The traveler receives a call from a sailor.
Atsuko! Hello and good fortune!
It has been a little while, haha!
Oh, before you start, I wanted to thank you for helping me secure a ticket to Inazuma.
Honestly, I hadn't considered reaching out to Beidou until you suggested it.
I'm just lucky that a friend sent my number over to her.
So, how goes the job search?
I heard that Beidou was putting in a good word for you at each of your applications!
Huh? Aw, don't mention it, hon!
Honestly, I'm just glad I could help you out.
Besides, you absolutely demolished that tournament!
Do you guys have Super Smash Bros in Inazuma?
Ah, interesting! I suppose Beidou must've brought it from there over to Liyue, then.
My apologies for cutting you off earlier. What was it you wanted to talk to me about?
Hmm? Oh, yeah! So, after you won, Beidou took me aside and told me that… well, she basically told me our plan worked.
So, she's putting together a crew right now, and I've gotten an adventure team assembled to head over to Inazuma.
Well… okay, actually… I have most of a team assembled. I'm just waiting on a response from our last member. Xingqiu doesn't have a phone, so I'm waiting on a letter from him.
Huh? Kazuha?
Yeah, he'll be on the crew. Why?
Hmm… you're right; he is wanted by the shogunate.
It's very dangerous for Beidou to escort us into Inazuman territory when a convict is a part of her crew.
Yet, she's still going ahead with the plan. She believes in him and trusts him.
Say, you're from Inazuma too, right? You know Kazuha, then?
Oh?
I see!
Is that so…?
It… actually, it makes sense. You both escaped from Inazuma around the same time, didn't you?
I suppose I never realized that the Crux fleet rescued you both!
Or wait…
You two didn't escape together, though, right?
Ah, I see!
Kazuha was picked up in Ritou…
And then on a journey, he noticed your raft and rescued you.
Such a kind soul, he is….
On that, we can agree, heh heh.
You know, the other day, he helped me with haikus!
Yeah, we chatted over the phone and I came up with a haiku or two.
I know, right, his poetry is so good!
I dunno how he does it; I'm nowhere near his level!
You've heard it, right?
He's visited you before? Aw, that's sweet of him!
Pardon my asking, but why the sudden interest in Kazuha?
It isn't sudden…?
Am I just dense? Haha!
I mean, I recall you mentioning him once or twice, but… I guess I didn't think much of it.
So, uh…
Anything I need to know about, hmmm? Heh heh.
You want to write a haiku for him?
Well, uh… I'll do my best to help out! I'm just not very good at it yet.
Kazuha told me that when you're writing a haiku, you want to close your eyes and imagine a feeling.
And then put that feeling to words.
Use an analogy. Compare the subject to something from nature.
For example, I compared Ganyu to a fluffy cloud.
You know what? That's a good one! He does like maple leaves after all.
The best advice I can give is to just let the words speak for themselves. Go with what sounds natural, and don't try to force any wording if it doesn't feel like it's working.
Actually, you got a pretty good first line!
Hmm, and I'd maybe change "ocean" to "sea" because you'll have the correct number of syllables for the line.
Once you get the haiku finished, would you like me to deliver it to Kazuha? Or would you like to do it yourself?
Huh? You two already send each other letters?
Aw, that's sweet!
Well, let me know how it goes!
Actually, don't let me know how it goes; that's none of my business.
All I can do is wish you good luck!
Okay, I'm going to sign off for now. The mail just came in, and I think I finally got a letter from Xingqiu!
It was great talking with you, Atsuko!
Okay, take care!
. . .
Heh heh. Hmm…
I wonder… could she have been the mystery girl who likes the sea?
I won't ask Kazuha…
But I did say that I graduated from the MiHoYo's School of Wingmanning.
I don't want to assume anything…
But I can't deny something just seems to fit.
Anyhoo, let's see what this letter from Xingqiu says...