Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After travelling for a while, Aether and Paimon reached the Kamisato Estate and entered inside in order to meet the eldest daughter of the Kamisato Clan, Kamisato Ayaka also known as the Shirasagi Himegimi.

*Kamisato Estate*

"So this is the kind of place where the big shots of Inazuma live, huh? Paimon kinda expected it to be... snazzier" Paimon commented in slight dissapointement.

"It's hard to top the Jade Chamber" Aether told her which was true.

"Welcome, at last, to the Kamisato residence, honored guests. Miss Kamisato is delighted to finally meet you" Thoma said in a warm tone.

"Is this the Shirasagi Himegimi you keep going on about? So, uh, where's she at?" Paimon asked him.

"Ahem..." a soft-like cotton voice drifted over answering her question.

"Oh... uh, behind the screen? Paimon asked in surprise.

"Yes, haha, as the daughter of the Yashiro Commission, this is how Miss Kamisato is accustomed to receiving guests. Consider it a time-honored tradition within the Yashiro Commission. Forgive me if this is an unwelcome surprise" Thoma explained with an apologetic tone.

"I think I understand" Aether said cordially.

"Makes sense, she's a super-important person after all" Paimon agreed to his words.

"Please forgive my lack of courtesy for receiving you in this fashion... especially following such a long and wearisome journey over the sea" Ayaka excused herself before them to their mild surprise.

"I have awaited your arrival with great anticipation, and Thoma assures me that you do indeed possess the power to change the tide of the times. At present in Inazuma, in the name of the Vision Hunt Decree, the people's aspirations are being senselessly trampled underfoot. Though the Yashiro Commission serves the shogun, it is the people with whom we share close bonds, given the contact we are required to have with them in the performance of our duties. A commission's power rises and falls with the trust of their people. Thus, we cannot remain indifferent to this situation without also remaining indifferent to our own fate. Traveler, lend us your power, and we can—" she continued the reason of her invitation but was interrupted.

"I'm just here to meet the Raiden Shogun.  I did not come to start a rebellion" Aether stopped her, not wanting to hear more of it.

"Oh..." Ayaka made a sound of dissapointement.

"See, milady, it's just like I said... this will take us nowhere..." Thoma said bitterly.

"I'm going to leave now" Aether said before getting up to leave.

"No, please... wait! Please... Don't go..." Ayaka pleaded before sighing.

"What?" Aether asked her a bit exasperated although he loved the sound of her voice but will never admit it.

"I will introduce you to the Raiden Shogun, on one condition... You must fulfill three small wishes on my behalf" Ayaka told him.

"What are your wishes?" Paimon asked her.

"They pertain to three whose Visions were taken from them... Perhaps once you've met them, you will understand..." Ayaka stated her condition.

The Traveler listens while Kamisato Ayaka tells the story of the three Visionless people...

" A warrior who guards a village, a former samurai who helped carry out the Vision Hunt Decree, and a swordmaster determined to become the best in the world... Does Paimon got that right?" Paimon asked for confirmation.

"Correct. Please do all you can to help them. I will await your return here" Ayaka replied to the fae.

"I will do as you wish. This is a tall order..." Aether said with a sigh.

"Hehe... Then, you have my gratitude" Ayaka thanked him.

"I'm sure you'll do great" Thoma told him confidently.

An hour later they returned to the Kamisato Estate to see Kamisato Ayaka after seeing the state of the Visionless people they were requested to help which made Aether have a change of heart. They proceed to enter the Yashiro Commission Headquarters.

*Kamisato Estate*

"Oh, Ayaka! Guess who fulfilled all your wishes~! ...Ayaka?" Paimon asked as she looked around.

Aether got curious but Thoma paused him for a moment before Kamisato Ayaka herself, with elegance, appeared in front of Aether and Paimon. As he looked at her he couldn't help but be entranced by her ethereal beauty while the Kamisato heiress didn't fare better as she was lost in his otherworldly appearance.

"Traveler, Paimon... It is a pleasure to finally meet you both face-to-face, hehe. I have heard all about how you helped out three friends. My sincerest thanks to you" Ayaka said as she regained her bearings a blush adorning her face.

"Actually, we didn't really help at all... The damage done by losing a Vision can't be completely undone" Aether replied trying to hide his blush.

Unfortunately for them, Paimon and Thoma noticed and exchanged sly looks.

"Yeah... short of getting them their Visions back, it seems like there's no way to really help them..." Paimon said feeling down.

"Um, Ayaka — how come this time you get to come out and meet us in person?" she asked as it dawned on her earning a weary sigh from Aether.

"Hehe, because now that you have done the three things I asked of you, I consider you to be my friends. As you will observe, I dispense with the screen for Thoma, also" Ayaka replied with a laugh.

"Mm-hmm" Thoma let out a low hum.

"Wait a second, but isn't Thoma your, um... servant? Paimon's happy to help and all, but Paimon sure as heck did not sign up to be a servant!" Paimon yelped at Ayaka's words, Aether pinched his nose.

"Oh...! Ahaha, Paimon you are most entertaining. Thoma is first and foremost my friend, and was so before he ever became my attendant" Ayaka explained, laughing.

"Oh, okay then... Ayaka, you seem pretty different out in the open compared to how you are behind the screen. Mmm... Alright, we can be friends" Paimon said in embarrassment.

"Alright then. I agree to be your friend" Aether said with a smile.

"Hehe, thank you both kindly. Back to the matter at hand. You have now witnessed the pain of those deprived of their Visions... What are your feelings on what you have seen?" Ayaka asked him with a serious expression.

"I hope they can one day be free from their torment. It seems to be a fate worse than death" Aether answered her forlornly as he remembered the hollow gazes of those who lost their Visions.

" ...Perhaps, in the eyes of a deity such as the Almighty Shogun, the lives of those who inhabit the world are inconsequential... Thunder's roar, lightning's flash, the wind's assault, and the rain's descent... all these things take place with no regard for the feelings of the common people. But I believe that surely you understand what they must endure" Ayaka explained her view of the Shogun's philosophy.

"..." Aether was silent.

"It seems that perhaps now, you can appreciate my feelings on all of this. In which case... perhaps you would be willing to reconsider your stance?" Ayaka asked him with burning hope in her eyes.

"I will help you fight the Vision Hunt Decree" Aether replied to her.

"You will? Really!?" Ayaka's eyes lit up in glee.

"But you must keep the promise you made me" Aether reminded her of their deal.

"Naturally, hehe" Ayaka told him she will obtain a meeting with the Shogun for him.

"Alright, bravo, milady. You were right all along" Thoma congratulated her.

"See... I told you he wouldn't reject them. I'd placed my trust in the right person after all" Ayaka said, relieved that her intuition was right.

"Now then, given that the remainder of our discussion pertains to matters of a more... confidential nature... perhaps we could move to the Komore Teahouse? We ought not to involve other members of the Yashiro Commission" she proposed to continue in a location more discret.

Kamisato Ayaka and Thoma took Aether once again to Komore Teahouse...

*Komore Teahouse*

"Well, here we are again..." Paimon mumbled mostly to herself.

"Please, continue without me. I'll keep watch." Thoma said as he went to another room.

"So, what's the deal with this place, anyway? What makes it your favorite meeting spot?" Paimon asked in puzzlement.

"This is land that was gifted to the Yashiro Commission by the shogun. The Kamisato Clan has the exclusive right to plan, build, and repair any property on this land — and even to allow or deny access. Such privileges exist due to the Yashiro Commission's role in managing ceremonial affairs. Oftentimes, it is not appropriate to discuss details in front of bystanders." Ayaka replied to her inquiry.

"Ohh Paimon gets it — gotta keep a bit of mystery, right?" Paimon chirped in understanding.

"Once the number of ceremonial affairs conducted in the city began to decline, our forebears built a teahouse here. Only members of the Yashiro Commission are permitted to come and go as they please." Ayaka told them the history behind the teahouse.

"Makes sense. Perfect place for a secret base!" Paimon squealed somewhat loudly.

"In any case, we can talk freely here. I presume Traveler, you have a few questions that you wish to ask me?" Ayaka offered to give him some answers.

"What kind of god is the Raiden Shogun?" Aether asked her.

"The Almighty Shogun... I have seen her on but only a few occasions, most of them formal ceremonies... She inspires awe, commands respect, and exudes a sense of absolute authority. But as I recall, there was something else about her that struck me even more deeply... It was her almost complete lack of any emotion. In that sense, she appeared to me to be less of a ruler and more of... well, an executive official, I suppose. Focused exclusively on her single goal of implementing Eternity, acting accordingly without feeling" Ayaka replied to his question in a solemn tone and she couldn't help but tremble slightly at the end.

'Even if she is a god she should still show a bit of emotion, something doesn't add up' Aether thought inwardly perplexed.

"Is no one else fighting the Vision Hunt Decree?" Aether asked her rhetorically already having an idea about it.

"The issue is this... For the vast majority of people, the Vision Hunt Decree is something that has no implications whatsoever. After all, it is but a tiny minority of people who receive Visions. Moreover, it is not unknown for Visions to spark jealousy in others. Because of this, the attitude of most people towards the Vision Hunt Decree is one of indifference." Ayaka replied helplessly while Aether couldn't but shake his head in dismay at the people's foolishness and ignorance.

'I spent so much time around the Adepti that I started thinking like them' Aether thought inwardly with a bit of dread.

"How can they be like that...? Hmph, Paimon's getting mad..." Paimon huffed angrily.

"Nevertheless, in addition to us, there is also the resistance on Watatsumi Island" Ayaka said in order to appease the fae.

"Resistance? You mean, like, an army fighting against the decree?" Paimon asked her intrigued.

"Yes, many who have lost or fear losing their Visions have rallied together under Sangonomiya on Watatsumi Island to form a resistance group. To say a little more about Sangonomiya... Historically, there has always been some conflict between them and the Shogunate of Narukami Island due to their different belief systems. But I do wonder whether there may be some other agenda behind their resistance movement, beyond merely fighting the Vision Hunt Decree..." Ayaka explained before falling in her thoughts.

"Have you raised a formal objection to the Vision Hunt Decree?" Aether inquired to her curiously.

"Of course. We have tried on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, each time a proposal to repeal the decree arrives at Tenshukaku, it is promptly vetoed by both the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission, and subsequently scrapped... They invariably adopt a stance of unconditional support for the shogun's decisions. They have no interest in discussing anything. It almost makes one wonder whether they had a hand in the shogun's sudden decision to issue the Vision Hunt Decree..." Ayaka answered thoughtfully.

'It's like they want the Decree to keep going despite it's damages to Inazuma' Aether thought inwardly confused by the Commissions's behavior.

"I have no further questions" Aether said politely.

"Ooh, ooh, Paimon has a question though!" Paimon squealed loudly.

"Oh? What would you like to know, Paimon?" Ayaka inquired to the fae.

"Have you got a plan yet? To fight the Vision Hunt Decree?" Paimon asked cheerfully.

"To be honest... we do not" Ayaka replied helplessly.

"Wh—What!" Paimon cried out.

"Please, do not forget that challenging the Vision Hunt Decree is tantamount to challenging a deity. Coming to terms with that is already a difficult step to take" Ayaka said in order to appease her.

"So... So, what're we gonna do?" Paimon asked downcast.

"Well, for the moment, all we can do is to try and reduce the harm that is being caused by this decree. For example, by providing Vision bearers with safe refuge, or manufacturing counterfeit Visions for them as a contingency measure" Ayaka answered the fairy.

"You're telling Paimon that there are people out there who can make fake Visions!?" Paimon cried out in disbelief.

"Don't underestimate the talents of the craftspeople in Hanamizaka. To the naked eye, their counterfeits are indistinguishable from the genuine article" Ayaka replied to the fairy

'Must have been where Venti went...' Aether thought to himself.

"The problem we are facing right now is that Master Masakatsu, who was providing us with counterfeit Visions, has recently been arrested by the Tenryou Commission" Ayaka said gravely.

"Oh darn! So they found out about it? Ugh..." Paimon grumbled.

"Yes... We knew it was not a long-term solution and that it was only a matter of time before it would be exposed... But we cannot simply abandon Master Masakatsu" Ayaka replied solemny.

"He has saved many others. It is only right that he should be saved, too" Aether said firmly.

"Exactly, I feel the same way. But given mine and Thoma's identities as part of the Yashiro Commission, breaking him out of prison would risk dragging down the reputation of the entire Kamisato Clan should we be caught. That would only serve to cast suspicion on any future activity we might seek to attempt" Ayaka said with an under meaning that Aether catched.

"So you're offloading that job to me, huh?" Aether asked in jest.

"Hehe, by no means do we intend to place the burden of such a task on your shoulders alone. When you are ready, go to Hanamizaka, and look for a fireworks shop run by the Naganohara family. There, you will find someone who can help you" Ayaka assured him before giving him the location of the helper.

After talking a bit to Ayaka and Thoma, Aether and Paimon left the Komore Teahouse to rescue Master Masakatsu at the Police Station with the help of Yoimiya which they succeeded despite being catched by Kujou Sara although she let us leave as Master Masakatsu needed treatment as he was in serious condition, Yoimiya took him to the infirmary while Aether and Paimon decided to go tell Ayaka and Thoma the good news.

*Komore Teahouse*

"I see, so Kujou Sara stayed her hand. It would appear she still has some honor to her. I wonder if we should try establishing contact with her... Perhaps we could coax out some information" Thoma commented hopefully.

"Unlikely. Don't forget, Kujou Sara is also carrying out the Vision Hunt Decree. She obeys the orders of the Raiden Shogun without question. In her eyes, Master Masakatsu is of no threat to the decree. This is why she was so willing to allow his escape. If our true motives were ever divulged, she would act against us without a second thought" Ayaka told him sternly pouring cold water on him.

"True... Though if you ask me, Master Masakatsu's release is an unexpected blessing. We are now one step closer to victory... and we couldn't have done it without Yoimiya and the Traveler! Hehe, you're turning out to be even more reliable than we expected" Thoma said helplessly before beaming at their progress.

"Thanks for the compliment" Aether replied curtly but Ayaka could see that he was bitter being remembered by a title something she reciprocated.

"Hee-hee, don't mention it" Paimon chirped pridefully.

"Indeed, things may have turned out very differently this time without your help. But if we wish to mount any sizable resistance against the Vision Hunt Decree... there is still much to be done. It is time we make ready our next set of plans..." Ayaka stated before thinking of their next course of actions.

"There's no need to rush, milady. Things seem to have taken a turn for the better, at least. Not only have we rescued Master Masakatsu, but our list of allies appears to be growing. Ah yes, which reminds me... The Tenryou Commission seems to be making preparations for a "celebration"... They call it a "ceremony" of sorts. And the number of samurai out enforcing the Vision Hunt Decree seems to be waning. The days ahead may be more peaceful than usual" Thoma chimed in about their growing allies and the Tenryou Commission's preparations.

"A "ceremony," you say? Why would such a task be left to the Tenryou Commission?" Ayaka asked him in confusion.

"I don't know, but I'm sure it has nothing to do with us. Anyway, with the Tenryou Commission busy with preparations, we should have a little more breathing room than usual" Thoma answered before reassuring her.

"Hmm, you do present a good point. Being in a constant state of alert will only tire us further, perhaps a period of rest is in order. Thoma, what would you suggest?" Ayaka agreed with him before asking him if he has a suggestion.

"I'd say a celebratory feast is in order. Might I suggest an evening of hot pot together! Funny enough, I learned a new "hot pot game" recently. I'm sure you'll find it quite amusing!" Thoma replied heartily.

"A hot pot game? What's that? Well, as long as it has to do with eating..." Paimon asked in confusion while drooling at the thought of food.

"Simply put, every person prepares an ingredient to add to the hot pot. Once the meal begins, we add all the ingredients together. Then we take it in turns to close our eyes, pick an ingredient out of the pot, taste it, and guess whose ingredient it was. Anyone who guesses correctly can go again, and whoever finishes the meal with the most points is declared the winner. Tradition even has it that the winner receives blessings from the God of Hot Pot. Don't you think it sounds like fun? Hehe, I've been wanting to give it a try... In fact, I've already got my ingredients prepared!" Thoma explained and you all snorted in amusement at the God of Hot Pot part.

"You really do wanna play, huh! Well, sounds like we've got our work cut out for us! Time to gather some ingredients. But... what should we choose?" Paimon asked him.

"Let's stick to the classics..." Aether answered on Thoma's behalf.

"Let's see what we've got here. Hmm, fresh fish fillets, shrimp, bamboo shoots... Nice! You can't go wrong with these. Paimon can't wait!" Paimon said excitedly.

Everyone enjoys a normal and harmless round of hot pot...

"Paimon never thought we'd be the only ones to actually put anything edible into the pot... Don't go wasting the rest now! This was possibly the scariest-looking hot pot Paimon's ever seen... Fortunately, Thoma ended up eating all the weird stuff" Paimon commented with a sigh at Ayaka and Thoma's choices for ingredients.

"You can say that again... But hey, at least I got the most points... Ugh, wait a moment... that doesn't feel good..." Thoma said with a pale face.

"I'm afraid it's your own fault for adding all those strange ingredients Thoma. The soup flavor wasn't quite the same afterwards... Even with the Traveler's normal ingredients, I still couldn't guess any of them correctly" Ayaka chastised him for his choices of ingredients.

"Let's be team daredevil..." Aether said with what Ayaka would have sworn were little horns on his head.

'Cute' She thought with a slight blush which was noticed by Paimon who smirked.

"Ooh, Paimon proposes we gather raging demon-level Jueyun Chilis, super salty Ham, Mist Flower Corollas... This is already shaping up to be a hot pot to remember..." Paimon commented something all of them agreed on.

Everyone enjoys a questionable and borderline hazardous round of hot pot...

"Ugh, my stomach! It feels like Yoimiya's fireworks are going off inside me..." Thoma wheezed, his face as white as snow.

"Who would've guessed that Thoma would be the winner...? He ate practically all those weird ingredients without a second thought! Uh, Thoma? You okay buddy?" Paimon asked in concern.

"Salt-crusted herring, unripe Lavender Melon, flash-boiled dango... Oh, and whatever that thing was that nearly froze my tongue off... Hold up, my life is starting to flash before my eyes... Time I call it a night, everyone..." Thoma told them with gritted teeth.

"Hehe, you've only got yourself to blame Thoma... All those strange things you ate were ingredients you added yourself" Ayaka said in both amusement and exasperation at her friend's antics.

"But weren't you the one who added those little cakes Ayaka? Hehe, I think Aether ended up eating one. Boiling cakes in hot pot... bleurgh... think of the texture..."Paimon laughed at Aether’s misfortune who looks slightly pale while Ayaka looked at him in concern.

'So his name is Aether' Ayaka and Thoma thought inwardly.

"I must apologize... To be perfectly honest, I thought the cakes would be a tasty addition" Ayaka said in embarrassment.

"Uh oh, I'm definitely not okay... Ugh, I need to lie down" Thoma commented clutching his stomach in pain.

Some time passes...

"Whew... I feel like a new man" Thoma said feeling as new as good.

"Uh, you know, Thoma... all you had to do was guess wrong on purpose and it would've been someone else's turn. Talk about being competitive..." Paimon pointed out, shaking a bit at her words.

"Haha, guess I've been feeling unlucky recently and wanted the God of Hot Pot's blessing. Perhaps I did get a little carried away... Still, I couldn't be beaten at my own game first time around! I think my luck has already taken a turn for the better — I can sense it! So without further ado, I hereby declare that the winner of today's hot pot challenge is... me!" Thoma said with a laugh.

"Oh brother..." Paimon murmured shaking her head.

"Ahh... good effort team, another important job taken care of. Next on the agenda: some well-earned rest and relaxation" Thoma commented earning a chuckle from the group.

"Yes, if the Tenryou Commission truly is as busy with preparations as Thoma claims, then some rest would be a welcome change of pace. And with the extra time, there are some other matters I wish to attend to..." Ayaka said in agreement with Thoma.

"Let's all take some much-needed time off. After a few days' rest, we'll reconvene at the Komore Teahouse and discuss our next operation. Downtime is hard to come by these days, so be sure to make the most of it! I'll tidy things up here and start thinking about our ingredients for our next round, hehe" Thoma told them.

"There's gonna be a sequel!? Paimon shrieked in dismay.

"Sure, why not! We should play again now that everyone knows the rules. I'll see you all later!" Thoma replied to her.

"Bye, Thoma! Hmm, seems we won't need to be visiting the Komore Teahouse for a while. Why don't we go explore some other places!" Paimon proposed to Aether who nodded in answer.

As they arrive at the exit of the Komore Teahouse.

"Hmm, where do we go from here...? What's the plan?" Paimon asked Aether.

"Traveler, Paimon. Hold on" Ayaka called them out.

"Huh? Ayaka?" Paimon said in puzzlement.

"What's the matter?" Aether asked her.

"Something has come up, and I would like to request your assistance. But you ought not be nervous. This is not coming from the Yashiro Commission or the Kamisato Clan. It is my own individual request" Ayaka answered him.

"Individual request? You mean... personal stuff?" Paimon inquired to be sure of her demand.

"Correct. It concerns my mother. This may seem a little sudden... but in my view, you are the only person I can entrust this to" Ayaka replied which baffled them.

"Can you give me any more details?" Aether asked her after a second.

"A few days ago, I was sorting through some old family belongings when I found a notebook that belonged to my mother. She wrote about all kinds of things, mostly of little consequence. But what drew my attention was a name — it is one that I have never heard before, so the fact that she mentions it so frequently... it makes it difficult for me to ignore..." Ayaka answered him.

"Probably your mom's best buddy, right?" Paimon suggested uncertainly but the heiress's face showed she didn't know.

"You'd really never heard the name before? Not once?" Aether inquired from her.

"Never. And although my mother and father passed away many years ago, both my brother and I are familiar with the vast majority of their acquaintances. So... I am very curious about this mysterious individual. I would very much like to meet them. According to the notebook, their name is "Tsubaki." This seems to have been someone very important to my mother. Someone with a lot of personality, who liked to have fun" Ayaka answered him.

"Hmm... Paimon thinks it sounds like a girl's name" Paimon said and from Aether's expression he thought the same.

"That's what I thought too" Ayaka agreed with her.

"So, what do you want us to do? Do you need us to find her for you?" Paimon asked her curiously.

"No, no, her address is given in the notebook — we can head straight there. I wanted you to assist me with the preparation of greeting gifts... ...Please keep everything I have told you in strict confidence. The proper course of action would be to involve my brother and visit her together, but he is terribly busy at present, and... on a more selfish note, I don't wish to involve anybody else from Inazuma in this matter" Ayaka replied a bit ashamed at her own request.

"Hence why you came to me, an outlander" Aether said bluntly.

"Exactly. That, and you are also a kind, well-mannered person with a genuine concern for other people... not to mention trustworthy. I would not feel comfortable with anyone else in this situation" Ayaka told him making him blush.

"You can count on us! We've done greeting gifts before, so we should be able to help. In terms of payment... just treat us to some delicious food, and we'll be more than happy!" Paimon said already thinking of her reward being food which exasperated Aether.

"Wonderful — in fact, I was hoping to take this opportunity to show you both around. If you don't mind, of course?" Ayaka asked warmly.

"Oh, we don't mind! We don't mind at all! Do we, right Aether?" Paimon inquired from her partner.

"Not in the slightest" Aether answered coolly.

"Thank you kindly! Shall we head off, then? Ogura Textiles & Kimonos is our first stop" Ayaka told them happily.

"Alright! Sounds great!" Paimon said excitedly.

They leave the Komore Teahouse and heads to Ogura Textiles & Kimonos.

"Hm? This must be..." Ayaka said looking in the distance.

"It's a festival promotion. Hey, speaking of — we haven't been anywhere fun since we arrived in Inazuma!" Paimon cried out.

"Did you want to go, Ayaka?" Aether asked her.

"N—No, what made you think that? Ahem... Festivals are a common occurrence here in Inazuma. We in the Yashiro Commission are very well acquainted with these sorts of customs. Each season brings its own festival... and each festival, in turn, brings a fresh challenge to the task of maintaining public order... So, while festivals are undoubtedly joyous and lively occasions, for us they are also a cause of concern... Oh! My apologies, I should stop thinking about work, this is hardly relevant to the matter at hand. This store here is the place I wanted to visit" Ayaka rambled for a while before pulling herself together.

"Oh, so you weren't checking out the promotion... Well, let's take a look inside then" Paimon said before entering the shop.

"Welcome, I have all the latest styles. Please take a look! Oh! It's Miss Kamisato — with guests from overseas! Welcome to Ogura Textiles & Kimonos. Are you here to purchase fabric, or for tailored garments?" Ogura Mio greeted them.

"Oh! Greetings to you too. I have a design here for a garment, would you be so kind as to take a look?" Ayaka asked as she hand the design to her.

"Ohh, Ayaka came prepared!" Paimon commented in surprise.

"Let me see... Hmm? Hmm, this could be..." Ogura Mio murmured as she inspects the design.

"Mm-hmm? Could be?" Ayaka inquired the older woman.

"—Oh, it's a very fine design! ...Miss Kamisato — you'd like us to make a kimono following this design, yes?" Ogura Mio asked her.

"Please, if you could" Ayaka replied politely.

"I'm honored that you'd choose Ogura Textiles & Kimonoos for your tailoring needs! However... there is one rather difficult problem... Based on the design, this kind of kimono would require silk made from the Silk Flower. The majority of Inazuma's silk is imported from Liyue Harbor, but given the current climate... As you well know, Inazuma is currently under a strict lockdown. In all honesty, the impact on the textiles industry has been quite significant. We're struggling to import high-grade fabrics, so much of our tailoring business has been put on hold indefinitely. But of course, where our customers are able to provide the fabric themselves, we can still be of service" Ogura Mio explained bitterly.

"So you're saying, we need to go and buy some silk first? Paimon asked her with a sigh.

"If even Ogura Textiles & Kimonos can't get ahold of high-grade fabric... where would we buy it from?" Ayaka inquired while rubbing her forehead feeling a slight headeache at the situation.

"You could try the International Trade Association. They are a little better connected than we are — after all, the association brings together merchants from all over the world. The only thing is their prices... they're not the cheapest. In times like these, though, we're lucky to even have an option of getting hold of the things we want in the first place" Ogura Mio proposed an alternative after some thought.

"Huh, so even just getting clothes made is an ordeal in Inazuma... Wait, the International Trade Association? That's Kurisu's thing, right? We haven't been to Ritou in a while" Paimon commented before remembering the International Trade Association.

"Hmm... It looks like that will be our next stop. Thank you ever so much. We will be back once we've acquired the fabric. In the meantime, I have one other very small request. Could you..." Ayaka mumbled in contemplation before whispering in Ogura Mio's ear.

"Why's she being so secretive all of the sudden?" Paimon said feeling puzzled.

"Mm-hmm... Absolutely" Ogura acquiesced to the request.

"Much obliged" Ayaka thanked her for the help.

"My pleasure, Miss Kamisato. Honestly, I'm just as excited as you to see the end product! We haven't made a silk kimono for the longest time now, and this is a beautiful design..." Ogura Mio said as she looked forward to the end product.

"That's very kind of you, thank you. Goodbye for now. Aether, Paimon — let's try our luck at the International Trade Association" Ayaka called out to them as they heads for Ritou.

After some time they reached their destination — the International Trade Association.

"This is it, the International Trade Association" Ayaka said as looked at the International Trade Association.

"Okay, then... we need to talk to Kurisu, right? Doesn't look like he's here. Let's look around!" Paimon said as she began inspecting around.

"Look, look! There he is!" She called out upon finding Kurisu.

"Ah, looks like we found him" Ayaka exclaimed as they approach him.

"What am I going to do..." Kurisu whimpered in a low voice.

"Mr. Kurisu, are you alright?" Ayaka asked him in concern.

"Oh! You're M—Miss Ayaka from the K—Kamisato Clan. How do you do?" Kurisu greeted her shocked by her visit.

"Better than you, it appears" Ayaka commented trying to lighten the atmosphere.

"And if it isn't the Traveler... I haven't seen you in a while — I take it you've been out of Ritou?" Kurisu said while looking at the blonde.

"It sure has been a bit" Aether greeted him in return.

"Thanks again for your help last time. The Association is back in business, and it's all thanks to you" Kurisu told him with a smile.

"That's great, but uh... Why were you staring into space right now? Did something bad happen?" Paimon asked him in puzzlement.

"Well... you see... It's embarrassing to admit, but some of the Association's goods have been... stolen. By vagrants" Kurisu sighed at the situation.

"Which goods were stolen?" Ayaka asked him curiously.

"It was a batch of high-grade silk" Kurisu answered.

"...!" His words made Ayaka breath sharply at the unexpected blessing.

"We imported a big batch of silk from Liyue several years ago. It's been sitting in storage ever since. Recently, we heard that clothing stores in the city have more or less sold off all their silk stocks. So we figured now would be a good time to bring our batch out of storage, thinking it'd probably fetch a good price. But then... The vagrants swiped the whole batch then disappeared into the woods. I'd report it to the authorities, but... Well, as you know, they don't think much of foreign merchants like us. The Kanjou Commission don't want to give us the time of day — honestly, you can just tell that our suffering amuses them..." Kurisu said with a hint of anger at the end.

"While I also take issue with aspects of the Kanjou Commission's operational methods, please remember, Mr. Kurisu, that while you are here in Inazuma, you should be careful with your words" Ayaka warned him sternly.

"Oh! M—My apologies... I had to let off some steam... Anyway, there doesn't seem to be much we can do ourselves to get our good back" Kurisu apologized before he sighed at the weight of the situation.

"I'm afraid I can't intervene in an official capacity... but I can still help you get your lost goods back" Ayaka said with a innocent smile.

"Of course, I would never— Wait, what!?" Kurisu said until he backtraded on his words.

"What!?" Paimon cried out in surprise.

"Seriously?" Aether asked in dismay.

"Yes. Acting in my own of capacity, mind you. Even then, there is no escaping the fact that my every action and word will be seen to reflect on the Yashiro Commission and the Kamisato Clan. I do so not without reservations, so... I hope that you will treat this matter as confidential. That aside — as I'm sure you're aware, I'm afraid that I won't always be able to help you in such circumstances. Given your position and that of the International Trade Association... please try to exercise more caution in the future. You do not want to incur further unnecessary losses" Ayaka answered while putting forth a condition of confidentiality.

"We will, we certainly will! But, um... are you sure this isn't going to cause any issues... for you? What if someone high up in the Kanjou Commission sees what you're doing and doesn't like it? You're a highly respected member of society... Surely, putting your neck on the line for small-timers like me can't be worth the risk!?" Kurisu agreed although he inquired if she was concerned about the Kanjou Commission.

"Very humorous. Let's not forget that I am the eldest daughter of the Kamisato Clan. I would be very surprised indeed if anybody in the Kanjou Commission felt that I was accountable to them for my actions" Ayaka replied to him with a somewhat sinister smile which sent a shiver down Aether's spine.

"Whoa, that sent shivers down Paimon's spine! Does everyone form a powerful clan talk like that?" Paimon mused with a hint of fear.

"Mr. Kurisu, I need to know the exact time and location of the theft, and anything that stood out about the perpetrators' appearance" Ayaka asked him firmly.

"Thank you so much! Let's see, it was two hours ago now, over at the..." Kurisu thanked her before trailing off.

Kurisu explains whys and wherefores of the serial theft cases...

"Everyone, please follow me to the scene of the crime. The investigation starts there..." Ayaka said in a tone that broke no argument.

"Alright, off we go!" Paimon shouted excitedly.

Following Ayaka they reached the scene of the crime after some time.

"Here we are. This is where we were robbed" Kurisu said bitterly.

"Hey, look on the ground! What're those?" Paimon said as she looked at the groung attracting the group's attention.

"Huh...? Footprints! Very deep ones at that... leading towards the forest" Kurisu exclaimed as he looked at the footprints's direction.

"Hmm, presumably the depth suggests that they were carrying something heavy" Ayaka said earning nods from the group.

"Let's see were they lead!" Paimon exclaimed as she went ahead.

They followed the trail and reached the ronin's camp upon reaching the end of the footprints trail.

"Stop, thief!" Paimon shouted abrasively.

"Hah! You think you can get your stuff back with this bunch? You must be dreaming" the ronin laughed arrogantly seeing the group.

"Why you... You better hope you have the courage of your convictions..." Kurisu seethed, his face red.

"Why wouldn't I, old man? Answer me this — you're one of those outlander merchants, right? You trade association types are worms, coming over to our land, leeching off our people... Who's gonna leap to your defense, huh? Tell me, who's gonna stick their neck out for the likes of you?" the ronin asked mockingly, striking right at Kurisu's heart.

"..." Ayaka said nothing but her face was icy cold.

"Hahaha! Look at that, no response. You know I'm right. Face it. This is Inazuma, you've got no ties here, you're at the bottom of the pile... Can you really blame us for walking all over you?" the ronin said callously with a laugh.

"...You are despicable..." Kurisu growled in rage

"Hey! I just had an idea. Since you came all this way — how about we do some business?" the ronin proposed with malice flickering in his eyes.

"Business?" Kurisu asked coldly.

"Pay up, and you can take your fabric back. Sound good? If you ask me, it beats walking out of here with black eyes and a broken nose" the ronin said with a arrogant smile.

"You're just a big bully!" Paimon gasped in anger.

"I... Ugh! What choice do I have..." Kurisu's face paled at his lack of options.

"Wait. Mr. Kurisu, please do not pay any money to this man" Ayaka suddenly spoke, at her words the ronin smile faded but his eyes became even more mocking.

"But, but..." Kurisu said with hesitation.

"I trust you remember our agreement? If you keep your lips firmly sealed, I, too, shall uphold my end of the deal" Ayaka reminded him sternly.

"Oh, yes, of course!" Kurisu replied to her quickly.

"Then please stand well back, where it is safe. Now... it is time for me to honor my word" Ayaka told him which he swiftly did and so she and Aether went to deal with the ronins.

A little while after the battle ends with the ronins beaten on the ground, Ayaka and Aether returns to the group.

"Well, that's that resolved then!" Paimon exclaimed in surprise.

"...Phew" Ayaka sighed in relief.

"That was amazing, Ayaka. You made that look so easy!" Aether complimented her as he ranged his sword away while he discreetly took glances at Ayaka for any sign of injuries.

"No, please, I... It was nothing. I was simply doing my duty" Ayaka said with a small blush at the compliment.

"Miss Kamisato, Traveler, a—are you hurt!?" Kurisu asked them with a nervous face.

"Don't worry. We're fine. The vagrants left in quite a hurry and it would seem they didn't have time to take anything with them. I believe your stolen goods should all be here" Ayaka waved off his concern before pointing at the goods stacked in the camp.

"Th—Thank you, thank you so much..." Kurisu said in gratitude.

"You'd best do a count" Ayaka reminded him graciously.

"6,8,10... Yep, it's all here!" Kurisu said in gratitude.

"You'd best do a count" Ayaka reminded him graciously.

"6,8,10... Yep, it's all here!" Kurisu said as he counted the number.

"Great! Now we can finally buy some silk!" Paimon exclaimed cheerfully.

"Buy silk? ...You mean, you need some of this silk, here?" Kurisu inquired as he heard her words.

"This was indeed our intent" Ayaka replied on Paimon's behalf.

"Don't get us wrong though, that's not the reason we helped you out! Even if it were just a few Carrots or Cabbages, chances are we still would've helped you get them back. Paimon thinks we were pretty lucky! If we'd arrived any later, our chances of getting silk in Inazuma would have been zero..." Paimon told him hastily.

"I honestly can't thank you all enough... Please, say no more! You need silk? I'll pick out a piece for you right away!" Kurisu said as he turns around to go pick a piece of silk.

"Thank you, good sir. How much do I owe you?" Ayaka thanked him then asked him how much she had to give him.

"Oh, it's free of charge! I could never ask you to pay after everything you've done for me!" Kurisu answered her not wanting her to pay him after all of her help.

"No, no, that will never do. Things cost what they cost, and what they cost is what I shall pay. Merchants already have enough challenges to deal with, and as Paimon explained, my help was unconditional. Please, sell your wares to me at the price you would sell them to any other customer. There is nothing to feel distressed about, because nothing, I repeat, nothing happened here in these woods today. Did it?" Ayaka refused a free ware before she reminded the group about not telling anything about what happened in the forest.

"Nope, just an uneventful stroll in the woods" Aether said with an innocent face as if he didn't trash around a group of robbers like no tomorrow.

"Thank you, I... I don't think I could ever repay you. You have helped me greatly, and I will never forget it. I'm afraid we must part ways — I must get these goods back to the Association. If you ever need anything at all, just come to the International Trade Association and ask for Kurisu!" Kurisu thanked them again before preparing to leave the woods.

"Very well, and thank you for the silk, Mr. Kurisu" Ayaka told him curtly.

"See ya then, bye! Safe journey home, don't go getting robbed again!" Paimon shouted at him to be careful in the way back.

Ayaka buys the fabric, and Kurisu thanks and bids you all goodbye...

"Aether, thank you for stepping in to help out" Ayaka said feeling grateful for his help.

"It was no trouble" Aether shrugged nonchalantly.

"But... how come those vagrants didn't seem to know who you were? They must move in completely different circles, maybe they've never seen anyone from the Kamisato Clan before?" Paimon asked her in confusion.

"Perhaps. Either way, I'm glad they didn't recognize me. The fewer people who know what happened today, the better" Ayaka replied after some thought.

"Hee-hee, it's not every day an important person like you helps out someone like Kurisu. It really shows what a great person you are" Paimon said with admiration

"Oh, uh... Your praise is quite unwarranted. I merely did what anyone in my position would have done...  I admit that it did feel strange for me to come to his aid... But this should have nothing to do with identity, or social class... As far as I'm concerned, it was one individual helping another in need. I guess that deep down... I don't see how a society can be considered just when people encounter such obstacles in their livelihoods... Ah! Sorry, I'm getting off topic" Ayaka said as she didn't feel like she deserved so much praise before mumbling until she gets back on track.

"No problem" Aether told her it was nothing.

"Right. Let's head back to Ogura Textiles & Kimonos and give our hard-won silk to the shopkeeper" Ayaka said which earned nods from him and the fae

"Okay!" Paimon exclaimed excitedly.

They returned to Ogura's Textiles & Kimono after a while.

"Hey there, we're back!" Paimon shouted a bit loudly.

"Welcome back! So, any luck at the International Trade Association? Did they have any silk in stock?" Ogura Mio welcomed their return.

"Yes, they did. Here" Ayaka replied as she gave her the silk.

"Excellent news! So, apart from the silk, I think everything else I need, I've got in store already... I just need to go and take stock of our material — it won't take me a moment. I'll be right back" Ogura Mio exclaimed as she went inside her shop.

"They'd better be all there!" Paimon shouted from behind.

"I do hope nothing else is missing. Aether, on the subject of garments, I've been meaning to acquire a new outfit for you, too. It's just... I wasn't sure how you'd feel about the idea of dressing in Inazuman attire..." Ayaka told him which surprised him.

"It's a kind thought, then I shall accept your offer" Aether accepted after some thought.

"Wondeful" Ayaka said as she smiled radiantly.

"Paimon would love to check out some Inazuman outifts!" Paimon exclaimed cheerfully.

"Do they do Paimon sizes here?" Aether asked jokingly.

"Just what is that supposed to mean? They make them in whatever size the customer asks for!" Paimon glared at him.

"Hahaha, ah, your interactions are so adorable to watch... Ahem! I mean, um... I can certainly find someone to tailor a Paimon-sized outfit, if Paimon so wishes" Ayaka laughed before telling her she would give her support.

Something I've been wondering is... how do people in other nations dress?" Ayaka asked curiously

"They dress very strangely for Inazuma's standards" Aether replied to her query

"It's so true — people dress in all kinds of ways! Some people like to wear a hood, some cover up half their face with a mask, some just straight-up dress like a peacock... Oh, and some have their tummy on show, others wear skin-tight leotards and leggings... If you can imagine it, Paimon guarantees that someone out there is wearing it!" Paimon recounted their encounters in Mondstadt and Liyue.

"Really? So there is no single standard, and people just dress however they like? So fascinating... Somehow, I feel a little envious..." Ayaka said with a tinge of envy.

"Wait, so you wanna dress like a peacock now?" Paimon asked her in shock.

"No, of course not! I—I just mean... I admire those who are able to do as they please. I would very much like to travel across the seven nations... and see how people live" Ayaka stammered before revealing she wish to discover the seven nations

"They dress very stylishly" Aether said bluntly.

"They sure do! Each nation has its own unique style — traditional, fancy-schmancy, casual... All very different, but each style is suited to its region" Paimon added.

"The study of clothing is a profound discipline, and I have much still to learn.  When clothing becomes part of the expression of one's personality, even an extension of one's body... That is quite a wonderful thing. So I am not against dressing up, far from it" Ayaka said as she had a somewhat vacant look.

"Paimon agrees! You couldn't have put it any better!" Paimon exclaimed in cheerful agreement.

"Paimon, you're so adorable that you could wear anything and it would look lovely on you" Ayaka commented smilingly.

"Wow! Hee-hee, Paimon just got a compliment!" Paimon said rubbing her small nose.

"Sorry to keep you waiting! I've checked my inventory" Mio said as she came out from the shop's inventory.

"Thank you, is there anything else you're missing?" Ayaka asked her promptly.

"Fortunately not! I have all the materials I need. As for the size — would you like me to go by the dimensions given on the design?" Mio answered curtly.

"Yes please" Ayaka replied back.

"Understood, I'll get to work shortly. In total, that'll be... this much!" Mio exclaimed in mild surprise.

"Here you go. Is it possible to treat this as an urgent order?" Ayaka payed her as she inquired.

"Well, luckily, we don't have any other urgents at the moment, so I can begin work right away. It will still take me some time, though, so please come and collect it later. Until then, I'm sure you'll find somewhere nearby to pass the time" Mio answered her.

"Good idea! Let's check out the whole area, we don't wanna leave any loose ends" Paimon exclaimed excitedly.

"Haha, there will be no loose ends while you're in my company. I already decided where to go while we wait. For our next stop, I'd like to take you both for a meal" Ayaka informed them.

"Fooood! Ooh, Paimon likes this plan!" Paimon's eyes glowed hearing about eating food.

"Perfect, I'm getting a little hungry myself" Aether said as he could feel his stomach begging for food.

"Mm-hmm, I picked the venue especially for you — a humble local eatery called Kiminami Restaurant. I thought that the relaxed atmosphere there would suit our day much better than the prohibitively formal one of a high-end restaurant. Shall we head off?"Ayaka asked them.

"Yup yup, Paimon can't wait!" Paimon answered.

While the clothes are being made, Ayaka suggests that you and Paimon come with her to Kiminami Restaurant to dine.

In no time they reached the Kiminami Restaurant.

"Are we here? Ooh, it's one of those streetside places! Looks cute and cozy!" Paimon asked as she looked around in wonder.

"Welcome!" The owner of the restaurant greeted them.

"Miss Kiminami, how do you do?" Ayaka greeted her in return.

"Aha, Miss Kamisato! Perfect timing. Your booking was for... Well, right now!" Anna said as she took a look at her notes.

"I believe so. We'll be sticking to the order I placed in advance. As for the other matter we discussed... Thank you for your help" Ayaka

"Excellent, no problem. And everything you asked for is ready and waiting. Traveler, tiny customer, please wait here for a moment while I prepare your food" Anna

"Go ahead and take a seat. There's something I need to take care of, but I'll be back momentarily" Ayaka

"Is something the matter? Is it a fight? Do you need backup?" Aether

"Ahem... It's nothing of that sort. I just have a few minor things I need to attend to. I won't be long" Ayaka quickly said as she got up to leave.

"She sure left in a hurry... Whatever it is, it must be pretty urgent" Paimon mused as she saw her leaving.

"So, you two are Miss Kamisato's friends? Haha, well, we serve all the classics. Sure there are fancier-looking places out there, but the food here speaks for itself! Hope you enjoy it. Over the years we've been in business, we've gotten to know the Kamisato Clan quite well. Miss Kamisato and her brother are both fond of our food. They're always sending staff down here to order something and take it back to them. Her table booking surprised me — not least because it was a group reservation! This is the first time I've ever heard of Miss Kamisato going out for dinner with friends!" Anna said, her words catching their attention.

"The first time ever!? Whoa... Guess that makes us pretty important people, huh!" Paimon wondered aloud.

"Sure does, and I'm probably crossing the line here, but... I'm just telling you what others have told me. Apparently, Miss Kamisato doesn't have a lot of friends" Anna revealed to them.

"...That really surprises me" Aether commented slightly baffled.

"How is that possible? She's so kind and polite to everyone, Paimon would've thought that would make her really popular" Paimon asked in shock.

"That's what I used to think, too. But it turns out the rules of social interaction are a bit more complicated than that. Nobody in the neighborhood has a bad word to say about her. They all say she's beautiful, elegant, graceful, not to mention that she belongs to one of the most illustrious clans in the land. In short, they see her as a model young lady. But that's just it — people look at her and see a model of perfection, and they don't feel like that's something they can relate to. So the majority of kids from ordinary families don't dare even try to talk to her. So you see? On paper, she sounds like a girl everyone would want to get know, but in practice, she finds it difficult to make friends..." Anna explained with a sad smile.

"Huh, Paimon never would have guessed..." Paimon murmured.

"We don't speak all that much, but we do go quite a way back. I've always admired her for taking on so many responsibilities at such a young age. So it makes me really happy to see her here with friends today! Anyway — relax, enjoy your meal, and... please talk to her as much as possible. I know she'll appreciate it. Consider it a favor for the whole neighborhood... Look after her for us!" Anna said as she went back to her kitchen.

"Ah...!" A voice drifted from behind them.

"Huh? That sounded like Ayaka...!" Paimon mused beffudled.

"I'm so sorry, Traveler..." Ayaka sighed sadly.

Was that an explosion? What's going on?" Aether inquired.

"Could you join me over there for a minute? Um... I need your help with something" Ayaka pleaded, he wanted to ask why but as he saw the expression in her eyes he restrained himself and followed her.

You head towards the great noise...

"I'm sorry! I didn't want to drag you away all of a sudden... I, um... just had a cooking catastrophe..." Ayaka revealed as she rubbed the back of her head.

"Ooh, so that loud noise we heard came from the cooking pot..." Paimon said as put the pieces together.

"As you can see, this house is right next to the restaurant. It's where the owner lives. Actually, this whole compound is the family's private property. I asked Miss Kiminami to prepare some ingredients and utensils for me so that I could cook a special dish here" Ayaka explained to them.

Why would you be cooking?" Aether asked her curiously.

"Right! If there's something you wanna eat, you could just order it from the menu!" Paimon added.

" Actually... I wanted to cook something as a gift for Tsubaki. My mother mentioned in here notebook that Tsubaki enjoys food from all over the world. So I thought, if I'm going to meet Tsubaki, perhaps a dish from overseas would make a fitting gift..." Ayaka replied helplessly.

"A dish from overseas? So anything from outside Inazuma counts, right? If so... then we've got lots of options, don't we?" Paimon said as she looked at her friend.

"Actually... I'm a bit of a pro in the kitchen" Aether told her.

"That's what I was thinking! You must have picked up a lot of knowledge about different cultures on your travels, hopefully including regional cuisines..." Ayaka said feeling hopeful.

"You could say my food is out of this world" Aether said smugly.

"Hey! Don't make this weird!" Paimon glared at him.

"Can I leave you to finish this task, then? Just as a personal favor... I—Is that okay...? I'll be indebted to you!" Ayaka inquired shyly.

"Sure thing. My time to shine" Aether replied coolly.

"Great! But... what kind of overseas dish would make a suitable gift? It needs to survive a journey from the kitchen to the recipient's doorstep..." Ayaka pondered thoughtfully.

"Oh, Paimon knows! There's one dish out there that was practically created for this purpose! Pizza~!" Paimon said catching their attention.

"...Pizza?" Ayaka inquired perplexed by the name.

"It's an assortment of toppings and sauce spread over a bread base and cooked in the oven. And it's so good!" Paimon answered gleefully.

"...That does sound pretty good" Ayaka pursed her lips slightly.

After cooking for a few minutes Aether brought out a mushroom pizza from the stove.

"Oh, it's ready!" Paimon was drooling at the sight.

"Here it is" Aether said as he placed down the pizza.

"It smells delicious... You're an excellent cook, Traveler. I would love to be able to master dishes from all over the world..." Ayaka appraised as she smelled the aroma coming from the pizza.

"Well, all you need to learn is a recipe. We can bring you some more recipes in the future, if you like" Paimon spoke.

"Great! I look forward to learning from your culinary expertise" Ayaka said eagerly.

"How are you all doing? Whoa, is this...? Miss Kamisato, this must be the dish you were talking about?" Anna asked as she looked at the foreign dish.

"Yes, an overseas dish cooked by the Traveler. Could I trouble you to package it for me?" Ayaka inquired politely.

"Sure, no problem! Ooh, it smells good! I bet it tastes amazing. Aw, now I really want to put something like this on our menu..." Anna answered, already ready to learn the recipe.

"Hehe, want us to teach you how to make it?" Paimon said entincingly.

"Oh! Could you?" Ayaka asked, eyes glowing

"Sure could" Aether replied straightforwardly.

"The most satisfying meals are the ones you share with other people. So Paimon thinks that our friends in Mondstadt wouldn't mind us sharing this dish with Inazuma" Paimon proposed thoughtfully which earned a nod from Aether.

"Really? Aw, that's great, I've always wanted to learn how to cook some international dishes! If you can write down a recipe for me, I'll add it to our menu and put a promotion where everyone will see it! Since we became a closed nation, people haven't had the chance to try anything new. Traveler, you're the best! I'll go pack up this dish for Miss Kamisato. Please make your way back to the restaurant whenever you're ready, the food will be waiting for you" Anna was practically glowing at the prospect of new recipes.

"You could have sold that recipe for a high price, but you selflessly gave it away for free...You're a wonderful person" Ayaka complimented

"Aw shucks, Ayaka..." Aether lowered his head to hide the small blush on his face.

"I mean it... I admire you a lot, and I'm so proud to be friends with someone of such fine character. Well, you should probably write down the recipe now, no?" Ayaka asked him.

"Yeah, Aether, let's make sure we include all the details and then give it to Miss Kiminami! So, pizza! Start with the basic ingredients" Paimon told him.

"Mushroom and Flour" Aether said.

"Correctamundo!" Paimon confirmed.

"Sea Ganoderma with Lavender Melon" Aether spoke after a pause.

"Seriously? Okay, well, you're the chef... Right, now to add the next couple of ingredients!" Paimon was bewildered but continued to write down the ingredients.

"Cabbage + Cheese" Aether said.

"Mmm, yep! That's right!" Paimon chirped as she wrote them down.

"Naku Weed + Fluorescent Fungus" Aether's lips twitched as he spoke.

"Xiangling sure left a deep impression on you, huh..." Paimon commented dryly.

"Oh? Who's Xiangling?" Ayaka asked as she went stiff at hearing that.

"A friend of ours who's a really talented chef, though she has some strange tastes... Still, she's one of Paimon's favorites! Now to add the cooking instructions... "Place onto oven rack at high heat and cook till golden brown." Alright, it's done! Long may our reputations and our recipes precede us, wherever we go in Inazuma!" Paimon explained.

" I have no doubt that they will. This dish is exquisite" Ayaka replied as her body relaxed.

"Cool, then let's get this recipe to Miss Kiminami, pronto!" Paimon said.

"Hey! Have you written out the recipe?" Anna asked as she saw them coming over.

"Here it is!" Ayaka replied as she gave the recipe.

"Thank you! Wowee, this is so exciting! I want to make it right away" Anna spoke with excitation.

"Traveler, Paimon, please accept my sincerest apologies for delaying your meal" Ayaka apologized catching them off guard.

"Hehe, no problem! Food always tastes better when you've worked up an appetite" Paimon said earning a snort from Aether.

"Alright, let's dig in before it gets cold. Well, what do you think? Is Inazuman cuisine to your liking?" Ayaka asked as they tasted the food.

"It's amazing! Paimon loved this one... Oh! And especially that one over there" Paimon squealed in happiness.

"It was all very tasty. It was nice to try something new" Aether commented, glad of a change of culinary food.

"Haha, good. I'm relieved. Um... When I was attempting to cook earlier on, did you... chat with the owner at all? And did she, uh... say anything about me?" Ayaka inquired shyly.

"She did, but don't worry, she's just happy for you is all" Paimon replied thoughtlessly.

"She's... happy for me? Oh... then... she must have told you. D—Did she, um... What does it matter... I know just as well as anybody else that I've got no friends..." Ayaka lowered her head feeling down.

"Hey, it's not you, most people just haven't had the chance to talk to you one-on-one before" Paimon reassured her.

"Thank you for your comforting words, Paimon. It's all true though. I just... don't have very many friends. Most of the time I'm either accompanied by family or staff. So everyone must have found it quite a surprise to see me taking you out for a meal..." Ayaka said bitterly.

"Don't be silly! You've got a friend in me" Aether admonished her sternly although with concern and sincerity.

"Exactly! You've got at least two friends right here!" Paimon added.

"Aw... Thank you... that makes me so happy! Ahem, excuse me... I—I'm forgetting myself" Ayaka mumbled apologetically.

"Hey now, expressing your feelings is the right thing to do. Keeping them locked away inside isn't gonna do you any good, now is it?" Paimon said.

"I agree! So... I just want to say how happy I feel... that you both see me as a true friend" Ayaka replied but a small part of her wanted her and Aether to be more than friends, she admonished herself for being greedy unaware Aether had similar thoughts.

"Of course we do. That's always been our style - if someone's nice to us, we're nice to them, too! Friendship can go a long way! Take your mom for example — she wrote about Tsubaki in her notebook, and now it's made you want to find them, too" Paimon commented earning a snort from Aether.

"Yes! I think friendship is an extremely precious thing, and ours is one that I will always treasure" Ayaka agreed as she nodded.

"Um, while we're on the topic though — who is this Tsubaki person, anyway?" Paimon asked her.

"Well, I think I have an idea, but it's just speculative at this point" Ayaka replied thoughtfully.

"I'm all ears" Aether said.

"I think that Tsubaki... might be a fox envoy!" Ayaka told them.

"...?" Aether was stunned.

"A fox envoy?" Paimon repeated skeptically.

"Yes. That's what I think. Even I, my mother's own daughter, had never ever heard of this friend before. It just seems so mysterious. So I think it must be someone with transcendent abilities who doesn't show themselves very often. And fox envoys are nothing new. Stories have been told about them in Inazuma since ancient times. You must have met Guuji Yae before? Well, she's a fox envoy! That got me thinking, maybe there are fox envoys out there in Inazuma that people just don't know about... and maybe Tsubaki is one of them" Ayaka explained as she saw their confusion.

"Whoa, so Inazuma also has supernatural beings?" Paimon said aloud.

"Uh, when you say "also"..." Ayaka pointed out curiously.

"Well, before Inazuma we spent some time in Liyue. They have lots of supernatural beings there, like the adepti. All kinds of them, too... Up in the sky, down below the ground, in the water..." Paimon replied a bit nonchalantly.

"Really... I have come across such things being asserted in books, but to hear someone talk about it from firsthand experience is extremely surprising. So, Liyue lives up to its reputation... Its culture has a long history and gives rise to the most beautiful legends. Quite captivating" Ayaka said wistfully.

"You should come visit Liyue with us some time. The best part is... they have loads and loads of delicious delicacies!" Paimon had a drooling expression as she spoke.

"Really? I would love that! Speaking of delicacies — Traveler, Paimon, have you eaten your fill?" Ayaka asked them as she looked at the empty plates.

"Oh, Paimon has! Excellent, then let's collect the kimono. Then we can pay a visit to my mother's mysterious and transcendent friend..." Paimon answered as she began floating.

They went back to Ogura's Textiles & Kimonos

"Your garment is ready, Miss Kamisato. I've folded and packages it for you. Oh, and the other item we discussed — that's ready too!" Mio spoke as she noticed the group coming over.

"Thank you very much" Ayaka said with a smile.

"No, thank you! It is a beautiful piece of clothing, and it was a pleasure to work on. See you again next time!" Mio replied.

"Aether, I have a gift for you" Ayaka told him

"Hmm? really?" Aether asked somewhat surprised.

"Whoa... Looks super fancy! Is that for wearing in your hair?" Paimon asked as she looked at the accessory.

"It's a hairpin in the style of a white heron. As well as a hair accessory, you can also use it as an ornament. I couldn't ask for your help and offer nothing at all in return, so this is my gift to you" Ayaka answered warmly.

"It's a beautiful gift, thank you very much. I will take very good care of it" Aether said firmly as he put the hairpin upon his hair.

"I'm glad you like it!" Ayaka smiled hearing his words which made his heart beat a tad faster again.

"Speaking of white herons, that's what your title means, doesn't it? Shirasagi Himegimi. So this gift is like a little piece of yourself. It's just as elegant and beautiful as you are" Paimon asked feeling puzzled.

"Hehe, you flatter me, Paimon. If this gift reminds you of me, that is all I could ask for" Ayaka replied gently.

"Hee-hee, it definitely will. Alright, well, now we've got what we came for, we can set off. Time to go meet Tsubaki!" Paimon threw her little fist upwards.

Chapter Text

*Narukami Island*

After travel for a while, the group arrived to the designated area.

"So a transcendent being lives here? Brr... If someone lives here, then why is it so chilly?" Paimon mused aloud before shivering slightly.

"Hmm... I'm asking myself the same question... How strange, I'm quite sure that this is the location my mother wrote about, but... surely..." Ayaka acquisced as she pondered upon this conundrum.

"Maybe we got it wrong. Maybe Tsubaki really is a fox envoy?" Aether suggested.

"Hmm... I'm starting to have second thoughts... But, since we're here, I still think we should go inside and explore in full" Ayaka said as she contemplated their next course of actions

"Yeah, makes sense. Who knows, maybe there's a surprise waiting in there for us. So, um... what does the notebook say, exactly?" Paimon asked her.

"Let me think... A crane brings one fresh flower in its beak to decorate my hair, while a white rabbit sews a hemline from four rays of moonlight. Dressed appropriately, I face eastward and call out Tsubaki's name seven times. In the blink of an eye, I am standing on the path that leads to her house" Ayaka said as she recalled what she has seen in the notebook.

"Sounds like a fairytale... So your mom would do a little ritual and just like that, Tsubaki would come to meet her?" Paimon commented in bafflement.

"It does sound a lot like an adeptus, actually" Aether was reminded of the wise and enigmatic beings.

"I have a feeling that it could be some sort of code... Let's get a little closer before coming to any conclusions" Ayaka theorised after thinking for a moment.

"Good idea!" Paimon agreed with enthusiasm.

After walking a bit further at the east side of the cavern, they reached the conspicuous stone wall.

"There are some bushes on the rocks in here. Could that be anything?" Paimon asked feeling lost.

Ayaka and Aether examined the conspicuous stone wall.

"This wall looks a bit odd..." They commented in unison which made them blush lightly making Paimon smirk in amusement.

"I think we should knock seven times on the wall" Aether suggered after mentally retracing the journal's content.

Ayaka followed his suggestion and knocked seven times on the wall and true to Aether's words, some strange sounds can be heard coming from within the stone wall at it falls away. 

"Huh? There's nobody here, just this box... Let's see what's inside!" Paimon said as her eyes fell upon the box, Aether moved forward to grab the box and opened it.

"Did it open, did it open? Did our "Inazumadeptus" leave any treasure here?" Paimon asked excitedly, making him cringe at the Inazumadeptus part.

"What's this?" Ayaka said as she looked over the box.

"Huh... Looks like a book" Paimon said blankly as she looked upon the book.

"It seems to be another notebook. Could it be Tsubaki's notebook...? Let's step back outside now. The atmosphere here is different than I'd imagined. Somehow... it makes me a little reluctant to open the notebook" Ayaka mused before saying a bit gloomily.

"Paimon knows what you mean — reading in low light is really bad for your eyes. C'mon, let's get back outside!" Paimon spoke without thinking, which earned her a reproachful glance from Aether.

They went outside the cave to check the notebook.

"Here will do just fine" Ayaka said with a forlorn sigh.

"Alright, let's see what the notebook says! Ooh, Paimon bets it's all about mysterious treasure! Ah, so exciting!" Paimon was frothing with excitement.

 "Psst, Paimon" Aether whispered to her.

"What is it? Why are you whispering all of a sudden? You're making Paimon nervous..." Paimon asked him nervously.

"Come with me. Let's go over there" Aether said sternly as he tracted her away.

"..." Ayaka didn't seem to hear them as she was focused upon the notebook.

"Ohhhh, you want to let Ayaka read the notebook without distraction. Seems whatever's written in there must be pretty major after all. But, um, based on her expression... probably not a treasure map. Hmm, what could it be?" Paimon finally figured out before curiously wondering the notebook's content.

"...Traveler, Paimon, sorry to keep you waiting so long" Ayaka took a long exhale and spoke apologicatelly.

"No worries, it wasn't long at all! You're a very fast reader" Paimon waved her apology off as she commented on her reading speed.

"Have you finished reading the notebook?" Aether asked her gently.

"Yes, I have. I think I ought to share the truth of this notebook with you both. Even though the contents are completely different than what I was expecting..." Ayaka confirmed before she said how divergent the notebook was to her expectation.

"Different how? You mean, it wasn't a fox envoy who wrote this?" Paimon asked

"Not a fox envoy, no. It turns out that Tsubaki's real identity... is my mother herself" Ayaka revealed Tsubaki's identity was none other than her own mother.

"Huh!?" Paimon's mouth gagged open.

"Surprised? M—Me too... But that's what it says at the very beginning of the notebook" Ayaka said, still feeling surprised at the discovery.

"Ahem... Tsubaki and I are the same person, and yet we are different. When I become Tsubaki, I stop being Kamisato Kayo and become the most ordinary woman in the world. What follows in these pages is the ordinary, everyday life of a regular person. Nothing more, Nothing less. This notebook is, for the most part, a collection of my mother's musings, both private and trivial. All of the things we thought about Tsubaki... were in fact about my mother herself" she recited the notebook's content to the rapt attention of her friends.

"So... that means that the kimono design, and the international dishes..." Paimon said as it finally dawned on her.

"Are things that my mother wished to try, yes. I'm sure this all sounds utterly bizarre to you, but to me at least, my mother's behavior is completely understandable. Or to put it another way, I... I—I actually have another side to myself as well. I was at a loss for words when I started reading the contents of the notebook... It almost felt like... like someone had looked inside my mind, examined my thoughts, and then written them all down on paper..." Ayaka affirmed, before commenting on how her mother's notes were a perfect picture of her hidden desires.

"Ayaka..." Paimon said sadly.

"From the moment my mother married my father, she became the mother of the Kamisato household, and with that came all sorts of duties. At the same time, the prestige of the Yashiro Commission brought its own share of responsibility. On top of that, every action she ever took was seen as representing the Kamisato Clan. People were always watching her. Under such circumstances, she never had much time to do things she really wanted to do. After my parents passed away, Ayato and I took over responsibility for the affairs of the clan. We ran into all sorts of difficulties during that time... I'm not sure if people outside the clan could ever imagine what it was like. Every time I found myself up against a difficult issue, I'd ask myself: Did my mother go through this, too? What would she have done in this situation? Maybe it's because it'd been so long since I last saw her, but... somehow, all that was left of her in my mind was the side of her that inspired awe and commanded respect..." Ayaka recounted the responsibilities her mother was burdened with when she became the Kamisato Patriarch's wife, the difficult times her and her brother traversed when her parents died and how she kept in mind the regal and dignified image of her late mother.

"..." Aether was silent but his squeezed fists spoke of his inner turmoil.

"But... my image of her was incorrect. When I read this notebook, I realized... She was just like me. Underneath whatever position she may have held, she was just an ordinary person. She liked pretty kimonos, she wanted to try food from different places, she yearned to see sights she'd never seen before... Maybe this all sounds immature to you, but... I feel just the same way. I want to live life not as Kamisato Ayaka, but as an ordinary woman. Mother wrote that she'd always wanted to go to a local Inazuman festival. She said that sometimes, on a clear night, if you looked out from our house, you could see lights off in the distance" Ayaka said wistfully.

"I've seen those lights too! It looks so lively with so many people — and it's so brightly lit it makes the whole sky glow... Of course, sometimes it does make me a bit anxious from a public order perspective. But for someone of my position to just show up at a festival with no warning — it could be considered improper etiquette. Especially in my parents' generation, when the Yashiro Commission didn't have a particularly close relationship with the populace... Even if no one stopped us, the idea of the Yashiro Commission going out into the crowd... It'd certainly draw some strange looks. People would probably start thinking there was a trouble afoot. Mother said that she didn't want to put people on edge — she wanted everyone to enjoy the fun and freedom of the festival... She didn't want to disturb them, and didn't have much free time anyway, so she never went. Not even once" Ayaka proceeded with the same wistful tone.

"Aw... So the kimono design — that must have been the outfit she planned on wearing if she ever did go to a festival, right?" Paimon sniffed with teary eyes.

"That's right. And sometimes, festivals sell international food. She wanted to try that, too. I hope this isn't a disrespectful thing to say, but... I never knew my mother was so in touch with her inner child, haha" Ayaka stated with a laugh in the end.

"That's not disrespectful at all! Paimon thinks your mom was the best of both — a big softie on the inside and a big sense of responsibility on the outside!" Paimon exclaimed with a smile.

"...Without knowing it, I've ended up fulfilling several of my mother's wishes already. But going to a festival is the one thing that I cannot do for her. Perhaps this is one thing that can simply never be" Ayaka said with a sigh.

"You've already achieved so many things. It's not your fault, it's just the way things are" Aether consoled her gently.

"I understand...Thank you. I think I realize something now. Mother and I are so similar in so many ways. The things she faces are things that I too will go on to face. She chose to place her unfulfilled wishes onto the identity of Tsubaki. As for me... I've already decided" Ayaka declared firmly.

"Oh! So you've decided on an alter ego too?" Paimon asked curiously.

"No, um... I don't plan to do anything like that. I think... I think I will set myself a new goal: To live each day without regrets. So, um... Traveler, I... Ahem... Whew, deep breaths, Ayaka, deep breaths..." Ayaka said before stopping to catch her breath back.

"Would you be at all interested in checking out an Inazuman festival?" Ayaka sighed before she inquired the opinion of her friends.

"Paimon's been dying to go ever since we saw that poster! Paimon would love to go with you Ayaka!" Paimon quickly agreed with sparkling eyes. 

"So, you've really never been to a festival?" Aether asked with a teasing grin.

"Hey, come on, don't make fun! It's just because I used to have the same concerns that my mother did... but now, I think I don't need to worry about it so much. I'm going to be true to myself and fulfill the wish that my mother and I shared. I know that you of all people can understand me going my own way on this... So... let's do this, you and me! Let's go to a festival together!" Ayaka pouted slightly at him before giving him a soft smile and inviting him to join her.

"I'd love to join you" Aether said tenderly.

"Paimon wants to come! Festivals here have loads of tasty snacks too, right? Oh, and fun and games? Hee-hee!" Paimon was frothing in excitement.

"...Great! Thanks, you guys! If we head over now, we should still make it in time" Ayaka said with a smile.

"Oh, good point, today's the last day, right? What are we waiting for — let's go!" Paimon waved her hands impatiently.

The group headed to Amakane Island and reached after a while.

"We're here! But it doesn't seem as lively as Paimon imagined... What's going on?" Paimon commented as she saw how empty and silent the place was.

"Since it's the final day, many of the visitors must have already heard that the peddlers often close up shop earlier on the last day because there are fewer people around" Ayaka explained lightly.

"Are we too late?" Aether asked her.

"Hmm... I'll go and ask. Whatever happens, I at least need to go inside, just this once. Hm!" Ayaka replied softly.

"That's the way to go! We'll be right there with you" Paimon said eagerly.

They arrived in front of a mask stall which was still open.

"It hasn't closed yet, it's just that there aren't many people left... Let's hurry and see as much as we can!" Ayaka exclaimed.

"Hey, look at that stall! They have so many masks! Paimon's heard that everyone's supposed to wear a mask at these kinds of festivals. Is that rule still around nowadays, or...?" Paimon marvelled, staring at the masks with round eyes.

"That used to be the custom, yes, and today, it's still a popular way to dress up during festivals. But it's not a hard-and-fast rule" Ayaka explained with a smile.

"Hey! Isn't that Miss Kamisato?" Sanden exclaimed as he noticed her.

"Oh! Uh... Ahem. Greetings" Ayaka greeted him, somewhat nervous.

"People seem to recognize Ayaka whenever we go! Guess that's just what it's like when you're a famous Inazuman..." Paimon commented teasingly

"Hahaha, but of course! The Kamisato Clan leads the Yashiro Commission. It's one of the most well-known clans in Inazuma. Not least because back when Master and Miss Kamisato had just taken over the family's affairs, they used to make public appearances all the time. Some of the younger generations have never even seen Miss Kamisato in person before. Being the age I am — I'm lucky enough to have seen her on many occasions over the years" Sanden explained laughingly.

"You're too kind. My brother and I simply go where we must fulfill our duties" Ayaka stated simply it was their duties making Aether frown slightly.

"Haha, but this is the first time I've seen anyone from your family at a festival. There must be some official business, I take it?" Sanden asked her respectfully.

"...Oh, there isn't, actually. Today, I'm taking my traveler friend here around to see the sights" Ayaka clarified gently.

"Oh? A traveler? Huh, now that you mention it... You do look like you've come a long way to get here! First time in Inazuma? Hope you enjoy yourself, young one. Ah— excuse me one second" Sanden exclaimed in surprise before looking at Aether and Paimon, wishing them a pleasant time before thinking of something as he turned around.

"Hey, everyone! Listen up! Don't close up yet! Miss Kamisato has come to join the festival!" He shouted at the others stall vendors.

"N—No, it's not like that! Please, there's no need to make a fuss, we're just here to—" Ayaka hurriedly tried to say. 

"Thank you!" Aether interjected.

"Yeah, thanks a lot mister! If you hadn't let them know, they'd start closing down about now, right? At least, it sure looks like that time of day" Paimon grinned like a cheshire cat.

"Haha, yep, you got it! But on account of this being the first time Miss Kamisato has ever come to the festival, it seems only fair to keep things open a little bit longer! Oh — here's a couple of masks for you. On the house" Sanden exclaimed with a laugh before handing each one of them a mask free of charge.

"No no no no no, you've been far too accommodating to us already, we couldn't possibly—" Ayaka waved her hands in distress.

"Ah, don't gimme all that! Here you go! It's not often that we regular folks get some attention from the Yashiro Commission, so I've gotta mark the occasion somehow! Besides, it'll make me look bad if you refuse, haha" Sanden dismissed her concern.

"But... Okay, I... think I understand" Ayaka surrendered to her fate.

"Thank you for your generosity, sir" Aether thanked him.

"Hahaha, it's my pleasure! You have yourself a good time" Sanden laughed happily.

"Sir, do you have anything for Paimon?" Paimon asked him.

"Ooh, hello there kiddo, um... I'm sorry, but we don't have any masks in your size" Sanden said as he looked put out by her.

"Huh!? ...Surely you're not gonna let Paimon be the only one at the festival without a mask?" Paimon huffed indignantly.

"Paimon, don't worry, wearing a mask is optional..." Ayaka chuckled merrily.

"But, but... Paimon doesn't wanna feel left out!" Paimon pouted childishly.

"How about... a tree leaf? That should be enough to cover up that little face of yours" Sanden proposed after some thought.

"What!? No way!" Paimon refused adamantly.

"Ooh, okay then... Hmm, in that case, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do right now... But don't you worry, kiddo, I'll have a mini mask made specially for you when I get back" Sanden compromised helplessly.

"I cannot thank you enough" Ayaka inclined her head in gratitude.

"Ah, it's nothing! But I won't hold you up any longer — you should go and enjoy the festival while everything's still lit up" Sanden exclaimed as he sent them away.

"Alright! Traveler, shall we? Oh, wait! Um... Just one thing... I need to explain myself. I got a little nervous back there and... I—I just made up any old excuse. But don't think of this as me taking you sight-seeing, please! I brought you here because... because I genuinely wanted to spend time with you" Ayaka explained shyly.

I sensed that. Don't worry, Ayaka, no misunderstanding here" Aether reassured her.

"...Okay, great!" Ayaka gave him a radiant smile.

They went towards the front of a fortune slip stall.

"Aether, look, this stall's doing fortune slips" Ayaka pointed out to her friend.

"Miss Kamisato, hello there! You're out with friends today? What a rare privilege — welcome, welcome! Would you like to give it a go?" Shimizu greeted amiably.

"Okay! How much is it per draw?" Ayaka inquired politely.

"Hehehe, I wouldn't expect you to know this, but the Yashiro Commission was very good to my uncle on my father's side at one point in time. Thinking about it, it was when your father was around, I think he dealt with it personally. So you see? How could I possibly take your money?" Shimizu explained with a meaningful smile.

"What? A—Are you sure?" Ayaka stammered in shock.

"Of course! If you like what you see, then please, be my guest. Same goes for your two friends here" Shimizu grinned at them.

"Aether, Paimon... What do you think?" Ayaka asked for their opinions.

"It seems like everyone wants to do something nice for Ayaka! So if they insist... who are we to resist!" Paimon  agreed straightforwardly.

"If they're offering, who are we to refuse? I'm enjoying being a VIP by association!" Aether grinned shamelessly.

"Well, if that's how you feel, then... okay! We'll take you up on your kind offer, sir! Let's each do a draw" Ayaka acquiesced before politely asking the vendor.

"Alrighty then! Whenever you're ready. Draw a slip and reveal your fortune!" Shimizu said kindly.

They tapped the cylinder to draw a fortune slip and successfully drawn a fortune slip.

"Open it up and see how you fare!" Shimizu urged them.

"Whoa!" Ayaka exclaimed as she saw her fortune slip.

"Which one did you get? Paimon got "Rising Fortune" Paimon announced shocking 

"No way, we got the same one! Aether, what did you get?" Ayaka exclaimed before turning to him.

"Mine says: Great Fortune From Heaven" Aether answered her.

"Congratulations are in order! Here's what Great Fortune From Heaven means: The blessings of the gods are upon you. Your voyage ahead shall be plain sailing, and all your endeavors shall prosper. In other words, your good luck isn't about to run out anytime soon!" Shimizu felicitated him.

"What a great sign. Good things lie ahead!" Paimon exclaimed joyfully.

"Congratulations" Ayaka complimented her friends.

"You all have very fine fortunes lined up. With this kind of luck, you'll certainly be able to achieve anything that you wish" Shimizu commented calmly.

"Well said! Here's hoping that our good luck will never run out" Paimon was practically trembling from giddiness.

They headed towards the front of the food stall.

"This food stall sells all kinds of Inazuman specialties. Anything you want to eat, it's my treat!" Ayaka stated as she looked upon the stall's delicacies.

"Wow, it all looks so good... Is it okay if Paimon has one of everything?" Paimon questioned.

"Hahaha, of course it is" Ayaka responded with a laugh.

"Hmm, but we don't want anything to go to waste. Let's try them one at a time. Ayaka, Paimon wants those Dango!" Paimon declared as she looked at the tricolore delicacy.

"Sure!" Ayaka agreed easily.

"I'll have one of those pink pancake things" Aether chosed the Sakura Mochi.

"Uh-huh, those look good too! Ooooh, but so do the Egg Rolls... Paimon will try an Egg Roll too, please!" Paimon called out hastily.

"Alright then. I too shall have a Sakura Mochi" Ayaka took the same snack Aether.

"Alright, coming right up!" Murakami said as he handed down their food.

They try some of the fresh snacks...

"Mmm! This Sakura Mochi is just delicious!" Ayaka exclaimed with shock.

"Not bad, huh? It's one of our best-sellers" Murakami said proudly.

"Please, sir, Paimon would like some more!" Paimon demanded with blazing eyes.

"I don't know if it's rude of me to ask, but how is this kind of snack actually made?" Ayaka inquired with a bashful smile.

"Haha, you wanna try your hand at making it yourself? No problem, just give me a second and I'll write out the recipe for you" Murakami agreed easily as he took a piece of paper to note down the recipe's ingredients.

"A new recipe!" Paimon commented excitedly.

"A—Are you sure about this? If you share the recipe... isn't that tantamount to giving away your secrets... or something?" Ayaka asked if he was sure about it.

"Well, it was you who gave Kiminami Restaurant that recipe for an overseas dish, wasn't it? Hehe, she and I are good friends. We trade culinary tips all the time. Here you go, just treat it as me returning a favor on behalf of my friend" Murasaki replied, washing off her concerns as he handed her the recipe.

"...Thank you so much, I will study it very carefully and try my best to do it justice" Ayaka promised softly.

"You there, you want the recipe too? Go on, I can see that you enjoyed it" Murakami asked as he looked at the foreigners.

"Thanks, boss!" Aether grinned at him.

"There's no greater feeling than creating delicious food with your own two hands. You should definitely give it a try" Murakami stated from experience.

"I will! Once I've learned how to make it... will you two be my taste testers? Ayaka asked her friends.

"Ooh, definitely! Can't wait! Looking forward to it already" Paimon answered eagerly.

"Alright... I'll do my best!" Ayaka said with a smile.

"Well, we may have arrived near the end of the festival, but it's still been super fun. Paimon approves!" Paimon commented as they followed her.

"Yes, I agree. To spend the festival together with you today has been a truly wonderful experience" Ayaka replied without looking behind.

The group arrive in front of the Prayer Rack

"This stall sells Prayer Plaques. It's an Inazuman tradition — you draw your wish onto a pentagonal piece of wood called a Prayer Plaque and pray that it will come true" Ayaka explained how it works.

"Sounds similar to the way people in Liyue release lanterns during Lantern Rite. Those are used for making wishes, too" Paimon remarked in reminiscense. 

"Oh, welcome! Looking for Prayer Plaques? Every wish is sacred, and you've still got time to make yours before the festival ends!" Yoshikawa

"Looks fun! Shall we give it a try? ...Wait, there's writing and drawing involved? Count Paimon out, then... Paimon's head's feeling kinda fuzzy after eating so much just now... not the best time for an intense burst of mental activity..." Paimon said eagearly but quickly backed out seeing the manual activities.

"Two Prayer Plaques please, sir" Ayaka demanded politely.

"Two Prayer Plaques for the young lady. There you go!" Yoshikawa handed th pair two plaques.

"Aether, have you decided on your wish?"Ayaka inquired to her friend.

"Yep! How about you?" Aether asked her back.

"Yes" Ayaka replied curtly.

"You can either draw a picture to represent your wish or write it out in words. Either way, once you've committed your wish onto your plaque, please hang it onto the Prayer Rack" Yoshikawa counseled them.

"Wait, so they'll be on public display!? Alright, Aether, well, let's see what you got!" Paimon urged them excitedly.

You hang your completed Prayer Plaque on the wall...

"That will do for mine. May I see yours?" Ayaka asked him for permission.

"You got it!" Aether agreed to her request.

"This is you and your sister, isn't it? It's lovely" Ayaka remarked as she looked at the drawing depicting the siblings.

"Yes. I want her back" Aether said with a determined tone.

"You'll be back together one day. Paimon believes it, and you should too!" Paimon spoke in support of his goal.

"I believe it too. Your wish will surely come true. And... I will keep you in my prayers" Ayaka was of the same opinion.

"Ayaka, what did you draw? Is that Tenshukaku?" Paimon inquired loking at the depicted building

"That's right. I wish for peace and happiness for everyone in Inazuma, and good health for my family and friends. I do hope that wish can come true" Ayaka confirmed as she told them of her dream for Inazuma.

"It will" Aether said confidently.

"Thank you, that gives me hope. I think that might be all we have time for today" Ayaka said as she looked at the last vendors closing up.

"Aw... It's time to leave already?" Paimon muttered with a downtrotten expression.

"I'm afraid so. The festival is coming to a close. Time flies when you're having fun... It seems to flow away from you like a rushing river... As precious and short-lived as a cherry blossom dancing in the wind... It's time to leave" Ayaka confirmed with a bittersweet smile.

You return to Chinju Forest with Ayaka... Paimon has already entered her pocket dimension as she was sleepy.

"Aether... Today was the first time in my life that I've ever been to a festival. You've known me for some time now... I think you understand my personality, don't you?" She asked him softly.

"Knowing me... I just know that today could not have been such a happy day without you. So, thank you. Today really meant a lot to me, and the memories will always have a special place in my heart" Ayaka told him with a bright smile enrapturing him.

"Festivals are great! There aren't many rules, everyone has that smile that comes from deep inside, and... it's just so carefree and happy... If I ever get the chance... Hee-hee, I wanna go again" She acclaimed warmly.

"I'd like to go again, too" Aether said unbeknowst to his desire to be with her.

"You too? Great! ou know, we're kind of similar, me with my brother, you with your sister. Sometimes, I feel like I can relate to the determination you must have.. to get your (sister back" Ayaka exclaimed happily before commenting on the bonds they share with their respective siblings.

"Yes, she means an awful lot to me. Finding her is the whole reason for my journey" Aether admitted with a forlorn expression.

"...I understand. Family bonds are inseparable — no one can break them... They are the most important roots we have in this world" Ayaka said in a quiet voice.

"You will find her. Come what may, you must never give up.  I will always be here for you as your...Ahem! As your friend. I will always support you" She told him solemnly, she almost spluttered on her words making her blush before vowing to always be on his side.

"Thank you, Ayaka. Today made me very happy, too. Thanks for being a splendid host today" Aether sid sincerely.

"...! As long as you're happy, I'm happy" Ayaka replied with blushing cheeks.

Aether and her strolled through the woods in the gentle moonlight in a quiet and tranquil atmosphere.

"Oh, Aether. There's something that... I'd like to do. If you could spare me yet another moment" Ayaka told him with a chuckle before she ran and hopped into a shallow pool.

"Please. Keep your eyes on me" She requested earnestly.

Ayaka begins to sing and perform a dance with her hand fan. She finishes her dance with Kamisato Art: Hyouka and an ending pose.

"What do you think of my dance? Did you... like it?" She asked with apprehension at her last words.

"It was delightful" Aether said warmly as he approached her.

"Phew... I'm not very good at this kind of dance. So as long as I didn't embarrass myself, that's all that matters" Ayaka breathed in relief.

"I just... had a sudden urge, and I ran with it... Hahaha... In a way, that sort of sums up today for me. Dancing like nobody's watching" She scratched the back of her head in slight embarassment.

"There's nothing wrong with that. You're a pleasure to be around!" Aether reassured her.

"... That goes for you too. When I'm with you... time seems to slow down and speed up at the same time" Ayaka said quietly feeling her heartbeats quicken.

Aether closed the distance and was face to face to her, the atmosphere between them became strange. Suddenly Ayaka took a leap of faith and kissed Aether on the lips who reciprocated the kiss while cuppping her cheeks gently, after a few seconds they disconnected and their gazes met, myriad of emotions flashed through their eyes.

"Do you want to do it again?" Ayaka broke the silence and was met with a quiet nod from Aether.

This time her kiss was more passionate and lustful than the comfortable kiss, Ayaka probed his teeth with her tongue, getting the gist Aether opened his mouth letting her in. They mashed their tongues together for several minutes before pulling away with a trail of saliva linking their mouth both of them pating for breath.

After catching back their breath, he and Ayaka started to take off their clothes removing it piece by piece.

"How do you find me?" She asked shyly at his burning gaze as he looked at her naked body in all of it's glory.

"You're simply gorgeous" Aether said softly.

Ayaka smiled in happiness at his words, before laying her clothes on a branch, he followed her example by doing the same. At that time she and him both wanted the same thing in that moment, to lay down their burden. She saw how hard his dick was and lowered herself, Ayaka took his cock in her mouth and started sucking his pelvis, her tongue twirled around his dick, making him groan as he felt her warm tongue all around his cock, he ran his fingers through her hair, eliciting a sultry moan from her.

"Aammhmmh...*Schlurp!*..mnghmmhh! *schluuurpppp...schlurppppppp..slluuuurpp*...mnhmm..mnmmnhm..mmnnhm..mnhmm!" Ayaka kept moaning muffledly while deepthroating him with lustful intent like a vacuum, she licked all over girth with her soft tongue seeking to dry him up.

"Ayaka, your mouth feels incredible" Aether groaned feeling his lover deepthroating back and forth until he felt his release being close.

"Aannghh! Ayaka! I am going to blow in your mouth! Get ready!" He warned her.

Her reply was to grab on his legs tightly as she kept on suc

*Spplurrt..spplurrt..spplurrt....spplurrt..spplurrt..sppllurrtt..spllllurrt..spplurrt!*

"Gulp...gulppp...gulppp...gullpp..gulpp!* Mmnnhmmnhhm!" Ayaka's eyes widened like saucers as her cheeks expanded outward as an ungodly of hot white liquid filled her throat and descended down her throat right to her stomach filling it up.

After a while Aether pulled out from her mouth with a wet slurp, his lover downed the last drop of sperm, she got up  and positioned herself to a tree next to her waving her butt and pussy in front of him.

"Do you like what you?" Ayaka said slyly clearly trying to tempt him, his answer was to rub his cock against her velvety folds before inserting it slowly making her gasp in pain blood dripping down her thighs.

"Are you alright?" Aether asked in concern.

"You don't have to worry, you can move" Ayaka told him with naught but love in her eyes.

He began thrusting in and out in rythmycally sending jolts of pleasures through her, he groaned as he felt the tighness of her walls, soon she began to let out sultry moans of pleasure.

" You're so big, I can feel you shaft poking at my womb" Ayaka breathed.

He began gropping her breasts eliciting a surprised gasp from her while pounding deep in her pussy.

"Ayaka, I am close. Do you want me?" Aether asked her in slight worry.

"Cum inside me, this is my safe day" Ayaka felt her heart warming up at his thoughtfulness.

Aether pushed her against the tree a final time, before exploding inside her pussy.

*Splurt....splurt...splurt...splurt..splurt..splurt..splurt...splurtt!*

He unleashed thick ropes of semen straight into her womb filling her up and drowning out her entire uterus while she shuddered constantly in euphoria while she trembled nonstop, after a few minutes minutes their orgasm died down Aether took his flaccid cock out of her cunt.

'That was intense but great" Ayaka commented with a smile.

"Glad  you enjoyed it" Aether replied kindly.

"We should dress back up and leave" Ayaka said after a while and was met with an aggreing nod in return.

They put on their clothes back on and begin walking out of the forest and soon walked out of the woods.

" It looks like this is goodbye for today.  I can see myself the rest of the way back" Ayaka said with a bit of sadness.

"Goodnight, Ayaka" Aether said as he gave her a soft kiss on the cheek making her blush from the sudden action.

"Good night you too Aether" Ayaka said happily.

Both of them left to have a restful sleep.

The End