After Ayaka's parents left, Ayato and Ayaka stayed behind with Jiang Yan.
"Brother Jiang Yan, this time I specially brought gifts from Inazuma for you and everyone else!"
"And lots and lots of Inazuman specialties too!"
Ayaka pointed at the pile of presents stacked by the wall, speaking in her soft childish voice.
She ran over to the gifts, picked up a purple box, and handed it to Jiang Yan with both hands.
"This is a gift I specially made for you. Hurry and open it, Brother Jiang Yan."
A gift specially prepared for me?
Jiang Yan froze for a moment before accepting the box.
Under Ayaka's eager gaze, he carefully unwrapped it.
Inside was a fan.
More precisely, a dance fan.
Nine and a half inches long, its patterns and design looked strangely familiar.
Then it clicked.
Wasn't this the very fan shown on Ayaka's friendship-namecard artwork in the game?
Even the patterns were identical.
"Thank you for the gift, little Ayaka. I really like it."
Jiang Yan smiled as he carefully put the fan away.
"Mhm! As long as Brother Jiang Yan likes it!"
Ayaka nodded happily.
"Tsk tsk tsk, as long as Brother Jiang Yan likes it~"
Beside them, Ayato was drowning in jealousy.
Ayaka had never called him "big brother" in such a sweet tone before!
Was she really his biological sister?
Never in his life had she treated him this gently!
His little sister was being stolen away!
So this was what people meant when they said love disappeared.
In the end, a real brother still couldn't compare to a newly met one…
In an instant, Ayato's imagination spun countless melodramatic scenarios—
A beloved younger sister abandoning her caring older brother to throw herself into someone else's embrace…
Thinking of this, Ayato sighed deeply.
Ayaka then opened another gift box.
"Brother Jiang Yan, this is a fruit unique to Inazuma called Lavender Melon. It tastes really good—you'll probably like it."
As she spoke, she took out several Lavender Melons.
"Oh right! Brother Jiang Yan, wait a second!"
Ayaka hurried over to Ayato.
"Brother, this first Lavender Melon is for you!"
Seeing Ayaka's smiling face, Ayato felt greatly comforted.
He knew it.
His sister was still his sister!
There was definitely still a place for him in her heart.
Giving him the first Lavender Melon proved everything.
Tianquan of Liyue! This round, I win!
In Ayaka's heart, you'll always rank below her real brother!
No one knew just how dramatic Ayato's inner thoughts had become.
Holding the Lavender Melon Ayaka had given him, he took a large bite.
"It really tastes great… Ayaka…"
Before he could finish speaking—
Ayaka ran straight back to Jiang Yan and handed him another one.
"Brother Jiang Yan, these Lavender Melons are really tasty! I had someone test them first!"
Ayato: ???
So she gave him the first one just to test whether it tasted good?!
Heh.
In the end, his feelings had truly been misplaced.
Ayato suddenly regretted coming to Liyue.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yan looked at the little girl tormenting her own brother with a helpless smile.
"Little Ayaka, apologize to your brother."
"You'll hurt his feelings if you do that."
He spoke gently.
Only then did Ayaka realize she might have ignored Ayato's feelings.
"Sorry, Brother… I got too excited seeing Brother Jiang Yan…"
She lowered her head and walked over to apologize.
As a devoted siscon, Ayato could never stay upset over something like this.
The moment he saw Ayaka lowering her head obediently to apologize, any resentment instantly disappeared.
Watching the siblings reconcile, Jiang Yan smiled softly.
This was how it should be.
He didn't want Ayato to become unhappy with Ayaka because of him.
After all, in the original story, Ayato had always treated Ayaka exceptionally well.
Even after their parents' early deaths, he had never once taken his frustrations out on her.
Instead, he silently shouldered the burden of supporting the Kamisato Clan alone.
She need not involve herself in political struggles.
She need not face the darkness of the world.
Those are things I, as her older brother, should clear away for her.
That was how Ayato once described his feelings toward Ayaka.
It was enough to show how deeply he cherished her.
"Alright, you two."
Jiang Yan looked toward Ayaka.
"Ningguang and the others are upstairs. Ayaka, you can take your brother to play with them."
"While you were away, those little ones really missed you."
That wasn't a lie.
Though Ayaka had only stayed a few days, everyone had grown fond of the little girl from Inazuma.
After she left, Ningguang often mentioned her.
"Really?"
Ayaka's eyes lit up.
"Mhm. Absolutely."
Jiang Yan smiled.
"Go take your brother to see them."
"Okay!"
Ayaka nodded energetically and pulled Ayato downstairs.
Jiang Yan watched them leave with a smile.
But once they disappeared, the smile gradually faded.
"The one outside the window."
"You've been listening for quite a while. Aren't you going to show yourself?"
"Eavesdropping isn't exactly a good habit."
His tone was calm as he looked toward a particular spot outside the window.
"My, my… I've been discovered."
A charming voice sounded from outside.
The window suddenly opened.
A woman with pink hair and red-and-white shrine maiden robes stepped inside.
Jiang Yan stared at her, eyes widening.
Huh???
Isn't that the sly fox herself?!
Why was she here?
No—
His gaze sharpened.
If Yae Miko had come, then did that mean those others…
What Jiang Yan thought of were naturally the Raiden twins and Kitsune Saiguu.
"Hehe, Tianquan needn't think too much."
"This time, I slipped out on my own."
Yae Miko walked closer.
Then she leaned near him.
"I simply heard that both my Guuji and my god have been constantly talking about someone."
"So I grew curious and came to take a look."
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