They ran into each other purely by chance. Ayaka needed a break after a long day of fraternizing with Inazuma's common folk and fulfilling her duties. She took out her Realm Dispatch and ventured to the Realm Within. Upon entering the manor, she discovered Yun Jin alone on the couch. The opera star had a weary, forlorn heaviness about her.

"Hello," said Ayaka. Yun Jin returned the greeting. "Pardon my curiosity, but is everything alright?"

Yun Jin was about to say no when something made her pause. She gestured Ayaka to sit beside her. The opera star showed her a newspaper article detailing Xinyan's latest rock performance. Ayaka deduced the problem.

"You missed the concert."

"Alas," she said. "I couldn't sneak away this time."

"Did your duties keep you busy?"

"Partly," Yun Jin sighed. "Being the star of my opera troupe means people have certain expectations of me. I'm not to be seen at rock and roll concerts. Nobody outright says it, but it's a rule that's well implied."

"I know how you feel," said Ayaka without thinking. Yun Jin turned to her curiously. "I had to assume responsibilities at a young age. I must always be polite and cordial with the people. As a Kamisato heiress, my actions reflect on my clan and my brother. So, I couldn't spend time on activities considered frivolous."

"Society places harsh expectations on us all," said Yun Jin. "But, I suppose that's what it means to be an adult."

"Indeed. Adulthood makes finding time for what you most want to do harder. The tradeoffs are never pleasant. Still, I find ways to steal little moments for myself."

"Oh? Do tell."

Ayaka grinned conspiratorially. "When hungry at night, I would sneak past the servants and make chazuke. During some tea ceremony classes, I would use tea leaves to indulge in some romance-related astrology. I truly treasure those moments of freedom."

"I can tell," said Yun Jin. "Perhaps, should you visit Liyue, we can share such a moment of freedom."

"It would be my pleasure," Ayaka replied.

The girls spent the next hour making plans for Ayaka's Liyue visit. They settled on a date, bought tickets to Xinyan's next concert under pseudonyms, and agreed to meet again to discuss further plans. That night, both slept, dreaming excitedly of their moment of freedom.