“Come by every once in a while,” Eric Bennett said. “My grandma’s place is nearby.”

“Oh.” Edward Clark responded.

“You go to the affiliated high school, right?” Eric Bennett asked.

Edward Clark quickly looked down at himself—clothes, pants, shoes—all his own, nothing with the school’s insignia.

“I knew last time I ran into you,” Eric Bennett said with a lazy stretch and a smile.

“Last time?” Edward Clark thought for a moment, but couldn’t recall any detail that would give away his school.

“Give me your hand,” Eric Bennett said.

Edward Clark glanced at him, then held out his left hand.

“Your fingers are pretty long,” Eric Bennett traced a few lines in his palm with his fingertip. “You…”

Edward Clark curled his index finger and flicked his fingertip away.

“Hmm?” Eric Bennett tilted his head.

“It tickles,” Edward Clark said.

“Such a drama queen,” Eric Bennett said with a hint of disdain, pursing his lips, but then traced a few more lines in his palm with his finger hovering above.

“What are you planning to see?” Edward Clark asked with interest.

“I’ll just watch whatever,” Eric Bennett said. “You just listen to whatever.”

“Okay.” Edward Clark nodded.

“Not on good terms with your parents, are you?” Eric Bennett asked.

Edward Clark didn’t reply.

Eric Bennett didn’t seem to need an answer, kept staring at his hand, and after a while leaned back against the steps: “The past decade or so of your life hasn’t been very interesting, mostly smooth sailing on the surface.”

“Really?” Edward Clark withdrew his hand and looked down at it.

“You have siblings,” Eric Bennett continued. “Brothers or sisters, how many, I don’t know.”

Edward Clark kept looking at his hand. Now that it was mentioned, he started to feel a bit puzzled.

Eric Bennett’s ability to observe details and read people’s personalities was quite strong—that was the key to his trickery—but how he could deduce a stranger’s family situation, Edward Clark couldn’t figure out for the moment.

Especially the part about siblings.

“I’m telling you what you don’t know,” Eric Bennett tilted his head, staring at his face. “You might hit some bumps in the road later on, but who knows, probably in the relationship department.”

“Is it these three lines you’re looking at?” Edward Clark pointed at his palm. “Career line, love line, life line?”

“That’s way too basic,” Eric Bennett shook his head. “There’s a whole bunch of this line and that mount, you have to look at them all while…”

“Chatting with me and guessing at the same time, right?” Edward Clark said.

“…Isn’t that boring?” Eric Bennett clicked his tongue.

“You’re pretty good at this,” Edward Clark smiled. “Did you study it?”

“Where would I study, and with whom? It’s all just bluffing,” Eric Bennett waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t believe anyone who says they’ll teach you.”

“Mm.” Edward Clark rubbed his hands together.

“Do you have an older brother or an older sister?” Eric Bennett asked.

Edward Clark paused, then after a while said, “Why not ask if I have a younger brother or sister?”

“Doesn’t fit your vibe,” Eric Bennett said. “I know quite a few people with younger siblings, and you’re not like them.”

“So fortune-telling takes dedication too,” Edward Clark said. “You have to pay attention and observe in daily life.”

Eric Bennett didn’t ask about siblings again. Edward Clark had casually steered the topic away, so naturally that if he hadn’t been paying attention to verify, he probably wouldn’t have noticed the subject had already passed.

It seemed Edward Clark didn’t want to talk about it, and his bad relationship with his parents probably had something to do with those siblings. Eric Bennett also wasn’t the type to pry into strangers’ private lives.

If Edward Clark hadn’t nonchalantly finished off most of his water and sat down without leaving, Eric Bennett wouldn’t have started chatting about all this random stuff.

“Is there anywhere to eat around here?” Edward Clark asked. “Somewhere with good food.”

“No need to be so polite,” Eric Bennett replied without thinking. “I’ve already eaten.”

Edward Clark looked ahead and laughed. “I’m looking for a place to eat.”

“Oh,” Eric Bennett didn’t feel awkward at all, thought for a moment, “If you don’t want to go far, just go across the street—Dog All Go.”

“Dog All Go?” Edward Clark was taken aback.

“I’m not insulting you,” Eric Bennett cleared his throat. “It’s the name of a place—coffee, pizza, pastries, that kind of thing. The food’s not bad.”

“Isn’t it Dog All Come?” Edward Clark asked.

“Well, if you go over there from here, it’s ‘Dog All Go.’” Eric Bennett said. “Once you’re inside, then it’s ‘Dog All Come.’”

“…Alright then,” Edward Clark nodded. “You’ve eaten there?”

“Once. It’s basically a singles’ hookup spot. The photos on the wall are all couples who met and got together there,” Eric Bennett held out his hand, counting on his fingers. “That day I figured I’d have some luck in love, so I went there to try my luck…”

Before he could finish, Edward Clark had already turned his head away, laughing.

“Don’t laugh,” Eric Bennett said seriously. “Sometimes this stuff is spot on.”

“Is it?” Edward Clark asked with a smile.

“Nope,” Eric Bennett frowned. “I predicted it’d happen within seven days, but seven days have passed. I guess it’ll be half a month.”

“Has half a month passed yet?” Edward Clark tried not to laugh.