AN: This chapter is a bit longer than usual. Enjoy!

*doki doki is a SFX for a love or scary situation, and/or anxious heartbeats.

Chapter 3 Doki Doki Festival

It's common knowledge amongst the people of Inazuma that Ayaka rarely goes anywhere without Thoma. So if Thoma were to appear at a festival with a silver-haired masked lady by his side, anyone with half a brain can deduce this mysterious lady is actually Ayaka in disguise, hence Thoma has no choice but to wear a yukata and a mask.

The Sakura Festival takes place at night on Amakane Island. Stalls and Sakura trees lined up the walkway that leads to the highest point of the island, which is also the best location to watch fireworks. There are already people sitting on their blankets waiting for the Naganohara firework show.

Despite working for the Yashiro Commission which is in charge of festivals, shrines, and cultural events, Thoma can count on one hand the number of times he has attended a festival since immigrating here. Being the servant of Ayaka who is often so busy to the point that she doesn't have much free time, it's unacceptable for him to leave his lady (and his duty) behind and go enjoy a festival on his own, not that he's ever entertained such ideas.

The last festival he can remember attending was the Windblume Festival in Mondstadt back when he's just a little boy. Thoma doesn't remember the details since it's so long ago, but whenever he thinks back to it, he feels a sense of nostalgia and homesickness that he thought he's already gotten rid of since he decided to leave his past behind and cross the sea to Inazuma. Whenever he and Ayaka are too busy to attend a festival, a part of him is glad that he doesn't have to go and be reminded of h̶i̶s̶ ̶h̶o̶m̶e̶ the land he used to belong. The constant reminders would do more harm than good, for they would plant the seeds of doubts within him that makes him wonder if choosing Inazuma over Mondstadt is what he really wanted. For a job that requires his loyalty and full attention, the last thing he wants is to be distracted by his homesickness.

Nevertheless, if Ayaka wants to attend a festival, then Thoma feels obligated to go with her unless she orders him not to, like the time she went to the Summer Festival with Aether and Paimon. Later, she told him that she enjoyed the experience, but she would have loved it even more if she wasn't the center of attention.

Now that she's finally able to go to a festival in a disguise, Thoma can tell there's a wide grin underneath the okame mask she's wearing. Others won't notice it but anyone who has known Ayaka long enough can detect the slight bounce in her steps as she walks past each stall. Her silver hair that usually swings back and forth with her strides is now arranged in a neat side braid.

Halfway through the festival, Ayaka becomes transfixed on a Goldfish Scooping stall. It's her first time seeing festival games and since she's wearing a mask so no one knows who she is, she's free to show her astonishment with her body gestures. Her voice rising with excitement, she requests Thoma to buy a bottle of Dango Milk for her as she pays the booth owner for a flimsy scooping net made of paper and plastic. Thoma cracks a smile under his red oni mask when he spots how her eyes are literally sparkling with anticipation, feeling like a proud brother that Ayaka is finally acting her age.

He gestures for Taroumaru to follow him as he makes his way to the Dango Milk stall, which is managed by Tomoki. Usually, he would give them whatever they want to purchase at a discount, but this time Thoma has to pay the full 1500 mora for a bottle of dango milk. He's not complaining though. This just means his disguise is a success.

Thoma also pays another 100 mora for a bottle of milk just for Taroumaru, who's been impatiently pawing his yukata ever since he heard Ayaka mention "milk".

"Alright, alright. You'll get your share once we make our way to the top."

Taroumaru whines but stops pawing. He trails after Thoma, tail drooping and eyes glued to the bottle of milk in his hand. Suddenly, he snaps his head around to look at something in the distance and shoots off before Thoma can stop him.

"Wait! Taroumaru! Where are you going!?"

Thoma rushes after him, dread crawling up his throat. Taroumaru never attacks anyone, but there are always exceptions. If Taroumaru gets in trouble, it's not only Thoma who must pay the price, but also Ayaka who's responsible for her servant's actions.

Thoma has been expecting the worst as he pushes past throngs of people while muttering apologies, eyes darting around frantically in search for the plump ball of fur. His heart is at his throat when he finally catches sight of Taroumaru, who's being hugged by a lady wearing a fox mask and a dark purple kimono embroidered with pink sakura blossoms. A light purple kanzashi holds up her chignon, some loose strands of hair cascading down her neck. Her kimono is made of cheap but good quality fabric, and the kanzashi is adorned with an amethyst gem, which is made from amethyst lumps that can be found anywhere in Inazuma.

There's nothing noteworthy about her appearance, no reason for Thoma to spare her a second glance if he were to walk past her on the street. But there's something about her—perhaps the sophisticated way she carries herself—that suggests there's more to her than meets the eye, and the contrast between her simple attire and dignified posture gives her an unique charm that demands the attention of anyone who has the fortune to share a glance with her.

"Hello there," she says smoothly when Thoma is near enough to hear her.

Her serene voice sends shivers down his spine and Thoma's breath hitches, his heart hammering in his chest at a speed faster than when he was running around moments before. As the resident fixer, he's talked to nearly everyone and has heard all sorts of voices. This voice sounds familiar, but also somewhat different. It's like a familiar scenery that looks different under the moonlight but he can't pinpoint exactly what's different about it.

"H-Hi," Thoma says, not so smoothly.

"What a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you today."

Thoma is about to reply when he realizes she was talking to Taroumaru.

"Have you been a good boy?"

"Arf!"

"I see." The mysterious lady laughs as she places Taroumaru down gently. Finally, she turns her attention to Thoma, who freezes when the pair of familiar amethyst eyes (wait) turns on him, suddenly feeling a bit nervous for some reason. "You're… Hm… I didn't expect you to dress up as well, but I understand why. Is Ayaka not with you?"

She knows who he is?

And then it clicks and Thoma nearly blurts out her name before the Raiden Shogun closes in and stops him with a finger against his mask where his lips are and all he can think about is how she's so close too close he can even smell the perfume on her and make out how soft and dainty her hand is in close proximity and all of a sudden she's way more human than he expects her to be and it's making him think of stuff he really shouldn't be thinking about right now especially since the target of those thoughts is none other than his goddamn Archon.

"Shh. Not here." Through the holes in her mask, Thoma catches a mischievous glint in her amethyst eyes. "Call me Ei."

"A-Are you sure?" Thoma stutters when she removes her finger and backs off and he mentally slaps himself into the abyss again when he dares to feel disappointed at the distance between them. What is wrong with him today?

"It wouldn't do us any good if our identities are exposed, no?"

"Y-Yeah." Thoma nervously watches Ei's eyes for any sign of ire at his informal tone and is relieved when he doesn't see any. "Um, Miss Kamisato requested me to buy her a bottle of Dango Milk, and I was just about to head back when Taroumaru spotted you."

"Oh, Dango Milk!" Ei's voice suddenly rises a pitch. After his past few encounters with her, Thoma has already noticed how her "nice mode" has a more enthusiastic voice while the Shogun he's accustomed to has a more emotionless voice, which matches her lifeless eyes pretty well. But he's never heard this much emotion in her voice before. Could it be...that she likes Dango Milk?

Noticing how Ei's eyes are glued to the Dango Milk in his hands much like how Taroumaru was fixated on the milk earlier, Thoma suddenly remembers the odd demand from the higherup a few weeks ago that had them order a few hundred bottles of Dango Milk and deliver them to each resident, door-to-door. He's not one to question his order, so he did his part without any objections. But if he were to ask who the order came from, would the answer have been the Shogun? Deciding to test the waters, Thoma offers, "Would you like to try it?"

Ei tears her gaze away as if she was burned. "...But isn't this for Ayaka?"

"I'll pass by Tomoki's stall on my way back anyway so I can just buy Miss Kamisato another one."

"Well then… I shall accept this. Thank you." Ei coughs, looking away as if she's embarrassed. Her fingers brush against his when she accepts the bottle gingerly and Thoma almost drops the bottle in surprise. It's only his fingers she touched, yet it feels like she also tickled his heart. His Pyro Vision burns against his waist as heat rushes to his face and he has never been so thankful for the red oni mask he's sporting right now.

Unlike Thoma whose face is on fire right now, Ei doesn't seem to mind the contact and now has her back turned to the walkway as she takes off her mask and drinks the dango milk. She's an Archon who's lived for hundreds of years so of course she wouldn't act like a chaste maiden over some light touches. Nevertheless, Thoma can't help but feel a little dejected that he's the only one flustered by the exchange.

"Hmmm… Delicious!" Ei's face lights up and her lips curl into a grin. Some dango milk residue remains on her upper lip. Thoma has to bite his cheeks to not laugh at the sight of the usually so stern-looking Electro Archon sporting a funny-looking milk mustache. Sadly, she licks it away when she notices and puts on her mask quickly, but not fast enough for Thoma to miss the pink cheeks she's trying to hide. "Let's go."

"Go where?"

"Aren't you about to return to Ayaka?"

"Yes, but-"

"Oh, dear me, am I not welcome to accompany you two?" Ei says it nonchalantly as if she's teasing him, but Thoma notices how her jaw tightens and realizes with a start that the Almighty Shogun who he's admired and swore loyalty to the moment he caught sight of her upon setting foot in Inazuma expects him to reject her for some reason.

The thought of her seeing him as an insolent man who would dare to deny the request of his Archon leaves a bad taste in his mouth. Does she really think that he's the same man as he was back then when he was filled with disappointment after that public display of her cruelty? That he, after seeing the many sides to her, still blames her for so many sleepless nights he spent hiding and suffering from nightmares of losing his Vision, forgetting everyone who's ever mattered to him, and missing the core of his identity? Did she assume everything he's ever done for her was driven by fear only, rather than loyalty and respect as well? Has that spur-of-the-moment act of his hurt her so deeply that she no longer expects devotion from him ever again?

A few weeks back, Thoma would have scoffed at the idea of the Raiden Shogun actually caring whether he remains a loyal subject or not. After all, it's not like she hasn't mercilessly slaughtered anyone who has the audacity to defy her rule, like that brave man who challenged her Vision Hunt Decree in public and ended up losing his life. If Thoma proves to be a perverse subject, then he's not surprised if she kills him on the spot with no hesitation.

But now? Seeing those amethyst eyes swimming with trepidation and her hands fumbling nervously behind her back like she's a normal girl rather than someone who can command an army with a cursory glance and sever an island in half with a slash of her sword, laughing at her is the last thing on his mind.

Ei wants to rip apart space and time and hole up in her Plane of Euthymia for an eternity. No matter what Miko says or delicious dessert there is in the outside world, she'd pick eternal solitude anyday over embarrassing herself one more time in front of Thoma.

What is wrong with her today? First, she lets her sweet tooth get the better of her and stares at the Dango Milk like she's begging for a taste. Then, she forgets her manner when drinking said beverage and has to lick the remains off her lips in public while Thoma watches and is clearly reining in his laughter. And to make it worse? She asks for their company when she's obviously not welcomed.

Why, for Archons' sake, can't she act like an Archon for once? Morax wouldn't need mortals to give him beverages because he's too scatterbrained to bring his mora pouch to a festival. Barbatos wouldn't drink like a child and make a mess of his face so bad mortals have to rein in their laughter to not embarrass him in public. And to top it off, Makoto would never, ever, put others in an awkward position by making them choose between their loyalty to their Archon and their heart's desire.

Is it too much to ask for her to remember that she'll always be an Archon no matter how she disguises herself? She can't act like a mortal woman and expect Thoma to treat her the same way he does Ayaka. Their differences are too great for her to behave casually in front of the mortals and expect them to be okay with it. She's not here to make friends, but to observe her people and rule over them. If she's here to do the job of an Archon, then she better start acting like one.

Ei steadies her emotions and prepares herself to explain to Thoma how she was only looking for a guide to lead her through the festival, but if he's busy then she totally understands and will not impose. And yet, not even a syllable has left her lips before a round, fluffy thing is shoved into her face.

Ei squints, then backs off a little to discern the happy little pants the fluffy thing is making and the chubby face that's just begging for a fondling.

Taroumaru shifts out of the picture to show the red oni mask Thoma's wearing and the crinkling mirth in his emerald eyes.

"Of course you're welcome to accompany me! What kind of person would I be to refuse my exce- I mean, your request? I may have...attacked you back then, but I truly regret it and I swear to Celestia I will never raise my hand against you ever again."

Light fades from Ei's eyes.

'I knew it. I forced him to choose between his loyalty to me and his heart's desire. And because I'm still his Archon despite wearing a disguise, he feels obligated to choose the former. He probably hates having to spend time with me, because he has to be on his toes at all times in case he offends me with his words or gestures and gets punished for something so mundane.'

Memories of how Thoma behaved in front of her puppet rush to her mind. He was so cautious when he led the puppet to the teahouse as if he was expecting to be struck from behind the moment they're out of sight. Remembering how his pupils dilated and his voice quivered with fright when the Shogun condemned him for such a trivial matter brings an ache to Ei's heart.

"Thoma…"

"Yes?"

"You need not do everything I ask of you. Inazuma may not be the City of Freedom, but it doesn't mean I don't understand the importance of giving my people free will. I want you—" Thoma places Taroumaru in Ei's hands and she takes it instinctively without even noticing what she's done as she continues speaking. "—to make your own decisions free from outside influences. Don't feel obligated to prioritize me over everything else just because I'm your Archon. Be selfish, be yourself. If you don't want my company, let me know. I won't be offended by something so trivial."

Thoma's eyes shimmer with shock and...another emotion Ei can't quite define.

There, now she's done it. The truth is out. All that's left is for the stone cold rejection to freeze her heart of which even the warmth in her hands can't melt.

Wait. What warmth in her hands?

Ei doesn't know when and how Taroumaru gets here, and by here she means being hugged closely to her chest, but she's not about to say no to a warm puppy when she needs its love to comfort her after the rejection.

...Hold on. Since when has she started to care about how Thoma thinks of her?

And why does she expect to be heartbroken over a rejection from a mortal who shouldn't even matter to her?

Ei cannot understand so she chooses to push this problem aside and focus on the more important matter.

With her arm wrapped around Taroumaru, she can feel his steady heartbeat reverberating against her forearm and down her body. The feeling of the warm, living body close to her heart forces her to relax and find her bearing.

With newfound courage, Ei looks back up to meet Thoma's eyes, and steels herself for the inevitable.

AN: How to get a girl 101: cute dog + food/drink 😋

OKAY seriously tho. Where did this angst come from? I swear to Barbatoes this festival mini arc was supposed to be just them bonding and enjoying the festival. So why is Ei so pessimistic all of a sudden? Why are my fingers out of my control and typing out this Venti sized cup full of angst? I don't even know if I can bring them back on track next chapter..