Returning to the makeshift shed, Shiki didn't knock, but kicked the door open directly.
Bang!
"Ah!"
Yasumoto was startled by the sudden noise and dropped the broom in his hand with a jolt.
"Huh? What are you doing?"
Shiki looked at Yasumoto with great confusion. What was this guy doing with a broom? There was no dirt on the ground or anything.
"Uh, hahahaha, nothing, I just saw that the floor was a bit dirty."
Yasumoto chuckled, then casually picked up the broom and began sweeping the floor.
The entire shed only had a simple stove in the middle, very simply constructed: a large iron barrel filled with coal, with the smoke vented outside through a pipe.
"Oh, then you can continue sweeping."
Following Yasumoto's words, Shiki and Ayaka moved chairs and sat by the stove, feeling the warmth of the flames. Shiki let out a long sigh.
"Whew…"
Although her physique no longer feared changes in climate, no one liked this damp feeling.
After a moment of thought, Shiki untied the large bow at her back, then took off her outermost furisode, revealing the red lining underneath.
Looking around, Shiki moved the coat rack from the door to beside the stove, finally hanging the furisode on it.
This way, it would dry faster. As for the inner lining, she could only wear it, as anything further in would be the equivalent of underwear, a nagajuban.
"Um… I'll go make you some lavender melon soup!"
Yasumoto sensed the awkward atmosphere. After speaking, he grabbed an umbrella and scurried out of the shed.
It clearly wasn't appropriate for a man to be sitting there while two beautiful girls dried themselves by the fire. Besides, after getting wet, it was always good to have something hot, and lavender melon soup was excellent.
It was light-flavored, sweet, and could replenish energy. Most importantly, he was really good at making it.
Shiki held her Vision, tossing it up and down. She didn't like this damp feeling, so before doing anything else, she needed to dry her clothes.
However, in this world lacking entertainment, waiting was the most boring thing. Besides tossing her Vision in her hand, there was no other way to pass the time.
"Shiki, um… I brought some snacks, would you like some?"
Ayaka said, taking a small stack of sakura mochi from her Vision. However, it was different from normal ones, as she had made them using her own method.
She had also given it a very pleasant name: "Red Hearth, A Speck of Snow."
A speck of white sugar adorned the crimson sakura mochi—wasn't that exactly "a speck of snow"!
"Ah, I'm a bit hungry. Thanks, Ayaka!"
Shiki picked up a sakura mochi and took a bite. The scent of cherry blossoms bloomed at the end, the subtle sweetness was just right, and the delicate texture made one want another piece.
"H-how is it?"
Ayaka looked at the girl's expressionless face, growing a little anxious. Was it… not delicious?
"It's very good. Did you make it?"
As an experienced player, how could Shiki not recognize this as Ayaka's Specialty? Though a question, her tone was more like a statement.
"I made it. If you like it, I can make it for you anytime in the future," Ayaka said softly, lowering her head, a faint blush appearing on her face.
"Well, that's not necessary. Sweets are good, but you shouldn't eat too many. Eating too many can give you cavities," Shiki said with a smile.
Ayaka's mood immediately fell upon hearing this. The other party… didn't seem to have understood her subconscious words…
But the next second, her face brightened with joy again.
"However, I'd be very welcome for proper meals, after all, eating is a big deal in life."
Shiki made no secret of her true nature as a foodie. After all, can you guarantee you won't eat?
Food is the paramount necessity of the people; it's one of life's great pleasures. Shiki had no objection if you didn't eat or only ate vegetarian, but if you tried to drag her into suffering with you, that wouldn't do.
"That's true. In that case, Shiki, please visit the Kamisato Clan often. I'll cook for you personally then," Ayaka said with a smile.
"That sounds great! Judging from this plate of snacks, Ayaka's cooking skills must be excellent!" (Probably?)
Honestly, Shiki wasn't sure. After all, this was someone who could throw cake into a hot pot.
Just as the two were sitting by the stove drying themselves, a giant ship broke through the thunderstorms surrounding Inazuma and entered Inazuma's waters. At the bow of this ship stood a golden-haired girl dressed in foreign attire.
Gazing into the distance, Lumine, the Traveler, could already vaguely see the port of Ritou.
"Traveler, this is Inazuma. It's said they have some Vision Hunt Decree here, specifically to confiscate Visions. But you don't have one, so you don't need to worry," Beidou said casually.
"So, the reason I was put on a wanted list back then was entirely due to an accident!"
Lumine was truly a bit helpless. She became the famous Honorary Knight in Mondstadt, but as soon as she arrived in Liyue, she was put on a wanted list.
Although this was due to a certain old man's retirement plan, and she later cleared her name and repelled Osial with the adepti, she always felt Beidou was subtly hinting at something.
"Hahahaha, then make sure you don't have such an accident this time! If you get wanted in Inazuma, I can't do anything about it!" Beidou said, patting Lumine's shoulder.
Inazuma was not like Liyue; intelligence spread too slowly here. If the Traveler really got into trouble, she might not be able to get there in time.
This was assuming she was within Inazuma. If she were in Liyue, it would be even more out of the question.
"There won't be. I'm just going to meet the Raiden Shogun and confirm if she's the Archon who took my brother, that's all."
Why did Lumine travel the Seven Nations? Wasn't it to find the original Archon? And to unravel the mystery of Khaenri'ah Five hundred years ago, she needed to understand what truly happened back then.
"Exactly, exactly! The Traveler isn't a troublemaker!" Paimon chimed in, nodding.
Lumine: "..."
"Paimon is right, don't say it again next time."
"Huh?"
"Pfft hahahaha, you two are really interesting." Beidou's shoulders shook with laughter, and it took her a while to compose herself.
"Alright, Inazuma will be here soon. I've contacted a local fixer organization; they'll arrange your affairs in Inazuma."
"Thank you, Captain Beidou!"
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