Just as Shikanoin Heizou had said, both Kamisato Ayato and Arataki Itto had unfortunately made it into the semifinals, which meant they couldn't return to their roles as judges. Counting Yoimiya as well, all three judges had to be replaced. Aside from Yae Miko and Victor Wang, they still needed one more.
Victor Wang hadn't expected the one to take Yoimiya's place would be Kamisato Ayaka.
"Although Yoimiya said this job only needs a good eye, I'm not very confident. Lady Guuji, Mr. Wang, I'll be counting on your guidance during the judging."
"You actually came to the festival?" Yae Miko asked casually. Most of Inazuma's celebrations were jointly organized by the Grand Narukami Shrine and the Yashiro Commission. In her impression, Kamisato Ayaka rarely showed herself at such festivities.
"I suppose you could call it part of my duties," Ayaka replied softly. "After all, this contest is one of the highlights of the Summer Festival. It wouldn't do not to check in."
The Summer Festival was enormous, spanning from Kannazuka to Hanamizaka and including the open fields of Byakko Plain between them.
It included Kannazuka because some of the water-based events were best suited for the small island.
And since the crowds could become dangerously dense, most of Inazuma City's merchants had moved their stalls to the open grounds of Byakko Plain.
The finals for the Inazuma division of the Bubble-Blowing Contest were also held there. The entry threshold was low, the rewards high, and the crowd overwhelming. Even while vendors next door were still setting up their stalls, the competition grounds were already packed tight with spectators.
The semifinals followed this format: fifty contestants divided into ten groups. From each group of five, the top two advanced. Then, from the ten first-place winners, five champions were chosen for the finals; from the ten second-place winners, five were eliminated. The defeated first-placers then faced the victorious second-placers to decide four finalists—with the final remaining slot reserved for Lumine.
Under such a forgiving format, Yoimiya, Kamisato Ayato, and Arataki Itto all secured their places in the finals through sheer strength.
"Alright! That's the end of the semifinals! Let's congratulate the ten contestants advancing to the finals! No matter what happens next, you've already guaranteed yourselves at least five hundred thousand Mora!"
"Let's also give thanks to our sponsor—Bubblegum! Tasty, fun, and affordable! Please support Pearl Bubble's business!"
"So, who will take home the one million Mora grand prize?"
"The most exciting finals will take place tonight! Take a short rest, and we'll see each other again under the lanterns!"
As Shikanoin Heizou's voice rang out, night fell quickly, and countless lanterns lit the air.
Many people had eaten only half a dinner—some, none at all—saving space for the street food of the Summer Festival. Paimon was one of them, yet when the Inazuma division finals finally began, she still had the energy to shout, "Go, Lumine!"
"Mm!"
Beside her, the Arataki Gang wouldn't be outdone, pumping their fists. "Go, Boss!"
"Don't worry! I'm Arataki Itto—the number one bubble-blower in Teyvat!"
On another side, a group of children called out, "Go, Miss Yoimiya!"
"I won't let you down!" she replied brightly.
Cheers echoed one after another. Even Kamisato Ayato had Thoma cheering for him from the sidelines.
"The match is about to begin! Get ready—!"
At Heizou's signal, the whistle blew, and the ten contestants threw themselves forward, blowing with all their might toward the biggest bubbles they could muster.
The finals had three rounds. After the first, the gap between contestants was small.
But during the second round, an accident occurred.
"Ayato—his bubble's bigger than Lumine's!" Paimon's eyes widened. "But he popped it!"
A popped bubble, no matter how big, didn't count. And since the final ranking was based on the average of three rounds, a single pop meant near-certain failure for the top three.
Perhaps rattled by his mistake, Kamisato Ayato played it safe in the third round. His bubble was the largest, but it was too late. Outwardly, he smiled ruefully; inwardly, he didn't seem to mind at all.
Yae Miko narrowed her eyes. "Oh my, is he holding back? Doesn't want to steal the spotlight?"
Kamisato Ayaka gently shook her head, offering no comment on her brother's defeat.
Victor Wang couldn't read Ayato's thoughts either. He compared Ayato's final bubble to a photograph of Ganyu's from the first Teyvat Bubble Contest and couldn't help but sigh. Ganyu's talent was truly unmatched; no one had surpassed her yet.
"The finals are over. I have in my hand the final rankings for all ten contestants."
Heizou glanced at the list, then at the dense sea of spectators, then at the stage, pausing deliberately.
The crowd fell silent. Everyone waited for his announcement.
"First place—Lumine!"
"Second—Naganohara Yoimiya!"
"Third—Arataki Itto!"
"Three million Mora!" Paimon screamed, flying straight into Lumine's arms.
The Arataki Gang erupted with cheers and wild dancing, but Arataki Itto himself stared in disbelief. "I lost to Lumine… and Yoimiya?! But I used to beat them!"
Yoimiya countered with a grin, "People improve, you know. Don't underestimate me. Though I have to admit, Lumine's incredible."
The crowd agreed with Yoimiya wholeheartedly.
"Looks like the 'First Teyvat Bubble-Blowing Contest' was on a whole other level. Even the third-place finisher from that event can win Inazuma's regional finals."
"At least the second and third place were close. That means if Inazuma competes in the next one, we could make top five in Teyvat!"
"Too bad Kamisato Ayato popped his bubble in the second round…"
"Yeah, what a pity. Just a bit more and Inazuma might've claimed second—even first!"
Amid the noisy chatter, Shikanoin Heizou was still doing his duty. "Alright, that concludes this year's Bubble-Blowing Contest! Until next time! And may everyone enjoy the Summer Festival to the fullest!"
The audience began to disperse.
"Victor, Lumine—you've never really joined Inazuma's Summer Festival before, have you?" Yoimiya asked, smiling. "Let me show you around!"
"I've been to a festival before," Lumine replied, "but this Summer Festival… feels different somehow. Wait a moment." She walked to the judges' table and extended a hand to Kamisato Ayaka.
Ayaka hesitated.
Kamisato Ayato said, "Go on and enjoy yourself with your friends. I'll handle the rest of the festival duties."
"What a good brother," Yae Miko teased. "If I were you, I'd run before he changes his mind."
Ayaka shook her head. "My brother doesn't go back on his word… then I'll leave it to you."
Ayaka joined the group, with Thoma accompanying her as guard.
Just then, a massive parade float rolled by nearby. Following Yoimiya's lead, the group joined the procession.
The float stood nearly four or five meters tall and even longer in length. It had no engine—only people pulling from the front. Luckily, it had wheels, so it could move smoothly on level ground, though turning required everyone to lift it together.
A shrine maiden from the Grand Narukami Shrine led the way, guiding the float from Hanamizaka through Byakko Plain before looping back. Called the "Yamahoko Parade," it was clear that such a heavy float wasn't meant for mountains—it existed purely for spectacle.
Others carried tall bamboo poles hung with hundreds of lanterns like clusters of grapes. When they tired of lifting, they laid the poles sideways for several to carry, changing the scene again and drawing curious onlookers.
During this time, the Arataki Gang—still grumbling about their loss—caused a stir. Their rough looks frightened some festivalgoers, leading to a report that brought Kujou Sara herself to arrest them, much to everyone's exasperated laughter.
As they neared Kannazuka, glowing boats drifted across the water, adorned with lanterns and koi flags painted in special patterns that shimmered over the dark waves.
Farther along the riverbanks, bonfires burned high, their sparks carried by sea breezes while people danced and laughed around them.
Inazuma's festivals always shone brightest under lanterns and torches—for humans cannot live without light in the night.
But next to the fireworks, all lanterns and torches faded into insignificance.
Finally, it was time for fireworks.
Yoimiya led them to the best viewing spot. The fireworks had been prepared since the afternoon, set to ignite in a specific order at a precise time.
One after another, the massive fireworks burst open in the sky. The festival-goers stopped what they were doing and looked up—and there it was, a gigantic Statue of the Omnipresent God, identical to the one outside Tenshukaku.
Then, a hundred smaller, colorful fireworks streaked upward, chasing the statue before it descended—these represented the Visions.
They fixed in place for a brief moment at the statue's peak height, then scattered into trails of light.
The statue itself began to descend slowly, its arms dropping last—until they seemed to cradle something. Then, another firework launched: a miniature Inazuma City rising gently into the statue's hands.
The crowd gasped in awe.
When that little Inazuma City finally fell, so too did the curtain on the Summer Festival—ending it in perfect brilliance.