"I know you're hiding something," Kanna said telepathically as she ascended the stairs ahead of Vera, her voice calm but edged with certainty.
It seems there really is no point in hiding it from her for much longer.
Vera thought to herself.
"You're right. I'm on a mission right now," she replied through telepathy. "You already know what my mission is, right?"
"That's an easy question. I'm certain your mission is to take that painting—it's painfully obvious to me," Kanna responded telepathically, not even bothering to look back.
"So... are you going to stop me, now that you know my purpose here?" Vera asked, her mental voice steady despite the unease coiling in her chest.
"No. But I might miss you if you get caught," Kanna replied, her tone carrying an odd softness that Vera rarely heard from her.
Vera fell silent at that. Because deep down, she knew—that was a very real possibility if her plan failed tonight.
---
After several more steps, they finally reached the third floor. Vera's eyes immediately locked onto the painting displayed at the very center of the hall—*Bad Night*, positioned as the main attraction.
If it's positioned this clearly, it shouldn't be too difficult to take,
Vera thought, already calculating her approach. But then something felt... off.
Wait a minute—this is the main exhibit, so why isn't there any security guarding it?
A flicker of unease stirred in her mind.
Meanwhile, Kanna approached the painting with measured steps, her gaze sharp as she began analyzing the aura surrounding it. She closed her eyes briefly, concentrating.
"No doubt about it—this is definitely a cursed painting," she said calmly, her tone as steady as ever. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small notebook and flipped through a few pages.
"A painting that brings bad luck to certain individuals... but why does it have another name—*Good Luck*?" Kanna murmured, tilting her head slightly in confusion.
She turned toward Vera and asked directly, "What's your leader's reason for wanting this painting? In terms of supernatural abilities, this painting doesn't seem all that special."
"I'm not going to tell you something like that. That's mission confidential," Vera replied flatly.
"Oh, come on—that's pointless. I already know you're on a mission. Besides, I'm sure it's nothing too important anyway. I've heard that the leader of Team Epitaph, your superior, is rather selfish. That's true, isn't it?"
Vera let out a weary sigh. After a brief pause, she finally spoke.
"...You're right. He wants the painting because it was crafted by his own parents."
Kanna turned back toward the painting, her expression unreadable as she studied it once more.
"Planning to sacrifice some of his own members for something like that... seems like he's not much of a leader," Kanna remarked quietly.
She then glanced over her shoulder at Vera.
"You know, we've been rivals for a long time now. But I still don't know why you joined Team Epitaph in the first place. Could you tell me... before you get caught tonight?" Kanna's voice carried a different kind of smile—not the smug, competitive one Vera was used to. There was something beneath it. Something softer. Something almost melancholic.
Vera caught that shift immediately. "That's not Kanna's usual smile," she realized. "There's sadness in it... and something else I can't quite read."
"I'm no expert at reading expressions like Eri is," Vera began slowly, "but I'm pretty sure you still have plenty of plans you're planning to use on me. Though... you probably won't get to test them for a while."
She paused, meeting Kanna's gaze directly.
"So, as a temporary farewell... I'll give you a hint. I joined Team Epitaph because that's my way of repaying someone."
"Who?" Kanna's expression shifted immediately, her eyes sharp and serious.
"That's my secret. *Weee~ you fell for it!*" Vera stuck out her tongue and made a mockingly teasing face at Kanna, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"I knew she'd pull something like this," Kanna thought to herself. "I'm sure she's already aware of all the consequences. She must have been bottling up so much emotion all this time... and even now, she's still trying to smile."
For a long moment, Kanna just looked at her. Then, a genuine—if small—smile crossed her lips.
"In that case... I hope we can meet again so you can tell me the rest," she said softly.
"Alright. Then I promise I'll tell you... once I'm free," Vera replied, subtly wiping at the corner of her eye where tears had begun to gather without her permission. Then, quieter, almost to herself: "But... if I can hope for one more thing... I'd also hope that one day, I can still be together with my friends at the academy."
Kanna heard it. And she said nothing—but the warmth in her gaze said enough.