Genshin Impact : Sorry can't be there till the end

When she saw him again, he was lying in the snow.

It was dawn, sunlight warmly gilding his body. Snow also covered him, making him look half-draped in snow, half in light.

His sword lay quietly beside him, along with a fallen water bottle, both deeply buried in the snow.

There was blood on his cheeks, blood he had coughed up. It had also stained a small patch of snow, the deep red forming a stark contrast with the pure white snow. The blood had already dried.

He looked very cold, his lips dry and cracked, his breath at the tip of his nose as thin as a thread.

"...Ah. So that's how it is."

"I see."

Her heart felt completely empty.

Empty like this snow plain.

Yae Miko felt herself trembling.

Still no emotions in her heart, she tentatively reached out, her shrine maiden's sleeve resting on the snow — she tentatively embraced Seino.

The touch was cold.

Very icy.

This touch was also like snow.

She still didn't know what to do. She gently caressed Seino's cheek, wiping away the blood. Only then did she clearly see his face.

That old fellow's mouth still seemed to carry a smile, silly and hearty, the same as his usual smile, as if very happy.

Seeing that smile, seeing that familiar smile...

She was suddenly overwhelmed by a huge flood of emotions.

The snow plain in her heart collapsed. As the last snowflake fell,

It pressed down on the layered ice, her heart cracking layer by layer.

Lady Fox finally felt emotions.

On the way, she thought she had prepared for the worst, built enough psychological defenses. But when she saw his smile again, it all collapsed.

The avalanche was about to engulf her.

She desperately embraced Seino, trying to give his body warmth. Her lips trembled slightly, but she couldn't speak, only left with murmurs that sounded like —

'Bastard'

'You old bastard who won't die...'

She cursed Seino Raimei, but it seemed more like she was cursing herself.

Lantern Festival, goldfish, lantern riddles, fireworks, New Year, fried tofu, stove, tea, kotatsu, temple fair,

She had made so many plans, she had clearly made so many plans, and you had clearly agreed, you had clearly promised, you old bastard who won't die, you said you would live for hundreds of years, you clearly said last year that you'd see me next year!

Bastard.

Bastard.

Why, why...

The great head priestess waited for you all day yesterday on the roof beam, from morning to night, from the hazy warm light of winter to the sunset dusk. The streets were so lively, with so many new and interesting things... but you weren't here.

You were on the island, in the wind and snow, you had to go kill some damn great serpent... why, why, why!

Is a samurai's honor so important?

Old man, you've been stubborn all your life. When you were young, your temper was like a bull. When you got old, you became even more like a stubborn old turtle. You bastard, bastard, you always hide everything from us, you never fall down no matter what injuries you suffer. You were like this when you were young, and you're still like this when you're old, clinging to your worthless honor.

You're just a mortal! A weak mortal, a mortal who will grow old and die! Don't forget, you're a mortal!

She buried her face in Seino's chest. Yae Miko heard her own slightly choked voice, very soft,

"Rely on me a little... you bastard mortal."

Miko remembered the fox udon she ate that day. It was delicious, with a savory taste and warm noodle soup. When she swallowed it, she felt all the chill in her body being driven away. It was really delicious, but at that time, she told Seino it was 'average'.

This might have been the last time Seino Raimei made tofu for her to eat.

He already knew about his physical condition.

Dragging his weak and sick body, his fingers cut by the knife, he made the last bowl of tofu for her. Then the next day, Seino would leave Inazuma City and go to a distant island to meet his death.

This was the final farewell, but she told him:

'Just so-so'

At that time, what kind of feelings must he have had in his heart?

She didn't want to think about it anymore.

Huff, huff.

The sunlight was still bright, the warm winter sun. The sky after rain was so clear. Miko took a deep breath.

She took out the scarf from her sleeve, a snow-white fluffy scarf, and wrapped it around Seino's neck.

Yae Miko said softly:

"Old man, this is the gift I wanted to give you personally. Hey, talk to me. The head priestess is giving you a gift."

"Hey... talk to me."

"Hey..."

She paused: "The weather got cold, so I wanted to give you this. I knitted it myself, I wanted to give it to you personally. You have to live on well."

"You'll be fine. Let's go home."

Her voice was still trembling a little.

Hearing the call, Seino slowly opened his weak eyes, gazing at her feebly.

"Little fox..."

His lips trembled, but he couldn't speak. Yae Miko leaned down, and only then did she hear clearly what Seino was saying:

"Look down the mountain."

Look down the mountain.

Yae Miko heard clearly. She instinctively looked down the mountain and found that much of the snow had melted.

With the removal of the great serpent Orobashi, thousands of cursed impurities dissipated along with it, dispersing into the air — The former Yashiori Island was gloomy and strange, full of ghostly shadows everywhere, with wild trees growing and vast snow. But now the scenery was different.

Although spring hadn't arrived yet, under the warm sun, it felt as if spring was near.

The faint light of dawn flowed through the forest, a light mist rising and curling. At the farthest point visible, one could see the cherry blossoms of the Sacred Sakura tree, dancing with the snowflakes. The cherry blossoms kept falling, and the impurities kept being purified.

In this rain of cherry blossoms, the world was so beautiful.

"This scenery is my New Year's gift to you... Happy New Year, little fox."

He said softly. His strength began to fail again, and Seino closed his eyes drowsily, losing consciousness.

Faintly, he heard the sound of crying.