𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧

46 - one who would never lie

—a few months later—

The day in Inazuma was bright and promising. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, their delicate petals drifting lazily in the breeze. It was a perfect day to wander around and stock up on...well, cherry blossoms.

Y/n stretched languidly, the pleasant fatigue of a day spent wandering the foggy Tsurumi Island coursing through her. She had just managed to collect a rare ingredient for some half-forgotten alchemical concoction. But, as usual, she had left the main problem on that island — some ley line disorder or whatever — for someone else to handle. The Traveler, probably, she mused, given their knack for stumbling into world-saving quests. After all, she'd be around to see it, with the infinite time on her immortal hands.

She was now meandering through Inazuma City, taking in the vibrant colors and sounds. Every so often, she'd bend down to pluck another sakura bloom, muttering to herself about maxing out her inventory. It was a mundane task, really, but when you've lived as long as Y/n has, sometimes you just want to focus on the simple joys.

Just as she was mentally counting her stash, Y/n felt a peculiar weight on her shoulder. Glancing over, she found a tiny pink fox clinging desperately to her, its fluffy tail wrapped around her neck like a scarf. The fox's little claws were embedded in her robe, and its wide, anxious eyes darted around, clearly expecting trouble.

"Well, look at you," Y/n exclaimed, surprised. "Who are you running from, little one?" She gently patted the fox's head, and it snuggled closer, burying its face into her neck. It emitted a tiny, muffled yip, as if trying to communicate its plight.

"Let me guess, big scary bird chasing you?" she joked, lifting her free hand to mimic a beak and making playful pecking motions. The fox stared at her hand, then turned its gaze back to her with a deadpan expression that seemed way too human for a fox.

"Or did you steal some food from the market stalls?" Y/n continued, her voice teasing. The fox, in response, puffed up its cheeks indignantly, making Y/n chuckle. "Oh! Or maybe you're just a fan of mine and wanted a front-row seat?" She struck a dramatic pose, pretending to be on a grand stage, while the fox gave her an unimpressed look.

"Alright, alright," Y/n laughed, "maybe not that last one." She was starting to truly enjoy the company of this quirky little creature. However, as she looked closer, peering into the fox's eyes, a flicker of familiarity sparked. The particular shade of its eyes, the way it carried itself despite its current form... "Hold on a second," Y/n said slowly, realization dawning on her. "Yae Miko?"

The fox froze, its wide eyes becoming even rounder, filled with surprise and, perhaps, a hint of panic. It seemed to say, 'Oops, I've been caught!' and its fluffy tail drooped a little in resignation. The little creature clearly hadn't anticipated being recognized, especially not by a stranger.

Y/n grinned, holding back laughter at the fox's expressions. "What did you do this time? Are you hiding from your shrine maidens again or did you perhaps forgot how to turn back to a human?"

The little fox - Yae Miko - shook her head frantically, tiny yips and barks escaping as she tried to explain her situation. Y/n cocked her head, pretending not to understand, but her eyes twinkled with mischief. She had unlocked the omnilinguism talent, after all, and speaking kitsune was just one of her many talents.

"Oh, dear. If only I could understand what you're trying to say," Y/n said, laying the sarcasm on thick. "It sounds terribly urgent."