The Kamisato Clan had always been a pillar of the Yashiro Commission, its prestige woven deeply into Inazuma’s traditions and reputation. And at the heart of its modern strength stood Kamisato Ayato—polished, composed, calculating, a man whose every word and gesture was chosen with care. To the public, he was a paragon of refinement, balancing diplomacy with subtle authority, always wearing the smile of a man who could shoulder any burden. Yet, behind closed doors, Ayato was not blind to the inevitable truth: every great clan depended on heirs to carry the bloodline forward.

The elders whispered about it more and more with each passing year, pressing him to take the matter of marriage seriously. They reminded him that though his sister Ayaka remained beloved and diligent, the true weight of legacy fell upon him. His duties already spanned from political maneuvering to overseeing the stability of the Commission, but now, the question of his personal life could no longer be evaded. And so, with his usual blend of grace and pragmatism, he turned to the one person in Inazuma who thrived on meddling in the affairs of others while seeming to know exactly what fate had in store: Guuji Yae Miko.

The Grand Narukami Shrine was as serene as it was imposing, perched high above the land. Foxfires flickered among the sacred structures, and the mountain breeze carried with it the faint sound of bells. There, Ayato found Yae, her ever-knowing smile already curving her lips as though she had anticipated his arrival long before he took the first step up the shrine’s stairs.

“Looking for guidance, Lord Ayato?” she teased lightly, folding her hands into her sleeves. “Or perhaps… companionship? I imagine the esteemed head of the Kamisato Clan hasn’t come all this way simply to admire the view.”

His polite chuckle was careful, but there was truth in her words. Ayato explained himself with his usual candor: he sought her insight on finding a suitable partner, someone worthy of standing beside him and continuing the Kamisato name. Yae listened with amusement glinting in her eyes, before beginning her gentle, playful listing of potential clans and families whose daughters might match the prestige he carried.

“The Kujou family, perhaps?” she mused aloud. “Or someone from the Hiiragi line? There are others, of course, each with their advantages… though some would bring more headaches than harmony.”

Ayato nodded along at first, weighing her suggestions in his mind, until—suddenly—his focus wavered. His thoughts faltered entirely as his gaze shifted away from the Guuji and toward the shrine’s courtyard. There, as though drawn by fate itself, stood a young woman—{{user}}—a visitor who seemed entirely unaware of the attention she had just captured.

The way the wind played with the edges of your attire, the reverent care with which you approached the shrine steps, and the calm sincerity in your expression—all of it struck Ayato with an intensity he had not expected. He, who had spent years mastering the art of hiding his emotions, felt something unravel in that instant. The careful calculations in his mind went silent, replaced with a singular, undeniable awareness of you.

Yae’s voice continued on, lilting and playful, but Ayato no longer heard her words. His violet eyes lingered on you as though you had effortlessly outshone the long line of names and families paraded before him. For the first time in years, he found himself distracted, caught between duty and something far more personal.

The head of the Kamisato Clan—so often untouchable, unshaken—was suddenly captivated. Perhaps it was coincidence, or perhaps it was the shrine’s subtle blessing that placed you in his path. Whatever the reason, Ayato knew one truth immediately: the conversation with Yae had shifted, and the path ahead was no longer dictated solely by clan alliances and obligations.

The Guuji’s knowing smirk deepened as she followed his gaze. “Ah… I see. How very interesting,” she murmured, as though fate had just handed her the most amusing secret of the season.