"Miss Kamisato is right. I must take a serious look when I have some free time," Zeyan said with a smile.
"Free time? Isn't this your free time?" Kamisato Ayaka glanced at the sky, a playful smile on her face. "It's getting late. If we go to Inazuma City today, we might not make it back. Let's go tomorrow instead."
Now that she understood they could only prepare while waiting for the rain to stop, she wasn't in such a rush anymore.
Zeyan looked outside the house. It was indeed getting dark.
It wasn't necessarily late; the storm had simply caused it to grow dark much earlier than usual. In such an environment, it was not ideal to go out anymore.
...
At the square table, Kamisato Ayaka knelt gracefully. Even this simple posture looked elegant, as if it were part of her nature. She exuded a refined air that seemed to come from the very core of her being.
In her hands was a novel titled "The Sword Record of Fallen Autumn."
Seeing Zeyan look over, Kamisato Ayaka spoke, "This 'Sword Record of Fallen Autumn' seems to have been written by someone from Liyue. Zeyan, have you read it?"
Zeyan shook his head. "I didn't read many novels before, and this one wasn't among them."
Hearing this, Kamisato Ayaka offered, "Would you like to read it? Being from Liyue, perhaps you'd connect with the author more."
Zeyan waved his hand dismissively. "No need, Miss Kamisato. You read it first. I'm fine with reading other novels."
He picked up a novel with a yellow cover featuring a fox head. The book was titled "The New Tale of the Six Kitsune."
Opening it, Zeyan began to read slowly.
Outside, the storm raged on, with flashes of lightning and thunder shaking the air. Yet, inside the house, the warm light created a tranquil ambiance, and Kamisato Ayaka's presence by his side gave the place a peaceful serenity.
Zeyan couldn't help but feel this moment was particularly pleasant. A calm sense of tranquility swept over him, and he thought that if life could continue like this, it wouldn't be so bad.
If only they could grow a bit closer.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Zeyan was reminded of the days they had shared. Holding her hand, embracing her delicate form, inhaling her sweet fragrance—those were past memories, yet they felt as vivid as if they had just occurred.
Thinking about it made Zeyan momentarily distracted. He didn't realize when his gaze left the book or how long he had been staring at the woman sitting across from him, but Kamisato Ayaka was truly stunning—like an elegant white heron, or a vibrant cherry blossom under the sunlight.
Sensing his gaze, Kamisato Ayaka looked up with surprise in her ice-blue eyes. "Zeyan, is something the matter?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Zeyan quickly composed himself. "I was wondering what time it is now. It's a pity we can't tell by the sky. I thought I'd ask Miss Kamisato."
A perfect excuse.
Zeyan felt satisfied with how quickly he had come up with a plausible explanation.
Kamisato Ayaka smiled softly. "For us now, time isn't that important, is it? We go out when it's light, come back when it's dark, and eat when we're hungry. Simple as that."
Zeyan nodded. "As expected of Miss Kamisato. What you say may seem simple, but it's all true. Speaking of which, we gathered quite a lot of food in Ritou. Why don't we enjoy some now? These days, we've mostly been eating rice balls, bird egg rolls, and tricolor dango. To be honest, it's getting a bit repetitive."
Kamisato Ayaka put down her book. "You're right. We haven't had a proper dinner yet. It's about time we start."
They both stood up, gathered the food they had brought, and began unpacking it.
Zeyan glanced at Kamisato Ayaka and saw her take out something called Sakura Mochi. He also pulled out a similar item. The delicate dessert was something he was eager to try as well.
The subtle fragrance of cherry blossoms filled the air as they tasted the beautifully crafted dessert, which seemed to hold the fleeting beauty of spring in every bite.
Zeyan took a small bite and immediately felt as if he were transported to a sunny day, surrounded by cherry blossoms drifting in the wind—colorful, brilliant, and vibrant.
Would Kamisato Ayaka recall the Inazuma of the past as she ate this dessert?
After eating a few more Sakura Mochi, the two resumed reading their novels. Occasionally, they exchanged a few words, and the atmosphere between them felt completely harmonious.
It was hard to believe that just a few days ago, they had been strangers. Now, they felt like old friends, as though they had known each other for years.
Zeyan finished reading "The New Tale of the Six Kitsune," and Kamisato Ayaka completed "The Sword Record of Fallen Autumn." They exchanged books, each curious about what the other had read.
The books still held the warmth of the other person's touch. And a fragrance.
Zeyan lifted the book "The Sword Record of Fallen Autumn" to his face and gently inhaled. It was unmistakably Kamisato Ayaka's fragrance—so intoxicating.
Tonight was equally intoxicating.
...
The next morning, as the first light of dawn filtered through the window, Zeyan and Kamisato Ayaka emerged from their rooms.
After getting dressed and finishing their morning routines, they stepped out of the Hiiragi Estate.
"Swish, swish, swish..."
The heavy rain continued to pour down, with large raindrops splashing against the ground and forming a thin stream of water that quickly ran down the steps.
The Hiiragi Estate was situated high on Ritou, so there was no immediate risk. No matter how much rain fell, it would simply flow down the stone steps. However, the pier area seemed to be getting flooded. If the heavy rain persisted, even Ritou could be submerged.
Zeyan, from his vantage point, surveyed the situation and made his judgment. He held an umbrella as he walked out with Kamisato Ayaka.
Today, they were heading to Inazuma City to gather some necessities.
"Hiss, the wind is still so strong," Zeyan said, subconsciously lowering his umbrella.
The rain wasn't just falling from above; it was being blown sideways by the gusts of wind. He found that one umbrella couldn't cover them completely.
He glanced over at Kamisato Ayaka, who had also lowered her umbrella. The curvature of her umbrella obscured her face, but Zeyan could still make out her graceful figure in the rain.
"Zeyan, let's go," Kamisato Ayaka called in her melodic voice, already stepping out into the storm.
Zeyan followed her, though the process was a bit uncomfortable. The wind and rain swept over them, and he had to hunch over to avoid the worst of it.
"Ah-choo."
Zeyan heard the sound of a sneeze and instinctively looked up.
"Miss Kamisato, are you alright?" Zeyan quickened his pace, catching up to Kamisato Ayaka.
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Try Other Fics I Have
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