Boba tea [2/2]

Due to Ayato's dislike for public appearances, he seldom appears outside the Kamisato estate as he deals with various affairs.

As such, only a few people can recognize him outside. This gives him a great opportunity to have a walk without interruptions.

Slurp*

'A roasted beef stake would fit with this boba perfectly.' Asakura thought as he slurped in peace.

"By the way, are you not going back to your work?" Asakura said as he turned his head to his side. "Being a government official and all."

And yes, Asakura is pretending that he doesn't know Ayato's real identity.

Sitting on a chair beside him was the head of the Kamisato Clan and the Commissioner of the Yashiro Commission drinking a boba tea.

"There's no rush. I will be departing in a moment." Ayato replied with a shrug. "How about you? I heard that you returned while being carried on a stretcher."

"Just some incident while on patrol." Asakura shrugged.

"I see. Well, you best be careful. It would be a pity that an exceptional Onikabuto fighter like you would suddenly go." Ayato hummed. Soon, the two of them didn't speak and just drank their boba in peace.

"I'm one lucky fella. I won't go out easily." Asakura said before taking out his phone. Suddenly, he remembered one of the functions of the phone. 'Oh right, I can take photos, can't I?

He then opened the messaging app and immediately got sent to the general discussion channel. He then moved his finger and tapped the '+' button to take a photo.

Click*

A low sound of the phone taking a picture was heard.

[Hidden Mob: Hey guys, look what I have.] [Attachment]

[Blond Traveler: What's that?]

[Hidden Mob: It's a boba tea. Great stuff.]

[Blond Traveler: Uh-huh... Anyways, back to the topic before @Hidden Mob interfered...]

[Blond Traveler: It's clear that we don't know why these things were given to us, so why don't we move on to what to call it? No use in thinking about something that can't be solved.]

[Sprout: How about Neo Akasha Terminal?]

[Frostflake Heron: It sounds a bit... Sumeru.]

[Frostflake Heron: How about Wide-range cross-communicating device?]

[Blond Traveler: Too long.]

[Hidden Mob: Too long.]

[Sprout: Too long.]

[Hidden Mob: How about something simple? Like Ligma.]

Confused by the unknown term Asakura sent, the curious archaic God that has lived for more than six thousand years decided to ask.

[Vago Mundo: What's Ligma?]

[Hidden Mob: Sent an attachment (Surprised Pikachu face)]

[Blond Traveler: ???]

[Hidden Mob: ...Ligma b]

[Message deleted by the system]

[Vago Mundo: ???]

[Sprout: ???]

[Frostflake Heron: ???]

[Blond Traveler: ???]

"This guy's weird," Paimon said beside Aether as she read their conversation.

[Blond Traveler: ...Anyways, how about something that isn't too short? Like Telephone.]

[Hidden Mob: Too lame.]

[Sprout: Too Lame.]

'Hmm, what name should we use? It can't be something that's too long nor too short.' Asakura deeply thought. 'But at the same time, makes sense.'

"Forgive me, but I must leave now." Suddenly, Ayato stood up and spoke. "If you happen to see Itto, tell him that our Onikabuto battle will happen strictly on Sunday at noon."

"Alright, I'll make sure to notify him." Asakura waved his hand.

Ayato nodded and left, heading to Komore Teahouse– a private land owned by the Yashiro Commission led by the Kamisato Clan.

Returning to Asakura, after thinking deeply for a while, he finally came up with a name. 'That's it!'

[Hidden Mob: I got it!]

[Hidden Mob: "Genshin: Teyvat Group Chat"]

[Blond Traveler: Hmm... I don't know what Genshin is but the rest of it seems fine. Thoughts?]

[Vago Mundo: Well, if you take a moment to think, a group chatting from all over Teyvat does seem to make a lot of sense.

[Frostflake Heron: But mine was considered as too long...]

[Sprout: @Frostflake Heron, yours was longer.]

[Hidden Mob: Reading all your messages, I think everyone agrees now, yes?]

[Blond Traveler: Yup!] [Attachment]

Asakura looked at what Aether sent. It was a picture of his arm doing thumbs up.

[Sprout: I guess that settles it then.]

[Frostflake Heron: Hey, about those images @Hidden Mob and @Blond Traveler sent earlier...]

[Sprout: You noticed it too? It seems like this thing also functions like a Kamera. You know, those things produced by Fontaine.]

[Hidden Mob: I think it can do more than that.]

[Sprout: What do you mean?]

Seeing this chance, Asakura decided to bring up the rest of the system's functions.

[Hidden Mob: Earlier, I was snooping around and saw some features other than chatting and sending pictures.]

[Hidden Mob: Aren't I right, system?]

[System: Would you like to view the other functions? Y/N]

[Blond Traveler: Is that even a question? Yes.]

[Vago Mundo: I am also interested.]

[Frostflake: Me too. I would very much like to know more about this.]

[Sprout: There are more?]

[Hidden Mob: There are more.]

[System: Confirmed. Now listing all the possible functions that the current members can do]

Live streaming: Use the phone to record yourself and your surroundings in the chat

(Once a week) Watch Parties: If three or more members agree, then the watch party shall happen and everyone that wants to join shall be transported to a room where they can watch a selection of videos. (Notice: Can only watch one video per week)

Quest: Accept quests issued by the system and earn rewards and points

Shop: Use points gained from quests to buy various items

Summon: A member can send a summoning invitation to the chat. Once accepted, the members that want to join the summoning shall be transported next to the member that sent the invitations. (Note: Can only be used once a day and only two members can join)

[System: As of now, these are the only features available.]

[Hidden Mob: Whoa, that's a lot!]

[Sprout: So exciting!]

[Frosrflake: Some of these seem to be more focused on transporting members to another location...]

[Vago Mundo: Very fascinating. I do wonder where this supposed 'Phone' came from...]

[Blond Traveler: Summon? I could really use that right now...]

Seeing Aether's message, Asakura raised an eyebrow. 'Why? Will he be facing Dvalin soon?'

[Hidden Mob: Why? what's going on?]

[Blond Traveler: The abyss order... We just find out that they're planning to attack — — soon.]

[Blond Traveler: Oh right, I can't expose my location... Then Umm... The nation I am at.]

[Vago Mundo: The abyss order...]

[Frostflake: The abyss...]

[Sprout: Aren't the abyss order notorious for their schemes and plots to take down the seven archons?]

[Hidden Mob: Precisely so.]

[Hidden Mob: They are creatures driven solely by their goals of overthrowing the seven Archons and engulfing the heavenly thrones.]

[Hidden Mob: From the lowly Abyss Mages to the Abyss Lectors... None can stop their goals.]

"..." Zhongli read this while eating and stopped for a moment. His eyes then became steady. This is no new information for him, but the thing that caught his attention him is...

'This person seems to know quite a few things about the abyss...'

Meanwhile, Asakura read his message and shook his head. 'Wait no, there is something or someone that is trying to stop their goals.'

'Dain.' He thought as the figure of a person clad in darkness appeared in his mind.

[Hidden Mob: Anyways, let's stop this depressing talk about the abyss and whatnot, I want to try a system function!]

[System: @Hidden Mob has put up a vote to create a watch party. 1/3]

[Blond traveler: Hmm, it does seem a bit interesting...]

[Vago Mundo: Indeed.]

[Frostflake: How about our identities? Won't they be exposed?]

[System: A set of masks shall be given to hide the identities of the members.]

[Sprout: I see! So it's like a masquerade party but... we're watching something.]

Soon, the votes got filled up and the watch party was then accepted by the system.

[System: Confirmed. The watch party shall begin in ten minutes. Please prepare.]

'Oh shoot!' Asakura thought. He then stood up and took out some Mora and gave it to Tomoki. "Gotta go now! See ya later, Tomoki!"

"A-Alright," Tomoki replied, seeing Asakura's odd behavior.

He then ran to find a good spot where no one can see him. Soon, Asakura looked at his phone again.

It was not just him. The other members also prepared themselves and changed their clothes.

As for Asakura, well, he only has his plain white shirt and pants from the medical ward. 'I look like your average mob NPC...'

Finally, after a few more minutes, the system was finally done.

[System: Notice, all members that wish to participate shall now be transported to the Watch Room]

Right after sending this, a door radiating a white light appeared in front of all the members, including Asakura. Wasting no time, he walked right in the white door.

However, before Asakura disappeared, a private message was sent to him.

[System: Due to your template, your outfit would change...]

And so begins the watch party.

* * *

A/N:

A hint about the video they're gonna watch: "Let every worthy sacrifice be carved in ice, and with this nation endure for all time..."