New World (Genshin Impact x OC)

Chapter 39: A Friend on Equal Footing

Opening 4

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Three days have passed since Lucius and Paimon helped Yoimiya help Sakujirou escape Inazuma. In that time, Lucius has mainly completed commissions for the guild, all the while helping Yoimiya around with her shop, as the two grow closer over those days.

Along with that, Lucius has visited the Kamisato Estate multiple times now, mainly to drink tea and chat with Ayaka and Thoma.

Today, they walk through the streets of Inazuma City, as they pass by Komore Teahouse.

Paimon: Hmm, where do we go from here...? What's the plan?

Lucius: I don't know... I also can't be bothered doing guild stuff for today.

???: Lucius, Paimon. Hold on.

A gentle voice calls out, as Lucius already knows who it is, as he turns around.

Lucius: Ayaka? What's wrong?

Ayaka: Something has come up, and I would like to request your assistance. But you ought not be nervous. This is not coming from the Yashiro Commission or the Kamisato Clan. It is my own individual request.

Lucius: I see... well, I'm all ears.

Ayaka: It concerns my mother. This may seem a little sudden... but in my view, you are the only person I can entrust this to.

Lucius: O-Oh...

Lucius seemed a bit surprised by that. Though its true that Ayaka and Lucius have gotten to know each other more, to entrust something as important as this, to someone she met about a week ago, still surprises him.

Lucius: Can you give me any more details?

Ayaka: Yesterday, I was sorting through some old family belongings when I found a notebook that belonged to my mother. She wrote about all kinds of things, mostly of little consequence. But what drew my attention was a name — it is one that I have never heard before, so the fact that she mentions it so frequently... it makes it difficult for me to ignore...

Paimon: Probably your mom's best buddy, right?

Lucius: You'd really never heard the name before? Not once?

Ayaka: Never. And although my mother and father passed away many years ago, both my brother and I are familiar with the vast majority of their acquaintances. So... I am very curious about this mysterious individual. I would very much like to meet them.

Lucius: Hm, what's this name?

Ayaka: According to the notebook, their name is "Tsubaki." This seems to have been someone very important to my mother. Someone with a lot of personality, who liked to have fun.

Paimon: Hmm... Paimon thinks it sounds like a girl's name.

Ayaka: That's what I thought too.

Paimon: So, what do you want us to do? Do you need us to find her for you?

Ayaka: No, no, her address is given in the notebook — we can head straight there. I wanted you to assist me with the preparation of greeting gifts... Please keep everything I have told you in strict confidence.

She quietly whispers the last sentence.

Ayaka: The proper course of action would be to involve my brother and visit her together, but he is terribly busy at present, and... on a more selfish note, I don't wish to involve anybody else from Inazuma in this matter.