previous chapter: meeting at the tavern, lumine first discusses her concerns with aether and urges him to pray to the blessing of the welkin moon. joining them are childe and thoma, and lumine has to confront the spring break dilemma—after grabbing kaeya and (a highly sought-after) diluc from downstairs. everyone is filled in on the story of dain's past, but growing concerns over the role that celestia plays continue in lumine's dreams that night.
In the blink of an eye, midterms came to a swift end, and tomorrow's Welkin Festival approached.
Staying up late to roll tiny tapioca pearls in my hands hadn't been my original plan for the night. Earlier, Thoma had offhandedly mentioned how much Ayato liked to drink milk tea, and I wanted to prepare a special treat he'd enjoy. It couldn't hurt to try winning someone over in this way.
"I think another two pots should be enough for everyone," said Thoma, who was more than happy to help after I proposed the idea.
To make my plan less obvious, I suggested we make enough pearls for everyone to enjoy at the Welkin Festival. The cooking club had already finished for the day, so the two of us had the entire space to ourselves.
We only needed one stovetop to boil the pot of water and brown sugar—a task Thoma was in charge of in addition to mixing the tapioca starch. I took care of the second step—separating the sticky dough into small squares with a knife. Then, I rolled the pieces between my fingers before dropping the finished pearls into a bowl filled with others. I zeroed all my focus on sizing them to be the same and keeping an exact spherical shape.
Thoma paused his stirring to say, "They don't need to look perfect. It's taste and texture that people will notice most."
But would Ayato notice visual imperfections? From what I heard, he had great attention to detail. Better to be safe than sorry.
"I'm just glad these are turning out better than the tri-color dango I almost failed at."
"And that's something I wouldn't mind making with you next. It's too bad I couldn't try them when you prepared them especially for me. Before you say it's no big deal," Thoma said as I was about to do just that. "It is to me."
"Are you sure you wouldn't want to make miso soup, instead? You'd enjoy it much more than tri-color dango."
"What makes you think that?"
"Ayaka said that miso soup was your favorite dish back when…" Back when I eavesdropped on their conversation and awkwardly made an appearance. "She knows your tastes well."
"Actually, miso soup is just a dish I'm good at making. I do enjoy it, but I wouldn't say it's my absolute favorite. I didn't have the heart to tell Ayaka she was wrong."
The ball of dough in my hands got squished in my surprise. At the time, I had felt so stupid for not knowing the simple fact that Thoma favored miso soup, but that wasn't even the case. Ayaka wasn't as close to him as I thought she was.
"Then, what is your favorite?" I asked.
"Take a guess."
I kneaded the dough and thought deeply. Inazuman cuisines floated through my mind, as I was sure it had to be one of them. If not miso, then maybe a soup similar to it? I'd eaten with Thoma many times, and I tried to recall what he ate most frequently at the dining hall. Rice, for sure, but if soup was on the menu…
"Rice cake soup?"
His smile was warm. "Bingo."
Relief over choosing the right answer paled to the smugness over knowing something about Thoma more than Ayaka. This wasn't a competition—I had to remember that, but I could at least revel for a bit.
"What are you looking forward to the most at the festival?" Thoma asked. "Besides your piano recital, that is."
The piano recital made me more nervous than anything. Though I knew the piece by heart and had practiced it with Aether for countless hours, it wasn't messing up that I was afraid of. This would be the first time anyone other than the small music club would witness my performance, and the thought of so many eyes on me left my stomach queasy.
Swallowing the anxiety, I focused on Thoma's question and replied, "I haven't considered it all that much yet. Aside from Amber's dance recital and Xiangling's cooking competition, I need to think more about what to expect from the other clubs. Now that midterms are off my mind, tonight I'll make a list of festival events to visit."
"Ayato will be one of the judges for the cooking competition, actually. It was tradition back when he was still a student. My lord is always open to trying new dishes. I'm looking forward to seeing his reaction to Bennett's egg."
"Hopefully it doesn't make him sick. Would the Kamisato Clan consider that an assassination attempt?" I asked partially as a joke, but Thoma's following silence began to worry me. "Bennett isn't going to jail, is he?"
Thoma erupted in laughter. "Sorry, I was just imagining if a situation like that could happen. Ayato is stronger than he looks, in both his combat and his stomach. He's actually the reason I've got a strong stomach as well."
As far as I knew, Thoma has been unaffected by what Bennett has managed to whip up. Who knew stomach strength was something to train for?
We continued like that until all of the pearls were made and stored away. It wasn't until the next morning that we brewed fresh tea, added milk, and boiled the pearls until they reached the perfect, chewy texture. By then, it was a matter of filling dozens upon dozens of cups with the drink and preparing oversized straws that people could personally punch through the plastic tops.
Leaving the large batch behind for the festival, Thoma and I shared a cup for ourselves. I wasn't prepared for how fast the pearls shot through the straw and nearly choked when one hit the back of my throat.
Thoma stifled a laugh. "It happens to the best of us."
I cleared my throat along with my embarrassment. "Alright, alright. Let's get to the docks now so we don't miss Ayato's arrival."
Though they all looked the same, we carefully selected which milk tea to offer.
Thoma fiddled with the dog tag around his neck and held Ayato's milk tea with the greatest care in the world. He might be even more nervous than me. Whether it be hoping to make a good first impression or not wanting to disappoint someone greatly respected—there was some comfort in knowing we weren't alone in this feeling.
Both the campus and the town had more energy swirling around than most mornings. We bypassed students out and about, preparing to showcase their club activities. The docks bustled with arrivals, though I didn't recognize anyone. A fresh sea breeze welcomed us as we stood by, waiting.
Thoma pointed to a vessel that appeared on the horizon. "That's his ship."
Even at a distance, there was no doubting its impressive size and correlating importance. The ship looked distinctly Inazuman with an elevated design. Ships around the Kamisato vessel were meek in comparison, and none of them dared to cross in its path. None…except for one.
A small boat capable of holding no more than ten people came rushing in out of nowhere, stealing one of the biggest docking sections. Curious, Thoma and I approached the ramp to get a closer look at who dared to be so bold. This one was also Inazuman but far less grand with its dirty sails and aged wood.
The first person to emerge from the cabin was a short woman with uniquely green hair. She wore a mask, but I doubted I knew her identity even without it. She seemed to be speaking to the other occupants inside, her shoulders lifting and falling with exasperation.
A shout came from the inside. "Just give me a minute! I'm still adding the finishing touches to my horns!"
I knew that voice. Could it be?
Thoma must have had the same thought. We shared an equally surprised look. Kaeya did mention that the Arataki Gang RSVP'd to the Welkin Festival invitation.
Genta, Mamoru, and Akira filed out next. They looked the same as before, pumped with energy and raring to go. When the infamous oni finally emerged with a proud smile, he pointed to his horns. They were red like before and dazzled in the sunlight like a million diamonds.
"Woah, who knew that varnish would transform the boss so much? That five hundred thousand mora price tag was so worth it!" cheered Akira.
The woman sighed. "I'd have to disagree on that, but when have any of you listened to me?"
From what I knew of the Arataki Gang members, there was a deputy leader that I hadn't met yet. She must be Shinobu. Her arms crossed as she watched the gang happily ascend the ramp, and though her violet eyes merely skimmed over Thoma and I, the others stopped to point at us.
Itto barreled forward with open arms.
"Well if it isn't my two favorite students! No way, you came all the way here just to greet us? I mean, I'd expect nothing less, but it's still a pretty awesome surprise."
He wrapped us in a hug, and I nearly saw my life flash before my eyes with how tightly he squeezed. More important than my life was Ayato's drink, which Thoma was thankfully able to keep from getting crushed.
"And what's this?" He pulled back with excited eyes on the milk tea. "You've even brought me a gift!"
Thoma switched the cup to his other hand when Itto tried grabbing it. "It's great to see you too, but I'm afraid this cup isn't yours. You're welcome to try some on campus. We brought this one for Ayato, head of the—"
"You know my bro Ayato?" Itto gawked. "What a small world. He and I are on almost equal fronts when it comes to battle. I'm just a few levels above him, naturally."
I silently nodded along so Itto wouldn't hear the doubt in my voice. The renowned clan head and the infamous gang leader being best buds? An oni could dream.
Shinobu was last to leave the boat, and her words were clear despite the mask. "So, I suppose you two are Lightspeed Lumine and Thoma Thunder? I'm Kuki Shinobu, deputy leader of the Arataki Gang. The boss has had a lot to say about your fast-forming friendship."
When she offered a handshake, I was surprised by how firm it was. Shinobu didn't strike me as someone in the gang. She was far too polite and well-mannered. If I had to guess, she's probably the reason why the gang hasn't completely fallen apart in chaos yet.
"It's just Lumine," I said with some embarrassment over the nickname. "Is this your first Welkin Festival?"
"Yes, but it's not the first one we've been invited to. The gang has been supplying Celestia Academy with monsters for years, but each time the festival season has come around, they were stuck in a holding cell."
"We're lucky Shinobu got us out in time for this year's event! It would have been a total bummer if we had missed it again. I heard there was free food?" Genta trailed off with more of a question than a statement.
The other three waited for confirmation, eyes practically gleaming with anticipation.
Thoma delivered the good news. "If you mean the eating competition, then ask no further. The cooking club has prepared quite the feast for anyone daring enough to gulp it all down."
"That's what I like to hear!" Itto cheered. "I think the Arataki Gang has already proven that we can be faster than even the mightiest of ships, but when it comes down to our individual members…first one to campus gets the first bite!"
They took off. Instead of getting left behind, Shinobu intentionally stayed behind—watching her friends go with a small shake of her head.
"I'm giving them a head start," she explained. "Just because they can't access the teleport waypoint, that doesn't mean I can't. A while ago, I got an acceptance letter from Celestia Academy and almost went through with enrollment. I ended up studying law in Liyue but not before gaining waypoint access."
"Why not have them teleport with you?" I asked.
"They've got extra energy to burn through. Besides, I need to move our boat before we get in trouble for stealing Kamisato's spot."
At least she seemed aware of Ayato's importance. Though it was only our first meeting, Shinobu impressed me with her professionalism, cleverness, and how quickly she maneuvered the boat out of the way and into a more suitably sized section. Perfect timing, too.
Ayato's ship neared the docks, and I refocused my attention on making the best impression possible. There were several people aboard, many of them working together to dock the ship. While Itto's boat was so small that the gang had to go up a ramp, the size of Ayato's ship required passengers to descend.
Looking up, I used one hand to block the morning sun's rays as a figure walked down toward us. Thoma stepped forward and bent at the hip in a brief bow. He must have acted on instinct because we certainly hadn't gone over that etiquette before. Hastily, I did the same.
Kamisato Ayato was taller than I expected, dressed in a tailored suit with heavy Inazuman motifs. He looked dashing in white. Even after sailing at sea, no sign of weariness marred his refined composure. His sharp yet considerate gaze resembled Ayaka's. Also like Ayaka, he had a peculiar beauty mark.
"Welcome back to Celestia Island, my lord. I hope your voyage went smoothly."
Ayato tilted his head forward politely. "Greetings. It had, indeed. There's been a lack of thunderstorms as of late, so I suppose the Electro Archon must be diverting her energy elsewhere. Aside from that, it appears you're doing well. I'm glad."
Any passerby would brush the interaction off as normal, but my ears caught the subtle shift in Ayato's tone when it came to Thoma's well-being. The hint of emotion I heard surely belonged to the tip of a massive iceberg packed with concern.
Thoma smiled convincingly. "It's just as I said in my letter—nothing to worry about."
"Right." Ayato's eyes lingered on Thoma as if triple-checking for any visible signs of illness. Though he didn't seem very satisfied, the topic ended there when he turned his attention to me. "And, you are…?"
"Hi, it's nice to finally meet you. I'm Lumine. I've heard a lot about you from Thoma."
"Likewise." He pressed a gloved hand to his chest. "Kamisato Ayato, delighted to make your acquaintance."
Oh, good. The first impressions were going swimmingly, but I still had an ace up my sleeve—er—milk tea in Thoma's hands to offer. He held out the drink for Ayato.
"Are you feeling thirsty? There's more on campus, but we figured you may prefer a refreshment after coming off the ship," he explained.
Ayato accepted it, took a sip, and paused for a moment to chew. "It's as delightful as always. Thank you, Thoma, for preparing it for me."
"It was Lumine's idea," Thoma said proudly. "She helped make it."
Even with the breeze, I suddenly began to sweat a little.
With Ayato's eyes back on me, I was struck with déjà vu. My guess had been correct. He and Ayaka were more similar than different. Though Ayato had years of additional experience, there was no denying the air of elegance and shrewdness that both siblings shared. I couldn't get a sense of his real opinion of me. His polished mannerisms gave nothing away.
"Is that so? Then, I appreciate your efforts as well," was all he had to say before striding forward. "Let us depart from this area. My guards have been instructed to remain on board for now, and they will not be joining in on the festivities. Before we ascend, I do fancy a stop by the bakery. If my memory serves correctly, they have the most exquisite chocolate croissants."
I didn't expect Ayato to have a sweet tooth, nor did I expect him to finish the milk tea so quickly. By the time we reached the town square, I heard Ayato trying to finish what was left of the tapioca pearls at the bottom of his cup. The comical suction noise made by the straw contrasted greatly with his composed persona.
The bakery had just put out a fresh batch of croissants when we arrived, and Ayato insisted on paying. I tried my best not to make a mess while Ayato effortlessly finished his croissant without a single flake crumbling out of place.
After that, Thoma served as the conversationalist on our way to the teleport waypoint. He always found the right things to say all while including both me and Ayato. I learned that, like me, Ayato used to be in music and art club. Although, he probably hadn't been coerced into them by the headmaster.
"Lumine is also really good at chess. Do you remember Diluc Ragnvindr? She even beat him."
Everything Thoma said about me has been overwhelmingly positive. I hoped Ayato didn't grow bored.
His smile appeared genuine as he said, "He is not someone so easily forgotten. I have my time at Celestia Academy to thank for the Kamisato Clan's current business relationship with the Dawn Winery. They do create the most exquisite flavors. As for Mr. Ragnvindr's chess prowess, it is most impressive that you got past his defenses, Lumine."
"It only happened once so far," I said casually. "Do you also enjoy chess?"
"Some. I recently took an interest in trading card duels and beetle fighting. While I'm well aware those activities are not befitting of someone in my position, I must say that one comes across the most interesting individuals when doing so."
Ayato chuckled as if remembering something amusing, but then he slowed to a stop. The tiniest frown etched into his face as he patted his pockets.
"It seems I may have forgotten my wallet at the bakery."
Thoma reacted fast. "Oh, not to worry. I'll go get it."
He left quickly. Though I doubted the townspeople were the sort to steal, I understood his urgency. Even the extremely wealthy worried about losing some mora, or so it seemed. Ayato didn't look panicked in the slightest. Instead of pacing around or following Thoma like I would, he sat on the nearest bench and glanced at the sky.
"Opportunities to bask in the sunlight like this are few and far between," he said. "The same goes for excursions to my alma mater. I haven't visited since graduation."
Ayato's demeanor didn't change by much, but his courteous smile no longer reached his eyes. Should I sit next to him, or would that be rude? Did it look weird to just be standing here? Please, Thoma, return soon.
Ayato continued to speak. "While Welkin Festivals of the past are treasured memories, this present one is not what calls my attendance today. As someone close to Thoma, I'm sure you're aware of what I mean by this."
I remained standing not by any decision on my part. The implication of his words held me to this spot.
With hesitation, I asked, "How much do you know of what happened back then?"
"Ayaka wrote to me as soon as word of the rifthound attack spread. From her words, I gathered that Thoma's condition was severe and the outcome uncertain. She continued to correspond with daily updates, and I'm aware it took a little over a week after the incident for recovery." His recollection was purely informational up until he said, "Celestia Island is supposed to be safe from wild monsters, which is why no Kamisato guards accompany my sister during her studies abroad."
Intense disappointment harshened his words. I felt secondhand shame.
"Aside from reconsidering her enrollment, it is inexcusable that my most loyal retainer was gravely injured. It baffles me how Thoma declined to return to Inazuma after that level of danger. We are extremely lucky he survived, and I am not keen on history repeating itself."
His determined gaze fell on me.
Earnestly, I said, "Neither am I. Trust me when I say it was a living nightmare with Thoma's life in the balance. We did everything we could to bring his health back, and avoiding a similar situation from happening again is our top priority."
Ayato nodded, some of his ire dissipating as he accepted that much. This was the first time he's been completely straightforward and blatantly honest on a subject. Out of all the idle chatter we had so far, I was certain of his intentions when it came to Thoma.
"My apologies for not addressing this sooner, but I am also relieved that you made a fast recovery," Ayato said solemnly. "Thoma cares for you deeply, and I wouldn't want him to experience any distraught."
"Ayaka also wrote about me?"
That was surprising. I thought she only cared about Thoma. Despite only being acquaintances, her thoughtfulness touched my heart.
"No."
Nevermind.
"So, how did you know I was also involved?"
"A lack of Kamisato personnel merely alters the information network at my fingertips. Thoma is not the only student loyal to our clan, and that is all I have to say on the matter." This man had an arsenal of smiles at his disposal, and I wasn't a fan of his calculating one. "Since you were the only one present with Thoma during the attack, would you care to enlighten me on further details?"
This was an interrogation. Ayato may not have planned our meeting up to this exact moment, but it's doubtful he left his wallet behind by accident.
I replied honestly, "It's not a pleasant memory to revisit, and there's no point in dwelling on that past. Thoma is alive and well now."
"The point is prevention. The more I know, the more I can do to ensure it won't happen again—our mutually agreed upon goal. Knowledge is power. It cannot be helped if you do not wish to divulge information, but that does not excuse you from your responsibility."
I knew this much already. It became crystal clear to me long ago that those I cared about could be targeted by association. All the more reason to hone my powers and discover all that there was to know about the Tournaments. I knew this, yet Ayato was the first person—the only person—to confront me about it.
"Trusting another person isn't easy, especially for someone of high status," he said. "Place trust in the wrong person, and it can quite literally cost a life. Am I making the wrong decision by placing my trust in you?"
"No," I said—and I meant it. "You can trust me."
He pursed his lips. Trusting a person he just met must go against everything he's been taught or learned the hard way, and it was an honor to be considered worthy of that privilege. Before I could hear his response, Thoma appeared from around the corner.
Ayato sighed. "We're almost out of time. There is another matter on my mind I was hoping for you to ease."
Compared to what we talked about just now, I could handle anything.
"What is it?" I asked as we watched Thoma come closer.
"He's always been the cheerful type—eager to lend a helping hand and offer a shoulder to cry on. Loyal to a fault and unwavering in his beliefs, he may consider himself lucky to be taken under the Kamisato Clan's wing. I have always felt the opposite. Of course, I knew there would be a day when his desires strayed from what I could offer." Ayato's voice softened. If I thought he couldn't be more candid, I was wrong. "He has found true happiness here—with you."
Somehow, the turn of conversation had no less of an impact than before. Now I knew what it was like to be on the other end of the protective family member.
"And I'm happy with him," I said.
Ayato nodded, and I could finally enjoy some relief. He approved of our relationship. I could sing to Celestia out of joy. Heartfelt words worked hard, but milk tea worked harder.
"Do keep in mind if the time ever comes that you break his heart, there will be no warm welcome when we next meet. Choose your friends wisely and your enemies even more so."
A warning flashed in his cool eyes, making me carefully consider my next words.
Fortunately, nothing more could be said once Thoma got within earshot. He looked as stressed as I now felt, his usual positivity nowhere in sight. Since he went looking for Ayato's wallet yet returned empty-handed, I assumed the worst.
"I'm sorry," Thoma said sorrowfully. "I looked high and low. I even asked around, but there was no sign of your wallet anywhere, my lord."
Ayato's face brightened as he stood. "There's no need to fret so much. I only carried spare change with me and—oh. Would you look at that? It was in my pocket, after all. How I managed to miss it all this time is beyond me. It is I who should apologize to you, Thoma. Thank you for your diligence."
Sure enough, he pulled the wallet from his inner suit pocket.
Thoma looked as though he could also sing a song of joy to Celestia. "What a relief. The day was about to be ruined before it could truly begin. It felt like I was gone for so long, and I didn't want to keep you two waiting any longer. What did you talk about in the meantime?"
"Beetle fighting," said Ayato.
"Really?" Thoma looked at me for confirmation.
Choose your friends wisely, Lumine. "Yup."
"There is something fascinating about pitting docile onikabuto against each other in battle." Ayato continued the act. "I know of someone who gets quite the kick out of it. We'd best head off before I dive too deeply into that. The festival is waiting."
We all knew which way to the teleport waypoint, but Ayato took the lead in his confidence. My mind was still recovering from the serious conversation, so I was perfectly fine to hang behind for a bit. Thoma made that impossible when he reached down to lace his fingers with mine, tugging me forward.
My hand tightened around his on instinct—no—with purpose. Even in the face of Ayato's scrutiny, I would not be letting go.
speaking of midterms, good luck to anyone currently in their exam season! i also wish ppl the best in their wishes, furina and baizhu alike