The carriage bumped with every nook and cranny on the path. Turbulence was never something you'd known on the trip from Ritou to the Kamisato Estate, but here you were, sitting next to Ayato, both of your eyes trained firmly out the windows, unwilling to look at each other. You'd visited his house many times, but that was out of your own free will. Not under these circumstances.

After all, you'd be the prime consort of the house soon. Second only to Ayato and third only to his sister.

A pressing weight panged your chest when you realized that that was indeed your reality. Your future. In a few months' time, you'd no longer be property of the Kanjou Commission and you'd be expected to serve as a loyal officer of the Yashiro Commission.

Kamisato F/N . The very thought of signing papers with that name made you want to vomit.

Eventually, your thoughts radiated loud enough for Ayato to break his staring contest with the yumeru trees outside. He kept glancing at you, though you didn't know why. You found this incredibly annoying. Was he trying to spite you by making you believe that something was on your face? You crossed a leg over the other and scooted away, though there really wasn't much space.

"I can feel you staring," you said irately. "Why?"

"Why what?" Even though he knew what you meant. He couldn't help it. Pushing your buttons was what Ayato was best at.

"Oh, shove a bug up your ass, Kamisato," you grumbled. "You know exactly why." 

Snickering quietly to himself, Ayato shook his head in disbelief as you turned your eyes on him. "What a piece of work," he muttered. "You haven't changed at all, F/N. Would it kill you not to act like a sulking child for once?"

"Ah, so I'm the child now, am I? Is that the best a man who owns pet beetles for his amusement can manage?" You glared at him, and if your mother knew, she'd faint, but thankfully the only person in the carriage was Ayato. "I had thought inheriting such a class position made you above immature insults."

Ayato simpered, an unfazed smile playing on his lips. "I recommend you don't create accusations based on my hobby choices when I am not the one who throws the proverbial punches first."

"I threw the first punch?" you demanded. "If I remember correctly, I didn't start anything by signing agreements with the Kanjou Commission!"

"But you always regard me with such animosity that I can't help but want to get that inevitable argument over with," he shot back. "So yes, I start with you first, only because no one else can deal with it!"

"No one else can deal with it? Don't make me laugh," you scoffed. "Out of all the men in Inazuma and beyond, you really think there isn't a better match for me than you? I'd kiss a thousand other people before ever wanting to be in the same room as you."

That shut him up. His ears burned red, which you recognized as anger. A scowl formed on his face as he leaned back in his seat. You did the same, but in place of the tension that had built up, you only felt hollow. Something like regret flooded you when the clarity hit, and you were both left in silence once more.

That unfortunate day replayed in your memories again and again. You could never fully remember the sequence of events. Only a few key scenes.

While Ayato was thrust into the spotlight of the Yashiro Commission, you were sidelined as the dispensable child of the Kanjou Commission. You were not born to be a warrior like Kujou Sara. You were not familiar with the common folk like Kamisato Ayaka. Where did that leave you standing?

For Inazuma's part, they spoke nothing but praises for Ayato, fawning over his strength in restoring the Yashiro Commission to its glory. On the other hand, you hailed from the cruel family who abused outlanders from entering the country. In comparison, you were a stain on his clean record.

Maybe that was the reason why he began to distance himself from you.

Maybe it went downhill the same way one fell in love — gradually, until you realized it when it was too late and you were in too deep. It drove you crazy. Didn't he care? Didn't he realize you were already slipping through his fingers? His indifference hurt like a thousand knives. You wondered if he began to hate you now that he was all grown up, and saw your background as what it truly was. Maybe he realized that you were raised among the corrupt, and that you would be like them.

You rode in silence until the coach arrived at the Kamisato Estate. Familiarity engulfed you in nostalgia at the mere sight of the place. Unlike the headquarters in Ritou and Hannamizaka, it didn't have as many soldiers crawling around. That made it an ideal place to host gatherings and get-togethers, which was exactly what had been done for you.

Out of courtesy, Ayato silently held a hand out for you, and you opened your fan to hide the lower parts of your face as you did so.

The important members of the Yashiro Commission were waiting inside the gate to greet you. Some business partners, others advisers. Some faces you recognized from your time playing here as a child. Only now did you realize how nervous you actually were. You'd been here hundreds of times, but what made this visit so strange was the knowledge that this estate was going to be your home in the future, and the people working in it would be your servants.

Your fingers involuntarily flexed out of fear in Ayato's hand as he guided you through.

Perhaps you imagined it, but his palm seemed to press further into yours after that.

"F/N!"

Ayaka's sweet voice called out your name, and those fuzzy memories faded back, still incomplete, but with the warmth of tea. Before you closed the distance, you bowed to each other. Still aware of the eyes on you, you lowered your fan and smiled at Ayaka, a genuine one, because there was simply no one lovelier than her.

Had you not been known to be close friends already, it would have been considered indecent, the way she was casually putting her hands on your shoulders. You saw the flicker of hesitation in her eyes as Ayato let go of you, his warmth still on your skin, to let her hug you. Ayaka, like you, constantly had eyes on her. There was mutual understanding in the way her reluctance bordered fear.

"I am so glad to see you again," she said warmly. "It's been too long. I keep pestering my brother to finally invite you... Ayato, when is F/N visiting? Ayato, why doesn't F/N come around anymore? And then suddenly he tells me that—"

Ayato coughed warningly. His sister immediately took the hint and clammed up. You exchanged a quick glance with Ayato, and he gave you a look saying, Don't .

"W-Well," Ayaka corrected herself, "Ayato told me you were very busy at the commission, such a shame, really. But now that you're getting married and all..."

"We'll be seeing each other a lot more often," you agreed warmly, taking her by the hand. "I'll be so glad to have you as my company at home."

A scuffle from behind made you turn back as a blond servant took your bags. Ayato gestured to the house. "Inside, please, Thoma."

"Thoma's our head housekeeper," Ayaka whispered to you behind her fan. "Immigrated here from Mondstadt."

"Mondstadt, huh?" you whispered back, teasing. "He's got a cute face."

You and Ayaka giggled. Relief flooded you like a weight was being lifted from your shoulders. So she didn't hate you, or thought ill of you after you'd avoided her clan for so long. At least you'd have a true sister in your stay.

Ayato on the other hand looked miffed. His hand touched your lower back as if to tell you, You can't do that.

It sent an odd shiver down your spine. You wondered if Ayato could feel that through his gloves.

You'll make it a point to make Thoma blush just to spite Ayato, you thought.

He nodded his head to the entrance. "Let's get you settled. I still have business to attend to."

How aggravating! He brings his fiancé home for the first time, yet leaves them at the turn of a wrist! Not that you cared of course, only a little bit, but that was because he was promised to you! Wasn't it a fact that contracts were codes of honor? Does Ayato have no shame? What would you have done if the roles were reversed?

"The same," you said as you shook your head.

"What'd you say?"

"I said you're the same as always," you blurted, ears burning at the tip. "You say I've changed, but clearly it was a self-aware indicator that you haven't."

Ayato flashed you a smile, one that ought to be wiped off his mouth with one of dirty kitchen rags that Thoma probably used to make surfaces shine. "You already know your way around the estate," he said matter-of-factly.

You gave him a strained smile. You would not let him tick you off now, not when Ayaka was standing beside you.

"I do," you said, and broke away from him to enter the house, Ayaka chittering away in stride. You didn't wait for him. You wouldn't have to.

It'd be good practice for when you'd be a fellow master of the mansion.