Verisimilitude (GI Various x Reader)

Chapter Forty-Six

        "Hmm, where do we go from here...? What's the plan?" Paimon asks as we stand outside of the Komore Teahouse, deciding on where to go next. It's a good question, seeing as the three of us are still relatively new to Inazuma, with the exception of my small adventure in the past. What even should we do in this free time? A part of me wants to investigate the reason why my parents were here. I also want to see if I can possibly find any more information about Dottore being in Inazuma during the time of the Raiden Gokaden's downfall. I know we'll likely encounter the Second Fatui Harbinger in Sumeru and I do not want to be caught off guard by him ever again.

However... I glance over at Lumine who seems to be lost in her thoughts at the moment. We're not only here for me and my search for my parents. Our original goal is still to meet with the Raiden Shogun and find out what we can about Lumine's brother. Learning that my parents were in Inazuma before the nation closed her borders was just a coincidence. A familiar voice suddenly calls out before we can decide on anything.

"Traveler, (Y/N), Paimon. Hold on." Ayaka steps out from the inside the teahouse. She seems like she does want to ask us about something, like I'd initially thought might be the case earlier.

"Ayaka? Did you need something?" I ask her and she nods her head, her gaze slightly shy- as if she's nervous to ask for our help. Lumine notices Ayaka's hesitation as well.

"What's the matter?" Lumine asks. Seeing that she has our attention, Ayaka proposes her request to us.

"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." Paimon couldn't help but express her curiosity.

"Individual request? You mean... personal stuff?" Paimon asked, clarifying. Ayaka slowly nods, confirming Paimon's question.

"Correct. It concerns my mother," Ayaka confirmed, she gazes away from us as she continued. "This may seem a little sudden... but in my view, you three are the only ones I can entrust this to."

"Can you give us any more details?" Lumine asks her. Ayaka nods, beginning to explain the gist of her request.

"A few days ago, 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..."

"Probably your mom's best buddy, right?" Paimon chimed in her own thoughts on the matter.

"You'd really never heard the name before? Not once?" I asked her. Even though I haven't seen my parents in a long time now, even I would be curious if I found out about someone they knew and never told me about.

"Never," Ayaka replied firmly. "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." Paimon hums, her hand on her chin in thought.

"Paimon thinks it sounds like a girl's name," Paimon commented. Ayaka's expression lights up slightly as she nods.

"That's what I thought too," Ayaka confirmed.

"So, what do you want us to do? Do you need us to find her for you?" Lumine then asked. Ayaka shakes her head, explaining her request further.

"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..." She then hesitates, "...Please keep everything I have told you in strict confidence." Lumine and I glanced between each other.