Kamisato Ayaka's Dog

"The festival is tomorrow, Brother Ayato." Outside the Kamisato Estate, Lin Yiyi ran into Kamisato Ayato as he was wandering through Chinju Forest. Ayato was preparing to head home, and the two walked side by side.

Incidentally, while touring Chinju Forest, Lin Yiyi caught Sayu slacking off and sleeping.

The little girl's excuse was that it was nighttime, so she ought to be sleeping.

Kamisato Ayato smiled and signaled for Lin Yiyi to let Sayu go. The moment he released her, Sayu turned into a gust of wind and vanished.

She had not used an Elemental Skill. She had simply disappeared into thin air.

"Sayu may seem lazy all day long, but when it comes to handling matters, she is no worse than anyone else."

Lin Yiyi had also witnessed her strength and ninjutsu during Sayu's Hangout Event. She truly was not to be underestimated.

"This afternoon, two paper figures flew to the Kamisato Estate. I assume that was your doing?"

"Those two paper figures conveyed your idea to Ayaka and me before turning to ash."

"Your method is quite novel, Traveler. Using surplus barrels as trash bins would make Inazuma City cleaner as well."

"We'll proceed according to your idea. Next, I'll send people to place trash bins throughout Inazuma City."

Teyvat was a very strange place. Call it advanced, yet there were no trash bins or public restrooms in sight. Call it backward, yet it had puppet technology, Akasha Terminals, and Indemnitium—things that did not exist in reality.

"Thank you for your trouble today, Traveler. Since you prepared so many ingredients, why not stay at the Kamisato Estate tonight?"

"You can also sample the Kamisato Clan's cooking."

"You have someone who cooks?"

"Thoma usually cooks as well. With guests visiting today, we naturally must receive them properly."

"This needs to boil a little longer, that needs to roast a little longer, and this can be tossed into the pot and soaked for a while before eating..."

It was different from the Kamisato Estate in the game. Only upon visiting it in person did he realize how fully furnished the place was—kitchen, bathroom, everything.

In the kitchen, Lin Yiyi instructed Thoma on how to prepare the various ingredients. Thoma studied patiently and soon began cooking with practiced ease.

Lin Yiyi's eyes lit up as he watched. "That looks really appetizing!"

Thoma smiled. "It is all thanks to the abundant ingredients from your other world. They have given me more inspiration for preparing different dishes."

"Besides that, I can make some Inazuman specialties too. Now it is time for me to show what I can do!"

"Cheers—"

At the dinner table, everyone chatted and laughed. Aside from the familiar faces, all the Kamisato Clan's servants were present as well.

They ate and talked, while the Kamisato siblings and their housekeeper Thoma listened to the young man recount stories of his world.

Although Kamisato Ayaka already knew some of it, she still found it fascinating whenever Lin Yiyi spoke of meeting other characters afterward.

Perhaps tales of another world held an inexplicable allure for everyone.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the servants were instructed to clear away the dishes. Thoma returned to his own duties, while Kamisato Ayato began handling documents.

The young man stood outside the Kamisato Estate, admiring Inazuma's nightscape.

The bright moon was like a radiant pearl, suspended high in the deep night sky and casting an intoxicatingly soft glow.

Looking up, he saw countless stars glittering like innumerable eyes watching over Inazuma. Some were bright, some dim; some distant, some near, forming a mysterious and enchanting sky. Each star shone with its own unique radiance, sometimes flickering, sometimes steady and enduring, like little spirits dancing gracefully through the night.

A gentle breeze brushed the leaves, making them rustle. Together with the occasional chirping of insects, it wove a beautiful symphony that immersed him in the rare peace and beauty of the moment.

The Kamisato Estate was expansive. Frogs croaked in the grass, while fireflies refused to be outdone, diligently lighting their little tail-lamps among the flowers.

"Inazuma has a different kind of charm at night too." A gentle voice came from behind him. The young man turned around, and the pure moonlight outlined the girl's figure like a painting, utterly mesmerizing.

She would always be the most graceful and sacred blossom, refreshing to the soul and impossible to forget.

Lin Yiyi smiled. "Yes. We can no longer see such beautiful night scenery in our world."

Kamisato Ayaka leaned against the railing as well, admiring the distant view.

A waning moon hung over sparse parasol trees; the night watch had ended, and people had only just fallen silent.

"Would you like to take a walk somewhere, Traveler?" Kamisato Ayaka asked softly.

Lin Yiyi thought for a moment, then said, "Like before, let's go to Chinju Forest."

Chinju Forest was not far from the Kamisato Estate. After walking for a while, the two entered the woods.

When Version 2.0 had first released, Lin Yiyi had been awestruck for a long time by the White Heron Princess's elegant and stunning dance during the Grus Nivis Chapter.

He walked while lost in his memories, so much so that he did not hear Kamisato Ayaka calling him.

"Ah, what is it?" The young man came back to his senses. Beneath the moonlight, she looked so gentle and elegant.

"Is something troubling you?" Kamisato Ayaka asked.

"No. I was just thinking about when the Traveler and Paimon first met you. You took them to the festival, then danced for them. It was beautiful."

At those words, Kamisato Ayaka's cheeks reddened slightly. "Ah, that... I only wanted to relax a little..."

The young man teased, "To witness the dance of the Kamisato Clan's young lady would be worth dying for."

"That is why so many people in our world claim to be Kamisato Ayaka's dogs."

"Perhaps it is because your influence runs so deep."

The two chatted and laughed. Lin Yiyi was no longer as nervous as when they had first met. After spending time with so many people, the shadows in his heart had gradually been illuminated.

As they strolled through the forest, moonlight streamed through gaps in the leaves, scattering patches of silver light. Spiderwebs hanging from the branches gleamed more clearly in the night. The occasional croaking of frogs and the distant murmur of flowing water draped the woods in a mysterious veil.

No matter how many times he looked, it was scenery he could never see in the game. He had to admit that Teyvat truly was a beautiful continent.

"Traveler, could you accompany me somewhere?" Suddenly, Kamisato Ayaka's pleasant voice reached his ears, pulling Lin Yiyi from his thoughts.

"Where?"

The girl did not answer. Instead, she grabbed his sleeve and ran deeper into the forest.

"..." A familiar place, a familiar pool. Lin Yiyi recognized it immediately—this was where Kamisato Ayaka had first performed the Dance of the Heron.

"Thank you for keeping me company all this time, Traveler," Kamisato Ayaka said softly. "I recently learned another dance, and I hope you will like it."

"Then please excuse my poor performance."

The girl took a deep breath. The folding fan in her hand opened lightly, just as it had when she first presented the Dance of the Heron.

Under the moonlight, she danced gracefully, like a beautiful butterfly flitting among flowers. Every movement and every step was elegant and light, as though she could merge with the moonlight itself.

Clear moonlight fell into the woods. A soft breeze stirred, and leaves rustled as if they, too, were admiring the girl's dance.

In Lin Yiyi's mind, the melody of "Distant Care" seemed to begin playing on its own—this scene made it impossible not to think of that piece.

Its slow yet airy rhythm was intoxicating. The girl's long blue-and-white hair drifted through the air as though answering her dance.

At that moment, all was silent. It seemed that every creature in the forest was quietly watching that elegant figure.

Dancing beneath the clear moon's shadow—how could the mortal world compare?

Only then did Lin Yiyi understand why those people kept proclaiming themselves Kamisato Ayaka's dogs.

At least at this moment, he was one too.