Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds

Narukami Island, Inazuma City

Under a sky full of stars, cherry blossoms gently floated in the air.

"Achoo!"

Ren rubbed his nose, frowning slightly.

Who's talking about me at this hour?

It was late at night, and the streets were nearly empty.

The only source of light came from the dessert shop behind him.

This sudden sense of being watched...

Could it be that mysterious Fatui Harbinger?

The Marionette…

What a troublesome individual.

Shaking his head, Ren's face showed a hint of fatigue.

Even though the Vision Hunt Decree had been abolished, vigilance was still necessary.

Of course, someone else who couldn't relax…

...had spent the entire day accompanying Kamisato Ayaka around the city.

"Ren—"

A soft, elegant voice called from behind him.

The graceful young lady peeked out from the shop door, her tone gentle.

"What flavor would you like?"

Turning around, Ren glanced at the menu board outside.

Ice cream.

There were multiple flavors, marked with pink heart-shaped tags.

Buy one, get one free for couples.

Ren blinked, his gaze unintentionally meeting Ayaka's.

Her sparkling eyes widened slightly as a faint blush crept across her cheeks.

Leaning lightly against the doorframe, she looked both demure and adorable.

"Hurry and decide," she urged softly.

The small delight in her voice was impossible to hide.

After all, this was precious time—a rare date, just the two of them.

Thinking of this, Ayaka's lips curved into a subtle smile.

That rival of mine is probably still working overtime, she thought, her mood lifting further.

Inside the shop, a curious staff member glanced over.

Could it be? The Shirasagi Himegimi of Inazuma buying a couple's special?

No way—does she actually have someone she likes?

"Strawberry," Ren said casually, not overthinking it.

He ignored the curious stares inside.

It had been a long day...

The two of them had agreed to take a stroll to relax.

During the busy daytime hours, Ayaka had maintained her composure, acting more like a polite colleague as they wandered the bustling streets.

But once night fell and the streets quieted...

Her little hints of affection began to slip through.

Now, she wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.

"Alright, just a moment," Ayaka said softly, blinking at him with a gentle smile.

She turned back to the shop and gave the staff a few more instructions.

"Sure," Ren replied with a faint smile, waiting patiently.

At the same time, his attention shifted inward.

[Ding!]

[A new talent has been unlocked.]

Opening the system's talent interface, he saw the reward he had recently received glowing brightly.

"A five-star ultimate ability?"

Ren murmured to himself, unsurprised.

The battle at Tenshukaku had been fruitful.

Currently, he already possessed four five-star talents: Ayaka's ultimate ability, Keqing's two skills, and the Raiden Shogun's [Baleful Omen].

Each one had proven invaluable in critical moments.

For instance, they had helped him evade Ayato's relentless pursuit with a blade...

Though that was purely a situational benefit.

In most battles, their effectiveness was undeniable.

And now, a new five-star ultimate had appeared.

Naturally, Ren was curious.

"Let's take a look."

[Light of Obliteration].

Ren's eyes widened slightly.

This was…

[The combat talent of Tartaglia.]

[In melee stance, unleash a wide-range slash, dealing massive Hydro damage to all nearby enemies.]

He nodded silently.

It seemed his fate with the Fatui was intertwined recently.

First Tartaglia, now The Marionette.

[This talent has an extremely high damage cap.]

[With a complete team setup, its potential is immense.]

By "complete team setup," it meant the famed International Team, which featured attack buffs, resistance shredding, and enhanced Vaporize reactions.

Ren inwardly rolled his eyes.

The problem was assembling that team—it wasn't feasible for him at the moment.

In other words, the damage was decent, but not groundbreaking.

Still, he felt optimistic.

With enough effort, he'd eventually round out his roster.

[Ding! Two additional rewards remain.]

[Would you like to unlock them now?]

Ren shook his head.

Something told him his luck might not hold out tonight.

When the time comes…

He'd try his luck while standing next to Raiden Shogun.

Just as Ren was pondering this—

"Thank you for your patronage! Please come again!"

Ayaka emerged from the dessert shop, holding two ice cream cones pressed together in her hands.

A couple's set, buy one, get one free.

"Shall we?"

She jogged over with a smile, the two cones still pressed together.

If her ice cream had to pair up, then… she might as well pair up with her master, too.

"Sure," Ren said as he returned to reality, reaching out to take one of the cones.

"Hmph, not for you," Ayaka teased, pulling it away just in time.

With no one else around, she couldn't resist teasing Ren a little.

"Ayaka, stop playing around," he said, narrowing his eyes at her.

This girl had grown increasingly playful when they were alone.

Ayaka blinked innocently, her tone soft.

"Master."

"Mm?"

"Open your mouth."

"…"

And so, someone experienced the rare privilege of being fed by the Kamisato Clan's young lady herself.

"Is it sweet, Master?"

"Sweet."

Beneath the moonlight, the warmth in Ayaka's eyes deepened.

Spending time with her master like this… made her truly happy.

---

Liyue Harbor, Wanmin Restaurant

Keqing and Ganyu arrived together.

"Boss, we're ready to order," Keqing called out, picking up a menu.

"Just something light, please..." Ganyu murmured, lowering her head.

She had initially resisted coming here, but the enticing aroma of the food had won her over.

"Don't worry, I know what to get."

Keqing smiled and was just about to make her selection when her ears perked up.

"Hey, did you hear?"

"They say there's someone in Inazuma named Takahashi Ren who—"

Clatter.

The menu slipped from Keqing's hand.

"Keqing, are you alright?" Ganyu asked, noticing her strange reaction.

"I-I'm fine," Keqing replied, her violet eyes wide with surprise.

Takahashi Ren…

That was the name of her pen pal, wasn't it?

---

T/N: ren refers to ayaka as lady ayaka if with others but if alone its just ayaka