38 Tomoki's Dream

"Asahi-sama wasn't able to last anymore. He died last night in his sleep, being discovered this morning" Honoka informed "The funeral would be tomorrow."

Listening to the news Allen tried to quickly leave, but was stopped by Tomoki "Wait"

"I need to see Ayaka. We all knew that this day will come but this doesn't change it, she should be destroyed. I need to help her" Allen tried to convince Tomoki.

"The first day is for the near family to mourn" Tomoki explained "It's considered a great offense to act. We will wait for tomorrow's funeral."

"But-!" "Not buts, Allen!" Tomoki turned towards Honoka "Honoka, could you leave us alone a moment?"

Honoka bowed and left the dojo.

"Master, Ayaka would be heartbroken..." "Bang!" Tomoki hit the wall, cracking it and stopping Allen's words who was shocked and looked at him.

"While I am also worried about their feelings, now that is only secondary. This is very serious Allen." Tomoki said.

"Is she in danger?" Allen asked seriously.

"Yes" Tomoki nodded "With the loss of Kayo and Asahi's illness, the Kamisato Clan had lost a great deal of power, but could still endure as the head of the Yashiro Commission thanks to some support, but now that Asahi had died..." Tomoki shook his head "They will be in a dangerous situation. Ayato is diligent and talented but he is too young and inexperience, he won't be able to retain the position alone."

"Are you saying that other clans would attack them?" Allen asked.

"Yes. And most probably, they won't wait to do it in a legit way and will end relaying on assassination." Tomoki explained.

"Assassination?!" Allen said shocked.

"I promised Asahi to protect them, but with my departure next month, they will be left wide open for attacks. I can't possibly protect them."

"Can you postpone your travel?" Allen asked seriously.

"It's impossible" Tomoki shook his head "This is my obligation as a Harbinger, at the level of a direct order from the Tsaritsa."

"It's so..." Allen said coldly as he sat down with crossed legs with a thoughtful look. In his mind, the actual situation and possible solutions were running at full speed, trying to find the best solution without mattering the price to pay.

Looking directly at Allen, Tomoki could feel himself having cold sweat. That expression, that composure, those pit eyes that lacked any light... There weren't something that an 11-year-old boy should be doing. No. He shouldn't be capable of it. It seemed as if he had seen the suffering of the world and had jumped into its abyss.

"Do you have any plan?" Tomoki was even a little scared, he wanted to stop Allen's state, but instead, the words that left his mouth were one reflecting his despair.

Allen looked at Tomoki with his cold stare "Tomoki, why did you join the Harbingers?"

"It's necessary for this case?" Tomoki asked confused, but he was well aware that Allen had stopped calling him master.

"It may" Allen nodded "I can't sense any motivation in you. You seek neither honor or power. I can't understand why something like you joined the Fatui and went up to become a Harbinger. "What moves you?"

"I fell in love" Tomoki answered solemnly "I've born in Inazuma, but I lost my parent very soon, being raised by Honoka. At that time, I wasn't even aware of being a Niwa."

"I didn't have any purpose, so I traveled to find some" Tomoki explained "In my travel, I found my legacy, acquiring the Niwa surname, but that wasn't important for me. In the end, it was a simply fallen clan that had disappeared. However, it wasn't long before a found a purpose."

"Love?" Allen asked.

"Yes, I fell in love with swordsmanship" Tomoki said "I found it in some runes. It was quick, elegant, perfect and impossible to practice for me. That became my new purpose, be able to unleash that style."

"I tried everything, but I wasn't strong, quick, agile... enough, I lacked too much. So I left Inazuma and tried everything to adquire what I was lacking" Tomoki said "I traveled over Teyvat and finally stopped over Snezhaya, finding a possible solution." He touched his Delusion "Delusions, a power away from gods, away from the usual paths."

"That why I became a Harbinger, to obtain the strength necessary to accomplish my dream."

"Were you able to accomplish it?" Allen asked.

"That's the funniest part" Tomoki laughed with a sad look "Once I became a Harbinger and the Tsaritsa itself gave me the Delusion, she not only showed my thought swordsmanship, she went far beyond, showing me a sword realm impossible to reach."

"After becoming a Harbinger, not only was I unable to accomplish my dream, but even my dream was destroyed, showing me how puny I am and how childish was my dream." Tomoki finished laughing.

"Do you resent the Tsaritsa? Do you desire to stop being a Harbinger?" Allen asked.

"I don't resent her. If something, I truly respect her. She opened my eyes, even if it was too late for me" Tomoki said sadly "And it doesn't matter my desire, once you became a Harbinger, only death will free you."

"Are you trying to deter me?" Allen asked

"I don't really want you to discover why, but if you achieve your objective, you would find it. I only pray that you won't regret that decision." Tomoki said truthfully "I'm also a little guilty about you. Me training you, is a way to reach that impossible dream. Would you be able to go further than that swordsmanship, further than the Tsaritsa?"

"Haha" Tomoki finished laughing "Do you hate me? In the end, I'm not so different of Pantalone and others, I'm simply using you for my own gain."

"I don't hate you, master. You have really helped me" Allen said, his eyes recovering some light "That it minds you, it shows that you are different from Pantalone."

"Thanks" Tomoki said "And it was a simple whim, you don't need to be able to accomplish it. Life as you want."

"Thanks, I will do it" Allen said grinning "I will be the only one to decide my actions and destiny. And now, I want to save Ayaka."

"Have you thought about something?" Tomoki asked intrigued.

"I lack information to really plan about everything, but I have an image of it in my mind" Allen explained.

"What have you thought?" Tomoki asked.

"Considering that the most important is Ayaka's and Ayato's security, the best would be for them to renounce to be the head of the Yashiro Commission. Considered the old history and honor of the clan, they should abandon the Kamisato Clan to be safe." Allen explained.

"I'm not really sure of Ayaka, but it would be close to impossible to convince Ayato." Tomoki said.

"Yeah, it would be difficult, but we should try it anyway as it's truly the best plan" Allen said.

"And what are the others not best plans?" Tomoki asked.

"You could try to become the next Yashiro Commissioner" Allen said "You have good power, prestige and are highly respected. You could even reach the point of also adopting Ayaka and Ayato to the family."

"Allen, I don't want to become a commissioner. I'm not worth." Tomoki said seriously " Moreover, it this is a very important matter, it would take some time to formalize and I need to leave next month, putting the siblings in danger and letting others make their own moves."

"I took it into account" Allen answered "But even if returning to Snezhnaya is an obligation, shouldn't they let you be absent if you are in the middle a crucial mission." Allen explained "You are trying to take over one of the Tri-Commissions that translate to almost control one-third of the nation."

"They should" Tomoki said thoughtfully "But it's not a good option, I would kept it as a last resort." certainly, he could gain some time with it, avoiding the meeting, but that would make it dangerous, putting the Tsaritsa in his bad side, maybe even sending someone to liquidate him. In the end, he was too new as a Harbinger.

"Another option would be to request help from the Kujou Clan. Making another Commission enter the scene would create some problems, but I'm sure that they have the strength to help" Allen explained "Kujou Takayuki seemed quite interested in you so I'm sure that there is some way to negotiate with him."

"I know the way" Tomoki said with a cold look "But, I can't accept it. I can't hurt her more." Allen was about to ask, but Tomoki quickly shut him up "Personal matters. Please, don't ask."

"Okay." Allen nodded.

"Buf!" Tomoki sighed while covering his eyes with his hand. It was really a bad situation. There was no perfect path ahead, someone would be hurt no matter the option and he would be forced to do something that he really didn't want 'You really make it difficult, Asahi'

"For now, let's try to convince the siblings to give up the commissioner position. I would decide later if it doesn't work." Tomoki decided.

"Master, two things" Allen interjected "First, I want to be the one convincing Ayaka."

"Okay" Tomoki answered after some thoughts. In the end, the one closer to Ayaka was him. "And the second thing?"

"I have one last plan" Allen said furrowing his brows "This would make everything stay the same more or less, but..."

"But what?!" Tomoki asked hastily, really wanting a solution for this problem.

"It's the most indecisive one. The most dangerous and the one with the lowest probability to work. However..." Allen said "It could be the one to show the best results."

"What's the plan?" Tomoki asked.

"It's an idea for now, I lack some information to carry it and perfect it" Allen explained "Let's focus on convincing Ayaka and her brother. If we aren't able, I will tell you tomorrow" Allen said "The funeral would be the key."