Inazuma x Reader - Lost to Eternity

Chapter 12: Frozen Time

Y/N: "Well, I guess I'll keep that in mind! Thanks Yoimiya!"

Yoimiya: "No problemo! Anything for a friend! Now... what to do now... hmmm... OH!"

Y/N: "Hmm? What's up? Is there something else we need to do after all?"

Yoimiya: "Oh– well... uhm... Actually, this is something I have to do by myself. So sorry! But I've gotta ditch you for a little bit. Don't go getting into any trouble until I get back though, you hear me?!"

Y/N: "I won't, I won't! Or well, at least I'll do my best not to!"

Yoimiya: "Good! I don't want to have to worry like that again on the day of the performance!!"

Y/N: "Well, uhm... where should we meet up again, after you've finished your errand that is?"

Yoimiya: "Hmmm... just outside the city'll be good! You know the big tree out in front? I'll wait for you under there!"

Y/N: "Oh, okay, yeah. I know the spot. I guess I'll hang around there for a while then."

Yoimiya: "Oh, well don't go right there! I'll be a little while! Well, I gotta get going so that I don't run out of time! I'll see you in a bit, alrighty?"

Y/N: "Alright! Well, I suppose I'll wish you luck with whatever it is you're doing! See you later!"

Yoimiya then gave me another of her signature grins before darting off back towards her shop. She told me not to just wait around the tree as she might be a while, so... I guess I can probably pay Ayaka a visit now, right? It's coming close to evening time now and I had said to her that I would pay the Kamisato Estate another visit today because she wanted to try her hand at cooking a meal... but if she planned to cook something for dinner, then I should warn her now that I won't be available before she starts preparing the ingredients... if she hasn't started already.

Well, better sooner than later at this point I suppose!

* * *

The more I make this trip out to the Kamisato Estate, the more I wish they lived a bit closer to the city! It really is such a trek to make my way to and from this place, and I've found myself coming and going a lot more often recently too...

I don't mind the long distance itself, as I usually quite like long walks to just admire the surrounding nature and whatnot. But... being in the situation that I am, I have to avoid becoming a figure of suspicion. So I have to avoid all related parties entirely, meaning that I'm always on edge as I make the long trip both ways.

But at least I've now made my way into the walled estate, and I hadn't had an incident at all on the way here, not even a wandering Ronin who wanted to try their luck with the sole wanderer in me that they had stumbled upon. So now all I need do is walk the last couple steps and then knock on the door and wait for Ayaka or Thoma to answer it like usual.

. . .

I was now directly in front of the large ornate door that I had to knock on, and I was in the process of lifting my knuckle up to rap on the door, but before I could, I heard the sound of voices coming from inside the building. I recognised two of them, but not the third one... and I heard my name in their conversation too...

???: "So what was this that I'd heard recently, about you making a new... friend, was it?"

Ayaka: "o–oh! Well... it's uhm– it's nothing, really..."