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Aether waved mindlessly as he watched her walk up the path. He could only smile before he began his walk, humming softly to himself. He felt Paimon’s eyes on him, but somehow, she found it in herself to be quiet during the walk instead of chattering away.
Though, as they camped for the night, she looked over with a mischievous grin.
“If you keep making that face, it’ll get stuck then you’ll look like a weirdo,” He teased as he got the fire going and sighed in relief.
“You’re in love,” She beamed, making him blink. “You totally are! Aether, you love Ayaka!” She giggled excitedly as she floated around him, dodging his reaching hands and protests. “You love Ayaka! You love AyakaaAAA!” She squeaked when he grabbed her ankle and yanked her down. He immediately put her in a headlock and rubbed his fist against her head. “Ow ow! That hurts quit!”
“I’ll make you go bald!” He laughed when she finally broke free. She huffed and fixed her tiara, making him smile. “Can’t help it.”
“Just like you can’t help–”
“Please don’t joke like that,” He sighed, looking at the flames. “I…don’t think she feels the same.”
“I wouldn’t be so quick to that,” Paimon beamed, hands on her hips. “Inazuman tradition.”
“Oh?”
“That dance, Aether! That dance is specific among the theaters to convey emotions. Kinda like Yun Jin’s opera to tell a story!” Aether shook his head as he laid down. “Huh? Do you not want them to be mutual?”
“No! I mean yes! I mean…” Aether rubbed his face. “It’s harder than that, Paimon.” She lay beside him. “Everything that’s happened…The Abyss…The Abyss calling Lumine princess…Even if she feels the same, I can’t ask Ayaka to put herself in danger.”
“Cuz you’re going to keep moving after we leave here?” Paimon asked as she sat by him. He sighed. “But…you’re allowed to feel your feelings. In fact, it’s good you feel like that cuz I mean…when was the last time you felt that way about something that wasn’t food?”
“Are we talking about me or you?” He teased as he watched the sky.
At that Paimon made a huff over him teasing her again, which he brushed off and closed his eyes. She had soon dozed off, having been worn out.
Aether, though, was wide awake as he opened his eyes again, staring at the sky in thought. The way her voice echoed as she sang before her movement in the water. It was probably the most beautiful thing he’d seen in ages. He was so happy Ayaka had done that for him.
He gulped. “Last time…” He mumbled, trying to think. Of all the worlds he and Lumine traveled through, not once did he feel this way. He’s certainly felt admiration for many young women and men. Albedo was a mild crush, he confessed to himself a long time ago, but it didn’t hit him the way Ayaka’s dance hit him.
It was a silent confession. He only hoped she understood what he wanted to say, rather than what he had.
“Thank you, Ayaka,” he’d said.
He wanted to say, “Thank you for showing me Inazuma. Thank you for showing me a festival. Thank you for not making me feel alone. Thank you for encouraging my journey. Thank you for listening to me when I first declined to help you. Thank you for convincing me to help you anyway. Thank you for offering me a home here when my journey is over.”
He wanted to say, “I want to be beside you. I want you to come with me. I want to protect you. I want to see you happy again. I want to see you more.”
“Thank you, Ayaka,” was all he could get out. He doesn’t regret it. He knows he never could but still…He wanted to say so much more.
Then, her dance when they walked through Chinju Forest. He was so confused when she ran off and into the river. His first thought was, “wait, don’t be in there long! Your socks will get wet and you’ll catch a cold!”
The way she looked up at him and asked him to keep his eyes on her. He could only do that. The magic of her Vision–
Vision, he locked onto that thought with clarity. After seeing the effects The Sakoku Decree had on the people, he wanted to protect Ayaka’s. He would do just that. Maybe it could serve as his own silent confession.