[Genshin Impact] A world where only travelers are alone.

Chapter 113 Ayato Chapter

...Can't it be hidden?

As if burned by his intense gaze, Kazuki lowered his head uncomfortably: "Ya-Ayato, I've never seen through the things you can't hide."

Ayato Kamisato didn't mind what she said.

For him, the fact that Que was willing to change her tune was a big step forward, indicating that she was trying to believe him.

All he needed to do was reassure her.

Ayato Kamisato stood up, walked around the low table between the two of them, and knelt down in front of Suzume. He didn't use the same forceful methods as before, but he still managed to occupy all of Suzume's attention.

Before Kazuki could react, he jokingly tried to ease the tension: "Hmm... speaking of which, Ayaka's friend once complained that I seemed too calculating. Perhaps that's why Kazuki couldn't see through it."

He chuckled softly: "But it doesn't matter, I'm right in front of you, and you can ask me countless times to confirm this fact—I love you and Que."

The tentatively clasped hands symbolize that someone has taken the first step, and now only the response from the other person is needed. However, the person being waited for has not yet let down their guard, and the thorn rooted in their heart has not yet been removed.

Although she didn't immediately pull her hand away from his grasp, He Que still didn't look up, but whispered, "I don't understand... I don't think I have anything about me that you like..."

Ayato Kamisato heard a faint sob in her voice.

Kazusa knew that she was a coward at heart, but she didn't want to show that cowardice in front of Ayato Kamisato.

She tried her best to suppress her sobs and spoke as calmly as possible: "I know you actually cried that night, the night you agreed to my request—I always thought you hated me, hated me for forcing you to make this decision."

That was the first and last time that Suzume saw Ayato Kamisato cry.

He didn't cry when his father died, nor when his mother died; except for that one time, Ayato Kamisato never cried.

After a long silence, Ayato Kamisato slowly said, "So this is what you've been unable to let go of all along? Kazusagi, I'm not sad because of Takayuki Kujo's ill intentions. I'm just lamenting that I knew what this marriage contract meant, and I knew you didn't understand anything, yet I could only take advantage of your kindness just to get this stepping stone to help the Kamisato family."

"I took advantage of you; I was incredibly selfish."

*

Before her death, Ayato Kamisato's mother, Hanayo Kamisato, had foreseen that Ayato Kamisato would call her to her side to give her last instructions.

At that time, the funeral of the former head of the Kamisato family had just ended half a month ago, and Kamisato Ayato was not so busy yet. Under the instigation of Kujo Takayuki, Suzume spent almost all his time accompanying and comforting Kamisato Ayato.

Kayo Kamisato saw all of this, so as she felt her health declining, she felt obligated to do one last favor for her child.

"Mother, what do you want to see me about?"

Ayato Kamisato knelt beside the bed, his eyes filled with concern.

Kazuyo Kamisato barely suppressed the itch in her throat and asked in a low voice, "Has Suzume already gone back?"

"Yes, Suzume and I went back with the Kujo family's servants about fifteen minutes ago," Ayato Kamisato replied, sounding somewhat puzzled. "Why is Mother asking about this?"

Kayo Kamisato smiled and said, "I just suddenly remembered something I said to you a long time ago, Ayato, do you remember?"

"Mother refers to—"

[To put it another way, connections are also a form of resource. If you truly want to uphold the glory of the Kamisato family, Kazusuki, as the only daughter of the Kujo family, might be able to help you.]

Ayato Kamisato paused for a moment, clearly recalling the advice Kayo Kamisato had given him before he and Suzume reconciled.

Kazuyo patted his head: "But now I want to know, what kind of existence does Suzume hold for Ayato?"

"And Que..."

Ayato Kamisato stammered, unable to speak.

Kayo Kamisato had anticipated this.

Her child has always been intelligent, so how could he not have realized that He Que is completely different from others to him? He couldn't answer simply because the burden on his shoulders was too heavy, making it difficult for him to make a promise.

Kayo Kamisato didn't intend to force him to understand everything right now, but simply advised, "It's okay. Some things are meant to be said to the right people. Ayato, I just want to tell you that if you make a decision one day, you must be willing to give up something. After all, feelings are the most sacred thing, and they cannot be tainted by anything, let alone be linked to interests."

Once interests are involved, feelings are no longer pure, and the two people in the relationship will eventually lose trust as a result.

*

"Mother is always right." Ayato Kamisato smiled, but his laughter was tinged with melancholy. "Back then, I also wondered whether proposing the engagement to you, Suzume, was a deliberate inducement by Takayuki Kujo or something else—I should have been more cautious, at least to find out if you really liked me and if you were willing to tie your future to mine, but I was too hasty."

He embraced Heque and, without realizing it, placed a kiss on the forehead of the girl who had been looking up at him with concern.

"I was afraid that I would miss this opportunity and cause the Kamisato family to decline in my hands, so even though I knew you wouldn't understand the meaning behind it, I still agreed to your request. The only thing that can comfort me is your subsequent behavior, which can perhaps be considered as showing interest in me."

Ayato Kamisato let out a sigh.

He Que never knew that he had thought about so many things.

"Ayato..."

Ayato Kamisato took her hand, and this time he got a response.

He Que slowly closed her palms together and intertwined her fingers with his.

Ayato Kamisato was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered and smiled at her.

He continued recounting the past: "I originally thought you would never guess what Kujo Takako meant in your entire life, at least that way I could slowly make up for it later. But now it seems that I was just being presumptuous. I haven't even been able to take care of you as I promised myself."

After Kazuki continued to act as usual, Ayato Kamisato unconsciously relaxed and shifted his focus to political affairs, failing to even realize when Kazuki discovered the truth and began to distance himself from him.

Kazuki was a slow learner. If it weren't for the Kamisato family's growing influence and Kujo Takayuki gradually losing out and starting to dislike Kazuki, often resorting to beatings and scoldings, Kazuki might never have discovered this secret in his entire life.

She didn't intend to tell Ayato Kamisato about it, so she simply tightened her grip on his hand, letting her body heat pass through their intertwined hands for some comfort.

How could Ayato Kamisato not understand what she meant?

"Can I take this as a sign that you've forgiven me?" He smiled, pulling himself out of his past guilt and focusing solely on the person in front of him, He Que.

"I've never blamed you," He Que blurted out.

However, Ayato Kamisato's expression remained unchanged: "Yes, of course I know."

He Que hesitated for a long time, biting her lower lip, before finally making up her mind and saying, "I like you, I've known that for a long time, I can tell. I am indeed very naive, but I heard stories my mother told me when I was very young, and I know that only mutual love can lead to marriage, so I have never regretted it. I'm just worried, worried that I will become a burden to you—"

"Then I feel just as nervous. This is probably what it feels like to like someone. I'm so happy, with Suzume, I'm so happy."

Ayato Kamisato held her and whispered something in her ear.

He Que gradually relaxed and let herself lean on his shoulder.

In the end, it was only after Kujo Kamaji, who discovered she was missing, sent someone to the Kamisato family to inquire that the two finally separated.

After the misunderstanding was cleared up, their way of getting along changed.

Ayato Kamisato quite naturally placed a kiss on Suzume's cheek: "See you next time, Suzume."

He Que touched her cheek sheepishly, and reluctantly pushed open the door to leave amidst the persistent calls of her servants.

The sun is shining brightly outside.

He Que awkwardly raised her hand to shield her eyes from the glaring sunlight, her eyes, red from crying, now slightly narrowed.

—It's a sunny day today too.

(End of this chapter)

The author says: Once I finish writing the Traveler's Side Story, it will all be finished!