"The young lady of the Kamisato Clan!?"
"The White Heron Princess! It's the White Heron Princess!"
"Why is Lady Ayaka at the Grand Narukami Shrine so early in the morning!?"
"Could Lady Ayaka be here to draw an omikuji?"
"Come to think of it, Lady Ayaka is of marriageable age now. Is she here to divine her romantic prospects?"
"Which lucky young man will get so fortunate? Marrying the White Heron Princess—that's a blessing earned over several lifetimes!"
Kamisato Ayaka's figure appearing at the Grand Narukami Shrine in the early morning immediately drew a crowd of astonished onlookers.
The Kamisato Clan was part of Inazuma's Three Commissions—the Yashiro Commission—which held the closest authority to the Raiden Shogun herself.
And Kamisato Ayaka was the sister of the current head of the Kamisato Clan, Kamisato Ayato.
It was no wonder that such a prominent figure would become the center of attention wherever she went.
"Lady Ayaka, the Guuji hasn't risen yet. Shall I announce your arrival?"
A shrine maiden hurried over to bow, setting aside all decorum in the presence of this beloved and admired White Heron Princess of the people.
"No need, Maki. Thank you for your kindness—I'm here to see Lord Ye Xi."
After politely declining the shrine maiden's offer, Kamisato Ayaka waited quietly under the Sacred Sakura Tree, not making a single sound.
She knew Ye Xi must have heard the commotion.
But upon learning that Yae Miko hadn't woken yet, she couldn't help letting her imagination run wild.
Had the Guuji slipped into Ye Xi's Small World?
Had they already...?
Once the dam was breached, the taste of indulgence would make it all too easy to linger in bed until this hour.
But if that were the case, it would leave her heartbroken.
To be fair, this Guuji outshone other women in both personality and figure, radiating an irresistible allure.
Every smile and gesture exuded sensuality and charm.
And with her kitsune heritage, she was all the more captivating, impossible to resist.
The unattainable often deepened obsession—the more one sank, the more entranced they became, and the more entranced, the deeper the infatuation.
In Inazuma, countless people were drawn to the Guuji, even willing to commit offenses just for a chance to get close.
For Ye Xi to be so inseparable from such a being, he already had the advantage of proximity; crossing that line would be all too easy.
If the Xi she cherished so dearly truly fell, she'd hide in a corner and cry for days.
Upon hearing that Kamisato Ayaka was there to see Ye Xi, the surrounding crowd began whispering among themselves.
"Ye Xi? The young man by the Guuji's side?"
"Could it be that Lady Ayaka has her eye on him?"
"The one who borrowed the power of the Sacred Sakura Tree to create a Small World?"
"Shh—Lord Ye Xi is the chosen one favored by Narukami!"
"Yeah, yeah! The Sacred Sakura Tree is the embodiment of Lady Narukami's power! Gaining her strength might mean he's a future successor!"
"No wonder Lord Ye Xi gets to be so intimate with the Guuji, and now even Lady Ayaka has secretly fallen for him. It's enough to make anyone envious—I'm dying of jealousy!!!"
"Sigh, why bother drawing a love omikuji? I lost out on looks! If I had Lord Ye Xi's face, finding a wife would be a piece of cake!"
The crowd's words dripped with envy so thick it nearly overflowed.
Not only did he interact with the Guuji, but he was also close to Lady Ayaka—news like that would make every Inazuman green with envy!
Setting aside the Guuji for a moment, Lady Ayaka was called the White Heron Princess because of her elegant and pure demeanor, like a white heron in flight!
Her refined and beautiful features, her intelligent and poised speech—it painted her as the very image of a princess!
Even brushing against a hint of her graceful charm felt like a stroke of immense fortune across three lifetimes.
Let alone being the object of her affections!
Most importantly, no one really knew how Ye Xi had appeared; they only knew that a few years ago, this young man had suddenly shown up by the Guuji's side.
At first, people gossiped suspiciously.
After all, the sacred shrine maidens shouldn't be overly close to a boy his age.
But once it became known that the boy had effortlessly borrowed Narukami's power to carve out a Small World, no one dared utter another word of speculation.
Because Narukami was the Electro Archon herself!
The Raiden Shogun who ruled Inazuma!
If even the Raiden Shogun lent him her power, who among Inazuma's citizens would dare oppose him?
Yet no one knew the truth: it wasn't Raiden Ei who had lent Ye Xi the power—it was the power that had chosen him.
Back then, Raiden Ei had only noticed the flow of power draining in the Plane of Euthymia and turned her gaze toward Ye Xi.
Learning that Kamisato Ayaka was there to see Ye Xi, who resided within the Sacred Sakura Tree, filled everyone with envy.
Just then, petals drifting from the Sacred Sakura Tree swirled in the air, as if dipping into a rippling pool of emerald waves, deftly repelled.
The space was warping.
Soon, the area shimmered like a tranquil pond, forming a small vortex.
"Miss Kamisato, you actually made time to visit me—please, come in."
Ye Xi's clear and resonant voice echoed from within.
The mere sound of it brought a flush of joy to Kamisato Ayaka's cheeks, like a lotus blooming in an instant, brightening the eyes of the omikuji seekers around her.
"You all wait here; no need to worry about me."
Kamisato Ayaka turned and instructed her two retainers before eagerly stepping into the Small World.
"This... Miss? Mi—"
"Miss!"
The two retainers were left stunned and at a loss on the spot.
They were supposed to protect her safety, but they hadn't expected her to shake them off and enter the barrier alone.
And with a vigorous young man, no less!
If the clan head found out, their heads wouldn't be safe!
The onlookers outside also drew sharp breaths.
"That Lord Ye Xi's voice is so clear and warm."
"Worth of someone favored by Lady Narukami."
"Even just hearing his voice tells you the man: surely refined in appearance and elegant in manner!"
"Naturally. I was once fortunate enough to glimpse Lord Ye Xi. Even at the age when he first tied his hair, he already carried a scholarly poise!"
"What? Already like that at fifteen? As expected, he and Lady Ayaka are a match made in heaven!"
Hearing the crowd so boldly disrespect their young lady, the two retainers couldn't hold back and scolded them.
"Silence! Cease your gossip about our young lady!"
"Our young lady remains in the seclusion of her chambers, pure and proper—do not sully her!"
The surrounding people immediately fell silent, holding their tongues.
Within the Small World.
By the pavilion, beside the small pond.
Ye Xi came out to greet the renowned White Heron Princess—his friend from Inazuma.
She was also one of his favorite characters from his days as the original artist.
Seeing the poised and dignified Kamisato Ayaka step through the spatial rift, a deep appreciation lit up in his eyes.
"Good morning, Xi."
"Being able to see you like this in the early morning... it makes me feel like the day ahead will be smooth sailing."
Kamisato Ayaka gave a slight bow, her every gesture exuding an air of refined elegance.
This elegance created a sense of distance, something beautiful to behold from afar but not to be profaned.
It made people feel a subtle barrier.
Yet, Kamisato Ayaka's words always came straight from the heart.
She maintained this demeanor partly out of habit from her upbringing, and partly because...
[As expected from the most anticipated character of the game's first year after launch!]
[Back then, the massive drama series "Waiting for Kamisato" ran for a full year, its hype spreading across the entire server!]
[Some players even saved up Primo Gems from launch day just for Miss Kamisato, holding out until her debut!]
[Truly, what draws people to this character is that unique "elegance" above all else!]
Ye Xi's mind was filled with nostalgia at that moment.
He remembered how perilous those times had been.
Players were growing impatient waiting for Kamisato Ayaka's release.
Due to review regulations, the beta outfits needed adjustments to strictly adhere to the 12+ rating, forbidding anything too revealing.
To design an outfit that wouldn't disappoint, he'd poured his heart and soul into it.
After several days and nights of grueling work, they finally completed it just before launch.
In a way, Kamisato Ayaka was a character he'd built with quick-fix heart pills—his affection and admiration for her went without saying.
[But I have to admit, the final white lace design isn't quite as striking as the beta version...]
"Ah..."
A flush crept across Kamisato Ayaka's face as she instinctively clutched the hem of her skirt.
That's right—she'd heard Ye Xi's inner voice!
Especially upon realizing how thoroughly he knew her, inside and out, it filled her with overwhelming embarrassment.
Ye Xi looked surprised and asked, "What's wrong, Miss Kamisato?"
"N-Nothing, I just..."
Kamisato Ayaka couldn't meet Ye Xi's gaze, her eyes darting away like a startled little rabbit as she took a step back.
At the same time, her small hand gripped the edge of her skirt, her fair cheeks burning red.
[Ah, this—]
[Are you seriously backing away like that?]
Ye Xi felt a pang in his heart; if he could petrify from this, he'd already be shattered into pieces.
Kamisato Ayaka took a deep breath to steady her flustered emotions and explained, "Xi, you called me so formally again, so..."
"Oh, that's what it was?" Ye Xi felt a bit helpless, thinking it was something serious. He invited her, "Come inside to talk, then... Ayaka."
"Mm..."
Kamisato Ayaka softly acknowledged and followed behind Ye Xi.
She cautiously eyed the broad, reassuring back ahead of her, her thoughts drifting.
She remembered their first meeting—back then, the boy had been a child, just like her.
In less than three short years, he'd grown into such a dashing young man, carrying an increasingly mature air.
She'd been playful and immature at the time, but the clan's upheaval had changed everything: her father aged prematurely and passed away.
Seeing her bedridden mother and her overworked brother, she'd resolved to grow up no matter what! But for a girl in her teens, practicing swordsmanship every day was incredibly grueling.
So tiring, so exhausting!
Her arms ached constantly!
She wanted to give up so many times!
She'd swing her blade over and over, wiping tears in the solitude of Chinju Forest time and again.
One day, while wandering in Chinju Forest in a low mood, she'd hit rock bottom.
Unexpectedly, she encountered a Thunderfly Sorcerer!
The Fatui had long sought an opportunity to target the Yashiro Commission, and she immediately caught the sorcerer's greedy eye. But young as she was, she was no match for him.
In that moment of peril, Ye Xi appeared.
Also just a teenager, he shielded her behind him and beat the Thunderfly Sorcerer until he fled in terror.
That scene ignited her resolve: she would make Ye Xi her lifelong goal to pursue!
From then on, the top spot in her heart was firmly claimed by Ye Xi.
In their later interactions, she was surprised to discover that talking with him always brought that familiar, comforting voice to her ears.
Since her impression of Ye Xi had already rooted deep in her heart, she could even recognize his voice.
She quickly realized these were Ye Xi's inner thoughts.
After that, she often invited him for tea and sword practice.
It wasn't just to spend time with him—it was to directly hear his words, heart to heart!
With Ye Xi's gentle voice echoing in her ears, even falling asleep became easier.
Though sometimes he'd think of things that made her blush, over time, she'd grown completely attached to that feeling.
It was precisely because Ye Xi appreciated her "elegance" that she always strived to present her best self in front of him.
"Ayaka, I've prepared some tea and snacks. How come you're here so early?"
Ye Xi had planned to seek out Kamisato Ayaka after finishing his talk with Raiden Ei and leaving Inazuma.
No matter—it was fine for her to come early; it saved him the trip.
[Ayaka's so sensible; she definitely won't make things difficult for me.]
That's what he thought.
But upon hearing Ye Xi's inner voice, Kamisato Ayaka felt a twinge of bitterness.
Sensible children don't get candy.
If she could, she'd rather not be so obedient—maybe then she'd occupy more space in Ye Xi's heart?
Kamisato Ayaka sighed inwardly. She wouldn't do anything Ye Xi disliked, but that didn't mean she had no little grievances bubbling inside.
"Xi, there was a massive explosion on Mount Yougou last night. I was a bit worried."
She brought up the main topic, lifting the teacup before her and taking a sip.
"Did it scare you last night?" Ye Xi smiled faintly. "That was my doing. I didn't expect it to cause such a huge commotion by accident."
"That sound was from you?"
Kamisato Ayaka was mildly surprised.
Usually, their discussions focused on swordsmanship; she'd never seen Ye Xi wield such terrifying power.
Last night, she'd seen the entire Mount Yougou lit up, as if night had turned to day in an instant!
"Who'd have thought—it was the little lady from the Yashiro Commission."
A flash of pink passed by, and Yae Miko was already seated beside the two.
Her sudden appearance sparked a flicker of wariness in Kamisato Ayaka's eyes.
How was Yae Miko in the Small World!?
The shrine maidens outside had clearly said Yae Miko hadn't risen yet. For her to be here now—did that mean last night...
"Guuji Yae, good morning. I didn't expect you'd be here with Xi too."
Though doubts swirled in her mind, she didn't show it and instead stood to bow in greeting.
Yae Miko crossed her arms with a smile. She quite liked this young girl.
Everything she handled was in perfect order—utterly reliable.
In the Yashiro Commission, though, she always took on thankless tasks.
If this child weren't from the Kamisato Clan, Yae Miko would've long since tried to recruit her into Yae Publishing House.
Most importantly, this girl couldn't hear Ye Xi's inner voice, which put her at ease.
If it was just attraction to Ye Xi, dismissing her would be a breeze.
With that in mind, Yae Miko covered her mouth with a dainty hand and yawned, her eyes full of Ye Xi. "Xi, because of you, I barely slept a wink. This is prime naptime, you know."
"See you later, little lady from the Yashiro Commission."
As she spoke, she shot over a look that any woman would instantly understand, then turned and left.
Hearing those words, the teacup slipped from Kamisato Ayaka's hand and shattered on the ground.