THIS STORY INCLUDES VERY HEAVY SPOILERS FROM INAZUMAN LORE AND HISTORY TAKEN FROM BOOKS, QUESTS, NPC DIALOGUE, ARTIFACT, WEAPON AND OTHER ITEM DESCRIPTIONS.
November 28 2022
The Foreigner from a Distant World
CHAPTER 6
A Festival Before the Tragedy
Hachiman stands alone on the archery grounds of the Tenryou Commission on a quiet afternoon. All is quiet except for the sounds of cicadas in the nearby trees. He wears an older-styled Kyudo uniform not for off to those used in modern-day Japan.
His breathing is calm as he draws an arrow and notches it in his bow. He releases it after several heartbeats and it flies and hits the dummy centimetres away from his intended spot. Hachiman patiently tries again and strikes his target. He repeats the process several times until he runs out of arrows. He concludes his training for the day and returns the borrowed equipment to their places.
Lying down on the wooden floor at the shaded part of the kyudojo, Hachiman sighs and feels nervous as he would be on his first mission two days from now. He had been training as a Shogunate archer and passed and received his qualifications from his military instructors. Hachiman lost much of his upper body fat during those brutal weeks of training and his arms have become stronger to keep up with the demand. To his surprise, his anaemia is also gone. He theorizes that it must have been "filtered out" and slowly removed by whatever power sent him to Teyvat. Hachiman now enjoys a larger pool of stamina to draw upon, but despite the absence of his condition, he is still strangely pale.
He gets up and returns to his large room in the Tenryou Commission. Kujo Ren had temporarily taken his place while Hachiman completed mandatory military training by law. But he still assists Commissioner Horimoto and spends time with his daughter Ako when he has the time.
Hachiman is unsurprised when he sees a young woman on his balcony facing the sea. "She sure loves being all sneaky… If she loves it here so much, she might as well move her things here and live with me."
"Yae, how long have you been here?" He asks and slides shut the door behind him.
"Not long. Are you free tomorrow, Hikigaya?"
Hachiman makes his way beside his Kitsune friend who is still in her shrine maiden attire. He sees a single bead of sweat fall from the side of her face.
"Is this about the festival at Amakane Island? I'll be going with Commissioner Horimoto and his family."
Yae Miko flashes him an amused smile. "With the VIP I see…"
"It's still my job. I'm the Commissioner's Aide you know. And the Yashiro Commission requested our presence."
"Awww… Don't tell me you'll leave poor old Miko to her lonesome~?" The young lady fakes hurt in her voice and sobs on his shoulder. "Ah. If this was your answer, then I should just go back and clean up the shrines while everyone else attends the festivities…"
Hachiman shakes his head and rolls his eyes at her horrible acting. "I never said that I won't hang out with you."
"I know, I know. I was just messing around."
"Do you think the Raiden Shogun will attend?" Yae Miko is caught off guard by his question and ponders his question. In the end, she shakes her head.
"No. I don't think she will."
Hachiman shrugs. He has no strong affection or loyalty to the Shogun. To him, she is just another person of authority hidden behind closed doors. Right now, his only loyalties lie in the Tenryou Commission and to Kujo Horimoto - someone whom he holds with a high degree of respect and closeness.
And of course, Little Ako, Ren and Yae Miko as well.
"Do you want to see her?" She asks.
"No. Why would I?" Hachiman looks at her incredulously at her suggestion.
"Well, in any event, I've already prepared a Yukata for you and placed it on the desk in your room. No need to thank me. Would you join me for dinner at our usual place? We haven't eaten together in a while because of your military training and all that."
"Alright but I have to take a bath first."
Yae Miko shakes her head and takes his arm. "No need. Just do it after, I'm starving." With that, she drags him outside once more down to Tenryou where they can choose from numerous shops to eat from. Valuing privacy of all things, she books a room for them to rent and they chat while waiting for the food.
"I'm thinking of building a house," Hachiman says while taking small sips from his tea. "I have land in Hanamizaka, but it's too far away."
"Why? You're perfectly fine where you are right now. The Heads of the Yashiro and Kanjou Commission all live inside the government building. Commissioner Kujo is an exemption since his house isn't far away anyway." Yae Miko reasons.
"I want a place where I can call my own."
"At least you're living rent-free. How are the orphanage and school? I heard that you bought the place."
"It's going well. The families that rewarded me when I first arrived in Narukami Island donated generously to my cause as well as told their acquaintances about it. I'm still waiting for official papers from the Yashiro and Kanjou Commissions but everything is going smoothly so far." Hachiman says proudly.
Yae Miko smiles. "Impressive. I'll also add a good word on your behalf to Lady Gūji, I'm sure that we can help in some way."
Hachiman starts going into the specifics just as the food arrives. They continue their conversation as they eat and until they finish and exit the restaurant. The two friends would separate shortly after and Hachiman decides to go to the public bath before heading back to the Tenryou Commission and going to sleep.
Work the next day ends early because of the festival on Amakane Island and he travels there by ship with the Kujou Family and his fellow officials. A land bridge is formed with Narukami Island where people can walk there on foot thanks to the low tide. The place is bustling with people with songs and music in the air. Hachiman attends a formal dinner with the other clans in the Tri-Commission with Kujo Ako and Ren and he is introduced to people of nobility who he can make important connections with. Little Ako was not interested in such things and subsequently fell asleep on his lap.
The ceremony starts and Hachiman catches a glimpse of Yae Miko among the shrine maidens chosen to dance and make offerings. He remarks to himself that she looks breathtaking. Every movement she makes is graceful and carefully practised like an expert hand doing calligraphy. Their eyes meet and a small smile forms on her supple lips.
"That was a magnificent dance." Hachiman says when the two meet behind the stage and after she had changed clothes. Her fellow shrine maidens giggled and whispered amongst themselves when they saw Yae Miko and Hachiman leave with their arms linked. Hachiman thought little of this. In the current day and age of Inazuma, it is common and even expected to see a woman do this to her male companion regardless of their relationship.
"Thank you. We practised very hard for it. Are you sure that it is fine for you to leave the other officials?"
"Don't worry, I already asked Commissioner Horimoto's permission. I'm not nobility anyway so my presence isn't exactly mandatory."
"Oho, but you are wrong my friend. If you were to marry a girl from a renowned clan you would be no doubt forced to change your family name to match hers."
Hachiman was about to argue but stops after a moment of thought. "Hm, I guess so. But I'm not going to give up my name so easily."
The two friends go around the many kinds of stalls to see if anything catches their interest. They come across a shop selling pickled goods - including fermented fish and bird meat. Yae Miko immediately steers clear of it and starts ranting about her absolute disgust and distaste for such things, much to Hachiman's amusement.
"This Yukata that you prepared for me is great. I love the colours that you picked as well." Hachiman says and touches the smooth cloth on his chest for emphasis. Yae Miko chose a plain white Yukata dotted with pink Sakura petals with the symbol of Inazuma on his back. She also wore the same one and the two are a matching pair.
"How did you know my measurements anyway?" He adds with an arched brow.
The shrine maiden grins behind the fan that he bought for her from a stall. "You don't want to know." He pesters her until she relents and goes on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear. Her breath tickles him and feels her lips brush against him.
*whispering*
Hachiman recoils with a look of shock on his face which has grown a shade paler.
"I can't believe you. You could have just asked."
Yae Miko giggles at his reaction and presses herself closer to him. "Where is the fun in that~?" He grumbles but soon joins her with low chuckles.
Hachiman leads her to where his "children" from the orphanage and school were managing their stall for a fundraiser and also accepting donations. They all run up to him and he picks up the youngest one, a little Kitsune girl who barely knows how to walk. Her fluffy white ears and tail move happily when she sits down on his left arm. Hidekuro Eirin and her attendants welcome him with a bow.
"Hikigaya-sama, good evening. Everything is going as planned and the clans that you sent our way have already made pledges."
"Good. Thank you for your hard work. Be sure to not miss out on the festivities, it's perfectly fine for you guys to unwind." Hachiman says and turns to the shrine maiden beside him, "This is Eirin, she runs the place for me."
"A pleasure." The two women exchange greetings and they walk behind the stall on top of the hill where many other people are waiting on the grass and wooden benches for the fireworks to start. He gives the child in his arms to Eirin and makes himself comfortable with Yae Miko.
"Sorry if the kids were a bit rowdy. They tend to get overexcited when they see me." He apologizes but Yae Miko shakes her head.
"No, it's fine. It was fun seeing you being very mature. I didn't know that you were so good with kids."
"I love children and taking care of them. I used to work at a nursery so I learned a lot of things."
Yae Miko smiles. "I'm sure you'll be a wonderful father someday."
She would have preferred somewhere more private and secluded, but she admits that Hachiman's place of choice has its charm as well. The two talk about many things, while they wait and sometimes a child would come to the young adults to sit near them and play on the grass. The Kitsune child would come again wobbling towards Hachiman on shaky legs and getting picked up and placed on his lap.
"Aren't you a cutie~?" Yae Miko coos and pokes her cheeks. She tries enticing the child to come to her lap but is largely ignored. The child instead holds onto Hachiman's yukata tighter with her little hands and regards her with wary eyes.
Hachiman laughs when he sees her pout. "Don't hold it against her. It took several weeks for her to trust me."
"What's her name?"
"Fuyumi." The child responds to her name being called and looks up at him. The first signs of teeth are shown when she mimics their smile. "And this is the second time you came to me. Kids, be a dear and give her back to Eirin, would you?" They obediently follow his request and walk off with the child. Hachiman sees familiar faces in the crowds but they were too far away to notice him.
"If you were to pick an elemental vision, what would you choose?" Yae Miko asks the question from out of the blue, completely different from their current topic about being a shrine maiden and its duties. Hachiman pauses and it takes quite a while for him to come up with a reply.
"I… I don't know? That question is way too sudden and I never thought about it."
"Come on. Just say the first element that comes to mind." She teases him as she is quite curious about his answer.
He shrugs. "Um… Perhaps Cryo or even Dendro."
"Why Dendro?" Yae Miko asks and continues, "I can understand Cryo and Geo, it perfectly suits your personality. But why Dendro?"
"So I can increase crop yields and prevent food shortages in the future." Hachiman deadpans like it is the most logical and obvious answer that anyone would come up with.
"You legitimately sound like an administrator right now. And what about Cryo?"
An unexpected childlike grin forms on Hachiman's face. "I just think it's neat. I saw a Cryo user in the training grounds who made all sorts of things made of ice in thin air. If I had a Cryo vision, then I wouldn't need to walk around carrying weapons."
"Hm… That is a fair assessment."
Before she could continue, a loud and shrill sound pierces the night and echoes throughout the land.
"Hey, Yae-"
The first firework lights up the sky with a red explosion, followed by yellow, green and blue flashes. The crowd makes cheers and yells of amazement while they watched the explosions turn into discernable shapes. The children loved it and all eyes were on the sky.
Yae Miko rests her head on his shoulder while she watched. A comfortable silence comes over them with no words that need to be said. She feels happy and content.
"If only Ei were here…"
She half expected her friend and Master to make an appearance or even just a message on her behalf, but no such thing happened even as the last firework burned its life away overhead. Yae Miko sighed which did not come unnoticed by Hachiman.
"Is something wrong?" He asks.
"No, it's nothing. I'm fine thank you for asking. Anyway, you were saying something?"
Hachiman smiles wryly and scratches his cheek with his finger.
"Today is my birthday ahaha. I only realized when the fireworks started."
Yae Miko makes a surprised expression before pulling him into a hug which he awkwardly returns.
"Oh my! Happy Birthday! I would have preferred that you told me in advance, but please settle for the Yukata and my presence as a gift for now, hehehe." She says and grins.
"Thank you. I'm quite happy with how today played out."
The two talk under the gentle moonlight and a gentle breeze come over them which sways the Kitsune's hair. As for Hachiman, his hair is already quite short as required by the Shogunate military for all young men. They watch as the children play on the grass together with the sounds of music, festivities and people in the air. Yae Miko's replies turn shorter until she ultimately goes silent.
"Yae? What's wrong?" The young lady looks down and holds her arm.
"I… I don't want you to go. I've seen too many young men like yourself not come home on their first mission." She turns to him, eyes filled with fear and concern for his well-being. "Surely someone else can take your place? You are an official from the Tenryou Commission, perhaps you can use that excuse to avoid going to the front, at least for now?"
Hachiman pauses for a moment and looks up to the starry sky as if looking for guidance from some divine wisdom. This is not like the recent disgusting wars and conflicts of his former world where bigger countries would invade, occupy and steal the natural resources of the defeated nation with the context of "spreading democracy", "liberation from their tyrant" or some grand insane philosophy of being so-called "peacekeepers" despite they leaving a trail of death and destruction wherever they go.
The conflict in Inazuma is existential in nature for they face the Abyss itself.
"I have to. It is my duty."
No matter what she said to try to change his mind, he would come up with a counter to it. The two silently debated with each other and Yae Miko becomes more frustrated as they go on. Her words get heated and she stops herself before she can say anything that she will regret later on. Hachiman sighs, his sense of duty is resolute but still wants to cheer up his friend.
In the end, the shrine maiden sighs and frowns. "Fine. Go ahead. I don't care anymore." She pouts like an unreasonably jealous lover and turns away from him. She even scoots away from him when he tries reasoning with her.
"Yae, please don't be like this... What do I have to do to make you stop acting this way?"
"Let me be with you tonight. I'll bless you and do every ceremony and sacred chant that Lady Gūji taught us. You'll be glowing with Yokai magic and Kitsune arts by the time I'm done with you." She says and looks at him from the corner of his eye.
Hachiman agrees without a second thought to appease the upset female who immediately drops the attitude. They stay at the festival for an hour or two and take the first ferry ship back to the port in Hanamizaka and head straight to the Tenshukaku.
"Do you have a spare change of clothes?" Asks Hachiman.
Yae Miko grins and opens a floorboard in his room and shows him a bag. "I've placed this here just in case. I knew this would come in handy one day." Hachiman is too tired to act surprised and walks off to take a bath in the renovated part of his home. He comes out after a few minutes and switches with his companion for the night.
He places two futons side by side and collapses on them. His eyes close just as Yae Miko enters the room. She goes to the modest shrine in his home and lights candles and incense, as well as does a dance and says chants to bring him safety and good luck. He was already fast asleep when she entered his room.
The next morning, Hachiman finishes his preparations an hour after dawn and Yae Miko goes out with him to personally see him off together with a hundred others. They gather at Hanamizaka where they will wait for the others before marching north. She looks around, and many family members of the men have come to see them off: fathers, mothers, siblings, children and their wives as well. Most of the mothers, children and wives have tears running down their cheeks and clutch tightly to the men who are going away. Yae Miko becomes self-conscious about the women and being seen like this.
As for Hachiman, he is happy that she will see him off like this. He considers her like family and loves her just like how he loves his little sister and parents, wherever they might be.
But it is too much for the young lady. The atmosphere and general sullen mood are getting to her head. She looks down to hide her face as she feels pain and tightness swell inside her chest.
"I mustn't cry…I mustn't cry… I mustn't cry… I mustn't cry… I mustn't cry… I mustn't cry… I mustn't cry… I musn't cry…" She steels herself within her mind.
Despite all her efforts, a lone tear escapes her left eye while she shook to prevent more from coming out. She chokes back a sob until she ultimately breaks down and covers her face with her hands. Hachiman sees this and gently pulls her into his embrace and she melts in his arms. He consoles her with silence and by patting her head and back.
"Please be careful and stay safe. I demand you to not get hurt out there. Don't try acting like a hero. Prioritize your safety first and foremost among all others. If I find out you did something foolish I'm sealing you inside a piece of paper for the next hundred years." She says against his chest
Hachiman rolls his eyes with a smile. "Yes, I promise to come back safe and sound. I'll be back before you realize I'm gone."
Yae Miko rubs her face on him and looks up. Her eyes are red and puffy as tears continued to fall from them and her nose is wet and runny. Her appearance made Hachiman laugh and he lets out a chuckle.
"S-Stop laughing! I-I'm serious! I really am! I'll do just that!" She says in between hiccups with tears running down her face.
"Yes, I know." He fixes her hair and wipes away her tears with his thumb. From the corner of his eye, Hachiman sees their leaders making the head count. It will not be long before they start moving out. He produces a white handkerchief from his pocket with pink Kitsune designs, which match the colours of Yae Miko's hair.
"Tell you what - hold onto this for me until I come back." He says and gently wipes her face with it. She notices the design with a look of surprise.
"This is…in my likeness?"
Hachiman laughs awkwardly, "Yup, I know. Looks terrible, doesn't it? I couldn't quite get the stitching right and it ended up not as good as I hoped. Ako keeps teasing me about it."
Yae Miko shakes her head and giggles at the gift, "No, it's beautiful. Thank you, I'll keep it safe until you come back." A loud call comes from the front which causes Hachiman and his fellowmen to stiffen and straighten up by instinct. Yae Miko looks around and sees that the men are starting to pull away and separate from their loved ones who continue to try and hold them close.
She embraces him one last time and kisses him on the cheek. Parting from him was painful, yet she did so regardless to be strong for him. Yae Miko smiles painfully as tears fall from her eyes.
"Promise me that you will come back." Hachiman gently takes her left hand, kisses it tenderly and bows.
"I promise."
The order to march is given, and Hachiman along with a hundred others turns with one unified motion before advancing north. He does not look back to see her crying figure, he fears that if he does, his resolve will break and shatter like fragile glass. He too has to stay strong for his brothers-in-arms.
Yae Miko, along with many others, continues to watch and wave them until they disappear from view. She continues staring off into the distance for some time, hoping for the small chance that he will come back to her. She waits until the skies darken overhead and rain falls from the sky and she is ultimately forced to leave.
"Promise me that you will come back."
Unfortunately for both of them, Hachiman's first month at the front will be anything but peaceful.
And will conclude with only the most tragic and saddest end for him.
Hello! Ivanov117 here! Thank you for reading! I know most of my readers from my previous works are here, and that you lot are probably wondering why I haven't added some of my thoughts at the end of every chapter. So here you go!
I will be changing the rating soon since following chapters might get graphic and filled with gore. And no there will be no SEGS scene (yet) so stop coping and seething.
This version of 8man is from my main Fanfic and he is much more mature, level-headed, independent and smarter. Although he is prone to depression, anxiety and emotional and psychological stress. He is a red belter in Taekwondo and knows Akido and Judo, which explains how he defended himself at the start of chapter 1.
BLOODY STUPID EVENT GIVE ME BACK MY FUNGUS BUDDIES!
Hm, what else to add? I guess I'll reply to some of the reviews.
Loner Soul: Hachiman joining the Fatui...now that's an interesting plot.
DragonTetho: Finally someone mentioned Ayaneru! Common VA's in Oregairu and GI will be highlighted. Ayaka shares the same VA as Yukinon but it's still 500 years before she's born lol.
Soulbow109: 8man has no reason to meet the Shogun, at least at the current arc. Sara isn't born yet either.
Oh and I have a question which I hope some of you will answer.
How did you find this Fanfic? I know that readers who follow an author are immediately updated on a new story. Does this show up with a regular search in either Genshin or Oregairu or do you still need to click the crossover list for it to show? I don't quite understand how it works if I'm being completely honest.
If you have any suggestions or comments, please write them in the review section. I would love to hear your thoughts!
I'll see you guys next time! *cue outro music*