A Struck of Misfortune (Act III)

You felt hesitant to talk to Sango after everything that had happened. A part of you wants to talk things out with her but another part of you felt that her last remark of you was enough for you to hear and thought that there's nothing else to talk about.

"It's alright if you don't want to. I just want to let you know that.. I'm sorry for everything and for what I've said. Once you recover, it's up to you if you want to return to the agency or not... I won't pressure you" She then turned to the door. "I'll go and take my leave now. I'm sure I'm making things more uncomfortable for you. Hope you recover soon" Before she was about head out from that door, you know you have to tell her before she would leave.

"Sango..." You didn't look at her as you still glanced down on your bed.

"Hm?" She paused by the door and turned around to look at you.

"I-I'll... try to think about it.." You could tell that she was dumbfounded by your answer before she nodded and left the room.

Shinobu then walked in while holding some snacks and food, slightly confused when Sango suddenly left upon her return. "Finished talking already?"

You nodded at your friend then started reading the book you've been holding. She then sat back down on her seat and offered you some snacks, to which you accepted while you read.

Hours have passed and you have finished about three or maybe four books. You closed the book you were currently reading and noticed that the sun had already set, Shinobu stood up from her seat to get your dinner as you just waited patiently. The door suddenly slid open, revealing a familiar redhead with a lightly tired smile on his face. You guessed that his investigation must have been quite a hassle, even for a detective of his caliber.

"Thanks for watching over y/n, Shinobu. I've already put a good word on the officers to bail your boys out" He looked over to your green haired friend who was preparing dinner. She turned to look at the detective with a nod and served you dinner before she starts cleaning up and grabbed her stuff.

"I'll be heading out now to pick up the boys from the police station, I'll drop by some other time when I'm free" And with that, Shinobu left the room. Heizou then went over to sit on the nearby chair, noticing the stacks of books you finished. "Wow, looks like you really indulged yourself with these novels. How was it so far?"

You paused from chewing your food as you looked at him. "Oh uh- it was pretty good actually and uhm... Thank you.. I mean for these books-"

He lightly chuckled. "Glad you liked them"

"So how did your investigation go?"

"Take a guess~"

"Ehh.." You sweatdropped, then the detective let out another chuckle. "I was actually investigating those potions and chemicals that were stashed away by the very same Fatui soldiers that had kidnapped you" You noticed the expression on the detective's face slightly frowned.

"Guess you still haven't figured out who has been supplying them those chemicals?"

"Bingo, also, it's some sort of a new kind of chemical that paralyzes the body whenever it is consumed, in contact with wounds, or at least catching a whiff of its fumes is enough to immobilize you for a couple of hours. It's also a slow-burning poison.. it may not be fatal if you've only been affected once but your body will grow weaker overtime if left untreated" A sigh slipped through his mouth. "It will take a while before the experts will be able to make a remedy for it.." He then glanced at you with slight worry in his eyes.

"You can just say that you're really worried for me~" You tried to lighten up the mood with a tease, but it turned into an awkward silence instead. It was so silent that you could hear crows squawking outside. You sweatdropped at the situation as you could only blink.

Shortly after, the detective suddenly started laughing, you were dumbfounded and confused by how late his reaction is.

"Since you're still able to crack jokes like that, guess there's nothing else for me to worry about~" His expression lit up then stood up from his seat. "Why don't we go for a stroll some other time, when you're finally able to walk again?"

You immediately nodded without hesitation. You didn't want to pass up the opportunity to spend more time with him since you both haven't been able to hang out together ever since that day when you suddenly got sick. Time really flew by so quickly and to you, it felt like it was only yesterday when you met him right in front of Yae Publishing house.

You soon became lost in your thoughts as you start to remember the first time you came to this nation.

[Flashback]

You were supposed to be just on a short vacation when you first arrived in Inazuma. You came all the way from Mondstadt to give yourself a break from your daily routines and take the opportunity to see the world beyond your hometown. You used to work multiple part-time jobs in order to earn for yourself, such jobs were: a waitress at Angel's share, Sara's food delivery girl, Lisa's assistant librarian, and Goth's assistant in managing his grand hotel. Occasionally, you would even accept minor commissions from the Adventurer's Guild to earn extra pocket money.

Ever since your mother had passed, you had no benefactor. You never had a father either. You simply just relied on yourself to work and earn. Although there are times when Lisa wanted to help you with your financial needs, you still politely refused because you didn't want to owe her so much.

When you finally managed to earn enough, you had planned to see the sights of Liyue and Inazuma and started setting off on a journey right after Mondstadt's Ludi Harpastum. You arrived at Liyue and got along with a couple of people there, even the captain of the Crux Fleet, Beidou. You were kindly offered a free ride to Inazuma by the captain herself and you gladly took up on the offer. By the time you arrived in Inazuma, you thanked Beizou for her generosity and enjoyed yourself in a tour around Inazuma's port, Ritou.

Everything was going so well for your vacation, you got to see so many wondrous things that you've never seen in Mondstadt before, and even got to places that you only once had seen or read in books. It was a blissful experience for you.

All good things have an end to them, of course. One minute, you were just enjoying your vacation. The next thing you knew, you became stranded.

And it all happened because of the Sakoku Decree.

For weeks, you were hiding your identity as a vision wielder, you didn't want your vision to be confiscated. To make matter worse on your end, the rent from the inn that you used to stay in suddenly increased to the point that you could no longer afford to stay one more night in it, so you were evicted.

Cold and hungry you were, you traveled from Ritou to Inazuma city, hoping you could find a cheaper place to stay in and find a job as well. Based on what you experienced back in Ritou, the locals don't take too kindly to foreigners and try to drain them for all they're worth. Heck, you even thought that they're even more overpriced than Liyue, except that Liyue accepts bargains while Inazuma doesn't.

By the time you reached the city, the first thing that caught your interest was the Yae Publishing house. You managed to acquaint yourself with Kuroda and have him recommend you a lot of books. You soon became wary of your financial status and went to find a job straight away. You decided to worry about a place to stay later on because either way, you won't be able to last at any inn if you don't have a job.

You eventually found a job at Sango's detective agency and became an assistant detective. Your life became much more stable and decent, you start to get used to the nation as if you've been living in it your whole life. But even if that was the case, you never forgot about your home in Mondstadt and the nation's essence. You would sometimes look up at the sky and wonder how things went for your nation as you miss the people you knew and grew up with.

For a whole year, you worked hard as a detective to maintain your stable life, perhaps if you had managed to go back to your hometown before the decree happened, you wouldn't be able to get this opportunity.

***

"Hello? y/n? Are you there??" The detective waved his hand in front of your face then you snapped out of your thoughts, realizing how close he is to you so began blushing while your eyes are staring into his.

"A-ah.. Sorry!" You turned your head away. "I-I ended up remembering something.."

He lightly pouted as he leaned away. "Honestly, you got me worried over there for a moment. Look, every time you're not feeling well, promise to tell me beforehand. I may be a great detective but I'm not a psychic so I can't always read your situation"

"Sorry to worry you"

He then let out a light sigh. "Now you're making me feel bad with all of those apologies you've been giving. How about this, instead of apologizing a lot over minor inconveniences, you can either treat me to a meal or perhaps assist me with a few matters? Of course I would do the same for you too so we'll be equals"

You couldn't help but let out a giggle at his offer. Then again, it's not like you would mind so you ended up accepting it.

He gave a satisfied smile upon your response then he went over to the window and stretched up his arms. "Well then, it's been a long day. You should get some rest, especially that you have been reading novels all day and those pretty little eyes of yours could use some shut-eye~" He ruffled your hair then you pouted. He then went to the door and slid it open. "I'll be checking on something for a bit, you can go and rest ahead"

You nodded as a response before he left then set your book aside as you prepared to lie down. You stared onto the ceiling and realized that since the Sakoku Decree has already been abolished, you can finally send letters to your friends in Mondstadt.

"I should write them a letter soon... They must be terribly worried.." You slowly drifted off to sleep.