Chapter Text
"You know, it feels really nice to come back here - and actually not be treated like the most wanted criminal in Teyvat. It wasn't that long ago that the very Archon wanted me dead!"
"Yup! After all the craziness we experience, and all the fighting we do, we deserve to relax every once in a while!"
"…Paimon, what fighting do you do?"
"Heheh~ Mental strength Aether! Moral support, encouragement, constantly being the voice of reason- it's a struggle everyday!"
There's a pause- leading nicely to a brief chuckle exchanged. All while the ship they're on glides across the final bit of seawater.
"You know what Paimon is looking forward to the most on this trip?" The floating girl looks down at her companion - the famous blonde hero currently living through history, and changing it too- with a simple smile.
"Well, if I was a betting man…it'd probably be something related to food!"
"Wha- hey! It's not ALWAYS about food!"
"…"
"F-Fine! Ayaka invited Paimon to a pizza taste-test! In her letter, she promised there would be over ten different types! Over ten Aether!"
The adventurer has his shoulder shaken violently at the outburst of his closest companion- well, as violent as somebody half his size could muster anyway. Honestly Ayaka had picked a perfect time for this impromptu trip to Inazuma; the duo was in a bit of a lull after recent Fontaine adventures. It was so convenient that he wondered if it was truly just happenstance. But he didn't doubt it would be a fun welcome distraction at the very least.
"Paimon can't believe it's been so long since we were in Inazuma though! Last time was for uh, the Test of Courage? Or was it for the Genius Invocation TCG tournament? No…um, Arataki Itto's Drum-n-Fun Festival of …Fireworks? What was it…?"
Aether can't help but raise an eyebrow. "Ok. A, that festival doesn't even exist, don't give them any ideas though. And B, the other two options are wrong too, but I can't really blame you. The actual last time we were here was just for a bit, then we left for Sumeru."
"Oh really? Paimon kind of forgot, heheh…. When was that?"
"Well, it was when we…helped…"
"Hm? Aether?"
"Uh, sorry, Paimon. Can I take this off for a moment?" Aether doesn't wait for an answer, quickly removing his 'scarf' in one smooth flourish, taking a deep breath in right after. "Ahhh…sorry, I got a bit warm all of a sudden."
"But Paimon is…" The fairy's train of thought is paused when she see a bit of pink crosses her friend's face. "Fine. No problem. So do you remember?"
A small, but meaningful nod. "Of course, it was when we went to Sumeru with-"
-0-
"Wooooah, this is AWESOME! So cool!"
"Oooh, oooh, Miss Yoimiya! Did you get me one too? I want one!
"Me too!"
"U-um…guys…p-please don't crowd around Miss Yoimiya like that…"
But in contrast to a little girl's timid warning to her friends, the person in question - an energetic friendly young woman - stands proud, fully at the ready with a brilliant smile shining to everyone. "Don't worry guys, there's one for all of you! Here you go~"
With a wave of her hand, three more dolls appear out of thin air- and the word 'doll' is misleading, for they're more like plush figures of a certain forest creature of Sumeru. Regardless of the term though, these Aranara dolls are particularly popular for children back in the mentioned home region- a given though, as the real thing can only be seen by kids anyway. Yet the cuteness- and many accessories available- make them a hit worldwide, or at least, so Yoimiya Naganohara hoped. She bought five of them!
And now that she can admire the kids 'oohing' and 'aahing' over the presents, it appears her hunch was absolutely right. Not like there was any real doubt~
"N-Now, everybody…" The same shy girl from before nervously speaks, clutching her new friend tightly. "What do we say to Miss Yoimiya?"
The other kids, two rambuctious boys and an equally excitable young girl bow their heads in union. "THANK YOU MISS YOIMIYA!"
"Aw shucks~ You guys are gonna make me blush~" Although being cheered on like this brings another huge smile to her face, it isn't long before the firework expert switches into 'responsible' mode. "Now it's nearly dark, so you all better run home!"
Predictably:
"Awwww, do we hafta?"
"I don't want to, I want to play some more!"
"Please Miss Yoimiya?"
…There's protest. But such a person like the affectionate adult won't be swayed so easily. So with the precise reinforcement of 'Your parents will worry~", the kids admit defeat, running back to Inazuma City.
After they leave, Yoimiya lets out a happy sigh. The kids are so energetic and were so happy to see her again! But more than that-
"I'm glad they liked their Aranaras! The boys might be at that age were 'dolls aren't cool Miss Yoimiya!' Hehehe~" She smiles to herself at the childish imitation, and decides to keep the joke going. One more snap later-
"What do you think?"
-And she's holding the fifth Aranara figure. But unlike the ones just gifted, this little guy doesn't look anything like the person currently hugging it. Instead, the doll sports a confident, go-getting grin, blonde 'hair' tied up in a ponytail, and 'clothing' that gives it a certain mystical, otherworldly appearance. The person that this Aranara is based on is so obvious, especially in Inazuma- where 'he' is a literal war hero- that Yoimiya has never shown it in public. The last thing she needs is rumors flying!
So she settles for this; a few peaceful quiet minutes in Chinju Forst of rocking back and forth with the figure gently embraced. And maybe imagining said activity with the real person one day… but she can't be blamed for that~ Memories of a certain trip just invade her mind relentlessly…
But it's while she's daydreaming-
"….otta f…nd….miya…! Gotta find…oimiya..! Gotta find Yoimiya!"
"Huh? Did I hear something…?" Wondering aloud, the Pyro archer quickly vanishes her portable Traveler, turning back to scout. She's 100% expecting to see one of the four kids she was just with again, probably in the frantic rush of noticing that they lost something important.
But what she is NOT expecting to see is a young tanuki ninja roll towards her at incredible speeds.
And the rolling is of course, literal. By the time she's truly aware of what's happening, it's too late.
THUNK.
Yoimiya is unconscious before she hits the ground.
-0-
Paimon and Aether both blink, incredibly slowly. Only the ocean constantly hitting the docks keep the duo tethered to reality.
"Paimon…didn't know…Sayu could go that fast…" Still in disbelief, she turns to a similarly-stupefied Aether. "That WAS Sayu, right…?"
"I-I think so…" The adventurer stares at his open palm. "All I did was wake her up…."
-0-
Yoimiya has had the same dream for months now. Every single night, no matter what happened in the preceding day. It's exactly the same, down to the last detail. Her own personal samsara.
And for the most part, she doesn't mind at all.
This is a given, as the dream isn't even a traditional 'dream', but rather- it's a memory. A heartwarming, wondrous, warm, special memory she'll carry with her for years to come.
It goes something like this…
She, Aether, and a young girl from Sumeru named Avin are deep in the region, to the northeast mountains. They're looking for a meteor shower, an ultra-rare but amazing sight to witness! And after many struggles, talks, and trips throughout, fortune has finally smiled upon them!
It's unknowingly the last somber moment in the journey. After a few seconds of nervous anticipation for the group, they start to feel… something distinctly rumble. An echoing noise, distant yet capable of shifting mountains. And it won't stop getting louder- the rumble grows more of a pulse, becoming a thunderous quake right next to them- or in this case, below them.
And before anyone can look back, a brilliant golden light suddenly erupts upwards into the sky. Followed by another and another and another. Too many to count quickly becomes the reality, as more rise from below, golden trail behind each and every one. The question of "Is this real" quickly gets shoved to the back of the astounded audience, rendered speechless as to the sight they're miraculously witnessing.
Until, Yoimiya gets an idea.
She runs back towards Aether, grabs his hand, and jumps off the platform they're on! And unbelievably…the two land on their very own meteor- rocketing into the night! It only takes a second till they're simply soaring miles in the sky, enjoying the endless sight and the fellow lights. It's amazing, Aether is amazing, she looks to the right and sees Avin and the Aranara they met on a meteor of their own… Everything is downright magical-
Until she attempts to reach forward, and gets knocked off the meteor. But THEN it shifts from magical to…. breathtaking.
She's free-falling, feeling strangely comfortable while doing so … and looks to the horizon to see a sight unlike any other in her young life. Dozens- no, hundreds of meteors rain sideways, streaking across the sky like special fireworks. They sparkle individually, but shine brilliantly as a group, golden beauty reflected in Yoimiya's own eyes. She can't speak, she can't even breathe, the view is just that stunning.
And as if that somehow wasn't perfect enough, Aether suddenly glides back into the picture at perfect height. Effortlessly, he wraps both arms around her back, carrying her like a bride, in a grip that's equal parts firm and welcoming. The two share a look of elation, before having their attention recaptured by the myriad of colors raining down. For Yoimiya, heart racing, breath stolen by, well, everything- this is a moment she never wants to end. And for a while, this selfish part of the young adult was definitely indulged.
Every night, she was right back there in Sumeru, in Aether's arms, watching mystical meteor shower. Just as amazing as the first time, no matter how many days went by. How strange, an experience that by all counts should've lost some magic eventually… wasn't doing so. She was waking up with a big smile and her chest fluttering every time.
Until one day, she began to wonder why. Why wasn't she getting sick of the same nightly dream? Why was she even having such a consistent dream in the first place? And most importantly- what was this little bit of regret she also had when waking?
It was the first time Yoimiya had a question about herself that she couldn't answer. Nothing made sense, she had plenty of important memories beforehand, so why was it THIS one in particular?
Well the answer was given to her- by some kids. The very same group of kids as before actually. And it was by complete accident~ She was telling them all about her Sumeru journey when-
"So Aether and I first went to the main city in Sumeru, and- get this! The city itself, it's actually on a giant tree~!
"Wow! That's amazing Ms. Yoimiya! …Um, wait, who's Aether?"
"You don't know? He's Ms. Yoimiya's friend, the one with the blonde hair and floating squeaky toy!"
"….O-Oh right, I know him! So Ms. Yoimiya has a boyfriend then~ Oooooh~'
"B-B-Boyfriend?!
What should have been a simple dismissal instead was like an arrow piercing right through Yoimiya's soul, leading to a lightning-quick abrupt change of topic. But that one simple joke caused some serious introspection for the firework maker, that only became more damning the more she thought about it.
The reason her dreams were repeating…
The reason she recalled Aether's role so vividly…
And the reason there was always something a bit sad when she awoke…
It was all pointing to one nerve-wracking conclusion.
But no! She suddenly decided. She couldn't rely exclusively on herself, not for something as important as this! She HAD to make sure she wasn't delusional, she needed someone who would take this secret to the grave. But luckily, Yoimiya Naganohara wasn't short on reliable friends.
So she went to one of her best pals, the Shirasagi Himegimi herself, Kamisato Ayaka. A bit of an out-of-the-box choice she'll admit, as the latter's own feelings toward Aether were well documented. But this is exactly what Yoimiya needed, someone who understood these feelings through prior experience. As she recanted her Sumeru adventures, there were moments when she saw Ayaka blush a bit, which admittedly did make her wonder if she was doing the right thing.
Of course though, the daughter of one of Inazuma's most distinguished families was no fool. Deep down, she understood that there would be no hard feelings between them- she was doing her best to move on from past affections anyway. In this way, Yoimiya's confession was actually a relief to hear, as behind her hesitation lied an incredible burning desire to…ahem "get her man". Ayaka knew it. She had to support her friend's endeavors with everything she had!
And the first step to that, was eliminating the last remnants of doubt in Yoimiya's mind.
"So…what do you think?" Yoimiya asked, unnaturally shifty in her chair.
Ayaka hid her face behind her fan for the briefest of time before she spoke. She would fully admit to being just a little jealous of what she heard later, but for now: "Permission to speak freely?"
"O-oh, uh, granted? I guess?"
Here it was, the decisive strike. Good luck Yoimiya.
"Your mind is trying to tell you a very simple, yet very important feeling. It is indeed what you believe."
Yoimiya looked at her, ready to hear it.
"You're in love with Aether."