The moment Ayato entertained the thought of gaining a brother-in-law, he felt strangely conflicted.
Not because he rejected it—rather, he felt that if his sister didn't tell him, there was now a gap between them.
But thinking carefully about her age, Ayato felt a touch of emotion.
Ayaka had reached the age when a girl's heart might bloom. Yet he had always been busy with clan affairs, with little time to care about her inner world.
If his sister truly found a good match, he would be glad.
After all, the Kamisato Clan had once been battered by storms. Though they had restored their former brilliance, the hardship he and Ayaka endured was unknown to outsiders.
If possible, he wanted Ayaka to be happy.
"Tap… tap… tap…"
As Ayato frowned in thought, familiar footsteps sounded along the wooden corridor.
The shoes struck the floor in a light, rhythmic pattern.
It was a sound unique to Ayaka.
In the entire Kamisato Estate, only Ayaka's steps could sound so airy and graceful on the wooden boards.
Ayato and Thoma looked up at once toward the doorway.
The sliding door opened.
A young girl as elegant as a white heron entered with light steps. Her serene face carried a relaxed, contented smile.
It was Kamisato Ayaka.
"Sorry… Brother, I forgot…" she began.
But when she saw her brother and the cold dishes on the table, she suddenly remembered what day it was. Her smile froze, and embarrassment crept onto her face.
If nothing unexpected happened, she ate with her brother on this day every month.
This dinner had been decided half a month ago.
But on Blue Star today, she had been far too absorbed. She hadn't even eaten—she had completely pushed the dinner out of her mind.
Now, seeing the chilled food and her brother's anxious expression, Ayaka realized what she'd done and hurried to explain, flustered.
Ayato didn't speak. He looked at Thoma.
Thoma immediately understood. "It's alright, Lady Ayaka. I'll have the food reheated. Please wait a moment, my lord and my lady."
He ordered the servants to clear the table, then left the room himself.
Given the situation, the siblings likely had things to discuss. He shouldn't be present.
Once the room was quiet, Ayato looked at his sister.
"Ayaka… where did you go?"
It was wonderful that she was safe, but her behavior today was undeniably unusual. Even the people he sent out couldn't find her at all.
That alone explained a lot.
Whether he was about to gain a brother-in-law or something else entirely, he needed a reasonable explanation.
"Brother… have you heard of that Great Prophet?" Ayaka asked.
She didn't know what her brother had been thinking, and she had no intention of hiding this from him. On the contrary, she planned to tell him everything and discuss it with him—this matter was too important.
Seeing the clarity in her eyes, Ayato instantly understood what she meant.
"You met him?" Ayato asked.
"Yes," Ayaka nodded solemnly. "Brother, I met the Great Prophet. I went to the Blue Star from the rumors… and I witnessed Inazuma's future."
"Tell me everything," Ayato said.
His earlier guesses instantly dissipated.
So his sister hadn't disappeared to meet a lover—she had gone to do something big.
Ayato felt a trace of regret, but he had no time to dwell on it. He needed to understand Blue Star first.
Ayaka then explained everything from beginning to end.
Including the future about Inazuma.
Especially the part about Ayato helping the resistance—Ayaka deliberately emphasized it.
"The Great Prophet's divination is even more powerful than I imagined," Ayato said.
Though those events hadn't happened yet, Ayato knew that if things truly developed to that point, he would absolutely help the resistance.
Still, having his sister learn of his calculations left him a bit helpless.
He trusted Ayaka's strength, but more than that, he hoped she could keep a pure heart.
The power struggles and whirlpools of politics—she didn't need to be involved.
The darkness of human affairs—she didn't need to face it.
Those were things he, as her brother, should clear away.
But he hadn't expected that many of his plans were laid bare for her in that recorded footage.
Ayato felt mildly awkward, but more than that, he was astonished.
In fact, he knew even more about the so-called Great Prophet than Ayaka did—and he had long wanted to build a connection.
Now, watching the people and events in the video, he didn't doubt it.
Setting aside how the Great Prophet had helped Mondstadt and Liyue—just the scale and lifelike detail of the recording itself… who could produce something like that without tremendous power?
The Ayato in the video not only looked identical to him—it even thought the same way.
And more importantly…
Even the Traveler appeared.
Even if one doubted divination, the Traveler's existence wasn't a rumor.
Inazuma had already reached this point. Wasting time on suspicion would help no one.
"What do you plan to do?" Ayato asked, looking at his sister.
"I plan to seek Lady Guuji Yae," Ayaka said. "Perhaps there's a better way."
Ayaka didn't tease her brother about his future actions.
Because Inazuma was unstable. If it truly came to that, she would choose the same path as her brother without hesitation.
"To pursue eternity, the Shogun and all of Inazuma have paid a heavy price," Ayato said. "If there is a better way, then that is best."
Ayato supported Ayaka's plan.
Even in the prophecy recording, the Kamisato Clan betrayed the Shogun—but it wasn't betrayal in the traditional sense.
They and the Shogun both wanted a better future for Inazuma.
They only wanted the god to see Inazuma as it was—not to overthrow the Shogun who had protected the nation for thousands of years.
"Then I'll go now," Ayaka said at once.
"Eat first," Ayato said.
Seeing how hurried she was, she likely hadn't eaten on Blue Star either. Even if the matter was urgent, now that a new solution existed, she should go with full strength and focus.
Ayaka hesitated. "Alright…"
Thoma soon returned with reheated dishes. The siblings sat facing each other and discussed details.
Even if they couldn't persuade Yae Miko, at least the prophecy suggested that if they were forced down that path, the ending would still be good: the Shogun wouldn't punish the Kamisato Clan, and Inazuma would move toward a better future.
That eased the weight in their hearts.
After dinner, Ayaka set out for Mt. Yougou and the Grand Narukami Shrine.
…
The Grand Narukami Shrine sat atop Mt. Yougou, enshrining the Almighty Narukami Ogosho.
In the past, countless people came seeking the Narukami's grace.
If fortune favored them, they could ride the Electrograna upward, straight to the shrine beneath the great Sacred Sakura.
The Sakura bloomed eternally—like the Narukami's eternity.
But tonight, darkness spread like ink. The stone steps that once held kneeling worshippers were empty.
Ayaka walked forward, thinking carefully about how to speak to Yae Miko.
How could she bring it up without sounding too abrupt?
Though Ayaka was always proper and tactful, this was not an ordinary matter.
If she directly said, "In the future you'll help an outsider fight the Shogun," wouldn't Lady Guuji be… awkward?
In her thoughts, Ayaka arrived before the shrine.
Crimson torii gates hid beneath the Sacred Sakura. Petals swirled down like a rain of blossoms, painting the air.
Crossing the torii, she reached the shrine's main entrance—the domain where the divine resided.
"A traveler from afar—at this hour… it's already late… hmm?"
The shrine maiden Inagi Hotomi, standing guard, offered a gentle smile, about to remind the visitor that it was late and they could come to worship in the morning.
But halfway through, she recognized the newcomer.
A high ponytail of white hair swayed in the night wind.
A long dress of pale blue and violet gave her a soft yet heroic grace. A sandalwood folding fan rested in her hand.
Her posture was poised and refined—like a white heron on a tranquil lake.
"Ah, it's the Shirasagi Himegimi. At this hour… is there something you need?" Inagi Hotomi asked warmly.
She liked Ayaka, the beloved "White Heron Princess" of the people.
Gentle and humble, of noble character.
Even toward the most ordinary citizens, she was kind.
"I have important matters to discuss. Is Lady Guuji Yae within?" Ayaka asked with a polite smile.
She showed no condescension toward the shrine maiden despite the difference in status.
Her upbringing seemed to lend her a faint, luminous dignity.
"Please wait a moment, Shirasagi Himegimi."
For ordinary people, meeting the Grand Shrine's head shrine maiden was nearly impossible.
But the Kamisato Clan served the Shogun, and they did have official dealings with the Guuji. Seeing her wasn't difficult.
Inagi Hotomi instructed another maiden to report within.
"If Lady Guuji is here, I believe she will receive you. Please wait a moment," she said.
Even the shrine maidens couldn't always know whether the elusive Guuji was present.
"No problem. Thank you," Ayaka said softly.
She stood patiently, smiling as petals fell around her.
Inagi Hotomi watched her with quiet admiration.
…
Deep within the shrine.
Crimson buildings lay beneath dense Sacred Sakura. Petals spun down onto a jewel-like lake, sending ripples of light across the surface.
A stone path was blanketed in pink, transformed into a road of blossoms.
Unlike the noise outside, the shrine's interior remained peaceful. Unless an important guest arrived, few could enter this far—few could glimpse the mysterious Guuji.
A young shrine maiden hurried along, her red-and-white garments stirring a small breeze that lifted fallen petals.
She stopped before a residence inscribed with intricate patterns—Yae Miko's private quarters.
It was almost hidden among the blossoms, fragrant and quiet.
She didn't dare approach too closely. She remained at the door and called softly.
"Lady Guuji?"
Even if the Guuji often seemed easygoing, she wasn't an ordinary person. The maidens respected her and dared not offend her.
Footsteps sounded faintly from within, drawing closer until they reached the door.
"Such bright moonlight tonight… Could it be you can't sleep and wish to invite me for a drink?" came Yae Miko's lazy, amused voice through the window.
Though languid and smiling, the young shrine maiden didn't relax at all.
The Guuji had a thousand faces. Like shards of a broken mirror, each side was different—impossible to grasp. All one could do was admire from afar.
"Lady Guuji," the shrine maiden said with her head lowered, "Lady Ayaka of the Kamisato Clan wishes to see you."
A soft laugh came from within.
"How interesting. The little girl from the Yashiro Commission… visiting at midnight? Could it be some girlish secret?"
Yae Miko laughed behind her sleeve, her shoulders trembling like blossoms swaying in the wind.
She had always liked Ayaka.
It was a pity Ayaka belonged to the Yashiro Commission—otherwise, Yae Miko would have loved to poach her for Yae Publishing House.
…
A moment later, the door opened.
The Grand Shrine's Guuji stepped out, fully dressed, swaying as she walked.
In the moonlight, her bewitching face wore a faint smile. Violet eyes glimmered with playful light.
Her red-and-white miko robes fluttered as she moved, pale legs half-hidden by the hem.
Her pink hair mingled with falling petals, her slim waist cinched beneath her sash.
Beauty and figure together—enough to topple hearts with effortless charm.
Click—
Behind her, the door shut on its own.
The young shrine maiden hurried after her, walking with her gaze fixed on her own toes.
…