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A small sniffle. Lumine looked to her side, alarmed, but Ayaka only returned her a curious look. She showed no signs of crying, though her nose was still a little red, her cheeks flushed. Lumine wanted to ask her again if she was okay, but she’d already done so five times in the span of twenty minutes, and she didn’t want to irritate her. Though she seriously doubted something like this could ever irritate Ayaka. She was too polite for that.
She returned her gaze to the starry sky above them and smiled. Ayaka looked happy, at the very least, which was all what mattered. If she’d cried before leaving home for their date, and she didn’t want to admit it—well, at least she wasn’t upset anymore, and there wasn’t any point in bringing it up again. It was her birthday after all. Lumine was convinced Ayaka would end up telling her about it some other day.
For now, she focused on the moment. She wasn’t one to be shy, but she still found herself hesitating a little as she inched her hand closer to Ayaka’s on the grass, little by little. It was a more nerve-wracking task than tiptoeing around a dendro slime, knowing it could jump at you in any moment. She could not ruin this. It was a chance she’d not get anytime soon again. The tip of her pinky bopped the tip of Ayaka’s. She held her breath.
Ayaka didn’t move, for a second. Lumine could feel panic rise in her chest, but as soon as she started to retrieve her hand, Ayaka’s pinky interlaced with hers. And she could finally breathe again, relief and giddiness flooding her in equal parts. She made a very courageous effort to keep them aside and remain calm as she finally got to take Ayaka’s hand in hers, so small but its palm roughened by the years of wielding a sword.
“It’s a beautiful night. Isn’t it, Traveler?”
Lumine smiled fondly and brushed her thumb across Ayaka’s knuckles, still facing the sky. Chinju Forest was far away enough from Inazuma City that it made it easy to fall in love with the moon and the stars, with no other lights around that could distract you from their beauty. But even then, tonight the sky was clear, painted dark blue. It allowed the stars to wink at them.
“A very beautiful night,” Lumine agreed. “Fitting for the day of birth of a beautiful star.”
She felt embarrassed, for a moment, when she heard the words that had just left her mouth. That was something Aether would say, not her. She could almost hear him laughing in her ear—but she didn’t get a lot of time to feel mortified about it, because soon the press of something soft and warm on her cheek made her give a small start. She felt her entire face heat up when she realized what it was.
Ayaka giggled. “That’s very sweet, Traveler. Thank you. I’m very fortunate you could share this night with me. Thank you for agreeing to keep me company.”
They shared the sweets they’d brought with them after that. Lumine was a bit self-conscious about hers because it’d been the first time she’d prepared sakura mochi, so they didn’t look as pretty as Ayaka’s. Ayaka didn’t seem to mind, though. She was delighted by the simple fact that Lumine had worked so hard to make them. And Lumine, of course, couldn’t help but pick one delicately and bring it to Ayaka’s lips.
Ayaka looked surprised. A lovely blush spread across her cheeks as she took a tiny bite, then another. She hummed in contentment, clearly approving of its taste, and began eating a bit more enthusiastically. Lumine, as spellbound as she was, could only bring the mochi a bit closer, and a bit closer, until the tips of her fingers brushed Ayaka’s lips.
And then Ayaka accidentally nibbled one of them, and they both let out a small gasp and pulled apart.
They stared at each other with wide eyes, cheeks just as red, but after a while Lumine just smiled and started laughing. Ayaka, still looking a tiny bit ashamed, but relieved too, followed soon enough. They laughed and ate and held hands for the rest of the night, until it started getting too cold, and until they had no sweets left and their hands and cheeks were sticky with sugar. Then Lumine decided it was time to take Ayaka back home.
Ayaka’s cheeks were still pink when she helped her up, which she found a little odd, but didn’t give too much thought. Ayaka’s skin was very delicate, after all, and the wind was blowing hard. Lumine’s cheeks were probably flushed too because of it, and it only confirmed that it was time to go back. Ayato had already not been happy about Lumine taking Ayaka out so late, she didn’t want to give him any more reasons to be disapprove of it.
When they started walking down the path that would take them to the Kamisato Estate, Ayaka swayed to one side. Lumine steadied her with a single hand, giving her a worried glance, but Ayaka brushed it off with a small smile. Her skin was warm, surprisingly so given how cold Lumine’s own were and given that she was a cryo vision bearer; but Lumine was too worried about getting her home back in time to comment on it.
“I apologize about my brother,” Ayaka said, in a very soft voice, when they were just about to arrive to the estate. “He can get overprotective sometimes. Usually, he encourages me to go out and have fun, no matter how late, and he is perfectly aware that I’m capable of looking after myself; but tonight…”
Another sniffle. Lumine’s heart skipped a beat. Was this what Ayaka was upset about? Had her brother made her cry? Was Ayato really so insensitive to his baby sister’s…
Ayaka swayed to the side again. Lumine placed a gentle hand on her arm, ready to provide some support and help her regain her balance.
And then unexpectedly receiving Ayaka’s full weight dragged her down to the ground, to her knees. She scraped them and was sure they had to be bleeding, but she didn’t have time to worry about that: Ayaka had just fainted in her arms. Lumine’s heart started racing in her chest as she examined her face, carefully, trying to figure out what was wrong.
Ayaka’s breaths were quick and shallow. Her cheeks were even redder than before, a color so bright Lumine could see it clearly even in the darkness, under the moonlight. When she placed the back of her hand against Ayaka’s face, she had to swallow a small hiss.
She had a fever.
Suddenly it all clicked. The sniffling. The red cheeks. Ayato’s disapproval of their plans. He hadn’t told Ayaka he’d rather have her stay home because he thought it was too late, or because he didn’t trust Lumine. And he hadn’t insisted they came back before it got too cold only because he was a fretting mother hen. He’d known. And he’d kept the small secret for Ayaka’s sake, despite his worry.
Lumine cursed softly for herself. She gathered Ayaka in her arms and picked her up swiftly, without any trouble, and started walking again. They weren’t too far from the Kamisato State anymore, but she still wished she’d brought Paimon with them. That way, she’d be able to send her to fetch some guards or Ayato himself to escort them; since if anyone attacked them Lumine would be too busy protecting Ayaka to fight properly.
Fortunately, though, they made it to the estate without any further trouble. And fortunately and unfortunately in equal measures, Ayato and Paimon were sitting outside, sharing a cup of tea. Ayato got up the moment he caught sight of them, almost knocking over his cup, which was very, very unlike him. He hurried to meet them in the garden with a concerned frown in his face, Paimon close behind.
“Ayaka!” Paimon cried, flying anxiously in circles above their heads as Lumine allowed Ayato to take a closer look. Lumine wished she could just vanish in the air. “Ayato was right, Lumine. Ayaka shouldn’t have gone out—but he didn’t want to tell you, because Ayaka didn’t want him to!”
Guilt settled heavy in Lumine’s stomach. “I’m sorry,” she said, “I was the one who insisted that we went out tonight. I should’ve known…”
“Traveler,” Ayato interrupted her, softly. Lumine couldn’t help stiffening a little, but when she lifted her head, Ayato wasn’t glaring at her. He had a small smile, even if his brow was furrowed, and the worry was obvious in his eyes. “I know it’s hard to see, when she’s so polite and smart, but you should have learned by now that Ayaka is stubborn. So stubborn she won’t listen to me sometimes. She’s just very clever about concealing it, but she could’ve very well have agreed with me when I told her I wished her to stay.”
Lumine looked away, embarrassed, trying hard not to frown.
“But I should’ve at least have been able to tell she was not feeling well. She was sniffling…”
“How many times? Two? Three?” Ayato chuckled this time, his blue eyes warm this time. “I’m sure she wouldn’t have allowed herself to sniffle more than that, Traveler. Please, don’t blame this on yourself. Ayaka is very capable of taking choices of her own. And I don’t blame her for not wanting to miss going out with you the night of her birthday.”
Ayaka stirred in Lumine’s arms with a small sound. Ayato’s eyebrows drew together immediately, in an uncharacteristically hard expression, even when his eyes were still soft. He gestured for Traveler to hand Ayaka over, and Lumine did, albeit a bit hesitantly. Holding Ayaka felt nice, even when she was very worried about her health. Ayato’s face was the first thing Ayaka saw when she opened her eyes sleepily.
She paled a little.
“Onii-sama.” Lumine could’ve sworn that had been an embarrassed whine. But Ayaka never whined.
“Hush,” Ayato said. “You’ve caused enough trouble already, young lady. You gave poor Traveler quite the scare. I told you it wasn’t a good idea to go out when you weren’t feeling any better.”
Ayaka looked at her side, to Lumine, and blushed much more intensely than before. She turned her head to the opposite side and hid her face against one of Ayato’s shoulders with a mortified sound. Ayato chuckled, despite the very stern tone he’d just used seconds ago.
“I’m glad you two at least had some fun. I don’t think Ayaka will be going anywhere for the next couple days,” Ayato said. “Traveler, if you’d like, you could stay to help me and Thoma look over her. Thoma is hiding in the kitchen, preparing much more soup that we could ever eat for weeks. I’m sure he’d appreciate it a lot if you could keep an eye on Ayaka as well…and me, too, since Ayaka is clearly more willing to listen to you than to any of us.”
“Onii-sama!” that offended little gasp again.
Lumine exchanged a smile with Paimon. Her smile widened when she caught Ayaka giving her a small side glance, which made Ayaka blush.
“I would love that,” Lumine said.