Ding~ In the training yard, Akio and Kamisato Ayaka clashed at speeds too fast for the human eye to follow. The crisp sound of blades meeting rang out again and again.
Then, with a sharp clang, Ayaka's sword was knocked from her hands, landing point-down in the dirt right before her.
"I lost, Akio," Ayaka said, pouting as she got to her feet.
"Hahaha, your swordsmanship has come a long way—remarkably fast progress," Akio said with a smile as he sheathed his blade. "Back when I watched you draw your sword, your technique wasn't nearly this refined."
"The Kamisato Art: Tachi Jutsu may be elegant among mortal sword styles, but in the realm of divine martial arts, it doesn't quite measure up," he praised.
"But your current swordplay… it's already transcendent. You've developed your own distinct style—calling it divine martial arts wouldn't be an exaggeration."
"What I pointed out earlier—if you keep improving from there, the next deity known for their martial prowess might just be you."
"Isn't that a bit too flattering?" Ayaka shook her head. After all, what deity didn't spend centuries honing their techniques?
Take Raiden Ei, for example—countless years of meditation and refinement, and only after receiving the collective prayers of all Inazuma did she finally grasp the ultimate technique that was Musou no Hitotachi.
Ayaka had only been a god for a few months. How could her skills be called "divine martial arts"?
"No need to be so modest, Ayaka," Akio smiled. "There are prodigies in this world too. You may have only recently ascended, but you've already begun to display the will of a true god."
"If we're talking prodigies, then it has to be Miyuki." Ayaka chuckled, shaking her head. "She used to say she didn't like fighting and avoided combat altogether. Now her scythe technique is practically on par with mine."
"Miyuki is indeed an extraordinary talent," Akio sighed. "She hasn't been training for long either, yet her skill is growing at a frightening pace. At this rate, she might catch up to you before long."
That said, martial arts always slowed in advancement the deeper one went. Raiden Ei had meditated for decades, yet even she might find it hard to improve further.
After all, her swordsmanship had already reached the pinnacle. In all of Teyvat, few could surpass her in pure martial ability.
Even back in Liyue, when Akio had chatted with Zhongli over tea, the latter had acknowledged Raiden Ei as the peak of martial prowess. By martial skill alone, not even Morax was confident he could best her.
"Oh right, Akio, let's go out and have some fun," Ayaka said, eyes sparkling. "The cherry blossoms at the foot of Mount Yougou are in full bloom—let's go see them together."
"Sure," Akio nodded with a smile.
"Hehe, wait here for a bit. I'll go hand over my duties to my brother," Ayaka said brightly, running back into the house.
She was always diligent with her responsibilities, but Akio rarely had time to spend with her—just this once, she was willing to push the paperwork onto her dear brother.
When Ayaka appeared in Kamisato Ayato's office with a huge stack of documents, his face fell.
"Ugh… Ayaka, what is the meaning of this?" Ayato inhaled sharply. "Are you trying to get rid of your brother? Is this your subtle way of saying I'm a nuisance?"
That massive stack—if he had to process it all alone, he'd die of exhaustion!
He had plans today! A friend in Inazuma City had invited him out, and after several declined invitations, he was finally wrapping things up… only for his sweet little sister to dump more work on him?
In that moment, Ayato felt as if milk tea and his dear friend were slipping away, both lost to the cruel tides of duty.
"Oh come on, my beloved brother~ Akio finally has time to go out with me to see the flowers. Surely you wouldn't be so heartless as to make your little sister stay here and handle documents, would you?" Ayaka looked up at him with the saddest, most pitiful eyes she could muster.
"I just… I want to go see the flowers and moonlight with Akio…"
"…Sigh…" Ayato looked into his sister's pleading, sorrowful gaze. How could he possibly say no to his adorable little sister?
"Fine… Since your beloved is the one inviting you out, how could I, your brother, possibly stand in the way?" Ayato relented with a sigh. "Go on. Be careful."
"I will! Thanks, Brother Ayato!" Ayaka grinned, immediately dumping the stack of documents beside him and dashing out of the room.
"She didn't even hesitate…" Ayato muttered. "Truly, once you get a boyfriend, you forget your poor brother. My once-gentle, refined Shirasagi Himegimi… she's changed."
Then he let out a breath and smiled softly to himself. "But if she's happy… isn't that all I've ever wanted for her?"
After a moment's pause, Ayato called out, "Someone fetch me!"
"Yes, Lord Kamisato?" a maid entered quickly.
"Head down to Inazuma City's Restaurant later and find a young oni named Arataki Itto. Let him know I've had to cancel our plans due to pressing duties," Ayato instructed.
"Yes, my lord," the maid bowed and turned to go.
"Wait—bring back a cup of milk tea too," he added.
"Understood," the maid replied, then slipped out.
"Whew~" Ayato took a deep breath and turned to the small mountain of paperwork beside him. Time to get to work.
"Akio!" Ayaka ran out and wrapped herself around his arm, calling out sweetly.
"So your brother gave in?" Akio chuckled.
"Yup, yup. He's such a good brother—once he heard I was going out with you, he agreed right away!" Ayaka beamed.
"Looks like he's in for a long night of overtime," Akio teased.
Ayaka gave a sheepish smile, silently apologizing to her brother.
She felt a little guilty that he'd be overworked… but for the sake of his beloved little sister's happiness, he'd just have to suffer a bit.
Sorry, Onii-chan~ bear with it for now!
But once she'd linked arms with Akio, thoughts of her brother flew out of her head. Clinging to Akio's arm, she walked cheerfully toward Mount Yougou.
At the base of the mountain, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. The entire area had become a sea of pink petals. A gentle breeze swept through, lifting the blossoms into the air like drifting snow.
The delicate fragrance in the air was refreshing and serene. Ayaka wasn't exaggerating—this really was one of the most beautiful sights Akio had ever seen.