That night, Ayaka had another dream.
Perhaps because she had seen the man in person earlier that day, the dream was particularly intense. Ayaka was unusually proactive, and there was an added layer of excitement.
After all... he had a fiancée!
Ahem, although Ayaka wasn't the type of woman to act shamelessly, this was just a dream, right? What's wrong with a little excitement in a dream?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
So, to bid farewell to her unrequited feelings, Ayaka was a little more wild than usual in her dream.
When she woke up the next morning, her bed was unusually wet.
Ayaka's face flushed with embarrassment, but she was somewhat used to this by now. After discreetly cleaning up, she went to have breakfast with her brother.
"Ayaka, why did you wake up so late today?" Kamisato Ayato asked, puzzled.
He had noticed that over the past year, his sister had become somewhat lax, often sleeping in. While this wasn't necessarily a bad thing—Ayato didn't want his sister to push herself too hard—this level of laziness was unusual for her and bordered on concerning.
"Sorry, brother. I had a dream last night, so I woke up late."
"Was it a nightmare?"
"...Yes."
Even with her brother, Ayaka couldn't bring herself to admit that it was a different kind of dream. It was too embarrassing.
However, after hearing Ayaka's response, Ayato's expression grew serious.
"Could it be that a yokai is causing trouble?"
In Inazuma, where spirits and demons roamed freely, it wasn't impossible for a mischievous yokai to play such a prank. Though targeting the young lady of the Kamisato clan seemed like a death wish, who knew if there was a yokai foolish enough to try?
"Ayaka, let's put aside the Kamisato Clan's duties for today. Come with me to the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Huh? It's really nothing, brother. It was just a nightmare."
Ayaka immediately understood that her brother wanted Lady Yae, the Guuji of the shrine, to check if she was being haunted by a yokai.
But in truth, there was no need for that. Ayaka had already checked herself.
At first, she had been a little suspicious. She had never heard of a yokai that could create such realistic dreams—this was the realm of divine power, something only the Dendro Archon of Sumeru was said to be capable of. Even other gods couldn't do such a thing.
But it was always better to be safe than sorry. So, after having the same dream for the second time, Ayaka had gone to see Lady Yae.
Of course, Ayaka only mentioned that she had a nightmare, and Lady Yae concluded that it was just a regular dream.
So Ayaka stopped worrying about it.
Well, to be honest, this time, it wasn't in a dream but in real life that she had encountered the man from her dreams. This did raise some doubts in her mind.
But Ayaka didn't suspect that he was a yokai manipulating her with some kind of magic. Instead, she wondered... could he be her destined love?
Ahem, this thought did make her blush, especially since he had a fiancée. But... well, it was better not to dwell on it.
In any case, Ayaka felt there was no need to trouble Lady Yae with this.
"Alright, it's better to be cautious. There's no harm in checking."
Faced with her brother's insistence, Ayaka could only smile wryly and agree.
It was just to put her brother's mind at ease.
But she really couldn't keep sleeping in like this.
After breakfast, Ayaka and her brother climbed Mount Yougou to visit the Grand Narukami Shrine and sought an audience with Yae Miko.
After hearing Ayato's explanation, Yae Miko narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Oh? A nightmare, you say?"
"I see. Ayaka can stay here. I'll give her a thorough examination."
Ayato frowned slightly but realized that Lady Yae didn't want him to stay. This wasn't surprising, as he knew the Guuji Yae had never been particularly fond of him—perhaps it was a case of like repelling like.
She seemed to have a much better opinion of Ayaka, though.
So Ayato simply nodded. "Then I'll leave it to you, Lady Yae."
With that, he left.
After Ayato was gone, Yae Miko approached Ayaka and studied her face intently.
"Lady Yae..."
Ayaka felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze.
Then, Yae Miko suddenly asked a question that left Ayaka stunned. "Ayaka, be honest with me. Was it really a nightmare... or was it a pleasant dream?"
Ayaka's mind went blank for a moment, and her face turned bright red. "L-Lady Yae, what do you mean by that!?"
"Nothing much."
Yae Miko chuckled softly.
"Girls have their fantasies. There's no need to be embarrassed. While it's not something you can discuss with your brother, there's no need to hide it from me. I understand."
"Uh... um..."
Ayaka blushed and lowered her head, refusing to speak.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Yae Miko patted Ayaka's shoulder, then turned and walked away.
"Stay here for a while, then head back. Enjoy the cherry blossoms and the scenery. Purify your heart, which has started to yearn for a man. That should stop the dreams. Of course, if that doesn't work, then Ayaka, you should just find a man to marry."
"Lady Yae~!"
Yae Miko chuckled softly as she walked away, leaving Ayaka behind.
Then, her smile faded, and her fox-like eyes opened fully, her expression turning serious.
"A coincidence? I don't believe in such things."
A pleasant dream?
Although she had just teased Ayaka, the reason Yae Miko had even thought of this was because she herself had been having similar dreams recently.
The man in her dreams was none other than the Supreme Bishop of Fontaine, a man Yae Miko had already confirmed to be real.
At first, she hadn't thought much of it.
After all, while it was a bit unusual for her to have such dreams... if the subject was that man, it didn't seem too surprising.
First, he was good-looking.
Second, he was very good-looking.
Third, he was extremely good-looking.
Yae Miko wasn't one to judge by appearances, but she genuinely believed that a man as handsome as him was bound to appear in her dreams—even someone like her couldn't help but think so. He was just that good-looking.
But the fact that the same thing was happening to someone else...
"A coincidence? Who would believe that?"