[Genshin Impact] A world where only travelers are alone

...Can't you hide it?
He Que seemed to be burned by his fiery gaze, and lowered her head uncomfortably: "She--Ayato, I have never seen anything you can't hide."

Kamisato Ayato didn't mind what she said.

For him, at least now that He Que is willing to change her words is a big progress, which means that she is trying to believe what he says.

All he needed to do was reassure her.

Kamisato Ayato stood up, walked around the low table between the two of them, and half-knelt in front of Heque. It was not as tough as before, but he still made himself occupy all of Heque's sight.

Before Heque responded to this, he jokingly eased the atmosphere: "Well... Speaking of which, Linghua's friends once complained that I was too cunning. Maybe that's why Heque couldn't see it."

He chuckled: "But it doesn't matter, I'm right in front of you, you can use words countless times to prove this fact to me - I love you and Que."

The tentatively folded hands symbolize that someone has taken the first step, and now all that is missing is a response from the other person. However, the person being waited for still has not let down his guard, and the thorn rooted in her heart has not yet been removed.

Although he did not take back his hand, He Que still did not look up, but whispered: "I don't understand... I don't think there is anything about me that is worthy of your love..."

Kamisato Ayato heard faint sobs in her voice.

He Que knew that she was a coward at heart, but she didn't want to show this cowardice in front of Kamisato Ayato.

She tried her best to suppress her tears and said the following words as calmly as possible: "I know you actually cried that night, the night you agreed to my request. I always thought you hated me, hated me for forcing you to make such a decision."

That was the first and last time that Kazuque saw Kamisato Ayato cry.

She didn't cry when her father died, nor when her mother died. Except for that time, Kamisato Ayato never cried.

Kamisato Ayato was silent for a long time, then slowly said, "So this is what you can't let go of? Heque, I'm not sad because of Kujo Takayuki's ill intentions. I'm just feeling sad that I knew what this engagement meant, and I also knew that you didn't understand anything, but I could only take advantage of your kindness just to get this step to help the Kamisato family."

"I took advantage of you. It was selfish beyond measure."

*
Kamisato Ayato's mother, Kamisato Kayo, had anticipated calling Kamisato Ayato to her side to instruct her on her funeral arrangements before she passed away.

At that time, the funeral of the previous head of the Kamisato family had just ended for half a month, and Kamisato Ayato was not so busy yet. At the instigation of Kujo Takayuki, He Que spent almost all his time accompanying and comforting Kamisato Ayato.

Kamisato Kayo saw all of this, so when she felt her health deteriorating, she felt she had an obligation to do her child one last favor.

"Mother, what do you want from me?"

Kamisato Ayato knelt beside the bed, his eyes full of concern.

Kamisato Kayo barely suppressed the itch in her throat and asked in a low voice, "Has Kazuque gone back yet?"

"Yes, He Que went back with the Kujo family's servants about a quarter of an hour ago." Kamisato Ayato replied, sounding somewhat puzzled, "Why is mother asking this?"

Kamisato Kayo smiled and said, "I just suddenly thought of what I said to you a long time ago, Ayato, do you still remember?"

"Mother means—"

[To put it another way, connections are also part of resources. If you really want to maintain the glory of the Kamisato family, Kazuque, the only daughter of the Kujo family, may be able to help you. ]

Kamisato Ayato was stunned for a moment, obviously remembering Kamisato Kayo's advice before he and Kazuque reconciled.

Kamisato Kayo patted his head: "But now I want to know, what kind of existence is Kazuque to Ayato?"

"And Que her..."

Kamisato Ayato stammered and was unable to speak.

Kamisato Kayo had anticipated this.

Her child has always been smart, how could he not have noticed until now that Heque is completely different to him than to other people? He couldn't answer only because the burden on him was too heavy, which made it difficult for him to make a promise easily.

Kamisato Kayo didn't intend to force him to figure everything out right now, but just reminded him: "It doesn't matter, some things should be said to the right person. Ayato, I just want to tell you that if one day you make a decision, you must make a sacrifice. After all, the word "feelings" is the most sacred, and it cannot tolerate any filth, and it cannot be linked to interests." Once interests are involved, feelings are no longer pure, and the two people in this relationship will eventually lose trust.

*
"Mother is always right." Kamisato Ayato smiled, but her laughter was lonely. "At that time, I also doubted whether the proposal to you to make an engagement was deliberately induced by Kujo Takayuki or something else. I should have been more cautious and at least figured out whether you really liked me and whether you were willing to tie the rest of your life to me, but I was too impatient."

He hugged He Que and kissed the girl on the forehead, who had looked up at him worriedly at some point.

"I was afraid that I would miss this opportunity and the Kamisato family would fall into decline in my hands, so I agreed to your request even though I knew you didn't understand the meaning. The only thing that can comfort me is your subsequent behavior, which may be considered as having feelings for me."

Kamisato Ayato sighed.

He Que never knew that he had thought so much.

"Ayato..."

Kamisato Ayato held her hand, and this time he got a response.

He Que slowly closed her palms and interlocked her fingers with his.

Kamisato Ayato was slightly stunned, but quickly reacted and smiled at her.

He continued to recount the past: "I originally thought that you would never be able to guess what Kujo Takayuki meant, at least this way I could slowly make up for it in the future. But now it seems that this was just my own wishful thinking. I couldn't even take good care of you as I promised in my heart."

After Kazuque behaved as usual, Kamisato Ayato relaxed unconsciously and shifted his focus to government affairs. He didn't even notice when Kazuque discovered the truth and began to distance himself from him.

Heque was a slow-witted child. If it weren't for the fact that the Kamisato family was getting better and better, Kujo Takayuki would have gradually lost all the benefits and started to dislike Heque and beat and scold him at every turn. Heque might never have discovered this secret in his entire life.

She didn't intend to tell Kamisato Ayato about this, so she just held his hands tighter, letting her body temperature be transferred through their intertwined hands as a comfort.

How could Kamisato Ayato not understand what she meant?

"Can I take this as a sign that you forgive me?" He smiled, freeing himself from the guilt of the past and focusing only on He Que in front of him.

"I never blamed you." He Que blurted out.

But the emotion in Kamisato Ayato's eyes remained unchanged: "Yes, of course I know."

He Que was helpless, biting his lower lip and hesitating for a long time, and finally made up his mind and said: "I like you, from a long time ago, I can tell clearly. I am indeed stupid, but I also heard the stories told by my mother when I was very young. I know that only if you like each other can you get married, so I have never regretted it. I am just worried, worried that I will become a burden to you——"

"Then I am also so nervous. This is probably the feeling that comes from liking someone. I am very happy, He Que, I am very happy."

Kamisato Ayato hugged her and whispered softly.

He Que also gradually relaxed and allowed herself to lean on his shoulder.

It was not until the end that Kujo Kamajima, who discovered that she was missing, sent someone to Kamisato's house to ask, and the two finally separated.

After the misunderstanding was resolved, the way they got along with each other became different from before.

Kamisato Ayato kissed Kazuque on the cheek quite naturally: "See you next time, Kazuque."

He Que touched his cheek embarrassedly, and pushed the door open and left reluctantly amid the servant's persistent calls.

The sun is just right outside.

He Que raised her hand to block out the glaring sunlight, her eyes, which were a little red from crying, were now slightly narrowed.

——It’s a sunny day today too.

(End of this chapter)