Page 312 of Light Leech

“Might as well,” she said. “He was trying to call me in the first place.”

I laughed. “The kid probably doesn’t even want to talk to me.”

“Who would?”

I smiled and shook my head. “I’ll open the chat in my neurospace then send you the link invite.”

“Pulse.”

I answered the call then saw Kuni and Akna. My neurospace searched for the nearest camera to link into, then joined the hub in the center of the table, just as most cafes had. Had it not been there, I doubted we would have to move far. In a world lacking privacy, there were still some benefits.

“Hihow du!” Naoma waved.

Kuni responded with exponential enthusiasm.

Akna glared, then scoffed. “Still putting on the show, huh? Are the other girls still with you?”

“What show?” Naoma asked.

Akna made air kisses.

Naoma and I looked at each other, then laughed like rosy-eyed kids. I knew the initial bliss would wear off, but I savored it while it lasted.

“Whatever,” Akna said.

“What’d you call for?” I asked.

“Naoma!” Kuni exclaimed.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“We saw you all over the news! Denji was projecting it on the kitchen walls and all of the channels were talking about you!”

“Not quite all, Akna said.”

“Zeg you!”

“Language, Kun.”

“Don’t blame that on me!” Boyband shouted from the background.

“You keeping him in check?” I asked Akna.

“Which one?”

“I’m not too worried about Kuni.” I winked at him.

“He’s been fine. A little stir crazy but has been helping Denji out around the monastery.”

“Good.”

“Can we talk about the news now?” Kuni asked.

“Let’s hear it,” Naoma said. Without a cute little Arabasian kid to tell her about the news, I wondered if she would have had such composure. Perhaps she was glad to be out in public now that the initial reentry had passed.

Part of me wondered what it would be like if I made a reappearance on the Medislavian neuroset. Did people still hold out hope for a change or had Pavtov destroyed the final remnant of their long-strung hope?

Images of newscasts appear in our interface. Kuni dragged it beside his face to point but obscured most of it with his head and hands. I couldn’t help but smile at the kid’s enthusiasm, especially as my anxiety drained away without Naoma’s to keep me on the edge.