Chapter Text
Ayato's gaze drifts off into the darkness.
His eyes were watching through the window, delving himself into the scenery he had never seen.
The unfamiliar scraps, metallic bares, just... what are they? He doesn't know. It is all molded into a clean piece of work he had never seen before. It reminds him of Fontainian structures but better. In both efficiency and construction usage, it looks more enticing and firm.
It wasn't long ago since he was inside that... thing.
But now, he's inside of a 'ship' that doesn't look anything that would dive into the waters.
"That's quite a show.." Kafka sits in the opposite of his seat, Ayato has no knowledge of what she means. Her words breach between cryptic and enigmatic. He gave up long ago to understand "But did you really think they will take your words as a criminal?" She says as she looks into the distance.
Oh.
Ayato remained composed. His elbow rested on the free space down the window. He tapped his forehead rhythmically "I know my situation, that's why I give you my outmost gratitude"
Was she taunting him?
He doesn't know.
Kafka hums, taking in her usual emotionless tone. "Don't thank me, kid. You can say.... you are just lucky"
Again, Ayato doesn't wanna dwell on it.. anything in this world doesn't seem to make sense.
"Do you need me for something?" Is what he asks.
Kafka chuckles almost immediately "I like you, straight to the point.. No setbacks nor beating around the bush"
Ayato crosses his arm and glances at Kafka "I am not a fan.. I prefer you tell me what I should do"
This has been an enlightening experience, yes. He wants to go back to Inazuma, of course. But Ayato must do anything to survive.
From all the choices and events, it seems like this is the only path he can stride. Finding a way home should come later after he deals with being Sunday Oak.
"Well.. no one's exactly holding it for you, little bird.. You can sit back and relax until the next tasks." Her answers were extremely unsatisfactory. She hides information bluntly, leaving no room for questions, just pure mystery.
"For now, enjoy your new seat." Kafka throws him a rectangular object in which he catches in his hands.
Seems like his skills never left him.
"What is this?" Ayato slides his gloved hand into the object. When he hears a click, it lights up.
"A phone"
Ayato fiddles with the phone, his hand moving into the light, he sees numbers and a bunch of 'notifications'.
"Wolfie will show you the ropes, little bird. She'ld back later"
Ayato examines it quietly, he puts it in the table separating him and Kafka, then he taps it.
Now that he escaped the Interastral Peace Corporation, perhaps there's hope in this. There must be a way to go back to Teyvat, to Inazuma.
Kafka looks at him as if he's a puzzle. She stares at him with a fake facade of curiousity "You know.. that phone should belong to you"
His gaze landed on the 'phone' and circulated his fingers on it.
"It doesn't.. but thank you for retrieving it"
Kafka leans into the table, her eyes gazing upon the darkness outside.
"You're welcome"
.
Sunday goes back to the Kamisato Estate, alone.
He stares at the dark room, cold and empty. But it's nothing more than he could handle. On the contrary, he's used to this.
His space at the Dewlight Pavillion radiates the same ambiance. The same loneliness.
He doesn't dwell on it and walks back to... Ayato's office. He sits and leans in the chair. Letting his thoughts flow out as he stares at the ceiling.
He was used to complete silence. Just him and his thoughts. But as he hears that annoying quakening sound outside of the window. He grits his teeth, shutting his eyes in annoyance.
The noises grew louder.... and louder..
Until he stood up and opened the windows, his hands gripping the wood and finding the source.
His eyes land on a tree.
A somewhat big but purple bug attached to it. The source of his anguish. He goes over the window and grabs the bug away from the tree.
Before he could throw it out, his wrist stopped as he heard a sound.
"Hey! What are you doing! Stop!!"
Sunday turns to the source.
The man has white hair, horns, red eyes, and... a very interesting choice of clothing... It was revealing, disorganized, and unruly.
"Oh? My bro! Compadre! Didn't know you're here to catch some onikabutos!" And somehow, he knows Ayato.
"Ya' know, I had my eyes on that one for an hour... She just speaks to my soul" His goofy tone matched with a sheepish moronic expression.
Sunday doesn't know what to reply
"I got a bit annoyed when you just yanked it, but hey!! You're my bro, and my bro is my bro" He casually slings his arm around Sunday.
Sunday was fazed.
"Excuse me, but who are you?"
He appeared out of nowhere, in the Kamisato estate, in the middle of the night, and none of the guards planted in the area notified him.
A boisterous laugh, he pats his stomach as if it's the most funniest joke he had heard and gives Sunday a pointed look.
"How can you forget me!? That's outrageous, my bro... After all we've been through, you don't know my name?"
Who is he?!
Sunday calms down, inhaling the scent of the evening breeze. He narrows his eyes on him "I apologize, bro. Maybe you could help me rack my mind into remembering your name"
If this man slipped through the guards easily, he could be a dangerous one. He might be hiding behind this.. facade. It wouldn't be a new concept. He could be someone condescending, hiding his intentions in this farce.
Just like someone he knows.
"Eh, sure, you got this super important job" He opens his palm and wipes it in the air, gesturing to emphasize Ayato's job "But, between you and me, I think we got the samee work load! You're just too into it-"
Same?
Sunday flinches, he quirks one eyebrow.
"-You should take it easy, be like me! Take me as your example!" He pats his chest vigorously. He is obnoxious.
But Sunday doesn't say anything, he shuts his mouth and observes.
He continues to talk "So, how about we go downtown and have some good o'l onikabuto match? What do you say?!"
Sunday scrutinized his demeanor and actions. He tried to figure out what his words meant.
It sounds like a secret code.. But for what?
Sunday gulps, unsure of what to say. His suspicious eyes fixates on him.
Sunday sighs and reluctantly agrees "Sure"
The stranger grins, he lets go of Sunday and beckons him to follow "Come on! The matches are about to start, you can't miss registration"
Sunday retraced his steps, fully forgetting the onikabuto in his hand.
.
It's weird to walk so freely within the halls.
Ayato got used to confinement that he no longer remembered how many days, weeks, and months have passed since he last saw Teyvat.
He studies the floor plan of this 'ship', he tries to memorize and know the routes. His room, the bathroom, the lobby, the canteen, the unrestricted area- which he believes is a control room.
It is not exactly as.. free, but at least he is no longer chained up in a cold, empty cell.
It's also a good thing that he kept his sanity intact afterwards.
He hasn't met anyone yet other than Kafka.
This 'Wolfie' Kafka mentioned hasn't shown up yet.
So, it's just him in this piece of metal, floating into the darkness.
Ayato eats things he had never eaten before. Food capsulated in a container that's vulnerable at the same time not, the drinks inside a durable material, and the hygienic materials inside a glass like container, but it isn't fragile.
He adapts quickly.
But his head keeps teasing him, making him think about Ayaka, Thoma, Inazuma.
He can't sleep at... night?
Archons.
He doesn't even know.
He tossed and turned. He tried his best to get some rest for tomorrow, but it's not like he would know when is tomorrow. The sky is fully black with feint light shining far from it, no indication of the time nor anything.
He feels the dread sometimes, but he learns to move on and shakes his mind off it.
As he crunches one of these delights inside a packet. He tastes the saltiness and its texture, making him remember about this damming situation.
Looking into the food, he tramples it in his hands and clicks his tongue.
He wishes he had bubble tea with these chips. He predicts that it will taste good with it.
.
Sunday follows the man.
Now he wishes he didn't.
Itto, the stranger who brought him in this onikabuto match, joyfully chuckles as he sees those bugs fight to death.
Beams, shields, force.
Sunday felt defeated.
Itto cheers for the onikabuto Sunday had caught earlier, stomping his legs and moving his fists from excitement.
All Sunday could do was cross his arms and cover his mouth, trying to stop himself from saying things to Itto.
"My bro! Your onikabuto is eatingg it! Yeah!! Go Mr. Striferhead!" What even is that monstrosity of a name?
Sunday inhales...
He focuses on his breath and tries to calm his nerves.
One. two.. three...
"OH! NOOOO, MR. STRIFERHEAD!"
Then his eyes snapped open, his hand clenched into a fist as his knuckles turned white.
He had enough of this.
Enough.
Sunday walks away from the scene, silently retreating. He grits his teeth, irritated, and once he gets away, he rakes his-Ayato- his hair, brushing it backwards. He squeezes his eyes shut from that terrible.. terrible judgment.
But.. it must be a ploy.
This can't be real.
That Itto guy couldn't possibly just sneak in the Kamisato estate just to catch... a bug.
There's no way.
Right?
Must be.
This is just to divert his attention. Itto is probably caught red-handed, and the alibi he thought of is this little onikabuto match.
Yes.
It makes sense.
Sunday regains momentum.
He shifts his eyes on the crowd filled with children and sighs at the sight.
Maybe he'll get his answers once he gets Itto alone.
.
Ayato continues to wander around the ship. He checks and examines all the materials, keeping himself busy since he has nothing better to do.
His mind slips off, letting himself think of Ayaka and the rest.
How they would react being in his place, seeing the wonders he had seen, their possible restlessness to go back home.
It is all in his mind. He ponders and then feels relief. It is nice that he is the one in this position and not them.
Looking at the mirror, he touches the... wings. He flaps it with his hands, wondering how it works.
He flinches once it hits his face.
Every time he sees his reflection, he can't help but try to control the wings beneath his ears. Flapping them out of boredom, then he sniffles a small laugh as he sees himself looking utterly ridiculous.
He spreads the wings out of curiosity then-
"Boo"
He jolts in his seat and holds his chest. His mind registers the appearance of the person, and he retains composure.
He coughs, a hint of blush on the sides, then rolls his shoulder once.
Embarrassing...
It seems like his senses are no longer as sharp as they were.
He turns his attention back to the person.
Her gray hair, bored eyes, small figure. Purple, black and white, her clothes are... a bit too short for Ayato's taste. She looks like a young lady. It feels incredibly wrong to see her clothes, it has too much skin.
Ayato thinks it's outrageous.
"Sup" She says, a pink bubble popping infront.
Ayato's hand twitches "Yes... sup"
She has hands in her hips, her gaze examining him, her brows furrowing deep, then arching upwards.
She snaps her fingers and points at Ayato "Ah! The newcomer"
Ayato slowly nods and sheepishly smiles "Indeed, I am.. the newcomer" He winces, still not used to this young lady's etiquette.
"Cool, Kafka told me you need help with your phone. Hand it over"
Ayato shuffles through his pockets and gives her the phone.
"You must be 'Wolfie'? I suppose?"
Wolfie groans at the name and shakes her head "Look, newcomer, I'm Silverwolf. Not Wolfie, got that?"
"Very well, Silverwolf"
Silverwolf hums in satisfaction and waves her hand "I'll encrypt your phone, so no one can trace you even if you text. I'll come back later, bye"
She started walking away, disappearing into the wall.
Ayato blinks.
She just went through a wall as if it's normal.
Ayato heaves a heavy sigh and presses his lips into a thin line.
Truly, what's the logic of this place?
"I miss Teyvat" He murmurs under his breath.