I knocked on the door twice before hearing a soft 'come in' from the inside. Opening the door, I was given the sight of Ayato reading multiple documents in his hand as he kept shifting over them every now and then.

He looked away from his papers to look at me before greeting me. "Welcome back." he says in a tired voice before going back to his stack of papers.

I acknowledged his greeting before I continued "I have informed of the mission to Guji Yae. I trust, I have no more errands to run today?"

The light blue haired man looked at me standing beside his desk and gestured his hands to take a seat, to which I accepted as my legs were already aching from the long walk.

"Good work. Did that cunning fox have anything to mock me today?" He asked with a laugh as he intently listens to what I had to say, casting aside the papers that were supposed to be having all his attention.

"To your regret no, all she asked me was, whether 'Mr.Commissioner' sent me there so early in the morning. She might have called you cruel for sending me up there so early in the morning too."

"Oh that fox lady." He left a small laugh before he looked at me. "Are you sure you aren't venting your own personal frustrations at me, (y/n)?" He inquires. 

I scoff in annoyance. "What sort of employer calls their employee at five in the morning to dispatch a bunch of messages! Specifically the employee who worked overtime yesterday! There's no real justice in this system, I should move to Fontaine!"

"Moving to a foreign nation sounds like a good idea but." He pauses, leaving an awfully silent room. "You won't last in those rough oceans that blocks Inazuma off." 

I was quiet and he was right. Knowing it was time to get back onto the main topic, I quickly changed the subject. "Other than that there's something you might want to hear."

"Please do continue." he says as he laced his gloved fingers together, leaning forward on his seat to listen. 

I leaned forward a little before speaking, "From Guji Yae, I heard that the mission assigner, Gendou is replaced with a fake imposter."

"Oh" Ayato reacted in an amused manner as he quickly held his chin, analyzing the situation.

"Apparently, it's the Fatui who has replaced her with the imposter, when the real one went out to gather some intel or something."

"Hmm, very intriguing. Anyways, I'll be looking into this personally. Go get some rest while you can (Y/n)." Ayato told with a gentle smile rest upon his face, as if this was nothing new to him.

"As you wish." I got up from my seat, slightly bothered by Ayato's state of calmness.

It was conflicting. Though I've known the commissioner for almost half a year now, it was difficult to understand his thought process. He kept it well hidden that no matter how perceptive you are, you could never find him at fault.

After walking out of Ayato's office in a slightly distressed manner, I ran into my close friend Thoma who was a clean freak as well as one of the many retainers Ayato had. I was a retainer myself but you didn't serve him much as Thoma did. 

"Hello Y/n! How's your day?" Thoma asked with a positive tone as he cast aside the broom stick, patting his gloves of any dirt though there were barely any. 

"Good as of now ! Lord Ayato told me to take the day off,  so I was wondering what would I do today..."

"Haha perfect timing! It's almost noon and I'm sure fresh vegetables and fish would arrive at better prices in the market now. Why don't you accompany me for a grocery shopping? only if you want to."

"Sure I'd love to accompany-" I was cut off as I heard a voice from behind. Turning around, I was met with another important figure as I bowed my head to exchange a respectful greeting. 

She nodded her head slightly acknowledging my greeting as she looked back at Thoma to continue.

"Sorry to interrupt your conversation Thoma and Y/n..I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you both but I heard you both were going to the market. Might I accompany you both as well?"

"Miss Ayaka. Won't you be occupied with meetings today?" I asked in a respectful manner. 

"No, it had to be postponed to tomorrow due to various other reasons. Thus I'd like to spend my time in the public going on a 'grocery shopping' as Thoma suggested." She says and looks at Thoma for an answer.

"M'lady, ah I uh...um" Thoma stuttered as he was unsure if it was a good idea to take her along. Of course, taking the most prized shirasagi himegami to buy vegetables and fish from the market didn't sound that respectful.

"Well what is it Thoma? If there's a problem I think I'll not-"

"Thoma. Please take her with you."

We turned to the direction of the voice to see Ayato leaning on one of the wooden pillars supporting the roof.

"Yes m'lord, I'll take her!" Thoma replied quickly.

"Thank you Thoma." Both the siblings said in sync but Ayato's couldn't be heard loudly as he muttered it and left.

"Well now let's get going or Thoma you won't be getting your discount!" I made a joke.

Ayaka and Thoma left a small chuckle.

"Alright, Alright let's get going!"

We all headed to the market along with Ayaka. I and Ayaka weren't that close but we did have some fun small talks until we began hearing Thoma's long essay on 'importance of cleaning'.

Upon arrival at the Market, everybody in the market seemed to be stunned by Ayaka's presence after all she was a princess from the Kamisato clan and had a strong reputation all over Inazuma. 

Children stopped playing as they looked at her in awe leaving excited gasps and whispers among themselves. Ayaka laughed a little as she waved her hands at the kids, greeting them all. 

Thoma then had decided to split from us to go buy fish and a few other meat as we were out there looking at the huge stalls of fresh fruits and vegetables. 

"Wha- so your telling me that this fish which costed me around 1000 mora till yesterday is worth only 300 mora now?!!?" Thoma exclaimed.

"Ye-yes sir it only costs 300 mora today due to uh reasons..."

"That seems oddly weird. Nevertheless, I shall take it up when the offer is on..?" Thoma says as he wraps it up and places it into a bag carefully. 

Me and Ayaka were looking at fresh fruits, until the vendor had handed us over a pack of oranges for free.

"Miss Kamisato, please accept my offering of these oranges as a thank you gift. You've been really kind towards each and every one of us here and helped us a lot! This is the only way I could perhaps pay you back..." the old lady tells genuinely as she holds onto Ayaka's hands. 

"O-Oh...Thank you...but I was just doing my duty.."

"No, No miss Kamisato it must've been your duty but to us it means a lot. Please do keep looking after us in the future."

We thanked the vendor and decided to rendezvous back at the point where Thoma had asked us to be. As I walked behind Ayaka, I felt something odd behind me. 

 I suddenly felt somebody was following us. I couldn't let anybody know who I was really in the city nor could I just go in punching this random stalker.

Things are gonna escalate if I fail to protect the Shirasagi Himigami.

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END