The midday sun hung over Inazuma City, its rays piercing through the thick clouds that perpetually shrouded Narukami Island, casting a dappled light across the Kamisato Estate. The estate's garden bloomed with vibrant camellias, their petals swaying in a gentle breeze, the air filled with the faint scent of cherry blossoms and the distant tang of saltwater from the harbor, a serene contrast to the tension gripping the city.
Inside the estate, Kamisato Ayaka sat on a cushioned mat in the main hall, her Cryo Vision glowing faintly at her waist, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders as she stared at the virtual screen of the Teyvat Second Creation broadcast room, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The title of the video, "The Daily Sand Sculpture of the Kamisato Family Siblings," had already set her on edge, and the broadcast had only deepened her mortification, her voice a quiet mutter as she said, "I knew this day would come, but I wasn't ready."
Thoma stood nearby, his Pyro Vision glowing at his hip, his expression a mix of concern and amusement as he glanced at the screen, his voice gentle as he wrote in the chat, "Patriarch, Miss, this second creation is targeting both of you." Ayaka sighed, her voice a mix of resignation and dread as she replied, "I expected this, but I hope it's not too cruel."
Ayato, her brother, sat across from her, his Hydro Vision shimmering at his waist, his calm demeanor barely masking his apprehension as he wrote, "What must come will come, I just hope the broadcast isn't too harsh." Tartaglia's message appeared on the screen, his tone blunt as he wrote, "You're dreaming, this broadcast room loves to humiliate, you're just unlucky."
Ying's comment followed, her voice sympathetic as she wrote, "Don't hold out hope, I was embarrassed for days after my turn." Ningguang added her thoughts, her tone pragmatic as she wrote, "It won't be kind, so let's mourn for you siblings in advance."
Yoimiya chimed in, her voice a mix of apology and mischief as she wrote, "Ayaka, I'll try not to laugh, I promise." Xander's message was less restrained, his tone playful as he wrote, "Let's be real, I'll laugh when it's funny, and you can laugh at me later, no big deal."
Yoimiya responded, her voice conceding as she wrote, "Fair enough, I'm ready to laugh now." Yanfei agreed, her tone light as she wrote, "Xander's right, we'll all get our turn, so let's laugh freely, it's not a crime."
Yae Miko's message was the most gleeful, her tone teasing as she wrote, "Laughing isn't illegal, I can't wait to see what they do to the Kamisato siblings." The chat buzzed with anticipation, the audience across Teyvat eager for the video to begin, their reactions a mix of sympathy and excitement.
The video started, the screen showing a serene scene at the Kamisato Estate on Narukami Island, the camera panning to Ayaka sitting by a pond, her delicate feet splashing in the water as she hummed a soft tune. Fish swam around her, their scales glinting in the sunlight, the scene peaceful and picturesque, Ayaka's voice a quiet melody as she sang, "The waves whisper secrets, the sakura falls gently."
The audience in the broadcast room watched with bated breath, their comments reflecting their suspicion, Arataki Itto writing, "It's too calm, something's about to go wrong." Sure enough, as Ayaka stood, her foot slipped on the wet stone, and she tumbled into the pond with a splash, her voice a startled yelp as she fell.
The pond was shallow, and Ayaka quickly steadied herself, her swimming skills keeping her afloat, but her skirt spread out on the water's surface, creating a reflection that looked unmistakably like a turtle. The chat exploded with laughter, Itto's message the loudest as he wrote, "A turtle, the turtle in the gods, I'm a genius for that name, hahaha!"
Thoma's response was immediate, his tone protective as he wrote, "Itto, you jerk, apologize to our lady right now!" Yoimiya couldn't hold back, her voice a mix of apology and amusement as she wrote, "Thoma, I tried, but this turtle reflection is too funny, I'm sorry, Ayaka."
Yae Miko's laughter rang through the chat, her tone gleeful as she wrote, "I can't stop laughing, a little turtle reflection, it's too much!" Xander added his thoughts, his voice professional yet cracking as he wrote, "I don't usually laugh, but this, hahahaha!"
Beidou chimed in, her tone apologetic yet amused as she wrote, "Sorry, Miss Ayaka, but it's hilarious, I can't help it." Amber's message followed, her voice strained as she wrote, "I tried to hold it in, but I can't, hahaha!"
Lisa's comment was more analytical, her tone impressed as she wrote, "A reflection in the water, the broadcast room's creativity is unmatched." Ayato, despite his earlier plea for mercy, couldn't resist, his voice a mix of guilt and amusement as he wrote, "Everyone, please, though it is funny, hahaha!"
Ayaka's face burned with embarrassment, her voice a distressed whine as she wrote, "Brother, how could you laugh too, I'm so humiliated!" Itto's reply was quick, his tone teasing as he wrote, "Ayato, don't laugh yet, you're next in this video."
Ayaka buried her face in her hands, her voice a muffled groan as she said, "This is the worst, I never noticed my reflection looked like a turtle." She stood, her resolve firm as she muttered, "I'm changing my clothes, I'll never wear this skirt again."
The video shifted to Ayato, showing him in a formal meeting with the Tenryou Commission, his expression serious as he negotiated a trade agreement, but the scene quickly devolved into chaos when a stray cat wandered in, knocking over a vase that drenched Ayato in water, his reflection in the puddle also resembling a turtle. The chat erupted again, Yae Miko writing, "Another turtle, the Kamisato siblings are a matched set, hahaha!"
Ayato's composure cracked, his voice a mix of embarrassment and resignation as he wrote, "I should have known better than to hope for mercy." The broadcast continued, each scene more absurd than the last, the siblings' dignity thoroughly trampled by the end, but the laughter of Inazuma's citizens brought a bittersweet smile to Ayaka's face, her voice a quiet reflection as she said, "If this brings them joy, I suppose it's worth it."
But the laughter was cut short by a sudden commotion outside the estate, the sound of clashing steel and shouts of alarm echoing through the air as a group of ronin attacked a nearby merchant caravan, their blades flashing in the sunlight. Ayaka stood, her Cryo Vision glowing brightly as she grabbed her fan, her voice filled with resolve as she said, "Thoma, we can't let them harm the merchants, let's go!"
Thoma nodded, his Pyro Vision flaring as he summoned his spear, his voice steady as he replied, "I'm with you, Miss, let's protect them!" They rushed out of the estate, their movements swift and coordinated as they reached the caravan, the merchants cowering behind their carts as the ronin advanced, their leader a burly man with a scarred face, his voice a sneer as he said, "Hand over your goods, or you'll regret it!"
Ayaka stepped forward, her fan creating a flurry of Cryo energy that froze the ground beneath the ronin, her voice calm but firm as she said, "You'll leave these people alone, or you'll face the Kamisato family's wrath!" The ronin leader laughed, his blade crackling with Electro energy as he charged, his voice a taunt as he shouted, "A little girl like you, I'll cut you down!"
Thoma intercepted him, his spear igniting with Pyro energy as he struck, his voice a fierce shout as he said, "You'll have to get through me first!" The flames clashed with the Electro, creating a burst of Overloaded energy that sent the ronin staggering back, his armor scorched, his voice a grunt of pain as he muttered, "You'll pay for that!"
Ayaka moved to support Thoma, her Cryo Vision creating a blizzard of snowflakes that enveloped the ronin, her voice filled with determination as she shouted, "Thoma, let's end this together!" They combined their elements, the Pyro and Cryo creating a swirling vortex of fire and ice that engulfed the ronin, their cries of shock echoing through the streets as they fled, their morale broken.
The merchants cheered, their voices rising in gratitude as they thanked Ayaka and Thoma, their hope renewed by the Kamisato family's intervention, the streets of Inazuma City returning to a tense calm. Ayaka turned to Thoma, her Cryo Vision dimming as she smiled, her voice warm as she said, "We protected them, Thoma, that's what matters."
Thoma nodded, his Pyro Vision fading as he rested his spear on his shoulder, his voice filled with admiration as he said, "You're their shield, Miss, they'll always remember this." The two shared a moment of quiet resolve, their bond strengthened by the battle, the humiliation of the broadcast fading in the face of their duty, the struggles of Inazuma far from over, but their determination to fight for the people unwavering.
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