"Ayaka, Qin Yu he!"
Kamisato Ayaka gently shook her head, signaling Yoimiya to calm down.
At the same time, she pondered.
The Commission, knowing that a festival was being held here.
Still dared to appear directly at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
This was absolutely not normal.
What made them act so aggressively...
Even to the point of offending the Yashiro Commission and the Guuji.
Soon, Kamisato Ayaka shook her head wearily.
With too little known intelligence, it was impossible to deduce anything substantial.
"Tell the Shuumatsuban to keep an eye on their movements."
"Yes, Young Mistress!"
The ninja received the order and dispersed.
Inside the pavilion, the atmosphere was heavy.
"Ayaka, what should we do! Qin Yu he..."
Yoimiya stomped her feet anxiously.
Kamisato Ayaka closed her fan and said softly,
"Let's go, I'm here."
No matter what, the festival was the highest priority matter for the Yashiro Commission.
Interference from other forces would not be tolerated.
"Okay! I'll go with you."
Yoimiya clenched her fists, looking ready for a fight.
As a fireworks artisan, she hated nothing more than people disrupting things.
"..."
Kamisato Ayaka looked at the silent, ethereal figure.
Sakura's demeanor was cold, indifferent to Qin Yu's departure.
As if they were strangers.
She shook her head, "Let's go, Yoimiya."
And left first.
Yoimiya hurried to Sakura's side and said earnestly,
"Miss Sakura, please come with us quickly."
"Let's go support Qin Yu together!"
Sakura's voice was indifferent, "Why should I go?"
"Because..."
Yoimiya's beautiful eyes widened, speechless.
For a moment, she couldn't think of a reason.
Yes, Sakura had only known them for a short time.
She was still just a girl from the countryside.
If this frail woman were to go and encounter conflict, it would indeed be inappropriate.
"I'm not interested in your affairs,"
Sakura said coldly.
"Then... alright, you wait for us here!"
With that, she chased after Kamisato Ayaka.
"Don't wander off!"
The girl's worried voice echoed.
...
In the pavilion, only Sakura remained.
She was back to the desolation she felt upon waking.
"Everything is but a fleeting passerby."
Her cold voice murmured softly.
"Crack."
Suddenly, a crisp sound rang out.
Sakura blinked in surprise.
She instinctively looked at her hands.
She had picked up another sweet treat without realizing it.
Qin Yu had bought it for her.
She slowly swallowed.
It was a sense of fulfillment she had never experienced during her slumber.
"..."
The mocking words of the fox-woman echoed in her ears.
"You, you've just been cooped up for too long and closed your heart."
"Really, Inazuma has so many beautiful things."
"Are you going to spend your life alone?"
A hint of confusion flashed in Sakura's eyes.
What was happening to her?
"Sigh."
After a long while, a light sigh.
The icy aura receded like a tide.
The lively girl said Qin Yu needed support...
Sakura stood up.
She casually popped the last piece of candy into her mouth.
It was sweet.
She liked it very much.
...
Outside the Grand Narukami Shrine.
People wanting to go down the mountain were blocked.
A crowd had gathered, but they dared not speak out.
Because the ones blocking them were from the Commission.
As one of the Three Commissions, they controlled the economic lifeline of Inazuma.
Their influence was immense.
"Why are you restricting our movement!"
Someone, not believing it, tried to leave but was beaten back.
They were even seriously injured.
"Dare to offend the honorable members of the Commission, this is the consequence."
The samurai twisted his neck and coldly swept his gaze across the crowd.
He sneered, "Any more disturbances, and you'll bear the consequences!"
It was the esteemed head of the Commission himself?
The people were startled and looked instinctively.
Indeed, amidst a cluster of samurai, a middle-aged man stood there.
The middle-aged man was impeccably dressed and had an extraordinary bearing.
His face was grim, and he was staring in the direction of the shrine.
He was the current head of the Commission, Hiiragi Shinsuke.
And also the father of Hiiragi Chihiro.
He suppressed his anger and said coldly,
"Useless fellow, to have run off here on her own."
"Doesn't she know...!"
Suddenly, a hoarse voice interrupted him.
"Lord Hiiragi, speak with caution. Do not disrupt the plan."
The voice was ethereal, like a vengeful spirit.
Hiiragi Shinsuke's pupils constricted, and he snorted, falling silent.
Beside him stood a phantom-like man.
He wore a mask and his form was hidden under a hood.
His black and red attire exuded an ominous aura.
On his back, an ostentatious ritual blade glinted with cold light.
It was hard to imagine the carnage this deadly weapon could inflict.
Fatui, Debt Collector.
Hiiragi Shinsuke said in a low voice, "I can handle this matter."
The hoarse voice chuckled.
"Let's hope so, as things have been exposed."
"Lord Hiiragi would be utterly destroyed."
Hiiragi Shinsuke's face turned ugly, "Are you threatening me?!"
"How could I? You are a 'friend' of the Fatui..."
The hoarse voice said meaningfully, with hidden killing intent.
Beyond the crowd, a commotion arose.
"Father, cough...!"
A graceful figure rushed out.
It was Hiiragi Chihiro, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.
Already frail, she was panting from running.
She suppressed her shortness of breath and bowed respectfully.
Her lips were pale, and she couldn't help but cough.
But such a heartbreaking sight was met with merciless scolding.
"You still know to come out."
"Such an appearance, you shame the Hiiragi family!"
Hiiragi Shinsuke exploded in anger, pointing at Hiiragi Chihiro and shouting.
"I'm sorry, I..."
Hiiragi Shinsuke didn't give her a chance to speak and said coldly,
"Now, come back with me!"
With that, he turned and left.
"Father..."
Hiiragi Chihiro lowered her head, biting her lip.
A voice echoed in her heart.
She wanted to stay.
She wanted to attend the upcoming fireworks display.
She wanted to be with Xiao Yu...
Even if only for this one night.
She slowly clenched her fists, her whole body trembling.
For the first time, the girl stubbornly raised her face, no longer looking down.
Hiiragi Shinsuke noticed that Hiiragi Chihiro hadn't followed him.
He turned back abruptly, his face grim.
He strode up to Hiiragi Chihiro and pointed at her.
He sneered, "Very good, you've rebelled!"
His stern gaze swept over, settling on one spot.
It was a doll that the girl had carefully guarded.
Hiiragi Chihiro's heart leaped, and she quickly hid her hand behind her back.
"What is that, hand it over."
Hiiragi Chihiro stubbornly said, "It's mine."
Xiao Yu gave it to her, she would never give it to anyone else!
The girl's resistance ignited Hiiragi Shinsuke's anger.
"Guards, where are you!"
With a command, the accompanying samurai stepped forward, their demeanor stern.
Hiiragi Shinsuke pointed at Hiiragi Chihiro and sneered,
"Tear apart whatever she's hiding behind her back."
Hiiragi Chihiro's face turned pale, and she retreated, shaking her head.
Xiao Yu gave it to her, how could she...
"Young Mistress, hand it over."
The attendant samurai stepped forward and said coldly.
He looked at the pale girl without sympathy.
As Hiiragi Shinsuke's retainer, he naturally looked down on this girl who was not valued by the family.
Seeing Hiiragi Chihiro's continued resistance, the samurai lost his patience.
His hand, like iron tongs, shot out.
The next moment, the samurai's face changed.
A force that could not be resisted gripped him.
A young man blocked in front of Hiiragi Chihiro.
Damn it, when did he appear!
He reacted and became furious.
"If you dare to move again, I'll cripple you right now."
The young man slowly raised his face, revealing a stern expression.
Their eyes met, and the samurai was momentarily shaken, swallowing the words that were on his tongue.
This young man was not joking!
Hiiragi Chihiro's beautiful eyes reddened.
"Xiao Yu has come to protect me!"