Inazuma.
Morning, still early.
Brilliant sunlight poured down over Inazuma City, and the streets were packed, alive with the bustle of people coming and going.
"Who'd have thought Miko would be so generous this time? Letting us walk right into the editorial department and pick up the deluxe edition of anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day."
Outside Hanamizaka.
Lumine walked along the gravel path, Paimon floating along behind her, grinning as she said, "Then again, we did do her a pretty big favor. We didn't just deliver the invitation to Fang Qiu, we got Fang Qiu's afterword for Miko too."
"Speaking of which, who knows whether Fang Qiu will actually agree to come to the festival."
A gentle breeze drifted past, and the kite a child by the roadside was holding rose into the sky, printed with the words "The Way of Eternity is Grand, Narukami Everlasting."
The sakura trees on either side swayed with a soft rustling. Lumine, five copies of anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day cradled in her arms, looked up at the clear blue sky and said, "Fang Qiu's barely ever left Liyue Harbor. Asking her to suddenly board a ship for Inazuma - I imagine she's having second thoughts."
"She's not like you, Traveler," Paimon said. "She can't use Teleport Waypoints."
"Let's give her time to think it over." Lumine smiled.
"Fair enough. Let's hurry up and get Fang Qiu's letters to Ayaka and Thoma, and then find somewhere quiet to read."
Paimon nodded, already looking forward to it.
They made their way to Naganohara Fireworks.
But the one standing guard at the shop door wasn't Naganohara Yoimiya - it was Naganohara Yoimiya's pop.
The moment they spotted Naganohara Ryuunosuke, he spotted them too.
"Well, hey there, it's you two!" He gave them a small smile, waved first, and boomed out his greeting.
"Do you know where Yoimiya went?" Paimon asked.
"Here to buy fireworks, are you? That kid Yoimiya's been working on a new type of firework for days now. Says she wants some friend named Fang Qiu to see the most beautiful fireworks there are, so she's been trying all sorts of things. Piled up quite a bit of stock, and we've got to sell off a batch."
Naganohara Ryuunosuke went right on talking at full volume, entirely on his own track.
"Huh? Yoimiya's already making the fireworks? Then how are we supposed to tell her later that Fang Qiu hasn't decided whether she's coming to Inazuma?"
Then something struck Paimon as off. She thought about it for a second before it clicked, and she said quickly, "Wait, no, that's not it - we're not here to buy fireworks."
"Which kind of fireworks do you want?" Naganohara Ryuunosuke said, already moving to lead them over to the display.
"No! We came to find Yoimiya, not to buy fireworks!" Paimon shouted at the top of her lungs.
"What's that you say?" Naganohara Ryuunosuke stopped and turned, staring at Paimon in confusion, bellowing the question back at her.
"I said, we came to find Yoimiya! Do you know where she is?" Paimon sucked in a long breath and yelled.
"Yoimiya what?" Naganohara Ryuunosuke asked.
"Where is Yoimiya?" Paimon shouted back.
"Where's what?" Naganohara Ryuunosuke asked.
"Yoimiya!" Paimon screamed.
"If you mean Sister Yoimiya, I know where she is. She went to Yae Publishing House to buy a book."
The child from across the street couldn't stand to watch any longer. He came trotting over, a big Onikabuto clutched in one hand, and told them.
"So that's it. No wonder she's not here."
Paimon rubbed her chin, turned back to Naganohara Ryuunosuke, and waved as she hollered, "Don't let us keep you! We're heading off!"
"Right! Take care now!" Naganohara Ryuunosuke waved back, shouting.
Having said their goodbyes to Naganohara Ryuunosuke, they made their way to the main branch of Yae Publishing House.
A long line had formed outside the entrance well before they arrived.
"Did you see the promo Yae Publishing House put out this time? I hear the deluxe edition of Fang Qiu's anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day comes with an afterword written by Fang Qiu."
"Is that so? Then I'll buy a deluxe edition too. I'd like to see what's in it."
"Guess I'll get one as well."
The crowd buzzed with talk.
"Now that they mention it, Paimon's honestly a little curious what Fang Qiu wrote in that afterword."
Listening to the chatter, Paimon found her curiosity stirred.
"Same here." Lumine nodded.
When Fang Qiu had handed them the afterword, it had already been sealed inside an envelope.
If they opened it on their own, they'd leave traces, and Miko would spot it in a heartbeat.
On top of that, buying the book would let them read it anyway. So they'd forced down the urge to tear it open.
They couldn't hand Miko an excuse to dock their pay.
They could always open it, throw the envelope away, and pretend there had only ever been a letter inside.
But Miko would trick it out of Paimon in no time.
True, when Lumine had brought it up, Paimon had patted her chest and sworn she would absolutely not fall for Miko's nonsense this time.
But on that particular front, Paimon could not be trusted.
So, better to drop the idea.
While they were talking, they spotted Naganohara Yoimiya standing about halfway down the long line.
Judging by the time, it would be noon before her turn came.
"Yoimiya!" Paimon waved, drifting up beside Lumine as they came to stand in front of Naganohara Yoimiya.
Lumine waved as well.
"Paimon, Traveler, it's you!" Naganohara Yoimiya's face lit up, and she greeted them with a broad smile.
"Are you here to buy Fang Qiu's new book, Yoimiya?" Paimon asked.
"Mhm, that's right." Naganohara Yoimiya sighed. "Only I stayed up way too late making fireworks yesterday, and this morning I overslept. I should've had the book in my hands by now."
"We happen to have spare copies. How about we give you one?" Lumine pulled out a copy of anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day and held it out to Naganohara Yoimiya.
"Oh, I couldn't!" Naganohara Yoimiya waved her hands, trying to refuse.
"Just take it, Yoimiya. Paimon's looking forward to your fireworks, and you shouldn't waste your time standing in a line," Paimon said.
"Well, all right." Naganohara Yoimiya hesitated, then accepted the book Lumine was holding out. "Don't you worry. I'm going to make the best fireworks I possibly can."
"Good. We can't wait." Lumine nodded. "Oh, right - there's also Fang Qiu's reply."
"Thanks! Oh, hey, Traveler, Paimon, do you two want to come read with me at the teahouse over there?" Naganohara Yoimiya took the letter from Lumine and tucked it away safely as she spoke.
"No, no, we still have books to deliver to other people," Paimon said, shaking her head. "Oh, that reminds me - Yoimiya, have you seen Itto anywhere?"
"Nope, haven't seen him." Naganohara Yoimiya shook her head. "All I know is that yesterday he had an Onikabuto match against some little kid and got beaten without the kid even breaking a sweat. He's probably scouring all of Inazuma for a stronger Onikabuto right about now."
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