After finally explaining everything to her father, Naganohara Yoimiya tucked the two remaining Tricolor Dangos under her arm and set off at a light jog toward the Magistrate's Office that had been set up in Inazuma City.
But just as she was passing by the entrance to Yae Publishing House, she spotted a familiar figure.
He was a towering man with a head of white hair, wearing a purple undershirt beneath a black patterned cloak. The cloak was clasped shut on the inside with metal fittings, but fell open in the front to expose his chest and abdomen. Most eye-catching of all were the pair of deep crimson horns jutting from the top of his head.
Yoimiya knew this one.
Aratani Itto.
The guy who was always her fiercest rival for the title of undisputed King of the Kids.
Whenever they ended up watching the children together, it inevitably turned into a contest to settle who was best — chug the ramen broth in one go, eat a pickled plum without twitching a muscle, that sort of thing. The kids would place bets on who'd win and cheer from the sidelines.
Right now, though, he was crouched beneath a streetlamp with a book in his hands, squinting at the pages with a furrowed brow.
"This guy — actually reading a book? How is that even possible?"
Yoimiya's eyes went wide.
This man, whose entire brain was occupied by beetle fighting, card games, spinning tops, kendama, and hide-and-seek — this walking monument to idleness — was reading a book?
"Oh, it's you. What are you doing here?"
Itto had already noticed Yoimiya standing there, jaw practically on the floor.
"You're reading a book?" Yoimiya asked.
"That's right." Itto looked down at her with a lofty expression. "This happens to be a book that Lady Shina strongly recommended in the Leisure Monthly. I'd suggest you pick up a copy too — broaden your horizons a little."
"What book is it?" Yoimiya asked, tilting her head.
"It's called Your Lie in April. Apparently there was even a music competition themed around it not long ago." Itto said. "Though I've only just started it."
"I've already read it," Yoimiya said, watching the smug look on Itto's face.
"Wh — what? You've already read it?" Itto blinked.
"Yep. Finished it ages ago. There's another one called The Eternal too."
Yoimiya beamed.
"Damn it, the Great Me cannot fall behind. You go play somewhere else — I need to do some serious reading." Itto waved her off.
"Alright, alright. Don't let me disturb you."
Yoimiya laughed and turned to leave. She'd barely taken a step when she heard Itto's voice rise behind her.
"Ha! Using music to win over kids? Smart idea — I'll have to try that next time! What's this girl's name again... Miyazono Kaori... nice name."
Leaving Itto to his reading, Yoimiya continued on her way toward the Magistrate's Office.
Along the way, she stopped to buy a snack and nibbled at it as she walked. Halfway through, she broke off a skewer and handed it to a little girl who was crying at the side of the road.
Meanwhile, at Kamisato Estate.
Thoma and Kamisato Ayaka were seated together in the dining room.
"My lady, this is a recipe I learned from the Traveler specifically for you — three famous dishes from Liyue: Jueyun Chili Chicken, Crab Roe Tofu, and Crystal Shrimp." Thoma smiled as he introduced each dish to Ayaka.
"Thoma, you've gone to so much trouble," Ayaka said with a gentle smile.
"My lady, the Jueyun Chili Chicken is a spicy dish — only mildly so, but please do be careful." Thoma said.
"Mm." Ayaka gave a small nod, reached for the chopsticks beside her, and lifted a small piece of the Jueyun Chili Chicken. The golden, translucent skin caught the light and shimmered with an enticing glow.
She placed it delicately into her mouth.
Since it was served cold, the poultry's natural succulence was preserved in full. The moment she bit down, the juices flooded her mouth along with a gentle, lingering heat.
"My lady, how does it taste?" Thoma asked.
"It's very good," Ayaka said with a soft smile.
"I'm glad." Thoma nodded with a grin.
Ever since reading Miss Fang Qiu's books, the Young Miss had grown increasingly fascinated with Liyue — a nation with a storied history and abundant lands, one that had lost its god and yet carried on, guided forward by its own people.
She often asked him to pick up Liyue travel gazettes for her, and had recently finished a copy of the Liyue Edition of the Teyvat Travel Guide, published by the Adventurers' Guild.
Seeing how much the Young Miss had taken to Liyue, Thoma had naturally jumped at the chance when he ran into the Traveler on the street — and asked them to teach him a few Liyue recipes.
And just as he'd expected, the Young Miss loved Liyue cuisine.
"By the way, Thoma — how are the preparations coming along for the fleet at Ritou?"
Ayaka picked up a Crystal Shrimp, placed it in her mouth, and asked.
"Still in the preparation phase, I believe. The logistics are being handled by the Ritou Magistrate's Office, so I haven't been kept in the loop on the progress." Thoma shook his head.
"I did pass by the Yae Publishing House editorial department today, though, and poked my head in. The whole team was pulling an all-nighter — burning the midnight oil. My guess is they're trying to get as many sample copies as possible loaded onto the ship before it sets sail."
"I see." Ayaka nodded thoughtfully. "The mail hasn't come through because of the shipping schedule, so I haven't received a reply from Miss Fang Qiu yet. Would it be too much trouble to send another letter on my behalf in a couple of days?"
"Of course. No trouble at all." Thoma nodded.
"Mm." Ayaka answered with a nod.
Before long, Ayaka set down her chopsticks and said, "I'll head back to my room now. You should rest early too, Thoma."
After bidding Thoma goodnight, Ayaka made her way down the hall toward her room.
Once inside, she ground the inkstone, dipped her brush, and set it to paper.
"Dear Miss Fang Qiu…"
Halfway through the letter, Ayaka paused, brush still in hand, and lifted her gaze toward the sky beyond her window.
Above the horizon, the Milky Way blazed in silent splendor.
"I wonder what Liyue's night sky looks like. Whether it's as beautiful as Inazuma's. I really do wish I could see it for myself someday."
She murmured softly to herself, then lowered her head and continued writing.
Meanwhile, Thoma finished clearing the dishes and made his way along the covered walkway through the courtyard.
Halfway along, he stopped. He looked up at the night sky beyond the eaves — stars glittering in the dark.
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, unbidden.
A ripple of excitement moved through him.
"Once the fleet gets back from Liyue, we should finally be able to get Miss Fang Qiu's new book. Maybe even her ghost novels — I've sent her so many to reference, and with her talent, she's bound to write something truly terrifying. Can't wait to read it." Thoma rubbed his hands together with a grin, muttering to himself.
"Come to think of it, Yae Publishing House seems to have put out a whole bunch of new ghost novels lately. I'll buy them all tomorrow and send them to Miss Fang Qiu. With that many good books arriving at once, I'm sure she'll be thrilled."
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