During her usual patrol, Kujou Sara suddenly had a bad feeling. It was a sensation she wasn't unfamiliar with, and she knew exactly why it had appeared. The answer was standing right in front of her.
Right now, she wanted to run—run as far away as possible—because the woman she least wanted to see in her entire life had appeared before her.
"Yo, little Sara. Long time no see. Did you miss me?" Alice greeted her with a friendly smile.
"I absolutely did not want to see you."
Kujou Sara rubbed her brow with a headache, but the caution and gravity on her face didn't lessen in the slightest.
A lot of people knew Alice as a great adventurer, but not many knew just how dangerous she really was. Kujou Sara just so happened to be one of those very few.
The moment she saw Alice, her wings started aching faintly.
There weren't many people Kujou Sara hated seeing. Other than that idiot Arataki Itto, the one she least wanted to run into was Alice. Who knew if she'd get blown into the air again?
"Lady Alice, have you come to Inazuma for something?" Kujou Sara asked with a serious expression.
If it were anyone else, there would be no need to be this guarded. But if it was Alice, putting the whole city on lockdown still wouldn't be excessive. To be safe, she ought to report this to the Shogun and the others as well.
"No need to be so wary. I won't cause trouble." Alice waved her hand dismissively.
Was it really necessary to be this tense just because she'd accidentally blown up Sara's wings once?
Kujou Sara didn't believe her at all. Alice was a walking unstable element, someone who couldn't be judged by normal standards.
"Lord Kujou Sara, are we going to keep standing here?" one of the soldiers suddenly asked.
Kujou Sara thought for a moment, then said, "Continue the patrol. I'll deal with this person myself."
After dismissing the soldiers, Kujou Sara kept her eyes fixed on Alice and asked what exactly she was planning to do.
Alice let out a faint sigh. Where had trust between people gone?
Kujou Sara's face said it all: I'm a tengu, you're an elf, neither of us is human. Ever since the year you blew up my wings, I've had no trust in you whatsoever.
"Kujou Sara, you don't need to be this tense. As long as the Electro Archon and the others are still in Inazuma, Alice will behave a little better," Koji said, though his expression clearly showed he was only enjoying the show.
"I doubt it."
Kujou Sara shook her head. Back then, the Raiden Shogun had also been in Inazuma, and Alice had still done whatever she pleased.
She was the kind of person who feared neither heaven nor earth. Unless a god personally stayed by her side the entire time, Alice could slip away and cause trouble the moment no one was watching.
"Fine, then you can come with us." Alice could tell Kujou Sara would absolutely never allow her to wander around Inazuma on her own.
She didn't mind, though. It wasn't as if she were planning to do anything shady.
The three of them arrived at Komore Teahouse. Alice had come to Inazuma mainly to visit old friends.
"Lady Alice, what a rare guest."
When Kamisato Ayaka saw Alice, old memories surfaced in her mind. Alice had never messed with her personally, but she had once invited her.
Back when they first met, Alice had invited her and Barbara to form an idol group. Ayaka had turned her down in the end. She had no interest in becoming an idol.
"So little Ayaka is all grown up now? You're getting prettier and prettier—just like a princess." Alice smiled as she patted Ayaka on the head.
To Alice, Ayaka was still a younger generation. Even if she hadn't always been there, she had still watched Ayaka grow up.
Under Alice's head pats, Ayaka could only show a helpless smile.
Elves really were a fascinating race. They lived such long lives. Alice had looked exactly like this back then, and now Ayaka had grown up while Alice remained unchanged.
"Ayaka really is a princess now. The Electro Archon personally granted her that title," Koji said.
Before, it had only been a title spread around among the people. But once the Electro Archon spoke it herself, Ayaka was practically the princess of all Inazuma.
Besides, her brother Kamisato Ayato also held a high position, so she really had been born into the right time.
"To be honest, I'm not interested in that kind of princess title. Even when I go out, ordinary people get nervous around me." Ayaka shook her head helplessly.
The old White Heron Princess title had been better. At least that one felt more approachable.
"By the way, I haven't seen Lumine in a while. How is she doing now?" Ayaka asked curiously.
"About the same as always," Koji said with a smile.
Ayaka knew very well how obsessed Lumine was with treasure chests. Back when Lumine had stayed in Inazuma, Ayaka had gone adventuring in the wild with her. There were treasure chests Ayaka hadn't noticed at all, yet after Lumine opened them, Ayaka would only then react in astonishment that there had actually been a chest hidden there.
During Lumine's time in Inazuma, she had even opened the treasure chest belonging to Ayaka's pet dog.
"Ayaka, how about becoming an idol? I guarantee I can make you famous across all of Teyvat." Alice had the urge to push that idea again.
"Um… Lady Alice, I think I'll pass on that." Ayaka gave an awkward laugh.
She truly had no interest in becoming an idol, and she didn't think she had any talent for it either.
"You really won't consider it?"
"No."
"All right then. I really can't bring myself to badmouth idols behind their backs anymore." Alice sighed helplessly.
"You'd be better off going to find Fontaine's superstar Furina. She might actually accept your invitation to become an idol," Koji said.
"…That does sound like an idea." Alice thought about it and found it quite feasible.
"Miss Sara, why are you here?" Ayaka turned to Kujou Sara and asked in confusion.
"…"
Kujou Sara didn't answer directly. She simply gave Ayaka a look, then glanced toward Alice.
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have come here. But since Alice had appeared, she had no choice but to follow.
More importantly, she was worried Alice might do something. This woman's skill with bombs was simply far too terrifying.
Ayaka nodded, half understanding and half not. It seemed Kujou Sara and Alice had some "history" together.
"Would you like something to eat?" Ayaka asked.
"Sure." Alice didn't stand on ceremony. She was a little hungry anyway, so eating sounded good.
"Miss Sara probably hasn't eaten either, so join us too." Ayaka didn't mind. They were all friends, so there was no need to be so stiff.
"Uh… then excuse me."
Kujou Sara touched her nose. This was actually her first time eating here, so she definitely wasn't used to it.
"It's fine. It's only one meal. If you ever want to come again later, you can come anytime."
(End of Chapter)
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