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Ayaka has said good night to her brother and the maids and curled up in bed with her favourite book when she hears it. The tapping is almost imperceptible- certainly nothing that would alert anyone else in the household- but it’s persistent and figuring that she can handle herself if it’s an intruder, she slides out of bed. Listening again for a long moment, she concludes that the sound is coming from the window and walks towards it, opening the curtains a fraction to peek through. She’s met with a face shrouded in shadow, but even during the darkest of nights, she can’t mistake Lumine’s bright grin.
Carefully, Ayaka unlatches the window and furrows her eyebrows at Lumine in confusion. “Lumine! Not that I am displeased to see you, but what are you doing here? How were you able to slip past the guards?”
“I have my ways,” Lumine giggles, reaching forwards so she can take one of Ayaka’s hands and press a gentle kiss to the back of it. “You’ve been so busy lately, so I was thinking if we don’t have time to go out on a date during the day, then maybe we could at night.”
Sneaking out at night time to go on a date? Why, that sounds like the last thing that the eldest daughter of the Kamisato Clan should be doing. What if they get caught? Would it jeopardise Lumine’s safety? Only Thoma is aware of the nature of their relationship, and Ayaka dreads to think what would occur if anyone else were to find out.
As if she’d read Ayaka’s mind, Lumine is quick to reassure her. “Don’t worry, I have a perfect route for sneaking in and out of here. I promise that I won’t let us get caught and I will keep you safe the entire time. We won’t be going far, or for too long, I just,” Lumine takes her other hand too, gazing up at her in earnest. “I really miss you.” Ah, Lumine knows too well by now which words will make her concede.
“Alright,” Ayaka whispers finally, a small smile upon her lips. She can never say no to Lumine, anyway. “I must admit, the prospect of sneaking out like this to meet with my lover is quite exciting.” She feels her cheeks heat up as she utters the word. Lover. Even when she is the one speaking it, it still sounds quite surreal. “Please give me a moment to change out of my night wear?”
Lumine nods, the way her face lights up in delight making Ayaka fall for her a little harder. “I’ll be waiting, my princess~”
Ayaka turns away and disappears back into the room before Lumine can properly see her deep blush. Really, how could she manage to be so bold in both words and actions? Ayaka’s own confidence built up to dancing for Lumine in the river that special night, but since Lumine became forward with her affections in return, Ayaka finds herself a flustered mess whenever her lover so much as holds her hand or gives her a compliment with that warm, sincere expression she always wears when she looks at Ayaka. She’s spent her whole life perfecting her composure to be the elegant and graceful Kamisato daughter that everyone expects her to be, but Lumine effortlessly chipped away at those carefully constructed walls to reveal the imperfect young woman beneath. Perhaps if it were anyone else, Ayaka would be worried. But she could never be worried when Lumine held her in her arms and kissed her like she was the most wonderful gift she could receive, all flaws and weaknesses included. Even in the short time she has known Lumine, she already trusts her with her heart and mind, body and soul. It’s terrifying, overwhelming, breathtaking. Ayaka can’t think of a better feeling.
Slipping out of her nightgown, Ayaka changes into her everyday outfit and grabs her footwear before returning to the window. As promised, Lumine is ready and waiting, reaching out to help Ayaka climb from her window. Loving arms remain wrapped around her when her feet meet the ground and Ayaka melts into the embrace, nuzzling into Lumine’s hair and- oh, did she apply perfume just for meeting Ayaka? She breathes in the calming scent of lavender, quite content to stay here forever if Lumine let her. But alas, Lumine eventually drops her arms and intertwines their fingers together with a grin.
“I found a really nice spot in Chinju Forest that has a perfect view of the sky so we can watch the stars, if you’d like. I made us some snacks as well!”
Ayaka squeezes her hand. “That sounds wonderful. Please lead the way.”
With a finger to her lips, Lumine leads Ayaka out of the estate, evading the guards on night patrol with practised ease. Vaguely, Ayaka wonders how many times she’s done something like this. There is much that remains mysterious about Lumine- much to learn and discover as they get to know each other better- but Ayaka is excited to find out.
Chinju Forest is a familiar place for Ayaka. Being so close to the Kamisato Estate, it’s somewhere she passes through almost every time she leaves her home. It’s a place she knows like the back of her hand, a place that, no matter how exhausting her life becomes, is there to provide a haven of peace and serenity to retreat to whenever she needs it. She can guess exactly where Lumine is leading her before they step foot in the forest, and hides a smile when they take a route off the path that Ayaka could walk in her sleep. Lumine’s barely concealed excitement makes Ayaka see the forest anew as she gazes around fondly, fingers brushing across petals that twinkle like tiny blue lanterns and basking in the moonlight that bathes everything in an otherworldly, cerulean glow. It’s beautiful, but could never hold a candle to Lumine's radiance. Once, when Lumine was talking about the people she’s met on her travels, she mentioned an alchemist who told her that she held the aura of the stars. Ayaka thinks there might have been an extra layer of meaning to those words that she doesn’t quite understand, but she agrees with them nonetheless. And out of every star in the universe, Lumine shines the brightest.
Nestled among the trees, Lumine brings Ayaka to a picnic blanket laid out across the grass. Paimon is perched atop a basket and perks up when she spots them.
“About time! Paimon was starting to consider eating all this food herself if you didn’t turn up soon,” she chastises, placing balled fists on her hips. Lumine giggles.
“Sorry, Paimon! Thank you for guarding the food. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, promise!”
“Paimon will be holding you to that,” she pouts. “You lovebirds have fun~” with a wave, she flits off into the darkness.
When they sit down, Lumine lets go of Ayaka’s hand and Ayaka immediately misses her warmth, gravitating to Lumine’s side instead as she rummages through the picnic basket.
“I cooked us some snacks to share!” Lumine says, shifting so their legs press against each other. “I know you really like that sakura mochi and tricolour dango, so I practised making them this week. There’s so many Inazuman dishes I want to attempt! But then I also cooked some of my own favourites from Mondstadt and Liyue, because I remember you saying that you wanted to try dishes from abroad too. I’ve had more practise with these ones so I hope that you like them.”
Ayaka doesn’t even try to hide the affection in her expression as she watches Lumine gush about her favourite foreign dishes and the processes of cooking them, a silly smile pulling at her lips. If there’s one thing that Ayaka’s noticed, when Lumine is out and about with Paimon helping the community, Paimon tends to be the one who does the most talking. It’s only in rare moments when they’re alone that Lumine really opens up, rambling about anything and everything. She tells her about the food she likes, the places she’s travelled, the people she’s met, and -- most importantly -- her brother. Ayaka soaks up all the information, overjoyed that Lumine would share such precious parts of herself with her when she initially seemed so quiet upon first meeting.
“Ah, but I’m rambling again, aren’t I? Please, try anything you want!” Lumine laughs sheepishly as she finishes laying the dishes out on the picnic blanket. Everything looks and smells divine and Ayaka can hardly decide where to start.
“You are well aware how much I enjoy it when you ramble, please do not worry about it,” Ayaka leans into Lumine’s side, resting her head on her shoulder. “What would you recommend for me to start with?”
Lumine hums in consideration, scanning the dishes before picking up a small tub in the centre filled with smooth, white cubes. “Perhaps the almond tofu? It’s a popular dessert in Liyue, the texture is really nice.”
“This is the dish your Adeptus friend favours, correct?” Ayaka asks as she picks out a cube with her chopsticks and puts it on a paper plate, both graciously provided by Lumine as well.
“Yes! You remembered. I always cook him some whenever I go see him, it’s the easiest way to get him to talk to me,” Lumine picks up a piece with her own chopsticks and pops the whole thing straight into her mouth. “Yum!”
Ayaka isn’t quite adventurous enough to eat it all at once, so she takes a small bite and lets out an appreciative noise. “Oh! Lumine, this is amazing,” she says when she swallows it, and then proceeds to take another, larger bite. “Are all Liyuean dishes this good?”
Lumine grins through a second cube of almond tofu. “I personally think so! Although a lot of the savoury dishes are pretty spicy. Do you like spicy foods?”
“I am quite fond of a bit of spice, as long as it isn’t too overwhelming.”
“Haha! Fair enough. There’s a variety of dishes in Liyue and often you can ask for different levels of spice depending on your preference,” Lumine snorts like she’s suddenly recalled a funny joke. “This one Snezhnayan guy I know is such a wimp with spice though, I once shared some jade parcels with him and he downed two bottles of milk by the end of the meal.”
“Gosh, his spice tolerance must be very low. Unless these jade parcels are very spicy?”
“The broth is a bit spicy, but I don’t think it’s that bad. I’ll have to make them for you some time, I eat them a lot.”
“I would be honoured to try more of your cooking.” Ayaka really would, especially if it’s all as high quality as the almond tofu. Having Lumine cook for her is such a special treat; she thinks she could happily live off these homemade dishes if she was allowed.
Together, they eat their way through the assortment of sweet treats that Lumine has so lovingly made. Ayaka has some lotus flower crisps that Lumine explains are a traditional Liyuean snack that she’s still trying to perfect (to which Ayaka reassures her that she’s done a wonderful job already), a fluffy pancake drizzled in golden syrup and butter from Mondstadt that she has to share with Lumine because it’s so thick, and her beloved mochi and dango that somehow taste even more heavenly with Lumine’s own touch. She’s not convinced she’ll have room to eat breakfast in the morning after indulging in Lumine’s cooking, but it’s entirely worth it.
Ayaka doesn’t really have any exciting adventures she can tell Lumine about in turn, but as they lay back on the blanket with their hands linked, she points out the different constellations in the sky. Lumine listens attentively, asking her questions when she trails off, worried that she’s being too boring, and points at different arrangements of stars to give her own opinions on what they look like.
“I think those stars over there look like a whopperflower.”
Ayaka follows the direction of her finger and squints at the stars, unconvinced but wholly amused. “How so?”
“Look!” Lumine insists, tracing a pattern that Ayaka still can’t see. “There’s the funky leaves on top of its head, and there’s its dramatic ass collar that goes down into its dress.”
“... Dress?”
“I don’t know how else to describe it, okay!”
Ayaka blinks. “Whatever you say, sweetheart.”
Lumine rolls over onto her side to pout at her. “Alright, alright, tell me more about the actual constellations then. Which one is your favourite?”
Ayaka smiles softly, and in a rare moment of confidence lifts a hand to caress Lumine’s cheek. “Why, the constellations in your eyes, of course. The real stars cannot compare.”
“I--” Lumine promptly chokes, her face rapidly turning red as she covers it with her hands. “How can you-- agh! Now I understand how you feel when I flirt with you!”
Ayaka coughs, averting her eyes and feeling her own face heat up at Lumine’s strong reaction. “Ah I’m sorry, was that too much of me? I didn’t--”
“No no no, not at all,” Lumine says frantically, grabbing both of Ayaka’s hands. “I just wasn’t expecting such a bold line from you. You’re just too cute and I like you so much, I can’t handle it!”
There’s something very endearing about seeing Lumine losing her composure after so many times of Ayaka becoming flustered from Lumine’s flirting. Ayaka wonders if she will have the confidence to provoke more reactions like that from her in the future.
“I really like you too,” Ayaka murmurs, shuffling forwards so their foreheads rest against each other. Their lips are mere inches away from each other, Lumine’s breath fanning against her own, until Lumine tilts her head and brings them together.
Kissing Lumine is one of Ayaka’s new favourite pastimes, she’s decided. She’s only kissed two other people in her life-- Thoma, when they were fourteen and confused about their preferences, and after sharing a chaste kiss both came to the very certain conclusion that they were not interested in the opposite gender, and the daughter of another well-respected clan three years later hidden away behind the cherry blossoms at the bottom of her home’s garden. Both were messy and a bit awkward, inexperience having Ayaka fumbling and embarrassed. She’s still inexperienced now, but Lumine has been nothing but patient and gentle, guiding her with caring hands and tender lips. They kiss like they have all the time in the world, and Archons when she’s wrapped up in her own little universe with Lumine, Ayaka almost feels like they do. The stars bear sole witness to their love amidst the sea of luminous flowers, a secret that they will protect and cherish for eternity.
Later, they walk hand in hand back to the Kamisato Estate. A warm drowsiness has overtaken Ayaka’s body, and it’s all she can do not to fall asleep on Lumine. A comfortable silence settles around them, broken only by Lumine softly humming the same song that Ayaka danced to that night. And then she hums it again when they return to Ayaka’s bedroom and in a moment of desperation, Ayaka clutches at her arm as she turns to leave.
Ayaka has never allowed herself to make selfish requests, but she gives in just this once. “Please stay with me until I fall asleep?” She pleads. Lumine smiles at her, cupping her cheeks and kissing her until she’s breathless.
“Of course, my princess.”
As Ayaka snuggles up in bed again, Lumine sits by her side, running adoring fingers through her hair and humming her song, a sweet lullaby that washes over her and lulls her to sleep.
In her final moments of semi-consciousness, Ayaka feels soft lips against her forehead and hears a whisper of “sweet dreams, my love” before she drifts off. That night, she dreams of dancing among the stars in the arms of her beloved, in a world that is made just for them.