The familiar sensation of dimensional displacement faded with a soft whisper of wind. No lights, no portals, no grandiose effects. I was simply in another world, in another room... the same one as always.
Mitsuha sat on the floor, surrounded by folders, cables, and what looked like a solar-powered calculator. She glanced up without surprise.
"Tsk..." She frowned. "Popping in unannounced again?"
She raised an eyebrow but didn't argue.
"What brings you here this time, interdimensional traveler?"
"I wanted to know if you managed to sell the coins I gave you last week."
Her eyes lit up with that sharp, businesslike glint she always got when money was involved. She stood up smoothly and walked over to her desk, pulling out a briefcase before handing it to me.
"These things... are insane. I took them to the same guy who handles my coins—someone who doesn't ask questions. He said the gold was impossibly pure and that he'd never seen ancient minting in such perfect condition."
"How much did you get?"
"I only managed to sell three in such a short time, but it was enough to buy you a super luxury car. The other three are locked away, waiting to be auctioned."
I nodded. I had no reason to distrust her.
"Got time now?"
She sighed and turned around, one eyebrow arched.
"Depends. Are you bringing me more mysterious coins? Or is it magical weapons I need to hide from the police this time?"
"Neither." I paused briefly. "I want to go to the mall. I need to pick up some items to take back. Basic technology. Useful things: portable generators, cooling systems, digital storage. And... video games, if the budget allows."
Mitsuha blinked, unable to hide the smirk tugging at her lips.
"Aha. Now I get it. These aren't just 'useful things'—you're after consoles. My brother was the same way in high school, blowing all his savings on special-edition games."
"Both can coexist," I replied calmly. "If you've got time, could you take me? I don't know this area well."
(I've never been to Japan, and though I could gather intel with Raziel, I'd rather have a local guide me around.)
She rolled her eyes but grabbed her car keys from the desk and tucked them into her back pocket.
"Fine. But fair warning—if people stare at you for that jade getup, I'm not responsible."
She turned toward the door.
I paused by the hallway mirror before following.
The reflection staring back was... not exactly subtle.
I sighed. "This'll be problematic."
Activating my Origin Spirit abilities—no incantation needed, no dramatic gestures—my previous outfit vanished. In its place: a black turtleneck under a white-and-turquoise coat with gold-smoked designs, a jade armguard on my left arm, gray pants, black shoes with white soles, an oriental jade tassel earring, and headphones. My horns had disappeared; touching my ears confirmed they were now fully human-shaped. My hair was noticeably shorter, barely brushing my eyebrows.
I stepped out just as Mitsuha finished shrugging on her jacket.
"Oh." She froze, scanning me head to toe. "That was fast. Did you just change clothes in one second?"
She snorted, a teasing grin spreading.
"Now you actually look like someone who's going to buy a smartphone instead of unleashing a forbidden technique to destroy the moon."
"I haven't ruled out either option," I replied with feigned neutrality.
Mitsuha burst out laughing, opened the door, and gestured for me to follow her.
*****
The midday sun shone brightly as Mitsuha's compact car glided through the underground parking lot of the shopping mall. With practiced skill, she maneuvered into a spot between two SUVs. The engine shut off with a soft hum, and silence settled in the car for a moment.
"This is the largest mall in the area," Mitsuha said, pointing at the building. "You can find everything here, from computers to absurdly useless things like Bluetooth-enabled toasters."
I tilted my head with mild curiosity. "Why would anyone want that?"
"Marketing," she simply replied before getting out of the car.
I followed, feeling my white and turquoise coat sway with each step. The jade embedded in my armguard glowed faintly under the artificial lights, and my tassel earring swung gracefully. In contrast to the crowd, I knew my presence stood out as if I'd been ripped from a fantasy painting and inexplicably dropped into the modern world.
I quickly noticed the stares.
Groups of girls—from college students to office workers on break—paused momentarily when they saw me pass by. Some pretended to look at store windows while stealing glances; others simply gaped openly. One even tripped over her friend when she turned too quickly to look.
(Should I have worn something else...? But I wanted to try this outfit.)
"Is he a model?" I heard a teenager whisper to her friend. "Or maybe an influencer? He totally looks the part..."
(An influencer... just what I needed.)
Once in the lobby, Mitsuha stopped briefly to check her phone. As she did, I noticed several women openly turning to look at me. Some were subtle about it, others less so. A little girl even tugged at her mother's sleeve and asked loudly if I was a "prince."
"Seems you're causing quite a stir," Mitsuha murmured with ironic amusement, one eyebrow arched.
"Hm?" I glanced around as if only just noticing the stares. "Not my intention."
"I know. But you look like a young master from a modern xianxia drama. I should charge people for walking beside you."
I shot her a briefly amused look but didn't reply.
We rode the escalator up to the electronics floor. True to form, Mitsuha led me straight to the specialty stores.
"First, you need a self-sustaining power source. If you want any of this to work in your world, choose carefully."
As we browsed, Mitsuha morphed into a tech consultant. By the end, I'd bought a compact refrigerator, several laptops, a printer with extra ink cartridges, and—of course—a handheld gaming console preloaded with popular titles.
While packing our haul, a saleswoman slipped me a handwritten note with her number.
"In case you need... more recommendations," she said with a smile.
I accepted the card with a polite nod but made no comment. Mitsuha side-eyed me and muttered drily:
"You've gathered more fans here than the average idol."
"I'm not trying to," I replied.
"That's why it works," she shot back, as if stating the world's most obvious fact.
We wandered leisurely through the gourmet section's refrigerated aisles. The air smelled of citrus, natural sugar, and the faint artificial tang of vacuum-sealed packaging.
I paused before a display of meticulously arranged fruit boxes: Ruby Roman grapes, perfectly patterned Yubari King melons, fist-sized Amaou strawberries. Each bore a gold label and packaging fit for a luxury gift—and, of course, a price tag that felt like a mathematical insult.
"That costs as much as my rent," Mitsuha muttered, stopping beside me to stare at the fruit with a mix of disbelief and resignation.
"I'm not buying this for myself," I said, my eyes still fixed on the melons. I selected one with flawless lattice-patterned skin, then a cluster of grapes wrapped in purple ribbon, and finally a box of strawberries—all perfectly ripe, all meticulously chosen.
Mitsuha arched an eyebrow.
"And who's all that for? Someone waiting in your... world?"
I hesitated before answering. It wasn't something I could explain without sounding absurd. Even I found it ridiculous—standing in a modern Japanese store, picking luxury fruits with someone from another world in mind. But I couldn't help it.
"Let's just say... I know someone who values fruit deeply. She doesn't eat meat. And she works too hard. Thought this might do her good."
"Someone important?"
"Someone... special," I replied, evasive but calm.
Mitsuha didn't press further. She just sighed under her breath, muttering, "Damn, that girl's lucky... having someone who gifts her something this thoughtful..." before walking off to another aisle, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
I paid without hesitation—money meant little. But the gesture... the gesture might.
I carefully stored the boxes in the Gate of Babylon to preserve them.
Ganyu wasn't the type to expect gifts. Still, I wanted to see her face when she received one.
As we exited, I noticed the sky darkening. We barely finished loading the car before the drizzle began.
Settling in for the drive back, I watched the rearview mirror for a moment. Rain blurred the glass, smearing the mall's lights behind us into streaks.
"I appreciate your help, Mitsuha. This'll make things easier," I finally said.
"Don't mention it," she replied, adjusting the steering wheel. "Though fair warning—I'm not your personal shopping guide every day."
I nodded with a slight smile. "Noted."
The engine hummed to life, and the car pulled away, leaving the mall's buzz behind as the rain grew heavier, pattering softly against the roof.
******
"Thanks for coming with me. I'll set all this up and let you know how it goes," I told Mitsuha while holding the boxes filled with various tech gadgets.
She nodded from the doorway, arms crossed. Though her face maintained its usual calm and practical expression, I could detect a faint glimmer of curiosity in her eyes.
"Make sure you don't blow up your house with the blender," she warned, pointing at one of the packages. "That thing packs more power than it looks."
"I'll keep that in mind," I replied with a slight nod.
And without ceremony or elaborate goodbyes, I simply faded from Mitsuha's world.
There were no dramatic flashes or magical winds, just a subtle ripple in the air as if reality itself took a breath for a moment. That's how my teleportation worked: clean, efficient, no need for magic circles or flashy portals. A step between dimensions that felt like dipping into a still pond.
When I opened my eyes, I was back in Liyue.
"Alright," I murmured to myself. "Time to bring Teyvat into the 21st century."
I got to work immediately. Instead of conventional tools, I used Tatsumaki's telekinesis to assemble everything while practicing the precision of the ability.
I placed the refrigerator near the window. The blender and food processor were secured to a wooden base, and the solar panels were quickly installed on the roof with cables running inside the house.
When finished, I ran a hand through my hair and examined my work. Everything was functioning perfectly.
"Xiangling is going to lose her mind when she sees this," I couldn't help but smile at the thought.
I brewed myself a cup of tea - the traditional method still remained unbeatable for certain things - and sat down to enjoy the twilight.