As the new day dawned, the Kamisato Family was already bustling with activity.
As one of the Three Commissions, the Kamisato Family needed to perform some finishing touches after the festival activities concluded.
At this moment, Little Ayaka was sleeping soundly.
She was sprawled out on the bed in a large 'X' shape, her small feet having kicked the blanket off onto the floor.
Sunlight streamed through the window into the room, falling directly on the little girl's side profile.
Little Ayaka's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she rolled over to avoid the sun, preparing to go back to sleep.
But then she remembered that today was the day Makoto was leaving Inazuma, and she immediately sat up from the bed.
"Good morning, Makoto Gege, good morning everyone!"
Little Ayaka rubbed her eyes with her hand, her voice lazy.
As usual, the first thing Little Ayaka did after waking up was to look for Makoto,
but this time, her voice received no response.
Little Ayaka looked around the room and found it completely empty, with only her remaining.
The other beds were neatly made, showing no signs of having been slept in.
Little Ayaka immediately realized that everyone had left, quietly departing while she was asleep.
For a moment, the little girl pouted, so sad she was almost crying.
"Why did Makoto Gege leave without saying goodbye...?"
"Why didn't you wake Ayaka when you left...?"
Tears welled up in the little girl's eyes, and she felt an emptiness in her heart.
She had specifically woken up early today to see Makoto off at the Port,
but she hadn't expected that while she was sound asleep, Makoto had already quietly left with everyone.
The little girl felt sad, thinking things shouldn't have been this way.
Then, Little Ayaka noticed a prominent letter on the table.
She walked over and picked up the letter, which contained Makoto's message to her.
"Little Ayaka, I'm sorry I didn't wake you up this morning."
"Because I saw you sleeping so sweetly, I couldn't bear to disturb you and wanted you to get more rest."
"Also, I couldn't bear to see your sad and reluctant expression at our farewell."
"So... please forgive our unannounced departure."
Looking at the content of the letter, Little Ayaka finally understood.
The reason Makoto left quietly was because he also felt reluctant to part.
"They say parting is for a better reunion. You must diligently study your lessons at home."
"When you achieve mastery in your studies, that will be the day we meet again."
"I eagerly await the day we meet again."
The letter ended there. Little Ayaka noticed that Makoto had mentioned a key phrase in this letter:
they would meet again when she achieved mastery in her studies.
What did 'achieve mastery in her studies' mean?
Little Ayaka was a little confused.
It probably meant when she could defeat her brother, Kamisato Ayato, right?
But she could already defeat her brother, Kamisato Ayato, now!
That should count as achieving mastery, right?
Hmm! It must count as achieving mastery!
Does that mean she can go look for Makoto Gege now?!
Little Ayaka stood on her tiptoes, picked up a pen and paper, and wrote a message to her mother on the letter.
"Mother, I'm going to find Makoto Gege."
"Don't worry, I'll be back in a few days~"
The Demoiselle of the Kamisato Family had run away from home again and again.
...
Inazuma, Port.
Raiden Ei stood on the shore, quietly watching Makoto and the others' ship sail away from the Port.
Only when the ship disappeared from sight did Raiden Ei turn and leave.
The weather was nice today, the sun was not harsh, and the breeze was just right,
suitable for going out to play and enjoy delicious food.
Raiden Ei subconsciously looked beside her and habitually said, "Makoto, do you want to go eat some sweets?"
As she said this, Raiden Ei clearly paused.
She had almost forgotten that Makoto had already left Inazuma.
The Raiden sisters used to be inseparable, and now that they were separated, it was truly a bit unaccustomed.
Raiden Ei felt a void in her heart, as if a large part of it was missing.
It wasn't just due to the impact of Raiden Makoto's departure.
She looked down at the necklace around her neck, a gift from Makoto.
She didn't know why, but Makoto's departure left an unspeakable emptiness in Raiden Ei's heart.
Perhaps it was because there would no longer be an opponent like Makoto to spar with her,
or perhaps it was because no one would be willing to teach her how to cook anymore,
no one would tell her things like 'The moonlight is beautiful' or 'The wind is gentle'.
No one would make her fireworks as gifts.
That foreigner named Makoto had only been in Inazuma for a few days,
yet he had stirred many unprecedented emotions in Raiden Ei's heart.
Makoto once told her,
the Seven Nations should no longer live under the protection of gods, but should be supported by the people's own hands.
Mondstadt and Liyue were the best examples.
The God of Wind slacked off all day, and the God of Rock was also on the path to retirement.
Ei thought, surely Inazuma could now be safely entrusted to the Three Commissions and the Puppet Shogun, right?
If she were to leave for a short time, nothing should go wrong.
Raiden Ei wanted to catch up, to catch the ship carrying Makoto and Raiden Makoto.
But... she seemed to have no suitable reason.
What would she say if she caught up?
That she came because she wasn't used to being separated from her sister?
Or... that she wanted to understand where Makoto lived?
None of these would do.
Whatever she said, it would be too embarrassing, Raiden Ei couldn't bring herself to say it.
Just then, Raiden Ei noticed Kamisato Ayaka rushing towards the Port.
The little girl was probably coming to see Makoto off.
Unfortunately, the ship carrying Makoto and the others had already departed.
She was too late.
Raiden Ei called out to Kamisato Ayaka and said softly, "Little girl, you don't need to run any further, because Makoto and the others have already left."
Little Ayaka looked somewhat sad and dejected.
No matter how fast she ran, she still missed them.
But soon, Little Ayaka's eyes sparkled with light, as if she had an idea.
She tugged on Ei's sleeve and said in a childlike voice, "General Sister, could I please ask you to take me to find Makoto Gege?"
"I want to find him."
After spending these past few days together, Little Ayaka had also grown quite close to Raiden Ei.
She no longer called her 'General-sama', but 'General Sister'.
This was also something the Raiden sisters had tacitly approved of:
the children from Makoto's family could call them'Sister'.
Hearing Little Ayaka's words, Raiden Ei nodded, "Alright, I'll take you to find him."
The Demoiselle of the Kamisato Family ran away from home again, and she took Raiden Ei with her.
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