Yumi stared at Raito like he'd just told her he was a magical girl in disguise.
"Wait—hold on," she said, leaning forward a little, her voice hushed but intense. "Is… is that your kid?"
Raito looked up from Emi, who was now chewing on the strap of the carrier, her cheeks puffed with contentment. He blinked once.
"No," he replied flatly. "She's my little sister. I'm watching her while our parents are away on a trip."
Yumi's shoulders slumped with an audible exhale of relief. "Oh, thank God…"
Then she froze.
A crimson flush crept up her neck as she stiffened, realizing what she just admitted aloud.
"I-I mean—not like I was thinking anything inappropriate or anything!" she stammered quickly, waving her free hand while the other gripped her drink tighter. "Just—you're—you—and a baby—it's just—!"
Raito remained completely unbothered, calmly adjusting Emi's position on his chest.
"You're overthinking it."
Yumi opened her mouth, then closed it again with a tiny huff.
He tilted his head slightly. "What are you doing here anyway? Doesn't really seem like your scene."
Yumi leaned in just a little, eyes scanning the crowd around them. "I'm undercover," she whispered. "Some of us are rotating through events this year as part of a quiet sweep for a few suspects who might show up at large gatherings like this. They want security presence without making it obvious."
Raito gave a slight nod, unphased. "Makes sense."
Before Yumi could add anything, the static pop of her walkie-talkie crackled at her waist. A voice buzzed through, distorted by the ambient con noise.
"Unit four, we've got a situation at the back vendor lot. Possible suspect identified—requesting backup for visual confirmation."
Yumi's casual posture snapped to alert. She clipped her drink to her belt, pulling the walkie-talkie closer to her mouth.
"This is Unit four. I'm en route," she said briskly.
She looked at Raito again, more serious this time. "Stay out of the back lot. Just in case."
Raito raised a brow but nodded once, not asking questions.
Yumi hesitated a moment longer, her eyes flicking from his unreadable face to the baby sucking her fingers happily, then to his bag bulging slightly with merchandise.
"…You're surprisingly good at this," she muttered, almost too quiet to hear, before jogging off into the crowd.
Raito watched her leave, then looked down at Emi.
"You done with your bottle?"
Emi responded with a gurgling noise that might've been a yes.
He stood, brushing crumbs from his coat. He still had a few more stops to make.