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The day was just like any other. Lumine was out doing her commissions for what bit of mora they gave that would definitely all go into Paimon’s stomach by the end of the week. This time she was in Inazuma for them, helping the Bantan Sango Detective Agency with another case. Maybe later she’ll play with Taroumaru a little.
Collecting her reward from Katheryne, she was about to head for Komore Teahouse when she was unexpectedly stopped by none other than the (in?)famous local fireworks maker herself.
“Huff- Hey, Lumine! I’m glad I managed to catch you!” She turns to her side to find Yoimiya with her hands on her knees, panting. “I- hff- need your help!”
“What do you need me for? There’s tons you can do on your own.” Lumine looks at Yoimiya with a puzzled expression.
“No, it’s not about bandit problems on the road or anything!” Yoimiya finally gets up, flashing her blinding grin that Lumine cannot help but think is absolutely stunning. Yoimiya leans closer to Lumine’s left ear, and Lumine can’t fight off the blush that creeps onto her face at the intimacy. Yoimiya whispers, “I need your help to set up a date for Thoma and Ayaka.”
“H… Huh?” Lumine is left completely speechless by Yoimiya’s request. Set them up? Sure, I’ve seen how they look at each other, but I don’t think… “Is that really a good idea? And why me?”
“Shush!” She places a finger onto Lumine’s lips, before moving it back to her own. “Don’t worry! I have a plan! And, it just has to be you!” Yoimiya’s smile turns into an absolutely radiant grin and Lumine thinks that maybe she wouldn’t mind playing along.
The Traveler sighs with a resigned upturn of her lips. “Sure, I’ll listen to your plan.”
“Alright!” Yoimiya gives a little cheer that makes Lumine’s heart dance in her chest. “Alright, first we have to…”
Yoimiya whispers into Lumine’s ear, and so the plan begins.
-----
“Hey Ayaka, are you free this evening?” Lumine puts on her best smile as she approaches the heron princess. Yoimiya is off executing her own part of the plan with Thoma. “I was thinking I could maybe invite you to the upcoming festival. I heard from Yoimiya that this one’s firework display would be positively gorgeous. It would be a shame if you didn’t get to see it.”
“Since it’s you inviting me…” Ayaka seems to be deep in thought for a moment. “I do not see a problem with it. My schedule has been quite empty recently,” Ayaka smiles at Lumine. “I should be able to make it.”
She flashes Ayaka a smile in kind “Great! I’ll see you at Kiminami’s this evening, 6pm. Is that okay with you?” If she agrees, that’s the first of Lumine’s duties completed.
“That should be fine. See you then.”
Without any more words to exchange, Lumine leaves. The moment she’s out of the Kamisato Estate, she breathes out a sigh of relief. No suspicion. Good. She just hopes Yoimiya has successfully pulled off her part of the plan. She should help out with setting up the fireworks display. With that in mind, she heads towards Naganohara Fireworks.
-----
Finding Thoma is a lot easier for Yoimiya than Lumine, which is why Lumine was sent to deal with Ayaka instead. Usually, he’s out grocery shopping at the usual markets or engaging in his usual housekeeping duties. Luckily, at this time of day, he’s usually at the market, and that’s where Yoimiya finds him.
“Hey, Thoma!” She greets with a grin, “Grocery shopping today?”
At the sight of the peppy fireworks maker, Thoma raises a brow. “Did you get in trouble again? It hasn’t been that long since the last time you started a fire.”
Yoimiya waves her hands in front of her in a movement of denial. “I didn’t! Not this time!” She stops her exaggerated action. “Just looking to ask if you’re free. I wanted to invite you to the festival tonight if you’re available. I’m making the fireworks extra special, wouldn't want ya to miss it!”
Thoma stares into the intense puppy eyes Yoimiya is making and gives a resigned sigh. “Sure, I can make time.”
“Woo!” Yoimiya cheers, “I’ll see you tonight. Kiminami’s, 6pm. Don’t be too early or late! I’ll get back to the fireworks.”
With that, she left. They have got to make this the best of all time.
-----
Come 6pm, the streets were filled with all sorts of decorations. Lumine hid behind the roof tiles of Kiminami’s Restaurant while Yoimiya hid within the leaves of a nearby tree. Just enough foliage to hide herself completely. She spies Ayaka already seated, and Thoma walking down the road, signalling Lumine to lay low.
“My lady? What are you doing here?” Thoma looks surprised to see Ayaka seated where he was meant to meet Yoimiya.
“Thoma? What a pleasant surprise to see you. The Traveler invited me to see the festival with her, what about you?” Ayaka’s smile is positively glowing, and red creeps up the housekeeper’s face.
“Me? Yoimiya invited me. Looks like our own dates left us, though.” Thoma answers. “Since we’re here…” He reaches out his hand. “Would you like to take a walk with me, princess?”
Ayaka stands and takes his outstretched hand in hers, thanking Miss Kiminami for the snacks. “I do not see why not. Let us take a stroll, then. Maybe we will find Lumine or Yoimiya along the way.”
As the night progressed, the two schemers tailed the pair throughout the festival route. Yoimiya snickers, informing her partner in crime that she’d told everyone the Shirasagi Himegimi would be attending. Many store owners are offering the couple free snacks, to which Ayaka attempts and fails to deny.
Along the way, Yoimiya and Lumine enjoy each others’ company as well, getting and sharing treats, caught up in the festival atmosphere. “You’ve got some powder on your cheek, Lumi.” Before Lumine could wipe it off, Yoimiya licks it, winking. A blush brighter than pyro slimes erupts onto Lumine’s features.
Eventually the attention from the public gets quite overwhelming, even for the Shirasagi Himegimi and the pair retreat to a more secluded location. The spies duck behind a bush near them. The look of distress on Ayaka’s face strikes Lumine right in the heart, and doubt clouds her mind in an instant. It’s not common for one such as Ayaka to show such an expression. Maybe- maybe they shouldn’t have done this. What if something happens to Ayaka? She doesn’t think she could forgive herself.
She turns to her partner to speak her mind, looking away from the lovebirds. “I don’t know, Yoimiya. I don’t think we should continue doing this. I just th-” Lumine doesn’t get to finish before Yoimiya cuts her off.
“Wait Lumi, Lumi look!”
“Let me finish! I don’t think we should be messing with others like this y’know? It feels kind of wrong, did you see Ayaka’s expression? And I dunno maybe they’ll figure it out on their own and-”
“No, Lumi. Look!” Yoimiya points over to the princess and the housekeeper, “They’re kissing!”
Lumine looks over to where Ayaka and Thoma were a second ago, to witness them passionately albeit a little awkwardly pressing their lips together. Thoma looks absolutely smitten. They’re… Holy heck, they really did it. They succeeded in getting those two together! The fear and doubt that was in her mind a second ago fades, immediately replaced by sheer joy. “Yoi we did it! We really did it! They’re lighting the fireworks now, right? We have to make this look absolutely perfect .”
Lumine’s excitement is absolutely contagious, and the pure radiant smile on her face is even more so. Yoimiya can’t fight off the blush setting on her cheeks viewing the sparkles in the Traveler’s eyes, looking brighter than the sun. On cue, the fireworks are set off , lighting up the night sky with colourful sparks of all sorts of shapes and designs. As a special personal touch, many of them form hearts. Lumine pulls out her kamera and snaps a candid shot of the two kissing beneath the firework-lit night sky.
The two girls high-five, their mission completed successfully. But their little victory is short-lived as they feel an ominous presence approach them.
“ You two. Come here, right now. ” Thoma, with his hands crossed and stature overshadowing the bush they were hiding in, bears a look of great annoyance on his features. Lumine, in all her righteous, self-sacrificing glory, stands up. Resigning to her fate and preparing to give herself in. Yoimiya, however, starts sneaking away the moment she sees an opening. She smirks to herself and giggles, thinking she’s about to get away when—
“Ahem.” She hears someone clear their throat and that is absolutely not Thoma. “Just where do you think you’re going?” Right in front of her is the heron princess herself, a lovely smile plastered on her face. In contrast the aura she radiates is downright menacing , and Yoimiya knows she isn’t getting out of this one unscathed. The two schemers have been captured.
“Look, Ayaka we can expl-” Yoimiya starts, but Lumine shakes her head. No matter what they do, there’s no getting away, and Lumine understands that. Whatever Yoimiya wanted to say, it would’ve been a completely wasted effort.
“No, I think I get it. Yoimiya, you were trying to set us up from the start, weren’t you?” Thoma holds back his overwhelming urge to begin scolding them right then and there. There’s always time to trap them in a lecture. “Sorry that you had to deal with her antics, Traveler. It’s not like we don’t appreciate the effort, but…”
“We just don’t appreciate the fact that you were scheming behind our backs.” Ayaka finishes Thoma’s thought. The two wingwomen tilt their heads downwards in shame.
“D-Don’t put all the blame on Yoimiya,” Lumine presses the tips of her index fingers together. “I wanted this too. She doesn’t deserve all the punishment.”
Thoma places a hand on Lumine’s head. “Don’t worry, there won’t be any punishment. This isn’t the first stunt Yoimiya has pulled. It’s not even the first time we’re her targets.”
Ayaka giggles. “I don’t think we would have done anything if it weren’t for the two of you anyway. And,” she points to the sky, where the sparkles once were, “The fireworks were beautiful.”
Still, despite Thoma’s reassurances that they weren’t going to be punished, the two had to sit through an hour-long scolding from him.
-----
“Princess,” Thoma greets Ayaka in a room just for the two of them. Ayaka herself is already seated at the table in the middle of the room.
She lifts her head to view her housekeeper and now boyfriend. “We’re alone. There isn’t any need for formalities, Thoma.”
He gives a sheepish smile, drinking in how absolutely elegant Ayaka looks, as always. The red on his cheeks never fade. “Sorry, I'm still not used to- well- this.” He points between both of them. “But did you notice it too?”
“The way Yoimiya was looking at Lumine?” Ayaka wears a knowing smile on her face, and it seems she and Thoma are thinking of the same thing.
Thoma grins. “Looks like she needs a bit of help too, don’t you think?”
“Of course.”