The scene returns to Kamisato Estate. At this time, Shiki had already taken off her outermost furisode, revealing the red lining underneath. However, although it was a lining, it would be perfectly fine to wear it daily as a tomesode.
As she neatly put away the furisode on the hanger, something fell out of the sleeve.
"Hmm?"
Shiki looked down. Wasn't this that ninja's Vision?
"Sigh, how should I deal with you? You're tasteless to eat and a pity to discard."
Although it was an extinguished Vision, basically useless, it was still a Vision. It would be a shame to just throw it away.
After some thought, Shiki decided to keep it in her sleeve. Perhaps one day she would encounter someone who could reignite the Vision? Then she would have helped someone achieve their dream, wouldn't she?
Knock, knock, knock
A knock at the door came. Shiki put away the extinguished Vision, then opened the door.
She saw Ayaka wearing a yukata with a heron pattern, the very same clothing Shiki had reconstructed for her at the previous festival. This was a testament to their first meeting, holding extraordinary significance for her.
Of course, Shiki didn't know this. She just thought that the clothes Ayaka was wearing were very beautiful.
"Aya…ka?"
"Does it look good?"
"Mm-hmm."
Shiki nodded. Ayaka, having removed her skirt armor, seemed to have also shed the burdens of her family. At this moment, she exuded a temperament she didn't usually possess.
Ayaka's eyes curved into a smile upon hearing this, then she stepped forward and entered Shiki's room, simultaneously closing the door.
Their eyes met, and Shiki's breath hitched. Immediately following was the girl's slightly hurried breathing and her own tingling nose.
Thump-thump
Her heart couldn't help but start racing again. Shiki quickly stepped back. She didn't know why she was doing this; it was harder to deal with than a fight with a woman!
Ever since she understood Ayaka's feelings, Shiki felt as if she couldn't face the girl the same way as before.
As soon as the other person got close, she would become nervous, and an inexplicable impulse would arise within her.
"Um… it's getting late. You came to see me…"
"What, are you not happy?" Ayaka said, taking another step forward, closing the distance between them again.
It seemed that after Shiki understood her feelings, her actions became much bolder.
"No, not at all, but I need some time."
To be honest, Shiki was a bit unclear about what kind of feelings she held for Ayaka. So, although she understood the sentiment, she hadn't accepted it.
Love is more of a responsibility. No one maintains an extremely high level of enthusiasm for something indefinitely; everyone has moments of frustration.
Once accepted, it meant she would have to take responsibility for Ayaka's entire life.
This responsibility was mutual. Ayaka had clearly made her choice, and now it was up to her to figure things out.
"Was I too sudden?" Ayaka bit her lower lip slightly. This person was so good at guiding others, so why did she get stuck when it came to herself?
"…No, I realized it too late…"
Shiki sighed softly, recalling all the past signs. This girl had liked her for a very long time, but when did it start?
Suddenly, her right hand was taken by Ayaka, and then she heard Ayaka say: "Shiki, you must face your own heart."
Feeling the warmth emanating from her hand, Shiki did not resist, allowing Ayaka to intertwine their fingers.
"…You're right, Ayaka."
In that instant, Shiki thought a lot. She realized that she seemed to truly like the white-haired girl in front of her, not out of affection for a game character, but a genuine love between two individuals.
This was love that transcended gender. Shiki came from 21st-century Earth, and falling in love with a girl was not something difficult to accept.
But for Ayaka, it required considerable courage.
The development of Teyvat is still in a society similar to ancient times. Although polygamy does not exist, fixed societal thinking still dictates one man and one woman.
Thinking this, Shiki's hands tightened slightly, and then she took the initiative, pulling Ayaka directly into her embrace.
At this moment, the two could clearly feel each other's heartbeats. The red and blue kimonos were like a complete Tai Chi symbol.
"Shiki... I'm not good at photography, but I don't need that kind of thing, because the Camera in my heart has already captured your image inside."
Ayaka's face flushed slightly. Shiki's height of 1.6 meters was slightly taller than hers, causing her to have to tilt her head up slightly to look directly into the girl's eyes.
The other party had finally accepted her feelings, and she had also made her own confession.
Shiki was stunned, then smiled and said, "Ah, I have also found my destination..."
However, as soon as she finished speaking, Shiki felt a force coming from in front of her. Following the rotation of her Vision, by the time she reacted, she had already been pushed onto the bed by Ayaka.
The high Horsetail of white hair had already been undone by Ayaka. The white hair falling from the back of her head intertwined with Shiki's dark hair, seemingly foreshadowing something.
"Ayaka, we just confirmed our relationship. Isn't this inappropriate?"
Although she said this, Shiki showed no sign of panic.
"What's wrong with it? We are both girls anyway."
Ayaka became increasingly bold. After speaking, she reached out to untie the ribbon around the waist of Shiki's red kimono lining.
However, the moment she touched it, Shiki grabbed her hand. Then, the roles were reversed, and Ayaka ended up pinned beneath her.
"Ayaka, I didn't expect someone from a prestigious family like you to be surprisingly daring."
Shiki knew immediately upon feeling the thickness of the other party's clothing that she wasn't wearing anything underneath, unlike herself, who had a layer of white intimate wear beneath her lining.
Shiki, having worn kimonos every day, had long since figured out their proper thickness.
She was certain that, aside from things like underwear, Ayaka only had this single layer of yukata on.
"Isn't this all because of you?" Ayaka complained teasingly. "I hinted so many times, but you acted like a block of wood and ignored it!"
"Tell me, whose fault is this? If I hadn't taken the initiative today, you definitely would have acted like a block of wood and just left!"
"Sigh... I truly didn't think of any of this. At first, I only had a slight favorable impression of you."
Hearing this, Ayaka recalled the words spoken by the *other* Shiki at the festival: "That child Shiki seems to quite like you."
!!!
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