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The Kamisato Clan has kept its position as one of the most illustrious clans in all of Inazuma for decades on end. This was only possible as a result of the commissioner’s hard work and their retainers’ devotion.
Kamisato Kayo, the commissioner’s wife, gave birth to two children. The eldest son would inherit the title of head of the clan, and his younger sister, as the eldest daughter, would also ascend to become the lady of the house.
The commissioner was most wise and dedicated to his duties to uphold the clan’s prestige until eventually, he passed unexpectedly, helpless to the ravages of time; even under the divine ideal of eternity against a world of mortals.
His son was only a teenager at the time. His wife soon, too, fell sick.
Then, a question arises. What happens when the foundation of a building breaks?
Everyone knows the answer: that building, no matter how beautiful, will inevitably collapse.
At least, that’s how the story goes. The story of how the Kamisato Clan lost its power due to the commissioner’s sudden fall, and the very core of their household hangs by a thread held onto by their mother on her deathbed.
The Kamisato children would never forget her last wish, as she’s smiling up at them. Her son is holding on to her hand for dear life; for any hope of a miracle, the last glint in her eyes weighing heavy on his heart.
“Ayato, look forward; never falter. Remember everything I have taught you and your sister.”
The voice that comes out of their mother is barely hers anymore; too brittle for a spark of life to be found, and it all but brings tears to his eyes as he’s kneeling beside her bed, his sister’s weeps drowned out by the white noise in his ears.
“Though you are young, the future of our clan rests on your shoulders. But I am certain you have what it takes to rise and endure all hardships ahead of you.”
Isn’t this too cruel, too heartless, to leave a teenage boy with no hope in himself, carrying his parents’ wishes? But as it is, he lacks the power to stop or slow down time, if only to delay his fear, as he could practically feel her pulse weakening under his touch.
“Ayaka, my daughter,” their mother coughs, shrill and weak. It makes the girl whimper but she nods through teary eyes. “You will grow up to be an exemplary lady of the clan, so be good and keep smiling. I am proud of you, my dear.”
Her hand strokes her head, weak, but Ayaka sniffs and nods firmly under her cold palm. “Y-Yes, mother…”
Even until the last breath, she had been smiling.
“Never forget, I love you both.”
Then her hand slips out of Ayato’s grasp, and nothing could stop the way his sister broke into sobs at that very moment.
The elder brother does naught but wrap his arms around her and pull her in until she’s shedding tears into his chest, and his own into her hair; holding onto the only other person they have to be near and to call family.
Alas, their tears could only be spilled for so long, and the elder brother has a wish to protect now.
Three years before the Kamisato Clan’s crisis.
A foreign-looking boy with striking blonde hair had ended up on Narukami Island’s shores. He looked lost, to say the least. So when the siblings happened to be playing nearby, they couldn't help but catch sight of the boy, picking up seashells and Sea Ganoderma from the beach.
Ayato took the initiative to greet him and introduce himself, as Ayaka stood slightly behind, shy, clinging to her brother’s sleeves. The boy seemed surprised that he decided to speak to him. It seemed like he knew enough of Inazuman to understand Ayato, but wasn’t used to speaking as he stuttered a lot.
The boy introduced himself as Thoma, an ordinary kid from Mondstadt who sailed to Inazuma to look for his father when his ship got wrecked in the sea, and ended up stranded with nothing but an omamori in hand.
As any kind person would do, they offered him a helping hand, a place to stay as he had nowhere else to go. And as it goes, he never found his father, but found a home in the Kamisato Clan, with the siblings who welcomed him with open arms.
This alone surely made Thoma indebted to them. He doesn’t know what would’ve happened if Ayato and Ayaka hadn’t extended a favor to him that day. So of course, he does everything in his power to assist them as a helper.
It was only shortly after their parents’ passing that things turned grim for the entire clan.
Ayato, as the eldest son, was caught up in a dispute over succession rights that needed to be settled while his younger sister continued her studies harder than ever.
It’s just that this line of work might just be too hard for a sixteen-year-old.
Ayaka was the first to notice her own brother staying up late and stressed over a few papers and every other important person he had to meet as Kamisato Ayato, heir of the clan, takes a toll on his physical and mental health more than ever. Not to mention settling funeral matters for their mother as the eldest member of the family.
Though the Yashiro Commission’s representatives have been taking on some of the more challenging duties for their young lord, only he has the power to settle numerous matters. He would never give this position up, in any case, not with the risk of putting the Kamisato Clan in the wrong hands.
Thoma wishes there was something he could do to help too, but alas.
He doesn’t care if the people badmouth him, but he can’t stand those whispers of chatter around Ayato and Ayaka when they were so young and had this much burden on them.
Thoma wouldn't admit that he worries — a lot; even when he’s making his way into the estate, eerily quiet despite the usual fill of music and laughter, wary to keep his voice down, despite the lack of need to.
“Young master, Mister Madarame is waiting to see you…”
Nothing calls back to him, so he tries again.
“Young master?”
He recalls that Ayaka had sword practice while Ayato stayed behind to do some work. But what he meets is the young lord hunched over and asleep on the kotatsu, hidden behind a folding screen, various official reports and letters for the commissioner scattered and forgotten all over.
“Ah,” he sighs.
But perhaps this was a good thing. Ayato really needed the rest; as Thoma watched him breathe softly and evenly, eyes shut with heavy dark circles under. Those papers aren’t getting settled anytime soon, but Ayato couldn’t fall sick overworking himself to tend to them either.
Slowly, Thoma steps back and walks away to tell a representative to cover for the young lord that evening.
From that day forward, Kamisato Ayato spends every bit of his energy in a game of politics.
It’s nothing to find much fun in. To him, this kind of work is only a matter of duty.
He quickly learns that degenerate politicians and government officials will do anything in their power, anything possible to take control of a perilous situation where a young, inexperienced commissioner such as himself would take a critical hit and send the entire clan crumbling.
A samurai clan of the Kaedehara family was shot to the ground after losing their power nearly a decade ago, and the consequences were irreversible; they would spend the remainder of their days wandering, and their names would simply be lost to history.
But Kamisato Ayato had honor to uphold; a wish to see through; people to protect.
So he endures, and endures, until these challenges are merely like games.
Gaining advantage is key; once you have the upper hand, you merely need to assert dominance over your opponents to make them bow to you. But relying on strategy to guide you in finding the best plans and moves isn’t all, no. Political strategy includes a wide range of concepts, from how to value the pieces to evaluating a position.
One wrong move and you lose.
It’s just like chess, and as simple as Go. Ayato has always been quite competitive, either way. Board games are easy for him to conquer, and applying strategy to the real world is almost as simple to him, when everything has been broken down into little pieces of the playing board.
Still, there’s no fun at all. There’s no gratifying feeling of victory when he wins these ‘games.’
And unlike board games, you never turn down a match in politics. When you refuse, you lose.
His opponents will never underestimate his youth again, though, and that’s one lesson learned.
He only worries about those caught up in this mess, entangled in the Kamisato Clan’s upheaval, which is a little too much to bear for those uninvolved in their business. He worries for Thoma, who has only continued to the Yashiro Commission in these trying times.
Along the way, the half-Mondstadter developed a passion for housekeeping and has since helped Furuta in cleaning, cooking, and mending as much as he could. Though it has little direct assistance in Ayato’s work, it certainly helps the clan in maintaining its spirit, especially with his sunny presence.
There are members of the commission who continue to dislike him, despite all his efforts to integrate into Inazuma’s society, but his unwavering optimism and self-confidence keep most of them off his back.
If he were asked, Ayato could not stand those chatters. Yet Thoma insists on letting them talk their talk, as long as it does no harm to the clan.
Though Ayato doesn’t understand his perspective, he appreciates Thoma’s continued support for their clan above all else.
And still, there is guilt for the way Ayato is allowing Thoma to get involved in the clan’s troubles when he had only initially wanted to help him, not to force him to carry the burdens of the clan with them, especially when entangled in politics and government duties.
It’s honestly all so tiring.
“Inazuma, in its present state, is fraught with peril. The clan has not yet reclaimed full power, and I’m afraid our troubles will keep increasing,” he told him. “If you don’t want to get involved, leave early.”
To his surprise, Thoma was quiet, with shock and conflict written all over his face. And to him, it was almost as if Ayato was telling him to leave, just so he could save himself from the troubles they would face, when the siblings had helped him in the first place. Perhaps they had even saved him.
There was deliberation, then passionate flames lit up in his eyes when Thoma says, “No, I won’t leave.”
Ayato didn’t seem to expect that as an answer either, blinking wide then looking down, distraught. “I just don’t want you to involve yourself in this mess.”
“Serving the clan is the least I could do. If I leave now, I’ll be betraying you. I’ll be betraying the loyalty I believe in.” Thoma raises his voice to the brink of breaking, if only out of desperation, and it sents Ayato into waves of contemplation. “So I’ll help. This is my promise.”
There was more silence until Ayato admits defeat, for once, and looks up to him with a small, tired smile. He could even see a bit of relief in his eyes, and it suddenly came to him that Ayato didn’t really want him to leave; he was only telling him out of consideration.
Stupid consideration from a Kamisato; the only people he could never, ever betray.
And with the oath he swore, Thoma will never waver.
“Thoma, how would you feel about becoming part of the clan?”
“...I would be honored, young master.”
Thoma’s will burned in roaring flames, and so was forged a strong desire in his heart; one that swore of devotion and loyalty. Then, a Vision, bright red like a blaze appeared beside him.
To say it was fate is too good.
Leisure almost felt selfish for the Kamisato siblings.
Even when they’re sat at the dinner table, more empty than usual without two other seats filled, Ayato couldn’t do anything to decelerate his beating heart, resounding through his chest and into his own ears, while Ayaka’s sat on the opposite side and snapping her chopsticks into a warm bowl of ramen.
If words weren’t so difficult to work with, there would be many things to say.
These days haven’t only been difficult for Ayato, but a great burden fell onto Ayaka too, as the young lady of the clan, and she’s only barely stepping into adolescence.
She tells him about her lessons that day — how she failed a sword technique during practice and sprained her wrist instead. And faintly, he thought he could see her scowl at the time, except that it had been far from a frown, and she had instead announced her failure with a sad smile, promising that she’d try harder next time.
Briefly, he regrets that she has to undergo rigorous training at such a young age. Briefly, he regrets that the clan’s expectations had to place their burdens onto her at this time.
He regrets that she couldn’t have been a child longer.
But since the day their mother passed, he knew the Ayaka he was looking at since then was different. Though she was still small, perhaps she, too, realized that she had to grow up, and that is a cruel reality to bring down onto a ten-year-old.
It hurts him, somewhat, as he looks down at the bowl placed before him, mostly untouched and turning lukewarm at the neglect. He could only look at his little sister and how small she was, nearly turning twelve and had barely grown taller in the past two years.
His gaze idly turns to the bandages around her wrist, and there, too, is regret in the way he couldn’t protect her from injuries, but most of all is the way he isn’t able to shelter her from all of the world’s darkness; from death, from loss, and from grief.
Ayato couldn’t even be sad for long after it happened, but he knew how Ayaka cried every night, and the most he could do is hold her through those nights until her weeps subsided, and the girl dozed to sleep from exhaustion while Ayato tucks her in and leaves to continue working.
If words weren’t so difficult to work with, what would he say?
Forgive me for being a bad big brother. Forgive me for failing to protect your childhood.
Father, Mother — I don’t think I’ve become the best I can be as your son.
Instead, he could only settle for three words.
“I’m sorry, Ayaka.”
It might’ve come out of nowhere, but Ayaka slowly raises her head with an expression that even he couldn’t decipher, but it hovers above heartbreak, and it pains him to see her like that.
It hurt more to see than when she cried, when Little Ayaka really broke down, when the most he could offer her was comfort and murmurs of reassurance; that they will be okay, and they will get through this, but there is uncertainty in Ayato’s heart as he says those words, only hoping to comfort his little sister; no doubt sharing the burden he carried.
He just wants to save her from all of it, but there is none of that, at the moment. There is only a pair of small arms around his torso, barely able to wrap around him, but clinging so tightly as to never let go, and Ayato sighs as she buries her face into his side, and one of his hands comes up to stroke her hair.
“I wish you could be a kid like you’re supposed to be,” he rasps.
Ayaka sniffs, and looks up to meet him with teary eyes. “It’s okay, big brother. You’re doing your best, right?” She’s holding her tears back impressively as a smile comes onto her face instead. “I’ll… I’ll do my very best too.”
As her own brother, Ayato could tell the exact moment she stopped being Little Ayaka.
Whenever left the Kamisato Estate early in the morning to attend a meeting, Ayaka always sent him off.
“Good luck at work today!”
“Don’t overdo yourself, Ayaka.”
“I should tell you that!”
“Haha, then maybe I’m setting a bad example. Don’t be like big brother.”
But she loves her big brother, and he feels so distant from her.
Yet still, with the passing of the years, she grew up with exemplary conduct of a noble lady, just like her mother wished for her. She grew taller; though still much shorter than her brother, and her voice grew out of its childlike tone into something more mature, gentle, graceful, and ladylike.
She got better with the sword, mastering the techniques of Kamisato Tachi Jutsu with her hard work by the day. She recited every poem beautifully. She danced with the gracefulness of a heron.
And most of all, she had taken the greatest effort to rise as the Shirasagi Himegimi.
So when she would send Ayato off with, “Take care. Don’t work too hard today.”
He knows she was no longer his cute little sister. She was now Kamisato Ayaka, the young lady of the Kamisato Clan.
Time flies so fast.
Kamisato Ayato is not as popular and as universally loved as his younger sister, even as head of the clan for ten years now.
He walks the streets of Inazuma without the many greetings from the people with smiles on their faces. Instead, there is great respect as the people stop in their tracks to bow as he passes by, and the most he could give them is a curt nod of his head.
He prefers not being known too widely, anyhow. He and Ayaka eventually came to the agreement that they would split their duties. Ayato takes care of government affairs, while Ayaka handles the clan’s internal and external affairs, which happens to involve much more social interactions to partake in; ones that he prefers to be away from, mostly.
Ayaka is kind, gentle, and polite. She has surely become the model young lady of the clan as the Shirasagi Himegimi; an honorary title the people have given her for her elegance and nobleness. Ayato is only happy for her, knowing his little sister would be content with the Inazuma of today.
Though the journey had been difficult, knowing it had been worth it made up for all hardships.
After the Vision Hunt Decree was repealed, much work has been placed in the Yashiro Commission’s hands, especially since both the Tenryou Commission and Kanjou Commission were charged for colluding with the Fatui. This had been the best outcome, nonetheless, and Ayato sighs tiredly when he arrives at the Kamisato Estate and the guards greet him with solemn bows.
What comes after, though, is his favorite part, as Ayaka and Thoma both wave at him with smiles on their faces. “Welcome home,” they say together, and returning has never felt better.
“I’m back,” Ayato says, the exhaustion in his voice masked by the smile that comes onto him with the other two. “I’m home, everyone.”
“My lord, you’re just on time! Dinner is almost ready,” Thoma calls out from the kitchen.
Ayato joins his sister at the table after taking off his armor and slipping into a more comfortable kimono when their retainer brings three bowls of miso soup and plates of various dishes before joining the siblings with gleeful laughter.
Ayaka hums. “It smells great, Thoma.”
Thoma chuckles. “You flatter me, milady, I used a new recipe for the soup, but I really hope it tastes good as well.”
“Thanks for the food,” Ayato quips, before digging in with little restraint. Ayaka giggles from his side, and Ayato offers a thoughtful stroke of the chin before following with, “It’s very… Thoma.”
“I’ll take that as a good thing, but ah…” Thoma trails off before a slightly playful smile takes over his expression. “I just remembered that milady has a date after this.”
Ayaka flushes visibly. “Thoma!”
“Oh?” Ayato props his arm on the table, then a smirk comes onto his lips as his eyes dart to Ayaka. “A date, you say? Could it be the esteemed Traveler I’ve heard much about?”
“B-Brother…”
“Details, Thoma. I want to hear all about it.”
Ayato decides that this is worth it; shared laughter over dinner and the warmth of a family they made for themselves.