Inazuma – The Kamisato Estate
Dressed in her usual light blue kimono, Kamisato Ayaka returned to her room after completing her nightly rituals. The mansion was silent, the hour so late that only a few guards on patrol remained awake.
Gently pushing her door open just a crack, Ayaka peeked down the dimly lit hallway.
At the far end of the corridor lay her brother Kamisato Ayato's room. Typically, he stayed up late, processing official documents before retiring only when he could no longer keep his eyes open.
But tonight, his room was dark.
"Brother must already be asleep…"
Ayaka exhaled a sigh of relief. Quietly shutting her door, she opened her wardrobe and carefully hid away the magical toilet portal she had used to sneak back from Sumeru.
She had been taking great pains to keep her secret trips undiscovered, especially from her brother.
Though he never voiced it outright, Ayaka knew Ayato disapproved of her relationship with Luo Qing. For now, she had no choice but to tread lightly and wait for the right moment to bring it up again.
Previously, Ayato's concerns stemmed from Luo Qing's identity as a Fatui Harbinger, fearing the potential political ramifications for the Kamisato family and the Shogunate.
But now, with both Ei and Yae Miko involved with Luo Qing, her brother's argument was looking weaker by the day.
Surely, with the Shogun and Lady Miko accepting him, Brother can't object anymore, Ayaka thought as she prepared for bed.
Her mind wandered to rehearsing how to broach the subject with her brother as she slipped off her kimono and lay down on her futon. Exhausted from the day's dance practice, she soon drifted off to sleep.
Unbeknownst to her, a small tanuki-shaped daruma perched in the rafters stirred.
"Hmm…"
The daruma shifted into its human form—Sayu. Sniffing the air, she identified Luo Qing's scent lingering faintly on Ayaka's body before slipping out the window into the night.
In the main estate, Sayu bounded deftly across rooftops until she reached Kamisato Ayato's room.
The room appeared as Ayaka had seen—dark and seemingly empty.
But Ayato wasn't asleep. He sat in quiet contemplation, sipping tea on a tatami mat. The open sliding door to his garden allowed the starlight to spill in, illuminating his serene figure.
"When we were children, Ayaka and I used to stargaze like this often…" Ayato mused, his gaze lingering on the night sky before turning to Sayu.
"Did you see everything?"
"Yes," Sayu confirmed with a small nod, seating herself on the mat.
"She returned through the same black toilet as Luo Qing. Also…"
She hesitated.
"What is it?" Ayato prompted, pouring a cup of tea for them both.
"Miss Ayaka smells like Luo Qing. And the scent is… very strong."
"…"
Ayato's hand trembled slightly, nearly spilling his tea.
"Are you certain?"
"I remember Luo Qing's scent clearly. When he was in Inazuma, Miss Ayaka often carried his scent as well. And…"
"That's enough, Sayu." Ayato cut her off with a strained smile.
He had heard enough.
"You've done well. Go rest for the night."
"Understood. Goodnight, Lord Ayato."
With that, Sayu vanished into the shadows, leaving Ayato alone in his dimly lit room.
He sighed deeply, his shadow stretching long across the floor under the moonlight.
"Ah… Ayaka…"
---
Sumeru – Luo Qing's Home
Hearing the calm yet unmistakably icy tone of the woman in his arms, Luo Qing took a deep breath and pretended to stay composed.
His arms, however, remained firmly wrapped around Ei's slender waist, refusing to let go.
"I thought this wasn't Makoto's room…" he muttered, feigning ignorance.
"It's not. I swapped with her because I needed the desk for my light novel readings."
Ei's voice was calm—too calm.
"And why didn't anyone tell me?" Luo Qing asked, trying to maintain a straight face.
"How long do you plan to hold me?"
"Well…" Luo Qing hugged her even tighter.
"Since I'm already here, why not let me stay? Just for tonight?"
"…"
"Sofas are cold and lonely. You're so warm, kind, and lovely—how could you possibly turn me away?"
"…"
His reasoning was infuriatingly sound—except it wasn't.
"You were trying to sneak into Makoto's bed, weren't you?"
"…"
[Luo Qing's Frustration +1]
"Well, Makoto's not here, but her sister will do—ow! Stop pinching me!" Luo Qing yelped as Ei's fingers found his side.
"If you're so concerned about Makoto, why don't you go find her?"
Her voice remained level, but Luo Qing could sense the faintest twinge of jealousy.
"Wait… are you jealous?" he asked, a sly grin spreading across his face.
"Jealous? Of you? Don't flatter yourself."
"Then why are you pinching me?"
"Because I want to."
"Fine. Pinch all you want—I'm going to sleep."
Without another word, Luo Qing buried his face against Ei's back and closed his eyes.
They'd already shared a kiss before. Surely, sharing a bed was no big deal, right?
"You're really going to sleep?"
When Luo Qing didn't respond, Ei frowned.
Is he seriously just planning to hold me all night without doing anything else?!
"Hey, I'm talking to you…"
Still no response.
Curious, Ei wriggled around to face him, only to find Luo Qing's eyes closed, his breathing steady.
"…He's already asleep?"
She stared at him in disbelief.
All he's going to do is hug me? Nothing else?
Ei debated whether to kick him out of bed, but before she could decide, Luo Qing muttered in his sleep.
"Such a soft, fragrant pillow…"
He pressed his face into her chest with a contented sniff, a blissful smile spreading across his lips.
Ei's eyebrow twitched.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
---
Meanwhile, in the Living Room
Having tasted success with her first late-night escapade, Theresa was itching for another intimate encounter with her beloved master.
Quietly slipping off her shoes, she tiptoed down the stairs, her heart pounding in anticipation.
But when she reached the living room, she froze.
The sofa was empty.
"…Where's my Master?"
She stared at the vacant cushions, her mind blank with confusion.
Where could my Luo Qing have gone?!
---
T/N: YAE MIKO IS NOT ACTUALLY 'INVOLVED' WITH LUO QING AYAKA IS JUST SAYING THEY'RE FRIENDS OR SOMETHING
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