Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds [62]
"Heh heh, finally, I..."
"Huh?"
The triumphant smile on Yoimiya's face froze.
The empty room she had imagined... wasn't empty.
Someone was standing there.
He was in the middle of changing his shirt, frozen mid-motion.
His well-defined back was exposed, toned and muscular, with a healthy wheat-colored sheen from countless hours of training.
It was the kind of physique anyone would envy.
And it was on full display.
Ren heard the noise and glanced over.
"Oh, it's you, Yoimiya-san."
Yoimiya's sparkling eyes widened uncontrollably.
A boy's body...
Her pure, innocent mind went blank.
I can see everything. His figure is incredible...
Wait!
She snapped back to reality, slapping her hands over her face with a loud smack.
"You—you—you! Why did you turn around?!"
The flustered girl practically shouted, her voice cracking.
What abs? I didn't see anything!
Ren shrugged. "You're the one who barged in."
As he spoke, he calmly finished putting on his shirt.
"I didn't see anything!"
Yoimiya's face was steaming, her thoughts already fried.
Ren chuckled and decided not to call her bluff.
The gaps between her fingers were wide enough to drive a sword through. What was she even covering?
"So, Yoimiya-san, was there something you needed?"
He walked toward her leisurely.
"I... I..."
Step by step, Yoimiya backed away, feeling small and helpless.
She was like a little lamb about to be devoured.
She had come to catch Ren red-handed doing something shady.
How had things turned into... this?!
"If you've got nothing, please leave."
With a smile, Ren gently ushered her out.
Changing clothes, and she makes such a fuss.
Still too green, this girl.
Bang!
The sound of the door closing made Yoimiya tremble.
"I... I..."
Her teary eyes shimmered, wide and watery.
She had been kicked out. Again.
But she no longer had the courage to barge back in.
The earlier scene had been too overwhelming.
Those muscles...
The flustered girl subconsciously gulped.
[Ding! Emotional Resonance from Yoimiya +1.]
"Ugh! I'm done with this!"
"Sayu, it's all up to you!"
Defeated, Yoimiya stomped her foot, covered her face, and ran off.
"?"
In a distant tree, Sayu opened her eyes.
"Weird Yoimiya-senpai."
She mumbled, then lazily slumped back into her nap.
---
Inside the room.
"One problem solved."
Ren glanced at his loose-fitting outfit and smiled.
This attire would perfectly hide his figure.
Adding a mask would make the disguise flawless.
The preparations for his outing with Kamisato Ayaka were complete.
"Alright, little one, it's your turn."
Ren clapped his hands.
On the table, the little tanuki stood at attention and saluted.
"Nyoo, leave it to me!"
With a nimble dash, the small creature darted out the window.
On the tree.
Sayu lay there, snoring softly.
Though she appeared to be asleep, her senses were alert.
If Ren tried to sneak out, she'd notice instantly.
Believe it or not, this skill was how Sayu always evaded the shrine maidens.
When it came to slacking off, her ninja arts were unparalleled.
But today, the little ninja met her match.
"Nyoo."
Sayu's ears twitched.
"Strange. I think I heard a tanuki call."
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she sat up groggily.
Wait, there was one right in front of her.
Huh? Am I dreaming?
"Nyoo! Big tanuki!"
"Come play with me!"
The little tanuki reached out a paw and bopped Sayu on the head.
With a mischievous grin, it started hopping around.
"?"
Sayu's eyes widened slightly.
In the next instant—
"Ahhh!! A tanuki yokai!"
"It's invading my dreams! How scary!"
"I won't let you catch me!"
Amidst the chaos, the ninja and the tanuki demon became entangled.
No one noticed the window in the distance quietly sliding open.
"Don't blink," a faint voice said.
A flash of lightning streaked through, leaving behind only an afterimage.
---
Meanwhile...
"Ugh, ugh, ugh!"
A voice echoed before the person arrived.
"..."
Mei shook her head lightly and turned a page of her light novel.
"Mei-nee!"
Yoimiya came running back, her cheeks flushed.
Whether it was from her hurried sprint or something else was anyone's guess.
Fuming, she grabbed a tray of sweets and stuffed her mouth full.
"Nom, nom..."
She channeled her frustration into eating.
After venting for a while, she collapsed onto the table with a thud.
"That annoying Takahashi..."
"Mei-nee, you have to do something about him!"
The girl whined.
"..."
After a long pause, Mei slowly looked up.
"What does that have to do with me?"
Her voice was calm and detached as ever. She lowered her gaze back to her book.
Did she really care about Ren?
"Oh."
Yoimiya pouted, looking pitiful.
After calming down, her expression returned to normal.
On second thought, nothing really happened, right?
"Hmph! Anyway, with Sayu keeping watch..."
"There's no way Takahashi could sneak out of Inazuma."
Yoimiya huffed, feeling smug at the thought.
"..."
Mei quietly set down her light novel.
The surrounding temperature dropped subtly.
"Where does he plan to go?"
Yoimiya's face paled.
She might have just said the wrong thing.
"Ahaha... I was just joking!"
She flailed her hands, trying to play it off.
"Was it that letter from Liyue?"
A cold gleam flickered in Mei's eyes.
Avoiding the Tenshukaku but wanting to go to Liyue instead?
Is the Raiden Shogun that terrifying?!
Yoimiya grinned nervously, saying nothing.
Mei-nee... was terrifying.
"Um, maybe it's just a misunderstanding?"
Yoimiya looked up—and froze.
The tea on the stone table still steamed faintly.
The light novel lay undisturbed.
"Mei-nee... Where did she go?"
---
T/N: uh oh (morax millionaire has been reuploaded under the title of Contracts Beyond Realms: The Geo Archon's Journey id appreciate it if you can put it in your collections again pwetty please)
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