Afternoon, The Shrine's Unexpected Guest
By around three in the afternoon, a young lady of clear distinction arrived at the shrine.
Her long snow-white hair was tied in a high ponytail, bound with a hairpiece resembling a samurai's helmet crest. Straight-cut bangs framed her forehead, while two silky locks on either side were bound in ornamental knots. A small beauty mark rested beneath her left eye.
Standing in the corridor, Xia Zhi saw her through his god's-eye perspective.
A silver progress bar shimmered faintly above her.
The shrine maiden beside him whispered, "That's Lady Kamisato Ayaka, the eldest daughter of the Kamisato clan—head of the Yashiro Commission."
Xia Zhi smiled and nodded.
He knew a bit about the Three Commissions of Inazuma.
Major state affairs were always sent to the Tenshukaku for the Raiden Shogun's personal judgment,
but smaller matters—civil, military, and financial—were handled by the Evaluation Council, divided among three powers known as the Yashiro Commission, the Tenryou Commission, and the Kanjou Commission.
Their ruling families bore the surnames Kamisato, Kujou, and Hiiragi respectively.
Originally, this system had been designed as a balanced division of power—three forces that supervised and complemented one another.
But over time, as with all inherited systems, corruption had taken root.
Now the commissions were bloated, tangled nests of internal politics and self-interest.
The main branches and cadet branches schemed endlessly; each sought its own profit.
The clan heads no longer placed Inazuma's wellbeing first—their families came before their nation.
Still, Inazuma hadn't fallen apart, thanks only to one reason:
Raiden Ei was the one in charge.
Any other god—even the young Nahida of Sumeru—would have seen the country collapse into chaos by now.
And Ei wasn't as foolish as people thought.
She just desperately wanted to preserve the Inazuma of her sister's era—to keep it exactly the same, so she could convince herself that Makoto hadn't truly gone.
So Xia Zhi never blamed her.
He had no right to.
The only time he'd truly lost his composure was before Focalors.
He'd seen the five centuries of loneliness Furina endured,
and couldn't stop himself from lashing out at the god who'd engineered that cruel fate.
But that time—he had a reason.
He and Furina were bound by [Intertwined Fate].
---
As for the Kamisato clan—they were in charge of festivals and cultural ceremonies.
With the Summer Festival approaching, it was perfectly reasonable for the young lady of the Kamisato house to visit the Grand Narukami Shrine to discuss festival preparations with Yae Miko.
Through his god's-eye view, Xia Zhi watched Kamisato Ayaka enter the shrine amid the murmurs of curious onlookers.
Then, suddenly—
"Cousin, why are you zoning out?" Xia Ci popped up behind him.
"I'm not zoning out."
"You totally are."
"I'm wearing sunglasses. How can you tell?"
"Sunglasses cover your eyes, not your expression."
"…Fine, I was thinking."
"About what? The Summer Festival?"
"Got it in one."
"See? Great minds think alike."
"Uh-huh."
"But you were really thinking about that White Heron Princess, weren't you?"
"White Heron Princess?"
"That's what people call Lady Kamisato Ayaka! Everyone says she's graceful and pure—beautiful and virtuous."
"She's that famous?"
"Ha! I knew it! You are interested!"
"I'm not."
"Really?"
"Really."
"But she's a Cryo Vision user~"
"…What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, come on. Be honest—every Cryo Vision holder you've met somehow ends up getting close to you."
"That's just a coincidence."
"Sure it is."
"..."
---
Inside the Shrine
Yae Miko and Kamisato Ayaka sat across from each other.
A shrine maiden quietly poured tea between them.
Lady Kamisato had indeed come to discuss preparations for the Summer Festival.
"For the past several years," Ayaka said softly, "Inazuma has been under the Sakoku Decree. Though the festival continued each year, it's always been small—never truly lively."
She looked up at Yae Miko.
"But since the Shogun lifted the decree at the end of last year, trade and tourism have flourished. Travelers and merchants visiting Inazuma this year already number several times last year's total. So, I propose we expand the festival's scale—make it grander, more vibrant than ever before."
Yae Miko lifted her cup, eyes narrowing with languid amusement. "And when you say more vibrant... just how vibrant do you mean?"
Ayaka took out a folder and placed it on the table. "We've drafted several plans. Ultimately, Lady Yae, you'll have final approval."
Miko flipped through the proposals quickly, then set them down. "I'm not fond of any of these."
Ayaka blinked, startled. "But these were all based on our most successful past festivals—"
"That's exactly the problem," Miko interrupted, shaking her head. "Real liveliness isn't just more stalls, more fireworks, more people."
"Then... what do you mean, Lady Yae?"
Miko sipped her tea, her foxlike gaze gleaming through the white steam.
"Did you happen to watch Mondstadt's Windblume Festival recently?"
Ayaka nodded. "Of course."
"And the Lantern Rite in Liyue?"
"We followed that as well."
"Then surely you noticed—each nation's festivals have something unique."
Ayaka fell silent.
"Mondstadt has its dragon of the skies. Liyue has its gathering of Adepti. And what about us, Inazuma?"
After a long pause, Ayaka replied softly,
"Tengu soar through the heavens, oni ride to battle, tanuki dance in the fields, and fox spirits walk among humans."
Miko's eyes brightened slightly. "Exactly—youkai."
Ayaka hesitated. "But Lady Yae, though I know a certain cat youkai delivery girl... and perhaps one or two oni in some street gangs... surely you don't mean—"
"You needn't worry about the details," Miko interrupted again, smiling faintly. "Leave that to me. Just prepare a few new proposals with this in mind. We'll review them together later."
Ayaka nodded, gathering her papers. "Understood, Lady Yae. I'll return soon with revisions."
After finishing her tea, she bowed and left.
On her way out, she stopped by the fortune booth and drew a slip.
A great blessing.
She exhaled softly, relieved, and departed the Grand Narukami Shrine.
---
After Ayaka's Departure
Yae Miko sat quietly for a moment in thought, then walked to a cabinet by the wall.
Opening it, she retrieved a slim book.
Closing the cabinet, she made her way to the rear courtyard.
There, under the blooming Sacred Sakura Tree, Makoto and Ei were having tea together—and clearly, Ei had skipped work again.
Miko approached and bowed slightly. "Lady Makoto, Lady Ei. The Kamisato heiress came to discuss the Summer Festival."
Makoto smiled faintly. "And?"
"Just as you instructed, I rejected her proposals," said Miko, "on the grounds that they lacked youkai participation."
Makoto tilted her head curiously. "And her reaction?"
Miko sighed lightly. "She said it would be difficult to find suitable youkai these days..."
Makoto clicked her tongue softly. "Inazuma truly has withered since those dark years. That calamity left scars deeper than most realize."
After a pause, Miko held up the book in her hands. "Lady Makoto, the editors at Yae Publishing House brought me this recently."
"Oh?"
Makoto took it, reading the title aloud:
"A First-Hand Guide to Summoning Spirits?"
"It's a popular light novel making waves lately," Miko explained.
"Published by your house?"
"No—it seems to be self-published. It appeared suddenly and spread like wildfire across Inazuma. But that's not the interesting part. The incantations and rituals within..."
Makoto flipped a few pages, her expression turning thoughtful. "This must be the work of Urakusai."
Ei, who had been silently sipping her tea, finally looked up. The name had clearly stirred some old memory.
Miko nodded. "That's what I thought. But unfortunately..." She sighed. "Even if we find him, he'd only exist as a lingering memory—or a ghost born from the ley lines. He can't remain in the mortal world for long."
Makoto chuckled. "A pity?" She shook her head. "Not at all."
"Hmm?"
"Find his spirit. When you do, let me know."
"Yes, Lady Makoto," said Miko, though curiosity flickered in her eyes.
Ei finally spoke up. "Sister, strange things have been leaking from the ley lines lately—not just spirits, but malicious entities as well."
Makoto nodded. "I'm aware. The barrier Kitsune Saiguu laid down is reaching its limit. Don't worry—after tonight's [Great Cleansing of the Sacred Sakura], these disturbances will settle."
Ei's violet eyes shimmered with admiration.
Her sister was back—and with her, that same unshakable sense of safety.
As long as Makoto was here, everything would be fine.
----
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