Shao Yun and Kamisato Ayato returned to the banquet hall together. As soon as they stepped inside, Shao Yun saw Lumine, Paimon, and Kamisato Ayaka sitting together in lively conversation.
Shao Yun was momentarily stunned, thinking to himself, 'How did those three get so close so quickly? The bridge of friendship between girls really gets built fast...'
Seeing Shao Yun and Ayato return, Ayaka made a move to stand up, but Paimon quickly grabbed her arm.
"Wait, Ayaka! Then what happened? Who won the ramen contest?" Paimon asked curiously.
Ayaka glanced at Shao Yun with slight hesitation, seeming unsure if she should continue.
Shao Yun gave her a faint nod and said, "It's fine, keep chatting. But what's this about a ramen contest?"
Lumine explained, "Ayaka was telling us about Yae Miko—the shrine priestess we're visiting tomorrow. We wanted to learn more about her, but as we talked, the conversation kind of drifted into gossip territory."
"I see..." Shao Yun nodded thoughtfully.
With Shao Yun's permission, Ayaka finally revealed the result of the ramen contest.
"According to Thoma, the winner was a young oni named Arataki Itto. Lady Yae Miko nearly won—she was only one bowl behind. But she lost because the last bowl was fox ramen, which contained fried tofu."
"The oni race in Inazuma is allergic to beans. It's said that Arataki Itto had a severe allergic reaction and had to rest in bed for three or four days before he recovered..."
Paimon burst into laughter, clutching her belly. "That's hilarious! Hahaha! Are there more stories like that? I want to hear more!"
Noticing Shao Yun's neutral expression from afar, Ayaka quickly changed the subject. "That's all I know for now. Maybe Thoma can tell you more next time—he knows way more stories than I do."
With that, Ayaka stood up and returned to her seat.
Once she was seated, Shao Yun sat cross-legged beside Lumine and asked in a low voice, "Besides the stuff about... Yae Miko, did Ayaka say anything else?"
Lumine thought for a moment, then replied, "She said that after the banquet, we'll watch fireworks in the courtyard."
Shao Yun blinked in surprise. "Fireworks?"
Ayato, having just sat back down, chimed in, "That's right. Fireworks. They're from the Naganohara Fireworks Shop in Hanamizaka—very famous in Inazuma. I had them specially ordered to bring you three some joy. We'll watch them once the banquet ends."
Looking at the table, now emptied by Paimon save for a few inedible bones, Shao Yun chuckled helplessly. "Well then, let's go watch the fireworks now."
Paimon blinked and tilted her head. "Huh? Shao Yun, aren't you going to eat more? I remember you didn't eat much earlier."
Shao Yun gave a small laugh and pointed to the table. "What am I supposed to eat—the plates?"
Paimon froze, then blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry, sorry! I wasn't paying attention and accidentally ate everything..."
…
Shao Yun and the others exited the Kamisato estate and walked into the spacious courtyard.
Above, the bright moon hung high in the night sky, casting a soft silver glow across the land.
All around was silent and still, broken only by the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze—a delicate, pleasing sound.
At this serene moment, Kamisato Ayato waved his hand lightly, signaling the household servants.
The servants promptly moved, sending a prearranged signal toward the distant beach.
There, other Kamisato staff had been waiting. Upon seeing the signal, they lit the meticulously arranged fireworks.
With a series of crisp bangs, streaks of light shot into the sky, splitting the darkness and blooming into brilliant bursts of color.
Each firework burst into different shapes and hues—some like blooming flowers, others like twinkling stars, or swirling ribbons.
The entire night sky was painted in vibrant color, a dazzling and heart-soothing spectacle.
Reflections of the fireworks danced in the eyes of Lumine and Paimon, their faces lit with delight and amazement.
Shao Yun, too, found himself captivated, unable to take his eyes off the fleeting, vivid beauty.
The fireworks show lasted a full ten minutes. New bursts continued to light up the sky—a dreamlike visual feast.
At last, the performance ended, marking the conclusion of the apology banquet.
Paimon, still glowing with excitement, exclaimed, "That was so beautiful! I wish it could've lasted longer!"
Lumine smiled beside her and reminded gently, "Paimon, don't be greedy. We need to rest soon—tomorrow we're going to see Yae Miko."
Paimon nodded. "You're right… We'll have plenty of chances to see fireworks later. Let's focus on tomorrow's task."
Ayato stepped forward, smiling. "If you're ready to rest, I've asked Thoma to prepare rooms for the three of you. Shall we?"
Lumine looked at Ayato with gratitude. "Thank you so much—that's very considerate of you."
Ayato waved it off kindly. "Think nothing of it. Please, follow me."
He led Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon down a quiet hallway into a guest room thoughtfully prepared for them.
The room exuded traditional Inazuman style, with tatami mats and three thick futons laid out—soft and inviting.
Its decor was simple yet elegant, making the guests feel warmly welcomed.
Ayato, with a trace of apology, said softly, "I'm afraid beds aren't very common in Inazuma. I hope you'll find this arrangement comfortable."
Paimon waved her hand casually. "It's totally fine. We've camped outdoors before, slept on blankets—it was great!"
"Exactly. Besides, this is way better than sleeping on the ground," Lumine added with a smile, appreciating the local customs.
Seeing them both content, Shao Yun said nothing more.
"In that case, I'll let you rest. Tomorrow, Ayaka will escort you to meet Lady Yae Miko. Please make sure to get a good night's sleep," Ayato said, relieved.
Paimon nodded and thanked him. "Mm, we'll rest early!"
Ayato smiled and gently closed the door behind him.
Shao Yun turned to Lumine and whispered, "Let's sleep early. Tomorrow is important."
Lumine nodded back. "Mm. Rest well. We'll need our strength."
With that, the three chose their futons, pulled up their covers, and prepared for sleep—ready for what tomorrow would bring.
…
Elsewhere, in Ayato's study, Ayaka had stayed behind after watching the fireworks, quietly waiting for her brother's return. She stood by the desk, her gaze occasionally drifting toward the door, a mix of anxiety and hope in her eyes.
When Ayato entered the room and saw her tense expression, he smiled gently and walked to her side, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat.
Ayaka asked softly, "Brother… how did it go? Is the crisis resolved?"
Ayato nodded, smiling. "Yes. It's resolved. Shao Yun has calmed down."
Ayaka breathed a sigh of relief, one hand subconsciously pressing against her chest, a smile of genuine comfort spreading across her face.
Ayato noticed she was still in full makeup and frowned slightly. "Ayaka, you haven't removed your makeup yet."
Ayaka quickly stood to leave for the washroom, but Ayato stopped her and pulled a letter from his sleeve, handing it to her.
"Give this letter to Lady Yae Miko tomorrow. Once she sees it, the Kamisato family's troubles will truly be over."
Ayaka accepted the envelope with care and nodded. "Understood. Thank you, brother. I'm sorry for troubling you."
Ayato shook his head and fondly tousled her hair. "Don't say that. It's not trouble."
He pulled Ayaka into a gentle embrace and said, "Alright, don't worry too much. The fireworks tonight were beautiful, weren't they?"
Ayaka nodded, remembering the dazzling display from earlier, and her heart began to settle.
Finally, Ayato released her and smiled. "Go take off your makeup and rest. Tomorrow is important. Good night, Ayaka."
"Good night, brother," Ayaka replied sweetly.
…
The next morning, the first rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains and lit the room in the Kamisato estate. Lumine and Paimon were already up, standing by the window, stretching and breathing in the fresh morning air.
Shao Yun, a bit later than them, groggily got up from the futon.
The Kamisato servants were already hard at work, having prepared a hearty breakfast for their guests.
After finishing their meal, the three of them stood outside the estate, waiting for Ayaka.
Shao Yun's eyes drifted toward the distant shadow of Mt. Yougou, where the magnificent Grand Narukami Shrine sat atop its peak.
The Kamisato estate lay right at the mountain's foot, and from above, petals from the Sacred Sakura Tree occasionally floated down like pink snowflakes.
His gaze then turned to Lumine, who had already changed into her Rising Star outfit for the day's journey.
Shao Yun raised a brow in curiosity. "Lumine, why wear a skirt to climb a mountain? That doesn't look very practical."
Lumine looked down at her outfit, then playfully nudged him with her elbow. "What, you don't think it looks good?"
Shao Yun recalled her words back on Beidou's Alcor, then shrugged helplessly. "Alright, alright—I get it. I'll stop talking."