Page 39 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
Isla’s return text wasn’t long in coming.
Where are you?
The Americas
Can you be morespecific?
Northern Hemisphere
MORE specific,please
A bench in front of …
I think it’s a gift shop
How long areyou going to draw this out?
With a smile, Tenma relented.
First day of camp
Surrounded by little geniuses
Reminds me of you
Summer courses!
Where isGoh-sensei teaching?
Wardenclave
No
Yes
No!
His phone hummed in his hand, and he took the call. Isla wasalready talking.
“Why didn’t youtellme you were scheduled to beat Wardenclave?”Isla’s exasperation came through loud and clear.
“I didn’t know myself.” He reminded her, “Most of my travelplans are off the record.”
“But you’re atWardenclave!”
“I am. For the whole summer.” Tenma wistfully checked, “Anychance we’re on your tour of duty?”
“No.”Her tone gentled.“Sorry, but listen. Youhave no reason to be lonesome. You see, my little sister is a camper this year.You remember Lilya?”
“Kind of.” Tenma couldn’t imagine why this was such excitingnews. “No offense, but it was enough of a stretch being friends back when youwere twelve.”
“Lilya’s eleven,”she reported, entirely missing thepoint.
He hung his head. “Isla, even if I were almost, sort of, secretlya distant friend of the family, hanging around with your baby sister would bejust plain creepy.”
“Yes, well. I do see your point. Butlisten! I wasgetting around to telling you that my big brother is there.”Isla soundedentirely pleased with herself.“If you’re lonesome, all you need to do isfind Timur!”
Strong in the way Mum’s strong, only with curlierhair and hairier arms.
