Cherreads

Chapter 77 - A Childish Quarrel and a Kairagi Clash

The late morning sun filtered through the clouds over Inazuma City, casting a soft glow across the Kamisato Estate, its wooden beams gleaming with a polished sheen, the garden filled with blooming camellias that swayed in the gentle breeze. The air carried the faint scent of sakura petals and the distant tang of saltwater from the harbor, a serene backdrop to the tension that lingered in the city, the Sakoku Decree still casting a heavy shadow over Narukami Island.

Inside the estate, Kamisato Ayato sat on a cushioned mat in his private quarters, his Hydro Vision glowing faintly at his waist, his expression a mix of embarrassment and amusement as he watched the Teyvat Second Creation broadcast on the virtual screen, the latest segment leaving him mortified. The video had already humiliated his sister Ayaka with her turtle reflection, and now it had turned its sights on him, his voice a quiet mutter as he said, "I knew this wouldn't end well, but this is too much."

The broadcast had shifted to a new scene at the Kamisato Estate, the early morning light streaming through the windows as Ayato woke up, stretching with a satisfied yawn, his voice a cheerful hum as he sang, "Opening the window each morning, the world feels so beautiful." He had walked to the window, the sound of birds chirping outside filling the air, but his peace was shattered by the sound of an argument below, his voice a curious murmur as he said, "What's going on down there?"

Peering out, he saw his sister Ayaka and the Traveler Ying arguing in the courtyard, their voices rising in a childish quarrel about their brothers, Ying's tone defiant as she shouted, "My brother dares to go shopping alone!" Ayaka, her Cryo Vision glowing at her waist, retorted, "My brother dares too!"

Ying escalated, her voice a challenge as she said, "My brother dares to grab a stinging caterpillar with his bare hands!" Ayaka didn't back down, her tone equally stubborn as she replied, "My brother dares too!"

The argument grew more absurd, Ying's voice a taunt as she declared, "My brother dares to kick a demon god's backside!" Ayaka matched her, her voice unwavering as she said, "My brother dares too!"

Ayato, watching from the window, felt his jaw drop, his voice a mix of disbelief and amusement as he muttered, "Are they seriously fighting over this, how childish." The broadcast room chat erupted with reactions, Paimon writing, "Ying, you're on camera again, nice going!"

Ying's response was curt, her tone embarrassed as she wrote, "I need a moment, don't talk to me." The video continued, the quarrel intensifying as Ying shouted, "My brother dares to peek at girls bathing!"

Ayaka, caught up in the heat of the moment, replied, "My brother dares too!" Ying pressed further, her voice a challenge as she said, "My brother dares to go out of town alone!"

Ayaka countered, "My brother dares too!" Ying's next claim was bolder, her tone daring as she said, "My brother dares to steal tributes from a cemetery at night!"

Ayaka, without thinking, blurted out, "My brother dares to eat filth!" Ying, seizing the opportunity, echoed, "My brother dares too!"

Ayato's face turned red, his voice a panicked shout as he leaned out the window, "I absolutely do not dare to do that!" Ying and Ayaka looked up, their eyes wide with embarrassment, and immediately fled the courtyard, their voices trailing off as they ran.

Ayato, left at the window, clenched his fists, his voice a mix of frustration and disbelief as he muttered, "Ayaka, are you really my sister, how could you say that?" The chat exploded with laughter, Paimon writing, "Ying, your brother is incredible, kicking demon gods, stealing tributes, and even eating filth!"

Ying's reply was sharp, her tone exasperated as she wrote, "Paimon, are you actually stupid, or just pretending?" Arataki Itto joined in, his voice a mix of awe and teasing as he wrote, "Ayato, I thought I was bold, but you, I'm in awe, eating filth is a step too far for me!"

Yae Miko's laughter rang through the chat, her tone gleeful as she wrote, "Even Ayato has his bad days, this is too good!" Ayato, feeling the weight of the humiliation, wrote back, his tone pleading as he said, "We've all been through this, can't you show some sympathy?"

Xander's message was more reflective, his voice nostalgic as he wrote, "This fight reminds me of kids in my village, always arguing like this." True Lord Liuyun Borrowing Wind chimed in, her tone amused as she wrote, "This is hilarious, it reminds me of Ganyu and Shenhe as children."

Ganyu's response was immediate, her tone flustered as she wrote, "True Lord Liuyun, please don't!" Shenhe echoed her, her voice equally embarrassed as she wrote, "Master, stop!"

True Lord Liuyun huffed, her tone teasing as she wrote, "Fine, I won't say more, you two are so sensitive." Xander, curious, wrote back, "I actually want to hear more about Ganyu's childhood."

Ganyu's reply was a plea, her tone desperate as she wrote, "Mr. Xander, please, my childhood isn't that interesting!" The chat continued to buzz with reactions, the video segment ending with Ayato's humiliation, the audience eagerly awaiting the final segment, but the peace in Inazuma City was about to be shattered.

A sudden commotion erupted outside the Kamisato Estate, the sound of clashing steel and cries of alarm echoing through the streets as a group of Kairagi ambushed a nearby training ground, their flaming blades cutting through the air as they attacked the shogunate trainees. Ayaka, still reeling from the broadcast, stood, her Cryo Vision glowing brightly as she grabbed her fan, her voice filled with resolve as she said, "Thoma, we can't let them harm the trainees, let's go!"

Thoma nodded, his Pyro Vision flaring as he summoned his spear, his voice steady as he replied, "I'm with you, Miss, let's protect them!" They rushed out of the estate, Ayato joining them, his Hydro Vision glowing as he drew his sword, his voice a mix of determination and lingering embarrassment as he said, "I'll redeem myself in this fight, let's do this!"

The Kairagi leader, a towering figure with a flaming blade, sneered as he spotted the Kamisato siblings, his voice a taunt as he shouted, "The Kamisato family, I'll burn your legacy to ash!" He swung his blade, sending a wave of fire toward them, the heat scorching the cobblestones as it approached.

Ayaka countered with a burst of Cryo, her fan creating a shield of ice that blocked the flames, her voice calm but firm as she said, "You'll have to get through us first!" Thoma struck from the side, his spear igniting with Pyro energy as he drove back a group of Kairagi, his voice a fierce shout as he said, "You won't harm anyone while I'm here!"

Ayato moved with precision, his Hydro Vision creating a torrent of water that doused the flames, his voice a determined growl as he said, "I'm not just a joke, let's see how you handle this!" He followed with a series of swift slashes, his blade cutting through the Kairagi's defenses, their cries of pain echoing through the streets as they staggered back.

The Kairagi leader roared, his blade igniting with even greater intensity as he charged at Ayato, his voice a snarl as he shouted, "You'll pay for that, Kamisato!" Ayato dodged, his Hydro Vision creating a shield of water that absorbed the blow, his voice a taunt as he replied, "I've had worse humiliation today, you'll need to try harder!"

Ayaka and Thoma worked together, their Cryo and Pyro combining to create a swirling vortex of fire and ice that engulfed the remaining Kairagi, their voices a united shout as Ayaka said, "Together, we end this!" The Kairagi fled, their morale broken, the trainees cheering as they thanked the Kamisato siblings and Thoma, their hope renewed by the family's intervention.

Ayaka turned to Ayato, her Cryo Vision dimming as she smiled, her voice warm as she said, "You did well, brother, the broadcast doesn't define us." Ayato nodded, his Hydro Vision fading as he sheathed his sword, his voice a mix of relief and resolve as he said, "We're stronger than their jokes, let's keep fighting for Inazuma."

Thoma rested his spear on his shoulder, his Pyro Vision dimming as he added, "You both make Inazuma proud, let's keep protecting our people." The siblings shared a moment of quiet resolve, their bond strengthened by the battle, the humiliation of the broadcast fading in the face of their duty, the struggles of Inazuma far from over, but their determination unwavering.

***

Support me on Patreon to read 50+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Nocturnal_Breeze

More Chapters