-

The next morning, the crisp air of Inazuma carried a faint scent of rain, though the skies remained clear. The previous night's banquet had ended on an uncertain note, but Yoshika and Furina had decided not to dwell on it just yet. They had spoken enough about Celestia for one night.

But one thing was certain-they needed answers.

Furina stretched dramatically as they walked through the quiet streets of Ritou. "You know," she mused, "I never thought I'd wake up in Inazuma one day and say, 'Let's go find a mysterious puppet who may or may not be connected to an all-powerful divine force.'"

Yoshika, walking beside her, smirked. "And yet here we are."

Their destination was clear-if Wanderer hadn't left Inazuma already, there was only one person who might know where he had gone.

Yae Miko.

The Grand Narukami Shrine stood atop a long flight of stone steps, surrounded by cherry blossoms in full bloom. As they climbed, Furina glanced at Yoshika.

"You've been here before, haven't you?"

Yoshika nodded. "A few times. Yae Miko is... complicated. But I trust her."

Furina raised an eyebrow. "You? Trusting someone that easily? She must be special."

"She's like a sister to me."

Furina blinked. She had been expecting some vague response, not something so straightforward.

Before she could press further, they reached the shrine's entrance, where the familiar figure of Yae Miko awaited them, her fox-like smile ever in place.

"Well, well. Look at this delightful surprise." Miko's voice was laced with amusement as she rested a hand on her hip. "To what do I owe the visit from Fontaine's former star and Snezhnaya's hidden gem?"

Yoshika crossed her arms. "We're looking for Wanderer."

Miko chuckled. "Ah. So he's already making trouble, I see."

Furina sighed. "More like he dropped trouble on us and left before explaining anything."

Miko tilted her head, violet eyes twinkling. "Sounds like him. But tell me, Yoshika, why are you so interested in Celestia all of a sudden?"

Yoshika hesitated for a fraction of a second, but Miko caught it.

A knowing smile curled on her lips.

"Oh? So it's something personal?"

Furina glanced between them, sensing there was something unspoken. "Wait. What is she talking about?"

Miko chuckled but didn't press further. "Wanderer has already left Inazuma, but I may know where he's going next."

Yoshika met her gaze. "Where?"

Miko's smile grew.

"Sumeru."

-
𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝖫𝖤𝖲𝖡𝖨𝖠𝖭𝖲 𝖱𝖨𝖲𝖤!! (𝗂𝗆 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖺 𝗅𝖾𝗌𝖻𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗈😭😭)