tea and iced milk were served in tall glasses, their surfaces fogged up from the cold.

The four of them then began to eat quietly, occasionally chatting, while the sounds of various people could be heard all around them.

Laughter, conversations in different dialects, and the clatter of spoons against plates all mixed together to create a lively, lively evening.

After a while of eating and chatting quietly, they finished their meal and drinks. Aoki looked directly at Mei. Mei, seeing this, smiled faintly and looked back at him.

"You'll be back tomorrow morning, right? So, before morning comes, I wanted to give you this," Aoki said, pulling something out of his shirt. His movements were slow, as if the object held more value than just a gift. In the dim lantern light, a faint reflection could be seen from the small object Aoki was holding—a necklace?

"A necklace?" Mei asked, her eyes narrowed in suspicion yet curiosity. Mei tilted her head slightly, trying to get a better look at the object held in Aoki's hand.

"I know this might sound strange, but I think giving a farewell gift is necessary. Even though I did help you form a contract with the Summoning Beast, at least giving you something else wouldn't be a bad idea," Aoki said with a faint smile, almost like the smile of a shy boy trying to appear confident. As Aoki handed the necklace, his left hand trembled slightly, though he tried to hide it.

The necklace looked simple yet elegant—a thin black cord of supple, smooth snakeskin, and a flat, circular pendant of deep obsidian, glistening faintly like a teardrop in the night. On the pendant's surface, a small kanji spelled out the name "Mei."

"Here... Thank you." Mei smiled, this time not her usual friendly smile, but calmer, softer, and her eyes lowered for a moment. Her delicate fingers gently touched the pendant, as if touching something fragile.

Mei tried to put the necklace on.

"Wait, let me put it on," Aoki said quickly, almost hurriedly, as if afraid of missing the moment. He took the necklace back from her hand and stood up, approaching her.

Aoki took slow, careful steps, standing behind Mei. He now bowed his head slightly, brushing her long hair aside. Her hair smelled faintly of wildflowers that only grew in mountainous areas. He gently wrapped the necklace around her neck and clasped it.

The touch of Aoki's fingers was brief, but enough to make Aoki's heart beat faster. Mei didn't say anything, just a small gasp, but it was enough for Aoki, who was so close.

Aoki had the necklace made by a necklace craftsman, with Kurisu's help in ordering it, and then delivered with the help of the Summoning Beings. Aoki first sent a letter to Kurisu, summoning the Summoning Beings, who would return to their world before performing a Reverse Summoning and teleporting to Kurisu's location.

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