"According to the address on the invitation, this should be the place," Lumine said as she glanced at the paper in her hand.
Paimon, ever the cheerful companion, first offered a skewer of fried tofu to Higokumaru before puffing up proudly to resume her guide duties.
"Hey, hey! Is this where we buy yummy food?"
The tiny floating creature drew curious glances from the people nearby. Excited, Higokumaru fluttered onto Nagami's shoulder, tail swishing as he held onto Nagami's ear for balance.
"Eat, eat, eat — seriously, you're starting to sound just like Paimon! You can't do anything except think about food!"
Nagami flicked the little fox on the forehead with an annoyed look, his expression flattening into the classic dead-fish eyes.
At this rate, Higokumaru really was going to end up as an emergency snack, right alongside Paimon.
"What do you mean just like me?!"
Paimon puffed up her cheeks and crossed her arms, clearly offended.
Nagami was so rude!
Determined to glare him into submission, she leaned forward, eyes wide and fierce.
"Oh come on, he's not wrong," Lumine teased, poking Paimon's tiny nose. "You're always the first one to get excited when food's involved."
Before the flustered Paimon could protest, Lumine handed the invitation to a kimono-clad hostess who had just arrived.
Komore Teahouse wasn't open to the public—it served as a safe house for the Commission, accepting only invited guests or members.
When the hostess saw the official seal on the invitation, her demeanor changed immediately.
With a respectful bow, she led them into the inner rooms before quietly excusing herself.
"Excuse us," Lumine said as she slid open the wooden door.
She and Nagami stepped inside together—only to find Thoma already waiting, sipping tea with a relaxed smile.
"Ah, there you are! You're earlier than I expected," he greeted warmly, setting his cup down and waving at them.
Maybe because Nagami was with them, Thoma wasn't hiding in disguise this time.
No dog acts, no secret meeting nonsense.
After all—when it came to doglike loyalty, no one could outmatch these two.
"Welcome to Komore Teahouse," Thoma said politely. "Please, follow me. My lady has been expecting you."
He gestured toward the stairs leading deeper into the house, then followed behind Lumine and Nagami as they walked.
…Until he noticed something odd.
'Wait—what is that thing?'
From his angle, Thoma finally spotted Higokumaru hovering in midair.
His eyes widened slightly, utterly baffled.
Fluffy tail. Pointy ears. Floating like a spirit fox.
Could it be…?
Thoma's mind started racing.
Considering Lady Kamisato often collaborated with Yae Miko—the High Priestess of the Grand Narukami Shrine, and seeing how Nagami had been acting so mysteriously lately…
'No way… Don't tell me that little fox is… Nagami and Lady Miko's secret child?!'
A sharp gasp escaped him before he could stop it.
"So this is the famous 'White Heron Princess' everyone's been talking about," Paimon said as they entered a spacious tatami room.
Her eyes darted around curiously.
The room was minimalist—just a low table with a vase and a folding screen. No one in sight.
"Huh? Where is she?"
"Behind that screen," Nagami replied casually, taking a seat as if he owned the place.
Resting his chin on one hand, he added, "This kind of meeting style has been a tradition of the Commission for generations."
"Aw… that's kind of disappointing," Paimon muttered, tilting her head.
For a second, her expression fell—but only for a moment.
[A true lady through and through]
Lumine's voice echoed in Nagami's mind.
That made Nagami suddenly remember that meme image of "Kamisato Ayaka, the Proper Lady," and—
"Pfft!"
Lumine couldn't help bursting into laughter after catching the mental image.
Thoma blinked, confused by her sudden giggle, but Lumine just waved apologetically with an embarrassed smile.
Then, a calm, melodious voice—clear as wind through spring blossoms—flowed from behind the screen.
"Please forgive my lack of formality. I'm glad to see that Nagami-san understands our customs so well."
Just hearing her tone was enough to imagine the woman behind the screen: graceful, refined, and unmistakably noble.
"I've been looking forward to meeting you all," Ayaka said softly. "From what Thoma has told me—and from what I've seen myself—I'm convinced that you possess the power to change the tides of Inazuma. Especially you, Nagami… you're truly extraordinary."
As one of Inazuma's three great powers, the Kamisato clan had confirmed that before this, no such person as Nagami existed in the nation.
Yet somehow, this young man seemed to know an alarming amount about both the Tri-Commission and her family's affairs.
"Thank you for the compliment, Lady Kamisato," Nagami replied with a teasing smile. "But, by the way, that folding screen doesn't really hide anything from me, you know."
The corner of his lips curved upward.
His ink-black eyes glimmered faintly, as if they pierced straight through the screen—meeting the surprised, gray-blue eyes behind it.
The girl sitting there was as delicate as a work of art carved from snow.
A small beauty mark beneath her eye added a touch of mystery to her otherwise flawless face.
Her long, silvery-white hair was tied into a high ponytail, revealing the graceful curve of her slender neck.
She wore a soft blue haori that faded into navy at the hem, matched with a deep-blue pleated skirt patterned with falling petals and flowing water.
"Uh… Nagami, what's that supposed to mean?" Thoma scratched his head, looking puzzled.
Ayaka, meanwhile, stared blankly at the black-haired boy who seemed to be smiling right at her.
The fan in her hand froze mid-motion before she let out a quiet, composed laugh.
Standing up, her long skirt flowed around her like a blooming flower, showing a fleeting glimpse of her pale, slender legs.
She raised her fan to half-cover her face and, under Thoma's astonished gaze, stepped gracefully out from behind the screen.
"Compared to Nagami's honesty," she said gently, "it seems I've been a bit… overly reserved."
"Not at all," Nagami replied smoothly. "It's the tradition of the Yashiro Commission, after all. I should be the one apologizing for being so forward."
"There's no need for such formality, Lumine-san," Ayaka replied with a polite smile, folding her fan and taking a seat across from Nagami.
"Thoma had already told me how unusual you are, Nagami. Seeing it for myself now… this isn't the power of a Vision, is it?"
Her gaze shifted subtly toward the small, floating fox at Nagami's shoulder.
The look was so curious that the little creature tilted its head in confusion, wondering why this stranger was staring like that.
"No," Nagami said lightly, setting his cup down. "It's not a Vision. Just… a little trick that doesn't really deserve a name."
Meanwhile, in his mind, he was quietly exchanging thoughts with Lumine—trying to let her steer the conversation.
When it came to talking to girls, Nagami wasn't hopeless, but compared to Lumine—who could charm gods and villains alike—he knew his limits.
"Lady Kamisato," he continued aloud, "you didn't invite us here just to talk about me, right? If there's something you need, just say it directly."
He took a sip of tea, then added casually, "And drop the 'Mister.' Just Nagami is fine.
The whole 'sir' thing feels… weird."
Ayaka blinked at his directness.
As the heiress of the Yashiro Commission, she was used to delicate, roundabout diplomacy.
Nagami's blunt approach caught her slightly off guard—but, oddly enough, she didn't dislike it.
"In that case," she said, her tone softening into something more serious, "I'll get straight to the point."
Her expression grew solemn.
"Inazuma is suffering under the Vision Hunt Decree. People's dreams and ambitions are being crushed. The Yashiro Commission's authority comes from the people's trust—and I can no longer stand by and do nothing. I want to ask for your help."
"Of course we'll help," Nagami said, leaning back slightly. "But you know what they say—nothing in this world comes for free." His eyes gleamed with mischief. "So, Lady Kamisato… what's the reward?"
To be honest, in the game, she had asked the Traveler for power without even offering anything in return.
Sure, she's the protagonist—but come on.
Even a tool deserves some kind of payment!