ITS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I SAW A VIGIL ASK IN MY INBOX- no actually i think it's been long because i haven't been around to look 💀 as compensation [and lowkey art practice], here is a v!mc :DD
bonus short scenario utc, but we're setting it up in modern au now ;l)
[PS. i still have so many ideas for vigil and it's branching out to so many different aus help- let's bring back our charming mc and our protective kazu]
Kazuha had no qualms with the recurring trials in his life. Sudden facers and inexplicable misfortune were particulars that accompanied him in life's currents.
Even when his family's long-standing business met a sharp decline that left them almost destitute, he learned to adapt—and even when he had to leave private school to enroll as a scholar, he learned to adjust.
But if there's anything he's quite stalwart in grounding himself in with such stubbornness, it's the lovely presence of his older sister; Kaedehara [Name]. Transferring schools with her came with a new set of familiar faces, a new batch of people to admire her natural charisma, and—well...
“Hwaaa—oh my, this is a lot! My locker's full again- hm, I have to thank those kind enough to give me tons of chocolates... Kazuha, do you want some?”
An endless bout of admirers that chase after her day and night, no kidding!
“It's alright, I... have my fair share.” he mused as he opened his locker, letting a few—an understatement—boxes of roses and perfumed love letters tumble out to the floor. “This one's your favorite though, nee-san, here, take this.”
“Thanks, Kazu!”
His eye twitched as he saw more than a couple of students hiding behind the lockers and shoe shelves, waiting on their chances to declare that they were the ones who put the stuff in [Name]'s locker. It wasn't that he was entirely adverse to anyone courting his sibling, of course, she's the best! Rather, it took up so much of her time trying her best to let them down gently and even going so far as to comfort them that she rarely ever got the time for herself.
With their parents gone, and even if he was the younger sibling, he still had the responsibility of looking after her as his father told him.
So what was the buzz now?
Surely, it's because of the Spring Festival. It encouraged students to wear clothes other than their school uniform, it didn't matter what, as it was a time of cordial events, programs, games, and a fireworks show.
He and [Name] weren't keen on dressing up. As they were raised in a traditional household, they decided to take out their usual apparel from when their family was still wealthy.
He didn't expect the attention on [Name] to be this ridiculously big, though.
Was letting his sister visit his classroom a bad idea? He didn't think so, since she looked very happy fitting in the theme of their traditional cafe, serving visitors with a charming grin that had some falling to the floor with a lovestruck gaze.
He wished he was kidding, but he knew [Name] had that effect.
So what was his role? Well, he took to 'guarding' and 'welcoming' guests at the threshold of the classroom, a faux sword strapped to his obi.
“Thank you for your time,” he dipped his head in gratitude after waving off a pair of giggling girls that fussed over how the Kaedeharas fit the theme so well, one of them going as far as to blow him a kiss.
He smiled, half awkward and half flustered, waving as he fumbled with the guard of his sword.
“That's [Name], right? She's so pretty.”
His ears perked, but he didn't give them the time of day, playing oblivious as a group of boys passed his way, walking suspiciously slow, ducking their heads and peering through the windows.
“Hey, hey, I didn't know she looked this pretty. Hah, what about we...”
His brows furrowed.
Now, it wasn't as if he hadn't heard one or too many compliments about his older sister, he respected that. But when those whispers became a tad.. unprincipled, for a lack of a better word, he had to step in.
The group of boys was snickering, pushing each other around, and stalking closer to the entrance to the classroom. He leaned off the wall just as they were about to open the door.
“Heh, yeah, let's go and-”
“I'm afraid our tables are full, good sirs,” he quipped, cutting them off. “You may have to return a little while later.”
“Eh, no it's alright, we'll wait inside.”
He smiled. “That'd disrupt our servers, please leave and return at a later time.”
“Nah, we insist! We'd even help serve-” vermillion eyes snapped towards the hand that reached the sliding door, and he grasped the student's wrist with prompt attention, his smile tight.
“Leave.” his thumb pushed the guard of his sword from its scabbard, faux metal catching a bright scintilla from the sun, making them yelp. “Please.”
“Okay, okay! Geez..” with frowns and disappointed looks on their faces, they pull themselves away from the door and leave, hands in their pockets, nudging each other by the elbows.
Kazuha's shoulders sagged, breathing in relief. He heard a lot of things, not many were good good, but he managed. Filtering through them was a breeze, but not if it was against any of his friends or family.
The door opened behind him and [Name] popped out, looking bewildered. “I thought I heard some voices, did potential customers leave? We have a free table at the corner..”
Kazuha turned to her. He wouldn't interfere with his sister's social life throughout—he knew her classmate Ayato was interested—, but he wasn't going to have anyone with remotely dastardly intentions come close.
“Nee-san,” he smiled, “it's fine. They'll come back later. Is your shift done? You want to play, right? I think the games at the booths are open now.”
✧ commissions open
a/n: i said it before and i'll say it again, i miss vigil so much FHASDJFH also, i personally think kazuha's going to be a bit more protective around mc in modern settings. not a helicopter brother, but someone who probably just second-guesses everyone's intentions about mc.
Oh,, I just thinking about Vigil!MC's childhood moment when she was sick. Like... she just stayed in her room, can't go anywhere. And little boy Kazuha acted precisely like the "LET ME INNNN" meme.
" I want to play with sister uwaaaaaaaa" o(TヘTo) (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)
And MC in the room, smiled when she imagined her brother's face
A/N: How can I not make a special for a certain universe when GAA just presents some lovely, lovely plot material?
✤ Golden Apple Archipelago (2.8) Event Special
➸ Related Works: Vigil
His last domain seems to be more disordered than before, he observes after appearing in a space surrounded by floating debris and sparsely dried maple trees.
Nevertheless, he recognizes it as his mirage—for only a phantasm as distorted as can immaculately mimic the chaos he has gone through during the time of the Vision Hunt Decree.
As per the norm of the past two mirages, he is alone without the company of his friends. Or at least, he thinks he's alone.
“Mister?”
Spooked—having not detected any sort of presence when he first arrived—he turns around, only to see a child no older than four, maybe five, peering at him.
“Are you lost?” she proceeds to ask, [c] eyes blinking.
The samurai didn't think it was possible for his own breath to fail him until now.
“I...” he trails off for a number of reasons.
Why is there a child here? How can she be here?
His quietude is taken in stride, with the little girl circling him about in what he can deduce is both excitement and scrutiny. He hasn't felt so uncharacteristically small in someone's discerning gaze.
The girl smiles at him, “Ah! Are you a wanderer? You seem to look the part, mister!”
“That I am.” he finally finds his voice to respond, having let go of his prior surprise. He really shouldn't be so floundered, though.
This is a mirage, after all—anything can happen.
“I knew it!” the jubilant exclamation makes him smile, even though his chest squeezes. “Then, maybe you're looking for a way out? There's a huge ship over there, come, come!”
He is already being dragged along by the hand before he can answer—not like he'll turn down the offer.
Just as what was mentioned, the Alcor in the stretch is a couple of minutes away, floating in an empty space. Even from afar, he can tell how the mirage has whittled it to perfection, mimicking the original vessel to a tee.
If he's going to be honest, though, then he's a little lost.
He wonders whether he should be astounded over the phantasmagoria's uncanny ability to create things from his subconscious or be astounded by how the little girl doesn't seem fazed at the oddment of it all.
Kazuha observes the girl's silver tresses and eyes the section of vermillion that fades to crimson. Her pink kimono is tidy and she appears out of place in this disheveled domain.
Like a single dendrobium amid the shipwreck on Nazuchi beach.
“May I ask why you are alone?” he questions, seeing a couple of familiar structures located on other floating islands. “An estate lies in the distance.”
He wonders if the others are there, navigating through the labyrinth for the—hopefully—last time.
“I'm not ready...”
Hm? The samurai blinks, puzzled at the answer. Not ready?
He pauses his steps when the child does, her head tipped down and her smile no longer present on her visage. It is an unusual sight, dismaying to witness.
“Father said I should stay outside for a while, so...”
Kazuha respects privacy, especially that of a stranger's. Most reasons are personal and are preferably hidden, but he can't restrain his own curiosity. After all, the one before him is...
“Can I...” his uncertain murmur doesn't go unheard, and the set of [c]s fixate on him as though weighing the possible ramifications of divulging her problems to a stranger.
The samurai is a little thrilled that the youngster's pretty shrewd for her age.
“Well, mother said I'm going to be a big sister today.” she ends up revealing with a crestfallen sigh. “I don't think I'm prepared to be one, I'm going to be so bad at it!”
Oh. It's... well, he's not expecting that out of the endless possible answers he could've heard. Not like he's against it or anything, of course.
In fact, he's rather astounded.
Dismay paints the round, youthful features of the little girl, implying just how burdened she is with her self-doubt.
To see such a sight pulls his lips down, at least, until he brings them back up in order to display himself as a model of assurance.
“Hm, with the way you're so concerned, I believe you'll be a fantastic sibling.” Kazuha quips, unable to stave off the growing smile when he's met with a marginally misanthropic stare.
“How can you say so? You don't know me, mister.”
To think she's a little cynical—or perhaps just chary.
“I am a stranger to you, as well, yet you are helping me board the ship.” he says in an 'as-a-matter-of-fact' tone, accompanying it with a firm nod. “You've a good heart.”
He can tell that his words are taken into consideration, the silence looming over them indicative of the cogs working in one's mind. It isn't long until the child is looking back at him, voice still tiny, though far from being uncertain as she was earlier.
“... Do you think I'll do good, then? Truly?”
The ends of her pink sleeves are being picked and fumbled away with her fingers.
Hesitantly, Kazuha pats her head, relaxing when it's received with a brightening gleam in the eyes. He nods, chest filling with warmth.
“You'll be excellent.”
Cheeks flushing with the same color as her kimono, the little girl stutters, as though unused to the assurance.
She has a tiny pout on her lips that she battles away with a beaming smile. Far, far brighter than the first one she wore.
“... Yes, yes, you're right!” she claps her hands with a giggle, “I have to be strong so I can be good! I'll keep your words to heart, mister! Now let's get you on the ship!”
Invigorated, she latches onto his bandaged hand—only to yelp an apology following the delayed assumption that he's hurt. He chuckles at it, shaking his head and saying that it's fine.
With the granted permission, he's tugged away again, only much gently this time. Like she does not believe that his hand isn't hurting hence her gentle hold.
It's warm.
For someone who's only known the coldness of grief for the past few months... this feels nice.
Kazuha almost bites his tongue when the child races up the uneven wooden gangway leading towards the Alcor, the latter nearly tripping over the steps.
When she manages to catch herself, however, he relaxes, sighing as he follows her up. He notices that she does not cross the threshold, nor does she question the lack of the crew.
She stays standing atop the last wooden board outside the ship, whilst he's already in the breadth of the vessel. His chest squeezes once more.
“Hehe, father will be happy that I helped someone out.” excitedly mutters the girl before gasping, struck with a realization.
“Ah, that reminds me! I need to go back home now! Take care-.. ?”
Her words fall short when the samurai lowers himself to her level and pulls her close in a bewildering yet warm embrace. How sudden.
“Mister wanderer,” her voice rings, a little muffled. “You're not going to abduct me, are you?”
His soft laughter is already rolling past his lips before he can even register them. He does not let go just yet. “Of course not. Forgive my sudden embrace, I am just reminded of my sibling.”
A gasp.
“Then that must be why you're traveling, right? So you can go back home!” Concludes the child after she's freed from the embrace.
She sounds enthused at the concept of him having a sibling, just like her. In a sudden burst of boldness, she holds onto the hands that held her once and shook them with vigor.
He doesn't understand the need nor the reason, but he goes along, waving and shaking her hands in tandem. The handshake makes the girl giggle until she's pulling away.
“Don't keep them waiting, they'll certainly miss you because you're family. I'll be going now!”
His hands hold the remnants of the warmth of another and he clenches his fingers in an endeavor to preserve them for a little while longer.
Standing back to his full height, he overlooks as his small, fleeting companion rushes back down to proper land with as much elegance as she can exude despite her haste.
Gone is the void in his chest, replaced with a mellow bud of melancholia, soon to bloom into one of acceptance.
To his surprise, the child stops then swivels, raising a hand to wave at him from the distance.
“Ah! Thank you again, mister!” he can still see her smile even from afar, “By the way, I'm [Name]!”
“I know.” his words are heard only by the wind as he smiles, feeling his eyes sting with water. Though they do not fall.
Ribbons of pink eventually cover the running girl until she is gone from sight, much like the phantasm she was in the first place. Still, he is ever so grateful.
Kazuha holds onto his scarf, lifting the fabric close to his eyes as he expels a shaky breath.
“Thank you, too.”
Even if the wound in his heart remains fresh, he is thankful for having seen her. Seen her smile, seen her be alright, seen her be alive.
“Nee-san.”
His wonderful older sibling.
a/n: so an angst/comfort piece for vigil :')) i think this cured my heart a lil' from writing mercy lmao.
The poor unsuspecting Albedo, Xingqiu, Aether, and Venti of vigil!mc's hidden strength (wait does Ayaka already know about Mc's strength?). Just imagine they got attacked (Ayato is also with them) by like an abyss mage or something like that, and mc just straight up made that abyss mage fly up to the stars. Ayato is now even more terrified of her strength, and is actually thanking Ei that he somehow survived mc's strength and/or mc didn't punch him to hard
And another one has entirely left my inbox! Boy it was difficult to draw tons of characters in one setting ghgh but it's good practice so!
i binge read basically everything you wrote about vigil and OMG the amount of pretty privilege mc has is insane shes too powerful
PAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
That was the intention from the very beginning. Vigil!MC is this stereotypical sweetheart who is,, too good [kind?] to a fault. She's the type to give chances after chances and-
Kazuha: [writhing]
If I'd liken her to something, she's a cinnamon roll! she can't kill you, but she will [.. okay maybe just a punch-] if you manage to,, uh, make her snap 💀 i also don't know how to uhh- she's a,, peculiar? sweetheart?? she's not obliviously dense [sometimes-] but first thing that comes to her mind is always positive things, even in the face of danger lmao.
like, take for example maybe when she's in liyue w/kazuha & traveler and they're present during the battle against beisht [osial's wife], she'd first go:
vigil mc: she's come to avenge her husband, how loyal, that's so sweet, it's as if they're truly one-
kazuha: nee-san, i believe 'she' plans to flood the harbor
vigil mc: oh 😳 oh- quick, let's run ｡ﾟヽ(ﾟ´Д｀)ﾉﾟ｡
but you know who has actual pretty privilege? it's Sister!MC. the whole universe of that was built on 'harem but im putting my siblings first'. you remember how ayato folds in that short i made of the kamisato siblings and the traveler siblings chiiiiiiiiiiii-
Betting that if little Kazuha could read all the Ayato & Vigil!MC asks sent to you, he'd either be fighting everyone physically or sulking in a corner.
Or both. In that order JAHSHSJAAJMA
FINALLY GOT TO DRAW IT AFTER 181823018301 WEEKS GHGGHGHHG, THIS WAS FUN LOL thank you kindly for the inspo countess :weary:
oo I haven’t visited your blog in such a long time, I loved your work so much TvT
I just thought of something: vigil mc being reincarnated as a little child who kazuha eventually stumbles upon and starts taking care of as his own younger sibling
and he’ll truly understand why his sister was the way she was— at any moment he would gladly lay down his life for this little child, who, unbeknownst to him, was his sister herself.
:D I hope I made this make sense!! love you and your work <3, drink water and have a good rest tonight!
omg it's you lovely 🥺 i remember seeing your interactions with my posts a loooooong while back, it's really been 'quite' a while hasn't it 😭
and this is a wonderful idea actually. watch me get back to this in a reblog. or a short post. whichever comes first KJFHDSAJKF
